#Colosseum Theater

[frances-baby-houseman]

I put on Gladiator 1 and y'all, this is pretty entertaining! If someone asked me if I was not entertained, I would say actually I am entertained!

[ancientcharm]

DOMUS AUREA - Rome.

Photos: Andreas Wiessner (March 10, 2024)

After the great fire in Rome on July of 64, Emperor Nero ordered the construction of a new palace. Nero was not interested in politics and even less in military affairs, his true interest was art: music, theater, poetry and beautiful works. The palace was built on the neighborhoods destroyed by the fire and called DOMUS AUREA (Golden House). Nevertheless, he only lived there for a few months before his death. Three years later, Emperor Vespasian took all the treasures of Nero's palace and, added to the gold and treasures of the temple of Jerusalem, ordered the construction of the Amphitheater known as The Colosseum in that place, as well as thermal baths and other facilities that brought joy to the people. Even so, part of the ruins of the Domus Aurea emerged and are now an archaeological site.

[cethvalier]

pia douwes & uwe kröger outside of the colosseum theater in essen

[keen-eye]

someone please draw Bill Cipher, dressed like Julius Caesar, watching a gladiatorial fight at the Colosseum and maniacally laughing at the violence and bloodshed

maybe eating some movie theater popcorn

[lemonynuggets]

made this monstrosity of a drawing that took 5 years off my lifespan based on the neotheater album cover

it's really personal so i won't say much abt it but i'm really proud of it. please observe. i'm exhausted from drawing this

reblogs very appreciated :)

[Image Description: A digital illustration showing a character standing on stage. The camera is to their back, showing their white wings and hiding their expression. The setting looks to be an outdoor theater, but the framing makes it look more like the colosseum. Confetti falls from the sky, erupting from the bells of wind instruments nestled in the clouds, as well as a drum and cymbal. No one sits in the theater. The character is alone in their celebration. End ID]

ID by @starberry-skies

[happinessismusic]

Iconic country music Oklahomans will continue to dominate the stage at Las Vegas' Colosseum at Caesars Palace, as chart-topping artist, television personality, entrepreneur and Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton has six performances scheduled at the 4,300-seat theater from Feb. 5-15, 2025.

Tickets for concerts on Feb. 5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15 will go on sale to the public Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. PT. Blake Shelton fans will have access to a presale beginning a day prior at 10 a.m. PT.

Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com/BlakeSheltonVegas.

"We've been talking about a Vegas residency for a few years, and all the pieces just came together for a run next year," Shelton said. "The Colosseum is such an iconic venue, and I'm excited to bring some honky-tonk neon to the Palace.

Current Colosseum residency holder Garth Brooks — who has performed at the venue in 2023 and 2024 — has 18 dates left at the venue through Dec. 22.

[vintagelasvegas]

Caesars Palace under construction, March 25, 1966

CAESARS PALACE TIMELINE

• '63: Kirk Kerkoian buys property from F. & W. Backer 6/17/63 (Grandissimo, D Schwartz) and smaller property owners, leases to Desert Palace Inc (J Sarno and partners)

• '65: Groundbreaking 1/26/65

• '66: Opened 8/5/1966 with Roman (Julius) Tower. The original hotel was designed by architect Melvin Grossman.

• '68: Kerkorian sells land to Caesars in Sep. (Caesars Palace Buys Its Own Site. RJ, 9/18/68).

• '69: Desert Palace Inc sold to Lum's Inc (Final Approval Given for Lum's to Buy Caesars. RJ, 8/22/69).

• '70: Centurion (Nobu) Tower opens in Aug., 14-fl. (RJ 5/20/69, RJ 8/8/70, RJ 7/21/2004).

• '72: Lum's Inc changes name to Caesars World.

• '74: Expansion of Roman Tower (reverse S-curve west of Centurion tower)

• '79: Fantasy (Forum, Colosseum) Tower opened in Nov. (22-fl, 233-ft), architect Marnell Corrao (LVS 11/22/79); People-mover installed; Omnimax Theater opened 12/1/79.

• '80: new porte-cochère built in Spring.

• '86: second sign added to north end of property with electronic reader board.

• '89: the first sign is redesigned in white.

• '92: Opening of Forum Shops, May 1. Developed by Simon & Associates, designed by Marnell Corrao Associates, Terry Dougall interior design.

• '97: Palace Tower addition; rear wings & pool demolished; 1/4 of the fountain covered.

• '99: Forum Shops expand to street level; second sign removed. Caesars World absorbed by Park Place Entertainment

• '00: Remodeling - "Sarno block" exterior removed and replaced beginning 5/2000 (RJ 5/15/00).

• '03: First sign removed, third sign added. Colosseum Theater addition. Park Place Ent renamed Caesars Entertainment.

• '05: Augustus Tower. 2009: Octavius Tower.

Photo by Las Vegas News Bureau

[werewolfulrich]

I remember people in my theater having a great time watching Godzilla x Kong. There was one group who I kinda wish was sitting in the rows ahead of me so I could see their reactions more. They sounded like they were enjoying the movie, especially at the final fight.

When Godzilla came back to the Colosseum for a nap, everyone laughed. lol Godzilla: "Ah yes, my perfect bed."

[likecrapthroughagoose]

Godzilla x Kong gets... probably a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 from me. I liked it a lot, but the last act felt like it was rushing (which should never be the case for a 2+ hour movie). The action was really good though and the visual effects, while dwarfed by Minus One, were excellent.

Spoiler-y opinions below:

Okay so- Kong's portions of the movie were actually really strong. Granted, I'm easily amused by anything that involves monkeys falling down a lot. But in all seriousness, you can tell they had the most story ideas for Kong. His fights are good, the monsters his arc introduces are cool, and the way they've aged his design is also pretty nifty. You will believe a gorilla can be daddy.

That said, the strength of Kong's part of the movie brings me to my main complaint. The other two focal points, Godzilla and the human cast really didn't feel like they had as much to do. Less so for the human cast, which I'll get to in a moment, but it kinda felt like Godzilla was sidelined.

Weirdly, that isn't to say he wasn't in the movie. Godzilla's scenes are almost as plentiful as Kong's, if not equally so. The movie, to its credit, does a pretty good job of giving everyone equal-ish screentime, so Godzilla does get plenty of scenes. The problem is that most of them are just him going from point A to point B to point C and so forth.

In fairness, Goji's scenes are at least entertaining. He gets some superb city destruction and the best fights in the movie (and it has plenty) are his. Though speaking of fights, I am disappointed that we didn't get to see any new-old monsters. Scylla is a cool enough design on its own that I don't mind it, but Tiamat is similar enough to Manda that I felt like SOME acknowledgement could be made. I mean shoot, just have them be called Titanus Ebirah and Titanus Manda on the computer radar thingie they keep cutting to. Problem solved.

At least we get Godzilla sleeping in the Colosseum like a cat. It's a cheap pop, but I'm still here for it.

The human story is decent, if nothing special. The only returning cast are Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, and Brian Tyree Henry. Dan Stevens joins them as... I guess Kong's veterinarian for lack of a better word, rounding out the quartet of focal characters. I don't know if I enjoyed his character or if he annoyed me. Hottle and Hall deliver more of the "constantly mildly uncomfortable deaf girl who just wishes everyone would leave her pet gorilla alone and her overprotective adopted mother" stuff. It was fine in the last movie, it's fine here. Henry's conspiracy theorist character is... less irksome than he could have been. While in the previous film he was a surprising amount of depth for the archetype he was portraying, here he's firmly in the comic relief role. It never quite veers into annoying, but there are parts where it does leave you going, "okay, but why does he need to be here?" He at least makes it out better than Stevens, who may be the world's first example of a token white guy.

All that said, the human plot was actually kinda working for me. The whole "lost civilization deep within the hollow earth that harnesses mysterious natural powers and also worships/summons Mothra" thing felt like a really fun tribute to the kind of story you'd see in the classic Showa Era films without being anachronistic.

As much as I complain, there was something I noticed beyond the movie itself that made me happy. The theater was packed, which is great to see, but more than that there was a ton of kids in there, right around the same age I was when I was first getting into Godzilla. The same age I was when I got picked on for liking it. I couldn't help but look around the theater after the movie and feel vindicated. I was right, this shit is cool as fuck. Suck my ass, Samuel from fifth grade.

Anyway yeah it's fun. Worth seeing.

[peppermintbuttlemon]

https://www.tumblr.com/peppermintbuttlemon/760174053109694465/oh-god-no-pepsi-just-announced-theyre

DC will perform in the gladiator ring. JQ dressed as the emperor will give her a thumbs up and toss her a Pepsi. Pandemonium immediately ensues in the colosseum. The Pepsi logo shows up, some shitty catch phrase is said and they say “See G2 in theaters”, blah blah blah

IMAGINE??

[arsojebsorkar]

The Evolution of Entertainment From Ancient Times to the Digital Era

Entertainment has always been an essential part of human culture, offering a respite from daily life and a chance to experience joy, wonder, and emotional connection. From ancient civilizations to the current digital age, Entertainment has undergone dramatic transformations, reflecting shifts in technology, culture, and society. This article explores the rich history of entertainment, tracing its roots, its evolution through various epochs, and the ways in which modern-day entertainment continues to captivate and evolve.

Ancient Beginnings of Entertainment

The desire for entertainment is as old as civilization itself. Early humans entertained themselves through storytelling, music, dance, and games. In prehistoric times, cave paintings might have served both a ritualistic purpose and an early form of visual entertainment. The ancient Egyptians held grand festivals and celebrations, filled with music, food, and dance, while the Greeks and Romans elevated entertainment to new heights with theater, gladiatorial games, and chariot races.

Theater in ancient Greece, particularly during festivals like Dionysia, showcased plays that ranged from tragedies to comedies. Playwrights like Sophocles and Aristophanes became cultural icons, and their works laid the foundation for modern drama. Meanwhile, the Roman Colosseum became a center of violent but highly popular entertainment, where gladiators fought to the death, and massive battles were recreated for the audience’s enjoyment. These events were not merely pastimes but also social rituals that bound people together in shared experiences.

Entertainment in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

With the decline of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages saw a shift in entertainment that reflected the era's religious and social structures. Religious ceremonies, morality plays, and festivals continued to provide entertainment, often with a strong focus on moral lessons and community engagement. Troubadours and minstrels roamed Europe, singing songs of love, valor, and adventure, which kept people connected to their cultural roots despite widespread political instability.

The Renaissance, however, marked a flourishing of the arts, and entertainment became more intellectual and varied. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, revolutionized access to literature and knowledge, allowing the masses to experience stories and ideas beyond their immediate environment. Theater also grew in prominence during this period, with the works of Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Dante establishing the standards for narrative and character development that continue to influence literature and entertainment to this day.

The Rise of Mass Entertainment in the 19th and 20th Centuries

The 19th century saw the birth of new forms of entertainment designed to appeal to a wider audience. With the Industrial Revolution came a shift from agrarian societies to urban centers, leading to the rise of public spaces like theaters, opera houses, and music halls where large groups could gather to be entertained. The advent of photography and, later, motion pictures in the late 1800s revolutionized visual entertainment. The Lumière brothers’ invention of the cinematograph in 1895 gave rise to the motion picture industry, leading to the silent films of the early 20th century and later the golden age of Hollywood.

Cinema quickly became one of the most dominant forms of entertainment, offering people a glimpse into different worlds, cultures, and ideas. Stars like Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean became cultural icons, influencing fashion, behavior, and attitudes. Radio and, subsequently, television became the next major platforms for entertainment in the 20th century. These technologies brought music, news, and serialized dramas directly into people's homes, creating a new communal experience around entertainment.

Music, too, experienced a revolution with the invention of the phonograph and the rise of recorded sound. Jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and pop music transformed the cultural landscape, with artists like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson shaping not just entertainment but entire cultural movements. The 20th century’s advances in technology allowed for the mass production and distribution of entertainment, making it accessible to people of all walks of life.

The Digital Era: Streaming, Social Media, and Gaming

The 21st century has brought about perhaps the most significant transformation in entertainment: the digital revolution. The internet has democratized entertainment, allowing creators from all over the world to reach global audiences. Streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify have changed the way people consume media. No longer bound by television schedules or theater release dates, viewers can access films, TV shows, and music whenever they want, often in binge-watching marathons that were unheard of just a few decades ago.

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have turned ordinary people into entertainers. Influencers, YouTubers, and content creators can amass huge followings, sometimes rivaling traditional movie stars or musicians. The interactive nature of these platforms allows audiences to engage directly with entertainers, blurring the line between creators and consumers.

Video games have also risen to unprecedented popularity, becoming a dominant form of entertainment. Games like "Fortnite," "Minecraft," and "The Legend of Zelda" have large, dedicated fanbases and offer immersive worlds that provide not just passive entertainment but interactive experiences. With the advent of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), the boundaries of entertainment are being pushed even further, creating immersive experiences that were once the stuff of science fiction.

The Future of Entertainment

As technology continues to evolve, so will entertainment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used to create music, write scripts, and even produce visual art, raising questions about the future of creativity and human involvement in entertainment. Virtual reality and augmented reality are likely to become even more integrated into our daily lives, offering new ways to experience stories, games, and even live events like concerts or sports.

Moreover, the rise of the "metaverse" — a collective virtual space where people can interact in real time — could radically change the way we think about entertainment. In the metaverse, entertainment won’t just be something we consume; it will be something we live inside, interacting with others in real-time virtual environments that blur the lines between reality and fiction.

In conclusion, entertainment has come a long way from the early days of storytelling around a fire to today’s immersive digital experiences. As technology and culture continue to evolve, so too will the ways in which we entertain ourselves. What remains constant, however, is humanity's deep desire for stories, music, games, and experiences that bring joy, connection, and a sense of wonder to our lives.

[sammekh]

I'm thankful for TGC adding the new map bc It's so cool and it's nice when you have all WLs and end up losing some and dont want to go thru the 100+ different locations in which one couldve fallen into....but

There's some places that, logically speaking, shouldn't be placed where they are. and it peeves me greatly to see them like that

This rant may contain Season of Little Prince spoilers which honestly I highly recommend you to play it by yourself if you havent its one of the best Seasons imo

1. Oh my fucking god. STARLIGHT DESERT SHOULDN'T BE THERE! I DONT EVEN KNOW WHY TGC THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROPER SPOT FOR IT!

When you enter the Vault of Knowledge, in the main hall, you got two maps you can go to: Starlight desert to the left and the Archives to the right.

It makes no sense that Starlight desert is placed on the same side as the archives.

Not only that, but on the second to last quest of the season of Little Prince, the Little Prince goes to a desolate map thats right from the entrance of the starlight desert to go to the eye of eden. You can see the Eye of eden towards the right side of Starlight Desert. Placing the Starlight desert towards the right of Vault makes no sense because there's no connection to the Eye of Eden like that. Tge orientation of it is all wrong. I dont even UNDERSTAND what was the logic on placing it like that. If it's becayse of space TGC couldve easily moved the vault a bit more to the right to give The Desert some space

I even roughly edited it to give an example of where it should go. this also wouldve made it easier to connect with the Flight Paths but I didn't want to do so much editing wuth picsart. The red arrow is the path the Little Prince couldve taken to get to the Eye of Eden.

2. THEN we got the Hermit Valley, Village of Dreams, Performance Theater, and the music shop. holy shit this all pisses me off to no end. It all just looks WRONG when you think about it for more than just 1 second. Hermit valley should be more inside Valley that outside, because the Village of dreams is basically a Corner between the Valley Social Area and the Colosseum, With Hermit Valley somewhere in the middle.

The Performance Theater is also NOT towards the right of Village of Dreams, but rather towards the south. The way the map places it just makes it seem like the Theatre is only accessible through the music shop just from how poorly its distributed? Anyways I did a very quick (Not actually. it took me very long to do)edit on how I think it should go:

Red arrows show how the Village of Dreams is like a "Corner" in between. You can access it from the Valley Social area on the left and teh Colosseum on the right. Hermit Valley should be somewhere in between.

the Wind Paths towards Hermit Valley in this case would be going around the long tunnel that goes from Social Area to Village, shown in blue.

The Performance Theatre has also had its position adjusted to make it make more sense with the actual location in the game.

Ik that these are just like. Idk. pet peeves. And Maybe TGC had a reason to make the Maps look the way they do (Probably trying to too much clogging between areas?) but Like. goddamn it pisses me off when I always like it when things like. make sense.

Thanks for reading my rant.

[mariamilani]

Ancient Roman Amphitheaters

The Marriage in Ancient Rome: Amphitheaters in Rome were a purely Roman architectural development: doubling up the structure of a Greek theater to hold traditional events like gladiatorial fights in the centre. Ancient Roman amphitheaters are not only in Rome's Colosseum but also across the Empire.

[potato-jem]

hello nero my beloved soulmate!! <33

i’m back and i am already suffering from severe PHD (post holiday depression, i decided it is a thing). my friend left last night and i hate this. it’s so unfair that we live in two different countries and we can’t see each other as much as we would like to. i’ll probably see her soon, i should have another week off in august and we were talking about me visiting her this time so hopefully i’ll be able to go.

anyway, on to the trip!! it was so cool!! i mean the first week we stayed in tuscany, we went around florence and a few other cities around here, and we got tattoos!!! i told you about this already but they are so cute!!! our little irish dinosaurs (they’re irish because we met in ireland <3 they’re named saoirse and niamh).

then for the second week we went to rome!! oh it was so nice!! we found the perfect weather. it was always sunny and warm enough to go around in shorts, but never too hot not to be able to explore. we went for the usual places: the colosseum, the pantheon, the squares and fountains, all that. but also we accidentally found ourselves into the roman forums and they were amazing!! i’d never been in them, only seen them from above, but they are so big, you can see a whole city. but the highlight was ostia antica. it was this archeological site near rome and it’s so quiet because not may people know it. it’s an 84 acres site where you can literally walk into houses and shops and temples and theaters from the roman period. and it’s amazing because usually rome is very protected, like there are fences and barriers everywhere, you can’t get too close to a lot of stuff, but in ostia antica we could literally touch the ruins, walk through them and find our way back in a maze of doors and corridors. it was so cool!!! also that’s where i found the cats!! they were so cute and friendly 🥺

last thing before i close this letter. the food!!! oh the food. we found this little restaurant on the very first night, which was actually so close to the trevi fountain, and it was so cheap and good (very rare combination to find in the middle of rome). they had some of the best spaghetti i’ve ever tried. also we kept going back there in the next days so they recognized us and they were so nice because they offered us appetizers and wine and they always remembered that we liked to order three plates of pasta to share between the two of us. they were so nice!!

i really needed this trip. i needed to be off work for a few weeks and just disconnect from all the drama and stress. and the good food and wine helped a lot with that lol. but seriously i’m so happy, it was an amazing trip and it was so good to see my friend again after so long <3

but enough about me now!! how are you doing nero?? what have you been doing these last two weeks??

also, about our last letter, i am very happy that you are following my orders and planning a very relaxing trip :) you deserve to not even think about uni when you’re on a trip. and it’s gonna be so fun to dance to that kind of music!! can’t wait to hear all about that one!!

and i’m very happy you’re obsessed with me getting tattoos because this is turning into a sickness. i can’t stop now :’)

but here are my other two tatts!!! the little rainbow one is very simple but very personal. i’ve been waiting forever to get it and it looks perfect 🥺 (yayyy you can start booking stuff!!! that means tattoos coming soon!!!)

i’m enclosing a hug and a really big plate of cacio e pepe (a kind of spaghetti with cheese and black pepper) just because one can never have too much pasta <3333

hi cece my beloved soulmate!!!!

i believe phd (post holiday depression) is a thing, i get it every time. it’s sad that your friend has gone home, but think about august!!! that should be so fun!!!

i’ve seen pictures of tuscany and it’s so beautiful!! and yes tattoos!! the fact that they are irish dinosaurs named saoirse and niamh because you met in ireland is the cutest story behind a matching tattoo ever 🥺🥺

oh rome!!!! that weather sounds lovely, i’m glad it was around for the entire trip!! sounds like you got up to quite a lot!! i’m literally imagining you walking around and pointing out these little tourist attractions 🥺 but ostia antica sounds so beautiful. a whole 84 acres to explore and experience the ancient roman life?? i would go crazy in there, especially with all the cats!!

oh the food sounds incredible!!! it’s so amazing you found something good and cheap!!! but those people sound so nice 🥹🥹 i’m glad they also added to such a wonderful break you had! i feel like pasta now…

you definitely needed that trip!! just a refresh is sometimes all you need, and good food and wine are recommended to help relax by doctors actually 😌😌😌 but i’m so happy you got to see your friend after so long and i’m so glad that you enjoyed yourself!!!!

i’ve been doing alright!! i had my trip to sydney and my twice concert, and it was so much more fun than i thought it would be!!! so i took my best friend and a family friend of mine, and my manager from work came too, but we all booked our concert tickets together so it was me and my friends, my manager and her brother and his partner. (don’t even ask me how stressful buying six tickets was)

the japanese place opened up again, and we were staying somewhere even closer to it. we basically walked everywhere, because the train station is in the shopping centre next to the japanese place, and that was only ten minutes away. so i took my friends to eat more ramen than we could see and we shared a bottle of soju (my friends are lightweights and it was VERY funny to watch. i had to finish the bottle off though)

and then we did lots of activities on the tuesday before the concert and we went to that album shop and book shop again and i spent way too much money, cece’s orders 😌😌 i spent so much money in the album shop they gave me a free album and preorder benefit photocards (which are really rare!!) and i had to show my id in the book store because i bought a level one restricted novel (actually banned in my state, but my professors made me too curious), which was quite funny

the twice concert was so fun, literally everyone in the audience were dancing and singing, and i was gay panicking and it was wonderful! each of the members of twice also had a solo performance and they did so well! one of them, momo, had this dance where she HAD A POLE?!?!? AND SHE HAD NEVER POLE DANCED BEFORE?? she was so good, i will save your eardrums by not sending the video i took 😌

anyways, here’s the photo they posted at the end!! we are in the centre and slightly to the right <3 (i’m sure you’ll see me 😂😂)

and then we actually got the chance to go to the harbour bridge and the opera house, which are in the same place, so we didn’t waste too much time there! and then we went to this room of claw machines near the eateries and i managed to win two things!! (one of them i spent way too much money to grab out, but he looked so lonely and i had to get my son out 😭😭) and then we had gelato mochi, which my friend found. so they get a scoop of ice cream and wrap it with mochi! we all got two, because none of us can make a decision and it really was a good end to the trip 🥺

other than that, i am running a little behind on uni, but i decided to use some of my leave and take the week off work. i’m just going to smash out the essays i have due (and overdue) and i’ll probably be able to rest better during the big exam session 😌

i’ve been looking forward to seeing these two and you didn’t disappoint! the rainbow one is adorable and the font for the script on your ribs is beautiful!!! i think i might be addicted to your tattoo addiction 😂 (yay!!! i’m so excited!!)

i really wanted this cacio e pepe, all this talking of food made me hungry! i’m squeezing you back real tight and i’m giving you a bowl of ramen <3333333

[yunieluna]

These are the Days of our Lives

a Biggs x Jessie fanfic

Chapter 3: Corneo's land / Don't stop me now

-----------

Biggs has been reading the letter Jessie sent over and over again. It hasn’t even been addressed to him, and was basically only containing basic information:

>> Ms. Folia,

This is my first payment. I hope it’ll suffice for the moment.

You know, that I had planned to stay here for only a few weeks, but I got an offer to extend my stay - the payment had been so good, that I accepted that offer. So I’ll be staying longer, in fact, until they change the play in 2 months.

I’ll be sending money again soon. If there’s anything else I can do in the meantime, don’t hesitate to ask.

I hope everybody is fine and holding up. I can’t wait to be back.

Many hugs,

Jessie <<

The concerning part was the envelope it came in. There is a the stamp of the Gold Saucer Post Office on it. Many hope to receive written greetings from friends and loved ones featuring this stamp. Stamp . Wonder why that’s the name of Shinra’s mascot? A thought that had crossed Biggs’ mind several times in the past. Especially when they used Stamp the dog as a sign to lead the way in some of their Avalanche operations. Maybe he would’ve been happy about the letter from that particular post office as well, if one detail hadn't been different. The letters underneath the logo of the stamp on the envelope didn’t read ‘Gold Saucer’ anymore, but ‘Corneoland’.

Some news travels slower than others… and they were controlled by Shinra anyway. So to hear that ‘Gold Saucer’ had officially been rebranded and would be called ‘Corneoland’ from now on, was never on the top list of prioritized subjects to report on. Since most people in the slums couldn’t afford to go there anyway, they didn’t even care. Biggs did though. He did some digging, and found out that it was actually not just a rebranding, but a whole change of who’s in charge. Apparently, Dio and Corneo agreed to fight over ownership rights to Gold Saucer in Musclehead Colosseum - the battle arena - and Dio suffered a roaring defeat. Some connections said that it wasn’t fair and square, and Dio had been injured before the battle. But whatever may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that Jessie is there, working for Don Corneo. If that creep is involved, there’s no way this could ever turn out well.

So there’s really only one thing to do. Go, and get her back to Leaf House as fast as possible. Sure, everybody Biggs knows always teases him with being too worried and overprotective, but the last time he had a bad gut feeling, he had dismissed it…and then the slums were buried underneath the one piece of pizza that had been the disc of Sector 7. He won’t be too late this time.

Ms. Folia is understanding and wishing him good luck. The kids are mainly bothered by the fact that he’s leaving again, but since he promised to bring some souvenirs, and Jessie, they gave him a pass. He grabs some money he had hid close to Leaf House, a spot he always uses since he’s been a kid growing up in the orphanage himself, and leaves.

--------

The lights are impressive. In fact, everything about this place is. They use Mako like starving men devouring a meal... Barrett would’ve come up with a much fiercer comparison , Biggs snickers to himself. Focus! I need to find Jessie.

The visitors’ information guide, which oddly looks like the weirdest Moogle one could ever imagine, advises him to go to Event Square - the theater. After reaching it and asking for her specifically, he gets dismissed. Jessie will be performing on stage soon, he can’t see her now.

Wait! He can, actually. So he buys a ticket and waits for the show to begin.

The seats are sold out. Every single guest is eager to see the play. Biggs recognized Jessie’s poster on his way to the theater. She looks like an angel. There wouldn’t be any other description that could ever fit any better. The white flowing dress she’s wearing, the lighting, the white wings, her sincere expression. Definitely not the Jessie I know , he remembers shaking his head slightly in amusement.

Suddenly, the lights go out, the curtain rises, music starts to play…let the show begin. A group of people perform a ballet dance while a narrator sums up the premise of the story they are about to tell…

And then there she is. Slowly descending from the ceiling, bathed in sparkling light. All eyes are on her.

Wow . Biggs knows that this word doesn't even come close to giving justice to what he's seeing. He secretly thanks the circumstances that brought him here. That he got the opportunity to see her like this, performing on stage, being somebody else completely.

She's beautiful, no debate about that. Even when she's sweaty and her face is covered in dirt after missions. But the way it is presented here, the astonishing atmosphere that highlights every aspect of her, amazes him beyond comprehension.

He never really cared about what ‘Loveless' is about. Something romantic , it's in the name, after all. But seeing the story play out for the first time, is invoking a sudden feeling of sadness in him. He can't really pinpoint why it does, though.

The ending is bittersweet. The hero parts from his lover Rosa, the part Jessie plays, promising to come back after he completed his journey. They embrace one last time, then the play is over.

A roaring applause around him is what follows. Biggs somehow still can't really process why the play has affected him so much. Is it, because he had seen Jessie for the first time again? Or because, even though they went through so much, in the end, the lovers still couldn't be together? He's not into romance per se, so why would something like this bother him at all?

He finally manages to get up from his seat and join the crowd in their standing ovations. The lights get turned on again. All actors return to the stage to thank the audience and bathe in the joyous clapping they earned from their stellar performances.

Jessie is beaming in the center of her acting colleagues and scans the crowd from time to time. She loves seeing all the happy, content and moved faces of the audience. It validates her art even more, and gives her the strength to keep going.

There's still so much joy in this world and we definitely need to fight to protect it. She concludes. After her third bow to the audience she looks up again… This can't be! But there's no doubt about it, it IS him. Within the many faces that had just been watching her performance, is Biggs’, who’s smiling right at her. She can't help but tear up a little with the realization. He woke up, he's recovered…and he's here.

As soon as all the actors had returned backstage for good, she ran back to the theater hall. She didn't even change out of her costume.

Please let him still be there. That was her only thought, more of a plea than anything else.

The doors had already been closed for cleaning and the hall was empty, except for a lonely figure still sitting in their seat, waiting.

“Biggs!” she exclaims.

He raises his head when he hears his name. It was the right choice to wait here , he thinks for a second, then gets up from his seat and moves to the aisle…just in time for Jessie to reach him.

He's caught off guard when she flings herself at him. Her arms slung around his neck, her head buried in his chest, an embrace so intimate that he failed to react right away. After a moment and without even realizing it, his hands automatically move around her body, both coming to a stop, resting on her back lightly at first…but when he closes his eyes to bathe in her presence, in this unknown closeness between them, he can't help, but tighten the grip on her body.

It's almost desperate. As if they both feared the other would vanish, if they let go even a little. Jessie doesn't know how much time passed, seconds? Minutes? Years? She finally moves her head to look at him though, is she making sure that he's not a Fata Morgana? Or did she only miss looking him in the eyes?

“I can't believe that you're really here.” She breaks the tightness of the embrace a little when she starts to directly speak to him.

“Wouldn't wanna have missed seeing you perform.” He warmly states.

She knows he means it. But she's also sure that it's not all that there's to it.

“Common, be honest. I know you well enough to know that this isn't the only reason you're here.”

Biggs snickers a little, smiling shyly. They still haven't let go of each other. Biggs’ hands had wandered to get a better look at her, comfortably resting on both sides of her waist. Jessie's fingers were intertwined behind his neck. Neither of them recognized this, though. There was only joy… written over both their faces, so they had no time to realize the gravity of this new kind of intimacy that started to blossom between them.

“And here I am thinkin’ ya would be glad to see me.” He answers teasingly.

A statement like this would usually result in a snarky comment from Jessie, and then they'd banter until one gave up - well, until Biggs gave up. This time, though, Jessie looks him straight in the eyes and sincerely says:

“You have NO idea how happy I am to see you, Biggs.”

His expression freezes a little in shock. Her being like this is rare, she usually hides behind jokes and teasing. He decides to pay her back with sincerity as well.

“Me, too, Jessie…Ms. Folia told me about you…that you were by my side most of the time while I was unconscious…Really, I don’t know what to say…besides, thank you.”

“No,” she shakes her head a little, “I wish I could’ve done more.”

He sees sadness overcoming her expression. Well done, Biggs, you completely ruined the mood. So he tries to change the subject. He lets go of her waist and starts to rummage through one of his pockets. Jessie removes her hands from the place they’d been behind his neck to give him better access to whatever he was looking for.

“Thought ya might want those back?” he says, presenting two items.

One is the glove she left on the desk in his room. The other Wedge’s red bandana. He had really brought them with him. A token for every member of their trio. That’s what they were, at least, before they met Tifa and Barrett.

“Hey, where’s your headband?” It took her until this moment to realize that he wasn’t wearing it. And his clothes had been different too.

“Ah yeah, well, they had cut it open when patching me up…it’s too short to wear now. Same goes for my old clothes.” He scratches the back of his head with his free hand.

Jessie feels a little embarrassed that she hadn’t thought of the obvious. If she had inspected his headband at least once, she would’ve known. Well, too late now. She absolutely doesn’t want any of the two items she gave to him, though. So she puts her hands on Biggs’ one that contained them and closes it gently.

“These are presents, keep them as memorabilia of better days.”

He knows that she’s thinking of Wedge specifically…Jessie and Biggs are still alive, after all. So are Cloud, Tifa and Barrett, although they have gone on a mission to save the planet. At least that’s what they heard from Marlene and Elmyra, Aerith’s mother who took Marlene in after Seventh Heaven, her home, got destroyed. Biggs was relieved that Marlene had been safe and sound. He loves all kids, but to be completely honest, Marlene holds a special place in his heart. Whenever they were tired from their missions, or just hungover from drinking too much, she managed to make them smile. Sometimes, he wondered how it would feel to have a daughter like her of his own. Sure, he already had plenty of kids he took care of, but he always feels more like a big brother or mentor to them than a father. The current world is not exactly a great place to raise a child, though, so he quickly dismisses this thought every single time. Maybe I’ll go with cats then…Just like Wedge .

“Let’s divide Wedge’s bandana between us. You should have something from him, too.” Biggs protests, presenting the red piece of cloth again.

Jessie looks at the bandana, considering, then takes it from Biggs. She enfolds it with her hands and steps in front of him - as close as they were a few moments before. They are looking at each other, studying their behavior. Jessie moves her hands behind his neck again…her gaze never leaves Biggs’... What’s with the weird tension? He finally admits that something about them feels completely different now compared to their interactions before the pillar incident…She’s fidgeting in the meantime.

“Here…let me take a look.” She takes a few steps back from him. “Perfect.”

When he looked down in the direction of his chest, he finally understood what she had been doing.

“You’re not the head bandana type. But it suits you around the neck.” She winks, smiling.

“But…” He’s cut off immediately.

“No protests! You keep it." She insists. “And I get to look at it whenever I see you.” She is radiant, grinning from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with content.

“It’s a deal.” He happily nods in agreement. Then, after a pause, he adds, “Speaking of which, what’s up with your agreement with Corneo?”

Finally, the cat’s out of the bag, she thinks. He’s worrying again.

“So that’s really why you came here all the way.” She can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Noticing the change in her demeanor, Biggs tries to appear appeasing, “Look, I know that you’re tough, Jessie. And I’m very glad I saw you perform. You were…” he huffs at the loss of words, “out of everybody else's league.” Radiant, stellar, gorgeous, mesmerizing, beautiful… here he stops mentally adding words and continues his speech.

“Corneo is dangerous, though. You know that he’s powerful, and…on top of that, unpredictable. Come back home with me.” He’s pleading now.

Before Jessie gets to answer, though, they’re suddenly interrupted by two people she would rather not know. Kotch and Scotch, Don Corneo’s right hand men, waltz into the theater hall, right in her and Biggs’ direction.

“My my my, our starlet’s havin’ a nice little chit-chat with one of her fans?” Kotch teases amused.

“Look at how close they are. Bet it’s her boyfriend, nah?” Scotch chimes in.

“The Don ‘ll not be pleased about that, ya know.”

Shit. I need to do something, or we’ll both be in trouble. Jessie takes a small breath and starts her charade.

“No need to be jealous, you two and Corneo know I’m all his.” She then points at Biggs, “This guy right here? He’s just somebody from Midgar I used to know. He happened to recognize me and we just had a little talk about home. He’s about to go now anyway, right?” She looks Biggs in the eyes intently.

Biggs listened to Jessie’s rambling, and hated every single word she uttered. He got the hint at the end, but every fiber in his body fights to follow her lead. He trusts her completely, that’s not the issue. The issue is that he wants to kick the asses of these despicable people, and then move on to Corneo. It’s unfortunate that he couldn't bring his pistol, but firearms are forbidden around here. So he balls his hands into fists instead. At least that releases the tension a little.

Jessie grows impatient, though and addresses him again, “Alright. Was nice chatting with you. Safe travels home.”

Biggs can’t take it anymore. The urge to say something became too strong. The urge to grab her wrists and take her with him is even stronger, though. So he does exactly that...

“No! I’m not letting you stay here with these creeps, Jessie!”

Biggs, what are you doing? Why can’t you just play along? But it’s too late now. Kotch and Scotch had already accepted the challenge.

“Woah, woah, woah, not so fast.” Kotch steps in front of Biggs, “That white knight shit ya pullin’ ain’t impressin’ anybody. She’s the Don’s property, as per contract. So if ya don’t wanna end up as Abzu’s dinner, ya should be gone…and pronto.”

That’s as open as a threat can be. Abzu is Corneo’s pet monster, it’s huge and extremely dangerous.

Dammit! Biggs had just recovered. No way I'll drag him into this mess. This is Jessie’s last chance to keep Biggs safe. To protect him from any harm. It’s on her now and she won’t risk losing him again. Not until he knows…

-----------

It was already late at night at Seventh Heaven, only a few lamps above the counter were granting some light to the remaining members of Avalanche. Barrett and Wedge had already retired for the evening, but Biggs and Jessie had volunteered to stay a while longer and help Tifa clean up the bar.

"So, it's just us three again then, huh?" Jessie nearly stumbles over this sentence. After starting the evening test drinking Tifa's new cocktail creations with Biggs, the few beers with the whole Avalanche group later, had really taken a toll on her sobriety.

"I should've really stayed true to my word and cut you off the drinks for good...you can't even form a proper sentence anymore," remarked Biggs.

"Ugh, you're always cutting the fun short, though, so you definitely did at least stay true to that.", Jessie said in a playfully teasing voice.

"Yeah, yeah...got it." He waves his right hand in front of his face in defeat. "Got an early morning tomorrow, so I'm out anyway. Good night, ya’ two!"

Tifa smiles and says, "Good night to you as well. And thanks for helping clean up."

A snicker and small head shake later, Biggs adds, "No worries. 's my hobby. Really helps to clear up your mind."

"Here we go again..."Jessie grins, rolling her eyes a little.

Turning around to leave and trying to ignore Jessie's comment, Biggs can't help but add, "Oh, and Tifa, no more drinks for her. I ain't gonna be around anymore to catch her from falling like earlier...yet alone carry her home."

"Only nice and cool people get to carry me anyway!" is the last he hears before he's out of the bar, chuckling to himself. He might have really gotten on Jessie's bad side with that remark, and he's wondering if it might come back biting him in the ass later. Jessie's a force to be reckoned with after all and she never fails to show that part of her personality to anyone who's dumb enough to underestimate her. But that's a problem for another day, he thinks.

"Psych! So annoying that he treats me like a child...", Jessie mumbles, still in rage mode.

"He only worries about you." Tifa smiles knowingly. "Yeah, way too much though...Anyway, please tell me you're not gonna listen to him, and we can at least enjoy one more drink together before going to bed? You know, us Avalanche girls must stick together." Jessie winks at Tifa while forming this request in a begging tone.

Sticking her tongue out, Tifa says, "Alright, but it's going to be virgin."

Tifa fixes two mocktails in an instant, and Jessie needs to admit that she has never seen a faster and better bartender than her in her entire life. Not even the professionals at the Gold Saucer are able to show this kind of expertise when it comes to drinks... and punches , Jessie internally adds and chuckles about her joke.

"To Avalanche girl power!" Jessie raises the glass of the bright orange drink she received. "Okay then!" and with that, the two women clung their glasses together gracefully, each taking a sip of their drink afterwards.

There's a small moment of silence between them, so Jessie decides to take another gulp of her tasty drink, when suddenly Tifa breaks the silence: "You like him, right? ... Biggs, I mean."

Still wondering if she really heard right, what Tifa just said, the fluid Jessie was just about to swallow, nearly got stuck in her throat. Three small coughs and wiping away a tear that escaped her left eye later, she managed to compose herself.

“Did…Did you just say that you think I’m into Biggs?” Jessie desperately needs to set this straight.

“Sorry for the sudden question…didn’t mean to catch you off guard. I just thought that it’s quite obvious, you know.” Tifa says sincerely.

"Obvious? What makes you think that?" Jessie is shocked that, in fact, this is truly what Tifa believes.

Now it’s Tifa’s turn to take another sip of her drink. She then moves to the other side of the counter to sit next to Jessie, cradling her glass in both hands. Tifa contemplates how to put what she observed into words, when suddenly that weird, knowing smile from earlier appears again.

“Well, you’re a really nice person, Jessie. To everyone, even strangers. Except for Wedge and Biggs, you really give them a hard time sometimes.” Tifa is chuckling for a second and then continues, “I know you have known them both for a long time, but there’s still a difference in how you treat each of them that I recognized…For example, earlier, when we were having pizza and beer and Wedge was kinda having a downer, you instantly built him up because he’s your friend, far and foremost…But you can’t take Biggs’ cheeky remarks for even a second without paying him back - that happened twice today, actually. And one of these instances was very touchy as well.” Jessie became unusually silent by this point. “So that’s why I think you like Biggs more than a mere friend. You’re so different around him, not in a bad way, more like you feel you can be your true self around him, not the perfect actress from the Gold Saucer stage that everyone else expects, just Jessie from Avalanche.”

Tifa had finished her explanation and was waiting for an answer. Or any reaction at all. Jessie, on the other hand, was just staring at her half-emptied glass.

“Wow, and here I was thinking nobody could look through my acting skills,” she suddenly states, still focusing on nothing but her glass.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to embarrass you. Let’s talk about something else.” had been Tifa’s response. But it was too late to deny the truth to Jessie. Screw alcohol for making your tongue loose. ‘In vinum veritas est’ - ‘the truth lies within wine’, the saying goes. Only in this case, it’s more like ‘in Cosmo Canyonum veritas est’.

“No, you’re right, Tifa.” A pause. “I think I’ve been liking him for a while now, actually.”

There’s silence stretching between them again, until Tifa gets up from her stool next to Jessie, gets behind the counter, and prepares another drink for them both. It’s definitely not virgin this time, though.

“Here.” Tifa moves back towards Jessie’s side and sets a second glass in front of her. “This one is perfect for this kind of talk.”

Jessie takes the new drink in her right hand, raises it in the air to salute Tifa, and devours half of it in one go. Tifa tilts her head, watching Jessie, and then moves on to say, “I mean, I get why you’re into him. He’s very kind, protective, funny, smart, and likes kids - seriously, who spends nearly all of his income on donating it to an orphanage?” They both snicker in amazement. “Aaaand, on top, he’s really handsome and well trained too.”

“So, you’re my rival then?” Jessie inquires blushingly, half joking, half completely sincere.

“Oh no, don’t worry. He’s all yours. There’s actually someone I like already.”

“Do I know them?”

“No, he’s someone from my past, my hometown.”

Jessie nods in agreement.

“So, are you going to confess to Biggs?”, is the second time this evening that Jessie nearly chokes on her drink. What’s with Tifa and her bad timing

“No! Never.” Jessie is shaking her head furiously.

“Why’s that?” Tifa asks curiously.

“Isn’t THAT obvious? You already said it yourself. We have known each other for so long, and he’s one of my best friends. I wouldn’t want to risk that. Besides, there’s Avalanche as well. We’ve come really far and are about to really make a difference. No way would I let something like that come in between our goals.”

“But isn’t one of our goals fighting for a better future?” Tifa looks at Jessie intently. “A future we all want to live in? A future that makes us happy? Don’t you think you wouldn't regret not telling him? …Cause, honestly, I did regret that I'd never told the person I liked what I felt. But now, it’s too late. I don’t even know where he is right now.”

Jessie sees the sadness in Tifa’s eyes. It has been a while since she’s been affected by a conversation that much, but it also makes her feel so much closer to her friend.

“Maybe, if our missions go well, I’ll consider telling him…” Jessie winks and then suddenly turns serious, raising her right index finger in front of Tifa’s face “But don’t you dare say a word to anyone!”

Tifa gets the playful hint, “Hehe! I won’t, promise!”

-------------

“Go home!" Jessie practically yells at Biggs. “It’s none of your business.” She yanks her hand out of his grip and continues, “I’ll be back after I fulfill my contract." Her voice gets softer again, “Promise, okay?”

He always secretly admired Jessie’s fierce side, even though ending up on her bad side from time to time was scary as hell. Not as scary as what he just witnessed, though. There’s no need to argue any further when she’s like this, that much he knows. So he sadly nods in defeat and turns to leave the hall.

"Alright. If that’s what you want…See ya around then."

As if she really wanted to stay rather than go with him…To be in his presence…To be with him - literally…He has no clue that this is what she wants the most. Biggs, I’m sorry, but I can’t violate the contract. It’s simply too dangerous, you said so yourself…Corneo is unpredictable. Knowing that she did the right thing, doesn’t keep her from feeling her heart torn into two, when she sees the entrance door of the theater hall closing after Biggs.

-------

He stayed at the Haunted Hotel for a night. Not in the hopes of trying again to persuade Jessie to come with him, it was simply too late to leave the previous evening. Since he couldn’t find any rest, he basically spent the whole night drinking at the bar on the first floor. The drinks had been fancy, ghost-themed cocktails that could never reach Tifa’s in quality. He would’ve given one hand for a ‘Cosmo Canyon’. And the other to be able to have drinks again with everyone at Seventh Heaven. People sometimes argue he’s drinking too much, but this, and cleaning, are the only things that keep his mind from overthinking everything.

Much to his own surprise, the alcohol wasn’t able to distract him from worrying this time. Worse, it actually made him wallow in self-pity. He had failed to get Jessie out of Corneo’s reach. You’re useless. You failed to save Wedge. And now you’re losing her, too.

The speakers above his head sprung to life, an announcement followed, the gondola back to the ground would leave soon. He made his way to the station.

The gondola was already in sight when he overheard bits of a conversation. He recognized the voices from the previous day. The most unpleasant encounter he ever had, and they were talking about Jessie at this very moment.

He follows them, but stays as far away as possible, so he wouldn’t raise any suspicion. He definitely needs to know what they are up to, and Jessie’s role in it…he can’t believe what they were talking about.

They suddenly look in his direction, but Biggs is already gone, sprinting to Event Square.

-------------

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Pic for this chapter:

Some shots from the games for visual reference:

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Notes:

Loved writing this chapter, especially the tension between them.

Gold Saucer never becomes Corneoland in the game, thanks to Cloud and friends. I think the bet was also just about naming rights and not ownership. I enjoyed raising the stakes, though.

Biggs is wearing the Rebirth outfit in this story, even though I like the other one better. I really wondered about the bandana he wears around his neck when playing Rebirth, so I came up with a little explanation. Would love if it really is Wedge's.

I mean look at the resemblance of the color and shape - it must be his, right?

[keanuquotes]

Aziz Ansari cast Keanu Reeves as an angel named Gabriel in his new Lionsgate film Good Fortune, but God apparently wasn’t looking out for Reeves when he tripped on a rug in his trailer.

“About 15 days into shooting with me, I said, ‘Go chill in your trailer,'” Ansari recalled during an appearance at CinemaCon on Wednesday. “He tripped on a rug … Poor guy, he was such a trooper, and he fractured his kneecap and continued to do all the scenes.”

Ansari, appearing opposite Lionsgate’s motion picture group chair Adam Fogelson during the studio’s presentation in front of theater owners, suggested that the accident was even more striking considering that through all his physically demanding work in action pics like the John Wick franchise and Speed, “he never had to go to the hospital or anything.”

After an image surfaced earlier this year from the set showing Reeves on crutches with his knee wrapped in bandages and an ice pack, Ansari noted that #GetWellSoonKeanu was trending. He, for one, was not surprised. “He actually is an angel,” he said. “He’s been pretending to be human for all these other roles.”

Wednesday was a big moment for Ansari, who has been trying to get his feature directorial debut off the ground for some time, and he nailed it. Not only did he bring his sharp stand-up skills and have the Colosseum crowd in stitches, the footage he debuted of Good Fortune couldn’t have landed any better than it did. Prior to today, not much was known about the film aside from the fact that it finds Ansari starring opposite Reeves, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.

Before he took the stage, Fogelson praised Ansari as a talented and intelligent multihyphenate. “This movie is entirely unique,” Fogelson said, adding that audiences would undoubtedly see elements of other iconic body-swapping comedies.

The footage, shown only to CinemaCon attendees, opened with a shot of Reeves standing on a dome overlooking a sprawling city. His angel wings are visible on his back and a voiceover finds the star explaining his role as a guide who wants to help people in their lives. The next shot is of Ansari’s character asleep in a Denny’s diner booth as he’s reprimanded by a male staff member.

It’s revealed that Ansari plays a man who is down on his luck and struggling to make ends meet. He takes on gig work as a task rabbit of sorts, which eventually leads him to the home of a wealthy man named Jeff, played by Seth Rogen, who lives large in a modern mansion with all the trappings of success, like cars, a pool, a disco club in the basement and plenty of wild L.A.-style parties. Ansari helps him out with a series of tasks — from fixing his pool to finding him a shaman for an ayahuasca journey — only to fall further into tough times when his car gets towed from the Denny’s parking lot.

At that point, Reeves appears standing on the restaurant’s oversized sign and comes to help. “My name is Gabriel and I’m here to save you,” he says. “Normally I’m in charge of saving people from choking or texting while driving. … I need to show you that your life is precious.” Thus begins a hilarious montage that shows how the angel helps by swapping Ansari’s character with Jeff so that he can see how the other half lives. “Maybe I can show you that Jeff’s life is not all that it’s cracked up to be.” However, all doesn’t go according to plan when Ansari’s character actually loves the life. “Don’t you see how superficial a life of wealth and success is?” the angel asks, to which Ansari’s character gives a quick, “No.”

Because the angel’s experiment didn’t work out, a fellow angel, played by Oh, turns up to take Gabriel’s wings from him, sending him down to Earth to live among regular people. Hijinks ensue as Gabriel’s work starts to unravel around them.

“I have been doing some work that was more dramatic recently. I wanted to do a comedy and I wanted it to be in theaters,” Ansari explained of his inspiration for writing, producing, directing and starring in Good Fortune. “I don’t buy into this theory that theatrical comedies are not a thing.” He cited Barbie’s billion-dollar success as an example. “I’m really happy that we are able to partner on this. I think if we all work together, we can show people it can work. I think we can do it.”

To further prove his point, Ansari quipped, “We have fucking Keanu, man.” Of landing Rogen, Ansari said the two have been friends for a long time and have always been looking for something to partner up on. After writing it, “He was immediately in my head,” he explained. “I can’t imagine a better cast to get as a director.”

Ansari also opened up on his creative process by saying that he did lots of research and even interviewed gig workers to find out what that life is like. Ansari directed from his own script. Anthony Katagas (Armageddon Time, Amsterdam), Alan Yang (Loot, Master of None) and Ansari are producing with Brady Fujikawa and Jon Humphrey overseeing for the studio.