DISCLAIMER: Contains spoilers for the entirety of Cyberpunk 2077. If you haven't finished the game, I can't take responsibility for you spoiling it for yourself by reading this. CP 2077 belongs to CD Projekt Red. I just felt inspired by their monumental work.
I take certain creative liberties in this story, such as there being possibly more time between events, or things happening between in-game quests and some things needing more time / not happening at once. Some dialogues might not be 100% like in the game, I really don't have the time to replay it all :3
Feedback and constructive criticism are more than welcome.
Author's Note: I use a website that gives you three random words to warm up for writing sometimes. I decided to write a few drabbles related to FemV and Judy, before the quest Pyramid Song takes place. The first chapter is short, but as the story goes on, there's more going on! This chapter is just a warm-up.
(Prompt: hope burial strawberry – changed the last one to Nicola Blue. Might use this for the pre-Pyramid Song part)
The message from Judy almost made me choke on my Nicola Blue. 'Buried Ev today,' it said. On one hand, I understood why she hadn't told me about it. One the other, I had hoped she would at least let me know before it happened. It stung a bit, but it wasn't the time to let her know how I felt. All I could do is send a few words of support her way. Nothing supportive enough came to mind, so instead I decided to think about the living and replied with a simple question.
V:[How do you feel?]
Judy:[I intend to get thoroughly shitfaced today.]
I knew I shouldn't have, but I smiled. At least, in her own way, she was trying to cope. And even though we were still kinda strangers, connected by tragedy, knowing that she didn't just close off and decided to be open about her pain... somehow I felt comforted. For a moment I wondered. Was that an invitation? No... She would have asked, otherwise. It was a shame I couldn't at least hug her over the holo somehow...
Johnny appeared in my view, his arms crossed on his chest.
"Don't go there, V. I need you focused if we're going to do this," he began to pace from left to right, in a way that was oddly skittish, even for him.
"What makes you think I'm not?" I asked, shrugging off his attempt to boss me around.
"The girl. Should be looking for a way to get this thing out of your head, instead of getting all mushy. Ugh, keep it up and I'm gonna get sick."
"She's buried Evelyn today. It must have cost her a lot to keep it together. And she texted me. That means something," I decided that his opinion did not matter that much. Besides... mushy? Me?
"This is what I'm talking about. You're thinking about how she's doing while it's your bomb that's ticking down, and fast," he reminded me, as if I didn't know.
I couldn't help but think about that damned BD recording facility where we found Ev. First time I went there was through the eyes of someone who was about to be killed. Second time, to find Evelyn there, comatose, unresponsive. And Judy was there with me, both times. Maybe Johnny was right, in his own way. She was much stronger than I thought. A Mox, after all. I shouldn't worry about her. I threw the empty can away, checked the mag in my gun and moved on to the next gig.
(Prompt: loyalty fruit glasses)
Things did not go according to plan. I was used to that. Being able to improvise was just as important as being a good shot in Night City. Maiko tried a classic double-cross, so I put her to sleep, to think about her life choices. Maybe if she woke up to the stench of the rotting Tyger Claws, she'd stop having such stupid ideas.
"You know, V. One of the reasons I respect you so much is because you understand the value of loyalty. We did all this because you stuck to my plan, without trying to tell me what to do or change me. You were there for me, for all of us in this."
I nodded and looked at her, offering a smile. I was leaning against the railing with my elbows, with my back to it, she was looking out at the city, "Really, the least I could do," I shrugged finally, not wanting there to be too much silence between us.
She moved away from the railing and walked up to me. She took off my sunglasses, revealing my phantom-like Kiroshi implants, bright, almost completely white, synthetic irises. I averted my gaze, not wanting to startle her. She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. In all this chaos and filth that was Night City, Judy had this alluring scent to her. I don't know if she put on some kind of perfume for the occasion, or was that just some sort of body lotion she used... but she smelled like fruit. Sweet and fresh, like some of those rare treats you could sometimes get at a market. It was intoxicating. "Thanks, V. I'll see you around," she said as if nothing happened and turned around to leave, "See you, Judy," I called out and waved at her, even though she couldn't see me any more. Maybe it was a good thing, too. I felt as if my entire face was on fire, just from that one moment of closeness.
