The loud, booming music of Jig Jig street fills the air with the intense night life of Night City in full swing. Dealers making moves, Joytoys making profits... entire lifelong relationships beginning and ending. The crew walks together in tandem through shoulder to shoulder crowds talking amongst themselves as they passively follow Audrey to their destination. The bright, vibrant variety of neon Night City colors were on full display. Bright, glowing neon clothing and accessories dawned alongside vibrant matching chrome and sleek hardware. Animated accessories expressive of unique statements and personalities pass by with flying colors one after the other to the sounds of booming music from cars and storefronts. The night sky served as a black canvas for the colors of Night City to really pop as people clink glasses, light smokes and party the night away.
"HEY CUTIE! Mmm.. why don't you come on over here and talk to me..!" A joytoy seductively barks at Netty while licking her lips. He turns his full attention over to her with a big smile. His kiroshis drift up and down her long legged frame... her thigh high skirt a neon yellow... her platform heels were as crystal clear as glass. She shifts her weight in them as his gaze rises to her pristine face. She meets his eyes with a grin... revealing her pearly whites as she subtly flips her short hair. Night City's dynamic allure is finely tuned... tunnels and pathways into the unknown... life changing journeys... always but a single touch... a single hello away.
"H-Hey! I uhh-" he says before being abruptly yanked back to the group by Brian as they continue walking down main street.
They reach their destination, a neon pink soaked bar with a packed house. Pole dancers put on a show while bar patrons scream and cheer in ecstasy as the crew makes their way through the crowded floor being lead by Audrey. They make their way to the bar as Brian takes a moment to get a feel for the area... the intense heat of the place brought about by the sheer energy being projected by everyone in attendance. He glances over at Audrey whispering into the bar tender's ear before his attention is turned to the floor of the bar itself. He can't help but spot the various suits cascaded around the place... some drinking and glaring about... some breaking business deals with locals... some just sitting alone somberly leaving their worries and sorrows at the bottom of a glass. His heightened sense of awareness tends to always come out in times like this... something about the lack of awareness of his people... knowing their guards are down... it often drives him to keep his up.
Brian feels a heavy hand on his shoulder snapping him out of his scanning and causing him to turn around.
"Come on!" Zaunya says with a smile of excitement on her face as she grabs him by the arm.. pulling him toward the door the rest of the crew is standing by. A quick flash of the serious look on her face she had grabbing his arm and pulling him deeper into the PetroChem warehouse enters his mind... both the similarities and contrasts of these two moments blindside him with lingering impact.
The bartender unlocks the backdoor behind the bar... ushering Audrey and the rest of them in. As it slides open, The crew begin to descend down a narrow staircase carrying on conversations amongst themselves. Their energy is lively with anticipation as they effortlessly meld into the high octane night life they're accustomed to in Night City. They descend further down the surprisingly steep staircase... the music of the bar above begins to fade out as a new, louder tone and bass booming from below gradually fades in and takes over. They get to the bottom and Audrey bangs hard on the heavy metal door several times causing a small metal window on the door slides open. She speaks the night's password.
"Wires and Roses. Cyberpsychosis." She says causing the little window on the door to promptly slide closed and the door to open. The crew are met with a flood of bright red neon glow as the loud thumping sounds of heavy metal come flying out of the doorway.
They step in to what looks to be a different world. The atmosphere and energy of the basement bar and dancefloor pulls them in as they step through a packed crowd watching an unknown band shredding like they belonged on world tours. Rockerboys cutting loose to the eclectic band blasting energy out onto the dancefloor, feeding the untamed and darkened atmosphere with a red hue. Drugs shift hands under card game tables alongside antes over drunken five finger fillet rounds. The vibrant colors of all the hyperstylistic cyberware and fashionware on display brought with it a drip that you could only find in Night City. A local's paradise for those at the forefront of the culture... for those in the know.
The crew are next seen clinking beer bottles and glasses in shouts, cheers and celebration at their success in a corner booth elevated a few steps.
You get an establishing shot of the entire crew hanging out and enjoying themselves deep into the night. Swapping stories... sharing intense laughter... people watching... and getting to know each other on a far more personal level... filling in blanks... testing social boundaries. The energy of the crowd and crew themselves is euphoric and positive as they all revel in it together. Something that's often hard to find in Night City. It was clear it was just one of those nights where everyone in attendance was determined to make it one to remember.
"Listen kid. Whatever you're lookin' at, whatever you want in this place tonight, its on me alright?" Brian says with his giant arm around the back of Netty's skinny neck pulling him in close causing Netty to giggle.
"I didn't think i was ever going to see you again girl! Where the hell have you been!?" BugBear asks Zaunya while Audrey attentively listens as the ladies catch up and share laughs.
The night carries on as you would expect... the crew takes the time to unwind while fully embracing some of the most coveted perks Night City has to offer. The type of night tourists fly halfway across the globe with their fingers crossed in hopes to get even a piece of. The bread and butter of what makes city life what it is... and how it shapes those within it. Building bonds through violence and suffering is a lot different than building it through good times and euphoria. The staying power is often different... just as the foundations are.
"You never really know what you're gonna get with people in this city. Conflict spreads like a plague... can fizzle out faster than a lit match. That's why adhering to what you actually CAN control is what matters." Brian says rambling on and on while Netty listens like a kid in class. "Regardless of your intentions for someone.. you can control nothing but yourself... you did good back there kid... its clear to me you can carry your own weight." He says as he takes another swig of his Brospeh causing Netty to do the same... a pause in their conversation allows the music to take over.
"But remember kid... There's no one in this world you can trust more than yourself." Brian says in a serious tone causing Netty to look over at him with a serious expression.
"As soon as you start to lean on others... start to hold on too tight... you're in trouble... Got me?"
"Yeah, i uhh... i got it." Netty responds before they both swig their Broseph's together and the music takes over.
Later in the night, Brian finishes up a conversation with a choom at the bar after buying a pack of smokes off of him. Little does he know... he's had a pair of emerald green eyes tracking his moves for quite some time now. Thoughts weighing heavy on her mind.
"I'll be right back." Zaunya leans over and says to BugBear who's watching Audrey dance intensely on a stripper pole with a joytoy. Audrey snatches the Joytoy's neck while Netty gazes on with his mouth hanging open.
The backdoor to the hidden underground bar slides open letting out into a quiet, narrow alleyway below street level... muffling the booming atmosphere just inside. Zaunya exits and quickly glances up the alley to see Brian near the end of it leaning over a railing preparing to light a cig. She slowly walks up to him as he hears the unforgettable tapping of her boots... causing him to take a deep breath.
"Hey..." She says in a softened tone causing Brian to glance back at her. He silently offers her a smoke; As she takes it, he lights it for her and the pair share a silence with each other for a while smoking. They hear the feint, bustling and lively activity of Jig Jig street above. He can't help himself... he breaks the silence.
"What're you thinkin'" He calmly asks in a deep tone.
"You know... i should probably be asking you that." She responds causing him to look over at her. The dim glow of the Neon Night city streets above bleeds through down onto them... giving them a unique color spectrum to loiter in.
"You do a good job of holding your cards close... a defense mechanism perhaps." She says before taking a drag of her smoke "...I just.... I almost feel like the more you learn about me... the less i realize i know about you-"
"-What's there to know."
"-OH, CUT the bullshit Brian! Stop treating me like some fucking geek off the street you accidentally bumped into in the City Center." Zaunya says in a raised tone causing Brian to look over at her.
"You want a non-starter? How bout this..." She says as she steps toward him locking in. "Graves? That cowboy back at the 6th street compound? I haven't forgotten any of this shit you know! Oh, and the last time i mentioned HER name...? You were about ready to blow my fucking head off." She shouts in a challenging tone... causing Brian to turn and face her... looking deep into her eyes.
She steps towards him even closer... getting right in his face... speaking in a lowered tone, squinting her eyes. "You wanna talk about trust?... I don't even know who the fuck you are."
"YO! uhh.. I hope i'm not uhhm.. interrupting anything?" Netty shouts as he slowly walks towards the pair from a distance.
Zaunya continues to stare deep into Brian's eyes as she slowly takes a few steps back with her fists clinched tightly... she turns around to walk back toward the bar past Netty. Netty slowly approaches Brian who turns his back to continue leaning over the railing.
"Is uh... everything alright?"
"What is it kid." Brian says before another drag of his smoke.
"I uh... I heard somethin' in there I think you're gonna wanna know..." The tone of his voice is street... Brian quickly looks over at him.