Noctium Inbox

[vive_ad_memento]

« ~~*V*~~ »
TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTION
V ✦ Cyberpunk 2077

RESIDENCE ✦ Emerald District Penthouse

GEMBOND ✦ Emerald



"Hey, you've reached V. One of 'em, at least. If I'm the one you wanted to talk with, leave a message, okay byyyyeeee~


INFO ✧ PERMISSIONS ✧ KINKLIST ✧ AC Comment

Comments

text | un: sanseraph

[unlucky7]

[As she usually sends selfies with her texts, it's not a surprise when one comes with this message. It's a little lower quality than usual due to late hour and ambient lighting from the signs around her. Her features have more dragon-like features; sharp teeth, flowing blue whispers and eyebrows, dark blue scales in patches on her face and neck, and antler-like horns. There's also blue streaking through her dark hair and her brown eyes are dark blue that matches her scales.]

Crazy things happening around. You safe?

[vive_ad_memento]

[So what if V sees the image before she reads the message? So what if V is suddenly overcome with an incredible urge to own and devour Ginia in almost every way possible? So what if shes sporting a brand new wound that looks suspiciously like fang puncture marks on her upper arm right now?

She cleaned it out, it'll be fine, right?

Right?

Dammit. V's never been one to lie outright to her friends, much less so to her lovers shes lucky enough to call friends.

Her response takes a little longer than it usually does, and she's attached an image of her own. Not a selfie, but a pic of the wpund itself. The lighting is flourescent white, making her usually olive skin a pale beige. In the background theres scattered pieces of ammo and clothing mods, so she's clearly in her workshop.]

Heard what Pidgeon put out on the 'net. I think i will be okay? But im aboutta have a rough few days ahead of me. I'd say stay away just in case tho :'(

[unlucky7]

[Shit. Ginia is out on patrol so she's not waiting for an immediate response, but V's reply causes her to pull onto the nearest rooftop. Worry spikes up, though she knows that isn't going to help V right now. Nor does rushing over.]

What stage are you at?

You're going to keep me updated on your status. I'm going to see what people know about treatment or a cure.

[vive_ad_memento]

Mmmh. Second, maybe?

Ngl An, there's a massive urge to go out on the prowl rn. I'm debating chaining myself up in my appt and setting the cables to a timer with no override... Just. I know my Monowires can cut through pretty much anything I'd want 'em to so I think I'd do more damage than good.

[Like sure, the rebar she secures herself to might take a couple of hits, but no guarantees that the brick around it would be able to. She'd rather not destroy her whole fucking apartment and hey, s' not like there ain't ne'er do wells in the ruby underground that could conveniently go missing for a while...

V realises that she's actually fucking salivating at the thought of biting into someone else feeding. The vision of some random gem turns into supple, pliant flesh in her minds eye, a sigh and a soft moan that she recognises instantly as she bites down.]

I think I'm getting worse...

[unlucky7]

[Ginia knows her place isn't going to be any more secure to hold V at. The places that are going to hold V—or hell, herself—powered up beyond the norm are fairly low. Not without risking more casualties.]

I need you to open permissions so I can track you through GPS. Get yourself a room you can secure yourself in, but open up all the blinds and windows everywhere else. Get as much sun into your apartment as possible. If you can get through the night, it'll buy us more time in the morning.

Do what you can, but I'm not going to judge you if you get out.

[It wouldn't go any better if she had to be contained. Vampire mythology mixed with operative cunning? It's not pretty. So knowing how sharp V is? She's not going to judge if things get bloody. They'll deal with the aftermath a step at a time.]

I promise I'll find you and cure you, okay? I will stop you and do everything I can to get you back to normal.

[vive_ad_memento]

[V easily sets the permissions, changing the frequency to update every ten seconds or so. She knows how fast she can be when she isn't powered up, it's gonna be really hard to track her if Ginia can only get a ping every five minutes.]

Done. And... fuck. Alright.

Y'think if I chained myself to my balcony that would work or would that just be a bad idea? Else I can just keep all the blinds open.

[She sighs, already bringing out her ropes, cuffs and seeing if she has the materials for bolts and chains. There's a subtle shake to her arms as she does. V hates losing control. It'd been a fear even before she started losing her own body to Johnny, and now that she thought she was free of it, this shit happens.]

I'll try and keep myself here for as long as possible.

[unlucky7]

If you can set up a section of the balcony to keep out of the sun, I'd go for it but it's risky. I'd rather not have you crisp up.

[Though in swapped positions, Ginia thinks she would do the same. Put herself in a situation that maximizes her harm in order to reduce any harm to others. Best to work fast.]

Need me to bring you anything? I can drop it off fast. You won't even see me.

[Literally. Turns out long comes with the handy ability to turn invisible for short periods.]

[vive_ad_memento]

[Fuckin'...

V looks around to see what she's got on hand. There's maybe some cardboard boxes she could use... Maybe a couple of bedsheets? It's better than nothing, she guesses.]

Yah. I think I can manage something, but it sure as hell a'int gonna be robust. Ngl, kinda tempted to take a couple puffs of somethin that'll knock me out till u get here, just have no idea if they'd work.

[She's still got some drugs on her from her last trip into the underground that might work.]

Coconut water, vitamin water, or the best equivalent to 'em. Idk if this is genuine vampirism or a psudeo manna-vampirim thing, but I figure if there's anything about the first goin on that shit's the closest to blood i'll get without-

[The image comes back to her, of getting to sink her teeth into flesh and leaving her mark, making the most gentle of feasts out of her friend. She feels her eyes sting and she could swear that her canines just dropped down some more. She sends the text without finishing it and goes to splash some cold water on her face, for all the good it's gonna do.]

[unlucky7]

[Yeah. That's telling in how the message cuts off. It's time to move and take action though. Ginia asks around for information on any known treatments. There are rumors around, but not even GemSci has anything yet. Another day or two, but how much time do they have?

Ginia gets as much coconut water, sport drinks, and even some high quality steaks in hope the juice and meat might stave V off enough if she needs to tear into something. The last thing she's doing is giving up on V's ability to keep herself together, but preparing for the worst is what she leans for too. She's dropped by V's place enough to know how to check herself in and enter the penthouse. As an extra level of precaution, Ginia turns herself invisible and whistles lightly so V knows it's not someone else intruding. The backpack full of supplies is set down in the center of the room as Ginia steps away from it, her tech scanning to pick up V's location. There's a message already written up on her phone; Ginia presses play and lets text-to-speech read it for her.]

Brought you some supplies. Some steaks to gnaw on too. Word on the street is GemSci has a cure but it won't be ready for another day or two. Once I can get my hands on it, I'm coming straight for you.

[vive_ad_memento]

[V knows who it is as soon as the doors open, whistle be damned.

She's sitting at the bar counter, shaking hands just managing to hold a coffee mug close to herself for the warmth that feels like it's leaving her entire body en masse. It's like jumping into an ice bath before netrunning, except there's no disconnect from her physical body here, no flying through the datastreams like a technological Icarus.

Just the hollow, creeping cold has started to envelop her whole being.

Ginia's invisibility confuses V for a second before her Kiroshis sights flip to infrared, and then she 'sees' the dragon for all they are. Her movement happens fast, her Sandevistan kicking her into overdrive as the merc is compelled to move forward, to catch, to drain-

In less than a second V is on her, but the physical contact isn't that of an attack or a bite. V has her arms wrapped around Ginia's waist, her forehead buried in her chest as she shakes.
It's so tempting. She's so close. She could just reach up and bite and have relief, sweet relief. But she doesn't. She simply holds. There is a little manna here, and she'll take that crumb as far as it goes. She's lived on less and knows exactly what it feels like to die. This sucks, but it isn't the sickly feeling of imminent doom she'd weathered in her last months.]

Thank you.

[Her voice is quiet, almost a whisper. She knows she can't hold onto her friend for long, but she just wants to hold her for a little longer. Just a little longer.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia hates, hates her instincts are honed up enough that as V rushes her, she has to brace for action. To break a hold, to restrain her, to do something, anything to avoid getting bitten. So when it's only a hug (only, as if she hasn't been starved for hugs her whole life and leans into the embrace with her whole body), Ginia lets her invisibility fall away. There's the quiet pulse of Synchrony, her worry beating with the pulse of her heart.

Nine feet tall, V readily plants into her chest. A fact she'd tease her friend about if the situation wasn't so dire. Instead she reaches up and strokes her hand over the back of V's head.]

I'm not going to lose you.

[She signs over V's shoulders, magic translating unseen signs for her.]

You got that? No matter what, I'm here for you. I'm not losing you.

[vive_ad_memento]

[V lets out a soft, choked sob as she feels those signs translate in her mind, hugging tighter and trying not to acknowledge the hot tears that fall from her eyes.]

Y're too good to me.

Come back quick,'kay?

[She gives one last squeeze before she forces her arms to unlock, but not before stretching up onto her tiptoes to give Ginia a soft kiss, though she once again feels her teeth ache. V has to turn away quickly as the sickly green in her eyes grows bright and she feels a pulse of need, becoming increasingly aware of Ginia's heartbeat.]

I'll be waiting.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia returns the kiss, but draws away sooner than she'd like. At the glow in V's eyes, she pulls back and turns invisible again. Her heart clenches as she backs away toward the door, the open and shut movement of the door giving away her departure.

GemSci has a breakthrough but the priority is for Gems, not Gembonded. Too many unknowns to create a safe cure for the myriad of Gembonded, too risky to test it out. Red ultimately comes through and the cure in dart gun form doesn't come cheap, but so things go. The cost is worth it.]

Got a cure. Going to cooperate?

[vive_ad_memento]

[Instead of a text response, Ginia instead gets the following message.]

AUTOMATED RESPONSE::
Contact Verified: ANGELA.
PERMISSION GRANTED.
255.566.0.10
CONNECT?

[The IP address connects to one of the cameras inside V's penthouse, one with an optimal view of the first floor and a small amount into her workshop. It's... not looking good.

Cartons of coconut water and juice have been crushed, torn, and ripped apart. There's half a raw steak on the table, no plate to speak of, a fork mangled lying beside. There are claw marks on the furniture and several glasses have been smashed.

V herself is curled up foetal position on the floor, large headphones obscuring her face as her arms are wrapped around herself, the sunlight pouring onto her from the smashed balcony doors. There's a heavy chain wrapped and locked to her ankle, a rudimentary restraint that seems to have worked, although there's already mottled bruising on the skin. She's shivering violently and there's a bucket within easy reach, though it looks as though she might have already emptied her stomach...

It looks like V is too busy trying to shut everything out and not move to reply right now.]

[unlucky7]

[It feels like Ginia moves faster than she's ever gone in her life. It might be the length of her legs, the press of magic or her nanotech, but she bolts across the city, a blur of blue as she runs to V's penthouse.

She enters the penthouse invisible, dart ready to load. The quick, easy, practical thing to do is to shoot her now. Make it fast and clean, operative. But V isn't an animal. There's a level of decency involved. This is something she needs to do by herself. Her steps are careful and cautious as she silently approaches.

Ginia kneels next to V and puts a hand on her shoulder, a gentle presence as she goes to jab her with the cure.]

[vive_ad_memento]

[Her HUD alerts her to Ginia entering as soon as the other woman opens the door, and so it's to a not all unaware V that the Sapphire returns to.

It's as the needle almost slots into her shoulder that V's eyes flare wide and her hand flashes out to catch Ginia's, mouth open and hungry and oh so sharp. There is a second where nothing happens, and then V is on top of her, bearing down and breathing heavily, staring intently at the other woman's neck.

She can't form words right now, can't actually vocalise the craving that shakes her entire being, still holding fast to Ginia's wrist. She knows she wants to bite, to drain, to devour. But she also knows that she shouldn't.

She doesn't know why.

V grunts in frustration, locking eyes with the sapphire for the briefest of moments before crashing their lips together in a bruising kiss.]

[unlucky7]

[In the struggle, Ginia keeps a tight hold on the dart. She pushes back at V, tech against tech, monster against monster. Calculations run through her head and even if getting downed is killer in a fight, Ginia clutches onto V as her back hits the ground. She turns the dart in her hands, looking for the best angle to jab into V's arm given the chance.

V holds though. They stare at each other, breathing hard, daring for the next move. The kiss is unexpected, dangerous. Ginia doesn't shy from it even if she doesn't return it fully. She's still making calculations and decisions, testing how much movement she has before making a choice.

Ginia turns the dart pushes back enough to drive the tip into V's arm. She stabs in deeper, deeper, all her strength pushing in. An unkind move, but a necessary one as she finally returns the kiss.

Come back to me. Don't leave me alone. Ginia wraps her whole being around V, clutching tight as she grips the needle until she's sure every bit of antidote has drained into the cursed emerald.]

[vive_ad_memento]

[There's a gasp of anger as the needle sinks into her arm and a growl as V breaks the kiss to take a brief look at the offending weapon. She's not cognizant enough to know what it is, but there's a knowledge in the back of her addled mind that knows that even a fucktonne of Ket wouldn't be able to get past her Nanos. If it's a paralytic or a poison, she's safe.

If that's the best her prey can do, then this will be a fuckin' easy meal.

And fuck, she's ravenous.

There's a smirk as V goes back into the kiss, teeth teasing and pulling on lips, almost breaking skin as she starts to siphon Manna, wanting more, needing more. The beast takes Ginia wrapping around her as a hint that something's gone right, and suddenly there's a burst of synchrony as the greedy bitch takes as much as she can, rolling her tongue and her hips in hedonistic pleasure as Manna flows freely from one to the other-

Only to find herself slipping away.

The antidote isn't an instant fix, of course, but whatever Red put in that serum works fast at incapacitating its recipient. There's a choked noise that might have been her, or might have been someone else, but she can't tell. She scrabbles against Ginia's body as her vision starts to slip and her body stops responding, going slack.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia keeps the needle dug into V's arm even as she feels a daze slipping over her. It's something about V's eyes and how they bore into her. How her mind feels cloudy and everything feels soft. How pleasant the feel of V's fangs tease and rub against her, edging almost. A soft gasp escapes as her hips grind back, ignoring the way her Manna is sapping away.

The feeling doesn't go away immediately even after V slumps over. A minute tips away before Ginia pulls the needle out of V's arm, careful to keep blood off her. She still doesn't move, head cloudy as her arm wraps around V's waist. The reminder to keep an eye on her over the next few hours is hazy in her head, but she doesn't want to go anywhere else.

It takes ten minutes before enough of Ginia's senses clear she can begin to pull away. She's careful not to prick herself on the bloody needle as she caps the dart and throws it away. V's arm is also cleaned and wrapped up. Then, with nothing to do but wait, Ginia rests V's head on her lap and keeps watch.]

[vive_ad_memento]

[It's dark.

That's the first thing she becomes "aware" of.

The second is that she can't feel her body.

Johnny?

She tries to move, but whatever sensation she can glean is sluggish and almost non-responsive. Why can't she move?

Johnny?

This isn't like the times she's been put in the back seat of her own body, where she could feel the world around her as if she was walking through a dream. This feels like she's sinking.

Panic starts to well up in her as she starts to blindly thrash, though it comes out as twitches and spasms while she can't seem to genuinely connect with her body.

Johnny this isn't funny- I can't-

She's all over the place. Ginia's seen this before, her nightmares, the way she grimaces and thrashes and whines like a gutted dog. This feels worse.]

[unlucky7]

[An hour passes, then another. V stirs a little as she sleeps. Sometimes in small movements, other times lashing out in a way where Ginia thinks it might be the curse taking hold. She sweats profusely; Ginia leaves her side once to get a cold towel to wipe her forehead with.

When she begins to thrash around more, closer to the surface, closer to a bad nightmare, Ginia gently takes her hand and holds on. Not enough to hold her down, just a reminder she's there. To let the hum of Synchrony remind V she's not alone.]

[vive_ad_memento]

[She awakes with a tears falling from her eyes and a sob almost choking her. She's disoriented, angry, confused, scared-

When she realises that someone's touching her she almost whips her hand away, wanting to curl up and sleep, wanting to smoke fifteen cigarettes and down a bottle of vodka straight- but then her lizard brain gives way to logic just a little bit and she looks down at the familiar hand that's holding hers.

With a note of shock she looks up to see Ginia, the concern in her face. For a moment she's seeing Judy look down at her after one of her seizures and the vice around her heart squeezes tighter.]

What-? What happened?

[unlucky7]

Hey, babe.

[A small huff and a teary smile breaks out as Ginia squeezes V's hand. She reaches out and wipes V's tears away, fingers lingering on her cheeks. Truth be told, V looks like shit right now and her eyes are still a little unfocused, but she looks more like herself too.]

Bloodstone curse got worse. I hit you with the cure GemSci is putting out. How are you feeling?

[vive_ad_memento]

Like I just got done doing three rounds in the scop-house going toe-to-toe with an Animal.

[Her voice is quiet and raspy and she feels like she's not had a lick of moisture in her body for years. She knows that isn't true though, knows that she endlessly drank... something. Something that wasn't enough.

A memory floats through V's mind's eye of staring down at Ginia with a visceral need to bite-
She feels something move in her mouth and a shocked noise gets caught in her throat as she feels a second set of teeth drop down behind her first.

Tears start falling once more as V feels like she's losing her control again.]

[unlucky7]

Easy, easy.

[Ginia takes V's hand again and slides around to help her sit up. Red warned it might take a few hours for the full effect of the cure to take hold. Until then, it was possible for her to spread it by biting. She'll be careful, but not treat V like glass either.

They're both definitely beyond that. There's a respect and care, even if they haven't spelled or said everything about their pasts. Really Ginia knows she's said less.]

Want to take a shower? Might make you feel a little better.

[vive_ad_memento]

[Call her a sap, but as Ginia wraps herself behind her she leans into it so fast. She tucks her face into the other woman's chest and screws her eyes shut, doing all she can not to wail. V can't help but think about the very last time she did... well, anything in her own body when she was alive.

Jacking into Mikoshi, falling into the coolant pool around it as her body failed and failed and failed. No control, barely any working memory, the sense of death looming far too close for comfort.

Shit. Deep breaths, V. This ain't nothing you can't deal with. ]

Heh. Only if you're comin' with.

[Of course she's going to say something like that. Her gonk ass mouth never stops to think if it's appropriate to say words.]

[unlucky7]

I'm going to clean up your apartment a bit then I'll jump in with you. Promise.

[Doesn't mean they'll get freaky in the shower. There's a time and a place for it. Horny on main as she usually is, Ginia thinks right now she'd rather just hold V and make sure she'll pull through.

She cups V's face and gives her a kiss. It's going to be okay. Has to be.]

[vive_ad_memento]

You don't have to, you know.

[She sounds half-hearted at best, but she really does mean it. This is her mess to clean up, not Ginia's, but then she looks around and sees the carnage and grimaces. It is a lot.

V kisses back softly and nods, clearly letting the point go.]

Thanks, babe. I'll start running it.

[She stands up on wobbly four pairs of wobbly legs, thankful for the extra stability they provide. It takes a little while for her to walk up the stairs to the Mezzanine that holds her bedroom and the bathroom, but she does manage to get there. A bath had been one of the things she'd looked for when she bought the place, they'd been something she'd only ever had as a child living in her father's over the top Corpo Condo and even then, once they'd moved to NC there was nothing of the sort unless you were real money.

She gingerly turns the taps on, setting the temperature to a comfortable warmth and climbs into the tub, not really waiting for it to fill.

She stares as grime and blood and god knows what starts to rinse off her limbs, grimacing as she pulls the plug to let it drain and turning the showerhead on with her cyberdeck so that it can wash away before her partner gets in.

By the time Ginia gets there, she's still sitting under the spray of the showerhead, knees held up to her chest as her pink hair drapes down her face, no movement to her except the subtle rise and fall of her body as she breathes.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia makes sure V is able to get up the stairs before she starts cleaning. Right now it's mostly a quick cleaning pass. Throwing out the raw meat, cleaning up any spills or debris. The easy things to handle that can take some weight off V's mind. Because, surely, there are a lot of other things to worry about.

It doesn't take long to tidy up. She rejoins V shortly enough, folding up her clothes and setting it aside. Tall as she is as a long, Ginia presses her knees to her chest and drapes her tail over the edge of the tub as she sits behind V. Her hands fall on the Emerald's shoulders, massaging lightly.]