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[ Amidst the impressive technological marvels and distractions present on the ship, Johnny found it impossible to resist the allure of commandeering the network for a brief moment. While he's no deckhead or with a fancy BD strapped to his head, Johnny at least knows how to work a camera. This is why everyone is getting a good view of the scowling rockerboy as he puffs smoke directly into the camera.

Yeah, he's smoking again already. Don't ask how he got his hands on another e-cigarette. It probably involved a five-finger discount and a lot of schmoozing. Despite being such a complete asshole, Johnny is at least charming.

He's a charming little parasite. ]

Okay, chucklefucks. [ He mutters before taking another drag on his cigarette. Smoke billows from his nose as he exhales, resembling an angry demon/oni graphic on his tank top. ] Let's have a little talk.

Where the fuck are all of you from? Half of y'all look like your average Joe, while others look like wannabe supermodels who just walked off a Jinguji photoshoot.

[ Johnny lets out a chuckle as he brushes some ash off his cigarette. ]

So, who wants to go first? State your name and where the hell you're from.

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It's too clean. [ Vincent rubs at his oil-stained fingers with a rag, twisting the fabric atop his nails. Always seeps there, hands reeking of garage for hours — he always reeks of motors and metals no matter how clean he is.

Makes sense for a man who has more in common with an engine than a human. ] Needed a personal touch. [ Needs to tell a story, which cannot develop without experience. But you couldn't rush that in the Badlands and can't rush it here either. People see through inauthenticity like no other.

Doesn't mean one shouldn't try. Painted in a thick brushstroke, ink black as night outlined in shining white, a kanji lies drying. ] Can't save the world if you don't look cool.

[ They're both dancing around the subject. Fine. Let Johnny have his shades, Vincent his quips. They'll get to it when they get to it. ]

Edited 2025-11-29 18:14 (UTC)

Been behavin' myself for a few months, yeah? Doin' most things above board. Ones that matter, anyhow.

[ Sneaking into the penthouse of a recently deceased celebrity doesn't count. Nor does taking her books. She wasn't using them anymore. What's a little B-and-E hurt?

Crawling up the goddamn garbage chute was not something he ever wants to repeat, though. Ever. ]

Sounds a lot like Nieve. S'one of the reasons this place don't feel right. Why the hell're they recruitin' for security? And why're they the only ones who get guns? Gotta be an angle there, one I ain't keen on.

It's definitely too clean. [ Johnny agrees with a hint of a smirk on his lips. While he never been the one for chitchat, Johnny can't help but fall into this easygoing conversation with a smile. After all, he genuinely enjoys V's company. Maybe that's why he's so scared about fucking everything up. ] A little too clean for Night City's living legends, that's for sure.

[ He pauses when he sees the kanji. Johnny's Japanese may be a bit rusty, but he's had recent practice thanks to the gonk next to him, so he lets out an amused chuckle. ]

Death, huh? [ He gives V a glance from beneath those dark shades. ] Now who's trying to look cool here?

[Johnny mumbles while giving Vinny a playful elbow in the ribs.]

Edited 2025-11-30 00:03 (UTC)

[ Vincent pops a toothpick into his mouth, chewing on it as he moves aside to give Johnny a better view of his handiwork. ] Don't need to look cool — they keep tryin' to kill us but we just keep comin' back. Too fuckin' stubborn and too fuckin' pissed off.

Shinigami. [ Used to bother Vincent. The Grim Reaper of Konpeki Plaza — an insult, a reminder of his greatest failure, Jackie's ghost heavy on his shoulders. Yet slowly, surely, thanks to the gonk he's staring straight at, he learned that death was not the end.

Far from it. ] Missing one kanji, the one for god. Thought this more subtle than painting skulls and bones all over the damn thing like the Wraiths. 'Course, everyone in Japantown still gonna piss their pants. [ He snorts. ] Can imagine the sour face on Wako and Goro if they saw it.

Vampa? Why the fuck does that sound outside of my solar system?

[ There's a good reason for that, Johnny. A very good reason... ]

Anyways, nice name. It sounds tough, almost "brolic," as the Northeasterners would say.

Supermodels are parasites with legs but they're hot, usually. They model the latest fashion trends and usually have access to the best synthcoke imaginable.

That's because it is, or rather certain parts of Night City are, an open warzone. I.e., Dogtown or anywhere near upper Watson.

Pure fucking chaos. Not even NCPD will go into those neighborhoods to save you from Barghest or the Scavs.

Curious, huh? Too bad you'll never find out but maybe if you're clever, you'll figure out why I'm called "Silverhand."

where i'm from saying something like that is begging for a sex joke
but in all seriousness
is it because you're good with your hand?

[ ...he tried ]

Don't sweat it.

[ He's certainly paying close attention to this choom right here. Johnny was uncomfortable with the speed at which this person evaluated him. This is the kind of shit V does to him on the regular; he doesn't need another asshole therapist with him. ]

Archery isn't going to fucking cut it against aliens, that is...assuming alien lifeforms truly exist. We need guns, lots of guns, and I'm not sayin' this because I'm from Texas.

[ Yep, he's from the "yeehaw" Lone Star State. ]

I gotta be honest with you, I already don't fuckin' like the idea of the security division. They're the only motherfuckers allowed to carry while the rest of us lie defenseless. That sounds like a bad idea already, doesn't it?

Still, we need people to start treating this shit more like an expedition and less like a glorified vacation from their mundane little lives. I see too many dewy-eyed marks roaming around that look like they would get easily distracted by just dangling a set of keys in front of their faces.

[ Damn, that's one hell of an opinion for someone who hasn't met half of the crew yet. ]

Listen, I've been bitchin' about that since I arrived here. These fuckers got me in the Archive and Research division despite me being an ace mercenary.

[ ~~Okay, Johnny. V's the ace mercenary, not you.~~ ]

I haven't met any of the security detail assholes yet, which is both a good and bad thing. I just wonder if there's a way for us to get our hands on the weaponry before they do.

Again, I don't trust anyone pretending to be a cop.

Edited 2025-11-30 16:29 (UTC)

Hey, I'm not a prude. I get a lot of action with my hand too, if you know what I'm sayin'.

[ Ew, Johnny. ]

What can I say? I got the magic touch, but anyways. Nah, you'll see eventually.

[ on the other end, izaya is cackling ]

you sure i can't convince you to tell me about your second special hand skill?

Nah, let the fuckers keep tryin' to kill us. We need the cardio, Vinny.

[ He jokes while admiring Vince's take on Japanese calligraphy. The bum did a good job. It's a little surprising since Vinny definitely leans more into his Latino heritage than anything else. But then again, V speaks better Japanese than he does. So maybe he shouldn't be all that surprised. ]

Fuckin' Wako and Goro would be cussing us both out by now. At least the old hag is kind of tolerable but Goro? Man, that guy can shove his Japanese elitism up his ass.

[ A pause. ]

That is if there's any room, considering there's a huge Arasaka-shaped stick jammed up there.

As the one starting the discussion, should you not be the first volunteer? Leading by example and all that.

[Sunday's curious, though - a survey like this would be interesting to see the results of. What kind of patterns are there to be found, etc. He doesn't mind participating either, exactly.

It's just, starting off with an attitude like this rubs him the wrong way.]

[ A new challenger has appeared! Too bad they're about to get sassed by a Night City legend. ]

Lead by example, huh? Well, fuck it—I'll go first.

[ Oof. This rockerboy has a way with words. ]

Johnny Silverhand. I'm a rock legend from Night City and once was a part of a famous band called SAMURAI. I'm also the choom who nuked Arasaka Tower back in the day, so yeah. I've got a lot going on.

You probably heard of me if you're from Earth but seeing how we have a wild variation of freaks and aliens onboard, I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't.

Support here. Guess I ain't a fit for nothin' else. [ Though he's willing to stretch the hell out of that title. Smuggling is support. So's shaking down delinquent payments. And bootlegging, and smash-and-grab. He can be very supportive in those cases. ]

Most the fellas I've talked to got suckered in by the weapon. Can't blame 'em too much, usually I got ways of protectin' myself without my piece but... Not so much right now. Some got the character to look the other way, though.

And the weightliftin', and the parkourin', and the...

[ Unfortunately, Latin characters aren't as threatening as ideograms and he doesn't trust his art skills to draw a big tiddie Santa Madre on the side of his ride. Sends the wrong message too, in multiple ways.

At the mention of Goro, Vincent grows uncharacteristically quiet. That last transmission of his still hurts. To know you can do your best to understand someone, to return a life debt, yet your philosophies are too different, proving insurmountable. Vincent hopes one day the old dog will learn new tricks, understand there's more to living than obeying a fascist without question, but given the samurai cloth Goro is made out of, he doubts it.

No point in dwelling on what can't be changed. Better to dwell on what can be — or what he doesn't want to change at all. ] Johnny, I... [ Always the one to start these types of conversations. Maybe it's the emotional maturity, or that honesty comes easier to Vincent than it does to Johnny. Not out of a desire to lie, necessarily, but because of trauma. Easier to wear your heart on your sleeve when you grew up in an environment where it wasn't weakness. ] ... I have no idea what the fuck I'm doin'. 'Fore you, I've... never been with anyone like this. Dating, I mean. And I'm scared I'm gonna fuck this up so badly you're gonna walk. [ 'Cause what if love is not enough? Saw it all over Night City. What if it could be true for them? ]

Practicing isn't difficult. I tend to be a quick study with new weaponry, as long as I have a basic idea of how to use it. The worrisome part however....I do agree that other divisions should have some manner of defenses for themselves. If only some of us are armed, there's the issue of what should be done if we're indisposed. I could start to teach some of the others willing to learn basic hand-to-hand techniques, but that would depend solely on them. What I learned came from two people who had specific styles they mixed with boxing.

(he still isn't going to mention who taught him, though. explaining that he learned how to knock people six days to sunday thanks to saint martha and beowulf would be confusing enough.)

Everyone learns at some point that reality is far different from what they believe it is. Innocence usually isn't something terrible, until they're faced with something to shatter it to pieces. We have a number of youths around, the one that I've met falls under my responsibility, then. They need to learn, but they also need to be taught without being too brutal or too gentle.

[A quiet sigh escapes the rocker once he heard the tonal shift in V’s voice. He knew Vince would be the one to start them off. Try as he might to ease into the conversation, Johnny is simply no good at this kind of stuff. Talking from the heart is always was a challenge for him. It’s difficult for him to be this open and honest about his emotions after a lifetime of trauma. Vince is the opposite in that regard.

So maybe that’s why they fit so well together? Probably.]

Listen, you’re not the only one scared about fucking things up. [He admits with a little more trepidation in his voice than he likes. Johnny is starting to think he’s losing his edge. He could feel the anxiety clawing at the back of his mind now. It’s a nagging sensation, almost like something is constantly tugging at him.]

Sure, I’ve dated around and tried to foster something of a relationship but it always failed. I mean, shit—you saw what happened with Alt. [He mourned that woman everyday and she still ended up hating him. Yeah, Johnny fucked up badly.]

I don’t want that to be us. Fuck, no. I love you too much for that—

[By the time Johnny realized what he said, it was already too late. He said it as plain as day with no hesitation.]

[ It was the cheating, Johnny, is what Vincent wants to say to that, but why kick a man while he's down? Besides, he's quite sure Johnny already knows that — Vincent was certainly thinking it during their trips down memory lane, which is as good as saying it when you share a body, mind and soul.

I love you. Knew it wouldn't be some grand reveal, uttered while holding a wedding ring, on one knee or during a televised concern, confessing to millions, recorded for eternity. No, this is the way it was always going to be — private, one-to-one.

This is better. No trappings of fame, or drama. Just honest, naked truth, the kind that Johnny struggles with. It's a gift.

In stark contrast, Vincent wishes he wasn’t such an open book. Crying at the drop of a hat in comparison. ] D-don't... [ Sniffs, then continues. ] ... don't think that can be us. You've... you've changed. For the better. [ Isn't such a selfish fuck anymore. The fact Johnny is here, confessing this, is huge. The Johnny Silverhand of the past would've dismissed this as nothing but melodrama, Vincent would've been nothing more but yet another conquest in a long list, and things would've ended the way they did with Alt — either one of them dead or in their case, given their skill sets, both. ]

Edited 2025-12-01 20:22 (UTC)

So you're some kind of genius on the battlefield, huh? You might get along with my guy V. He likes to tear shit apart with his bare hands with those gorilla arms of his.

Mentioning gorilla arms, are you familiar with tech called 'cyberware'? I'm starting to realize most folks here don't know about that stuff.

[ That certainly seems to be the case since no one is bragging about their latest Mr. Studd implant or their new Kiroshis. It's a little unsettling for Johnny. ]

If you have the patience to teach, then by all means. I certainly wouldn't be opposed. I learned how to fight due to my time in the military. However, that shit barely kept me alive during the war. I learned everything I know in the field as a part-time merc.

[ To be fair, he was only sixteen when he joined the military and lost his arm in the same damn year. ]

Yeah, keep an eye on that kid. If I see any, I'll probably send them over to V. He's better at nurturing kiddos than I am. I'll just cuss at them.

[ Bullshit. Johnny pretends to be all gruff and stuff but he really isn't. At least, not all the time. ]

I just can't believe all of this shit is really happening. It's worse than a fever dream.

Nah, Vince would kill me if I spoke on it.

[ He's grinning from ear to ear now. ]

But I can normally deflect bullets with this prosthetic arm and also bust through walls.

[It was cheating and Johnny mentally kicks himself for how badly he treated Rogue. There was a lot of ego wrapped up with that bullshit, especially since he was so certain that Rogue was fucking around with Santiago around that time. All reasons aside, it was a bullshit thing for Johnny to do. One that nearly severed his connection with Rogue forever. It’s with this in mind why Johnny is so cautious now. However, he really doesn’t seem to have to worry about that anymore.

He’s a new man; it just took getting his psyche scrambled with some gonk merc to do it. Mentioning gonks, Johnny can’t help but sigh once Vince starts with the waterworks. He used to hate it whenever V cried, always calling him “soft” or berating him, but over time, Johnny learned to accept it. V’s a crybaby but he’s his crybaby.]

C’mon, why do you have to spoil the mood? [Johnny mumbles while leaning forward to wipe away Vince’s tears. He gently cups Vinny’s cheeks in both hands and carefully wipes away the tears with his thumbs. While his prosthetic hand might feel a little cold, it’s no less gentle.]

Why are you cryin’ over me, babe? I bet you already knew I was gonna say it.

[He whispers before going in for a gentle kiss. It’s nothing raunchy or depraved, just a soft little peck on the lips. It’s shockingly sweet, especially since Johnny doesn’t normally do sweet.]

I love you. [A smile curls onto his lips briefly as he leans in for another kiss. While he hopes Vince wouldn’t notice, those dark sunglasses are looking a little wet.] Yeah, I do.

I couldn’t deny it even if I tried.

Edited 2025-12-02 15:16 (UTC)

Yi.
Penglai.

( brief and to-the-point. with the additional: )

Impressive prosthetic.

that's got to come in
handy

[ ba dum tsch ]

I'm Nia. Originally from Ruetama, but I just got off a stint on the Dark Sentencer. You?

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