"You know I really shouldn't be surprised by shit my luck seems to be." A couple of French fries are shoved in her mouth as she leans back in her seat. "Meeting with Takemura and his contact or whatever went about as good as you could guess it would. In others words, we got fucked. Sort of." V takes a drink of the chocolate shake before getting another handful of fries. She can see Johnny out of the corner of her eye shake his, scoffing at her. Fuck him though. Like his expressions of shame and disgust have stopped her before. "So now he's wanting to take a more extreme approach. Said to give him some time to get things together."

"You can tell the 'Saka lap dog to take a hike. Better yet, flatline him before he does so to us." Johnny badgers. He flickers from the passenger seat to the back seat, sprawling out like a lazy house cat. A cigarette materializes into his grasp.

V almost scolds him for smoking in her precious car, yet stops when she realizes that technically the cigarette isn't real. However, for some odd reason she can still smell the smoke. It's comforting to a certain degree - reminds her of her younger years. She's already broke down and had a cig after his incessant nagging. Eleven years without one and that first puff had reminded her why she quit in the first place.

"Other than that. Rogue hooked me up. Meeting with another nomad tomorrow named Panam. An exchange of favors or something like that." V waved a hand dismissively. She's equal parts excited and nervous. It's been so long since she's been around any other Nomads. Biz is biz no matter what. Yet having dealings with someone of a similar background brought just a little bit of comfort to her heart.

"As far as leads go with Evelyn, I got one at a place called Clouds. I wouldn't even know how to describe it. I got the information I needed. I also got banned for life." Johnny had called her the queen of fuck ups while she went through the place putting bullets in skulls as she floundered her way through, creating chaos as usual. He hadn't been wrong in his assessment really. Everything she touched seemed to become tainted somehow. That or God was just not in the mood to cut her some slack. Maybe both. "It's not looking good for her. But the weirdest thing happened while I was there. Well to start off with, I met with this Doll named Angel. His opening line was how he's my angel." V can't help but chuckle softly at the memory. She had to give the guy points for that opener, even if he probably told everyone that. It's one of the better ones she's heard.

"He knew my name. Probably because I had to jack into the system before hand but..." Her smile starts to fade. "He knew I was dying. Kept trying to keep on track with questions about Evelyn. Didn't go that way. Not really." The paper bag is set aside while the half empty cup is placed in the holder. Just thinking about that moment makes her appetite vanish. "So I guess you could say I got a therapy session with a Robohooker. I spilled my guts to the guy. Told him about how I'm afraid of dying again. That I just wanted to make something of my life. Mentioned that I hoped maybe I would be a fond memory at least in everyone's mind. The works." It's like a damn had burst and she had just let it all out. But Angel seemed to take it all like a champ. After the death of her mother, there was no dealing with or talking about emotions. There was only sucking it up, bottling them away and getting over whatever ruffled your feathers. "You know I've never been great with dealing with feelings. Never learned how to. We laid there on a bed, me baring my heart and him just holding my hand. It was...so nice Jackie."

It sounded so stupid. That one little bit of affection she had gotten from Angel was like having a few drops of water after wandering a desert. It left her with this thirst for more - more touches, more embraces, more tenderness. That's not the biggest issue at hand currently.

V stares out at the parking lot of the fast food joint. Despite the darkness of night, the area's illuminated by the neon lights of not just the business, but the rest of the city as well. The sound of the rain mixes with the low volume of the radio. While she watches raindrops race down her windshield, she feels tears start to flow down her cheeks. Fuck. If she had a hundred eddies for each time she's cried since this whole fiasco started, she'd be one rich bitch.

"I just feel horrible about everything. I know I've said it before but we never should have taken that job. Or if anything, I should have been the one to die." And the waterworks keep coming. Shit. Sometimes she really hated herself. Especially the fact that she was such an ugly crier. There's no doubt what little makeup she bothered to put on is ruined. "All of this just because I wanted some sort of meaning to my life. It doesn't matter now. Because in the end, I'll be joining ya real soon."

Inhale. Exhale. A fake smile spreads across her lips. "Anyways man, I'll talk to you later. Gotta get home. Maybe I'll grab some booze on the way. Take care, ya hear?" And then she hangs up. Her face is red as a cherry slushie. That redness makes the freckles that dot her flesh stand out more. Her eyes sting and she can feel the snot about to run from her nose (an issue solved by quickly by grabbing a spare napkin). She hates crying. Most of all, she hates that she has to deal with emotions. Nothing but trouble.

"V..." Johnny murmurs, leaning in close to her.

She jumps in her seat, turning to look at him. V's forgotten he's there. At first she's angry; angry that he sees her like this and even angrier that he has an inside look at all the turmoil that bubbles inside of her being. That anger doesn't last long, replaced by mental and physical exhaustion. Fingers fiddle with the pendant around her. "What is it now, Johnny?" she sighs.

"Not gonna let you die. I mean that." His voice is gentle; a quality V didn't know he could exude. "We'll find a way to fix all of this. You're gonna live, and you're gonna do it in your own body."

She can feel the cool metal of his cyberware when he places a hand on her shoulder. His expression is sympathetic. There's doubt in her heart that everything will truly be fine. That doesn't stop his words and gesture from bringing her comfort along with just the slightest bit of hope. "Thanks." A hand is placed over his, her thumb caressing the non-existent metal. "How about we go home?"

He gives her a nod, popping back into the passenger seat. He turns the radio volume up a bit more before propping his feet up on the dashboard.

There's silence between them on the drive home. V's calmed down and her composure is back in tact for the most part. She parks her Thorton Mackinaw in the garage of her apartment building. Yet she doesn't get out immediately. Instead she sits there a moment, gnawing on her bottom lip.

"What's on your mind now?"

"I just thought...nevermind. It was stupid." V shakes her head and exits the vehicle.

Johnny raises a brow as he glitches beside her in the elevator. He doesn't bother interrogating her, to which she's thankful. She doesn't think she can handle dealing with anymore feelings today. She just wants sleep. Tomorrow's a new day. Another new shitty day.