brightxskye

[mingi-bubu]

别掉色 别走🍉🍉🍉 ​​​

20230322 | Cr. 钛戈-展羽

[boyuans]

Tag game time ～

Put your playlist on shuffle, list ten songs and tag ten people

Tagged by @baobeejun <3

I'm using my daily playlist

把孤独当做晚餐 by Jing Long

月与花 by Mr. Tyger

Fall by Jackson Yee

這次，真的是你不對 by M.I.C.

风暴眼 by INTO1

情人 by Cai Xukun

唯独你 by Zhang Xingte

RISE 登峰造极境 - 纯享版 by Bo Yuan, Yu Gengyin, Dai Shaodong, and He Yifan

我要飞 - 纯享版1 by Lu Siheng, Lin Zijie, Zhong Nuoyan, He Junxiong, Xiong Yiwen, Lu Huanyu, Dai Shaodong, and Luo Dianxia

TWILIGHT by WEi

Tagging @mingi-bubu @dejundali and whoever else wants to do this <333

[whonsper]

god i have way too many song mashup ideas for someone who doesnt know how to make mashups

[somanyupdates]

wenweni

20230611 | Cr. 嘉羿

[my-st]

♡ UNINE & Shuxin Matching Header & Icon ♡

[katealpha]

Art by Zenny’s Club

https://x.com/clubzenny?s=21&t=Y5k0MmFAcnmbYxSfSGgVFA

———————————-—

It was great to be out of Pam’s strangling vines, thought Catwoman as she dropped onto the edge of a building from a guardrail above. Behind her was another, larger building that cast a shadow over the famed cat burger. It was the place that Selena had just made her way out of. An old brick built structure that was covered in emerald tendrils that bore blood red flowers. Practically the signature colors of former doctor Pamela Isley. Of course, everyone knew her as Poison Ivy, the ecoterrorist widely considered one of the deadliest women alive. Selena liked to believe she was somewhere on that list. Being able to clear rooms full of men bigger than herself had to count for something. Plus, she had just survived another brush with death

Just moments earlier, Selena found herself hanging upside down at Ivy’s mercy. Only due to necessity. Selena knew of a pair of cases locked away in the Arkham City vault. The newly opened open air prison had a place where the valuables of select inmates were kept. A place she couldn’t just break into on her own. Some force was needed, and with Bane locked up in a toy factory somewhere, Mr Freeze occupied by his popsicle of a bride, and Croc probably eating someone someplace in the sewers, Selena went with the only choice she felt was right for this. Selena expected the redhead to be mad at her for that one time she forgot to water her flowers during some getaway that the burglar had long forgotten, but what she didn’t expect was for Ivy to leave her with something before agreeing to help and let Selena on her merry way. While she was still upside down and before Ivy agreed to drop her, one of the free plant tendrils forced its way into Selena’s mouth, and she felt something pump down her gullet.

Selena wondered what that was about, still having the sour taste of chlorophyll in her mouth and a tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach. Selena spat to the side to get that taste out and then without further adieu, she kicked off the corner of the building, and with her whip she swung over the ice cold waters of the flooded portion of the so-called amusement mile. She was eager to get that loot that Ivy agreed to help her get her claws on, but had no idea what was already set in stone, and that a sour feeling on her tongue and TYGER Guards were going to be the least of her concerns that night.

Five minutes later

The feeling of her heels bashing the skull of a TYGER guard in was more than satisfying for Cartman as she dispatched the last of them that were sent to investigate the sudden vine attack on the storage facility door. Her green eyes watched the man fall limb onto the asphalt, sunglasses broken by the force of her kick. Everyone one of these pricks had it coming, thought Selena. In this quiet moment as sne stood over the manhole cover that led to the underground entrance of her destination however, she began to feel a little off. There was a sudden low groan that audibly bubbled in her lower abdomen. It was an intense enough feeling that it caused her to stop in her stride towards the sewer entrance and hold her clawed hand over her belly. Selena felt bloated. Like she had eaten leftover fast food earlier and her body was reminding her that, hey, fast food is bad for your lifestyle. The bloated feeling didn’t go away seconds later.

“Ugh, either you drank spoiled milk earlier, or Ivy put something really nasty in me. Better hurry up and get that plant back…” Selena muttered to herself before heading down the manhole with quick succession.

Once inside the tunnel, Selena surveyed the damage that Ivy’s vines had done. There were shattered bricks and bits of concrete laying all over the place which she found herself stepping over. Ahead was a series of holes in the walls that had been punched into wide enough to create a hole wide enough for Selena to simply walk through until she arrived at the front door. The storage facility was right there, and as she walked into the empty security room, another churn rippled through her gut. The feeling was a bit more intense this time. Had someone been standing next to her, they’d have heard the noise. Selena once again rubbed her hand against her stomach as she approached the camera feed. The vault was guarded by two armed guards, as well as an extra detail that patrolled the surrounding area that seemed to be a maze of halls and shelves. She sighed with relief as she saw that she’d be able to open the vault from here, though she’d need to obtain three key cards from the guards. It would be easy enough, assuming her raunchy stomach didn’t start acting up on the fly.

For the next several minutes, the guards patrolling the room were completely unaware of the latex-clad woman lurking above them. Not noticing as a gloved and clawed hand slipped into their pants pockets, pulling out each key card until she had three in hand. Once back in the security room, Selena began to use the card, ignoring the growing feeling in her stomach. She couldn’t let this sudden bloat slow her down. She was so close. All she could do was rub around again to soothe the rising pressure she felt inside. The last thing she needed was to be flatulent in close proximity to one of these armed guards as she was taking them out, because that’s what she would half to do in order to get inside that Vault. Soon, Selena jumped back into the fray, now set on knocking out every guard in the area before moving into the vault. As she moved about the facility, crawling through the vents, dropping onto guards, choking each one out, Selena could swear that she could feel her stomach pressing into her suit more than it usually did. Was she really bloating up here? The rumblings of her belly ironically coincided with the ground shaking around the facility, Protocol 10 already underway outside.

With the last guard dealt with, the vault was all hers. Her stomach wasn’t feeling much better or worse, but there was a constant gurgling sensation that persisted. In the table at the other end of the room were a pear of metallic painted cases, and a single potted plant. In a moment of sly spite for the one who had put her through so much trouble to reach her just hours earlier, she approached the plant and chuckled, picking it up.

“Try and tie me up in your plants, like hell.” Selena purred. With a smirk, she dropped it onto the floor where the pot shattered. She then stamped the dry soil and leaves for good measure. A chuckle in her throat.

Catwoman then came to realize that doing that may have been a bad life choice. As she approached the table again for the loot cases sitting upon it, a much stronger reaction took place in Selena’s gut. A deep, ominous churn roared from within, and the feeling was enough to make the thief lean over with a grunt. The bloated feeling exploded, and Selena felt her stomach pushing out and straining against her already skintight suit. Her back curved inwards and Selena turned her body to lean against the table, finally watching with wide eyes as her belly visibly grew outwards under her suit and desperately pushing hand, a futile attempt to make it stop. During this moment, her voice came out as gasps and grunts, her words lost in her throat until the growing stopped. Selena was now panting and sweating in shock, staring down at her belly which now looked like she was about to give birth to twins. It heaved in and out with her breath, and Selena finally found the will to at least say something to herself.

“What the hell??¦I shouldn’t have done that just now….what is happening to me…am I pregnant?…” Her frightened eyes wandered the expanse of her midriff. Inside, there was that constant gurgling, as well as a gentle shifting sensation. It felt like a bad dream, but there was nobody here to pinch her. Whatever Ivy had pumped into her body, it was growing, and it was alive, and somehow, her suit hadn’t ripped open yet despite the size of her stomach.

Before Selena could compose herself, more TYGER guards stormed the room, ready to apprehend her. They faltered, seeing her current state. One of the guards held up their radio to their cloth covered mouth.

“Professor, Catwoman seems to have undergone some kind of accelerated pregnancy since she’s been here.”

Strange’s deep and posh voice replied over the radio. “Most fascinating. Be sure to take her alive then. Perhaps there’s something more I can learn from her.”

Selena groaned and pushed off the table, bracing herself to fight again, now expecting to be weighed down by her new, massively bloated belly. She’d worry about what was happening once she got some more alone time. Pregnant with a plant monster or not, she wasn’t going quietly.

“You don’t say…don’t expect me to go any easier on you boys.” With a deep breath and clenched teeth, she extended her claws and took hold of her whip as the guards began to come closer.

To be continued…

[moony2moon]

Oh hey, I guess we're doing a part four now for some reason- (Arc of a Scythe Incorrect Quotes because yes)

Rowan: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, Your Honor?

Goddard: No.

Volta: I do!

Rowan: I know, Volta.

Volta: I'm sad...

Rowan: I know, Volta.

Esme: Why do people complain about being fat, I mean, what if someone wants to slash your throat? HAHA! TRY FINDING IT NOW SUCKA'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goddard: *Walking onto patio* First it was the maintenance man, and now *Points to a pot of basil on it's side* IT WAS GOD WHO F*CKED MY BAISIL!!!

Tyger: *Kicks the door down* MMmmm ma'dam! What if we perform an unholy act at the hour of midnight? HA HA HA HA! *Turns to leave* I joke.

Rand: *Just standing there*

Tyger: *Whips back around* BUT ON THE CONTRARY!!!

Greyson: *Getting attacked by Morrison* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thunderhead: Pardon?

Citra: HE RUINED MY DREAM JOURNAL!!!

Goddard: I did not! MR MORRISON, SEND HER TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND HAVE HER EXPELLED!!!

Citra: *Smacks Goddard*

Faraday: Story Time! It was common law that a flower be presented to the loveliest lass- *Giving rose to Curie*

Citra: *Takes the rose* Well of course that's me.

Unsavories: You think you're tough?

Slayd: Oh yeah... *Brushes teeth*

Unsavories: *Stares in confusion*

Slayd: *Pulls out bottle of orange juice*

Unsavories: No... *Backs up*

Slayd: *Chugs it*

Unsavories: *Runs of screaming* STAY AWAY!!!!!!

Rowan: When I think about my worries, and I think about my strife, this is what I simply say: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[darkwingphoenix]

@loominggaia Memes, Today's Special

Mix of AU and Spoilers and some Canon chucked in!

Also, thanks LG for saying you like the vids I put here!

Skylie As A Teenage Mermaid Divine (She's still aging, but hella slow, and wound up a mermaid because Rule of Cool)

Saraia When In The Wild/Her Main Shrine (Darshaan gives the last message)

House Of Humanity Rebels as Skylie Descends Onto Their Base on Rook (Also one HELL of a piece)

Skylie and Saraia As Damiscend/Ascendance Capital Needs Livestock (Saraia spawned a barn outta rocks and plants)

Skylie when someone says they're uncomfortable with her smutfics

(Canon) Jasenia, Mr. Ocean and Lukas on their way to kidnap Cyana from the Royal Gala in Evangeline (Jasenia's the middle golem/Regirock, Lukas has the below face in the back (Absol) and Mr. Ocean's just floppin his hands)(This is a Pokemon meme)

Cerulea and Rodrig when Skylie's fics form an entire knightly order a la the Knights Templar

Matuzu urban areas 99.9999% of the time (If Tolsa of Gawe exists, there's GOTTA be at least SOME sorta furry community somewhere. 99.9999% likely it's mostly in Matuzu)

Angeline After Leaving Evangeline (Her family was no Evangeline Royal Family, but it wasn't too good for her, a product of the culture for sure)(Also, Cyana and Skylie GROW their hair, but Angie, who had like 4 feet of hair, chopped it all down to mostly a side shave/mohawk)(That means her hair is buzzed down except for a strip down the middle she wears down, like in the short)

Skylie with young Amber, Citrine (Drau daughter of Cyana and Angeline), Alani (Human daughter) and Kitsu (Faun daughter) in the Uekoro Markets (Amber's like 12-16, Citrine's maybe 9-11, Alani's 6 max, and Kitsu's a babby at like 3-5)

Ginger with the Cyangeline Kiddos in Drifter's Hollow (Cinnamon's doin some random BS with the FGG)

Skylie (Left) Arguing With Cerulea (Right) Before Revealing Herself and having Marine, Cobalt, Saphirra, and their partners/kids find out the truth about Cyangeline and Skylie

Part of How Skylie Distributes Visions

Saraia, Darshaan, King, and Queen (Another Saraian like King and Rook Saraia made for Darshaan) on their way to Evangeline Capital

Skylie and Saraia after they meet up in Evangeline Palace (Is it a palace? Is it a castle? IDK, I use both)

Cyangeline, Fanakas, and Cyangeline Kiddos with a new pet Skylie gave them as a bard troupe is playing

Buncha koholasaur whelps walkin up a hill

Saraia and Skylie doin a color scheme swap (I wanted to use all of the vids I saved to an LG Meme playlist I have on my YouTube account as a resource stockpile for the memes)

Rodrig and Skylie Arguing in the Evangeline High Temple/House of Humanity (Skylie released Las Beez)(Lazuline never wants to hang out with you people)

Cyana and Angeline being led by Amber and Maui to where Citrine, Alani and Skylie are doing a ritual on Kitsu

Ellen Joan when Cyana and Angeline, two introverts, have an IVF/magic daughter (Alani) who's a hyper extrovert

Saraia and Darshaan trying to Trap Karenza via conventional means vs Skylie using Rule of Badass moves and trapping Karenza in one go

Amber, Citrine, and Alani doing this trend for Amber's BluTube account (It went viral 3 days later) (Kitsu was drinking orange juice on Maui's back offscreen while watching)

Skylie, Saraia, and Darshaan at the Royal Gala One Time

Marghan Tryna Tap Amber when she's 20 (AKA a sirene minor)(Her friends Metzwell and Tyria, Citrine and Alani, Skylie with a sniper rifle she nabbed from Zareen, and Maui did the oo-ing) (Tyger, Jelani, Rustafi, Clementino, Cyangeline and Azura are bouta beat his ass into a grease stain)

Cerulea after being killed by Skylie at Dawn (Skylie's feeling EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME AT ONCE)

Amber, Citrine, and Alani after Amber comes back from a World Athenaeum research trip where she almost died (Her eyes are orange tho, and Cyana and Angeline yelled A BUILDING WAT)

Angeline when Cyana is being a fucking bitch to all of her suitors (She had a huge crush on Cyana before they got together)

A clip from one of Amber's comedy gigs

A line from a play about Saphirra's ex-husbands Skylie wrote to drop on an unsuspecting Royal Gala (I headcanon a guy got his head lopped off by sword-to-the-neck-itis

Average benefits for the Ascendii Grande Armee (They all wear buckets because buckets

A Prep elfann teen and his mom looking at the publicized World Athenaeum Arcane College Entrance Exam Results (The prep got second place to Amber, who bounded in on Maui all awkwardly)

Lumine as a young transgirl in Evangeline to Skylie (Who gave her a handmade Vision with all 7 elements)(Skylie can do that, she invented those bitches)

Cyana when she's drunk/high (She's mistaking Azura for Angeline, thus Beidou(Eyepatch)/Azura and Kazuha(Leaf Guy)/Angie lookin like that)(I'm a Genshin fan, thus all of the Genshin)

Skylie and Amber (Citrine is Paimon, or the little flying fairy, confused about Skylie having a BF/GF)

Skylie scolding Saraia for eating Crab Legs

Skylie wanting to do Something Stupid (Saraia wants to be done by Skylie)(These two are SO will-they-won't-they to me as a romantic couple dynamic)

Marine, Cobalt's eldest daughter, after finding out she's a demi-divine with shapeshifting abilities after having identity issues exacerbated by Cerulea and Rodrig for her entire life (The audio, ignore the edit)

Amber doing karaoke (Kitsu did the wops)

Citrine finding Gilgamesh in a game Skylie helped design (The Civ VI franchise is a fictional game series lmao)

Skylie hosting Family Feud between Cyangeline, Amber and Citrine and Cobalt, Justinia, Sai and Lumine (Cyana said Sit On It)

Kitsu seeing Looming Gaia Grinch (Prolly some Zareenite thing tbh) for the first time, aged 3 months old

Skylie when talking about Saraia after they FINALLY become a couple (Audio)

Cyangeline Kids Vibin (Also Lumine vibing before Skylie Heys back)

Saraia Being a Contrarian Again

Skylie proving to her parents she ain't no demure, mindful, considerate Evangelite no more (I say her hair after it grew way out due to a power burst she experienced while Disgracing Mankind's Disgrace is between like that long it or halfway down her thighs)

Darshaan and Skylie doin karaoke (Skylie's Yoimiya/Left Blonde Girl and Darshaan's Childe/Right Ginger Guy)

Sai, Lumine, Justinia, Angeline, Cyana, Amber (Atop Maui), Darshaan, Skylie and Saraia doing this dance for no reason while Cerulea, Rodrig, Teal, Danus and Indiga are away (In order for each part, so Sai/Lumine/Justinia for the first three, Angie/Cyana/Amber for 2 and Darshaan/Skylie/Saraia for 3)

Alani when told to stay in one spot

Plot of a fic about Lumine and Skylie running around to find Lumine's twin brother (Identical twin since Lumine's a transgirl and thus a male at birth, and because identical twins are cool)(Skylie's the Rock (Bald), and Lumine is Ryan Reynolds, obvs the not bald man)(The bull is a koholasaur, which Skylie knows can see motion AOK (She made them), but everyone in Evangeline thinks they can't because they don't kill those who stood still and didn't feel like mercing them

Saraia being a Menace (Jane/Grey is Skylie, Catherine Aragon/Yellow is Cerulea asking about Cyana and Angeline, and Anne Boleyn/Cyana is Cyana)

Skylie once one of Cyangeline's kids starts taking a nap as a babby

Skylie unlocking her Divine Ultra Instinct (An ogre knight tried to fight her after she took out Cerulea)

Rodrig while Cyana and Angie are fucking in the House of Humanity/High Temple (They decided to try public sex one time before leaving Evangeline)

A part of Saphirra's ex-husband play (The part before the last one about this play)

Skylie, Saraia, Darshaan and Trip vibing while attacking Evangeline Capital (Trip got into the palace effortlessly and started overdosing guards on greenlite, which is not safe for non-mermaid commoners and in fact hella toxic)

Ginger after doing a little camp thing with Trip, Cyangeline Kiddos, Skylie, the Drifter's Hollow Kids and the Evangeline Royal Kids (It was a secret field trip for the Evangeline Royals)(It was Amber's phone they used to represent fire)(Amber also got herself buried, and Trip got rezzed)

Amber, Citrine and Alani missing the train to Matuzu Capital for Alani's first day at the Athenaeum

Cobalt using Clarity to steal Sai's cake from the icebox (Clarity was 2 days old when this heist happened)

Skylie, Saraia, Darshaan, and Trip at the Evangeline High Throne Room for no reason (Darshaan was wearing one of Skylie's miniskirts the whole time)

Cyana being an unknowing pro at poker (Her default face is an utter poker face, and she hardly shows emotions unless they're super strong)(Video unrelated)

Skylie with a Pleiadae she encountered after noclipping onto the moon after attempting to teleport

The Zareenites trying to kill Ascendance the first time

Kelvingyard Agents trying to kidnap Kitsu aged 4 (Cyana barreled over as an ogress to whup em, same with the rest of the family)

Darshaan after meeting Karenza for the first time in like 4 millennia (He's huge, but Karenza's even bigger)

Skylie vibing throughout Looming Gaia, giving Visions like they're banana pudding bowls

Amber, Citrine, and Skylie discussing Zareenite health (This is canonically true)

Saraia once

(Reposting this shit for my AU because it's cool as shit) Saraia, Amber/Citrine/Maui/Lumine/Paimon, Cerulea/Rodrig, Jaq Yerim-Mor, Iriana Liatt (To Qara), Teal/Danus (To Cobalt), Cobalt/Sai/Justinia (Cerulea doesn't know), Saraia/Darshaan/Thetos, Serafeen (As Skylie's accidental ghost leech), Morgause/Lumine (Both wanting Skylie), Citrine (With her Dendro Vision), and Trip/Mr. Kraken (Who are cousins by technicality!) as new singers!

(Canon) Balthazaar upon seeing Azadora's changeling

Lumine and Paimon trying to find Lumine's twin with Trip, Rustafi, Iriana, Citrine, and Saraia, respectively

Skylie doing a Stellar Sword attack

The amount of steps it takes Citrine to get into her preferred fashion style (Emo/goth/punk)

Sai, Justinia, Skylie, Angeline, Trip, Cyana, Lumine and Saraia doin a lil dance in the High Throne Room

Basically Amber's style of clothing (Hey, it's pretty normal in Matuzu, right?)(Also sorta Citrine's, except Citrine's clothes covers way more)

Skylie watching vs reading spicy stuff

Angie caring for her and Cyana's kids as little kids vs going out (With Skylie as babysitter, because she'd do it for free, but they force her to take money, even though Skylie's a divine and will outlive the money they give her)

Iriana tryna get food (Skylie/Saraia/Darshaan)

Skylie dancing to distract sexually repressed Evangelite guards

Maia (Cobalt's eldest daughter) as an adult in Ascendance (She got a higher power, personally crafted Anemo Vision from Skylie just like big cousin Lumine)

Saraia and Skylie Arguing Randomly

Maia, Kitsu, and Citrine trying lemons for the first time

Skylie trying on that dress (Saraia's got the horni)

More coming soon!

[cherrymf15]

My thoughts on the toll which has made me wanna fight Mr Neal Shusterman in a Tesco

Greyson is new age jesus

iconic

Jeri my favourite genderfluid captain

iconic

and their crew is so supportive and the RESPECT

Faradays assisstant is not my favourite but that could be the self hate talking

my babies were deadish FOR 3 FUCKING YEARS

Goddard as always fight me sir

oh and Citra calling him out for some of the disasters that occured was fucking beautiful

i was like yes girl drag him

he'd kill me in seconds but i'd go down insulting him and take pride in it

Rand bringing back Tyger made me sob

Like thank you Rand for making Goddard die and stabbing him and everything

but that just made everything all the better cause I missed him and his bitch boy antics

and the fact she's been going to see like the simulation of him despite the fact he doesn't know her :(((((((((

"Where are you, my dear Marie?" IM SORRY

THE YEARING IN THESE WORDS

Can someone stop fucking seperating my babies please and thank you? Specifically you mr neal sir

Jeri and Greyson are so good together omg

both of them also kinda being in love with Citra. BIG MOOD

my boy faraday was severly depressed after finding out the love of his life and his children were probably dead and I wanted to hug him

The whole tonists in Africa section made me physically sick

ROWAN AND CITRA NEVER GOT TO SAY GOODBYE TO FARADAY

however the reunion between my babies was great

i almost threw my book

the scythe who just wanted to be left alone to be beautiful is an icon

and Citra just being like OH YOU FUCKING UGLY GOD made me cackle

I do wish there was more Rowan POV it felt like it was a afterthought for the book

also Rowan just abdonding his family for space

which i only have a problem with cause he joined the lone star region is part to protect them but then just runs soooo

Thunderhead making another thunderhead sections were fucking fascinating

scythe morrison got so much better from the last book omg

loriana is a queen

GREYSON CALLING THE THUNDERHEAD UNSAVORY

HE ESSENTIALLY CALLED GOD UNSAVORY

ill say it again

ICON

also the FAILSAFE WTF ORIGINAL SCYTHES

I mean

its definetley better than people MURDERING OTHERS but still

faraday doing sympathy gleanings just magnificant

In conclusion, I wanna fight the dude who did this to me, in a Tesco, specifically in aisle 7. However, this series i think is probably in my top 5 series I've ever read. I thought the characters were extremely well developed. And it really just shows both the good and the bad in humantiy, especially with the fact that I'm not sure this future is entierly impossible with the way AI is probably gonna go

[streetkid-named-desire]

@ghostoffuturespast tagged me BACK for wip wednesday. RUDE. i tag @merge-conflict @dani-the-goblin @another-corpo-rat @totentnz

i got the first scene rewrite done and i'm pretty happy with it, i really heightened further just how pathetic V is and his anxieties and self loathing. really hitting home wakako's statement about his ritual self-debasement not going unnoticed to show how v is perceiving her and her body language. he feels like the scum of the earth but is trying desperately to believe its not the case, he defends himself but its all empty. he's at war inside with believing he's fine but knowing everyone else can see he's not.

-

The old Japanese woman sitting behind the dark oak desk held the key to Vincent Guerra's evening activities in her skull. She wore the same blend of neo-kitsch-meets-entropy clothes to work at the back of the Pachinko parlor. Tonight, it was a starched-rigid red blouse that opened from the black Nehru collar to her bellybutton, revealing the tattoos that marked her as a member of the Tyger Claws. A sharp amber glow flitted around her pupils, framed by her round glasses, as she inspected the datashard he had handed her just moments ago.

V slouched down in the cheap wood and plastic chair in her modest office. The pale wood frame and red vinyl cushions clashed with the Japanese decor, and V realized it was the only thing that had changed in the ten years he'd been working with her. The jade statues of dragons that looked so bright and vibrant when he first stepped foot inside were now dull from layers of dust. The plastic laminate over the synthwood that gave the planks made from recycled wood pulp were chipped, revealing the yellowed fiber beneath.

Wakako Okada removed the shard from the port behind her right ear and stared at V over the rims of her glasses as she placed it back in the translucent red plastic case on the desk. V snapped to attention and sat up straighter. He rubbed his hands on his thighs over his dark jeans like a twitchy addict.

Because he was.

Not addicted to drugs per se, unless one counted addiction to the chemicals one's own body produces. For V, those chemicals were oxytocin, endorphins, and dopamine released during climax.

"Well?" he asked sharply.

Wakako nodded and opened a drawer in her desk. She slid the shard case inside and slammed it shut as her eyes flashed blue to transfer V's fee to him. "Contract closed. Payment in your account now."

V shot up out of the chair, so eager to find his next release he nearly knocked it backward, and walked to the door.

"A word of warning, Mr. Guerra," Wakako said.

V turned in the doorway to look at her and shoved his right hand into the pocket of the brown crystaljock merc jacket with the Samurai logo emblazoned on the back he always wore. He picked at the already raw skin around his thumb. Wakako's eyes narrowed. She pursed her lips and inhaled sharply before speaking, like what she was about to say pained her. There was no softness or empathy in her eyes, not that there ever was. Whatever this "warning" was, it wasn't given out of care for V.

"Your ritual self-debasement is not going unnoticed," she started.

V opened his mouth to speak but felt like any exhalation would spray sand all down his chin. He snapped his mouth shut and swallowed, begging his salivary glands to work so he could defend himself.

"Some free career guidance, my dear." The pet name held no love, he was not a dear grandchild, he was a disgusting smear in her office. The wrinkles around her lips deepened when she spoke next, and V thought he saw a sneer brush her upper lip. "You are too old to be doing this."

"I-", V cleared his throat, trying to gather any moisture from the ambient air, "I don't know what you're fuckin' talking about, Wako." He clenched his fist inside his jacket. Was that not what Jig-Jig Street was for? The way V saw it, he was just putting the fixer's money back in her own pocket.

"Get your shit together, V." His name was spat across her lips, like the shell of a sunflower seed carelessly dribbled onto the floor. She turned in her chair and continued a phone call he'd interrupted earlier in her native Japanese.

V shook with rage and trembled with self-hate. He stomped out of the pachinko parlor and onto the pink and blue streets of Night City's premier destination for all the sex and debauchery you could find—outside what Maelstrom or Scavs offered. And V was getting closer and closer every day to finding out just what delights the brutes had for sale because the drinking and anonymous sex just didn't fill the black hole inside his chest anymore.

He hunched his shoulders and pulled the tall collar of the jacket closer around his face. The neon blue light running along the inside of the collar for the personal temperature control blurred his peripheral vision. He liked it better that way. It made it easier to look at the working boys and girls, easier to make a selection. He didn't have to see the grim details that made him feel guilty for being a willing participant in this cycle of depraved poverty.

[miz-orque]

My bs Jimmy Kurosaki bs (backstory obvs) ✨✌️✨

Notes: Jimmy's debut in canon is 2076. Age is unknown, but I'm basing his age off his appearance on the assumption that he doesn't have any implants that slow his physical aging. Looking at Kerry and Rogue in Cyberpunk 2077, they appear to be in their 50s to 60s, but they're both in their late 80s, walking around like 30-somethings. Of course, Jimmy may have had some additional cosmetic surgery done other to his face, other than his nose and chin 🤷‍♀️. To me, he looks to be 35 - 45, tho I'm taking the middle age, so 40.

Jimmy was born in Japantown, Night City, to a couple who were a part of the Tyger Claws. His parents were mainly braindance (BD) editors, tho his mother was more focused on trafficking for extreme braindances (XBDs), drug production and being a hooligan on the streets. His father was the expert at producing the edits for the XBDs. Due to his mother's drug addiction, he was mainly raised by his father, often accompanying him to work. Jimmy often witnessed his father being abused at work. Most of the time he would be entertained by member of Tyger Claws or was given BDs to watch while his father was busy with work. When he was around five years old, his.mother died of a drug overdose.

From the age of six, he was taught how to edit braindances by his father, much to his father's dismay, as he did not want to expose his son directly and emotionally to the violent and sexual nature of the braindances he had to edit. To compromise, Jimmy was taught to edit more tame BDs such as Tyger Claw highway getaways and chases, and the occasional act of physical violence, like a person mugging and beating them up. His talents were soon recognised by high ranking members, and wanted Jimmy to focus on editing and tuning XBDs - his age was no longer considered despite his father's protests. They were widely successful.

When he was around ten, his father quietly stole from Tyger Claws, attempting to sell Jimmy's edits so that he could make enough money to have him and Jimmy leave Night City, and in turn, Tyger Claws. Realising that his edits were sold for rather high prices due to their demand, Jimmy believed in his own talents and believed he could carve his own path to success, not live in poor conditions with his father. Within six months of his father selling some of Jimmy's edits, certain Tyger Claw heads found out. One day, whilst the two were editing, his father was approached by a couple members and escorted out of the studio. That was the last time Jimmy ever saw him again. Orphaned at ten, Jimmy took residence with his cousin and family, members of Tyger Claws.

Staying on their good side, Jimmy gave into their exploitation of him, continuously producing quality BDs and XBDs alike that was quickly sought after. He eventually returned to his childhood home when he was fifteen and finally started being paid for his work. His desire to leave and become successful never left him. Whilst creating XBD edits for Tyger Claws, he would create one version for Tyger Claws and a separate version for himself, ones which he would sell off under the alias of Mr Kurosaki. His plan was to eventually leave the Tyger Claws, Night City and run run his own private studio, creating successful commercial BDs before delving into custom BDs and even XBDs. He even let his cousin know about his plans as he knew he shared the same desire to eventually leave as well.

During a little mission, his cousin managed to retrieve a scroll from a cyberpsycho killed and harvested. Instead of passing this to the producer to view, he passed this to Jimmy who then edited the BD and sold it on the black market. It became successful to the point it caught the attention of high ranking Tyger Claws members, particularly the producer. They eventually learn that the XBD edit was created by Jimmy, soon learning that the other BDs under his alias was made by him as well. They decided not to execute him due to his talent, however, he still received punishment. He was escorted to and from him the studio to his apartment and has had TC members keep an eye on him since. All profits he gained were stripped from him, having him survive on an allowance of 300 Eurobucks a week. And took to top it all off, he was also handed an XBD scroll of his cousin's execution to edit.

After his cousin's passing, Jimmy did his best to butter up to the higher ranking members, even going as far as pretending to not care about his cousin's death, trying his best to gain the their trust again. Despite his efforts, he was still treated horribly and exploited for his talents.

Until one day, at twenty years old, enough was enough. He managed to sneak an XBD he created (was already on the market) in exchange for an EMP grenade. When he entered the studio the next day, when he was sure everyone was distracted, he set off the grenade, affecting those within the vicinity of the explosion. He made a run for it. As he exited the building, some of Tyger Claw members chase after him. As Jimmy runs for his life thru Japantown, he collides into Monsoon who was happily walking the streets eating ramen.

[mingi-bubu]

生图小子 ​​

221210 | Cr. 嘉羿

[loominggaia]

Hey. I made a Royal Gala chapter in my fic. I would REALLY like to hear a full reaction to it. Please

I don't know exactly what a "full reaction" entails, but I can tell you this:

This was my favorite chapter in the whole story (so far!). Mr. Ocean making faces at the kids. The adorable little interaction between Tyger and Jelani. Marghan and Saphirra being absolute menaces together is hilarious! Terrorizing the whole gala with their balloons made me laugh, it just kept happening.

My favorite part was Indiga annihilating everyone with her crinoline. There was no escape from her giant ass. Cyana and Angeline are being adorable together as always, and it's nice to get a glimpse into Angeline's character with her love of hot milk. I love how you took events from this post and worked them in, expanding upon them and really painting a funny scene.

Qara and Serafeen getting into a petty spat is so spot-on. Goryx gets exactly what he deserves. We get introduced to the living dolls in this chapter, which I think are my favorite of your monsters (it's hard to choose because they're all so cool and in-depth, but the simplicity of these little dolls running around is delightful to me). Saphirra being cool with everything feels right. I don't know man, it's just a really fun chapter! You packed a lot of characters in here and just them all work off of eachother really well! I love this fic, I plan to sit down and re-read the entire thing sometime soon.

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[majestativa]

… shining dark Romantics feeding my inner frenzy. They all creep under my skin, haunt my imagination – Keat’s Grecian ‘truth’ and ‘beauty��, Blake’s taunting of the tyger’s ‘fearful symmetry’, Wordsworth’s ‘emotion recollected in tranquillity’, Mary Shelley’s Monster.

— Karina M. Szczurek, The Fifth Mrs Brink: A Memoir, (2017)

[elvenbeard]

Lucky

Cyberpunk 2077 Fanfic Summary: V is lucky to be alive still after a heist gone right but many other things gone wrong lately. Maybe it's not too late yet to pick up the pieces, but even with fewer and fewer options to go forward, his path seems unclear. (Post-Sun-Ending, Chapter 3/?, 4477 words, Kerry Eurodyne/V, no warnings except for angst and a hospital setting >.>)

>> Previous Chapter >> First Chapter

The next thing V remembered was his biomonitor going off, beeping on high alert, the emergency protocol reciting its little speech.

“Vincent, it appears you have been in a car accident,” it said, “Remain calm, Trauma Team are on their way. Estimated arrival time: 90 seconds. Try not to move.”

He could barely breathe, let alone move. In his initial shock he didn’t even feel the pain as much, but he was squeezed in between his seat and steering wheel. The windshield was cracked, casting a kaleidoscope of red and blue and golden light across his face, blurry shapes running around outside. People were screaming and there was one hell of a commotion, more gunshots fired, police barking orders, but long before he could fully grasp what was happening, V’s consciousness faded again.

“Vincent?” a gentle voice brought him back from the darkness – how much time had passed?

“Stay calm, we’re getting you out of here.”

The man wore full Trauma Team combat gear. Before V had even come to his senses, they’d already forced the warped door open, put a neck brace on him, and maneuvered him out of the car. He didn’t remember how exactly, only that one moment he was still trapped in there, the next he lay on a stretcher, surrounded by medics, Megabuidling H10 towering above them. Police sirens were blaring, and the deep droning of the Trauma Team AV not far left of him made his head hurt even more.

“Client is conscious but disoriented,” one of the medics said, another listed V’s vitals and the drugs she was about to administer. At least four people were all over him cutting open his clothes, poking him with needles, shining lights into his eyes, and strapping him to the stretcher in preparation for transport.

“Vincent, do you know what year it is?”

“It’s just V,” he barely managed to croak, his throat dry and tight.

“Sorry?”

“Just call me V,” he repeated, “And it’s 2077. The fourth of September.”

“Very good,” the medic said, “Do you remember what happened? Where were you going?”

“Was on my way home,” he said as a strangely warm, numbing sensation washed over him, the painkillers probably, “Tygers crashed into me… right in front of my front door…”

The stretcher was lifted from the ground as soon as they’d fixed him to it. Due to the brace, he couldn’t really look around, but quickly the view of his old apartment complex was replaced by the interior of the Trauma Team AV. He’d wondered if he’d ever see the inside of one again, and he was actually very thankful now that Kerry had coerced him into purchasing a membership not that long ago.

“Kerry…” V murmured, but he barely recognized his own voice. Whatever they’d given him, it was the good stuff.

“Is he your emergency contact?” was the last thing V remembered one of the medics asking before he drifted off to sleep.

He wasn’t sure if what followed was a dream or not, flashing images of people he didn’t know talking to him, bright lights, strange noises, a sense of urgency and worry and confusion. Then just soothing darkness for a long, long time. There were worse ways to die than just fading out like this… he knew from firsthand experience. There was no fear in just falling asleep and never waking up again, no pain, no hatred and betrayal, no sorrow and regrets. There was no glory either… but by the time it came to it, V realized, that wouldn’t be his concern anymore anyway.

A familiar but unexpected noise slowly pulled V out of his deep, almost dreamless sleep. For a moment he wondered if any of this had even happened – from meeting Mr. B to infiltrating the Crystal Palace, to ending up in front of a red stoplight with the worst possible timing. But when he opened his eyes to bleak white hospital walls, reality hit him even harder. He was still here, still breathing, his heart still beating. He could still barely move his head either, but even without doing so, the warm calming presence squeezed onto the left half of the bed beside him was undeniable. He realized it was Kerry’s gentle snoring that had woken him up, that usually helped him fall asleep.

One of the perks of them both being kind of short and slim, they comfortably fit into a bed made for one person only. As far as he could see, Kerry still wore his dark grey jeans and V’s old smiley-face t-shirt – he usually did when V was gone for a couple of days at a time. His leatherjacket was draped over an armchair nearby and guessing by the soft warm light falling in through half-closed blinds, it probably was the morning after. At least V hoped so, and he hadn’t lost more than half a day unconscious in a hospital bed.

Wanting nothing more than to run his fingers through Kerry’s tousled hair, pull him closer, just hold him, in disbelief still that he was really here and not a drug-induced figment of his imagination, V tried to lift his left arm. But he couldn’t. Despite the painkillers, every little movement hurt, his limbs felt like they were made from concrete. Weakly he laughed to himself when the ironic thought “feel like I was run over by a car” crossed his mind.

Kerry’s eyes fluttered open at V’s croaky laughter breaking the relative silence of the room. The quiet whirring of the medical monitors and machines was barely louder than white noise. He shuffled and looked up at V with great worry at first, but it slowly turned into a relieved smile.

“Hey,” he said, voice still heavy with sleep, scooching even closer so that they were more at eye level. He reached up to gently caress V’s face with the back of his hand, shaking his head just slightly.

“Almost gave me at least three heart attacks yesterday,” he said quietly, his expression growing more somber again.

“Didn’t mean to,” V apologized, his own voice still sounding strange and distant to him. But he truly meant what he said. He hated to see Kerry worry about him, especially over something so stupid.

“I know,” Kerry said, resting his head into the crook of V’s neck, his arm across V’s chest now, holding him close but making sure to not press onto his hurting ribs too forceful, “Fuck… I’m just so glad I didn’t lose you. Dunno know what I’d’ve done.”

V shivered. Clenching his jaw and biting back the pain he reached up to put his right hand on Kerry’s arm draped across his chest, fingers gently massaging and trailing along his tattoo. It had always reminded V of armor in a way, protecting him against a world that had been anything but kind to him for so long. The last thing V wanted was to also make the list of people Kerry had been hurt by.

“I don’t really know anymore what’s going on with me lately,” V blurted out, but that was all he really managed before his throat closed up again, the words he’d seen so clearly in his mind slipping and fading away. Kerry didn’t move away one bit, and V couldn’t see his face, but there was audible concern in his voice.

“You’ve been… weird, yeah,” he said after a couple of seconds, “Preoccupied. Thought it was the stress of… y’know, everything. The bad news from the docs, that big gig, managing the Afterlife, all that?”

“I mean, yeah…” V shrugged. It was true, all that had been stressing him out, on top of it the secrecy, working for Mr. B of all people… But he’d done worse things for Arasaka, been under similar stress then and afterwards, and he’d never felt so out of it at any point in time before.

“But… it’s more than that,” he said slowly, “On some days it’s like I barely recognize myself in the mirror anymore.”

A long pause, just filled with the quiet buzz of the machines, distant voices on the hallway, and the faint roar of an AV’s engine flying by outside.

“Think this is… like, the aftermath of the Relic? Gettin’ worse?” Kerry asked, and it hurt V how frail his voice sounded.

“I mean, could be,” V said, and the thought had certainly crossed his mind, “Like… It was like this before, worse even. A few times I actually saw Johnny in the mirror for a second, not myself. And it was still bad for a few weeks after Mikoshi. But I actually thought it was getting better… For a while at least, Vik doing what he could.”

“Seemed like you were more at ease with it all, yeah,” Kerry mused quietly.

V didn’t even want to think it but… maybe Alt was really right this time. Maybe there was no way out of this. He’d been living on borrowed time ever since he woke up in that landfill. Any semblance of things improving could have been just wishful thinking, all the brain experts poking and prodding him with great interest and enthusiasm creating a false sense of hope that he clung to like a drowning person to a lifebelt.

But Viktor had been underestimating how much time he’d have left, and Alt had been wrong with her first assessment of the situation, too. Even the great fucking Hellmann was surprised at V being the living proof of something he’d deemed impossible. So many smart people, time and time again wrong with their assumptions and estimations as soon as the Relic was on the table. V just didn’t want to believe there was no way out. He wanted to live. Being held close by Kerry like this now more than anything reassured him in this wish. They deserved more time than what had been offered…

But maybe a “happily ever after” just wasn’t written in the stars for V. Hell, did happy endings even exist? V’s last hope was whatever Mr. B and his associates were up to, the people even Johnny Silverhand had warned him to not fuck with. V had seen them literally delete and overwrite other people’s memories, whole personalities, to achieve… what exactly? Turn them into puppets for their own goals, whatever they were? Or just as an experiment to see how far they could take it? Would he end up being something like that for them, too, or would they actually be able and willing to help? Even if he was only a good investment to them, to V it could make a huge difference… Or should he test his luck one more time and not put his fate and trust in their hands, and just… hope for the best and that all of this would somehow resolve itself on his own?

None of his options were appealing, and none seemed any more promising than the other…

“You said you needed to tell me somethin’,” Kerry said after a while, and V was thankful for being pulled out of his dark thoughts, “On voicemail, yesterday. ‘Not over-the-holo stuff’?”

He sighed. All roads seemed to lead to Mr. B, somehow. But before he could say anything, there was a brief knock on the door and a young medtech walked in.

“Ah, you’re up. That’s good!” she said with a bright smile, pressing a few buttons on the control panel by the doorway, and the blinds in front of the large windows slowly opened fully. Kerry reluctantly sat up, stretching briefly and ran his hand through his hair in an attempt to somewhat get it back into its usual shape.

“It would have been no issue to get a guest bed in here, Mr. Eurodyne,” the medtech smiled.

“Nah, all good,” he shook his head and waved his left hand, with his right briefly squeezing V’s arm before getting up and making room for the tech to do her thing. V had never liked doctors much, neither hospitals, or anything that fit that overall category.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to have a quick look at your biomon readings and superficial injuries, then I’m outta your face again,” the tech said, “I’m not sure if you remember by the way… We spoke briefly yesterday, but you were a little out of it.”

“Um, no, I don’t, actually,” V confirmed.

“No problem! I’m Jayda,” she said, “Dr. Fuentes is your attending physician, she’ll come in shortly with a few more questions.”

“She’s alright, talked to her yesterday,” Kerry chimed in as he put on his shoes over by the armchair.

“Okay,” V just nodded as Jayda tapped around on her datapad.

“Your cyberdeck and a few of your neural implants got a little bit shaken up from the accident yesterday. Your personal link broke, too, but nothing our techies couldn’t fix. I’m just checking if everything’s in order. Got any visual glitches, something feeling off? How bad is your pain on a scale of zero to ten, and where is it worst?”

She continued with her questions. V answered everything to his best ability but was relieved when she finally left the room again with the promise of breakfast being brought in soon. Kerry had meanwhile settled down on the armchair, leaning forward with his elbows propped up on this thighs and hands loosely folded. His right leg was bouncing slightly, and he looked at V with a light frown.

“So, I guess if the doctor gives her okay you can take me home with ya today,” V said, trying to smile.

“Hm-hm,” Kerry hummed, “And ya better believe I’m gonna make sure you finally rest your ass a bit.”

V chuckled, but instantly regretted it when the pain in his ribs reminded him just how right Kerry was about his demand.

“I actually told Rogue already I’d economize a bit. Not come in for a week or so,” he remembered, “Couldn’t have planned it better, I guess...”

Kerry’s face lit up.

“So… I’ll have you all to myself, until you’re better?”

“Until I’m better,” V said, “And beyond, I hope. What’s the point of workin’ my ass off trying to save my life and then not living it with the people that matter.”

Kerry smiled, but then hesitated, tilting his head.

“Wait so… your super-secret gig… It was actually, literally…”

His expression and voice were a mix of all sorts of emotions, confusion, curiosity, concern… but also a sliver of hope. V almost regretted having said what he did now because he didn’t want to raise any hope where there might be none.

“I… don’t know for sure yet. It’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he explained, and Kerry slightly slumped back after perking up in careful excitement first.

“But not here,” V decided, half expecting a nurse to come in any moment, “As soon as we’re home.”

“Alright,” Kerry nodded, a little more soberly, but still smiling at him.

Hospital breakfast was, well, hospital breakfast. Not the worst, but also not particularly good.

“With how much you fork out for that Platinum policy you’d expect them to serve ya a full 5-star menu here,” Kerry muttered before he took a sip of V’s coffee, then made a face and put the cup back down, “I’m gonna go for a smoke, and maybe grab some proper coffee from around the corner. Want me to bring you anything? I’ll be quick.”

“I don’t think I have any clothes actually…” V noted as he looked around, and he was dressed in only a hospital shirt. His right hand shot up to his chest, his neck, searching for his necklace, but it wasn’t where it was supposed to be. His pulse sped up, but thankfully, Kerry didn’t seem to notice.

“I’ll take ya home naked, too,” he teased instead and kissed V on the cheek as he got up from his chair, “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

V chuckled, and ran his fingers through Kerry’s beard, tracing his jawline, trailing down his neck, along his cyberware to his collarbone… he really had to get his act together before he’d pull Kerry down into bed with him again.

“I’ll hurry,” Kerry said quietly, and V couldn’t help but notice the desire in his voice, reflected in reluctant movements, not quite willing to pull away and actually leave him now... So much so, that by the time he’d finally made it to the door, he almost collided with Dr. Fuentes coming in.

“Oh, apologies,” she smiled and stepped to the side to let Kerry pass.

“I’ll be right back!” he called over his shoulder before heading out. The doctor then walked over to V’s bed, and his uneasiness rose again.

“I’m Dr. Fuentes,” she introduced herself, “Very glad to see you up and well, all things considered.”

She held a datapad and linked it up to the monitors beside V’s bed, quickly checking the readings the same way Jayda had done earlier. V couldn’t really guess her age, she looked quite young for a doctor, but the way she moved and spoke made him guess that she was much older than she appeared. Maybe not quite Kerry’s age but seasoned for sure. There was no hint of grey in her dark curls tied back into a ponytail, and she studied the monitors with keen eyes. In the strangest way she reminded him of Takemura, but he wasn’t even sure why that was his first connotation. There was little they had in common, appearance-wise. It was more the energy she gave off, calm and professional outwardly, but something else slumbering beneath the surface.

Dr. Fuentes looked up from her datapad, smiled at V, and then she pulled up a chair and sat down to be more at eye level with him.

“Everything’s looking good, we got your toxicology report as well now, and there is nothing out of the ordinary either,” she said, “Although your liver values aren’t as good as they should be for someone your age. Do you drink regularly?”

“No, I don’t drink. Don’t react well to alcohol,” he said truthfully.

“Hm. Any drugs, strong medications? Some painkillers have a harsh impact on the liver.”

V hesitated, and Dr. Fuentes continued to gently smile, but it somehow made him even more suspicious of her.

“I’m not asking to condemn, just to make sure I have all the information I need to be able to help you,” she said calmly.

V almost wanted to say “I sincerely doubt you’ll be able to help me” but he bit his tongue.

“Can you tell me a little bit more about your condition?” she then asked, catching V off guard, “We did a brain scan yesterday, but what we found did not align with what we expected.”

She turned around her datapad, showing him the results. V looked at the familiar images intensely, trying to make out any differences to the last one that Dr. Williams had done, the head of that team of specialists Kerry had assembled. He didn’t notice any glaring differences, but overall, it still didn’t look good. He didn’t know where he’d even start explaining, or if he even wanted her to know anything about this. All it would lead to was a mountain of uncomfortable questions.

“Mr. Eurodyne said you have consulted with specialists about this already,” Fuentes said, “Neurology is my area of expertise as well. We obviously only have this snapshot of something that seems to have been going on for a while, but to me, it looks like a degenerative disorder of some sort? Resulting from an old injury, Mr. Eurodyne said?”

“That’s partially correct,” V said quietly, “It’s a long, complicated story, and I don’t want to go into details, frankly. Brings up a lot of bad memories.”

He had hoped that that would discourage her enough to let it go.

“I see,” Fuentes said, taking the datapad back, “Do you have any older scans, from when the injury was still fresh, or the time in-between then and now? We don’t have to discuss details or specifics, but if I could get an idea of how this started and progressed, maybe…”

“Let me stop you right here,” V said, much harsher than he’d planned to, but he couldn’t take it back now, “I… appreciate the concern. And what you’ve done for me already. But I’d like to leave it at that and just go home.”

Fuentes looked at him intensely, and yes, this was exactly what reminded him of Takemura about her. There was a fire in her intelligent, foxlike eyes, a sliver of obsession, and determination.

“If that is what you wish I won’t be standing in your way,” she said calmly, but he noted a certain almost challenging undertone, “I’ll prescribe you more painkillers, but everything else should resolve itself on its own. We can remove the cast on your wrist in a week, and at the very least until then, given your condition, I urge you to take it slow and rest.”

She slowly got up from the chair, tapping around on her datapad. It seemed like she was about to turn to leave, but then she hesitated and turned around once more. She wouldn’t just let it go, V hadn’t expected otherwise.

“Promise me to give it another thought,” Fuentes said, “I have been working with patients suffering from MS for years now, and we are working on treatments that are, admittedly, aggressive, but also showing extremely promising results.”

V hummed.

“You’re not by any chance affiliated with BioDyne?” he asked, “I’ve seen their ads. The 700,000-eddies-a-month therapy.”

Fuentes dropped her professional façade for just a second, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment if V had ever seen one. Then she smiled again, regaining her composure.

“I don’t work for BioDyne, no,” she said, “Only for my patients.”

“Either way though,” V said, “I don’t have MS. Actually, I’m pretty damn sure that I’m the only person on the fucking planet who has exactly what I have.”

“Even if that’s the case,” Fuentes said, “The same treatments can sometimes help ease different conditions. Or be repurposed with some adjustments.”

She looked him over intensely once more, then her eyes lit up pale blue as she sent him her contact info, the sight giving V goosebumps for a moment.

“Give it another thought,” she said, “You’re still so young, have your whole life ahead of you. And you seem to have at least one person at your side that cares a lot for your wellbeing. Talk it over with him, and give me a call when you’re ready. Jayda will be back shortly with your discharge papers and personal belongings.”

With that she turned around and left the room. V sighed and slumped back against his pillow, coffee and breakfast leftovers on his tray long cold by now. He was tired of thinking about the rest of his life, being told that he had “so much to live for”. Not that the people saying that were wrong. He had Kerry, Nibbles, a job he was really fucking good at, that allowed him freedoms and possibilities he wouldn’t have dared to dream of ten years ago. He had made a lot of good friends over the course of the last months, since all of this had started. Real friends that actually cared about him, that didn’t just see him as a pawn in their games. Up until then it had only been Jackie who liked him genuinely as a person, not just as an asset, and after he’d lost him, V had been more than ready to just die. At that time everything he’d still cared about had died with Jackie.

But he was no longer ready to die. Regardless, being told over and over again how much he had to lose made the stress to find a way to survive almost unbearable. As if he didn’t know he was too young to die, too genuinely happy for the first time in his life to let it all fade away together with his mind and body. To have Kerry take care of him as soon as he couldn’t do it himself anymore, to watch part of him die along with himself as things proceeded to get worse.

V closed his eyes and started counting the seconds until he’d finally get out of this hospital, breathe some real air again, and clear his head.

Kerry came back before Jayda did, with some clothes for V, “real” coffee, and donuts. Then Jayda appeared with the discharge documents on her datapad that V signed promptly, as well as a plastic bag with his cut-up clothes and other belongings. She unhooked him from all the machines, and as soon as she was out the door he opened the bag, almost frantically looking through it for his bullet amulet. He found it wrapped up in the remains of his shirt, took it out with a sigh of relief and put it back on.

“I think I’d gone nuts if I’d lost that somewhere,” he said shaking his head, still holding the cold metal pendant in his right hand, the bullet that took his old and in in a way gave him his new life sharp and rough against his palm.

“I almost hoped they’d lost it, 'cause you'd never leave the house without your lucky charm,” Kerry teased, sitting at the edge of his bed again. He was still in his same clothes, hair still unkempt. He must’ve really just breezed home and past the nearest Caliente’s to be back as quickly as he was. V gently kicked Kerry’s ass, but he probably hurt himself more with his abrupt movement than the other way around.

“Serves ya right,” Kerry laughed as V groaned in pain and got up, “Need some help gettin’ dressed?”

“If you’re as good as dressing me as you’re with undressing me, I won’t say no,” V joked, flinching and hissing as he tried to get out of bed, body sore all over. Before his feet even touched the ground Kerry was at his side, holding his hand and helping him up. He smiled at V still, but like so often lately, his smile only covered up his pain and sadness about everything, wasn’t as genuine as it used to be. He knew there was no point in dwelling in the past, but in moments like this he wished he could turn back time. He’d lost count of how often he’d wondered if things were different now – and in how far – if he'd given in and taken Hanako’s offer instead of bringing the fight to Arasaka. He hoped that, at the latest three months from now, he wouldn’t wonder the same thing about Dr. Fuentes’ offer eventually.

>> Next Chapter

[arashi-no-saxlphone]

"In My Blood" Tygers of Pan Tang and "Angry Young Man" Billy Joel are two of the things getting me through The Trials right now. Yes Mr Joel I've been stabbed in the back and I've been misunderstood, but my intentions WERE good. Thank you Tygers, I know I'm living a lie and can't be saved. Music make me lose control.