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#corpo-rat (affectionate)
totentnz · 6 months
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has anyone ever made a poll asking what lifepath people play? should i make one?
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theviridianbunny · 2 months
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🌶️💌HONOUR AND SERVE 💌🌶️
Summary: a smaller part of a longer fanfic (that’s a wip) …. Jackie and Viridian sweet and spicy times under the cut - featuring exchanges of feelings and fantasy. MINORS DNI PLEASE
A/N; This just under 1700 words of pure self indulgence (pleasure dom Jackie my beloved) - big shout out to @another-corpo-rat and @heywoodvirgin who’ve both been witnessing my descent into madness (affectionately) as I tried to write this idea out - this isn’t beta read or proof read - but I’m being brave and throwing it to the wind anyway ~💌
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She took her cybernetic hand into his own - Viridian squeezed tightly. Her gaze to the ceiling and wandered over the many lights and shadows cast by the corpo plaza. The night had grown old.
“Jackie….” Her voice was soft as her eyes travelled over a large swooping Ray of orange light - cast from the dashing carps.
“Mi Amore?” his hand squeezing back at Viridian’s touch.
“You know….I love so many things about you… I- I love how strong you are” she started - as her gaze slowly migrated down to her lover's. “You're strong… but- but not just physically strong. You're emotionally strong. Emotionally in tune and emotionally capable-” there was a soft smile over her lips - Jackie noticed how her black lipgloss and the shimmer of her sage green eye shadow caught the light.
The two shared soft looks As she continued to speak. Sharing slow - gentle kisses between words.
“You could lift me up over your shoulders and cary me with such ease.” kiss “But then you could also sit and listen with me “ kiss” “- dance with me - hold me” kiss… “be vulnerable with me-”
Each kiss growing longer . Each kiss growing meaningful through the dark. Blooming like a flower into something more.
“Be vulnerable with me- and let me be vulnerable with you-” Her voice becoming a little slower- As she caught her breath. Inhaling and exhaling.
Feeling how Jackie let go of her hands - and how he pulled her close. How the two were sharing near skin contact- just thin layers of clothing was all that stood between them.
Viridian’s eyes fluttering shut as Jackie kissed her cheek - then her neck. The kisses were Intense - but not enough to bruise or mark.
“Wanna tell me what else I could do?” He asked- before continuing to kiss her neck - and his dominant hand brushed over the grey fabric of her cargos. Up and down - in the smoothest motion.
“You could… you could lift hold me - with your strong hands - ha-hands that are used to protect- but also to serve-”
As Viridian spoke - her own cybernetic hand came down to Jackie's over her thigh. She guided it- slowly to the chunky belt at her hips…
The two made eye contact and Jackie grinned. He watched how his loves keroshis glitched through the darkness.
“Continue- go on tell me more-” his voice was gentle as his hand hovered over the buckle.
“I-...I think about you a lot- I think about this a lot - about you taking off my cargos - about your hands - how you'll be gentle with me - but as time goes on - you'll become rougher-”
Her train of thought interrupted as jackie undid her belt buckle and the smaller zipper - and how both hands hooked at the waistband. A comfortable silence between the pair as Jackie lingered for a second- before he slowly slid her cargos down her thighs. He let them drop as he took a grab at his lover's ass - slapping it and grabbing at it . He grinned to himself as he heard how a stifled moan escaped Viridian’s lips - trying to find her words.
Taking a moment as Jackie waited Patiently- he always did… one hand now over the small of her back - bracing her against it as they shared a kiss. Viridian straddled over his denim and leather clad thighs - her hips grinding softly as the kiss broke. A blush spread across her cheeks like a sunset.
Her soft gaze travelled down Jackie's neck - down the black wiring that merged with golden circuitry.. across his broad shoulders and down his Dominant arm- tracing over the intricate linework of his tattoo of the holy rose - to his hand that rest on the frilled and colourful elastic waistband of her underwear.
“Do you want to get comfy and be vulnerable with me?” Jackie asked.
Viridian’s reply came as a kiss and an enthusiastic nod.
“Is here ok?” Jackie gestured to the couch they were resting on “or you wanna move to your bed?” He asked, the hand At the small of Viridian’s back tracing small circles.
“let's move” she stated , feeling Jackie's hand move - she backed away from the bigger man and got up. Shucking off her cargos as she stood - leaving them on the floor - they'd go in the wash later anyway…
Just in her underwear and signature Heart cut out crop - she beckoned the larger man up and then made her way over to the bed.
Switching on a soft light before Lounging on the softer sheets. Gazing over to Jackie as he quickly grabbed two cans of Nicola from the fridge - joining her now- he stood at the side of the bed and placed them down.
Viridian watched with focus and intent as Jackie slid off his chunky golden rings - delicately placing them down next to the nicola cans- before he opened the draw - grabbing a small bottle of lube.
The weight of The bed shifted as he joined her. Placing the bottle to his side.
“Come here to me” his voice was gentle - calm - reassuring. He didn't take his eyes off of his lover as she came to him - lounging over his denim and leather clad thighs.
They shared a succession of deep - hungry kisses as they held another.
“How you feeling viri?” He asked.
“Really good - Can't you tell Jac? ”
“Oh” he started - in between a baritone chuckle “oh i can tell” his hand playfully squeezing the soft flesh of her thigh “just wanted to check in”
“and how are you?” she asked softly -. The need for contact felt more and more desperate.
“All fine - all good - more than good” Jackie answered With a grin - before kissing gently down his lover's neck once more. He heard how her breathing hitched for a moment and how she needed him.
His hand trailed down between Viridian’s Legs - he felt her through her underwear. He heard how she breathed out a silent swear- in between a flustered groan.
“You're that desperate already?” He questioned. “Mi amore I can feel your desire - it radiates from you…”
Viridian grinned - grinding herself into Jackie's hand- she rest her head against his body as she bathed in the adrenaline and endorphins.
“I’m desperate for you- i want you to man handle me - to use your hands - I want to feel you inside me- please- god its all I need -it’s all I need from you my love-” the words fell from her - The weight of her desire feeling heavier and heavier.
“You want me to manhandle you with my strong hands, hm?” Jackie took his hand away from between viridian legs - the feeling of it gone felt strange…
Viridian’s eyes slowly closed as she breathed in time with her lover - hearing how the cap lid on the lube opened with a pop - and knowing where this was going.. raising her ass off of his thighs- going to remove her underwear until she felt Jackie's free hand pull at the gusset.
“Keep em on… just spread your legs open for me beautiful-” he near ordered - still with such a softness in his voice as he placed a kiss onto her forehead.
“Of course” she smiled - re positioning her legs - getting comfy over Jackie.
Then feeling the coldness of the lube against her cunt. Jackie’s finger stroking up and down - nice and slow.
“Need you - hmhg- Jac I need you-”
“ know you do carino-” Sinking one finger into her warmth - the ex corpo let out a whimper against him. Head against his shoulder.
“Oh fuck - oh fu-fuck that's hot - jac that's so hot -”
With one hand between her legs, Jackie’s free hand gently held the flesh of her thigh - watching how she squirmed and her hips bucked.
“mhh is it now?” he teased - working at her - feeling his own desire - how his cock strained against the fabric of his boxers.
Viridian nodded - in between a soft groan as Jackie removed his fingers from her - as to apply more lube.
“When I’m alone - when you’re away on a solo gig - it’s what gets me off- the thought of you - ” she groaned desperately against his skin. Feeling his fingers teasing against her again.
As he sunk his fingers deep inside her again - Jackie hummed in satisfaction
“That’s my girl - want to tell me what you think of when you’re alone?”
“I think of you” she started - trying to find the words as Jackie worked at her cunt.
“Go on- what am I doing, making you dinner ?” He joked - grinning - hearing how Viridian laughed in between a moan.
“Very fu-funny-” she breathed - “I think of you pinning me against the bed and ravaging me.. you'd be gentle at first Jac- but with time - you'd manhandle me- pull me into you and ravage me like a dog starved of meat- pull up my shirt and pull down my cargos - your hand eventually between my legs and mouth at my neck-”
“Christ- that’s hot-” he pressed a kiss to her neck - then another and then another. Each kiss was more desperate than the last. His free hand reaching to Viridian’s crop top - pulling it up - and palmed one of her breasts.
The noise that escaped the ex corpo was delightfully sinful.
“I need you- oh fuck- I need you sir-” she whined
“Sir?” He teasingly questioned - playing with her breast “Do you call me sir in your fantasies - mi amore?”
“Yes- oh -yes I-..I do” she breathed - hips grinding as she felt Jackie deep inside her . Feeling how the pace and motion became more rapid. The pair became desperate. Jackie was achingly hard now. Viridian was practically falling apart in his lap.
She’d thought she’d never been more turned on at that moment.
“Christ - that’s so hot- talk me through it-” he groaned “tell me everything that I do to you- don’t spare any details-” his voice so full of love.
“Yes sir-”
Jackie felt his cock twitch as she called him sir.
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pheedraws · 2 years
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2075.
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pheedraws · 2 years
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ARTHUR JENKINS | COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
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pheedraws · 3 years
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new brush testing but make it ✨ corpo ✨
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pheedraws · 3 years
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Jenkins is your lead, right? Is he what everyone says he is?
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pheedraws · 2 years
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15 OC Associations
Tagged by the lovely @fereldanwench and @gloryride-- thank you both! ♥
Tagging @valkblue @wanderingaldecaldo @arcandoria @bnbc @shellibisshe​ and anyone else who’d like to! 
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ANIMAL: Fox
COLOUR: Black, red, orange
MONTH: October (her birthday), January - February (when this clown officially commandeered my brain) 
SONG: California Dreamin’ - The Mamas & The Papas, Major Crimes - HEALTH, CYBERPUNK 2.0.2.0. - HEALTH
NUMBER: 6
DAY OR NIGHT: Night (just before dawn)
PLANT: Snake plant, prayer plant
SMELL: Smoke, coffee, orange blossom (perfume-wise, somewhere between Boss Orange and Black Opium) 
GEMSTONE: Topaz
SEASON: Late summer, early autumn 
PLACE: Charter Hill, The Glen, Reconciliation Park 
FOOD: Shoyu ramen, pizza, macarons 
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra
ELEMENT: Fire 
DRINK: Black coffee, whiskey, red wine
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pheedraws · 3 years
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OC Profile
Tagged by @chuckhansen​ - thank you so much! 💕
Tagging @gloryride @valkblue @loriane-elmuerto​ @screechingtrashbarbarian​ @onlymeandlife​ and anyone else who wants to/hasn’t done it yet! 
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General 
Name: Victoria C. Deckard
Alias(es): V, Vic
Gender: Female
Age: 31 (as of the events of CP 2077)
Birthdate: 12th October, 2045
Place of birth: Charter Hill, Night City
Hometown: Heywood, Night City
Spoken languages: English (fluent), Spanish (fluent), Japanese (conversational) 
Sexual preference: Bisexual 
Occupation: Merc (2076 - present); previously Arasaka Counterintelligence (2074 - 2076), Arasaka Special Operations (2071 - 2074) 
Appearance 
Eye colour: Golden brown
Hair colour: Dark brown, lighter ombre effect from previous dye jobs
Height: 5′9″ / 176cm 
Scars: Too many to list lmao (sorry Vic), the vast majority being bullet wounds. 
Favourite 
Colour: Black
Hair colour: Deep red
Song: Major Crimes - HEALTH
Food: Ramen
Drink: Alcoholic? Bourbon. Otherwise, coffee. 
Have They...
Passed university: Never attended 
Had sex: Yes
Had sex in public: ...Yes 
Gotten pregnant: No
Kissed a boy: Yes
Kissed a girl: Yes
Gotten tattoos: Yes: large design across her lower sternum, snake wrapped around her left foot... and Johnny’s unwanted addition 💀
Gotten piercings: Multiple piercings in each ear, though she doesn’t wear them often.
Been in love: Yes
Stayed up for more than 24 hours: Yes (far too often for her own good)
Are They...
A virgin: No
A cuddler: Depends on the partner
A kisser: Yes
Scared easily: No, but she does have certain fears and phobias that are able to rattle her should she find herself unable to avoid them. 
Jealous easily: No
Dominant: She has a somewhat dominant personality after her time in the corporate world, but that side of her doesn’t really extend into relationships. 
Submissive: More submissive than dominant when it comes to sex, but doesn’t mind switching things up from time to time.
In love: Yes
Single: No
Random Questions (TW: Self harm/suicide mention) 
Have they harmed themselves: No
Thought of suicide: Yes
Attempted suicide: No
Wanted to kill someone: Yes, and has followed through with it on more than one occasion.
Have/had a job: Yes
Have any fears: Yes: dying, small spaces, being restrained (post-Mexico), heights (post-heist) 
Family (TW: Death)
Sibling(s): None. Has always considered Jackie her brother, though. 
Parent(s): Jack and Ana Deckard, both deceased. The pair divorced when Vic was nine, Ana returning to her family in Heywood and taking Vic with her. She had minimal contact with Jack until Ana was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Heywood in 2069. Jack was later zeroed by Arasaka in 2070 after the corporation discovered he had been leaking intel to Night Corp. 
Children: None
Significant other: Goro Takemura
Pet(s): Nibbles (and about three other stray cats the pair unintentionally adopt during their ‘retirement’) 
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pheedraws · 3 years
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Sometimes I wonder what it's like to work for Arasaka, y'know? Way I figure it, it's like playin' Russian roulette for a million eddies. Give it a spin, pull the trigger. You hear it click, you strike it rich. And if you don't, well... the mess is someone else's problem.
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pheedraws · 3 years
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There’s no such thing as a fair game, only winners and losers. 
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pheedraws · 2 years
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happy thirsty thursday, I'm now legally allowed to spend the night staring at goro and vic x
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pheedraws · 3 years
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LIFEPATH: CORPO
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pheedraws · 3 years
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KONPEKI PLAZA
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pheedraws · 3 years
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN MY POSITION? 
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pheedraws · 3 years
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WIP Wednesday!
I know I said I wasn’t going to share any more of this WIP until it was done but I’m a filthy liar I have work now and my second jab later and I needed some touch-starved corpo softness™ to keep me going ✨
“An interesting design choice.”
Heat prickled across her cheeks as he studied the curls of black ink snaking down beyond the band of her bra, gaze respectful while efficient hands prepared the antiseptic. She shifted under his gaze— not out of discomfort but rather unworthiness, undeserving of the soft appreciation held in those bright eyes, appraised with more tenderness than she had ever seen him look at anything in this wreckage of a city.
Her voice was quiet around the hammering in her throat when she spoke. “Relic from a different time.”
Goro paused for a moment, soft eyes contemplative. “It suits you.” He reached for the dampened cloth, holding it above the wound. “Are you ready?”
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pheedraws · 3 years
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Virtù e Fortuna
Pairing: Arthur Jenkins x Female V (Vic. Deckard)
Word Count: 3.3k
Summary: On V’s list of “Ways I Do Not Like to Spend My Friday Nights”, rubbing elbows with Night City’s elite at stuffy Arasaka parties would definitely take the top spot. That is, of course, until someone changes her mind... 
Warnings: Canon-typical language, use of alcohol, suggestive themes but nothing explicit (Rating- M)
A/N: I’m trying to get back into writing a little more, so I figured I’d try my hand at some of the prompts created for the #MoxWrites2077 challenge! Specifically in this case: Day 3 - First Meetings. Thank you for hosting such an encouraging, supportive event! I’ve honestly never felt so inspired. 
Charter Hill, 2071 
On V’s list of “Ways I Do Not Like to Spend My Friday Nights”, rubbing elbows with Night City’s elite at stuffy Arasaka parties would definitely take the top spot. 
Breathe. Relax. It's just a party, not a firing squad. 
Though admittedly, if faced with the choice, V wasn't confident she could wholeheartedly say she'd prefer the former to the latter. 
Arasaka spared no expense when it came to parties, and tonight was certainly no exception. The uppermost floor of the corporate hotel had been entirely transformed, staff from all departments mingling in the grand function room. The suite stretched out onto the balcony where the deep aquamarine ripples of the pool shimmered invitingly, glass and chrome furniture glittering in the light of the setting sun.
Had said party not been full of corporate sharks waiting to strike at the first scent of blood, V may have even described it as beautiful.
Not for the first time that evening, V surreptitiously adjusted the plunging neckline of her dress, silently resenting herself for choosing one that left her lacking on the brassiere front. For the most part, she had been lucky when it came to avoiding these functions, her role within Special Operations landing her in combat more often than it did black-tie events, but her luck had seemed to run dry on this occasion.
Said occasion being the promotion of her trainer, commander, and corporate leash-handler to the position of Director.
It made sense. Kiran Keller was, on paper, the perfect candidate for director of Special Operations; ruthless, efficient, and not above shoving a rifle in the face of whoever stood in her way. V both respected and feared the older woman in equal measure, but even that was not enough to coax a feeling other than discontent from her when faced with the prospect of a party in her direct superior's honour. 
On a Friday night, no less. 
Mandatory attendance for all Counterintelligence, Defence, and Special Operations staff. Plus ones permitted. 
Jackie had almost laughed his ass off when she'd suggested he tag along. "Vicky, you know I love you hermana... but fuck no." Not even the promise of an open bar had been enough to sway the man, and with a loving pat on the back, he'd pushed her out of the door with nothing but a smug "Buena suerte, chica!" to keep her company. 
And now, here she was; alone, painfully sober, and regretting ever allowing herself to be talked into buying the black patent abominations currently chafing away at her ankle bones.
Thanks, Jack. 
This was not her typical Friday night. Friday nights involved wine- lots of wine- takeout food of questionable origin, and playful repartee with the only person able to keep her head above water no matter how many times Arasaka- Keller- tried to sink it. Jackie... Jackie didn't know everything concerning her sudden backtrack into the corporate world, but he stood by her anyway; a friend through thick and thin.  
No, not a friend. A brother. Family.
V sighed, a small smile pulling at the corner of her mouth despite her distaste for the situation she found herself in. She never could stay mad at him for long.
She made her way over to the bar in the centre of the suite. V knew she’d have to face Keller at some point, be the polite, courteous corpo-rat her grandmother had once tried to morph her into, but the prospect of dealing with the woman sober struck fear through her gut like a hot poker.
Whiskey, don’t fail me now.
Hailing the bartender, V braced her arms against the countertop, newly lacquered nails tapping nervously against the sleek black marble. "Bourbon, please. On the rocks." 
The room was abuzz with voices conversing in jargon she didn't understand, filled with faces she didn't recognise. I don't belong here. It was the world she had been born into, sure, but not the world she had grown up in; mercifully whisked away at an early age following her parents' divorce, never having to endure the falsehoods, the corruption, the brutal backstabbing... 
Well, until recently, that was. 
Mom's probably rolling in her grave right now... 
It was easier to ignore at work; that sickening feeling of shame, of guilt. It was easier to convince herself that she had no choice, that she was doing what anyone else in her position would do to keep themselves afloat when she was cutting down enemies, doing exactly what Arasaka told her to do like a good little corpo-rat. 
But now? Dressed to the nines, sipping complimentary whiskey that no doubt cost more than her first apartment had, kissing ass and masquerading as someone who belonged in this world outside of working hours? V felt sick, a tightness that was becoming worryingly familiar as of late crushing her chest, stealing her breath. 
I need air. Now. 
Clutching her glass, she weaved through the crowds as gracefully as she could, forced polite smile on her face. Just a few more steps. Large doors beckoned her out into the cool evening air, relief washing over her as she made it onto the balcony unscathed and with her dignity still- relatively- intact.
The chatter was quieter out on the roof, and V felt the suffocating brain fog slowly start to dissipate, leaving only tendrils of tiredness in its wake. How many hours until she could leave without Keller hunting her for sport? V couldn’t be sure. Too many, at least.
She walked towards the quieter end of the balcony, only a few lone partygoers occupying the space, enjoying the last rays of the setting sun before it gave way to night. The music from inside the suite drifted lowly on the breeze, and V stopped to lean against the glass balustrade, gazing out at the bustling city below. Out of the corner of her eye, V noticed a suited man to the left of her doing the same, looking out at the city as the sun set on the horizon, bathing the towering corporate monoliths in a warm, orange glow. From her vantage point, V could faintly see the mismatched structures of The Glen in the distance, not quite gleaming with the same abstract beauty as the sleek buildings of Charter Hill, but emanating an aura of their own nonetheless.
Home.
"Quite the view, isn't it?" The man to her left had moved a few steps closer, body turned to face her. 
She hummed, feeling the breeze toy with the loose strands of hair framing her face, the sensation a soothing balm after the buzz of the party inside. "It's almost peaceful when you can't hear the traffic." 
V allowed herself to glance over at the man beside her, taking in his features in the golden light. His attention swept back to the guests mingling on the rooftop, before settling on her once more. "Not enjoying the party?" 
She tried not to grimace. "That obvious, huh?" 
"Not really, I just know a fellow reluctant participant when I see one." The man smiled warmly then, holding out his hand. "Jenkins, Night City Counterintelligence." 
She took his hand. "V, work for Keller over in Special Operations." The firmness of his shake was grounding, a much-needed anchor amidst the swirling cloud of anxiety that had hung over her head since stepping foot on the premises, and V found herself enjoying it perhaps a little more than she should have. It didn't hurt that the man himself was easy on the eyes; six-foot-something of toned muscle hidden beneath sharp suits, dark hair and bright blue eyes that had V mentally calculating exactly how long it had been since she'd last gotten laid- anything to excuse the way her pulse had spiked at the slightest touch that wasn't accompanied by barked commands or the sting of combat. 
Ah, fuck. 
"Keller, huh? The woman of the hour." 
"That she is." For better or worse.
Then, as if posing a scandalous question, Jenkins dipped his head towards hers, voice lowering, a look of mirth shining in his eyes. "She as scary as the recruitment vids make her out to be?" 
V laughed. Between the warmth of the whiskey and the man's- Jenkins'- presence, the discomfort she had felt moments earlier was already melting away. "'Fraid so. Never met her?" 
"Never had the pleasure of working with her, no. She likes to keep her department... contained, so to speak."
That was putting it mildly.
"Don't I know it..." V muttered, downing the last mouthful of bourbon. She tried to ignore the way his gaze trailed from her lips down to her throat and lower still, the stubborn spark of heat that had ignited in her stomach at his touch steadily growing into something more. 
"Can I get you another?" Jenkins nodded his head in the direction of the bar, charming smile toying at his lips. "Might as well make the evening as bearable as we can, since we're both stuck here indefinitely."
Fuck, he was good at that. All charm and smiles and smooth words... V had no trouble believing he was ruthlessly efficient at his job, thriving in this world that was eating her alive. 
"Lead the way." 
Jenkins held out his arm for her to take, and the gesture did not go unappreciated, V’s discomfort melting away into something almost foreign to her.
Enjoyment.
The bar was impossibly busier when they arrived back inside, the pair clearly not the only ones with alcohol in mind to ease the almost glacial passing of time. They found a space towards the far end of the suite, Jenkins ushering her in before taking up position next to her, propping his arm against the countertop as V mirrored his stance. He leaned down to speak over the noise, a warm, firm hand pressed against the small of her back as his breath tickled her ear. The scent of his cologne washed over her, and V found herself instinctively leaning into him, heat rising to her cheeks as she willed him not to notice. "What's your poison?"
"Bourbon, please." Jenkins turned to catch the attention of the bartender, ordering two whiskeys that were swiftly placed in front of him. V took the glass handed to her, grateful for the sweetness on her tongue as she took a sip to calm her nerves.
"So," Jenkins began, swirling his glass, "how long have you been with spec-ops? Can't have been long, I imagine." 
"What's that supposed to mean?" Though her tone was playful, a part of V- the part she had been trying to keep on a tighter leash since swapping the streets of Heywood for trouser suits and espionage- bristled at the implications of his words, that this man she had met not even an hour ago thought he could read her, could see past the walls she had so carefully built up to keep her neck intact in this cutthroat corporate world...
Jenkins grinned, picking up on her irritation immediately. Guess that leash needed to be tighter. "Your eyes." At her puzzled look, he continued. "There's fear in them- hidden, of course, but it's still there. You look around this room, you see threats. If Keller's anything like the stories I've heard about her, well..." Another smile, this one tinged with the slightest hint of sympathy. "She's got your balls in a vice, hm? Something held above your head? And you think everyone in this room is in her pocket, too- that you can't trust anyone." 
Well, shit. 
"The thing is," Jenkins continued, sparing her the embarrassment of attempting to retort with her tongue tied in knots, "once you've been here long enough, you soon realise everyone else has their balls in a vice, too. Everyone's out to save their own necks." He took a sip of his drink, piercing blue eyes meeting hers once more. "You stop seeing them as threats once you know you can ruin their day with a few special words whispered into the right ear. Power and control... S'all it is, V. Gotta take what you can from this world before it ruins you."  
V stood in stunned silence, equal parts admiration for the man and annoyance that she had been so easily read. Jenkins saw through the silence- because of course he did- and laughed good naturedly. "So… how did I do?" 
V smiled despite herself, shaking her head slowly in disbelief. "That's quite the party trick." She took a drink from her own glass, savouring the burn at the back of her throat before continuing.  "Been there just over nine months now, did some freelance work before that." 
"That how they sunk their hooks into you?" At V's pointed look, he smirked. "Thought as much. They never have played fair- guess they just like to make everyone else's jobs around here all the more complicated." 
V paused for a moment, studying the man before her, all confident smiles and charming words. "And you? Who's got your balls in a vice?" 
Jenkins laughed, shaking his head. "Can't tell you that, V. Speaking her name often has the unfortunate effect of summoning her, and I'm enjoying my evening far too much for that right now." 
The pair fell into a somewhat comfortable silence then, watching partygoers pass by, some more inebriated than others. V thought back to what Jenkins had said, reluctantly admitting to herself that perhaps he spoke a lot of truths, no matter how… grating those truths may be. She was about to speak when a new voice halted her train of thought.
"Jenkins, there you are." 
V didn't miss the way Jenkins' demeanour changed almost instantly; posture stiffening at the sound of the woman's voice as she neared the pair, stopping in front of them with her arms folded tightly across her chest. The look she gave the man was cold, calculating, and V noticed the same look mirrored in her drinking companion's eyes. 
Ah, balls and vices.
When Jenkins spoke, his voice was firm, any traces of the man who had joked good naturedly with her all evening effectively brushed away, hidden beneath effortless professionalism. "Abernathy. Enjoying the party?" 
The woman rolled her eyes. "Cut the bullshit Arthur, I'm not in the mood." V watched as Jenkins' jaw twitched in irritation, turning to face the bar to avoid being drawn into a conversation she really had no business being in. She flagged down the bartender once more, and soon enough another two glasses were set in front of her, condensation glistening under the soft lights. 
"Logistics need to run something by us before we leave the city, and I'd rather not drag that out any longer than needed."  Her cold gaze shifted from Jenkins to V, and then down to the glasses on the table, lips curling with thinly veiled disapproval. "We leave in five minutes. Do not make me wait." 
Almost as quickly as she appeared, Abernathy turned to leave, heels clicking across the polished hardwood. Wordlessly, V pushed one of the glasses across the countertop, Jenkins taking the offering with an appreciative nod, knocking back a mouthful of the amber liquid as she turned her attention to the retreating form of their unexpected guest. V waited until the woman was safely out of earshot, watching as she stepped around drunken interns dancing amongst themselves with the same look of distaste she'd presumably been wearing all evening. "Friend of yours?" 
Jenkins grimaced into his drink as if the very notion were offensive. "Colleague. We've been stationed in Osaka for the past ten months- longest fucking ten months of my life." 
"Wanna swap?" V propped her elbow up on the bar, hand resting beneath her chin as she levelled Jenkins a playful smirk. "Think you could charm your way through an 0500 hours training session with Keller while I jet off to Japan?" 
Jenkins barked a laugh, shaking his head in mock disapproval, any lingering traces of tension disappearing from his shoulders. "Isn't that Director Keller now?" 
"Mmhmm, lucky me, right?" 
Jenkins opened his mouth to retort, only to pause as his gaze locked onto Abernathy stood in the grand doorway across from the bar, glaring daggers at the man while jerking her head in the direction of the AV pad.
"Well, V. I suppose that's my cue to leave." His eyes shone a brighter blue for a second, the familiar flash of incoming data lighting up her own optics. "I'm flying back to Osaka tomorrow morning, but I've flicked you my details." He paused. "Should you ever need them, of course."
Maybe it was the whiskey, maybe it was the dress... Or, hell, maybe it was the ten-month dry spell that inspired a sudden surge of confidence within her. Whatever it was, V didn't have time to question it before her mouth acted of its own accord, brain cell lagging about five minutes behind it. "Is that strictly for business? Or for pleasure, too?" 
Preem. Smooth, V. 
She tried not to recoil too visibly at her own words. Jesus, where did that one come from, you gonk? She could almost hear Jackie's affable mocking in the back of her mind, delighting in the way she fumbled through any and all dealings of the romantic variety. Shit, maybe it really had been too long since Lola... 
To her relief, Jenkins' smile only widened in response, the man laughing as he placed a hand on her elbow. "I suppose time will tell in that regard." His voice was low, smooth, and V hated the way her stomach flipped at the sound. The crowded bar left little room for personal space, and- not for the first time that evening- she found herself wondering just who the hell deemed it fair to make his eyes that goddamn blue. 
V didn't realise just how openly she had been staring until the man before her smirked, his thumb stroking soft circles in the crook of her elbow as heat rose to her cheeks, brown eyes widening in realisation. 
So much for subtlety.
Amused, Jenkins leaned in closer once more, speaking low enough that his voice was only just distinguishable above the music. "Goodnight, V." She shivered at the closeness. "Don't let this world swallow you whole, hm? Be a damn shame to lose that fire." With a wink, he stepped away from the bar, making his way over to the doorway his colleague had disappeared through moments earlier. V watched until he, too, had vanished from sight, sighing before finishing off the remaining whiskey in her glass in one undignified gulp. 
That... could have gone worse. 
The man... Jenkins... was charming, dangerously so, with just enough carefully concealed hot-headedness to send her mind wandering to less than professional places. V groaned inwardly, sending a silent prayer to whichever god her mom had thought so highly of that she hadn't been too embarrassing. She wasn't sure Keller would ever let her know a moment's peace again if not.
Right, Keller. 
V sighed. Reality calls. But as she went to leave the bar, track down the newly appointed director seemingly committed to making every day of V's mandatory twenty-year loyalty obligation a living hell, she paused, and noticed the flashing notification in the corner of her optics.
New Contact Added: Arthur Jenkins. 
A strange feeling settled into her chest. It wasn't fear, no... Something new, something good. A lightness of sorts; a buoyancy aid thrown her way when all she had felt prior was a sickening sinking feeling, tied down by suspicion and disquietude and fear like a lead weight. 
Power and control. Maybe she could work with that after all. 
She squared her shoulders. For the first time since joining the corporation, the first time since selling her soul away on a dotted line as if it meant nothing... V didn't feel so utterly alone in the lion's den, and she smiled. 
Well, who would have thought. Maybe these parties aren't so bad after all... 
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