Seras
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Ghost in the City: Early Chapter 210
🕑 Added 2024-12-21 04:02:16 +0000 UTCThe bar wasn’t the same japanese themed bar I had watched the Violent Hemorrhage play at last time. It was actually more like a dive bar.
Jeez. Were they struggling to get gigs or something?
I shrugged it off as I found a place to park and just settled in. Alice drove slow so I had time, which is of course when I recognized a very familiar Caliburn in the lot.
Smirking, I got out and headed over, to see Malcolm trying to play up his coolness by leaning against his car as some of the club goers were standing around checking out the expensive car.
I decided not to interrupt as he was definitely flirting with a girl right now.
Good luck Malcolm. I mentally offered him as I turned around.
I knew Hiromi would be here, with everyone as well, but it was still embarrassing to have all my chooms show up.
Felt like some weird school recital where your parents appeared.
I shook off the odd thought and instead decided to start unpacking.
“Hey! Motoko.” A voice I recognized called out as I grabbed my guitar out of the trunk.
“Hey Jared.” I greeted the other band mate. The guy was decked out in Rockerboy gear, his hair flashing in a pulse with his heartbeat and sticking up in a mohawk.
“You got your stuff?”
“Got it.” I offered as I hauled the Orphean out of the trunk along with my amp and gear.
“Preem. Come on, I’ll show you our space.” He offered and I nodded following after as he led me to the back of the bar and through an employee only door that was propped open.
Inside was a back room that was messy and covered in old Brosef bottles and a few Rockerboy types sitting around.
“Let’s get the gear checked, we’re on in thirty.” He explained and led me over to where the other member of Violent Hemorrhage was sitting next to his gear. His drums mostly put together and just waiting to be transported out onto the stage.
“Hey kid.”
“Keith.” I greeted back and he flashed me a smile, that was that. Now just time to wait for the big show…
I plopped my amp down and then put my guitar in my lap. I had played with the Deluze through the week to get a feel for it, and I couldn’t complain. She sounded preem compared to my off the shelf guitar I had bought back at the start of my musical grind.
Hilarious that I hadn’t even thought about upgrading. Maybe that was why I was so willing to go along with this…
Yep. That was it, definitely no other reason.
—--
“Next up is Violent Hemorrhage!” The club owner called out, and the lights went on, showing us to the club.
It was a dive bar. Probably slightly up scale from the Red Dirt bar I had played in before, but this certainly wasn’t a high end joint.
But that all went out of my mind when Alice sauntered up to the mic.
“Our first song! Bloody Cry!” She roared out and a few of the crowd cheered.
I shrugged and as the drums began, I looked down to the guitar in my hands and breathed in and out. Cold suffused my veins.
And I played. The song was scop. Repetitive noise, and shitty screams interspersed with Alice trying to sound sensual.
It honestly reminded me of what Evanescence would sound like if it was written by an idiot, and performed with someone that only knew how to sing through autotune.
But I wasn’t thinking right that minute. I was just playing, letting the song rumble through the Orphean strings.
It wasn’t any real effort to play, so I played, doing everything I could to keep my face away from the crowd as I just played.
It was practically effortless, the songs were simple, and with my chrome arms I could have played the songs forever without getting tired.
There just was nothing to it. But despite how nice it might be, it was also boring.
Repetitive music with no real soul.
And then after a half dozen songs it was over.
Alice cheered towards the crowd who clapped, Hiromi and my chooms most of all, but then it was just a casual walk off stage. Of course Rebecca was howling the loudest. Good old Rebecca, always quick to be the loudest supporter in the room.
But unlike when I played the Red Dirt, I just felt… Kinda bored.
Where was all the excitement? The Anxiety, the tension of playing music in front of people. I wasn’t even embarrassed, just… Bland.
“You did great!” Alice cheered towards us as we fell off the back stage and into the back room dropping the start of our equipment down in a pile. “We can do this without Carmen!”
“Do what without me? Play shit dives for the rest of your life?” A voice interrupted and I looked over and narrowed my eyes…
Yep I had no idea who that was.
“Carmen.” Alice hissed.
Well now I had a name… Had we met before? I ignored the back and forth just focusing on my head. I remember the name I think. Wasn’t he at Denny’s place the first time? The one that was being scoped out by some music guy or something…
I shrugged. Whatever, I focused back around me on the argument taking place.
“And you pull some bitch to take over guitar? C’mon! Don’t think I didn’t notice the girl playing my guitar as well!”
“You fucking left it after breaking it, don’t blame us for giving it away.”
“Whatever. I don’t need that scop anyways! Simon hooks me up with everything I need, and Tessa is with me!” He yelled out, and Jared I noticed looked ready to throw some hands but just looked away in the end.
Ah. Drama. This is what I didn’t want to deal with.
“Hey! I don’t know you lot, but unless you want to get up on stage and play, get out of here!” A much older guy came around the corner calling out glaring at the stand off between former bandmates.
I shrugged. Set was over, my gig was done. That was… Way less fun than I had kinda secretly hoped it would be? Sure, I still felt the butterflies up on stage, but even if I would never admit it, partially even to myself, it had been fun to get up on stage and sing my heart out.
Violent Hemorrhage just didn’t quite reach what I was looking for.
“Pfft as if I’d play some shitty dive bar like this! Get a fucking clue!” Carmen threw a finger at the bar owner who looked pissed at the response.
“Oh get that arrogance out of here Carmen, even if you held a set here, you’d be booed off the stage before you made it to your third song! You’re a hack!” Alice cussed loudly, suddenly getting close to the bigger guy.
Shit. Was I gonna have to flatline this guy? I didn’t really want to, but Jun liked Alice. Ugh. Nah, looks like she was alright, Jared, and Keith were both standing beside Alice looking pissed.
Cool they’d take care of it, and so I turned around to pick up my stuff and get out of here. Hiromi and everyone were probably wai-
“Please. I just listened to your shit set, you still can’t sing. You still can’t play the drums, and that new bitch can’t play the guitar!”
“The fuck you say?” I asked, hissing as I turned back around.
Carmen, this Rocker Boy wannabe turned from Alice and gave me a once over up and down.
“Get lost kid. The adults are talking.”
Huh. I pushed down on the urge to simply flatline this gonk and go home to a nice nap.
I considered instead how to best roast some stupid corpo wannabe rockerboy…
“Go back to your studio and sing a song for Mr. Studd Ads or whatever it is you do. The real musicians are here.” The words came out of my throat raw and cold. Exactly how I wanted them.
From the way his jaw dropped, and even Alice turned to look at me in surprise…
Well it hurt my feelings when it happened, I can completely imagine how much of a burn it would be.
“You little bitch!”
“Yeah yeah, whatever loser. Go back to your corpo ads.” I shooed him away with a silver hand waving for him to go.
“Whoa!” One of the boys he’d walked in with grabbed him as he made a motion at me, and I almost wished he had missed. I’d have loved to take this guy apart.
Calling me a kid… Just because I was.
Asshole.
“Fuck you bitch!”
“I guess I hit the mark then. When is your Mr. Studd jingle coming out?” I asked, and Alice snorted, unable to hold it in.
Carmen stopped fighting against his boy and instead shifted, doing something I didn’t expect.
He opened up his jacket and showed off an ostentatious Malorian in his jacket.
It took about three seconds as he was trying to show off how cool he was to disable it. “Wow. I’m so scared. Like. Totally.” I told him flatly, just begging for him to pull on me.
It’d make the bullet that would go through his head super satisfying.
But then something happened I hadn’t exactly planned.
“Hey! Drop the threats or I’ll take out the trash.” A thick voice called out, and one of the security guards for the club stepped around. The guy was an animal, with arms wider than Carmen's torso and he looked ready to prove that fact.
“Fuck off rent a bitch. I’m not the bottom scop wannabes you deal with.” He said flipping off the animal that only raised an eyebrow and waited, obviously the guy was used to drunk assholes. He looked at me but then turned to Alice and the others. “That’s right. I almost forgot, but you’re all nothings. Playing dirt holes and worthless trash heaps. You’re nothing, and will never be anything but nothing.”
“Fuck you!” Alice shouted rising up but her bandmates held her back. “You stepped on our backs to get where you are! You’re the fucking wannabe!”
“Please I have a career and eddies, and no one is coming to listen to your Violent Regurgitation.” Damn, if it wasn’t the asshole saying that I’d be tempted to snort. That was kinda funny.
Carmen turned and brushed past the idiots that followed him around as he left. Well that was that.
“Fucker!” Alice hissed, turning to kick at an amp knocking it over.
“Hey, kick your own amp.” Keith muttered, but it sounded like he didn’t have his heart in it.
I just stood there, watching this crappy band splinter apart even more. On one hand, I didn’t really care. On the other, for the reason the band splintered because of that asshole?
It kinda pissed me off. Ugh, this stupid shit. This is why I didn’t want to deal with bands and people and stages!
I looked towards the stage, the empty stage and the sound of people outside. There wasn’t another act tonight. That’s how shitty this fucking dive bar was. It wasn’t even that late. The owner would just put on a radio station or something for the rest of the night.
The sigh that left me was full bodied, what a disappointing night after the excitement of my first gig. Was this what it would really be like? Playing shitting songs without emotion or care?
“Alright well… It was a nice… Night.” I said looking at Alice who wasn’t quite crying, but was obviously emotional.
“Yeah.” She offered a bit weakly, but to my surprise Jared gave me a legit nod.
“Thanks for coming out. Think about that offer, we’d be happy to play with you again.”
“Yeah.” I said in a similar tone to Alice because that probably wasn’t going to happen, this hadn’t exactly filled me with happy fun feelings.
I went to grab my kit, my guitar in one hand and my Amp in the other hefting both up without issue when I suddenly heard something that left me with a full body shudder of absolute horror.
The radio had turned onto the stage. I turned slowly wanting to stare in horror because… That was me.
“I feel stupid! And Contagious! Here we are now!” Smells Like Teen Spirit came out, then shifting into the final bits of the song and to my even worse horror. People seemed to like it, but it was ending and so most didn’t show any attention.
“I gotta get out of here.” I muttered, shuddering in horror, but then I heard it.
“Motokoooo! Encore! Whooo!” Hiromi screamed at the top of her lungs from inside the club as the song ended, and…
My eyes flashed.
I hacked into the system and turned it the fuck off. No more radio, and then because fuck it, I spun and tossed my Amp onto the stage. It squealed as it went rolling across the way and suddenly the club went quiet as it stopped at just the right spot.
My music box joined it a moment later sliding out to stop just as it tapped the side of the Amp.
The whole confusion was obvious and I could see the club owner coming out from behind the back wondering what the fuck was going on, but I moved stepping out onto the stage.
There were no bright lights, although it was bright enough. I could see the crowd clearly as I stepped out, Cool, the only thing keeping my face from heating up as I walked up to the microphone still there on stage.
As I passed my Music Box woke up, and even as the lights above me dimmed a little, as I hacked in, and took control, it started sending out the holograms on the stage.
“The fuck?” I heard the owner say as I walked up and stopped at the mic.
“If you all are going to be forced to listen to my songs, since I’m here, at least you’ll listen to them live. This is Smells Like Teen Spirit.” I spoke using my most sexy of sexy voice to mask my own anxiety.
The tinny chords echoed out over the room, as I started and I could see Hiromi lighting up like Christmas came early as Malcolm and Ichi both inside now perked up, while Rebecca looked up from a drink in absolute surprise.
I had a brief moment to wonder how Malcolms flirting had gone before I started singing.
It was easy. Almost absurdly so, to get back into the rhythm, the feelings these songs gave me, like sliding into well worn jeans, and I shared that emotion with every note.
Teen angst, something I was well aware of considering I’ve gotten to experience it twice now, and so the sound of Nirvana through my throat and guitar echoed out, and the club partied.
This was a rock club after all. What dive bar wouldn’t get into a rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit?
I hadn’t planned on doing a solo act tonight, but dammit if I wasn’t going to do it! It was less embarrassing to hearing my own song playing at a club I was currently at on the radio… Probably.
“A Deniaaaaal!” I finished, and even as the crowd cheered for the song the next on the set list was already queued up and going.
And so I sang. Rise went well, as I put myself into the song. That desire to rise, to grow to be more than what I was!
“Push through hell, and! RIISE!” I sang letting my voice fry letting that desperation in.
I took a moment pause after finishing, I was sweating, the room was hot, and I’d been playing now for a while. Hiromi as always was there and tossed up a bottle of water for me just like she had last time.
I took a moment to drink before pouring some over my hair and tossing it away, along with my jacket a moment later.
“This Ffffire!” I called out, and then started jamming out giving the intro riff my all really flourishing it as I reached the vocals and crooned out the lyrics.
The frantic energy of the song ending had the club go quiet before once again I got the excitement and cheering from the crowd, but I didn’t start the next song, instead I brought the mic in, and said something I really needed to say.
“This next song is going out to all those wannabe asshole Rockerboys that give in, that become corporate stooges, those that end up serving, ‘The Pretender!’ I said, and started playing again.
I played with all my rage when it came to the aggressive sections. Really throwing my all into it, because fuck Carmen and all those like him! Fuck Dick ads, and asshole old washed up crusty fucking has been Rockerboys!
Fuck them all!
I had to stop and cool off for a second to put myself in a different mindset for Let you Down.
But I took a breath and breathed out arctic and then started playing Sasha’s Song.
When I finished I stood there before the crowd. I was tired, and my throat was tired. Yeah that had probably been a little brash…
At least I got the feelings out.
“That’s the set for tonight.” I rumbled into the mic feeling much calmer.
“Encore!” Hiromi screamed wildly from her position and to my surprise there were more than a few shouts for the same. It spread until more people were calling for more.
Fuck.
I blinked, staring across the groups of people. This was a dive bar, there was no sea, and it wasn’t even that packed…
“Motoko! Encoooore!” Rebecca shouted standing on top of a chair and waving her arms.
Jeez that girl.
“You guys want more?” I asked, and the crowd of people shouted back that they indeed wanted more.
“Well, I have a few other songs, but I’m not sure what’s really ready to play…” I trailed off but Hiromi shouted.
“Something new!” I rolled my eyes at her shout and just considered it. Something new huh?
What hadn’t I showed Hiromi? Would could I play without any real accompaniment, and what could I do with just a guitar. Acoustic cover?
Well, I did know of one Acoustic cover, and Dave Grohl was one of my favorites.
“Alright, This is something new, bit slower paced since I don’t have a full set for it. It’s called… Everlong.”
A soft few chords shifted into a gentle repeated pattern.
“Hello, I’ve waited here for you… Everlong.” I crooned softly, which was actually nice because I didn’t have to strain my throat anymore and just sank into that familiar song.
It was… A love song, of sorts, and so I crooned to the room of rockers and partiers. A love song not just to a person, but to the loss of love.
Despite being a chill song, I played my heart out. Trying to let every ounce of emotion drip through my lungs onto my tongue.
“The only thing I’ll ever ask of you, you got to promise not to stop when I say when.”
And then it was over. I breathed out and took a moment as I took off my guitar wiping a hand through my sweaty hair. I lifted it into the air.
“My name is Motoko, and this isn’t the last you heard of me!” I called out, not arrogantly, but angrily. Because fuck this music culture!
But the people reacted in a way I probably should have expected.
They cheered.
Comments
Docnox
So damn good
Alexander Jonsson
I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favourite comment on the Citadel.
Lukas
So i just read the whole 210 chapters again and i must say it is still one of my favorit Storys i have ever read. Keep up the good work. Next is Phantom star and then PTV again.
ciaran mullen
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/serass-dumpster-of-random-snippets.1143040/page-562#post-107835839 if you want more content made by seras go to spacebattles. sera's posts great stories here that while might not get finished are very entertaining
Firefly Fanatic
Check the side stories, there haven’t been any updates on the patreon ones but the snippets thread has gotten updates to several of the other ones
Seras
Yeah the holidays have been crazy, and Phantom Star in particular is in a bit of a messy state. I had to cut out 45 pages of work and redo it.
Shain Oleson
I'm not showing any posts since Dec 20th is that correct ?
Suls
Indeed. Though I think it would be the reason they would have there first kiss! And I doubt Motoko would expect it~
Suls
Thanks for the new chapter!
Blorgus Gaming
I always love the rocker boy chapters especially when it’s song I haven’t heard got that playlist saved
Carrotglace
If she plays Creep she'll become the #1 in every karaoke bar around the world
Jacob patterson
Hiromi is the culprit not some doughy corpo rocker.
Jacob patterson
This is the song she plays after the first kiss 🤣
Jacob patterson
Thanks for anotha amazing chapter ✨️ 💕 Motoko really stole the show
Privateminiarnold _
That is actually a really good idea
AnonymousJohn
Would be quite interesting to have Motoko scroll a BD of her rockerboy performances. I bet something like that would sell, since you’d get the experience and emotional response directly from the performer. Talk about a next-level, virtual concert experience!
Happy
Most would except tygers, tinos, and 6th street probably. Maybe strom also wouldn’t fuck with her. Toko is still very unknown for her capabilities. She’s basically a level 40 in a level 10 area with her level hidden. Pretty much any random bozo would take the eddies.
runedead56
What gangoons would he reach out to? Makoto is a known entity to most of the major gangs. Well, there's a possibility that the animals would accept that gig. It's just as funny to imagine that all the other major gangs turn him down immediately when they find out she's the target. " Look rocker boy. It doesn't matter how many eddies you offer me. I'm not fighting That gremlin."
runedead56
You're not wrong but at the same time her character is super embarrassed about the praising for her song work. She's fully aware it's not her own work but the same time it's night City and she really should take advantage of every tool she has to get ahead. Even plagiarizing songs from an alternative History.
Seras
I love Hey Man Nice Shot. Great song.
Grand Odyssey
Two GitC chapters in a row? You know how to treat us right! Thanks for posting, Seras; I loved every moment :)
TeoRF
"Ugh, this stupid shit.This is why I didn’t want to deal with bands and people and stages!" Missed a space between shit and this, so it shows as a link
Hangwind
I mean...this is Night City. It runs on petty childishness.
Morog T Tiny
yeah,,, there are plenty of people that tell themselves sweet lies to cope.
Morog T Tiny
i agree, that is definitely a Motoko style song, Hey man nice shot, would be there too.
Heidao
Taunts were flung Shots fired Challenge given Get ready Night City, you're about to get a taste of our universe
Akel
Wild that Carmen came all the way to a dive bar just to trash talk his old band. How petty and childish can you be? And how did no one else see it/call it out?
Derek Palm
"finish line" by skillet would be an awesome song for Motoko especially if you swap where it uses Heros never die with legends never die
David Hoyt
True, but I think anyone who cares already knows. The music styles are a bit different, but she did the doom song for the splatter scav job and the Parker
Gardor
Just googled it, I may be on the wrong side here, oops. It's tough being the most self actualized and mentally healthy person in the patreon comment thread.
Austin Thomas Burney
good job.
Gardor
I respect all of your opinions, too, and I'm perfectly willing to chalk this up to me just not liking the repeated dialogue patterns (monologue patterns? Whatever), but: again, I really, really don't think "lying to yourself" is meant to be taken this literally. It's an idiomatic phrase, like if someone says "you can tell yourself whatever you want, but I know you meant to!" doesn't mean that you're literally talking to yourself.
Giperman
Well, the problem here is that, if Seras wrote Motoko as musical genius, that can create her own banger songs, then Seras would need to write these banger songs, from start to finish. Or hire some cool ass producer and song-writer. It's much more realistic and enjoyable if Motoko just play well-known songs that we can listen at any moment. Just sit and pretend that she actually wrote it and is indeed a musical genius knowing no bounds.
Gilgamesh Archer
Preem, thanks choom!
Cyrus McEnnis
Also worth noting that 'toko sold the song to Denny, not Mr Studd directly. The fact that it got licensed out to Robotic Dicks, Inc. is a learning experience for both her and 'romi - I'd be surprised as hell if she sells the rights to any songs she resonates with so strongly again. Basically, you can make a good argument that Denny is the sell-out not Motoko.
Seras
It's not that she was a hypocrite. It's that because she experienced it, she knows a good insult and uses it ruthlessly. She was still crying internally about Tank! While thinking about it.
Kuro_Neko
Unlike with hacking or BDs, there's no real way for her to hide her real identity with the Rockergirl stuff, so while she might be officially playing as Ghost in the Shell, there's hardly any harm in using her name, and the defiant shout works better if she's using her real name rather than an obvious pseudonym.
Overclocked
Kind of arrogant of her when she technically is stealing other artists music lol
Jeff Taylor
Thanks for another amazing chapter!!!
Jeff Taylor
I respect your opinion but, I disagree. People lie to themselves all the time, even when they know they’re lying. Especially when they know they’re lying! Sometimes you’re just not ready to accept something true about yourself.
Fortunis
Pissed off Rocker Motoko is OP as fuck. Now I wana see what the band members have to say 😆 🤣 cause seriously Alice needs to get her singing mod fixed badly.
Duke of Coffee
Drama~ Hah I wonder if the Corpos will notice and try to snag Motoko to playing for them. Nevertheless glad she is stepping up to cover her embrassment of playing with a rookie band. Heh can't wait for the VH band to realize Motoko is top tier musician. 😜
Alex Moffatt
Big question -- did Misty get her invite?
Bryan
What a delight this is
Jiokuy
I had a lot of fun listening along as she played the set, I still prefer the lil v cover of let you down tho xP. Rise fits really well into the set, glitch mob always thrived on contrasting sounds, so they extra stand out here, in a good way
Happy
Or pulling that shiny gun on her. Would be funny if she blew his head off on reflex.
Lord JJ
Preem.
Solar
Great chapter! I've been missing GitC, great to see more updates. Any chance we'll see chapters more frequently again?
Lacunae .
Thank you for the chapter.
Joseph Schultz
Motoko is back again! And absolutely losing whatever ground she had in arguing she doesn't want to be a rockerboy, lol. Of course all it takes is some asshole trying to look down on her for her to go full guerilla solo rocker, that's our girl! Super excited to see how Motoko handles this now that she has proper motivation to go with another a whole world of top selling songs and the skill to back it up. Also excited to see this bitch inevitably get flatlined when he pulls some gonk shit and tries to physically attack Motoko.
Zilvera
Shouldn't she call herself ghost in the shell to the crowd instead of Motoko as that what she known as a rockerboy.
JDoop
Was surprised that the last song was everlong and not No One Knows with VH invited to help. But I guess this wasn’t for them.
Enkelados
At first I wasn't into the rocker boy plotline, but now I enjoy it more and more
Just A Dude
I can easily see him putting a hit on her, but using low-tier gangoons that aren't even going to make her break a sweat when she changes their pronouns to was/were.
Thereader
i love this story the most thanks for the double release
Aerodynamic Fatman
Double release, Nice, is this a one off thing or are you gonna pick up the pace for GitC?
Javidom
@Giperman I think this might be a theme for all true rockerboys, of the anti-corpo kind at least EDIT: Silverhand mostly went on stage to rage about the corpo world, so kinda like spite
Adam
TFTC
Apeljohn
Yeah... I couldn't help but notice that Motoko was a complete hypocrite in that insult exchange. :-)
Apeljohn
Prediction: Alice is going to pull a "help me Motoko, you're my (band's) only hope". Motoko in turn will force her to turn off the damn autotune chrome and learn to sing properly.
Apeljohn
That moment where she casually bends the sound system to her will, to the accompaniment of confused swearing, was what made it for me. Major vibes of that one scene from Tron: Legacy. https://youtu.be/z3CiYiMhKZg?feature=shared&t=01m55s ...Also, Carmen confidently flashing his Malorian, and his old band's new tagalong being like "that's adorable... bitch". Alice doesn't know that Motoko is a badass yet, does she? Cos that'll be s fun facial expression when she finds out.
Sup3r J4k3
Humanarchy would be a decent one.
That Warden
Oh if that wannabe rockerboy tries to steal that last song I'm gonna laugh cause the splash his body will make when motoko throws him off a building before beating him with his own guitar
Giperman
So the answer for Motoko's stage fright was 🌈spite✨, huh?
nugitoBambino
Rock on Seras's Writing Corner. Rock on
nugitoBambino
could you imagine getting a sub guitarist who nails your set, then thinks your so mid that they decide to solo afterwards? lmfao - awesome chapter tftc
FiveBoxes
If Hiromi makes a BD of it you'd get that vanilla stuff, like an adoring fan POV, completely opposite of those XBDs they typically sell. Or literally the feeling of falling in love all over again. With editing of course, we don't want Hiromi's wild fantasies in there. Though, ofc she doesn't have the setup.
Seras
Thanks, this is sort of the chapter that finally got be back into GitC after a pretty long inability to look at it. I just wanted Motoko to get back up on stage and it worked pretty well.
Javidom
I am at a loss for words, loved this.
Will Iam
Now i want to know what the others of violet hemorrhage say, im guessing they stuck through all
Straven
Hell of a read. This is going to be interesting.
Joshua
I do it all the time lol. When you are in a firefight you sit there going “nope not scared at all! Just gonna hop on the 240, they never going to shoot me!” Or “nah I don’t feel bad for this guy cut in half from a 50 cal while his buddies are asking if he will make it, would never be me! Ah well nothing to do but start with the vampire program I guess!” Idk if it is a common coping mechanism but I promise it’s a real one!
Giperman
We're gotta thank the fuckboy Carmen for insulting Motoko's skill. Now she has to prove something
Arkam
❤️
Gardor
Yes but I was more complaining about the fact that she's aware, and then repeatedly telling herself a lie she doesn't believe, in her own head. I don't think anyone would do that, unless they knew a whole audience was privy to their inner thoughts. Repeating "I'm not anxious, I'm just hungry" to yourself again and again isn't gonna help ya, especially when you don't believe...yourself. I dunno this is a nitpicky comment and I don't think I've got a lot of objectivity behind me to back it up.
LootGoblin21
Christmas came early everyone!!!!
wanderer117
WOHOOOO! Nothing like new music show chapters! They come with with a soundtrack. Come on Violent Hemorrhage, grab those coattails. Learn to play some good music!
STORRM
this is what i was litsining to while reading this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ujGKsnopc&list=RDbuicV2vGmbg&index=23
Chris Seagraves
Relistened to Foo Fighters in what feel like forever 🔥
Happy
Very nice. So I’m sort of guessing this carmen guy is gonna be a bit of a cunt later on? Seeing as he’s been in the story a few times as a twat. Wagers on him going all young master and shit.
Esotericbill
Along those same lines, Death by Rock and Roll by The Pretty Reckless
Monadologist
Two chapters on back to back days! Am in heaven!
carebear90
Well, could have been worse. Could have been Tank! (Mr. Studd-Add)... ^^
Chloe Winter
I am not the author, but I usually take those kinds of comments as the mc being aware of their issues, but unwilling to fix them. Or just holding on to the denial a bit longer. Not that they aren't aware
Birbman
I wonder if motoko might do something from adventure time I would love to see night cities reaction to everything stays
XIEREN
These last two chapters have probably been one of the best Christmas presents I’ll have received this year, thank you so much for updating this
Gardor
I hesitate to immediately begin nagging since you just released two chapters in two days (of the series I read, at least), don't wanna discourage that with negativity, but I yam what I yam, so here it comes: I feel like ya might wanna ease up on the "Motoko repeatedly repeats a lie in her head" bit. Cuz like, she's aware she's lying, right? That's why they're always phrased sorta half hearted and inauthentic? Like when she says something like "I was just interested in the corner, I'm not shy, that's definitely not what it was. Absolutely not.", that's her telling herself a lie and not believing it? But like, doing it anyway as a way to delay facing whatever she's avoiding? It just seems unnatural, like she's doing it for the readers and not as an organic part of her inner monolog. It also seems ineffective, cuz she's basically just going "I'm not thinking about pink elephants, I'm not thinking about pink elephants", constantly drawing her own attention to whatever she's avoiding. It's also incredibly juvenile. I don't think the phrase "lying to yourself" is meant to indicate that you're repeating a phrase in your head like a mantra, pretty sure it's usually just ignoring something. Beyond those three points, I kinda feel like you do it pretty often, if you're gonna do it it may be better used sparingly You take a break and then generously release a couple chappies, and ungrateful scum that I am I immediately start yelling about my unasked for opinions. Sorry.
Ripstick 12
Ah yes, so embarrassed to hear your own song on the radio that you decide to play it yourself, Mokoto everyone.
FrostyDaHomeboy
Happy to see another great chapter. Thank you for this treat of a read. I am curious as to the consequences of this extra music gig will be especially in front of Alice's band. Because she just live performed her radio hits out of almost spite, after already jamming with them. Here's to the next one and happy holidays!
Thawsta
https://youtu.be/TjMPGd20Ryk?si=WrNzv2rnBx2_4nc5 If she played this I don't know if Hiromi could handle it.
HighterDK
Yeah. Like the banjo battle
HighterDK
It’s 2am here. Thankfully today is Saturday.
Chet K
Yeah some good rockerboy stuff. That's what I love about this series is it's so many things. Not just murder.
Carrotglace
Also, Hiromi is going to kiss her, and she isn't going to stop, when she says when.
HighterDK
Heart attack incoming
HighterDK
Hiromi: “Encore” Motoko: “Sure here’s an underwear melting/dropping/wetting song for you” Of course, Seras is not writing that kind of story, so 🤷
Thawsta
Way to steal her thunder. Hopefully she takes it well. Maybe the band will want to be Makoto's band members
HighterDK
Bootlegged has a new meaning when you can make BDs
Bosparan
Wohoo! It's definitely Christmas time and the presents come early! :) Thanks for the kickass chapter - that absolutely rocked!
LGear
Motoko dear, if you don't want people to know you as a Rockerboy, then stop acting like a bonafide Rockerboy.
MisterTubs
Whoo Motoko! Keeping the spirit of punk alive! Now that I think about it Night City is a good setting for a "SLC Punk" story.
Carrotglace
You know I had to look up that song on Spotify when I saw that she was playing the acoustic version of Everlong, thanks for the chapter
Aaron Greene
Yay!
G JP
Encore! Encore! Hell yeah!
Gardor
Oh wow, she's performing under her actual name? Bold.
Cyrus McEnnis
Thunderstruck would also be a good call in the "Played in the Afterlife" genre >.>
PseudoSim
Oof. Thats going to suck for Alice.
Matt
This is exactly the kind of Rockerboy performance I'd expect out of Motoko. No announcements just show up, hack the bar's system, play a set, and leave everyone hyped and confused.
Petrox
For a Edgerunner "Highway to hell" would hit hard, maybe even been played in the Afterlife
DePriest
Poor Hiromi, Wonder how red her ears were.
reeen
hell yea love seeing Motoko rocking out!
Zeroingdark
Oh no, what have you done! Singing a love song with Crush there?!
Jørgen
I can only say one thing, MORE please <3
Cyrus McEnnis
Also just fucking love that 'tokos second solo gig happens because of healthy emotional responses to some cock-womble trying hard to flex on her with his micro-penis out of the chemicals it requires to even get a semi on.
Uncensored21
Bru
Cyrus McEnnis
Yeah, "The Pretender" isn't a precision aimed nuke for Fuckboi Dickless Carmen. That's gonna hit the members of Indigo Bruise pretty damn hard and a lot is gonna depend on whether they take it as a rebuke or a challenge.
Crimson Grave
Of course Motoko would jump into being a Rockerboy because someone insulted her Skills. XD I laughed so hard when Carmen or whatever the dumbasses name was tried to pull a piece on her. Still, I am deathly curious as to how the rest of the VH Band reacted to Motoko going on stage and outperforming them Solo (Ey!). Also Rebecca finally gets to see Motoko sing live!
Delta
A 11 o'clock chapter don't mind me I'll gladly accept this
MrDenim
I was fully expecting a guitar battle, honestly, but I vibe with angy Motoko getting pissed at the Cyberpunk music culture.
Freya
Woop tyftc loving getting some more GitC
runedead56
Just finished it and realized mokoto just stole the show. This actually makes me feel a little bad for Alice to realize how upstaged she is going to be here.
Taylor Juroshek
Seeing Motoko like this feels good. Cathartic, in an odd way. Proud, too. I'm happy for her.
THE SAVAGE KITTY
Yeeeeeee baby
Adam Daw
Aww yiss
intata
Lmao holy shit. Gone full sail
Cyrus McEnnis
Yay! Merry Angstmas! Only a _little_ disappointed that 'toko didn't play her sellout tune, Tank... >.>
Michael Olson
fuck yah let's goooooooooooooo
Velleity
Yyyyeeeesssss
Andrew Bazhaw
Got to go find that Matoko music box playlist on YouTube again. Thank you for the chapter
JTP
Love it. Thanks for the chapter!
heh
The Rockerboy stuff never gets old
Oliver Howard
I cannot express how happy I am to see more of this story. Thank you.
runedead56
Woot unexpected. Ghost in the City!
EnderScroll
Thanks for the chapter!
SirTacitus
Rahhh! More GitC!
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