Everybody has a story, and sometimes a tenant says the reason he disappeared and didn't pay his rent is because he got shot.
Well, if he lives in my town, he'd have a hell of a high chance of getting shot these days, if not pushed in front of the subway, so I totally get it.
But why would invoking a story like this be expected to get a pass? People have brain surgery, their husband dies of COVID, their child dies of cancer -- there are all kinds of horrible stories and many people in SL have them. So sorry, doesn't work.
Let's back up and remember that when this person re-appeared against after some years of hiatus, I recognized him as a past tenant. He wanted to have the same house again, which was an ancient high-prim building. I happened to still have it, and I put it out.
So here's round one:
[2021/01/05 01:21] Terran Faulkes: (Saved Tue Jan 05 03:53:46 2021)Hey Prokofy, I don't know if you remember me, I used to rent at the pond a long time ago. I was wondering what the chances of putting up that wonderful house I used to have again? If you need a reminder I am sure I have pics of it. I'm at "Ravenglass Rentals $600 Pond Lot on Ravenglass Realm 18" if that helps any. Back for the long haul! Thanks, Terran
[2021/01/05 01:21] Prokofy Neva: Hi, welcome back! I don't think I recall that house so send me a picture
[2021/01/05 01:23] Terran Faulkes: I was just lookin', no idea how I don't have an exterior shot? Might have to look harder
[2021/01/05 01:23] Terran Faulkes: one wall was all windows
[2021/01/05 01:23] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/about has given you this texture:
secondlife:///app/inventory/294ae541-4b9a-f3ef-5920-32616268f5a5/select?name=Snapshot%20%3A%20Ravenglass%20Rentals%20%24750%20Townhous%2C%20Ravenglass%20Realm%20%28
[2021/01/05 01:30] Prokofy Neva: oh wow that's a very ancient house, I don't know if I still have that
[2021/01/05 01:30] Terran Faulkes: /me crosses fingers
[2021/01/05 01:31] Terran Faulkes: lol
[2021/01/05 01:31] Prokofy Neva: I have lost so much inventory I don't think I have it but I'll look, it was made by someone who left SL years ago
[2021/01/05 01:32] Terran Faulkes: I seem to remember trying to buy it and having no luck whatsoever, sucks, it's a really nice pad. If not, do you have anything else single floor plan like that you can plunk down?
[2021/01/05 01:40] Prokofy Neva: I don't see that one and it may be lost, it's sort of a faux Frank Lloyd Wright, the thing is when you say "do you have anything else" I literally have thousands of houses so it's hard to say, if you could pick something off the Marketplace or something you know specifically I likely have it
[2021/01/05 01:41] Prokofy Neva: I have Fallingwater but it is too big and too many prims for that lot
[2021/01/05 01:41] Terran Faulkes: only from you is that not actually surprising lol
[2021/01/05 01:41] Terran Faulkes: do you havea Sky Loft?
[2021/01/05 01:43] Prokofy Neva: I don't know what that is
[2021/01/05 01:44] Prokofy Neva: I found a house from that same author, let me see what it looks like
[2021/01/05 01:44] Terran Faulkes: it's a brand of skybox, no worries
[2021/01/05 01:44] Terran Faulkes: nice
[2021/01/05 01:48] Prokofy Neva: ok I put it out
[2021/01/05 01:48] Prokofy Neva: it's called the Dakota
[2021/01/05 01:48] Prokofy Neva: it looks like the picture
[2021/01/05 01:48] Prokofy Neva: but there are several that are similar, not sure if this is the one you mean
[2021/01/05 01:48] Prokofy Neva: 147 prims
[2021/01/05 01:49] Prokofy Neva: it could probably be defatted by convexing in time
[2021/01/05 01:49] Terran Faulkes: I think that may have been it
[2021/01/05 01:49] Terran Faulkes: sounds about right, name wise
[2021/01/05 01:49] Terran Faulkes: thank you!
[2021/01/05 01:50] Prokofy Neva: here's another one called the Portland
[2021/01/05 01:50] Prokofy Neva: it doesn't have those lights
[2021/01/05 01:51] Terran Faulkes: but ti's single floor plan, room on each side, one glass wall?
[2021/01/05 01:51] Prokofy Neva: well it's similar looking
[2021/01/05 01:51] Prokofy Neva: come and look at it
[2021/01/05 01:51] Terran Faulkes: kk
[2021/01/05 01:52] Prokofy Neva: it has taller ceilings
[2021/01/05 01:53] Terran Faulkes: this one is it, the Dakota
[2021/01/05 01:53] Terran Faulkes: I think my neighbor had the other, it is cool looking though
[2021/01/05 01:54] Prokofy Neva: the prims could be reduced because it was built before prims could be more than 10 m
[2021/01/05 01:55] Terran Faulkes: really? you mean in theory? because idk how one would go about that
[2021/01/05 01:57] Terran Faulkes: always did like this spot, looks great right here
[2021/01/05 01:57] Terran Faulkes: well now I know lol
[2021/01/05 01:57] Prokofy Neva: well I just got rid of about 20 prims but it is very picky work and I don't have time for it now, but I can come back later
[2021/01/05 01:57] Prokofy Neva: the owner has to do it
[2021/01/05 01:58] Terran Faulkes: that would kick ass, I'm supposed to be somewhere else too but hey, thank you
[2021/01/05 01:58] Prokofy Neva: it's 131 prims now
[2021/01/05 01:58] Prokofy Neva: you have out 167
[2021/01/05 01:58] Prokofy Neva: so you still have some left
[2021/01/05 01:58] Terran Faulkes: yeah, sky ship, I'll pick that up
[2021/01/05 01:59] Terran Faulkes: may rent a few more off you later
[2021/01/05 02:01] Prokofy Neva: well you could likely have room for both
[2021/01/05 02:01] Prokofy Neva: you could also rent the parcel next to you and use its prims
[2021/01/05 02:02] Prokofy Neva: I can't believe I found 3 of his houses, one is a little one, his store inworld is gone and he's gone
[2021/01/05 02:02] Prokofy Neva: old school prims
[2021/01/05 02:02] Terran Faulkes: yeah, we may end up doing that, but I should be able to make that work for now
[2021/01/05 02:02] Second Life: Inventory item 'SOCIETY FOR VIRTUAL ARCHITECTURE, Warmouth (201, 240, 46)' offered
[2021/01/05 02:03] Prokofy Neva: this is where there's a big building of his I own
[2021/01/05 02:03] Terran Faulkes: off of that garbage pic I sent you? I'm doubly impressed
[2021/01/05 02:03] Prokofy Neva: well those lights are unmistakeable, I spent hours deprimming the Society for Architecture building which has the same lights
[2021/01/05 02:04] Second Life: Inventory item 'Snapshot : SOCIETY FOR VIRTUAL ARCHITECTURE, Warmouth (203, 230' offered
[2021/01/05 02:04] Terran Faulkes: nice, I'll check it out. you said it's based on Wright's work? Might be what drew me to it, graduated with a degree in Architecture a lifetime ago
[2021/01/05 02:04] Terran Faulkes: oh yeah, you can just tell by looking
[2021/01/05 02:04] Prokofy Neva: yes they are knock-offs
[2021/01/05 02:05] Prokofy Neva: there's a Fallingwater I think he built which I think is somewhere on an old sim
[2021/01/05 02:05] Prokofy Neva: check out the society building some time, it has a hidden chamber I didn't notice for years, so I turned it into a Masonic Hall
[2021/01/05 02:06] Terran Faulkes: I will, thanks, it sounds like it's right up my alley
[2021/01/05 02:18] Prokofy Neva: I added you to resident powers in the group
[2021/01/05 02:18] Prokofy Neva: Switch to the title resident on the group menu to access ban, media, set landing, change parcel
[2021/01/05 02:18] Prokofy Neva: this will require relogging
[2021/01/05 02:19] Second Life: Inventory item 'Ravenglass Rentals Quickstart' offered
[2021/01/05 02:19] Second Life: Inventory item 'News from Ravenglass Rentals Dec 12 2020' offered
[2021/01/05 02:20] Terran Faulkes: nice, thanks
[2021/01/28 04:46] Terran Faulkes: (Saved Wed Jan 27 19:56:01 2021)Hey Prokofy, if I could get you to come by and add the me to the security system at the house that'd be great, I seem to remember being able to darken the windows and mess with the lights etc. and as well, the roof is missing an edge texture! LOL Not a big deal but visually distracting. Ravenglass Ream 18, the FLW house, big thanks!
[2021/01/28 05:00] Prokofy Neva: Hi, while I see a light script in this house, I don't see any button or anything where people can be added. It would have to be done by hand. You can't have security systems on the ground. They have to be placed in the sky at 500 or higher.
[2021/01/28 05:00] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 05:01] Prokofy Neva: the roof edge is on alpha blending, I think it is meant to be that way. But I took off the alpha blending
[2021/01/28 05:01] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 05:04] Prokofy Neva: oh wait, I found something called "home brain" that has tint windows, etc
[2021/01/28 05:04] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 05:04] Prokofy Neva: I think it locks the doors too
[2021/01/28 05:04] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 05:04] Prokofy Neva: but to add you, you have to be present and standing near it and I have to click to add you. So IM me when you are online
[2021/01/28 05:04] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 05:05] Prokofy Neva: for now I put the windows on "black," they are "see out, not in"
[2021/01/28 05:05] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[2021/01/28 09:57] Terran Faulkes: Yeah that's what I was talking about, I didn't remember that I had to be on.
[2021/01/28 09:58] Prokofy Neva: are you there now, I can add you
[2021/01/28 09:58] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/about has offered to teleport you to their location:
"Join me in Ravenglass Realm
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ravenglass%20Realm/168/119/27”
<icon>Parcel_M_Dark</icon> - Moderate
[2021/01/28 09:59] Terran Faulkes: what up
[2021/01/28 10:00] Prokofy Neva: ok I added you
[2021/01/28 10:00] Prokofy Neva: see if you can access it
[2021/01/28 10:00] Terran Faulkes: says you're using it
[2021/01/28 10:00] Prokofy Neva: well I'm not touching it
[2021/01/28 10:01] Terran Faulkes: lol
[2021/01/28 10:01] Terran Faulkes: The Home Brain control panel is currently in use by Prokofy Neva, please wait...
[2021/01/28 10:01] Prokofy Neva: well I'm not clicking on it, try again
[2021/01/28 10:02] Terran Faulkes: there we go
[2021/01/28 10:02] Prokofy Neva: ok
[2021/01/28 10:02] Terran Faulkes: excellent, thanks
[2021/01/28 10:02] Prokofy Neva: so you can tint the windows and lock the doors
[2021/01/28 10:03] Terran Faulkes: yup, thank you, even just locking the doors is a decent measure for wanderers
[2021/01/28 10:04] Prokofy Neva: great
[2021/01/28 14:16] Terran Faulkes: (Saved Thu Jan 28 12:58:29 2021)Yeah, I'm here
[2021/01/31 19:03] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/completename paid you L$2160.
[2021/04/25 12:56] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/completename paid you L$2160.
[2021/05/22 19:33] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/completename paid you L$2160.
[2021/06/13 21:18] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/completename paid you L$2160.
[2021/07/18 11:24] Second Life: secondlife:///app/agent/7be2d64c-fabd-4e1b-94b1-57d22a354449/completename paid you L$2160.
As you can see, last year, Mr. Faulkes was not terribly regular in his rent payments. I let it go as he was a returnee, I cut him some slack. There you can see he goes about one month without paying.
Then, I noticed he was missing again. When I sent this message, in fact his rent has been expired for weeks:
[2022/01/03 12:56] Prokofy Neva: Hi the rent is due in Ravenglass Realm
[2022/01/03 12:56] User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[21:06] Terran Faulkes paid you L$2160.
[21:23] Prokofy Neva: Hi, I wrote you on January 3 that the rent was overdue, and you are just paying it now, three weeks later, so I would appreciate it if you paid the back rent since I did not return your prims.
[21:34] Prokofy Neva: Normally if someone had just paid and refunded, I would return the cancellation fee, but I won't be doing that with you, because as I said, I sent you repeated reminders, your rent was overdue, I held your prims there because you had been renting there for some time, and this is the thanks I get. Perhaps you imagine I'm in the wrong here? No, you are.
[21:35] Terran Faulkes: I don't really fuckin' care. Been gone that whole time, got shot, been in the hospital... don't really fucking care. You should have just returned my stuff if you were going to have a shitty fucking attitude about it.
[21:39] Prokofy Neva: You're the one that has the shitty fucking attitude -- I kept your prims, as I do with a lot of people these days with COVID. You were asked merely to pay back rent. EVERYBODY has a story and you are not special, even having a tragedy, so don't use that as an excuse. Ban/do not rent/block
So I had done everything possible to ease this person's return to SL, putting out a beloved house, etc. and I cut them some slack on their rent.
But now, when they appear 3 weeks after a reminder when it was already due, and casually pay without "I'm sorry" or "I've been sick", I ask for the three weeks back rent -- just 3, although it was more.
Then I get a refund, without comment. If he had said, sorry, I don't have that now as I've been sick but I'll try to get it to you, I would have let it go. Instead, I get sheer assholery, sheer arrogant tomfuckery.
So that's why it's getting publicized. It's not a "shitty fucking attitude" to ask politely for 3 weeks back rent since a notice (and really, before that it had gone for weeks on end). It's just normal. It's called "not being walked all over." The response then is "sorry, I can't pay it, so I'm happy to leave now and you can clear the parcel" or "sorry, I'll get it to you when I can."
When these incidents happen, you just become more hard-hearted to the next person. The prims go back, and that's it. It means listening to angry bullshit and crazy excuses but there's always the mute button.
