Chapter 63: Stardom
"So, how're things?"
"They're going... I guess? Still not found a trace of Cat, but I've got people looking into it now. It's only a matter of time..." he says, feeling his mood drop from the mention of it.
She sighs, "That's a shame... I asked around but no one I know has any way of helping with this kinda thing. Sorry..."
He shakes his head, "Don't be, it ain't your fault, you tried as well, more than I can say for anyone else who survived Casinha..."
"What are you doing for work? It can't be easy given you lived most of your life underground..." she looks him over, "You don't seem to be doing too bad though."
He looks at the window and wets his lips, "I-er-uhh... I've become a kind of cleaner. I doubt you spend much time in Mega Buildings, but I'm sometimes around those places... Cleaning up..."
"Ah, like a janitor?" she questions to which he nods.
"Basically." he vaguely answers. "How about you? Got any new songs you wanna leak to me?... For publicity's sake I mean."
She giggles, "I would if I could, but if the suits got a peep of it they'd string me up with my contract." she jokes and sits back in her chair, "Seriously, while I'm the one who makes the music, they're the one playing us like instruments!"
"Really? I'd have thought someone as famous as you would have some leeway... They can't make you disappear as easily as the rest of us."
"You'd think that wouldn't you..."
"What about your bandmates? They having trouble too?"
Christy snorts but widens her eyes at her own reaction, holding a hand up in front of her mouth, "Excuse me... Ahem, my bandmates and I don't have the best relationship. We got back together for the Eddies, they're not very nice people if I'm honest..." she admits.
"Hmm." Ori hums, his eyes darting to the table as two segments come apart before rising up like a mini elevator. Their drinks rise into view and they both take them, allowing the table to reset.
He sips the coffee, which tastes slightly better than the average coffee you could get in Night City... With how much more it cost he didn't think it was worth it.
"Any good?" he asks her.
"Yep, shame I can't just bundle up whatever machine makes the drinks and drag it to the studio..." she looks like she wants to carry on but pauses as her face begins twitching... "H-hey, Ori... You'd tell me if you needed help, right?"
He tilts his head in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I mean like, if you got in trouble-," she glances around the store conspiratorially, "With the law...?"
"Er-..." how was he even supposed to respond to that?
"Nevermind... Oh, why don't we take a picture, to celebrate your birthday." she offers, standing and sitting on his side of the table next to him. She holds up her holo-phone and takes a couple selfies, but frowns when she pulls them up.
Obviously, Ori's face was completely artifacted due to his software blocking it. If Maelstrom security cameras couldn't get past it, there was no way in hell her holo-phone was gonna do it.
"Huh... Must be something wrong with my phone...?"
Ori nods, "Y-yeah, turn it off and one, might work then." he states, quickly turning his software off to allow the selfie. She takes it and moves back to her side of the table with a big smile, sliding a rectangular box to him.
"What's this?"
"A present... You mole-people accept those, right?"
He chuckles, "Obviously, I still have that-..." he falters, "Ah... That autographed record you sent, it's probably a pile of ash in my old house." he mutters in realisation.
"Has anyone ever told you that you brood too much? Now come on, open it."
He does so, opening the box and finding two Shards... One containing another five thousand Eddies, same as what she gifted him last time, and the other... A complete list of all the songs she'd ever produced until now. Unfortunately missing her unreleased ones. "This-..."
"I know it's not much but I remembered you kept asking me to sing for you... There's more under that."
Raising a brow, he lifts the false bottom on which the Shards had been laying and spots a ticket of some sort. "Two VIP tickets to the UnSomberley concert in Heywood..."
"How about it?" she asks, grinning. "You can bring your Uncle with you too!"
"O-of course, I'd love to go. You sure it won't be a problem though? Can you really just go handing VIP tickets out like this?"
"Hehe, those are the only two I'm handing out, so count yourself lucky!"
He smiles at her, happier than he'd ever been since Casinha, "I am... Lucky to have a friend like you, Christy..."
*Beep-Beep*
Both of them pause at the sound of of an alarm, he looks at his Interface but finds nothing, meaning it'd come from her.
She looks at her holo-phone and frowns, "Ah, the studio wants me to redo a chorus... Even though it was already perfect!" she complains before quickly getting to her feet. "Again, Happy Birthday Ori, sorry if this seems abrupt but-"
"No, it's fine. I get it, go deal with work, maybe we can do this another time."
She nods at that and rushes off, leaving Ori sitting alone, still looking down at the tickets... Was this the greatest present he'd ever received? Yes, definitely. Nothing even compared to VIP tickets to see her sing.
He gives a small fist pump, drinks the rest of his coffee, activates his facial obfuscation software, and leaves. Before he gets home however he stops by a few shops, picking up some clothes while also taking the chance to check the Cyberware he might buy in future...
The day had only just started and it was looking up for him. Absolutely nothing could ruin this day!
...
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