Power Stone Goals from now on: I always post a minimum of 5 chapters. Henceforth the following are the goals:
Every 150 powerstones, I upload an extra chapter.
If we hit top 30 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we hit top 10 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we are top 5...well lets get to that first. Happy readings!
Chapter 27: Teaching how to create content
The next few hours passed in a leisurely fashion, as the five of us remained gathered in what gradually became an extended and unstructured bonding session. There had been no official plan to spend the evening together, yet it unfolded naturally, with conversation flowing easily and laughter surfacing at regular intervals.
Eventually, some of the older members of the cast, having just returned from their dinner outing, joined our group. Their presence added a more dynamic energy to the atmosphere, and after a few casual suggestions, the idea of playing a board game gained traction.
Due to the size of our assembled group, it was evident that playing Monopoly as individuals would be impractical. We decided instead to form pairs, a solution that allowed everyone to participate while keeping the game relatively manageable.
Crystal teamed up with Holland, while the remaining cast members paired off as well.
Dylan and I exchanged knowing glances across the table, each of us adopting an exaggerated expression of confidence as we formed a team.
Dylan leaned in with a smirk and said under his breath, "We're absolutely going to win this."
Matching his enthusiasm, I replied with a slight nod. 'Given that I've worked in legal with some of the most aggressive corporate entities out there, I think it's safe to say that we're the most qualified to dominate this board,' I thought to myself, careful not to voice the truth aloud.
Despite our early bravado, two hours later, the results spoke for themselves. Dylan and I found ourselves thoroughly defeated, with every property mortgaged and every asset depleted. I handed over our final set of properties in silence before finally turning to him.
"This is entirely your fault," I said with measured annoyance.
He feigned indignation. "How could you possibly blame me for our failure?"
"You overpaid for at least four properties and then refused to invest in hotels when we had the chance," I responded, attempting to maintain composure.
"Yeah," he said his voice going a little lower, "saving money is good...at least thats what mom said."
Unable to contain my reaction, I covered my face with my hand as the room filled with laughter. The exchange had been recorded, of course. I had kept the camera running throughout the evening, capturing spontaneous moments like this one. Whether or not MTV would choose to use this footage for their behind-the-scenes segments remained to be seen, but I intended to send it to my editor for possible inclusion in my own content.
As the night began to wind down, I took a moment to upload the video files and forward them to my editor, attaching relevant timestamps and minor notes for context. I also reached out to my landlord to finalize a few outstanding administrative matters and contacted my accountants to brief them on recent developments. I explained that I was continuing to build out my content creation strategy and intended to designate my residence as a home office, with the goal of claiming it as a business-related expense. They assured me they would review everything and provide advice accordingly.
Altogether, it had been a productive and relatively satisfying day.
Just as I was preparing to turn in for the night, I noticed a new message in my inbox from my agent. The email was written in a professional tone and offered promising news. He had managed to speak with a few of his industry contacts in London concerning the role I had previously expressed interest in—one associated with the Harry Potter franchise.
According to his report, the role in question had not yet been cast, and following a brief discussion with a casting director currently involved with the project, there appeared to be genuine interest in seeing an audition tape from me.
The request was specific: I was to record a self-tape that included a faithful interpretation of the character as described in the original novels, followed by a short commentary explaining which aspects of the character I believed had been misunderstood in prior portrayals and what elements I would personally emphasize in a future adaptation.
The opportunity was certainly exciting, but there was one constraint—the video was due in five days.
I sat with that thought for a moment, mentally revisiting the storylines and arcs of the Harry Potter series. While I was generally familiar with the franchise, I realized that I would need to revisit a substantial portion of the material to deliver a performance that felt grounded and accurate. There was no way to shortcut that preparation.
It was clear that my next few days would involve both reading and rehearsing. There was work to be done, and time, as always, was in limited supply.
The following morning unfolded without any pressing obligations for either Crystal or myself. With both of us enjoying an unusually quiet stretch in our respective schedules, we agreed to spend the day together. Wanting to make efficient use of the opportunity, I suggested we take a short drive. As we got into her car, I gave her directions to a location that was somewhat off the beaten path.
"Why exactly are we heading to some obscure corner shop in the middle of nowhere?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Have you ever wondered what my plans are for content creation?" I replied, glancing over at her.
She tilted her head slightly and smirked. "So you do have plans, huh? Alright, I'm listening. What are they?"
Her interest seemed genuine, and I took a moment to collect my thoughts before explaining. "I've been working on an idea for a content creation house. Picture a group of people living together—whatever we do becomes content. Cooking meals together, playing games, filming behind-the-scenes clips. It wouldn't just be shared experiences; each person would also have their own niche. One might focus on makeup tutorials, another on tech reviews or reaction content."
Before I could go on, Crystal raised her hand slightly in mock interruption. "Wait, hold up. I thought you told me you were living with one of your close friends—Sam, wasn't it? You never mentioned any girls."
"Yeah, well, I'm about to move into a new place with a few other people," I replied carefully. "It'll be a mixed group. Two girls, four guys."
She paused for a moment, her expression unreadable. I continued quickly, sensing the shift in tone. "Just to clarify, I had already confirmed these plans before we—you know."
Crystal, to her credit, pivoted the conversation with grace. "So you were saying, something about using this as an opportunity?"
Grateful for the redirection, I nodded. "Right. The house wouldn't just be a living arrangement—it would be a strategy. A way to build momentum quickly. Individual channels, shared projects, cross-promotion. Think of it as both a community and a business model."
She seemed to consider the idea as she drove, glancing at the road and then back at me. "Okay, that's fair. But what does any of this have to do with where we're going right now?"
"I thought it would be a good idea for you to meet one of the people who'll be part of it," I said, gesturing toward the road ahead.
It took us a little while to reach the destination, a small out-of-the-way location that Crystal didn't immediately recognize. As we pulled up and parked near the building, I glanced at the old signage and noticed the name: Kevin's Convenience.
The name instantly made me think of a show from the future—Kim's Convenience—a reference that would mean nothing to anyone else at the moment. I smiled briefly at the coincidence but kept the thought to myself.
From the outside, it was an unassuming corner store. There was nothing flashy or particularly unique about it, just the kind of shop you'd walk past without thinking twice. Still, I motioned for Crystal to follow me as we stepped inside. The interior held the expected shelves of snacks, drinks, and the general mishmash of goods you'd expect to find in any small, local store. Behind the counter stood Kevin, currently busy ringing up another customer.
I grabbed a chocolate bar from one of the shelves and gestured subtly for Crystal to come with me. We queued up behind the customer in front of us. Kevin, still focused on finishing the transaction, said politely, "Hi, how can I help you today?"
His tone surprised me—measured and courteous. It was a far cry from the brash, often chaotic energy I associated with him back in school. Then again, maybe that was just how he dealt with friends.
"Just this," I said, sliding the chocolate bar across the counter.
The moment he heard my voice, Kevin's posture shifted. His head snapped up and recognition lit up his face. "My man! The celebrity himself! What are you doing here, Jace?" he said, reaching over the counter to dap me up.
"Nothing much," I replied with a grin. "I just wanted to introduce you to..." I paused slightly not knowing what to introduce Crystal as.
Crystal, catching the awkward pause as I gestured in her direction, lingered for a bit seemingly enjoying my misery before stepping in. She smiled and offered her hand. "Hi, I'm Crystal Reed. I'm Jace's co-star. It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Crystal," Kevin replied, shaking her hand. "So what brings you both out here? Were you just passing by, or did you come looking for something?"
"Actually," I said, pulling a small box from my pocket, "I wanted to give you this."
Kevin took the box with curiosity, opening it to find a compact camera and a custom mount that could easily be attached to a wall or nearby pole.
"What's this for?" he asked. "I thought we weren't starting the content stuff for a couple more weeks."
"I figured you could get a head start," I explained. "Stockpile some footage, experiment with setups, see what works."
He nodded slowly, turning the camera over in his hands. "Yeah, that makes sense. I just haven't thought much about what kind of videos I'd even make."
"That's totally fair," I said. "But I've got an idea to get you going."
Just then, the bell on the shop door jingled as another customer walked in. Without missing a beat, I hopped over the counter, drawing a startled look from Kevin.
"Dude, be careful—there's stuff back here," he said, frowning.
I ignored him, focusing instead on setting up the camera in a high corner that offered a clean view of the counter and entrance. It wasn't fully hidden, but subtle enough to go unnoticed unless someone was actively looking.
"Trust me, just watch this," I said, adjusting the angle.
The customer, a guy who had wandered in to grab a bottle of soda, made his way to the counter. I smiled as I scanned his drink. "That'll be a dollar."
He handed over some cash, and I leaned in a little. "Hey, did you hear about Jason Mendola? His nudes leaked recently."
The guy blinked, confused. "Uh, no?"
"Yeah, even his wife, Casino Garampachio, made a statement about it. Said he's always been a nudist. Just leaves his clothes wherever."
"Right..." the guy said slowly, clearly unsure how to respond.
"You know him, right? Jason Mendola?"
"Yeah, yeah, of course," he said, nodding rapidly.
"Great," I said, leaning in with a grin. "Explain to me who Jason Mendola is."
He froze, mouth opening slightly before closing again. Crystal giggled from behind the snack display, and Kevin stared at me like he wanted to disappear into the floor.
In my head, I was already crafting the title. 'Kevin, my man, I am putting you through a master class in modern content.'
(Authors note: Bro I forgot how annoying early seasons Caroline was. Still hate Elane, and can't remember why so many people dislike Mat)
…
Authors note:
You can read some chapters ahead if you want to on my p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator