A Pre-History
In the beginning
We can all name a city in desperate need of a ‘touch up’ and the city of Los Santos was no exception. From afar, the island giant looks like the city where dreams come true, where people go to soul search, have a good time, and most of all fulfill their desire to obtain riches beyond comprehension.
We can all name a city in desperate need of a ‘touch up’ and the city of Los Santos was no exception. From afar, the island giant looks like the city where dreams come true, where people go to soul search, have a good time, and most of all fulfill their desire to obtain riches beyond comprehension.
Figure 1.0 Los Santos Island (“Glamour Shots”)
However, as you walk the streets of Los Santos, you are met with much disparity: the everyday circumstances and tensions that emerge within a neocapitalist society. This is a city that mocks and hurts anyone who steps outside the norm. If you are queer, a person of color, or someone who doesn't conform to the bindings of the patriarchy, you are wrong.
Figure 1.1 Slideshow of Billboards all over Los Santos - GTA V
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One researcher, Professor Homeboy, was on a mission to change that. He envisioned a city where all people belonged, where the power is given to the people, free of judgment, and where basic needs are always met and where societal norms are questioned and transformed. However, Professor knew that this was no easy feat. He was going to need help and lots of it. Professor thought to himself, “In order to achieve this new era in this amazing city, we must start in the heart of the future. Utopia doesn’t just exist, we must imagine it, grow it, nurture it, and protect it.” And so Professor became a part of the faculty at Los Santos University.
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Figure 1.1 Slideshow of Billboards all over Los Santos - GTA V
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LiTT City News
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There, he met his first set of team members: young journalists with a keen eye for justice. They were looking to enact some change in this city, too. Rosario Rios, a professor of journalism, originally from the small island of Cayo Perico, taught at Los Santos University and had formed a team with three of her star students, Bella Lona, Jack Bass, and Minkuh. They had all recently acquired the local news station's Weazel News in an attempt to restructure the corrupt and rather crude media that long dwelled on Los Santos' air waves.
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Firgure s 1.3 - 1.5 Los Santos University, Rosario Rios, Weazel News Station
Together they had created YEBO News where they advanced an agenda for a better and brilliant Los Santos that truly reflected the heart of the people in it. YEBO News was dedicated to uplifting the voices of those that had previously been marginalized by Weazel Media. The people demanded more media that represented them as human beings with impactful stories, rather than being portrayed as stereotypes, they wanted stories that would expose the corrupt society that had long dwelled in Los Santos, all while amplifying the stories of the people who were fighting against oppression.
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Professor ran into this team with a brilliant story on his hands involving himself and his associate Estebana Juliana Ricarda Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez, a cunning young woman born to take down the cis-hetero patriarchy one perfume bottle at a time. The world had been, as it had been to others, unkind to Estebana so she took matters into her own hands and decided to hustle her way to the life she always dreamed. She wasn’t a thief, but she wasn’t a hero either. She did what she had to do to thrive. And thrive she did. Professor and Estebana found each other through sheer luck, and they instantly had a connection. They understood that this city, and this world for that matter, was designed to continue to hinder the less fortunate in order for the elite to remain in power.
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Before they got a chance to get their bearings, a path led them to a field of these strange flowers that called to them like a siren. One sniff and it felt like the world had hope. Immediately, Professor and Estebana knew what they had to do. With Professor’s extensive chemistry knowledge and Estebana’s superb marketing skills, they developed a fragrance enchanted with this curious plant. It, alone, had the power to rid the world of centuries of torture. With a little extra added, the fragrance had a purpose. And so, the great Déjà Vu was born. |
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Deja Vu
Crowds would gather by the hundreds to get their hands on this fragrance that was never in stock for longer than a moment or two. The chemical compounds of the fragrance would adjust and vary from person to person, forming a truly one-of-a-kind scent, unmatched by anyone in the world. This alone made for a marvelous selling point. As the months went by, Déjà Vu continued to make the news for more reasons than just marketing. Many reports of elevated dopamine and euphoric feelings were showcased. The world was truly changing for the better. However, amidst the plethora of positive reports, there lived plenty of negative ones. Many consumers claimed the fragrance was poisonous and was causing an allergic reaction. One video even surfaced of a consumer having such a terrible reaction, they nearly died. Amidst these allegations, Professor and Estebana knew it was time to finally address the issue. They sat down with the crew of YEBO News and gave the first of many interviews in their long career.
Start at timestamp 13:57
It was in this interview that they announced to the world the true purpose of Déjà Vu. It was never meant to be just a luxurious fragrance. It was, in fact, a tool to be used to fight against the cis-hetero patriarchy. When utilized by someone actively upholding this terrible cistem, the fragrance would cause an allergic reaction so bad, it could be seen away for a mile. Professor and Estebana assured the world this was intentional, and only one of many steps they planned to take towards reshaping the city, and then the world. The city went feral upon this discovery. Most rooted and cheered for Déjà Vu and its placement across the city. It became the signature scent on most retail stores, airports, major public transportations and even some hotels. Even so, many were against this social project and wanted to eliminate it from Los Santos for good. This part of the story would soon cause trouble for many members of the city.
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Chapter 1 : Summer 2022
Moving In: The LiTT City Council
After their newfound success, there was something more pressing on both Rosario and Professor's mind. Their co-leadership had developed into a beautiful friendship. They allowed each other to dream and so through the air waves of Los Santos they set out with their crew towards a new future. It was time for some real change to come about, and a city-wide rebranding was necessary to do so. They decided to talk to the powers that be and rename Los Santos to LiTT City. It became a city where people ruled, thus the birth of the LiTT City Council.
The council was made up of diverse citizens from numerous backgrounds who were all interested in making the city a better place. Their goal was to defeat the cis-heteropatriarchy that ruled in the former Los Santos. While the city was renamed, the harmful practices of Los Santos were not forgotten. Many citizens still spoke rudely to one another, often engaging in racist, homophobic, and transphobic discourse. It made it hard for people of color and queer people to freely and safely exist in the city. And, the media from Los Santos still perpetuated hateful messages. The LiTT City Council was formed to collectively address this transition, but to also help the citizens re-imagine the city and identify what it could become.
City Social Life
Though there was much work to be done in the journey to eradicate this city’s harmful past, The Council knew it would be unfair to begin such a challenging task without first allowing the remaining citizens to explore the city as it was. After all, there was much beauty to be found amidst the chaos. They sought out to uncover every inch of the city, and were encouraged to see it with child-like wonder. They hosted many Council Meetings where they shared their experiences and findings. Throughout the meetings many unchallenging tasks were offered so they could continue to enjoy the freedom of exploration. During one such meeting, the topic of grafitti emerged. A member had wondered about the city and noticed how the graffiti that was plastered across the many walls of the city were obscene and made exclusively for the purpose of hurting and offending. But, several citizens noted that grafitti didn’t have to serve this purpose. It is art and is meant to inspire. And, so the council members cut their meeting short and were each given ten spray cans of various colors. They were encouraged to find a spot and graffiti the walls with any message of their choosing. This served as a beautiful projection of how different and bright the future of LiTT City would soon be. Art served as a weapon of peace used to fight against the cis-hetero patriarchy. Through art we found that change came much easier. We built murals to honor those who had untimely fallen due to the violence that was upheld, But they also helped to celebrate those who continue to fight for a better future. Almost every night, we would host an “end of the day” party to unwind after every meeting. Through music and dance we found connection. We moved to the rhythm, in a space of no judgment. This, along with many other forms of play, we began the long-project of rebuilding the city that had fallen prey to centuries of hate.
various spray paintings across LiTT City
The Mayoral Election
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As time went on, LiTT City came to flourish and grow in every department. Soon, a system was in place. We had functioning buildings, procedures, and more. The city was coming alive! The media had made tremendous progress, the billboards were being replaced with happier counterparts and the unity between council members was astounding. This unity, however, would soon be challenged when the council members became worried about the need (or lack thereof) of leadership. Whispers surfaced of whether the city had a need for a singular person to take leadership of city affairs. And before long, the conversation had grown into a full-on election. Some members of the council offered themselves up for election. Shandy Greene, and Obi Dahomie offered to lead the city to an even brighter tomorrow. The thing about a future is that it is often built in one's image.
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Figure 1.10 Shandy and Obi Da Homie Election Process
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Until then, a council of a dozen or more people had debated and discussed the progression of the city and the unity between them steered them in the right direction. As these bright minds engaged in positive discourse towards a common good, positive changes came easy. But one singular person choosing the fate of the future was terrifying for some. The election process continued over the course of weeks. The two candidates took turns sharing their views of the world and what their reign over the city would look like. There were multiple interviews, electoral posters, and even public Q&A’s. The citizens were left uneasy upon hearing the candidates' arguments Some argued Obi was the obvious choice, while others supported Shandy’s nefarious ways. Voting day was approaching when a third candidate stepped up at the last minute to challenge the two: Vex McNamara .
They posed a new path. What if we had no leadership at all? Throughout the rebuilding process of LiTT City, the Council had taken all the matters into their own hands. Through conversation and unanimous voting processes, the city had already thrived far beyond what anyone would’ve expected. So why not formerly make The Council the main form of “leadership” or lack thereof. Vex McNamara saw no need for an individual leader and had no interest in re-creating formerly critiqued forms of government. They also decided to enter the mayoral elections with the promise to abolish a central government and even vowed to dismantle future elections that chose a single leader.
They posed a new path. What if we had no leadership at all? Throughout the rebuilding process of LiTT City, the Council had taken all the matters into their own hands. Through conversation and unanimous voting processes, the city had already thrived far beyond what anyone would’ve expected. So why not formerly make The Council the main form of “leadership” or lack thereof. Vex McNamara saw no need for an individual leader and had no interest in re-creating formerly critiqued forms of government. They also decided to enter the mayoral elections with the promise to abolish a central government and even vowed to dismantle future elections that chose a single leader.
The Kidnapping
But...just as Vex and their campaign started to gain popularity, rumors began circling in the media of that the collaboration between Shandy and Obi was all a rouse, given that they had been roommates this entire time! As these rumors started to cause an uproar, Vex was kidnapped along with their co-host of LiTT City News, Bella Lona. They were taken hostage at the LiTT City International Airport while interviewing a Business Tycoon named Hernesto de La Cruz.
Without answers and with little evidence other than the live broadcast, the members of LiTT city began to stir yet again, as all of this happened on election night. Flung into a panic, mayoral candidate Shandy Green and his supporters decided to open the doors of the local police station and armored themselves with weapons to go and rescue Vex and Bella.
Without answers and with little evidence other than the live broadcast, the members of LiTT city began to stir yet again, as all of this happened on election night. Flung into a panic, mayoral candidate Shandy Green and his supporters decided to open the doors of the local police station and armored themselves with weapons to go and rescue Vex and Bella.
A History of Witches & A Witch’s Curse
However, they were unaware that they had broken an unspoken rule that dated thousands of years back. LiTT City had not progressed out of luck or happenstance. After all, the members were very human even if their desire for change was strong. Buried deep beneath centuries of history was the story of seven bright young women who took it upon themselves to transform and build a city in shambles. You see: this was not the first time that evil and oppression had taken hold in the land now known as LiTT City. Their bond was sealed by a vow: a vow to rid the city of the transphobia, homophobia and bigotry that haunted their waking days. Together they sat under a willow tree that stood tall and mighty at the very peak of the tallest mountain: Mount Chiliad.
Cenuries ago, they joined hands in an effort to soothe one another. Their moment was interrupted by the loud rumbling of the ground shaking just beneath their feet. From the crack that formed, a goddess arose. She called herself Hecate, Mother, Maiden and Crone. She had heard the womens’ cry for help and offered to aid them in their mission, with the exception that they prayed only to her.
It is not known if it was desperation or determination that fueled them, the young women agreed. And from that moment on they used the individually special gifts Hecate had bestowed upon them for a common good.
Alone, they were powerful. Together: unstoppable. And, so they formed a coven of witches:The BBC. Hecate bestowed upon them ancient wisdom. Through the power of rituals, the young witches began to reverse the effects of bigotry that had taken root upon this once-lively city. One by one and dozen by dozen, the aftermath that this evil had created was slowly eradicated. As the days turned to years, this coven of witches awoke one day to realize they had accomplished their goal. Los Santos didn’t need them anymore. It was safe. It had transcended. Confident and content as they were, they were paranoid that this evil would one day awaken in their absence, so they combined the powers Hecate had given them in one final grand spell. Bound by blood, by fire and by earth, their magic slowly flowed out of them and back into the very tree that had rebirthed them, casting a powerful protection spell that covered the city.
A sense of calm and peace washed over them. Hecate reemerged and thanked them for the work they had done for the city. With these congratulations came a final gift. Hecate had promised them a lifetime of happiness should they complete their task, which they did. This happiness, however, had its conditions. Their magic fueled the protection spell that was cast upon the city. If they chose to leave it, the city would be left to fend for itself and would no doubt revert to its ways. There was, however, a solution. They could choose to stay in the city, with no memory of the coven or their sisters and no desire to ever leave. They would be happy, but alone. Always “just” missing each other as they guarded the willow, and it’s powerful magic in shifts throughout the centuries. Though this decision came with a heavy burden, they knew their duty to protect this city and all the other cities of the world came before themselves. Their memories were laid to rest just under that willow and through a strike of thunder, they were reborn again, as individuals.
Many generations passed and the story of The BBC was forgotten and buried deep within dreams, songs, and legends. Their protection wasn’t needed, and it seemed as though things would be forever normal. As their legacy faded, however, a greater evil grew stronger. The evil set its eyes on the ancient willow, for it knew that once it was gone for good, nothing could stop it. The great evil created countless men, women and others to do its bidding. Bringing forth war, virus and famine. Such decay slowly trickled towards the willow that stood so close to the heavens, and began to poison its roots. For the first time ever, this tree was dying. And with it, the very protection spell The BBC had given up their lives to protect. Before long, this city needed someone to remind them what was at stake. It needed protectors. And just as we thought the end was on the horizon, a final gift was bestowed upon us by the great Hecate. Her power soared through the heavens and down the willow, setting it ablaze. Legend has it the willow burned for what felt like a lifetime. Finally, the fire had gone out and from the ashes emerged a witch. But she was no ordinary witch, she was the strongest witch that ever lived. She held the magic of the original seven witches, a power of her own, and a drop of Hecate’s power. They called her The Willow, but her name shifted through the ages. In her hands, she held the power to destroy the world…or reshape it.
Her silent watch over such sacred land had finally come to an end. Tired of the violent, hateful, and disappointing work of the LiTT City council and the former terror left in the late Los Santos, she awoke.
Her silent watch over such sacred land had finally come to an end. Tired of the violent, hateful, and disappointing work of the LiTT City council and the former terror left in the late Los Santos, she awoke.
Her rage led her to the very man who commanded the evil: Ernesto De La Cruz. He was a man believed to be so evil, his eyes glowed red. Without as much as a flinch, The Willow returned his evil to him tenfold. And from his sacrifice, an ultimatum was afoot. She closed the doors to the police station, and cast a powerful curse against the city. Through green skies and deadly thunder, she powered her mischief. She ripped the council members of their powers and left them with only the clothes on their back and the items in their pockets.
The witch layed out a simple proposition. Learn about your history and find a way to change it. Build a new and better world for this land and the next, or leave by will or by force. They had until sunset to make a choice, one that would be final. For if they chose to leave, a barrier would stand tall around the city, preventing them from ever stepping foot inside it again. And a choice they made.
A Choice
So much confusion and fear ran through the air. The council, composed of sensible folk, could not think, for they worried that time was running out. They divided and conquered to the best of their ability. Some of them went in search of Bella and Vex, who still remained lost somewhere in Cayo Perico. Others stayed and discussed another pressing matter that arose amidst all of this chaos. Up until then, they had faced no real danger. Immediately after this threat aired, many were quick to revert to their “old” ways and go in search of guns. Fueled by fear, they begged for a weapon to protect themselves. This brought up the very important debate: Should guns be allowed in the city? How do we protect ourselves? How can we dream of a world where protection and safety aren’t in front of or behind a gun? The council argued and discussed and no decision was unanimous. They agreed to continue the conversation later until they could revisit it with all members present. A vote would later be held on this matter. The answer was a unanimous no. Guns don't represent safety and we shouldn’t yearn for them to make us feel that way.
Search and Rescue
A Shot of Cayo Perico
Now that the threat of Hernesto de la Cruz seemed to be gone from the island, the crew that set sail to Cayo Perico scoured the entire island by land and by water. They had only a scratchy voicemail sent to Rosario a few days prior to their venture to guide their pursuit. The LiTT City council came across various dead ends until they found a giant mansion on the island. There, they were able to decipher a series of clues left by Bella and Vex. They had managed to escape their makeshift prison in the giant house’s wine cellar. The Council found Bella Lona on the beach, by herself, with Vex nowhere to be found. Her memory was hazy and her demeanor seemed off. But, the Council was happy that she was home safe. She wasn’t able to recall too many details of her kidnapping, only that the conditions in which they were kept were not awful.
Once Bella Lona was rescued, the council began to discuss how they would continue the search for vex, and began theorizing on their disappearance. They also had lengthy discussions about the witch and what living in LiTT City meant from this moment forward. There was no shortage of problems The Council had to deal with. It was too much for anyone to juggle and they were forced to prioritize.
Once Bella Lona was rescued, the council began to discuss how they would continue the search for vex, and began theorizing on their disappearance. They also had lengthy discussions about the witch and what living in LiTT City meant from this moment forward. There was no shortage of problems The Council had to deal with. It was too much for anyone to juggle and they were forced to prioritize.
A new Beginning
One thing was for sure, despite its rocky history, the island of Cayo Perico was a viable resource for the citizens of LiTT City, and they wanted to make sure that with the disappearance of Hernesto De La Cruz went the corruption and abuse of such a beautiful place. Little did they know, the island was far more important than they could’ve ever imagined. Along the way, they met a powerful character from another planet who enlightened the citizens about the true history of the island and its crucial role in protecting and preserving the wellbeing of the city as a whole. She shared ancient knowledge from her home planet and showed them these items she called crystals. They had the ability to heal wounds in seconds, and transcend the laws of nature. Many were skeptical at first, but these crystals and Amethyzt Jade would soon play a crucial role in the future of LiTT City.
The team had many researchers and doctors, but one chemist by the name of Shabba Down was able to see the power within the mysterious substances that were left behind on the island. During one of his demonstrations there was an accident that changed the trajectory of LiTT City. As Shabba was demonstrating the capabilities of the substances on the island to create fuel there was an explosion in his laboratory. The Council was left in shock and were unsure as to how to react. It was Rosario Rios who picked up a red flower, a plant native to the Cayo Perico, and ran to Shabba Down’s aid. She crumpled the flower in her hands and put it over his face like an oxygen mask until he drew a long breath followed by a fit of coughing. As Shabba was helped to his feet, a voice behind them said, “Hello? Where am I?” Before them, a beautiful woman, not of this world, stood in the very spot where the explosion had happened, unscathed. In her hands, she held a crystal. “I am meant to be here, to bring you these.” The crystal floated in front of Shabba and glowed the minute it made contact with his wounds, granting him full health.
And so with Shabba down assigned to clean the mysterious island of Cayo Perico, each citizen made their choice. Some decided to stay and continue to make LiTT City into the utopia it originally set out to be while others decided to move away and start new chapters of their own. The history of our city is a complex and complicated one, and this was but a fraction of it. Much awaits behind the pages of this history book.
The team had many researchers and doctors, but one chemist by the name of Shabba Down was able to see the power within the mysterious substances that were left behind on the island. During one of his demonstrations there was an accident that changed the trajectory of LiTT City. As Shabba was demonstrating the capabilities of the substances on the island to create fuel there was an explosion in his laboratory. The Council was left in shock and were unsure as to how to react. It was Rosario Rios who picked up a red flower, a plant native to the Cayo Perico, and ran to Shabba Down’s aid. She crumpled the flower in her hands and put it over his face like an oxygen mask until he drew a long breath followed by a fit of coughing. As Shabba was helped to his feet, a voice behind them said, “Hello? Where am I?” Before them, a beautiful woman, not of this world, stood in the very spot where the explosion had happened, unscathed. In her hands, she held a crystal. “I am meant to be here, to bring you these.” The crystal floated in front of Shabba and glowed the minute it made contact with his wounds, granting him full health.
And so with Shabba down assigned to clean the mysterious island of Cayo Perico, each citizen made their choice. Some decided to stay and continue to make LiTT City into the utopia it originally set out to be while others decided to move away and start new chapters of their own. The history of our city is a complex and complicated one, and this was but a fraction of it. Much awaits behind the pages of this history book.