Chapter 48: "Captain Malaysia."

February 8, 6:00 PM. Mansion and Estate District of Dreamside, Château des Rêves.
Amy, dressed in a white shirt and blue denim trousers, sits at the table in her office on the third floor of the main mansion building, thoughtfully looking at the laptop screen.
There is a knock on the door.
“Come in!” Amy says, and Lila enters the room, dressed in a white triangle bikini top and white thongs. She sits down on the chair opposite Amy and looks cheerfully at her friend, crossing one leg over the other.
“So… I see one of Alex’s mommies looks much better,” Lila says in a satisfied tone. “Looks like we didn’t invite Ava as ‘crisis manager’ for nothing. And yes, sorry again for yesterday’s dinner. Well, you know what I can be like if a new snake appears in the house and starts prying into our writer-baby with personal questions.”
Amy chuckles cheerfully. “It’s all fine, don’t worry about it.”
Lila frowns theatrically. “What are you staring at so hard on the screen that you can’t tear your eyes away? In my opinion, everything is fine with the preparation for tomorrow’s party. The United States of Fusang is going to be fucking awesome.”
Amy smiles. “Oh, I wasn’t looking at the party plans. I was just… thinking about something else.” She closes her laptop and leans back in her chair. “Did you know Alex is at Aria’s house right now?”
Lila looks at the ceiling and then giggles slightly. “Well yeah… Actually, this idea appeared during our conversation with him yesterday afternoon. Even before dinner.”
Amy’s eyes widen. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lila sighs. “Because you had other things on your mind then… Kate is aware by the way—apparently she told you about it, right? Trust me—this is the right thing. And don’t look at me like that. With a cunning and slippery bitch like Aria you have to behave the same way. Alex got dressed up, took a gift and showed up at her place while Brian is on tour and the rest of her boyfriends are still somewhere… Damn, this model diva just has a shelter for dicks between her legs.”
Amy laughs. “A shelter for dicks. God, Lila, your metaphors are getting more violent by the day.” She opens the laptop again, though she doesn’t even glance at the screen. “But seriously, Alex going there alone with a gift… it’s exactly what she wants. She’s a predator who collects reactions. He thinks he’s mending bridges, but he’s basically ringing his own doorbell and asking to be played with.”
Lila leans back, stretching her arms overhead, the white triangle top riding up. “That’s the point. Our writer-baby needs to be shaken up. He’s too soft, too comfortable in his little word-cocoon. If he’s going to survive the Brian situation without collapsing into a fetal position, he needs to learn how Aria operates.” Her expression softens momentarily. “You know, I was probably wrong about Kate,” Lila says, lowering her voice a little. “Looks like she really loves Alex. Well, in principle her strategy is clear—why choose between chocolate and caramel if you can devour everything.”
Amy leans back a little and gives her a deliberately playful look. “By the way… What about that guy from Jocelyn’s team? Erik, right? Strong and pumped-up security guard, tall, square jaw… He’s been courting you for a month already, Lila. Take him while there’s a chance.”
Lila lets out a guttural, affected laugh. “Ohoho… Is that the one who constantly competes with his buddies for the best belch? Last time he overdid it so much that Madi first thought he needed hospitalization—but that genius just slightly tore his throat. You know, I think I’ll yield such a ‘treasure’ to you.”
Amy lets out a short, dry laugh, shaking her head. “Pass. I prefer my men without the risk of internal hemorrhaging during a conversation.” She looks back at the laptop, her mind drifting to the power dynamics shifting within the mansion. “Speaking of treasures, have you noticed how Daria is already eyeing Alex’s office? She hasn’t even officially moved in, but she’s practically marking her territory with that Russian sphinx stare of hers. Once Erodreamarts starts and Alex clears out for Cambria, that room is going to become her personal fortress.”
Lila shrugs, her shoulder slipping slightly from the white strap of her top. “Daria deserves a throne. Besides, Alex needs the distance. If he stays here while Brian moves into the main building on the twelfth, the atmospheric pressure in the house will drop so low we’ll all get the bends.”
Amy smirks. “Well, yeah… Daria is in Alex’s office, Brian is turning Alex and Kate’s room into Brian and Kate’s room, and Alex is living in the guest house… But Madi and I think it would be better for him to ask Sarah to live in her house in the Resident District. Yeah, he’s basically agreed with us.”
Lila hums, crossing her arms. “Yeah… I suppose it’s better. What’s he going to do—sit in the fucking guest house and write philosophical prose about being cuckolded?”
Amy chuckles dryly. “No, he’s not going to write weird satirical stuff. I hope. But as for Daria…”
Lila nods slowly. “You know, she’s not just Kate’s caddie and assistant. I think we’re seeing the first sprouts of a real family reshuffle.”
Amy waves her hand. “Yeah. That’s exactly why Ava is here. But ‘family reshuffle’ is way too soft a term for this horror in our community. Still, I think Becky prepped Daria well before she bounced to go beat Marisol’s face in Malibu. By the way, you know how things are going over there?”
Lila shrugs. “Well… Obviously Becky’s too busy to update us on how she’s planning to start shit in that city of surfer people.”
Amy snorts. “She’s got a whole team. Laney Brooks, Mina Lune, Kim Vetra, Ākuhata Mahuta, and Amara Srinivasan.”
Lila chuckles. “Fuck. That’s a proper band of troublemakers. That’s going to be worse than a carnival of clowns. You know, I almost feel bad for Marisol. Almost. But really, let’s be honest—if Becky’s got a whole squad with her, it means she’s serious about this.”
Amy says, “Yeah. And you know what’s worse? She’s got Laney Brooks and Mina Lune. That means they’re probably making some kind of content out of this.”
Lila says, “Of course they are. Those two just can’t resist turning every situation into a performance.” She sighs heavily. “But I’d rather not think about what Becky’s planning in Malibu right now.” She adjusts her hair. “So how many people are expected at the party? What are they writing on social media about the theme?”
Amy stares at the screen while tapping her fingers on the keyboard. “The United States of Fusang. People are going wild with it.”
The screen shows a stream of posts, messages, and photos flooding social media. The hashtags #FusangParty #ChateauDesReves are trending, with hundreds of comments and images already posted. Amy’s fingers keep scrolling as she reads aloud.
“I guess we’ll have about 500 people again. People are already posting their costume ideas—like samurai in powdered wigs or American Revolution-era patriots with kimonos.”
Lila chuckles dryly, adjusting the strap of her top. “Huh. That’s a fucking combination of cultures.”
Amy exhales a short laugh. “Yeah. But it’s working. People are excited.” She turns her laptop toward Lila. “Look at this—someone’s already posted a photo of them sewing a kimono out of American flag fabric.”
Lila smirks. “Of course they did.”
Lila leans forward and stares at the screen. “Huh. Kate is just great.”
Amy nods. “Kate went all out. She’s having the entire ground floor decorated like a hybrid of Edo period Japan and Colonial America. There’s going to be a tea ceremony station where you can get Founding Fathers tea blends and a Declaration of Independence sake tasting.”
Lila chuckles. “Oh, that’s perfect. Half of our guests will be wasted before they even get to the main floor.”
Amy turns the laptop toward herself and starts typing again. “A bunch of producers from HBO are messaging me—they’re all coming tomorrow. Representatives from Sony and WMG too. Shrima was right to insist on tons of bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Lila smirks. “Yeah… poor girls. They’re going to be exhausted handling that many bottles.”
Amy chuckles as she types. “Shrima already calculated she’ll need to wipe down the bar five times minimum.” She pauses mid-keystroke and glances at Lila. “You know who else is coming? Dana and the mayor.”
Lila rolls her eyes. “Well of course… our Alex’s boss and Valentina Navari herself. A business shark and a political shark circling Kate like crows the moment this whole Erodreamarts bullshit started. Honestly, I’m sure they would have pressured Kate to the very end, forcing her to participate—even if Kate were against it. The fact that we started throwing the coolest parties in Dreamside played a bit against us—now no major town event happens without us.”
Amy nods, still typing. “Yeah. And now, with all these producers coming, Kate’s got even more attention. Which is great for business, but…” She pauses, glancing up at Lila. “It also means more people watching her every move. And about Brian…”
Lila sighs. “Oh, just say it straight already: ‘I’m scared for Kate because everyone will know she’s riding the black dick of a famous rapper, and her former boyfriend is now her cuckold.’ Amy, everyone is going to know that anyway, regardless of how many people come to tomorrow’s party or what the paparazzi sniff out at Erodreamarts.” She leans forward a little. “Hello, Reality calling Amy. Next week this black bull is moving in with us, and Alex is moving out either to the guest house or to Sarah’s. Do you think everyone else in our Château isn’t aware of what’s been happening these last few days? You’d have to be blind, deaf and unconscious not to notice how Kate left for Topanga with Brian in his car on Monday evening. Like ‘Oh, that black guy with the mythically huge dick that Kate has been cooing over at parties all these last months is picking her up at 6 PM in his red Acura NSX. This is definitely a purely business meeting.’ Yeah right.”
Amy exhales a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she types. “I know, I know. It’s been a headache for you, me, and Madi these past few days. It’s just…” She pauses, glancing up at Lila. “You can’t blame me for feeling weird about it. It’s not like we’re used to this. You know Kate—she’s always been with Alex. She’s a bubbly, all-American girl. Everyone in California knows that. And now she’s with Brian. And Alex is…”
Lila crosses her arms. “Alex is what? Going with the flow? Accepting his fate? Being the ‘cool ex’?” She speaks with a slight edge. “Alex is doing what he’s always done—calculating every possible consequence and making the least disruptive decision. And I’m helping him with that. Like you and Madi.”
Amy frowns slightly. “I get that. But it’s… it’s a big change. For everyone. Alex is moving out of their room. Brian is moving in. Kate’s going to be living with him soon. It’s not just a phase, Lila. It’s a paradigm shift.” She sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “And I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I’m just saying it’s a lot. And I don’t know how your friend Ava will help us deal with this.”
Lila exhales through her nose. “Ava will help because she’s actually good at this kind of shit. She’s a psychologist and educator, Amy. You asked me for a crisis manager, so I found her for you.” Amy smirks. “Yes, I remember that this was originally my idea… No, I’m grateful to you and Ava. It’s just that Madi escapes all this by working at Health&Cozy, while I have to deal with it every time I’m not working on another YouTube video or streaming on Twitch. I don’t know how Brian is going to get along with us. You, me, Madi, Daria, a bunch of maids, gardeners and other staff—not to mention the security. It’s one thing when a massive basketball player, boxer and rapper comes to our parties and another when he literally lives in the bedroom of the commune’s mistress.”
Lila leans back in her chair. “Well… He’s a rapper, Amy, not a warlord. Besides, Brian isn’t exactly the type to come in and start barking orders. He’s more… predatory in a quiet way. He doesn’t need to shout to be the center of attention.”
“That’s exactly what worries me,” Amy says, looking at her screen but not typing. “The quiet ones are the ones who notice everything. He’s going to be living in the heart of the house. He’s going to have a map of our entire social ecosystem within a week. And behind Brian is Aria, with her constant schemes and experiments.”
Lila rolls her eyes. “I get your concerns, but… Fuck. You’re acting like we’re adopting a foreign spy instead of a successful musician. Brian likes Kate, and he’s too dominant to be Aria’s puppet.” Amy lets out a loud chuckle. “Oh… listen, you’re a bad psychologist, Ava is clearly better. Don’t try to calm me down with nonsense. It was Aria who arranged everything. Obviously Brian is following her instructions. Of course, we don’t know what’s going on between them right now and what plans they’re making… It would be good if his public image matches what he’s really like.”
Lila shoves her chair back, stretching her arms overhead. “Public image is always a performance, Amy. Even if he’s actually a decent guy, he’s still going to be performing ‘Rapper in a Rich Girl’s Mansion.’ And did you forget what you were typing?”
“No. I’m… working,” Amy mutters, though she hasn’t typed a character in three minutes. “I’m just saying, the vibe is shifting. Can’t you feel it? It’s like… when you know a storm is coming but it’s still sunny outside. Everyone’s pretending everything is normal while we’re all mentally bracing for the impact of Brian’s 6’5” frame in the hallways.”
The door opens and Madi wanders in, holding a green smoothie. She’s dressed in a blue T-shirt and black Adidas sports pants. The door slams shut, and Madi walks over to the small white couch at the other end of Amy’s office and sits down on it.
“So… it was a hard day at the clinic and if anyone says something about Aria, Brian or cuckolding…” Madi yawns, lightly covering her mouth with her palm. “Then I swear, I’ll pour a cup of this smoothie on you and go get a new one. Oh…”
Madi looks tired, but she’s still pretty, even slightly sleepy with her makeup washed off.
She crosses one leg over the other—the faces on the plush Pokémon slippers wrinkle funny.
“Well, have you made the costume for Fusang?” she asks, addressing Lila. “It’s essentially a party of Asian cultures—you can sneak some Malaysian motifs into your Qing colonist uniform, nobody really cares anyway.” Lila lets out a short, sharp laugh and settles back into her chair, glancing at Madi’s Pokémon slippers. “Malaysian motifs? Please. I prepared something special. The whole point is that it’s a mess. Kate wants a fever dream, so I’m giving her a fever dream.”
Amy finally turns away from her screen, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Look at her. Fresh from the clinic and already threatening us with vegetable juice. You’re exhausted, Madi. Go take a nap before you actually start pouring things on people.”
Madi doesn’t move, just leans her head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. “I’m not exhausted. I’m emotionally drained. There’s a difference.” She lifts her head from the back of the couch and looks at Lila, raising an eyebrow. “Mm? ‘Something special’? Are you going to show up at the party naked, covering your nipples and pussy with band-aids with images of Malaysian motifs? I’m saying that because you and Kae never wear anything except thongs and bras.” Madi yawns again, covering her mouth with her palm. “Kae is an extravagant OnlyFans star, and you’ve got a déformation professionnelle from four years of helping Alex with erotic books. Just admit it.”
Lila lets out a loud, genuine laugh, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. “First of all, the band-aid idea is actually kind of genius, so don’t steal it. Second, it’s called aesthetic curation, Madi. There’s a difference between being a porn star and being a creative consultant for high-end erotic literature.” She glances at Amy, who is now grinning. “Besides, the thong-and-bra look is just efficient. Why waste time with buttons when you can just… be?”
Amy rolls her eyes, finally clicking a few keys on her keyboard. “Efficient. Right. That’s why you spend three hours picking out which design best matches your mood. Madi, ignore her. She’s just trying to justify why her wardrobe consists entirely of things that can be removed in under five seconds.”
Madi takes a slow sip of her smoothie, the straw making a wet noise as she drains the last bit of the green liquid. “I’m just saying, sweetheart, it’s a practical choice when you’re chronically underdressed. It saves you from having to undress.” She shifts on the couch, the Pokémon slippers sliding across the floor as she tucks her legs beneath her.
“And speaking of practical choices,” she continues, turning her attention to Lila, “if you do end up in band-aids at the party, I suggest choosing designs that match the event’s color scheme. The Malaysian flag is red and white, right? You wouldn’t want to clash.”
Lila gives a dramatic sigh, feigning exasperation. “God, you’re just jealous of my mixed-race body, which attracts white guys.” She turns in her chair to face Madi. “I don’t need your fashion advice, Madi. Unlike you, I’m not a walking medical cliché who lives most of the day in scrubs and yoga pants. And the Jalur Gemilang has four colors: red, white, blue and yellow…”
Amy snorts, still typing at her laptop. “Oh no, Lila, that’s not what you’re like at all. You’re just someone who forgets to change out of her modeling outfit until the next photo shoot.”
“…14 red and white stripes, and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star—the Bintang Persekutuan.” Lila adds, ignoring Amy and looking at Madi while crossing her arms over her chest.
Madi lazily shrugs and smiles. “Okay, calm down, sweetheart. I asked if you were going to be naked with stickers on your tits. The number of stripes is irrelevant to the structural integrity of a band-aid, I guess.”
Lila pouts, leaning back in her chair. “It’s about symbolism, Madi. If I’m going to be the Pacific Sexiness of the party, I can’t just throw some random tape on. It has to be a statement. A colonial-era Malaysian fusion statement. It’s high art.”
Amy stops typing and turns around, a smirk on her lips. “High art. Right. Because nothing says ‘sophisticated fusion’ like a crescent moon on a nipple. I can see the HBO producers now, absolutely fascinated by the geopolitical implications of your breasts and…umm…pussy.”
“Exactly!”
Lila points at Amy, her voice rising. “You understand! It’s a critique of the West’s appropriation of Eastern cultures through…you know…sex tourism and…um…” She trails off, realizing she hasn’t thought this through. “And…other stuff.”
Amy pauses, then keeps typing. “I think Alex will be able to help you. He’s so knowledgeable and loves history and politics. Besides, you’re not just Malaysian—you’re also Chinese and Scottish… and Irish… You’re… a descendant of the victims of colonization to the fourth power.”
Lila laughs. “Exactly! I’m a walking map of the British Empire’s mistakes. It’s practically a costume in itself.”
Madi moans, her gaze drifting toward the door. “Can we just… stop?” Her voice drops. “I’m exhausted. I’ve spent eight hours dealing with people’s health anxieties, and the last thing I want is talks about the Malaysian flag on Lila’s nipples and pussy.”
Amy leans back in her chair, folding her hands behind her head. “Oh no, Madi, you can’t stop her now. She’s finally found the intersection of her politics and her nudity.” She turns to Lila. “So, how do you plan to put a flag on your nipples and pussy?”
Lila flutters her fingers. “Oh, I think I’ll do something special with the crescent moon. Maybe I’ll cut out crescent-shaped band-aids and put them… there.” She gestures vaguely downward. Madi moans.
Amy says thoughtfully, “So… a crescent on one buttock, and the star on the other. You’ll paint the butt itself blue. And in front how?”
Lila’s grin widens as she leans forward. “Oh, that’s the genius part!” She moves her hands as if holding invisible hip pads. “The main field of the flag—red and white stripes—right here, across both hips. Like I’m the living embodiment of the national anthem!” She spreads her legs slightly, still perched on her chair.
“And between them…” She wiggles her fingers. “…the canton. The blue rectangle with the crescent and star. Right between my… lips.”
Madi groans and presses her palms to her eyes. “Oh god. You’re making me regret asking.”
Amy giggles, still typing one-handed. “It’s brilliant, actually. Very… cultural. Very educational. I’m sure our Alex will appreciate the attention to detail.”
Lila practically bounces in her seat. “Exactly! Alex is such a history buff, he’ll totally get it. I mean, imagine him seeing me like that, all these stripes across my hips…” She makes a sweeping motion. “And then the blue, right there…” She points to her crotch with a sly grin. “It’s not just a costume, it’s a whole political statement. A live-action textbook of colonial history.”
Madi lowers her hands, giving Lila a skeptical look. “Of course, of course… Oh, yes. You’re simply Captain Malaysia. You’ll definitely glorify one of your historical homelands with this performance.” She giggles.
Amy chuckles, fingers dancing over the keyboard. “Oh, come on, Madi. It’s really creative. I mean, it’s like she’s made herself into a living piece of Malaysia. A walking Malaysian flag.”
Lila preens, shifting in her seat. “Precisely! I’m a walking Malaysia. I’ll be the most educational stripper at that party.” She crosses her legs. “Of course, I’m also making a point. About the legacy of colonialism and how it shapes the modern world.”
Madi chuckles. “That’s one interpretation. Or it could just be… Lila really wants Alex to stare at her bare pussy with national colors on it.”
Lila waves a hand. “Nah, it’s got layers, you see? Like… When I’m spreading my legs at the party, people will appreciate the cultural significance.”
Amy finally turns from her laptop to face Lila, grinning. “Oh, absolutely. The Malaysian flag does look like the flag of the East India Company. You’re putting the colonial legacy of the Malaysian flag right where it belongs—between your legs.” She cackles at her own joke.
Lila raises her index finger. “It’s more than that. It’s historical and cultural performance art. I’m literally embodying the spirit of a nation.”
Madi takes a long sip of her smoothie, shaking her head. “Honestly, Lila, I think you’re just looking for a way to fix his fantasy on your pussy. But hey…” She gestures vaguely. “History and culture are important. Our child Alex learns better when everything involves pretty girls.”
Lila exclaims. “Exactly! Visual aids are the key to retention. I’m a pedagogical tool.”
Amy laughs, turning back to her screen, voice light. “Pedagogical tool. I love that. I’ll make sure to put that if anyone asks why you’re wandering around the party looking like… a geography project.”
Madi sighs, the sound rattling in her throat as she sinks deeper into the white couch. “Okay. I just want a nap. A long, dreamless nap where no one mentions flags, colonialism, or the specific placement of national symbols on a vulva.”
She closes her eyes, her head lolling to the side.