Dialogue: Automatic Love

Johnny

He better keep this short and sweet.

Two brainwashed sex zombies in a single day is too much, even for me.

Tom

Hi, umm... I think something might've gone wrong here…

Not really sure, uhh... I don't have your details? Sorry, no idea what I'm supposed to do...

V

1ANeed to get in touch with Evelyn Parker. It's important.

Tom

1AYou and me both. Tried calling her a bunch of times... No luck.

V

1AMean to say she's not here?

Tom

1AShe had an accident. Needed to go to a special clinic in Osaka... or Oslo? I think it was Oslo – for a new faceplate.

V

2ATell you herself she was skippin' town?

Tom

2ANah, just didn't show up for work. Wasn't picking up, either, so I asked Woodman what was up.

2ATold me she left. Like I said.

V

3AWoodman – who is he?

Tom

3AMr. Forrest. But everybody calls him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

3AOK, Mr. Forrest then. What's his thing?

Tom

3AHe's kinda like our caretaker. Finds new talent, deals with ugly situations…

Johnny

3ACould it be Woodman finally sheds some light on this shitshow? Man can only dream…

3AThe skull sponges in these dolls, ugh... THAT's what they should be replacin'...

V

4AWoodman – who is he?

Tom

4AMr. Forrest. But everybody calls him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

4AOK, Mr. Forrest then. What's his thing?

Tom

4AHe's kinda like our caretaker. Finds new talent, deals with ugly situations…

V

4BWhere can I find this Woodman?

Tom

4BProbably got his feet up in the back office.

4B'Cept it's off limits to customers.

V

2BOsaka or Oslo – which was it?

Tom

2BO-Oslo... Yeah, definitely Oslo.

V

2CThat accident. Involved a client, did it?

2CFound blood in her booth.

Tom

2CUhh... You know, shit like that happens here sometimes.

V

2CAnd everyone's cool with that?

Tom

2CWe get new implants, recovery leave and... well, sometimes even a payout.

2CNow that I think about it, it is weird she went away so far.

V

1BRelax, ya don't need any data, don't need any detes. I'm not a customer.

1BHere to talk, to you specifically. Not to be with a doll.

1BTom. Is that it?

Tom

1BUh-huh.

You sure your VIP card checks out? Had a sich once – payment bounced and I was ripped outta the sesh the same way.

Docked it from my pay, they did...

Wh-what do you want?

D-don't shoot me, don't hurt me. I didn't do anything…

V

5ARelax, you're not in trouble.

5AJust... wanna talk for a little.

5BShut up and pull yourself together.

Tom

5BY-you've got me confused with someone else! I've never seen you in my life! I couldn't've done anything to you!

V

5BNeed to ask you a question, so shut up and listen.

V

6AWhere's Evelyn? Need to talk to her urgently, it's important.

Tom

6AA-are you mad at her or something?

V

6ANo. Know where she is or not?

Tom

6AUh, she's not here. Tried callin' her more than once – no answer.

6AHeard she was chippin' a new faceplate at a clinic in... Osaka? No no, Oslo – that was it.

V

7AEvelyn tell you personally she was goin' away?

Tom

7AUm, no, just didn't show up for work. Wasn't picking up either, so I asked Woodman what was up.

7ATold me she left. Like I said.

V

7AWoodman – that the guy who takes care of the dolls?

Tom

7AWhy're you askin' if you already know?

Johnny

7ACould it be Woodman finally sheds some light on this shitshow? Man can only dream...

7AThe skull sponges in these dolls, ugh... THAT's what they should be replacin'...

V

8AWoodman – who is he?

Tom

8AMr. Forrest. But we all call him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

8AOK – Mr. Forrest, then. Who is he?

Tom

8AUh, he's kinda like our caretaker. Finds new talent, deals with ugly situations…

V

9AWoodman – who is he?

Tom

9AMr. Forrest. But we all call him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

9AOK – Mr. Forrest, then. Who is he?

Tom

9AUh, he's kinda like our caretaker. Finds new talent, deals with ugly situations…

V

9BWhere can I find this Woodman?

Tom

9BProbably got his feet up in the back office.

V

7BOsaka or Oslo – which is it?

Tom

7BO-Oslo... Yeah, definitely Oslo.

V

6ALooking for Evelyn Parker.

Tom

6AEvelyn? No idea what she's been up to…

V

6ANot fucking around, drop the act, I know you're friends. Tell me where she is.

Tom

6AUh, Woodman told me she up and vanished.

V

6AWoodman – that the Forrest guy who takes care of the dolls?

Tom

6AWhy're you askin' if you already know?

6AI don't know anything, I swear!

V

6AWoodman – who's he?

Tom

6AMr. Forrest. But... we all call him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

10AWoodman – who's he?

Tom

10AMr. Forrest. But... we all call him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

10AWhere'll I find him?

Tom

10ABack-office. He almost never leaves.

V

10BVanished? Into thin air?

Tom

10BShe went to... Think it was Oslo.

10BI called her more than once. No answer.

V

6BHeard you and Evelyn get along famously. That true?

Tom

6BYeah, we go way back – always stuck together.

6BW-why do you ask?

V

That'll do. Thanks.

That'll do. Thanks.

Woodman – who is he?

Tom

Mr. Forrest. But everybody calls him Woodman. Never really known why…

V

OK, Mr. Forrest then. What's his thing?

Tom

He's kinda like our caretaker. Finds new talent, deals with ugly situations…

V

Where'll I find him?

Tom

Back-office. He almost never leaves.

Woodman

Hey, no clients allowed in here.

Be a dear and close the door on your way out, would ya?

As you can see, I'm very busy.

V

1ALooking for a girl named Evelyn Parker.

Woodman

1AGot nobody working here by that name.

V

1ABut she used to. What happened to her?

Woodman

1AProbably did what all the dolls try to do – found a unicorn to set her up for life.

1AEh, you can do better. Try Roxie over at booth two.

1ASame heart-shaped ass. Behavioral chip'll do the rest. Won't feel any difference.

V

1BLook to me like a reasonable man. I think we can work somethin' out.

Woodman

1BAnd you look to me like a psycho bitch who's never been ghosted by her belle or beau before. But go on, I'm listening.

V

2AKnow you guys got hit by a runner a while back. I can make sure that never happens again.

Woodman

2AThat so?

2ALet's hear it, then.

V

3ATit for tat. Wanna be net-secure? You're gonna help me find Evelyn first.

3AThat's the only way this is gonna work.

Woodman

3AAll right, fine. I'll lay it on you straight.

V

2BYou sit here on this dank hole you probably call your "office" and think you've got it made, don't ya?

Woodman

2BCongrats, you read minds better than our own fucking AI. Someone get this girl a job.

V

2BEver stop to think who's behind the Tyger Claw puppets you call your "bosses"?

V

4ATyger Claw bosses've got their own bosses, case you didn't know. You're just too small to see 'em.

Woodman

4AOh, 'cause you're such a big shot?

V

4ALet's just say a certain member of the Arasaka clan wouldn't be pleased if he knew something bad happened to Evelyn. And that you're the one responsible.

2CYou've got info, I've got eddies. It's a fair trade.

2CWhat's your price?

Woodman

2CYou need to pull your head outta your ass. Eddies'll buy you whores here, not snitches.

2CI look like either of those to you?

V

5AHad a look at the menu here. And no, you don't look a thing like these meat puppets.

5AMore like a joyboy's cum-rag.

Woodman

5AYou... insolent bitch.

V

5BTold you what you looked like. Don't tell me you weren't listening?

5BSurely a reasonable man like yourself wouldn't mistake a donation for a bribe?

Woodman

5BReal pleasure chattin', but just where exactly d'you see this goin'?

1BGirl you're lookin' for... Parker?

1BShe ain't here.

V

1BTell me something I don't know. Like, where is she?

Woodman

1BThink you know how things work around here, but you don't know shit.

1BDolls aren't here to give you pleasure and satisfaction out of the goodness of their soul. They're workers. Their job's to generate profit.

V

6AThis you talkin' it out straight? What happened to Evelyn?

Woodman

6AGot an order from up high to recycle her.

V

6AYou killed her?

Woodman

6ANo. I found a ripperdoc who was willin' to take a look. Eh, said he knew something or other.

V

7AThe ripper – name and address.

Woodman

7ADon't know a last name.

V

7ADon't fuck with me.

Woodman

7AI'm not. Goes by Fingers. Clinic's in some god-forsaken alley up on Jig-Jig Street.

7AWanna find Evelyn, look there.

7ANow you do your end – how do we board up against hacks?

V

8AYou'll need soft that'll isolate chip and implant receptor layers from Clouds' subnet.

8AAt the same time, it'll keep track of and block any attempts to modify the core on the go.

Woodman

8AUhhh… now in human rather than machine?

V

8ANeed SmartEye – latest version.

Woodman

8ASmartEye, got it.

8AAnd don't come back here. Ever.

8AWhile you're at it, take the elevator. Quicker you're outta here, the better.

V

9AEvelyn still with this Fingers creep?

Woodman

9ADo I look like his secretary?

V

9BHow'd she look to you... last time you saw her?

Woodman

9BYou weren't listenin – told you already. Now get out.

V

8BThat was a bluff. Can't believe you fell for it. Thought I was gonna spill, just like that?

8BInfo's worth grands of eddies.

Woodman

8BGo die in a ditch, you lying cunt.

Johnny

7ADoc Fingers on Jig-Jig Street. Sounds like a coed's wet dream.

Woodman

7AGonna hold out on me now? Really?

7AGo die in a ditch, you lying cunt.

7AWhat? Don't tell me you forgot already. We made a deal, you're gonna stick to it.

7AAnd don't come back here. Ever.

7AWhile you're at it, take the elevator. Quicker you're outta here, the better.

V

7BYou took her to the ripper 'stead of following orders? Didn't take you for someone with balls.

Woodman

7BFor fuck's sake, I'm not runnin' a slaughterhouse here. I only recycle as a last resort. And family always gets a call, if there is any.

7BThink there are any daddies out there willin' to change the diapers of a brain-dead little slut on the verge of cyberpsychosis?

V

7BProlly not.

Woodman

7BCasting 'em out on the street ain't an option, either – can't risk tanking our cred.

V

10AWell... anything's better than a bullet to the brain.

Woodman

10AHehehehe, ya know, that's what every doll says. I'm startin' to like you. You lookin' for work by any chance?

V

10BPeople like you deserve a special place in hell.

Woodman

10BEhh... people like you need to come up with better insults.

10BWe done here?

V

7CYou invested your own eddies to help poor unprofitable Evelyn? Please…

Woodman

7CHehehe, ya got me. Ripper's the one who paid me.

V

7CFor a broken doll?

Woodman

7CPeople got all kinds o' kinks. Trust me, I know, considerin' where I work.

7CFingers is a real specimen, though. Got all the fetishes, even the ones you've never heard of. I'm sure he found her a nice niche, hehehe…

V

6BEvelyn stop pullin' profit?

Woodman

6BNo denyin' that, sadly for her.

V

6BSaw what she did to the client. She get spiked or something?

Woodman

6BWhatever or whoever fried her circuits, it came from outside our subnet. They played their deck like a virtuoso.

6BHer chip was fuckin' rot. Believe you me, we tried to fix it. Didn't even come close.

6BHer chip was busted up pretty damn good.

V

6BBy who? A client?

Woodman

6BNo, outside job, some kinda crackshot netrunner. Punched through our ICE like it was cheap wallpaper.

6BGirl was a vegetable. Believe you me, we tried to fix it. Didn't even come close.

V

6CThey common – these kind of accidents?

Woodman

6CEver use tech that never broke? Didn't think so.

6CBehavioral chip splits you right down the middle. Some people plain lose their minds.

6CAnd for every one that does, there's a dozen in line to replace 'em.

V

1BOh well... Can't say I didn't try playing nice.

Woodman

1BBetter think real hard where you wanna take this.

1B'Cause you're really startin' to piss me off.

V

11AClouds's under Tyger Claw control, isn't it?

Woodman

11AThat's none of your fuckin' biz.

V

11AGuessin' you heard about Jotaro Shobo.

Woodman

11AUh, Shobo had an accident...

V

12AWhat Shobo had was a very unfortunate meeting with me. Just happened to be his last.

12AWouldn't want this to be your last meeting, would ya?

Woodman

12A'Course not. Never wanted to be anything like Shobo…

12AAll right, fine. I'll lay it on you straight.

V

12CI'll tell you another thing.

Woodman

12CWell? You've already got my fucking attention.

V

12CThat's not all…

Woodman

12CKnow what? Spare me the tough talk. 'Bout time I asked you a question.

12CHumor me, will ya? This particular piece of ass, out of all of them – why?

12CShe wasn't even that good...

12CShe was hot, I'll give you that. But for all her delusions of grandeur, she was nothing more than a basic whore.

12CAnd like all basic whores, she got what was comin'.

12CAs will you.

V

11BDoll goes missing, client gets messed up, and management's just sitting there, sucking his thumb…

11BPretty strange for a place that advertises itself as one hundred per cent secure.

Woodman

11BYou gonna get to the bloody point?

V

13AI can see it already – headline in tomorrow's screamsheets. Got all the evidence I need, too…

Woodman

13AHey, we don't need to spill any ink over this. It'd just make things worse…

13AEhh, this conversation's starting to bore me.

V

11CI know Night City's finest looks the other way when it comes to this eyesore. Just so happens I've got a friend on the vice squad…

11CFriend who'd do anything if I bought him his diner breakfast. He'd just have to snap his fingers, and this place'd get turned inside out.

Woodman

11CThey wouldn't find shit.

V

14AMaybe, maybe not…

14AThen again, every customer'd be dragged out naked, stuffed in the back of a van and hauled off to the precinct for a statement.

14AThink that'd be good for biz?

Woodman

14ANo.

V

11DRight, we're done here.

11DAn' I'll be sure to let your bosses know how you treat your customers.

Woodman

11DBwahahaha… Ahh…

V

11DThat so funny?

Woodman

11DFirst off, I highly fucking doubt you know who my boss is. If you did, you wouldn't be calling her my "bosses."

11DAnd on second thought, think I'll take you to Maiko now. Just to see the look on her face when you tell her whatever it is you make up on the way.

11DShe hates lying bitches as much as I do. But we all deserve a laugh, don't we?

Johnny

11DIf I were you I'd run the cash angle. It's practically written on his face – F-R-A-U-D.

V

15AKnow you've been skimmin' off this place's till. How much you klep already?

Woodman

15AWhat the fuck are you talkin' about?

V

15ATalkin' about the eddies you skim from Clouds' accounts on a weekly basis.

Woodman

15ANot skimmin' anything. I'd have to be a fool.

V

16ADoesn't matter. I'm just curious what the Tyger Claw leadership is gonna think once they find out.

Woodman

16AWon't think anything because it ain't fuckin' true. I work with the dolls – Clouds' accounts got shit to do with me.

16AYou sneaky little bitch.

V

17AKudos to you for hatchin' this one.

15BWell, well, looks like you're higher-up than I thought.

Woodman

15BFucking nice of you to finally take notice.

V

11FLook, we can settle this without anyone gettin' hurt.

11FWhy make this any harder than it needs to be?

Woodman

11FShould ask yourself that.

V

18AListen carefully – one way or another I'm gonna find her.

18AAnd when I do, all kinds of shit is gonna happen – shit you don't wanna end up on the wrong side of.

Woodman

18AAssume you believe your side to be the right one?

V

18ATake a wild guess.

1BListen, you fuckin' stump. You are a piece of work with your feet up on the desk, you know that? You think you're the first asshole who's tried to blow me off?

Woodman

1BWhy don't you just blow me? How's that?

V

1BI could also pop your head like a balloon with my bare hands.

1BDoubt you wanna feel me try and prove that I can.

Woodman

1BUugh. Pissing myself already.

V

1CThey call you Woodman, right? That because you have as much charisma as a tree-stump?

1CSomehow I doubt you understand the situation you're in.

Woodman

1CSituation, what situation? Think I give a cat's turd about every slut who walks through here?

V

1DDon't have time for your games. Need to know where Evelyn is.

Woodman

1DWe're runnin' a skin circus here, case you haven't noticed, not a missing persons bureau.

1DLemme guess, you played with the doll once or twice and now you wanna run off into the sunset?

1DGo down to reception – they'll find you your soulmate two-point-oh in even fewer seconds than that.

V

1EI'm not leaving till I know where Evelyn is.

Woodman

1EFine, so stand there and watch the minutes go by.

1EJust keep your bloody mouth shut. I'm busy.

V

19AI know you got hit by a runner and Evelyn was the target.

19AWhat happened after that?

19BI know you been covering up what happened to her. Heard you told everyone she jetted off to Oslo.

19BI mean, you even know where Oslo is?

19CYou're a shit caretaker. Girls're vanishing into thin air and you don't know who, what, when, where, why and how?

19CTell you to fuckin' shave and clean up your act if I was your boss.

Woodman

"On your way out" – was that somehow unclear to you?

I said, I'm busy.

V

Chill, keep calm. I'm lookin' for a girl.

Woodman

"Keep calm?" Interestin' word choice for someone who plowed through massacrin' all along the way.

V

Things got outta hand, I'll admit. But cooperate, and no one else'll get hurt.

Woodman

I don't negotiate with terrorists.

V

I'm 'onna ask the questions. Drop your iron and start talkin'.

Just stay on point.

And I said, drop it.

Woodman

I'm not droppin' anything.

Woodman

21AWho're you? Whaddayou want?

Johnny

Well aren't you the queen of fuck-ups.

V

You're not helping.

Now what...

Johnny

Too bad you can't talk to dead people. Oh wait, you're doing it now. Anyway, just scour his comp.

V

That just might work.

Johnny

Sold her off to a ripper?

V

Chip was busted... Could've sent her to get it patched up.

Johnny

A ripper named Fingers, in a back alley for hookers... sounds like a joytoy's wet dream.

Hell, why don't you just scan the truth from his grey, lifeless eyes? Or scour his comp.

Well aren't you the queen of fuck-ups.

V

You're not helping.

Now what...

Woodman

Got nobody working here by that name.

V

But she used to. What happened to her?

Woodman

Probably did what all the dolls try to do – found a unicorn to set her up for life.

Johnny

Well aren't you the queen of fuck-ups.

V

You're not helping.

Now what...

I know Night City's finest looks the other way when it comes to this eyesore. Just so happens I've got a friend on the vice squad…

Friend who'd do anything if I bought him his diner breakfast. He'd just have to snap his fingers, and this place'd get turned inside out.

Woodman

They wouldn't find shit.

V

Maybe, maybe not…

Then again, every customer'd be dragged out naked, stuffed in the back of a van and hauled off to the precinct for a statement.

Think that'd be good for biz?

Woodman

No.

V

Clouds's under Tyger Claw control, isn't it?

Woodman

That's none of your fuckin' biz.

V

Guessin' you heard about Jotaro Shobo.

Woodman

Uh, Shobo had an accident...

V

What Shobo had was a very unfortunate meeting with me. Just happened to be his last.

Wouldn't want this to be your last meeting, would ya?

Woodman

'Course not. Never wanted to be anything like Shobo…

V

Doll goes missing, client gets messed up, and management's just sitting there, sucking his thumb…

Pretty strange for a place that advertises itself as one hundred per cent secure.

Woodman

You gonna get to the bloody point?

V

I can see it already – headline in tomorrow's screamsheets. Got all the evidence I need, too…

Woodman

Hey, we don't need to spill any ink over this. It'd just make things worse…

V

Right, we're done here.

An' I'll be sure to let your bosses know how you treat your customers.

Woodman

Bwahahaha… Ahh…

V

That so funny?

Woodman

First off, I highly fucking doubt you know who my boss is. If you did, you wouldn't be calling her my "bosses."

And on second thought, think I'll take you to Maiko now. Just to see the look on her face when you tell her whatever it is you make up on the way.

She hates lying bitches as much as I do. But we all deserve a laugh, don't we?

Johnny

If I were you I'd run the cash angle. It's practically written on his face – F-R-A-U-D.

V

Know you've been skimmin' off this place's till. How much you klep already?

Woodman

What the fuck are you talkin' about?

V

Talkin' about the eddies you skim from Clouds' accounts on a weekly basis.

Woodman

Not skimmin' anything. I'd have to be a fool.

V

Doesn't matter. I'm just curious what the Tyger Claw leadership is gonna think once they find out.

Woodman

Won't think anything because it ain't fuckin' true. I work with the dolls – Clouds' accounts got shit to do with me.

You sneaky little bitch.

V

Kudos to you for hatchin' this one.

Listen, you fuckin' stump. You are a piece of work with your feet up on the desk, you know that? You think you're the first asshole who's tried to blow me off?

Woodman

Why don't you just blow me? How's that?

V

I could also pop your head like a balloon with my bare hands.

Doubt you wanna feel me try and prove that I can.

Woodman

Uugh. Pissing myself already.

V

Looking for a girl named Evelyn Parker.

Right, we're done here.

An' I'll be sure to let your bosses know how you treat your customers.

Woodman

Bwahahaha… Ahh…

V

That so funny?

Woodman

First off, I highly fucking doubt you know who my boss is. If you did, you wouldn't be calling her my "bosses."

And on second thought, think I'll take you to Maiko now. Just to see the look on her face when you tell her whatever it is you make up on the way.

She hates lying bitches as much as I do. But we all deserve a laugh, don't we?

Hey, no clients allowed in here.

[db_db]A video displaying Evelyn going crazy exorcist style, and attacking her client. She doesn't seems to be herself.

Johnny

Camera feeds?

V

Filed away by booth number.

Johnny

Guess a lot of perverts're meticulous. Eleven, most recent ones, fire 'em up.

Nothing here. Even if something did go down, they would've swept the place clean.

V

Swept clean, sure. Licked clean, though? Not so sure.

V

Someone's tablet.

Johnny

Let's take a look, shall we.

V

3ACamera. Smart placing – wouldn't see the lens if you weren't lookin'.

Johnny

3AYeah, people don't exactly come here to stare at the walls…

V

4ALooks familiar.

Johnny

4AWhat's that?

V

4AEvelyn's jacket. Crumpled like a tissue – must've been here a while.

Left her purse.

Johnny

Coulda had more 'n' one.

V

All her shit's in it, though. Must've left in a hurry.

Tyger Claws moonlight as peepin' toms. Always got eyes on their dolls. Know what goes on in these booths.

Then data mine the behavioral chips.

Johnny

Saw that twist comin' a mile away.

V

Had a hunch. Still - wonder if it's for their own use or for sale – and who'd be buyin'.

Johnny

Now I remember why I never wanted kids.

Leave it. It's junk.

V

Couldn't agree more.

Johnny

Bouncers' schedule?

V

Somethin' spooked 'em. Right there, see that? Two AM they hauled every last security man to the club.

Looks like they called Tyger Claws for backup, too.

V

5ASee that?

Johnny

5ASee what? Nothing there.

V

5AExactly. Should a be a port right there for the doll to jack into.

Johnny

5AThey rip it out?

V

5AWonder why…

V

6ABlood – fresh, not too much. Put it to a wound rather than a kill.

Johnny

7AWell, client wasn't the one who flew off the handle. Something bit her in the ass.

7AWhat do you think? Cyberpsychosis?

V

8AEh, can't rule it out. Missin' port's still gnawin' at my mind, though...

7ASounds crazy, but... she could've been remotely hacked. A netrunner?

Johnny

Let's take a look, shall we.

V

Don't mind if we do.

Johnny

Nice work back there. Ever thought of applying for the diplomatic corps?

V

1BDon't have time to massage egos.

Johnny

1BI respect that.

V

1BOf course you do. You'd've loved to drop an H-bomb on this place.

Johnny

1BNo need to go so OTT. I've got other methods.

1BOne thing's for sure, though – Claws won't forget this.

V

Think Fingers's got her? Think we'll find her there?

Johnny

V, if I could see that far I wouldn't be a fucking ghost on a chip in a corpse's head right now.

V

2BSee your opinion about dollhouses hasn't changed.

Johnny

2BOh, but it has.

2BBefore, I wouldn't've touched one with a ten-mile pole.

2BNow I'm thinkin' a fire'd really make this place shine.

You had a plan, you tried, it fell flat.

Now you're flat – don't look in any condition to find Hellman.

Got a real charm, this place.

In that slimy, subterranean kinda way.

Tom

Gotta delta.

V

3AMind if I ask who that was?

Tom

3ACan't stop you from askin', but don't have to answer.

Oh, I got somethin' big, real big.

Yeah, about her.

Well... Wasn't really me that got to the bottom. Whatever, listen up 'cause I gotta keep this short.

Woodman sold her to Fingers. Ripper off Jig-Jig Street.

Um, that's it, that's all I know.

Some icy-lookin' chick squeezed it outta Woodman.

Yeah, sure sounds like a match! Yeah, that's her!

Can you check that?

Preem... Nah, I can't. Still be stuck in this box.

Lemme know when you find her. Later.

Some icy-lookin' chick skimmed through Woodman's comp.

Came 'round askin' about Ev earlier... Sounded like it was serious.

Clearly she was hidin' something from us.

All right, I'll see what I can find out. Call you later.

Johnny

Got a real charm, this place.

In that slimy, subterranean kinda way.

V

See your opinion about dollhouses hasn't changed.

Johnny

Oh, but it has.

Before, I wouldn't've touched one with a ten-mile pole.

Now I'm thinkin' a fire'd really make this place shine.

Nice work back there. Ever thought of applying for the diplomatic corps?

V

Don't have time to massage egos.

Johnny

I respect that.

V

Of course you do. You'd've loved to drop an H-bomb on this place.

Johnny

No need to go so OTT. I've got other methods.

One thing's for sure, though – Claws won't forget this.

V

1AShow me the range.

Offer

Yo yo, ever try rainbow poppers? Purple haze? Got every color under the sun, I do…

Street Dealer M Unicorn

Ey, ey, you're a troubled soul if I've ever seen one.

Get ya somethin' to ease the mind? Take the edge off?

V

2AOK, let's see, show me.

Street Dealer M Unicorn

Got the whole alphabet – CFP, PCP, Rezzin, Skate, Smash? Maybe Vanitol?

Or maybe somethin' that'll make you hot, huh? Sin, MDA, a little LP9?

That last shit's so good it'll make you cry.

Holo

Mhmmm... Well don't you look delicious. C'mere and lemme have a lick.

Holo

Got somethin' that'll keep you wet for hours.

Sex

Are you from here?

Sex

Yeah... I was born in this exact spot.

Sex

I mean Night City... Maybe you and I go get something to eat after?

Sex

I'm from Des Moines. But this isn't a date. You paid to fuck.

Sex

I will pay more.

Sex

Save your appetite for your wife.

Sex

H-how did you know?

Sex

Married cocks all feel the same. Now stop talking or you'll never come.

Offer

Here, kitty, kitty. What's the rush? female V only

Peep Client

How does she do that without breaking her back?

Peep Client

Years of practice, you can see it.

Are we still going somewhere?

Peep Prostitute

How 'bout some real action? Hooking's more fun than lookin'.

Peep Client

Can you bend like she can?

Peep Prostitute

No, but once I tie you down and get to work, your eyes'll roll back and out your ears.

Stand Client

Mhhh... Hot dogs hit the spot... Wonder what's in 'em.

Stand Client

You do not wanna know.

So, where to?

Stand Client

Gonna be a busy night. Pre-game at Jig-Jig Street, then Clouds, then bowling and beers.

Stand Client

Yuh, we're not gonna make it to bowling, we never do…

Shop Vendor

Twenty eddies, just, gets you in.

Shop Client

Whaddaya got inside?

Shop Vendor

Come in and see, my friend…

Shop Client

How am I s'posed to decide to go in if I don't know what's inside? Not about to waste my hard-earned eddies on nothin'.

Shop Vendor

Entry isn't nothing, my friend. I guarantee it will be worth your time.

V

3ASo, this more up your alley than Clouds?

Johnny

3AHey, at least here you know what you're gettin'.

Shit... her implants're older than I am.

V

Can't believe she finds the spares to keep 'em runnin'.

Gotta be all kinds o' hazard.

If they short-circed, heart'd just stop beating in a snap.

Gutter

O gracious creature and b-benign!

Wh-wh-who go'st visiting, through these element obscure…

Us, who the world w-wi-with bloody stain imbru'd.

I-if for a friend the King of all we own'd…

Our pray'r to him should for thy peace arise...

Johnny

Sounds like paradise.

V

Blue butter...? Hell are they taking?

Johnny

Blue, huh? Probably a cefabricol derivative. Preem rot. Veins were poppin' with it during the Third Corporate.

Twenty-four hours you feel no pain and barely remember a thing afterwards.

V

Who can blame 'em, then.

Judy

V. You called, heh.

V

1AEvelyn's not at Clouds anymore.

1ABehavioral chip was damaged. 'Parently they carted her off to a ripperdoc goes by Fingers.

Judy

1AOh, shit...

V

2AHeadin' there now. To find her.

Judy

2AI told her to stay the fuck away from Clouds... Argh, all right. Later, V.

V

2BKnow where to find this Fingers character?

Judy

2BYeah, runs a dinky chop-shop off Jig-Jig Street. Fuck, V, guy's all kinds of bad news.

V

1BPromised I'd call, didn't I?

Judy

1BPromising's one thing, keepin' it's a whole other bag.

1BSo, manage to learn anything?

V

1CGot something concrete you'll wanna hear.

Judy

1CWell... I'm listening.

V

Judy – hey. Just comin' out of Clouds. Evelyn was here. Had an accident.

Judy

What happened?

V

Can't say for sure. Ripper by the name of Fingers might have her. Heading there now.

Judy

I know the place. He runs a dinky chop-shop off of Jig-Jig Street. Fuck! I told her not to go back…

Thanks for the call, V.

Didn't expect to hear from you again. Like, ever.

V

3BDon't know me, then. I don't hold grudges or forget promises just 'cause someone's havin' a shitty day.

Judy

3BSure went and proved it.

3BCalled me up just to say that?

V

Got the virtu, Judy.

Judy

Waitin' in the car. Just hurry up, OK?

Bar Client

Hurghh… Ey.. Hey, last round, okay?

Bar Client

Last round? Not somethin' I ever have. I drink clear through the night and come mornin', I grab another stiff one. Or two, if you know what I mean, heheh.

Bar Client

You have a-any idea what she's talking about?

Bar Client

She's basically sayin' she's had enough, that's what.

Bar Client

Pshh, enough? Heh, never. You haven't seen nothin' yet.

Bar Client

Heheh... Y-you just don't hold your booze well, that's all. C-civilization was f-founded on this sweet nectar! Eons of, of tradition, a-and culture, philosophy…

Bar Client

Pft, got a PhD in drinkin', now? Pft, if I feel like shit, I down a bottle. Ain't nothing more to it.

Bar Client

Gettin' all them diverse states to unite without a federal government? Forget it.

Want a strong federation? Gonna need a strong-ass leader to steer the ship. Know what I'm sayin'?

Bar Client

The fuck you talking about? A federation? Not happening.

Bar Client

I'm talkin' about liberty, man. Freedom!

Bar Client

Want my two cents on freedom? Sure as shit don't have it when you're dumped in the "free" market with nothin' but your dick in your hand.

No fascist, federalist scuzzbucket from Texas or wherever's gonna tell me how to live my life.

Bar Client

Texas? The fuck're YOU talkin' about now?

Bar Client

Whaddaya think? Full-blown state autonomy!

Bar Client

Fuck me... If I'd known I was drinkin' with a radical devolutionit. Man...

Bar Client

Awright, I'm sold. Nearest karaoke – now!

Who's comin' with me?

Bar Client

Ughhh... I'd rather spend the next hour dry heaving over a shitter.

Bar Client

Count me in. The karaoke, not the dry heaving…

Bar Client

That what you ass-kissin' minions at Militech chant all day long?

Y'all preachin' autonomy, but you're nothin' but a corpo sheep.

Bar Client

You... Fuck you...!