Cyberpunk 2077: V

Chapter 68: Anxiety

"I apologize for that scene... Anyway, good evening," the bartender said with an apologetic grin, turning to V. He paused, looked her up and down, the grin turning into a seductive smirk. "What can I get ya, baby?"

V raised an eyebrow.

"Are you always this forward?" she asked.

The bartender cocked his head. His eyes were a strange shade of purple, the irises brighter than the dark violet sclera, same as the concierge and the hostess. As he reached to pick up another glass, the bartender replied with, "Well, I guess you could say I suckled it out of my mother's very breast. Fifty percent protein, the other half pure high-octane CHOOH2."

"Oh?" V asked, leaning on the bar and propping her chin on one hand. The bartender set down his glass and planted his golden hands on the magenta bartop, leaning towards V.

"Yes ma'am. My mother... she had wind and dust in her hair, so to speak. Belonged to a Nomad Clan called the Aldecaldos. Before the bombs began falling, that is..."

The bartender let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

"Her final words to me? 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, be yourself, David.' And so, I ended up here. Still no one but myself."

V couldn't help but glance down at the other side of the bar, where a man, dressed in the exact same bartender outfit, with the same shade of synthskin, and same exact haircut was pouring a drink out for another customer. Her bartender, David, followed her gaze, then turned back to her with a smirk.

A Nomad's kid, huh... V thought, running her eyes over him. There was something in his voice, the evidence of an accent that had been coached away, the easy manner he held himself; the three bracelets on his left metallic wrist, different from the other bartender down the bar, who didn't have any jewelry. V believed him; but Hannah Conwell wouldn't, so she gave him a look and shifted her feet while smooshing her lips together in a look of dry humor.

"What a fascinating little story... romantic, even. Too bad it's all made up," she said with a shrug.

David tilted his head, silent for a moment as his violet eyes darted over her face. V didn't like the little shiver of cold in her spine that activated when a small, sly smile pulled at his lips.

"Everyone is making something up. Just like you, baby."

V froze. Did he know? Did he know who she really was? That story... was he hinting to her that he knew what she actually was? Some dusty little Nomad girl playing pretend in a Jingugi—

David leaned back. He picked up an empty glass and held it up, shaking it back and forth.

"Anyway, may I get you anything? Water, at the very least?"

V swallowed. Kept that flippant, coy look and tone in her voice.

"You certainly may. I would like two Zen Roses, please."

David's eyebrow raised. "Please? Many don't use that word anymore. You certainly may have two Zen Roses, ma'am. Just one moment, please."

He winked, then turned to walk to the long, tall, backlit wall of the bar where all the various bottles of very expensive liquor sat on display and ready for use. V felt her anxiety force its way into her brain, invading her thoughts.

Many don't use that word? And the wink? Is he telling me that he knows I don't belong here? Does he know what I am? Who me and Jackie are? Shit— is he going to alert security? That guard earlier... and now him? Are we found out before we even hit the room? Damn it, T-Bug was right, this was a mistake! We need to—