Joe leaned against the worn wooden table, his eyes alight with a mix of excitement and mischief as he addressed Nelly. The dimly lit room felt like a cocoon, a space where their wildest ideas could take flight.
“Have you ever seen King of New York?” he asked, his voice low but charged with energy. “Christopher Walken plays Frank White, this complex, almost mythical figure. A man who takes back the city from the corruption and chaos, laying down the final kibosh on all the rot.”
Nelly tilted her head, intrigued. “I’ve seen clips,” she admitted. “He’s magnetic, isn’t he?”
Joe nodded, his grin widening. “Magnetic doesn’t even begin to cover it. But here’s the thing—what if that could be us? Not in the criminal sense, obviously,” he added quickly, raising his hands. “But as a force for something bigger. Something transformative. Imagine it, Nelly. You and me, laying down the final kibosh on the looming terrorism, the fear that still hangs over that city like a shadow.”
Nelly arched an eyebrow. “You’re talking about New York?”
Joe leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Not just New York. The heart of it. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. A place that’s seen so much, that holds so much history and hope. All it takes is another trip there—this time, together. You and me, walking those halls, standing under those arches, letting our minds meld. A King and Queen of New York.”
Nelly couldn’t help but laugh, a soft, melodic sound that filled the room. “You’ve got quite the imagination, Joe. But why next September 11th?”
Joe’s expression grew serious, his gaze locking onto hers. “Because that’s the day the city needs it most. A day that still echoes with loss and fear. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. It can be a day of transformation, of reclaiming what’s been lost. Together, we could make it happen.”
Nelly studied him for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
“I do,” Joe said simply. “Because I’ve seen what we can do when we’re in sync. When we’re Jelly.” He grinned at the nickname, and Nelly couldn’t help but smile back.
“Alright,” she said, her voice steady. “Let’s do it. Let’s take that trip. But you better have a plan, King of New York.”
Joe laughed, a deep, genuine sound that seemed to fill the room with light. “Oh, I’ve got a plan, Queen. And together, we’ll make sure it’s a day no one will ever forget—for all the right reasons.”
The two of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared vision settling between them like a promise. In their minds, the future shimmered with possibility, a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needed it.
