Chapter Three: Erik's Very Bad, Horrible Day

Erik felt so badly about how things went on Love Day and how Leila got so very hurt that night, that he decided he'd ask her to go to the Romance Festival. "Sure, I'd love to go, Erik. I'll meet you there!" She said. Erik finished burning his latest track and released it so he wouldn't lose his Brand Company Contract. Sometimes they were overbearing and unforgiving of a personality's heavy schedule. That done, he headed downtown to San Myshuno and the festival. He was rather glad to see Leila was there. He had thought her saying she'd meet him there was a ploy. A polite way of blowing him off. He asked her to come take a drink of the special tea, only she didn't follow him over. While he was there, he did take some of the Sak-something or other tea and then decided to ask the Romance Guru a question, specifically about this current relationship he was in. Erik just didn't expect to hear what Bradford Bernard had to say:   "At least your flaws are perfectly matched."

Suddenly, Erik saw his mother and decided he'd get her advice.

 Only she wasn't as positive as he had hoped. "Relationships take time to grow, Erik, don't be hasty."


"But you don't understand, Mom, I really love this girl."

"I'm sure you think you do, but love isn't measured by how flirty you feel when you see her. Just how much do you know about her? How long have you known her?"

"We just met. But it was like love at first sight. I mean, you could all but see the sparks flying."

"Um-hm, and just what color are her eyes? Erik, you've done this your whole life. You've always been a very competitive Sim. Both your brothers and your sister are married, and so you want to be, too. I understand. Truly, I do. But, you need more than just sparks to keep a relationship going."

"I know all of this, Mother."

"Ah, yes, but you have Sims, fans flocking about you all of the time. I've heard through the family grapevine, that Love Day was a bit of a bust for you. How she reacts to your fans' adoration matters. A lot."
"I see my sister has a big mouth."

Finally,Erik got Leila to come over with him to see the Guru, although she didn't stay, nor did she try some of that Sakura? tea. He went ahead and asked the Sim again about this relationship. Again, it wasn't what he wanted to hear. 

He began to wonder if he was being stubborn. Then it occurred to him there may well be a way to test it. Just to see if there was any truth at all in what his mother and the Guru said, Erik caught up with Leila. 

"Hey, there you are. Are you here with me, or just here?" he said.

"Of course I'm here with you," Leila said, as Erik put his arms around her.

Erik was now in a quandary, between the Guru and his mother's words of caution and with Leila acting a tad standoffish, he seriously wondered if he should ask Leila to just be friends and see what happens? Should he look around a bit more and see who else might be out there? Before he made up his mind he realized it was time for his gig.

Off he went to the Rock and Roll Music Hall in Windenburg. For once, the fan that followed him onto the stage didn't pick up the microphone and start to howl into it, as others were wont to do. Things were looking up a bit. He set up his drone, George, to begin to live stream, as usual, and then began the set.









Suddenly, the sound cut out and Erik saw fingers of blue electricity shoot out from the side of the amplifier. This wasn't good. 

This day was exhausting. Doing the only thing possible and not wishing to disappoint his fans, he took out a screwdriver and commenced fixing this dilapidated equipment. What else could he do? The show must go on, after all.

Chapter Two: Obsessed Fan!

When his booking agency called giving him the date, time and place for his next gig, Erik found himself a tad leery. He was still reeling from the anonymous warning somebody had texted him a few days earlier. Shaking it off, this was his 'job' and he loved to sing. He especially loved to sing in front of a crowd. So, off he went. He got to the concert hall, but the place was so chilly with the 'first day of Spring' snowstorm they were having. He left his hat, gloves and jacket on. He knew if he got too hot during the performance, he could peel out of the jacket and throw it into the audience. Some fan would likely faint at catching it. Looking around, the only company he seemed to have were the rats crawling all over the floor. Must be the cheaper seats, he thought, grinning.

Next thing he knew he heard the rush of people as the front doors were opened to allow them in. Suddenly, he wasn't alone on the stage anymore. This troubled him. He always had people, fans mostly, storm the stage, but because of that peculiar warning, Erik startled a bit. Especially when one fellow literally got in his face! 

This made him completely uncomfortable. He didn't like to be touched, especially by practical strangers. While he knew Marcelo Gary's name, that was about all he knew of him. What was with this guy, anyway?

Although Erik tried to be nice about it, he really wanted the guy to leave him alone. Marcelo would not be put off, however.

"Hey, Marcelo, let me go, please. I have a show to do."
"No way. Erik, I love you. I just wanted you to know. I'll never let you go. Never."

Finally, Erik placed his gloved hands on the Sims' shoulders and shoved him away. Thankfully, Marcelo left the stage. Long enough, at least for Erik to start the show. To Erik's profound chagrin, Marcelo bounced back like a yo-yo! Only this time, he was sans his outerwear.







Others caught Marcelo's full Monte and were it not so dangerous a thing, Erik might have laughed. However, he was freaked-out.

 

The worst thing was, Marcelo persisted. He neither put his clothes back on nor did he leave. Erik wanted to shout at him, his own rage growing. There were ladies present, after all. The Sim was nothing short of a cad.

Finally, Erik finished his set. Marcelo saw that as another reason for him to join his idol on the stage. Erik had finally had enough of this Sims' exhibitionism. Taking in a deep breath, Erik steeled himself for the fight of his life.


"Marcelo, or should I call you 'Stan'. I'm very sorry, but it has come to this," Erik said, while his dancer looked on. "En garde."

The two tussled back and forth for a few minutes. To Erik's surprise, he actually won.

"I will only ask you this once. Leave."

"B-b-but I love you, Erik. How could you beat me up like that. I always thought you were such a nice Sim, too. You're a monster. And I hate you. You best watch your back from here on out."









As soon as Marcelo left the concert hall, Erik grabbed his cell phone to call the police. The Detective showed up right away, his partner just moments later. Curiously, the partner found a plate of Ambrosia on the sidewalk just outside of the theater. Even more curious was the half-eaten tiered cake Erik found where his audience stood. Erik picked up the plate  of Ambrosia and decided to put it away. Wasn't this an antidote to poison? He knew Marcelo had gone away, but he'd gone away angry. With threatening words dripping from his lips.

Chapter One: A Cautionary Tale

They say you can never be too nice … however, that's doesn't apply to Global Superstars.
Erik Cantrell performed a concert in the early evening and after it was over, he decided to visit the local lounge. He was hungry and a tad thirsty for some juice.

Happy to see so many fans had followed him out, he decided to mingle. After all, never let it be said that Erik Cantrell didn't know to whom he owed his meteoric rise to fame. His fans, of course. He loved them and it gave him great joy to meet them.

Things were going well until he happened to overhear the desperate whispers of Mortimer Goth. Erik wasn't pleased with what his 'friend' said about him.

Dismayed, he did his best to dispel the less than flattering rumor. Even though he risked his Pristine Reputation, and that his parents had taught him to be a gentleman, besides, expletives came flying out of his mouth, to his intense regret. He was just so angry that this so-called friend was so busy stabbing him in the back this way. Erik did wonder just which celebrity had asked Morty to bad-mouth him like this.

Afterward, he decided it would be best to continue to mingle, signing autographs as he went.

     

He even decided to get to know that new girl that had come in. Seems there is a bit of a spark between them. "So nice to meet you, Torrie."

Before Erik decided to leave the establishment, he got a curious call, warning him about being so very nice and signing so many autographs for his fans. He should watch out, as he now had a 'Stan'. A fan so out-of-control, Erik needed to watch his back as he may very well be stalked by said fan.