TEST DRIVE #9

[synfluxmods]

TEST DRIVE #9

CONTENT WARNINGS: nudity, medical procedures, possession, puppets, bug kaiju, monster mutations

▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA. (KYOTO BASE)

It happens in the blink of an eye, a dash of time – you're taken from where you were. What you were doing... it isn't important anymore, and slowly, you give up the desire of your normal life. When you awaken, figures are looking down on you from a surgical table.

"Yeah, this one will do; let's take them to the rest." That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.

"Your questions will be answered soon enough, as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.

Just then, you regain consciousness in a pool of stasis liquid along many others. You realize you are underground. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.

When the pool mostly drains of its liquid, each Outsider will find themselves in what appears to be a large pool of some sort; they are underground. The base in Kyoto isn’t fully equipped with individual pods, and so the newly arrived will find themselves in a tangle of limbs, or depending on when they wake, utterly alone in this vast space. While normally they arrive in their undergarments, there is a chance that they could arrive totally nude due to lack of resources in Kyoto. Those who are not nude, however, may find themselves in whatever undergarments LILITH could provide for them at the time. Maybe it's something basic and simple like whitey tighties, or something saucy like a lingerie set, maybe matching Hello Kitty bra and panties. When they fully regain their bearings, they will be ushered into the medical bay space right across from the stasis pool, in which several grey LILITH-issued yukata will be prepared for them.

If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here. It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like there’s a foreign body lodged on the inside of their head. This pain will subside quickly as their body adapts to the changes, but there will always be a sensation of something being not quite right; that their bodies have been changed forever. They would be correct in thinking that. In the stasis pool, all Outsiders have been surgically fitted with ocular and brain implants that will enable them to communicate with LILITH and the rest of the crew, as well as providing them the information they require. Almost like a computer screen has been loaded into their brains, they will see a loading screen as the implant completes its download. A questionnaire will then pop up, waiting for their answer. A voice, robotic and feminine, will also read along in their brain for them.


█ █ █ LOADING COMPLETE … BEGIN ORIENTATION …

Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:
Blood Type:
Syndata File: 🎉 NOW PUBLIC ACCESSIBLE 🎉

Have you ever had a dream that that you um you had you'd you would you could you'd do you wi you wants you you could do so you you'd do you could you you want you want him to do you so much you could do anything?

<raw code><table width="80%"><br><div align="center"><img src="IMAGE_URL" style="width: 200px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"> <!-- CARD --> <div style="width:230px;padding:20px 0 0;border:1px solid #f2f2f2;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:right;gap:5px;background:#fff;"> <!-- CHAR INFO: start --> <div style="width:150px;font-family:courier;font-weight:bold;font-size: clamp(14px, 1vw, 10px);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1;color:#000;"></lj-raw><font color="#00686E">NAME</font> <lj-raw></div> <!-- CHAR INFO: end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE START --> <div style="width:230px;background:#eee;"><details><summary style="cursor:pointer;text-align:center;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background:#ccc;color:#000;">+</summary> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content --> <div style="width:190px;margin:0 auto;padding:7px 0;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;color:#000;"> </lj-raw><b>Username:</b> !!ANSWER HERE!! <br> <b>Civilian Identity:</b> !!ANSWER HERE OR SAY UNDECIDED!! <br> <b>Age:</b> !!AGE HERE!! <br> <b>Species:</b> !!SPECIES HERE!! <br> <b>Origin:</b> !!ORIGIN HERE!! <br></br> <b>Blood Type:</b> !!BLOOD TYPE HERE!! <br></br> <b>Syndata File:</b> !!CURRENT CHARACTERS LINK THEIR SYNDATA FILES, NEW CHARACTERS CAN WRITE A SHORT BLURB THAT CAN BE IC WRITTEN OR AI GENERATED|| <br></br> <b>Have you ever had a dream that that you um you had you'd you would you could you'd do you wi you wants you you could do so you you'd do you could you you want you want him to do you so much you could do anything?</b></br> </br>!! ANSWER HERE !!<lj-raw> </div></details></div> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE END --> </div></div> <!-- CARD name: END --> <!-- CREDIT --> <div style="width:100%;margin-top:-15px;font-size:10px;color:#ddd; text-align:center;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#ddd;">credit</a></div></center></table></raw code>

The system will give Outsiders one chance to provide a truthful answer and choose their username and civilian identity. Should they refuse to cooperate, the implant will download the answer directly from their brain (and give them a username or civilian name against their will). This questionnaire will then be posted on the network for all to view and reply to. Almost like an ice-breaker, if you will. LILITH wants all their newest recruits to learn about each other! Also, current Outsiders will see that their Syndata Files are now accessible for all to see. (If you would like your Syndata file to be private for some reason, just assume it is inaccessible for some reason.)

Outsiders will receive a quick brief about their situation: they will be told that the year is 2279 and they have been taken to Neo Tokyo, one of the last bastions of mankind in a world terrorized by various Kaiju and monsters. Only a third of the population remains, and LILITH has gathered talented people from other dimensions here as a last ditch effort to save humanity. Outsiders are free to continue asking LILITH questions through their implant, but there’s no guarantee that they will provide them with a straight answer …

Outsiders will also notice an implant in their dominant wrist. This implant has a barcode in it that will enable them to purchase goods from the local stores in Neo Tokyo. They will receive a starting balance of 15,000 KRYPTOS (about USD 100), which is barely enough for a few good meals, groceries, and supplies. They can view their current balance through a hologram window projected by their ocular implant.

The mess hall at this base is on the surface level; not underground, and while larger, it does have a lot of empty space that still needs to be fitted in. The kitchen can be seen and one or two robots are busy stirring pots and preparing the dishes. The current offerings are a spicy turtle soup and deep fried vegetables roots that have been cultivated at this base in Kyoto. Not all the veggies used are a hit, some more pungent than others. There also seems to be several mystery meat dishes for those who wish to explore a new culinary world. Some are made as lab meats, and some most definitely come from smaller kaiju, but nobody needs to know that. Additionally, as only so much robotic staff could be brought over at a time, and since most are being used to rebuild parts of this base and the one in Tokyo— Outsiders will also be encouraged to make their own food. The recipes will all be made available on their oculars, but considering these meats come from various sources, they’re not all guaranteed to be tasty.

Someone else is here to check in with the newcomers; none other than Dr. Spim, the lead medical doctor here. A genius in an adorable, cat-sized body.

"So sorry about the weird question, but because of the previous damage done to the NEO TOKYO BASE, SYNTHIA has been acting kind of funny lately. Apologies for that. We are working quickly to fix her so she can return to purrfect operation."

▶ 002. KYOTO: THE BASE.

The Kyoto base was originally built as part of a large temple and its smaller structures, blending into a traditional yet modern building. As a result, it has all of the fixtures one may find in a temple, including several tori, as well as other areas of quiet meditation. If it weren’t so overgrown, a lot of the sights could have been considered idyllic at one point.

While Outsiders were encouraged to go to the bunkers after the mess of Tokyo, they are now offered a space within the base in Kyoto, as well. Though, the catch is that they have to help rebuild it. While the robots have been quick to rebuild the most important parts of the building, including the area for the giant stasis pool, a barebones research facility, the mess hall, and some rooms, it’s clear it’s still a work in progress. As mentioned, it has some area underground, such as the stasis pool and medical room.

The rooms available are designed as a traditional washitsu, where there are tatami floors, and futons to sleep on. As not all the rooms have been prepared yet, Outsiders will also be required to room up during their stays in Kyoto, unless they prefer to travel between the Tokyo bunkers. Each room can hold a maximum of three (3) people, four (4) if they push their floor futons very, very close.

The main temple ground is currently being retrofitted into a training ground. While there is no simulation room, they do have hologram options in which characters are able to choose to fight with several different kaiju, as well as general soldiers, and they’re even able to link memories from their oculars to fight against– whether this be an enemy from their respective home worlds, or otherwise. The only issue is that their powers haven’t been scaled yet, so enemies which seem weak, can be strong, and vice versa. LILITH also wants to be sure Outsiders get as much practice as needed, even without the simulation rooms, and so all manner of futuristic weapons will be offered to play around with.

While many have been made familiar with certain spaces at the base, including the mess hall, or the medical bay, there will also be a general map of the rest of the base, and Outsiders are free to explore those freely. Just like with the bunkers, there are communal baths, and even a library. Most of the reading offered here are of older texts, but there will be some books that were on base that may have been moved sometime between last year. They may have even mistakenly put up books salvaged from the base that may be personal items, whether that is a diary, notebook, or even doujinshi that Outsiders could have been keeping. Surely some of these doujinshi don't look like you, right?

Getting settled is priority number one, however one glaring issue will be made apparent during the initial week of them moving onto the base in Kyoto. The monks who were residing nearby, or even utilizing the abandoned temple spaces on the outskirts of the base, all seem to have issues with the Outsiders being there. As such, LILITH hopes to offer them assistance in exchange for giving up those areas. Monks will be asking Outsiders for help with numerous tasks, and are allowed to call upon any Outsider they see— whether they need them to clean some of the halls of their own living spaces, or even to help cultivate plants nearby. Some may even ask them to put on a performance appropriate for their cultural celebrations. It’s never too late to learn something new! On the bright side, in two weeks time, they will (probably) be out of everyone’s hair, right?

▶ 003. KYOTO: REBUILD .

Kyoto itself had been largely abandoned before the Outsiders first stepped in last year. Since then, some pockets of civilization that existed nearby have made the move to Kyoto in hopes of a better life. Additionally, those who have been scarred by the battle in Tokyo have decided to also make this move. Some originally from Kyoto, are grateful for the help of the Outsiders as they can finally return to their old family homes.

Outsiders are expected to use this time off from battle to not only assist the civilians in their efforts in rebuilding their lives, but to also help create an impact in Kyoto!

This is where the Outsiders are able to assist in pitching their idea of necessary infrastructure to Kyoto. As of right now, there are only so many resources, and whichever ideas are most well-justified will likely end up becoming a part of Kyoto. As of right now, the civilians themselves seem to want hospitals, shops/entertainment businesses, and even parks! Outsiders will be expected to help not only plan these ideas out, but to go around and rally support for these projects, which can be them creating annoying ads via oculars, participating in city hall debates, and/or even clogging up the network on why their idea would be best.

Despite bringing in a fair amount of food supplies to start, not only growing some of the food they had successes in raising via the lab, growth time is still a huge factor, especially as the LILITH-grade greenhouse is still in the works. In the meantime, Outsiders will be expected to hunt and gather their own food. Kyoto is still largely overrun by some populations of smaller boar kaiju, and even off the coasts of Osaka, there are several fishing spots available. As for whether they’re safe for consumption, everyone will get a ping on their oculars which includes a whole archive of signs of what is safe or unsafe to consume. Some will also find some fish will still be supersized and may take more than one Outsider to reel in.

Who doesn’t like a bit of risk to go with their fishing?

( After the TDM, characters will have the opportunity to rebuild Kyoto in a meaningful way, just like playing a game of the sims! In the next event, players will be encouraged to share their ideas for infrastructure and LILITH will provide assistance with building it. Interested characters may even have the opportunity to take up roles in running and governing the city following that. As a mod team, we are looking forward seeing the fruits of a player-run city. So rally your ideas and let's make Kyoto a great new place to live! )

▶ 004. PUPPETMASTERS.

While the new beginning is exciting, things never stay calm for long. Outsiders will receive a briefing that there is trouble afoot in Awaji Island, an island close to Osaka. Awaji Island, now mostly deserted, was once known for its traditional puppet theater. These puppet shows, of course, have not been running for decades, but they are still remembered fondly by the people who used to live there. Following a mass exodus by the citizens living there a long time ago, these puppets now lay abandoned in the theater, untouched for decades.

Recently, LILITH has received reports of puppets coming to life and walking the streets, causing panic within the small population still residing in Awaji Island. First, they were simply feeling their feet, roaming the island with no real aim in mind and giving the residents a scare. Eventually, they have started to attack people. It was reported that a young woman was ambushed by animated puppets, and all that was left of her remains were bones and tufts of hair.

Outsiders will be mobilized immediately to Awaji Island with the goal of dealing with the situation. They have the option of boarding a LILITH-issued ferry to the island, or donning an Ocean Gem, gem-like implant that temporarily gives them the gills and tail of a marine creature. These gems will be provided temporarily to all Outsiders requesting them and will need to be returned following the mission. Please note that the transformation can be quite uncomfortable.

Upon arrival on the island, they will be tasked with hunting down the animated puppets, investigating the situation, and eliminating the threat. The capture of one specimen will reveal its true nature. Within the hollow body of a marionette, there appears to be an infestation of ant-like creatures, and much like hundreds to thousands of tiny puppetmasters, they are animating the puppets and using them for protection. These insects have learned to move within their marionettes in a way that’s similar to humans, and within the marionettes, they will attack as humans do, brandishing readily available weapons such as knives and farming tools. When the shell of the puppet is cracked open, they spill out, swarming the nearest human they can find and attempting to eat them or infest their body.



█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Marionant
HEIGHT: 2cm
WEIGHT: 2g
CLASS: No threat when alone, moderate threat when in a swarm
LOCATION: Awaji Island, Japan
ABILITIES: When in a swarm, they act in a hive mind and are highly coordinated. This allows them to take down much bigger prey. Razor sharp mouth pincers with a mild, stinging venom that can become lethal if a prey gets bitten too many times. More durable than your average ant, able to withstand 100kg of force without being crushed. Shows ability to think and plan their movements when working as a hive mind. When they infest a body, they seek to control it while eating up its insides, turning that body into a puppet slave.
WEAKNESS: Fire or drowning in water.
EXTRA NOTES: It is very difficult to stop them once they have started infesting a body. Avoid this at all cost. Seek medical attention immediately if you or a teammate has been infested.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Rescue civilians from the ant kaiju.
✖ Avoid infestation or lethal bites.
✖ Use fire or water as it is their weakness.
✖ Seek out their nests and destroy it without letting them scatter.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO: Linking Photo (cw: bug illustration)

▶ 005. THE RIFT .

Following the events of the month before, Mt. Fuji has now been cordoned off and put under restricted access. This means that no civilian may go anywhere close to the area. Outsiders are given patrol duties in groups of 2-3 around the area and instructed to eliminate any stray kaiju that try to rear their head out of the rift. These kaiju can include common kaiju such as the boar kaiju, the coconut crab or the yamadenki. These shifts are designed to not last very long, as prolonged exposure to the rift can result in rift poisoning effects (headache, nausea, impulsive behavior, hallucinations). It is not recommended to stick any part of your body through the rift, given that we are working with what we don’t understand (please contact a mod if your character decides to do this).

While nothing seems out of the ordinary at first, reports pour in within a few days of trespassers spotted within the restricted area. With a large, visible portion of Mt. Fuji now destroyed, it’s only natural that civilians will become curious. Against their better judgement, a group of civilians have sneaked into the restricted area during a change of patrols. There is little video record of how this had happened, but being near to the rift without LILITH’s protective suits has made for a devastating consequence for the foolish and daring group. Mutations! Outsiders will come across several mutated humans, their bodies mangled with grotesque growths. Some of them might have developed tentacles, some others multiple eyes or hardened shells. They flicker between lucidity and ferociousness, at times crying and begging to be saved, at other times trying to kill and eat people.

The orders are to subdue these people and bring them back to LILITH for further investigation and treatment. While lethal force is highly discouraged, LILITH will not extend punishment toward Outsiders who see fit to exterminate the threats as a last resort.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our 9th TDM! All TDM threads are game canon and characters who don't app will be glitched out of this world. As the TDM will act as the event, existing characters are heavily encouraged to participate. Please use this format for top levels: CHARACTER | CANON | CURRENT / NEW CHARACTER.

There are currently 15 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.

Use the code provided in the ARRIVAL prompt if you'd like to participate in the ice breaker, and place it in your top level along with your other prompts. Anything such as civilian name or username can be marked as UNDECIDED if you're unsure of what you'd like your character to have for now. Though it says 'Orientation', existing characters can still participate in the ice-breaker. Current Outsiders will have their Syndata files accessible for all to see. New characters will not have a syndata profile but players can write a short blurb about the character for this.

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 points each and will count towards March AC.

TDM #8 BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. ARRIVAL PROMPT (KYOTO): Newcomers arrive with ocular and brain implants, and are given a breakdown of the premise with an icebreaker orientation to complete. They arrive in the Kyoto base in a communal stasis pool which is underground.
2. THE KYOTO BASE: Most of the base in Kyoto has been rebuilt. It sits in a large temple which has been modified to accommodate for LILITH's needs. There is a giant stasis pool, a research facility, a mess hall, dorm rooms, medical facilities, a library, a training ground and a communal bath. Each room houses 3-4 people. Outsiders may fight in the training grounds, where they can train against holographic monsters or enemies from their home world. Outsiders will need to appease disgruntled monks by completing chores around the base.
3. REBUILD KYOTO: Civilians have started to move back to Kyoto in search of a better life. Outsiders are tasked to support them in rebuilding Kyoto. Gather ideas and rally support for these ideas. This is a lead in to a future event where players can present their ideas for mod consideration. Outsiders are also expected to hunt and gather their own food in the mean time. There are many boar kaiju available for hunting in Osaka and fishing spots available.
4. PUPPETMASTERS: Outsiders take a ferry or Ocean gem to Awaji Island where there is trouble afoot. Puppets are coming to life and attacking people! Inside these puppets there appear to be a swarm of ant kaiju that are highly dangerous. Eliminate the threat at all costs.
5. THE RIFT: Following the last event, there is a huge open rift at Mt. Fuji. Outsiders must take patrol shifts of 2-3 and kill any kaiju that jump out of the rift. Civilians are banned from visiting Mt. Fuji, but a group of civilians trespass illegally and become heavily mutated from rift exposure. Subdue these mutated humans and if necessary, kill them.
.

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Comments

Johnny Silverhand | Cyberpunk 2077 | New Character + Player

[rebelsamurai]

Johnny Silverhand

+

Username: lastsamurai
Civilian Identity:Andrew Lee
Age: 34
Species: Human
Origin: College Station, Texas

Blood Type: AB RhD

Syndata File: A legendary rocker known for his anti-corpo stance and his love for drugs, sex, and rock & roll from Texas. Fuck free love and peace, Johnny is all about war and sticking it to the metaphorical “Man.” This samurai is a rebel with a cause layered with a dose of drug-induced insanity. Drinking and smoking are part of his everyday ritual outside of hating the man in the mirror. Outside of his rocker boy mentality is just a sad, pathetic man seeking redemption. He has a lot in common with you fools. ||AI GENERATED||

Have you ever had a dream that that you um you had you'd you would you could you'd do you wi you wants you you could do so you you'd do you could you you want you want him to do you so much you could do anything?

Get this A.I generated bullshit out of my fucking face!

credit

001. THE ARRIVAL ➤ KYOTO BASE

[ ‘We lost everything...’

A breathy sigh escapes his lips once he slowly comes to. However, Johnny doesn’t have the luxury of waking up normally in his bed. No, he wakes up drowning. His lungs are immediately filled with this strange substance. It’s wet like water but too thick to be water. He scrambles to reach the surface, his brown eyes wide with alarm.

‘We had to pay the price…’

That old song filters into his mind the second he crashes through the surface. He lets out a raspy cough, his body rejecting the liquid that pooled within his lungs wholesale. Cough after cough, Johnny finds himself struggling to breathe. He feels sick to his stomach, almost nauseous. In between these haggard coughs, Johnny realizes that something is floating beside him.

He bearily glances over his shoulder, his dark eyes struggling to make sense of the figure floating beside him. It looks like a skinny log or something, a log with long…fingers?

‘A thing of beauty, I know.’

Johnny turns around fully, bringing his attention to the mysterious log before it finally dawns on him—that’s an arm.

‘Never Fade Away’

He panics.]

WHERE THE HELL AM I?!

[Also, where the fuck is his iron? And his clothes? Johnny glances down at himself in surprise. The fuck is going on? Why does he have a body again? This is his body, right? Not V’s?]

Holy shit–

002. KYOTO: THE BASE ➤ TRAINING (minor spoilers)

[Johnny had no idea what to anticipate when he first stepped out into the base. After waking up in a puddle of neon-blue sludge, Johnny was convinced that his new lease on life would only get worse from here. While it took nearly a day to get acclimated to being alive again, Johnny experienced a weird sensation of loss when he saw his reflection in the mirror. V, his faithful pal and flesh-puppet roadie, was no longer with him. It feels strange to be on his own two feet without V guiding the show. He misses the sound of their voices and their witty banter. Johnny even misses V's smell after a night of booze, bitches, and drugs. He just misses V. It hurts to be suddenly expelled from their body after spending so much time with them.

Johnny feels awfully naked out here on his own. While he is fully dressed now thanks to LILITH, he can't help but feel strangely vulnerable, like a cornered animal. He doesn't know what to make of his current situation, and it shows.

He decides that a little fresh air and exploration will help clear his mind, so he goes out to tour the base. When Johnny initially learned that the Kyoto Base was made out of an old Shinto temple, he was fascinated. He has only gone to Japan once or twice, both trips consisting of drug-addled shouting bouts with the country's underground punk movement in the form of SAMURAI performances. Yes, he was determined to take this shitshow global back then. Surprisingly, Johnny did quite well in Japan, despite the fact that the locals thought it was comical that a bunch of American nobodies considered themselves 'samurai'. But nobody cares when the music is good.

Johnny makes his way through the base until he reaches what looks to be a training room with a couple of new hopefuls wandering around. It seems this section of the base is still underconstruction judging from the pulled-up gravel and random construction tools scattered around, but that didn't deter him or others from visiting the training grounds.

He watches in morbid fascination as someone is practicing their shoorting skills against a couple of holograms. The tech here almost exactly mirrors that of his world, especially that of Night City. Nearly everyone is prancing around here with fancy new cyberware and shit. It's as if Johnny never left home, judging from the tech here.

However, something just feels off about this place. Really off. Getting a bit restless just standing around doing nothing, Johnny decides to join in. He grabs one of the virtual reality pistols on the rack nearby and gives it a slight weight. This gun is a bit heavier than his Malorian, but it will do.

He aims the gun towards one of the holograms, just testing the feel of the gun before firing a single shot.]

Bullseye, baby!

[He still fucking got it.]

003. KYOTO: REBUILD ➤ REPRIEVE

[While Johnny has no recollection of ever seeing Kyoto, it is obvious that the city is in disrepair. This place looks straight out of a war flick. The majority of the structures are collapsing or coming apart at the seams. It looks like hell here, as if the ground underneath them wanted to swallow them whole. It's a sobering thing to see, and it makes Johnny want to drink.

The majority of the architecture here appears to be from the Heian period. Prior to this calamity, Kyoto was undoubtedly proud of its culture and legacy. Unlike the rest of Japan, which strives for modernization, Kyoto has always maintained its traditional culture. It's almost a shame to see what happened to Kyoto after all of the Kaiju and monsters rolled in. Nonetheless, this serves as a powerful lesson for anyone who believes they are untouchable.

Instead of getting caught up in the politics of volunteer work and advocacy, Johnny decides to sit back and observe for the time being. He wanders aimlessly amid the debris until he notices something familiar. It's an old guitar, an acoustic guitar that has clearly seen better days. He stares down for a long time before reaching for it. Despite the scuffs on the front, the guitar's strings are in remarkably decent condition. They're out of tune, but still rather good.

He dusts off the side of a ledge and sits down, holding the guitar in his arms. While he has no desire to participate in the endless discussions about how to rebuild, he decides that this nonsense may benefit from a soundtrack. Idly strumming the guitar a few times, Johnny starts playing this airy, little tune.

While he doubts anyone would recognize the song, he plays it anyway.]

004. WILDCARD ➤

(sorry for the massive tl;dr on my part! if you have something in mind, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm usually game for anything and really want to test out this character here.

thanks in advance!)

@BAD DADDY (icebreaker obvs)

[zauneyete]

The machine tends to do that, interfere if you abstain.

Annoying, isn't it?

@ LAST SAMURAI

[rebelsamurai]

It’s charming, really. Reminds me of just how inventive A.I really is in the grand scheme of things.

Just a damn shame we use A.I for this kind of bullshit.

[zauneyete]

You have a better idea for what it can be used for, then?

I've only seen it for frivolities here. For all this supposedly advanced technology, they still need us to do any work of consequence.

[rebelsamurai]

Yeah, I sure do. My idea is for A.I to shut the fuck up and go back beyond the Blackwall.

Either that or run a taxi service, as Delamain did. At the very least, it would be somewhat productive.

Anyway, how many chooms really call you “daddy” around here? Because guess what? I’m not going to be one of them.

What’s your name?

[zauneyete]

If they do, it is out of mockery. LILITH's little joke. Probably another wasteful thing they have done with this AI. Maybe they'll listen to your bright ideas, though I find it unlikely.

[ He doesn't know he can change it and he's never going to find out. Because Funy. ]

I would prefer you call me Silco instead.

3

[lovebombing]

[Music! That sure is music. Johnny's going to have a little time to himself, strumming away, before there's a little pleasant hum from behind, attempting to keep up. Sure enough, a man comes up from behind him. He doesn't know the song, not at all, but a the melody is more or less easy to carry.]

[An extra little hum, before he pipes up, planting himself down on the ledge right next to him. Hey, buddy.]

That's a nice little tune. You came up with it yourself?

[rebelsamurai]

[When Johnny hears a slight hum, he pauses for a bit. It did not take him long to figure out where it had come from. He took a quick glance over his shoulder at the blue-haired dude before continuing to play. This time, Johnny chooses to play an acoustic version of his favorite song.

It might be a stretch to label this song his favorite, though. The band recorded "Black Dog" just weeks before the Night City Incident of 2023, making it a rare classic among rock fans. Fortunately, this buttrock-inspired classic can be appreciated by everyone, as demonstrated by his mysterious new companion.

Johnny continues to play, and for a brief moment, he is transported back to the stage, yelling into the microphone as he always does. He could hear the distant roar of the audience and smell the non-existent odor of tobacco and sin in the air. It was as if he had returned to Night City, his natural habitat. Johnny nearly expected to turn to his right to see Kerry in all of his mullet glory, but instead sees the blue-haired guy seated beside him.

He abruptly stops playing again; his dark eyes focused the guy's face.]

You could say that.

[Johnny mutters before strumming a few more notes on the guitar.]

I wrote it.

[lovebombing]

Oh. Ohh! That's even more of a feat, pal.

[See, he'll even give a little clap - clap clap! - to emphasize how impressed he is.]

I was part of a band once. [A beat.] Orrrrrr, rather, I was just there to help fill in for a spot for a time. But it was a fun time, I suppose. Just not something I could do forever and ever...

[Because, after all, he is just the shadowy comic relief. He isn't made to be in the spotlight. He wonders if this man is made for something like that.]

Is that your main job? Musician?

[rebelsamurai]

[Despite the praise, Johnny scoffs. He doesn't think he's special. Johnny may appear to be the larger-than-life rockstar on the outside, but on the inside, he feels hollow. It's as if nothing he's done in the past counts. People no longer know or care what his name is. It's somewhat sobering, if not humbling.

He doesn't know what to do next or how to live without V. It's bizarre. He spent all that time trying to escape from V's body, only to miss that gonk in the end.

Funny how that turned out.]

Yeah, I was a musician. A rockstar, even. [He adds for good measure.] You always start off small in the entertainment biz, usually playing at a few shitty dive bars before finally hitting it big.

If you have good music and a good gimmick, people will start flocking towards you and the eddies will start rolling in.

[That's exactly what happened with Samurai. It all started with Nance suggesting this dumb name after playing at a few local bars. Suddenly, Johnny and the band found themselves on the covers of magazines and on TV. It was such a wild fucking ride, one that he wouldn't trade for all the world.]

What was the name of the band?

un: soba

[gorb]

A samurai, really?

( Can't blame the man for his AI profile even though he kind of wants to. )

[rebelsamurai]

[Get ready to play the blame game, buddy. The name isn’t half bad in Johnny’s opinion.]

Hey, it beats out being named after some soggy noodles.

I guess LILITH is a fan of SAMURAI.

[gorb]

You've been having some very bad noodles, Samurai-san.

( This feels like bullshit, but you know what? He's down for it. )

I'd rather that than anything else. LILITH makes fun of some of her recruits.

[rebelsamurai]

Yeah, the plastic tofu kind. You only get the worst in Night City.

[Notice how he didn't even complain about the nickname. Johnny is living for this shit.]

I've noticed that after meeting "Bad Daddy" a moment ago. It seems I lucked the fuck out.

[gorb]

I think Silco-san's is at least amusing. Do you know any martial arts?

002

[vorous]

_{[ While the technology here is nothing new for Johnny Silverhand, Laios is from the medieval ages. Even though he's been here for over half a year, he is still always surprised at the tech here. He's training next to Johnny and not having the best luck with the weapon, but he's more distracted by the hologram that Johnny defeated. It was something smaller: the boar kaiju that seem to be popping up everywhere in this place. ]}

Oh! That's a Yama-Kujira. They're delicious. They have terrible eyesight but have a big temper. They charge at really anything that makers any sound.

_{[ yeah he's mister monsterpedia .... don't look at his hologram score, though, he sucks using a pistol-like weapon. ]}

[rebelsamurai]

Huh, what?

[Wait, did he say these furry boar-like monsters were tasty? Johnny blinks his eyes in disbelief. Yes, LILITH expects them to fight these creatures, but are they also supposed to eat them? Oh hell no. Johnny has eaten some disgusting processed garbage in the past, but he is not about to eat this.]

Over here sampling the forbidden pork, I see.

[He mentions with a tinge of humor in his tone. This dude with the blond hair looks like your average guy for the most part. Definitely not some monster eating psycho. However, Johnny can’t help but find this somewhat amusing.]

What else is on the menu, choom?

[vorous]

Who says it’s forbidden? You can buy it on the market.

_{[ the black market… please nobody tell him the difference between the two. This goofy guy has some ties with some shady figures for the sake of his culinary curiosities. ]}

I’ve made a lot of food since I got here! A lot of Imugi.

_{[ This guy looks kind of new— Laios hasn’t seen him before. ]}

It was a big dragon. What else were you supposed to do with the carcass?

_{[ it’s free real estate……… ]}

I’ve made steak, satay and soup out of it. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

[rebelsamurai]

You’re buying mutant pig meat from the local markets?

[Talk about strange culinary tastes. Johnny can’t help but arch an eyebrow at that. If LILITH thinks he’s eating that shit any time soon, she has another thing coming. Johnny usually has an iron-clad stomach, but even he stops at monster pig meat.]

Wait a minute, you’re over here chopping up dragons to make for lunch the next day? Holy shit, I’ve heard of monsterfuckers before but never monster chefs.

[That’s a new one, even for him.]

Isn’t that like eating an iguana? I heard those things used to taste like chicken before they went extinct.

[vorous]

Well.. I don't know about buying it. I have .. connections.

_{[ He's a good boy, Johnny, please don't think lowly of him, but he will go to dangerous measures to make sure people are eating monster meat. It's just his thing. ]}

I've never had an iguana before.. _{[ BUT HE HAS HAD A DRAGON.. ok then.. ]} But I can tell you that a dragon tastes so much better and flavorful than a chicken!

003

[judgementcrime]

[There's a man near Johnny holding a lit cigarette; old-school tobacco and paper, rather than a sleek vaporizer. He's built like a brick shithouse, forgoing the outlandish fashion statements that seems typical here in favor of a black leather. From the jacket zipped up to his neck and gloves, to his steel-toed boots. He just holds it without inhaling from it, watching the cherry-red end flicker and creep slowly towards the filter. Seems deep in thought, letting the strummed tunes pass by without commentary.

When he does speak up, his voice is gravel-rough, the deep timbre of it more than matching the lowest chord on the salvaged instrument in Johnny's hands. He has an unrepentant American accent, with buried hints of New York if Johnny would recognize that. Without looking over;]

You take requests?

[rebelsamurai]

[Johnny obviously noticed this guy earlier. How could he not, given that their other guy stands out like a sore thumb here? Based on his stature and build, he appears to be ex-military, and his features suggest that he is probably American. However, he could be British or Canadian. It is difficult for Johnny to tell. Regardless, he continues to play, his fingers aching for more music. While Johnny found being a rockstar tedious at times, he actually enjoyed it. He enjoys the creative process, even if it usually ends with him halfway drunk off his ass. He adores the feel and sound of his guitar, the feeling of the taut strings plucking against his fingers. Music is his life, which he has wrongfully abandoned for selfish reasons. It’s nothing short of a miracle that he’s alive today to continue playing, but it feels like such a hollow victory without V around.

As he plucks the last note, Johnny was going to put the guitar away until the man from earlier asks a question. A request? Johnny couldn’t help but smirk. He doesn’t normally take requests anymore, not after making it big. However, Johnny couldn’t help but leap at the challenge. It’s better than him getting sucked into the brutal politics of restructuring.]

Sure, why not? Which song do you have in mind?

[He hoists the guitar back onto his lap.]

[judgementcrime]

I haven't heard "Kill, Kill, Kill, the Bastard Judges and this Whole Drokked Up Justice System, Man" by the Mega-City Murderers in years.

[A little niche, probably. Rico looks over at the other man now, the smirk on his face and his confident sprawl, and the corners of Rico's eyes crease as he smiles to meet it. But it doesn't quite reach them, and might look - forced, almost. As if his mouth is moving into a position from memory, rather than anything natural. He lowers his cigarette and rolls it between his fingers, idly.]

But I'll settle for Hallelujah, if you know it.

[rebelsamurai]

What, what, and what?

[Johnny couldn’t help but make a face as he stares at the guy from over the rim of his dark sunglasses. While he’s well-versed in pop music, even he doesn’t know what the fresh hell this guy is talking about. He might as well be asking him to play Pon Pon Shit by US Cracks at this point.

Just when he was about to tell this smart ass to delta, Johnny gets a real request. He gives the guy another glance before idly strumming his guitar again in hopes of remembering how the song goes.]

Feeling religious today, hm?

[He mutters once he starts the slow tempo of this tune. On guitar, this little ballad starts off like hum. A low hum that vibrates through the soul and eventually spreads like a warm cup of soup. It’s not Johnny’s cup of tea but a request is a request. Being the seasoned musician that he is, it’s an easy tune he can play without too much effort.

He’s just moderately surprised he remembers it. After all, he’s an unrepentant sinner. The fuck he cares about church songs?]

[judgementcrime]

[At the other man’s little aside before starting, Rico lets out a derisive sound from the back of his throat that demonstrates exactly what he thinks of the idea of feeling religious . He listens to the playing in silence, watching his fingertips fly over the chords. Seems like our busker’s got some skill to him. Not like an amateurish punk crashing out at a show like the ones Rico used to bust, going for volume over every other consideration. He’s moderately surprised that he knows it.

Rico waits until he’s finished, then applauds politely. Ha ha.]

Not bad. I’d tip, but - [Rico shrugs, an easy motion in his shoulders.] - unless you want the rest of my cig, I don’t have a cred to my name.