Welcome back to my little love story. After a two year hiatus Danielle, Londyn, and friends are back. If you're new to the story or just need a refresher the original thread is here...Under The Tartosan Sun. Fair warning that thread is long (46 chapters and 40 pages on Vanilla) and a bit of a mess. The early chapters are fun just to see how I've grown as a writer and how my writing style has evolved. The later chapters are the relevent ones for the story now. This new thread picks up the story less than week after the events in Chapter 46.
I hope you enjoy, and thank you for coming along for the journey ❤️
Well, speaking of path's crossing... look who I stumbled across by chance - the wonderful ladies of UtTS. This has brought a much needed smile to my face. Thank you DaniRose2143
BlueSeaWavessimgirl1010oolonglongEllupelluellugidget1234 Thank you so much 😊 I'm looking forward to digging into Mimi's past. Her character is perfect for flashbacks. Some of you may remember her from Schemes and Dreams and the short lived Journeys story. This timeline is about 4-5 years after the events in those. A lot has happened in that time that we never got to see. All of those things were storylines I intended to explore in Schemes. Now we'll get to enjoy them through flashbacks. 😊
It was great that they ran into Mimi! And everyone is doing so well. And they had a little reunion of sorts with Venessa on the phone! I hope that Mimi decides to make that trip to Tartosa! 🙂
Such a lovely update! Glad the interview went well for Danielle, and then Londyn reunites with Mimi ☺️ A perfect way into Mimi's backstory, Paige is a lovely name. I hope the day she visits Tartose comes soon😁 They all look so gorgeous at dinner too
“We’re live in 5…4…3…” the cameraman said as he simultaneously counted down by hand. He went mute as he reached two, and finished the countdown by hand. He pointed to the set. Danielle had been replaying Londyn’s words. “You’re a writer. Your world revolves around words. That’s all an interview is, words. Baby, you’re going to be awesome!”
“Welcome back for the second hour of Good Morning San My! We’re starting it with another in our series, ‘Ones To Know’. Our guest this morning is the up and coming author of the San Myshuno Times bestseller ‘More of You”, Danielle Huntley. Welcome Danielle.”
“Thank you for having me on Karlee. It’s such a thrill to be here.” Once she focused on Karlee and the words began flowing Danielle found her calm center. The cameras melted into the background.
Everything was going just as she’d expected. Softball questions which didn’t need deep answers, though there was usually one spot in these interviews where the subject could offer some insight into themselves or their work. Danielle got her chance.
“What's something you feel really made a big difference for you as a writer?”
“Finding an agent and a publisher who believed in me and the stories I want to tell. They allowed me the freedom to write my stories in a way that I can pull from my own experiences and those closest to me."
"Being gay myself it’s more authentic for me to write from that perspective. Regardless of orientation, the themes in my books are universal. Love is love. That authenticity of lived experience shows in my work and readers connect with that.”
A couple more easy questions and the producer signaled to wrap it up. Danielle found herself looking forward to doing this again. It wasn’t as scary as she thought it might be. “I see our time is almost up. I want to thank Danielle for coming in. It’s been an absolute pleasure. I hope we’ll see you again soon. Danielle Huntley.”
The stage manager escorted Danielle back to the green room. Londyn was ready with a hug and a couple bottles of water. She knew just how hot studio lights were. Danielle gratefully took a long drink and fished her phone out of her purse. Jasmine had already texted her congratulations. She’d been watching the interview in her office. With that done the day was theirs. The Fashion Week gala was the following evening. They planned to go see the city, followed by dinner that night at one of San Myshuno’s trendy eateries.
San Myshuno’s Spice District had been undergoing a renaissance in recent years. The old industrial buildings were being revitalized and repurposed for a variety of uses, including some of the city’s most trendy eateries. Verve was one of the trendiest. It was located along the waterfront in an old warehouse and attracted a diverse crowd, including San My’s A-listers.
Verve included a small bar in the front of the house. It was a perfect spot to hang out and grab a glass of wine, an artisan mixed drink, or try one of the numerous craft beers on tap while waiting for a table. Danielle and Londyn were perched at the bar when a leggy blonde passed the window. As she stepped on the deck leading to the front door she glanced in and could hardly believe her eyes.
She hurried inside as fast her stilettos would allow and made her way into the bar. She wanted to get better look at the woman in the black dress. She was fairly sure it was her old friend. As she drew closer she heard the her speak to the blonde beside her, the voice was unmistakable. "Londyn Huntley! Oh my God girl get over here and gimme a hug"
Londyn turned, surprise written on her face. Just like the other woman, Londyn instantly recognized the voice. "Mimi! Get outta here!" Londyn slid off her stool and wrapped Mimi in a hug. She stepped back to take in the sight of her friend. It had been three years since they'd seen each other. "Let me get a look at you!!! Girl, that look is fire!" Londyn quickly handled introductions.
"Are you in town performing?"
"Sort of. I do perform here, but San My is also home. It's a long story." Mimi gasped, "Look, my date stood me up at the last minute. Why don't you and Danielle join me. I'd really love the company. And I did not spend three hours getting ready just to throw it all away because of a man. We can do a little catching up."
Londyn looked at Danielle to gauge her interest. They had planned this evening as a couple's night out. “Sounds like fun!” Danielle beamed “Londyn’s told me so much about you. I’m dying to hear more.”
“Oh good! It’s a date then. I come here a lot so I can get us a table quick. Wait here." She made her way over to the host station. True to her word, she scored a table for them in Verve's VIP dining room. Mimi's alter ego, the Lady Mimi Eleganza, had popped up on Londyn's social media feed now and then. Not enough to keep up with Mimi herself, but enough to paint a picture of success in Londyn's mind. Clearly Mimi was doing better than Londyn could have ever imagined.
As soon as they were seated and the staff went to work. They greeted her warmly and she returned the favor, calling each by name. Mimi registered Londyn's expression when each of them greeted Mimi as Miss Osteer. One had even called her Paige. Seeing the look Mimi smiled and gave a subtle wave of her hand.
When they had a moment of privacy Londyn pounced. "Paige Osteer? Honey, spill the tea! It's like a whole new you. And..." Londyn hesitated, the next comment was delicate, verging on deeply personal, she wanted to handle it respectfully. "When you hugged me, it felt...different. More..."
Mimi smiled, "...real?" she said finishing Londyn's thought. Her nod said Mimi had it right. They had been roommates when Mimi had been starting out as a drag artist. Londyn and Venessa had been Mimi's style council. With Mimi being a serial hugger, they had embraced her while she was in character. Foam padding and silicone does wonders but it doesn't compare to the real thing. “Well it is in a way. It all happened after I caused my parents divorce.” She smiled and waited for Londyn’s reaction.
“Wait, you did what? How!?” Londyn asked, genuinely surprised. Danielle’s face mirroring her surprise. This little change of plans was shaping up to be full of surprises.
“Oh you know, I just told my family I was going ahead with my transition. Things kind of went sideways after I dropped that juicy little bombshell.”
“So, what, you're like fully transitioned?” Londyn said excitedly. "Don't get me wrong. I'm so happy for you. You never once looked comfortable trying to be Johnny. That was so not you."
“Thank you hun. I still have a couple procedures left. But everything in this dress, is all me! I’ve been living full time for almost three years. A week from tomorrow will be my third anniversary. Best decision I ever made.”
t hadn’t been easy, but she wouldn’t have done anything differently. She knew the path to happiness meant being her true self. Mimi took a moment to compose herself. “Their marriage was a lost cause anyway. Me saying I was going through with transitioning was the coup de grace. Nancy blamed my dad for me being...me. I didn’t have to make my announcement in front of her, but she would’ve found out anyway. And it wouldn’t have changed a single thing. A couple months later my dad filed for divorce and moved out. He went back to being Geoffrey Osteer. I'm now Mimi Paige Osteer. One time he told me Paige was one of the names they'd picked out for me. It was his choice, not Nancy's. She hated it. I love him to death so it was an easy decision. I still use Mimi Eleganza for my career and my public persona. I use Paige Osteer when I want step away from the spotlight and simply blend in.”
“Paige is a lovely name. And it’s awesome your dad was the one who stood by you.” Danielle said. “Too many parents don't.”
“He’s a unicorn. He’s living in Cuidad Enamorada now with his girlfriend Maria. I really like her and they seem to be in love. Like genuinely in love. His karmic reward for being such a wonderful, loving dad.”
Their meals soon arrived. The food at Verve was billed as elevated tapas, with a twist. Between bites, and quizzical looks at the food, Mimi explained how she arrived in San Myshuno.
Her decision to transition had completely wrecked her already fractured relationship with her mom, Nancy. The divorce made things extremely toxic between the two. Mimi's drag mom, Gideon, had contacts in the San Myshuno drag scene. In no time Gideon helped her land a headline gig at local club called Illusions. "San Myshuno gave me time, space, and freedom to focus on myself and my career. The fact I have an entire continent between me and Nancy is icing on the cake."
"Before I knew it I was madly in love with San My. The first winter was murder. I never knew it could be so cold. Now I have a closet full of cute, comfy sweaters so I cope."
"Have you been back to Del Sol Valley at all?" Londyn asked.
"Once or twice a year. I go back for a couple days. I do a handful of shows at The Orchid. It will always have a special place in my heart. Other than that, the city is part of my past. Enough about me sweetie, I wanna hear about you and Danielle. How did you wind up half way around the world in Tartosa?"
"You remember how I always told you and Nessa, I'd find the one I was destined to be with forever?" Mimi nodded. "I was in Tartosa for a shoot, I went out for a drink one evening, and this angel walked in. I knew the instant I laid eyes on her, she was the one."
"I'd moved there a few months earlier" Danielle said. "Being a romance novelist I couldn't think of a better place to find my muse. I found a lot more than that."
"You should come visit! I remember your taste in men. Hun, you'd die of terminal happiness. I may be a lesbian but I can still appreciate a good looking man."
"Ooo, take me with you!"
"I was thinking about a vacation trip to somewhere exotic after I finish my transition. A little treat for myself. Tartosa sounds so romantic." Mimi pictured her future post-transition self, lounging in a bikini on the Tartosan coast. That day couldn't come soon enough.
The rest of the evening passed in a sea of conversation, catching up and reconnecting, and building a new friendship. It was impossible to cover three years in a single night but they did their best. At one point Londyn got out her phone and dialed Venessa. Londyn put the phone up so she could see and talk to Mimi. Mimi couldn't hold back any longer, the tears of joy came. Venessa was back in Del Sol relaxing after another long day on set, but she stayed on the line with them. It was like old times in the little bungalow all over again in spite of the miles between them.
As the clock went well past midnight they began to wrap up the evening. As they walked out, they stopped to say their goodbyes.
"One of the biggest regrets in my life was losing touch with you and Venessa. I hope we never do that again."
"I don't feel like tonight was an accident. I think our paths crossed for a reason. I can't wait to see what it might be!"
I’m not surprised that you are excited to get back to these sims. They are your babies and you have lived with them for a while! It was wonderful to see them together again. Teasing, loving and supporting each other. Interesting that Londyn and Danielle are talking about expanding their family. I can’t wait to see what comes up next!
