Decisions
59"You're her fans? I'm her friend."
"You're her fans? I'm her friend."
A chill runs up your spine. The beginnings of an uncanny convergence.
The popstar looks at you and lifts her eyebrows.
The two girls glance at each other, then nod. They're ready. Time to leave them to it.
"A pause, yeah. That's a good idea."
"Hersh, I've been thinking. Or projecting, maybe. Future-wise." She jabs a cigarette into her mouth, then removes it again.
"I agree. It's good, Yana."
"I believe you can." The queen of electro-pop gives you an encouraging smile.
"I don't really go for conceptual stuff, personally."
"I think that's a good idea." Her smile is slightly less encouraging this time.
"It's V, isn't it."
"It's the word 'anus' with a 'Y' in front of it."
"Maybe she just needs another go." The queen of electro-pop looks at you with deep concern.
"Maybe this is more of a conceptual based thing? Is that what you're going for, Hersh?"
"Remember, Hersh -- no weird shit around V."
"That sounds a little weird, but it's a good name anyway."
"That's cool, the personal angle."
Does he mean Ultra Violeta... you could hardly describe her as 'mountainous'... maybe in talent terms...
Why so sad, V?
She was expecting you to play another note.
The glimmering purple keyboard is just as you left it.
"'Holding Hands with Strangers' was the big single from that album. Number one for eighteen weeks. Far outselling Dia Domino and her limp attempts at meaningful music." She presses a single key lightly.
"Good."
"Hersh... what are you doing?"
"I just watched you do it."
"Nice job, Hersh. You disturbed V."
"Please don't start this again..."
"Single notes, no chords... very minimal..." She looks for help but there's no one around.
"Then please get off the keyboard first. It's clear you don't know how to play."
"Tempo almost cried even..." He trails off, then blinks himself back into the room. "Boar kibble. Yes. This photo will d
Didn't Ultra Violeta herself mention a missing recording engineer?
It's not. More favourable would be a clean trade, the prisoner for the girl.
One of Ultra Violeta's songs was titled 'Holding Hands with Strangers'.
That confirms it. He's after the popstar.
There it is. The moon.
"Since we last spoke, I may or may not have come into possession of a Luzian popstar."
"What's she like? Up close? I've always wondered..."
-- WHEN THEY ASK WHAT YOU'VE DONE --
-- WHO WAITS FOR YOU --
-- WITH YOUR HEART?
... Are you being had here?
Artists will go to almost any lengths to protect their reputation. This new song's a bust -- and she knows it.
DOUBLE GULAG.
THE WALL WILL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT. CONSULT IT.
"Earlier you told me how you're planning to kill Minister Reyes. Literal blood on your hands, not just figurative."
"Hello." The sovereign queen of L-Pop barely glances at you.
"Hersh... Are you sure this is safe...?"
"Hersh." The girl nods at you, once, as if to confirm your presence.
"I mean, I know where to find you. You're not exactly going anywhere, ha ha."
