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 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 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.
"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, which splashes softly with every small rain drop, trash scattered all around the area, graffiti on the walls, a fallen fire escape and 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 which causes him to scoff in disgust, 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 a deadpanned and annoyed tone.
"I know what you meant, don't get your panties in a twist. 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 heightened annoyance, raising an eyebrow.
"It's called sarcasm choom. Ever heard'v it? 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 self-centred, greedy, arrogant, obnoxious, entitled, pretentious, narcissistic rats who think they're above consequence because they have the backing of a megacorporation." I reply with my own personal annoyance, ranting with obvious disdain about Corps in Night City.
"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 supported 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.
"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.
After around 5 minutes, 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 200 for the actual beef and another 50ish for wine so let's say 500 eurodollars." he responds, awaiting payment.
"Preem." I state simply as I send him the 500 eurodollars through my OS bank, his eyes lighting up orange as I do so after a moment of processing 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.
"What did you order?" Kendrick curiously questions as I sit down.
"2 steaks. Your lucky day." I answer as I own 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 nowadays. It's none of your business anyways. Plus I can always get my lungs replaced." I reply with a nonchalant 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 lectures me once again, 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 groan as his continued questions. Silence fills the air once again 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 as he looks out the window im frustration; finally ceasing his questions.
Around 10 minutes later, the waitress finally 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 yo 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. Why're you complaining? Your 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.
"What got you into 'Saka?" I question back after swallowing my mouthful of Steak, 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 before finishing my meal, sipping my wine.
"If you say so." He shrugs and finishes his meal not long after me, the waitress clearing our tables before both of us leaving the Restaurant.