Digital Higanbana (Lycoris Recoil x Cyberpunk Quest)

(Call a Lycoris (Nakaiji Momiji): 32)

You perked up when the call seemingly connected, only to deflate at the familiar voicemail. "Hiya choom or future-choom! I'm right now busy, so be so preem as to leave your deets-" You hung up then, already having left a message beforehand and not wanting to flood your comrade's inbox so incessantly.

"No luck, huh?" You glanced behind your living space couch to spot Arisu pulling out a drink from the fridge. She popped it open and tasted the cold beverage with a refreshed sigh, still not used to the Kagoshima heat. "I've also sent her an email, but I don't know if she even checks that. Hopefully, but no telling."

"Couldn't you check?" You asked and shifted over so that she could grab a seat on the other end of the couch. "Do some Netrunning stuff and poke around to see if her account's been accessed recently. Kami knows that I get screamed at if I log into my email from another location with alerts of 'suspicious activity.'"

Arisu grimaced and sipped at her drink. "Ain't that simple, sister. Our emails were setup and provided to us via Lycoris, right? That means it's running off their servers." You winced immediately, already knowing how that'd go. "Yeah, I don't feel like getting my arse doxxed and arrested by a kid a year or two younger than me. It doesn't feel right. Arasaka, I'd happily fuck with. Lycoris? No way."

"You wouldn't get your brain fried first?" You questioned with a curious frown. "I thought that was how Netrunners flatlined each other."

"How they used to. Ain't so popular anymore, not since Arasaka's suddenly taken a super hardline stance against them with their new CEO." The Netrunner waggled her fingers. "It's way more difficult to find on the market, let alone a clean version that isn't hosting a hidden Trojan for when you try it. They and Netwatch have teamed up together to also scrub the web clean of any sources, at least on this side of the globe."

"Night City's fair game then?" You guessed and Arisu rolled her eyes.

"Probably, they like to give the finger no matter what. But here, it's more common and popular to instead ID the runner and their location, then forward it to local authorities. Very few of said authorities need more of a reason to arrest a Netrunner then." Your fellow graduated chuckled darkly and shook her head. "Man, let me tell you, it's also satisfying as all hell when you watch their door getting kicked down by campus police and dragged screaming out. Even better if you can plant some real dirty files on their system before dipping. The humiliation's enough to hang up your hat in shame."

You stared at her rather vivid description that was far too detailed to be purely imagined. You awkwardly cleared your throat and tried to spin the conversation into a different direction. "It sounds like you Netrunners are a colorful lot."

"Oh, you have no idea." Arisu idly pressed the soda back to her lips, only to realize she had finished it off and frowned. There was a curiously confused expression on her face and she sighed, leaning around to toss the empty can at the bin. She just barely missed and it bounced against the rim to land on the floor, much to her displeasure. "See, that wouldn't happen in the web."

"What do you mean?"

"If it was empty, I could just refresh or the extend the duration. If it was a little minigame, a good enough aim would trigger a successful landing." Arisu sighed and reluctantly rose from the couch to properly dispose of her mess. "And if it was all digital, I could just snap my fingers to dump the data. The web's really convenient like that."

You hummed thoughtfully, a little more curious now. "It sounds like it's almost like a personal power fantasy to live in the digital world. I feel like I understand all those horror stories now about Netrunners jacking in, and never jacking out."

"It is certainly an incredible feeling, especially when you control a part of space around you with only your thought." Her voice grew quiet for a moment, taking on a slightly introspective tone. "It can almost feel like you're a god, summoning and undoing reality by your will. You can even change and mold yourself into your ideal form. Leaving that behind to return then back to the real world, with all its limitations, it can be a real bucket of cold water. Makes you understand why they're immediately so hostile and trigger-happy when somebody else tries to break into the dream, especially a personal one instead of a public server forum.

"So for some, they never wish to awake from the best life they've ever had. They are those who try to dive beyond the Blackwall, to try and find any sort of way to ascend, to leave the limiting flesh behind and become an immortal ghost in the machine."

"Cyberpsychosis," You grimly summarized with a shake of the head. "I suppose trying to replace your mind is the last barrier to becoming the perfect conversion."

"You got that right. The mind's the weakest part of the body in the end, and it's the one thing nobody's figured out how to turn into code." Arisu crashed back onto the cushy furniture and tilted her head, turning on the television with a single mental flick. "Though we can make it quite sharp already, what with how far chrome's already gone. Opticware, boosterware, all stuff that makes your brain burn a little more. Don't you think so?

"Agreed." You two watched some daytime television in silence for a moment before you spoke up again. "Do you think I could try my hand at Netrunning?"

She gave you a long look. "Anybody can give it a try, but it's a question of how deep and involved you want to get in. Probably also a good idea for what you want to do if you dip your toes into the scene, otherwise other Netrunners are going to chew you alive."

You hummed and judged how far you actually did want to get involved with the scene.

[ ] [Netrunner] "I'm mainly just thinking of how others could use it for their gigs. But I suppose that's more Quickhacks than actual Netrunning. Practical programming instead of theoretical cyberspace."

[ ] [Netrunner] "The web's an unlimited source of information for whatever I or others need for jobs. A few quick runs to grab the info, in and out, that sounds perfect. No need to go any deeper than that."

[ ] [Netrunner] "The Blackwall...people have got to pay a lot of eddies on both sides of the argument, for either breaching and protecting it. So there's money to be made from jobs in the web, and that's something I can get behind."

- I'm not totally satisfied on the conversation, but I'm going to push on with it. Netrunning is...esoteric to say the least. And looking at the ruleset for it in any of the Cyberpunk RPGs makes me feel like I'm really about to have a trip. A card game, of all things...

"I'm mainly just thinking of how others could use it for their gigs," You confessed and shook your head. "But I suppose that's more Quickhacks than actual Netrunning."

"Somewhat. We Netrunners usually really don't just come up with custom programming on the fly most of the time. All that movie stuff about us plugging away and then rapidly coming up with code on the fly is absolute gonk." Arisu scoffed and gestured to the television which showed one such scene right now. "And what sort of self-respecting Netrunner uses two keyboards at the same time, it doesn't do jackshit! I also refuse to buy the bullshit that just turning your hat backwards or putting on shades gives you an edge!"

You laughed at the clear disdain Arisu had for the stereotype. "Give them a break. Practical programming instead of theoretical cyberspace isn't so exciting for an audience."

"Oh, I'll show them exciting," Your fellow Lycoris hissed, her fingers twitching as if wanting to grab a keyboard right now. "Let's see if I can't snag a set of access codes from the hangouts to introduce a little slice of real Netrunning in their evening news. I'll even record myself in a white rabbit costume if need be."

You gave a pointed look. "Not in the house," You firmly told without allowance. "I don't want it being tracked to us."

"Chill, I'll hold out till I'm back in Tokyo. Then my classmates will think it's absolutely nova and chip in." Arisu frowned and put a hand to her chin. "But then they might want to insist I include an Arasaka sponsorship bit. Ugh, so maybe I'll just keep it on the low till then? But then who can I ask for recording equipment…?"

You smiled and gently patted her thigh before getting up and stretching your legs. You had just gotten the notification of a certain someone pulling up to the shopfront. Arisu was still lost in her wicked plans when you descended downstairs and walked towards the front of your new business. There, already waiting outside and fidgeting nervously, was your very first outside hire. You took in a quick breath to steady yourself before directing the door to slide open with a smile. "Welcome to Kagoshima Fragrance. Would you happen to be interested in flowers or coffee today?"

Erika hesitated and blinked, taken aback by your sudden greeting. You took mercy on her and stepped aside to let her in. "I'm just testing my greeting message. What do you think?" You explained and she relaxed slightly to step through the front, the door closing behind her.

"I think it sounds pretty nice. Is that something I'll need to say to welcome every customers into the cafe?"

"It'd definitely be nice, so please try and remember to do so when you can. Now then, as to the other reason I asked you to come over here early." You glanced at the heavy Vendetta attire and frowned. "We need to make sure we have a uniform that fits. Follow me please."

"A uniform does make sense..." Erika's voice trailed off when you pulled open the supply closets and her eyes widened at the sight of your suits and dresses. "Oh. Oh kami, I wasn't expecting this!"

Worry immediately beset you and you turned with a concerned expression. "Is there an issue? Is this too much? I know that you volunteered to come here without pay until we opened, but if it really is too overreaching-"

"Not in the slightest!" The young woman breathed and stepped further to look through the costumes with wide eyes. "These are so cute! Preem even!" She excitedly jabbered and you stared confusedly for a second, then your eyes trailed back onto her current attire.

Right. The Vendetta could be considered fans of doing things in good taste, and if that meant going around as costumed service staff, that likely applied to that same preference. You relaxed and pulled out both male and female versions that seemed to match Erika's size. "If you're reacting like this now, then that gives me hope that we'll be equally well-received then we finally open. Which one would you prefer?"

"Hm." She seemed to think it over seriously before pointing a finger at the suit. "Let me try that, please."

You obliged and directed her to small changing booth in the supply closet. Erika worked quickly and only took a few minutes to swap her clothes out for her new uniform. When the curtain was pulled back, you could feel your eyebrows arch up and breath catch for a moment at how rather dashing she looked in a butler's suit. These uniforms were absolutely the correct decision.

Erika ran a finger along the starch collar that matched well with her short hair, inspecting the white gloves in the process. "A bit stiffer than I'm usually used to, but it's also a bit more liberating," She confessed, then looked your way with her own questioning look. "I am curious though, just why is there a holster on the inside of the vest?"

You frowned. "Why wouldn't there be?" You asked and held up the alternative maid costume. "There's one under the apron for this one as well, if you're curious."

The Vendetta stared, then blandly nodded. "Fair enough. Now, how do I look?"

"Like you're about to make a high school girl question her preferences, or maybe even a guy. Probably both," You joked and she giggled alongside. "Is this going to be okay for sure? Your chooms, the...famiglia? They won't put a hit out on me the moment they see you dressed like this?"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure that once word gets around, especially the fact that I owe a life-debt to you, most would just shrug and continue on. In fact!" There was a little mirror tucked next to the changing booth for helping check appearances and Erika stared into it now, her eyes glowing. "There. I just took a picture and sent it to my chooms in the gang. They know now not to declare a grudge or hit on you in my name."

"Er, thanks I suppose." You paused, then pressed forward with another daring question. "Speaking of which, do you think that there's any interest in them stopping by the place for a drink? Or maybe flowers?"

(Advertise Word: 5 +5 (Erika) = 10)

She winced and shook her head. "Unfortunately, there's a lot of tension between Vendetta and Secondborn Ronin right now, enough so that a gathering of my famiglia, even if they were unarmed, could spark some trouble. Even the Judge is 'encouraging' us to keep our activities related to our practice at the minimum for now."

You sighed angrily, frustrated that it seemed as though the Scav incident was still having a drastic effect weeks down the line. Though a small part of you wondered idly if perhaps negotiating a more formal peace between the two gangs could be something you'd want to follow up on. It definitely sounds like it's the job of a Fixer to get both parties seated at a table as the middleman to hash out and clear the air.

For now, you asked and Erika was more than happy to try practicing working in the uniform. You decided to get change into your own maid attire as well for full authenticity and walked her through the various coffee machines and bouquet arrangements. True to your observations, she fumbled slightly at both, but not catastrophically so. It was rough, but it was workable.

While watching the steam pressure for the machine build up, Erika seemed to remember something and turned to you with a familiar look of awe. "Oh, that's right boss! My chooms and I finally got a chance to watch that clip of you against EGO, and it was totally preem!"

"Boss?" You repeated with a raised eyebrow but she just kept on talking.

"Honestly, some of the others were even talking about maybe trying to recruit you to join us!" She looked at you with an eager expression. "What do you think? Interested?"

Already, you were waving her off with a polite shake of the head. Maybe one day, but not from this. "I've had enough of organizations for a while, so I'll take a rain check on that." You watched her face fall and tried to cheer her up with a pat on the back. "Think of it this way, I probably wouldn't be a good fit either. The Vendetta are all about righteous vengeance, and I just talked my partner out of that the other day."

"You did?" There was a mix of confusion and befuddlement in her voice. "Really? That's so...weird. Gonk-like almost. Erm, sorry."

"No worries, it was just something that I had to help Mitsu snap out of." You crossed your arms and your eyes looked up for a moment. "It's...well, let's just say the two of us have definitely gone through a lot. I wanted to get out, she was about to get back in, and so I had to pull her out."

"I see." Erika fell silent and poked at the coffee machine before asking another question, one that made you think for a bit. "So then, your partner, what's she like? I've heard stories from you about her, and you mentioned she might've been the one behind the EGO Security office attack. Which, by the way, is another preem thing that sent the famiglia into a tizzy! Do you think we might have more luck recruiting her?"

Your eyes narrowed and you spoke for your absent roommate now.

[ ] [Mitsu] "If she's interested, sure. The Vendetta code's something she's mentioned liking before, so maybe she'll listen to your pitch. She might even really enjoy the gigs you toss her way. But I can't say anything more than that."

[ ] [Mitsu] "I think she'll at least be open to working with your famiglia, but maybe not the others and definitely only when on the job. She's might like the Vendetta compared to a lot others, but she follows her own code as well."

[ ] [Mitsu] "Well, good luck with that. She's quite free spirited and headstrong, which I don't think mesh well with the Vendetta. She might be an ally of convenience, but I don't see her working well with how ordered you all are."

- You really do have an uphill struggle when it comes to putting your flower shop cafe on the map. How interesting.
- Technically this is sort of a Fixer thing where you're trying to figure out what clients could work best for Mitsu. It's far from just being a limiting choice though, only what you think Mitsu could be comfortable doing jobs for.