The videos were popular, gaining a few million views, but I wasn't interested.
I was really checked out, so I just watched some funny videos and let the day drift away.
The day passed quickly.
…
The next 12 days passed rather uneventfully.
Of course somethings have happened, like Layla noticed that she had 30,000 or so subscribers when she went to upload the second video.
Which also means that she finished the car. It came out great, very retro. Layla called Aerial to let her know that the car was finished and told her about the video. That if she wanted to see how high the quality was she could just watch the video.
Since Layla finished the car she was also making progress on the car parts. She said that she even had a general idea on how to build a new engine entirely. Which would be a monumental feat.
But, I was a little afraid of what the corporations would do if the plans were ever made public. You see all the time what happens to people that create revolutionary technology if they aren't a part of a major corporation.
They usually end up in a premature grave.
But, Layla insisted on finishing her designs first before showing me or applying for that patent. The only thing I can do is respect her wishes. I hope that since the patent will be something any of the automotive could use would deter them from any rash action against us.
But, for that, I can only hope.
Anyway, another thing that happened is that someone tried to sue mom. In Regno d'Italia the laws are different, especially those surrounding free speech. Or rather free speech involving reputation.
Because what happened was that mom was out to eat at a restaurant and they were rude to not only her but other foreign guests as well. So mom left a bad review online, and what did the restaurant do? Apologize and try to correct their behavior?
No, they sent a lawsuit letter. Threatening to sue her for damage to their reputation.
Mom had to get an attorney to find out what to do. The attorney's advice? Get rid of the review. Why? Because, even if she told the truth, her post didn't have everything needed for an online post.
The first thing you need to have is the receipt, that has to be included in your review. Not only that, your review has to be within 15 days of having eaten there.
Then to the actual complaint or reason for the bad review. The reason has to be "well founded", "detailed", and "relevent".
The attorney said that mom's review doesn't have the receipt, nor does it have enough if any evidence. Since it is just her word for it, and the courts will most definitely side with the restaurant.
Because the country relies heavily on tourism, and a bad review, especially one like that, could hurt the tourism industry as a whole. So the court will try to sweep it under the rug.
They will of course admonish the restaurant but that will only be privately and nothing would actually happen.
Regno d'Italia's major industries include machinery, high-end fashion/textiles, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. The service sector dominates GDP, while northern regions host advanced manufacturing, specializing in luxury goods, furniture, and precision engineering.
Most of the industry in the country revolves around tourism, food, fashion, heritage sites, sports cars. Like I said, most of their industry is focused on their public reputation and image. So, they won't tolerate a smudge on what they value most.
So, mom deleted the post, then left the country.
It seems like her idealized version of the country she saw from a movie doesn't exist. At least not for foreigners. The movie was likely another form of propaganda to get more tourists to visit the country.
Since mom left she decided to visit Spania next at Erik's recommendation. He always wanted to retire there.
He did warn mom about exactly what happened. Spania's laws are more similar to the Federations which would make moving there much easier.
So, mom decided to try the original plan there instead.
But only after Thanksgiving. Because that is today. Mom flew back in yesterday. Layla wanted to give mom her bed back but mom said it was fine that she could sleep on the couch. But, Layla won in the end and ended up back in my bed.
The awkward tension was back, like walking a tight rope. Where if you fall you get a moment of butterflies then a sharp smack back to reality.
What else happened…
Oh! Right! I got the call from Yamato that I had been waiting for. They had finished the checks and were ready and eager to get the next steps going.
I told them that I would fly out after the holiday.
They were supportive of my wishes.
I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with my family and invite Layla along. I'm not sure if she wants to spend the day with her family. She has been keeping her distance, for what, a month?
But, she is still close, or on friendly terms with her brothers. She might want to go and see them. But, I'm not sure, I don't push the topic of her family. Not since she left their house.
When I invited Layla, she was happy to go. Because my family eats lunch together, and Layla had plans to go and try to eat with her family for dinner.
She was feeling uncertain and nervous but she still wanted to see her family. She wanted to see if they had gotten any more or less fanatical about their religion.
Now, with today being Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving, and the 64th day I have had my ability.
I got up like usual, looked at Layla laying next to me. I then got out of bed, slowly and quietly, so as not to wake her, to start the day.