Here we go:
Second Chance
Episode One
Seb Livingstone
I teleported into the club as I’d done many times since discovering
Second Life©. I hadn’t felt this nervous
for a while. I enjoyed singing covers,
but tonight would prove whether I could still hack it with my own stuff.
My IM
pinged. Damn not now.
Stacey Windsong: Hey,
baby, how’re you?
Seb Livingstone: Good thanks, Stace, just getting ready for
BB’s.
Stacey Windsong: Oh, I don’t
have anything booked for you for today?
Seb Livingstone: I made
the booking myself.
Stacey Windsong: I see. And I’m not important enough for you to tell
me what you’re doing?
Seb Livingstone: Please
don’t start. Look, I have to go. Come here if you want to, if not I’ll catch
up with you later.
More
pinging.
Blue Benelli: Hey,
Seb, how're things swinging?
Seb Livingstone: Hey, B, do you really wanna know. Lol.
Blue Benelli: *Laughs* You ready then?
Seb Livingstone: Oh yeah.
Blue Benelli: Break a leg buddy. Give me a yell when you’re ready for me to
announce you.
Seb Livingstone: Cool.
BB’s was a simple, uncomplicated venue that has graced Second Life©
since late 2008. It was Blue’s mission in Second Life© to provide one hundred
per cent live music all the time. I was following – The music whisper
– Russell Eponym, and after my set, Pol Arida would be taking his thumping set centre
stage. I oriented my avatar on the stage behind
the mic. My breathing became rapid and
shallow. My pulse pounded in my
temples. I sat on the stool in the
middle of my home studio. The laptop set up to stream my music in-world. This was it, make or break.
I typed in Blue’s IM:
Seb Livingstone: I’m
ready to roll B.
Blue switched to voice - “Hey everyone, good to see you all here. Give a huge round of applause to my boy Dr
Livingstone.”
Applause and cheers ran up my screen. I looked out from the stage, at the packed
club. The buzz was invigorating. It never got old seeing people waiting for
me to start a set. There was nothing
quite like an enthusiastic audience to get the blood pumping. I loved performing. I was addicted to the adrenalin rush. It made me feel alive.
“How are we this afternoon?”
The crowd erupted. Chants of – ‘Dr Livingstone, Dr Livingstone’
and ‘Sing ‘Tears’ sing ‘Tears’ and applause rained down the screen again.
“Yeah, yeah J, it’s in the set, but today I’m launching two new songs. ‘Avatar’
is the first one I’ll sing for you. No
prizes for guessing my inspiration for this song.”
Cheers
flowed again. Then the crowd quietened as my music stream came through.
You’re
beautiful, you’re gorgeous
You’re
an avatar,
Lifelike,
surreal
Ethereal,
how bizarre
Here
one minute
Gone
the next
The
crowd applauded wildly. Catcalls and shouts of TUUUNE ran up the screen.
On
my own in my home studio, I fist-pumped the air. Yes.
The feeling never got old.
“Glad you liked it, and for my next new song. No prizes for noticing a bit of a theme going
on is called Virtual Reality.”
Humans
will always be humans
Whether
they be pixels or
Living
breathing beings
Virtual
reality no responsibility
What
an opportunity
Comments
like - Dr Livingstone, is there going to be a new
album?” and “Where can we buy
those tracks?” ran up the screen like credits at the
end of an epic movie.
I
felt stoked that my new material had met with such vocal approval. I closed my eyes and let the crowd’s reaction
wash over me. It was the jump start I
needed and how it was supposed to be. I still had it.
I
could take it into the real world. My
second chance was going to happen.
My computer
continued to ping with comments and accolades — what a rush.
“To answer some of your questions, you
can buy the tracks as singles off iTunes, and it’ll be on Genius and YouTube,
and yes, I’ll be working on a new album.
I’m hoping to get signed to a label soon.”
Requests
poured in.
“Okay everyone
here’s the one you’ve been waiting for.
“Tears”.
I
braced myself for the wash of emotion it always launched on me and clung to my
microphone as though it could save me from being carried away.
Tears, tears, inevitable
Smiles there were a few
And when the tears ran out
We were numb and so blue
Smiles there were a few
And when the tears ran out
We were numb and so blue
Why, why, why, shattered
dreams
Why, why, why, shattered dreams
Why, why, why, shattered dreams
The crowd roared in
appreciation. But this song would
forever haunt me. It was a constant
reminder of the past, of disappointment and the despair that had followed.
Stacey Windsong: You okay?
Seb Livingstone: Are you here at BB’s?
Stacey Windsong: Obviously.
Seb Livingstone:
Thanks. I didn’t see you. There are so many people here. And yes, I’m okay.
Stacey Windsong: Why do
you keep singing that song? You know
it’s not good for you.
Seb Livingstone: It’s
difficult to say no to the audience.
Stacey Windsong: Oh, please, Seb, I think you're just
masochistic.
Seb Livingstone: What
about the two new songs, did you catch them?
Stacey Windsong: I did.
Seb Livingstone: And?
Stacey Windsong:
They’re not bad.
I
frowned at my screen. Hell. Not bad, what the fuck?
Seb Livingstone: Thanks
for the vote of confidence.
Stacey Windsong: You
know that I don’t think you should still be singing after everything you’ve
been through.
Seb Livingstone: And
you know that’s not going to happen.
Stacey Windsong: I’m
here to keep an eye on you, make sure you don’t fall off the tracks again.
Seb Livingstone: I can hardly forget since you remind me all
the time.
Stacey Windsong: You
should be putting all your effort into getting a real job in the real
world. None of this virtual world
malarkey. It’s a waste of your time and
mine.
Seb Livingstone: I
didn’t ask you to be here.
Stacey Windsong: Excuse me, that’s unnecessary. I too have a vested interest in you, so I
want to know that you’re okay.
For the rest of Second Chance - Episode One - pop on over to Amazon. You can pick it up for free on Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YTXCYTF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Lacy+Muircastle&qid=1570620657&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
Future Episodes will feature graphics by the extremely talented Skip Staheli, so be sure to look out for them
If you feel so inclined, please leave a review in the SL Enquirer, in the comments section.
I hope that you'll enjoy reading Second Chance - Episode One. I'll catch up with you next week.
Lacy
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