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[rebelsamurai]

[ 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.

Comments

[rebelsamurai]

Bob? Who the fuck is Bob? Definitely not me. I don’t know a Bob, Vinny.

[mikoshi]

And who the fuck is Vinny? My name is V [ We're irritating! ]

[rebelsamurai]

Go fuck yourself, gonk! Hopefully when you fuck up with your new shitbox, you’ll only kill yourself.

[mikoshi]

Nah, YOU'RE gonna fuck me tonight, like you promised — my turn to bounce on dick. And when I kill myself again you're going down with me, cause that's just the way of things — I'm the yin to your yang

[rebelsamurai]

Is that right? I guess I better clear my calendar, huh? I definitely don't want anything getting in the way of some planned R&R.

Already plotting to kill me? Shit, I'm starting to think we're husband and gonk.

[mikoshi]

[ It feels as if they're speedrunning a relationship — but then again, how many couples can claim they've soulbonded with their partner, biologically and metaphorically?

"Because it's not like you're hearing voices. You're both yourself and Silverhand, simultaneously." ] You proposing to me, Silverhand? [ A formality at this point. If destroying a man's greatest enemy wasn't the wedding ring, then what is? ]

[rebelsamurai]

[ Talk about killing the mood, Vinny. Johnny takes a sharp breath once he reads the text. While he honestly detests the commercial idea of marriage and being owned by someone thanks to some stupid ring, he isn't against the actual concept of marriage. At least, he's not against the original concept behind such a union. They should rethink their approach before things escalate, but it may already be too late for that.

Johnny knows how V feels about him and vice versa. They're two halves of the same soul at this point. They've merged in such a way that they can still hear the ghostly echoes of each other's thoughts. It's freaky, very freaky. Johnny had never had this kind of connection with anyone before. It used to scare him but over the long months, he stopped being scared of V and realized that he needed him.

They both need each other. ]

Fuck. [ He takes longer than it seems necessary to text back. His thoughts are spiraling out of control. ]

There's only one Mr. Silverhand, you know? Just as there's only one Mr. Tanaka, though I'm open to finding a middle ground.

But that shit will have to wait until after we figure out what the hells going on.

[ So yeah, that wedding ring is definitely happening someday. But they need to get their shit together while on this spooky-ass spaceship. ]

[mikoshi]

[ Part of Vincent is disappointed at the rebuttal — leaves him feeling shamed, as if he miscalculated somehow, a scary thought. Does this mean they're drifting apart once more? Becoming different people, or different enough what they feel for each other will change? There's a desperation in the pit of his stomach at the possibility of losing Johnny once more, but this time not to circumstances out of their control, but rather to their own actions, which is worse.

But another part, the pragmatic solo, understands. There are more important matters at hand than a white wedding. ] Okay. [ Uncharacteristically succinct. But he's not going to admit he's at the edge of crashing out over a 'later' rather than a 'no'. Embarrassing. Get it together, Vincent. ]

[rebelsamurai]

[He can almost feel the disappointment behind that “okay”, and he can’t help but mentally kick himself for it. However, they don’t get the luxury of planning a wedding just yet. Not when they have this weirdo space odyssey happening but it’s definitely not a “no” in Johnny’s book.

But how can he prove that to Vince?]

So, what’s it going to be?

[Wait, what is he talking about now?]

Silverhand-Tanaka or Tanaka-Silverhand?

[mikoshi]

Johnny.

[ He knows exactly why Johnny is asking this. ]

It's okay. Jumped the gun. Let's just drop it.

[rebelsamurai]

No. You didn’t jump the gun.

I’m just—shit, maybe we should just talk in person. I don’t want to admit how I feel over text like some shitty input. Fuck that, not with you.

I’ve already fucked up one too many relationships with my bullshit. So let’s just…talk. In person.

Text > Action

[mikoshi]

Okay. Hangar.

[ What the fuck is going on with his emotions? It's all the manic depression of teenagerdom with the spiraling of young adulthood. Unsightly. Ridiculous.

As Vincent paces around his ship, zipping up his bright orange utility jumpsuit, he wishes he had an actual cigarette. Nicotine would calm him the fuck down. Throwing himself into Arasaka Tower, one against hundreds? Who gives a shit.

But talking to Johnny about whatever this is? Sends his whole body into a shake. ]

[rebelsamurai]

[ One might assume that confronting a gun would be more terrifying than dealing with V at this moment, but Johnny would actually rather face that than engage in this discussion. He struggles to articulate his feelings, often masking them as righteous anger. In fact, a part of Johnny finds it challenging to understand his emotions after years of being emotionally cold. Yet, here he is, making his way to the hangar to undertake the daunting task of discussing his feelings before a man who truly loves him.

It's like he's being sent to the gallows with blades pressed against his back. He's so fucking scared right now that he brought back the shades. Classic Silverhand tactic 101: don't let them see the fear in your eyes. Those dark brown sunglasses come in handy in a pinch and this is a huge pinch. ]

Vince.

[As soon as he catches sight of the orange jumpsuit, he calls out to him. His tone is neutral for the time being. No malice, no anger, nothing of the sort. Johnny is trying his best to hide his emotions for now.

However, that doesn't really last when a smile curls onto his lips.]

I see you couldn't help yourself. You just had to start tinkering away, huh?

[mikoshi]

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. ]

[rebelsamurai]

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.]

[mikoshi]

[ 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.

[rebelsamurai]

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.

[mikoshi]

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? ]

[rebelsamurai]

[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.]

[mikoshi]

[ 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. ]

[rebelsamurai]

[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.