Upon entering the graffitied and trash-covered alleyway, I hear someone behind me and immediately raise my gun, turning around and pointing it, ready for immediate defence but it's just Kendrick again…
"You're followin' me?" I ask, crossing my arms as he stands before me, my gun lowered again.
"Is… that okay..?" He queries nervisly in response, eliciting a drawn out sigh from me as I shrug.
"Sure. Whatever. I don't really care. But don't try anything; understand? I can and will fry your brain in a second" I respond, rolling my eyes and turning again, not waiting for a response as I put my weapon away and begin walking again.
"O-Okay." He responds with a nod of nervous acknowledgment before following shortly behind.
"Oh. And stay close. People around these parts REALLY don't like Corps. So shut up and blend in, yeah?" I add as a large central plaza is revealed.
"Understood…" he replies with a basic and default response of acknowledgement, nodding and swallowing quietly.
The plaza in itself is a sizeable square shape with a fountain in the middle in which contains brown, cloudy and dirty water; splashing softly with every small rain drop. The trash scattered all around the area compliments the graffiti on the walls and the fallen fire escape alongside other details which make the area look like a cheap Ghetto or hood. There are a couple alcoves alongside a couple main buildings. A small Restaurant called "Oscar's", a small convenience store, a small clothing store and a weapon store. Small and compact but efficient in its use.
"So this is where you live..?" He asks as he walks with me, his eyes darting around and briefly settling on 2 men having sex in one of the dark alcoves and scoff in disgust at the public sexual display, rolling his eyes.
"Does this look like an apartment to you?" I ask sarcastically in typical British fashion, my hands in my pockets as I walk to Oscar's.
"Well I obviously don't mean right here, I just mean-" He tries to respond, speaking to me with nervous clarification
"I know what you meant Choom, I was being sarcastic. Chill. And yes, I live here." I cut him off with a sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose as he takes my sarcasm literally.
"So why be difficult?" He questions in appearing annoyance with paired confusion as he raising a short eyebrow and continues to follow.
"Like I said, It's called sarcasm choom. Then again you are a corpo rat so-" I insult him once again as I walk into the restaurant, going to an available seat with him.
"Can you stop calling me a rat? It'e extremely disrespectful; why do you even hate Corpos so much?" He groans before lowering his voice as we enter the Restaurant, cutting me off.
"What kinda question is that? Why do I hate Corpos? Maybe because you're all suit wearing, self-centred, greedy, arrogant, obnoxious, entitled, pretentious, narcissistic rats who think they're above consequence because they have the backing of a megacorporation. Like a carbon copy of the average politician." I reply with my own personal annoyance, ranting with obvious disdain about Corps in Night City.
"Daddy paid the big bucks for you to go to Arasaka academy that we're like little pawns to you." I add on, my disdain for corpos very clear.
"We're not all like that you know." He frowns, crossing his arms and defending himself.
"Uh huh. Fine. Name me 1 Corporation that works for the good of society. Right now." I challenge with confidence, raising my own eyebrow and taking a puff from my vape; sat in the back right corner of Oscar's.
"Well- Biotechnica-" He tries to argue before I cut him off immediately.
"Biotechnica sold biological weapons to Arasaka and Militech during the 4th corporate war and cloned animals to sell them for profit. Try again." I retort confidently, looking to him, unamused.
"They learned how to clone people and individual organs and limbs." He debates further, not letting up his defence.
"Using a system similar to soulkiller, which might I add develops copies out of living people AGAINST their will. Try again." I counter him strongly, looking to him unconvinced
"They make almost all of Night City's organic foods!" He pushes one last time before yet another counter from me.
"In their facilities to sell at a much higher price than their worth to generate profit because they have a monopoly which means people are forced to buy it." I simmer down after my final counter, looking out the window for a moment as Kendrick als falls silent. "It's all a Ponzi Scheme."
"Well- Arasaka-" He begins to speak weakly, unsure on how to argue.
"Are you being for real?" I cut him off with a deadpanned expression, causing hm to fall silent once again.
"Yeah, fair enough.." He mutters before I finally get up and walk to the counter.
"Yo Oscar?" I call out into the kitchen behind the counter and a gruff, 40 odd looking male with an apron on walks out.
"Hey Chels, what can I get ya tonight?" He smirks, leaning against the counter.
"Wondering if you could cook me up 2 steaks. One for me and one for my… accomplice… there." I respond with my continued Neutral expression.
"Steak? Damn Chels you musta got paid big tonight. You know how expensive those are nowadays?" He chuckles with a surprised smirk, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.
"I know. But I want an actual proper meal tonight so how much will it run me?" I nod and pull down my hood finally, my long, disheveled, Autumn coloured hair awaiting the price.
"Well I assume you want some wine with that like you always do, so it'll cost you around 2000 for the actual beef and another 500ish for wine so let's say 2500 eurodollars." he responds, awaiting payment.
"Preem." I state simply as my eyes light up bright, neon pink when I send him the 2500 eurodollars a moment later through my OS bank. A minute after, his eyes light up orange to process the payment beforr he speaks again.
"Pays good. Alright; siddown and I'll get someone to bring it for you." He nods firmly before turning back to the kitchen.
"Nova. Cya Oscar." I respond before walking back to our table, to a comptemplative looking Kendrick who looked wrapped in thought.
"What did you order?" Kendrick curiously questions after noticing me sit down again, breaking his mystery trail of thought.
"2 steaks. Your lucky day." I answer non chalantly and open the window, puffing my vape and blowing it outside before turning to him again.
"Steak? Like actual steak? Not SCOP steak?" He asks with wide eyes and raised eyebrows; looking shocked a peasant like me compared to him could afford such a meal.
"Mhm. Cost me an entire job. Like I said, it's your lucky day." I nod and respond before taking another puff of my vape.
Both of us fall into awkward silence again before the Corpo speaks up again, asking yet another question.
"Why're you so attached to that vape? You know that shit kills your lungs right?" He inquires, raising an eyebrow and clearly disapproving of my unhealthy habit.
"Not unhealthier than whatever shit they put in cigs or what Biotechnica puts in their products nowadays. It's none of your business anyways. Plus I can always get my lungs replaced." I answer with a bored shrug; displaying a lack of care about the habit.
"You'd rather replace your lungs instead of quitting? It probably costs you a fortune and you'd have to get them replaced more than once." He begins to lecture me whilst scoffing in disbelief.
"Listen, I'm addicted. Have been for years. I've tried quitting before. It's not your body so you ain't gotta worry. P.S, you'd be surprised how cheap vape fluid is. It's like 5 Eddies a pod." I respondnin a more matter of fact tone at his continued questions. Silence fills the air almost immediately after for a momene before he tries to ask ANOTHER question, causing me to roll my eyes, kiss my teeth and look to him.
"What is this 21 questions? Do you ever shut the fuck up? How're you employed by 'saka? They hate people asking questions. This isn't an interview. It's none of your business okay?" I sigh again out of frustration as he looks out the window with the same frustrated look; finally ceasing his questions.
Around 10 minutes later, the waitress walks over to us, setting our food on the table with 2 glasses of wine.
"Thanks Cath." I nod down in respect as she nods back me with a smile before walking away, leaving us with our food.
"Well? You gonna eat?" I ask, pointing to the plate as he looks to it, raising an eyebrow as I pick up my cutlery.
"Yeah, just.. if you hate me so much, why'd you pay for food for me?" He asks, puzzled, as he examines the food.
"Because I'm eating as well? I'm not gonna get food whilst you sit there just watching me, it's awkward as hell. And Why're you complaining? You Corps eat this shit don't you?" I probe as he nods, thanking me before taking his cutlery and eating beside me.
"So what got you into Netrunning and Merc jobs?" He inquires once again.
"Oh my god, again with the questions. You know what, how about you answer me first. What got you into 'Saka?" I return the question irritatedly in retaliation to his question after swallowing my mouthful of Steak and sipping some wine.
"Well… I was born into a semi-wealthy family and they wanted me to have the best education so they sent me to a grammar school. Eventually I got a scholarship into Arasaka Academy for "Problem solving" and "Technological" skills and made me an intern to learn practical skills." He answers honestly in between consuming his food.
"Well look at you Mr Straight A." I snicker with a small hint of a smirk of amusement, eating my own food.
"So what about you? You gonna answer my question?" He presses, awaiting my explanation.
"No. I don't trust you that much yet. All I'll say is I had my reasons." I respond ominously as I continue my meal.
"If you say so." He shrugs and finally falls silent until we finish our meal; the waitress clearing our tables before both of us leaving the Restaurant.