The Adler

After a reader pointed out a plot point I decided to change some things in the General POV part of the last chapter.

I have also changed the ending of the chapter Awards and a House Party pt.3 

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The curtains were drawn, casting the room into darkness, with only the dim glow of my computer screen providing any light.

"Damn, the views just keep climbing," I murmured to myself.

A peculiar blend of amusement and embarrassment washed over me as I replayed the video. It was merely a small segment of a video from the party I attended.

Initially, when the full video was shared online, it hardly garnered attention. After all, it was just a video of a famous teenager having fun at a party. However, everything changed when someone took a particular moment from the video of me doing a certain dance. That video then went on to become viral.

At some point during my dance routine, I performed something similar to the Bully Maguire dance from Spiderman 3 because the spiderman movie's didn't exist here I became the source that introduced this highly memed dance to this world. 

Why I did it remains a mystery. I really didn't know what I was thinking that night, but that action transformed into a sensation overnight. The clip, now dubbed "The Adler," spread like wildfire, with fans turning it into a sort of challenge called doing the Adler, though it wasn't without its share of ridicule.

The year was 2008, and the concept of going "viral" was relatively fresh, yet the internet seemed more advanced here than the original world.

I looked through some comments from different websites.

"The Adler is the new Macarena, change my mind"

"Just learned The Adler dance! Never thought my favorite author @DanielAdler would also be my favorite dancer."

"I came for the books, but I'm staying for the dance moves."

I was immediately aware that the drinks were spiked as soon as I tasted one, yet I continued drinking.I don't know why I did it…..

"Oh, please, you know exactly why," a small voice in my mind taunted.

Perhaps there was a part of me that missed my college drinking days, but I resolved then and there: no more excessive drinking.

"You say that now," the internal voice scoffed once more.

Realizing I had been cooped up in my room for the entire week, I said to myself, 

"I really need to go outside." 

School was set to resume on Monday.

Deciding it was time to soak up some sunshine, I made my way to the backyard.

"Oh, look who it is—the dancing sensation himself," Lucy remarked. She was lounging in her bikini, soaking up the sun.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a company to run?" I retorted.

"Oh, relax, it's just a joke and I don't have a pool like yours" Lucy responded, her smile unwavering.

I couldn't help but inquire, "So, any fallout from the video?"

"Ha! Just a bunch of idiots making a fuss. Your fans, however, they love it. Book sales even saw a boost after that. You might actually be more popular now," Lucy explained, her smile broadening.

"That's reassuring, I guess," I replied.

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I found myself seated across from Chris, with Dave and Sam by my side.Chris was meticulously flipping through the script of the movie we had crafted together.

"This is... um... new," Chris remarked, his voice tinged with a blend of curiosity and uncertainty.

I leaned forward, eager to defend our vision. "There have been some forays into this genre, but never has a full-length movie been dedicated to it," I explained.

Drawing a deep breath, I began to outline our concept with renewed vigor. 

"Envision a horror film that delves into the primal fear of the unknown. A tight-knit group of friends embarks on a journey into a forest, a place shrouded in mystery. As they plunge deeper into the wilderness, the boundaries between reality and folklore begin to blur, their harrowing experience captured raw and unfiltered is through the lens of their handheld cameras."

Chris leaned back, a furrow forming between his brows. "I must admit, Danny, I'm a bit skeptical. Are you certain this concept translates well into a movie?"

Before I could respond, Dave chimed in with unwavering support. "Absolutely, Chris. With the right marketing strategy, this film has the potential to be a hit with the audiences."

Sam, not missing a beat, added, "And considering the budget we've proposed, we're in a good position to proceed on our own, even if this doesn't align with your vision."

Chris's interest was piqued. "And what budget are we discussing here?"

With a calm and assured voice, I replied, "We're envisioning a modest investment of $100,000."

Chris's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. "Only $100,000? That seems rather low. Are you confident you can bring this vision to life with such a constrained budget?"

"Yes, absolutely," I asserted. "The beauty of our project lies in its simplicity. The found-footage style not only serves the narrative but helps with the budget. Also, I'm prepared to invest half of the budget personally and add more if it goes over budget."

The room fell silent as Chris pondered our proposal. He leaned back, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "Okay, you've managed to convince me. Let's do this. If you're willing to put your own money on the line, then you have my full support."

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[General POV]

"I have this melody in my head," Daniel said, his fingers absentmindedly caressing the strings of the guitar.

In the dimly lit basement, a familiar setting for their Dungeons & Dragons adventures, Daniel and Joanna found themselves on a different kind of journey.

Daniel, with Joanna's guitar in hand, gave her his undivided attention, fulfilling a promise to collaborate on a songwriting project delayed by his busy schedule.

Joanna's face lit up with interest, her voice soft yet eager. "Can you play it for me?"

Daniel hummed the tune of the song that had been stuck in his head ever since he heard it years ago in the original world.

Joanna listened with rapt attention, captivated. "That's beautiful, Daniel. Let's work with that," she encouraged.

Joanna tentatively matched lyrics to the melody's mood. The session was a blend of laughter, shared frustrations, and the joy of finding the right word or note that clicked, each moment building on the last.

Daniel contributed by adding some lyrics he remembered from the song. The song told a tale of yearning, possessing a haunting beauty; it was about seeking oneself amid the world's discord.

As they crafted the song, Joanna's quiet fondness for Daniel was subtly evident in her every word and suggestion.

Her looks lingered a touch longer than necessary, and her laughter seemed just a bit too enthusiastic. Daniel, however, remained blissfully unaware of the affectionate undertones.

"I think we've created something special," Joanna said, her words heavy with unspoken emotion. "Working with you on this has been... incredible."

Daniel, oblivious to the deeper implications of her words, matched her enthusiasm with his own. "You did most of the work; I only offered some encouragement."

"So, when will you post it?" Daniel asked as he stood up from the couch.

"Post it?" Joanna echoed, confused.

"Yeah, will you post it on YouTube, Facebook…" Daniel went on but stopped when he saw the confused expression on Joanna's face.

"Wait, you haven't heard of YouTube or Facebook?" Daniel asked, surprised by Joanna's reaction.

Joanna shook her head, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes. "I mean, I know of them. My music... I've just never thought about sharing it like that."

Daniel smiled, an idea forming in his mind. "Well, let's change that. Your songs deserve to be heard, Joanna. I'm sure people will love them."

"But I'm not sure," Joanna hesitated, the uncertainty clear in her voice.

"Trust me on this. Let me handle the posting. You focus on the singing. We can record it properly tomorrow. How does that sound?" Daniel's encouragement was infectious.

Joanna bit her lip, considering. Finally, she nodded, a small smile forming. "Okay, let's do it. But only because you believe it's good."

"That's the spirit!" Daniel exclaimed, pleased with her decision. "You'll see, Joanna. This is going to be the start of something amazing."

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A video of Daniel dancing played on the laptop as Phil and Luke attempted to copy it.

"Alright, watch and learn. This is how you do 'The Adler'," Phil announced with unwarranted confidence, standing in the center of the room. He was the picture of determination, his eyes fixed on the screen, trying to mimic the movements.

Luke jumped in. "I've got this, Dad!" he exclaimed, flailing more than dancing, but full of energy nonetheless.

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Meanwhile, at Cam and Mitchell's place,

"Mitchell, observe. This requires the grace of a swan and the precision of a hawk," Cam declared before imitating Daniel.

Mitchell, amused, watched from the sidelines. "That looks more like a peacock in distress than anything else," he quipped, though he couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips.

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Over at Jay and Gloria's home, Manny began his attempt, earnestly trying to replicate the steps.

Gloria, ever supportive, cheered him on. "That's it, Manny! Show them how it's done!" she encouraged, though her laughter suggested she found the whole ordeal more hilarious than impressive.

Jay, leaning back with a bemused expression, watched the attempts unfold. "I've seen better moves at a retirement home bingo night," he muttered.

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P.A.T.R.EON LAUNCH

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