patreon.com/Masterworks951 - over 40 ch ahead.----Lizzie's Bar truly lived up to its reputation as the best braindance experience in Night City. The perfectly curated simulations here were designed to fulfill any fantasy—whether sleazy or sacred, gritty or pure. Human desires, in all their chaotic shades, found an outlet within these digital dreams.
From the bizarre to the ordinary, the sensory experiences within braindances were fine-tuned to give maximum pleasure while minimizing discomfort. Everything felt more real than reality, enhancing emotions and perceptions in a way that nothing outside could match.
"No wonder people in this world are so addicted to braindance. It's better than real life by a mile!" Lin Mo exhaled deeply, slowly removing the headset from his head.
Even with his relatively high composure, the transition from the dreamlike world back to reality left him feeling momentarily dazed. For a brief moment, he felt an odd sense of loss, as if he was waking up from a perfect dream that he didn't want to leave.
In the past, Lin Mo had avoided standard braindances. His sister Xu Wanxue had always warned him about how they could rot a person's mind, making them forget the real world. So most of his experience had come from black-market BDs that David provided.
Black-market braindances were illegal for good reason. Unlike the safe, commercially available BDs, black BDs were raw and unfiltered, often featuring violence, death, and twisted fantasies. David had given Lin a series of Edge Runner braindances, featuring cyberpsychos in brutal shootouts with cops, Trauma Team, and MAX-TAC units.
Lin wasn't a psycho, though. While others might watch these for kicks, Lin Mo watched to learn, to study the fighting techniques of cyberpsychos and MAX-TAC response units. The intensity of those experiences sharpened his own instincts.
It was undeniable that braindance had transformed lives. It didn't matter if you were some homeless scavenger digging through trash for a meal—slap on a BD, and suddenly you were a rockstar, a corpo exec, or the king of the world. You could experience the most luxurious meals, the finest clothes, and the richest pleasures, even if it was all just pixels and code.
As Lin Mo reflected on his latest experience, he couldn't help but grin. The moments he had spent with those dreamlike characters, those sweet temptresses, had left a heat simmering inside him. It was like a fire had been lit deep within.
If someone had asked him, he would have compared it to a knight surviving a night in the succubus' lair, only to emerge victorious and stronger than ever.
In a word—satisfying.
He glanced at the remaining BD chips on the table, each one a key to a personal paradise, a utopia to which anyone could escape and never want to return.
Turning his head, Lin noticed Hiroshi also finishing his session. His friend, stoic as ever, was calm, collected—like he had just finished meditating rather than experiencing what was likely a chaotic battle-filled BD.
How did he stay so calm? Lin couldn't help but admire his composure.
Braindances were designed to immerse you completely. The sensations were heightened, sometimes beyond what the actual person in the experience felt. Even Lin, with his strong composure, had nearly been overwhelmed. Yet here was Hiroshi, looking like he'd just taken a leisurely stroll.
"Not bad, choom. You've got some serious self-control," Lin said, giving Hiroshi a thumbs-up.
Hiroshi chuckled, taking off his headset with a satisfied sigh. His earlier tension was gone, replaced with a rare, carefree demeanor.
"Lin, I gotta say, it feels good to let loose. Haven't felt this alive in a long time," Hiroshi laughed heartily, his usual strict demeanor softened by the atmosphere of the bar.
"Yeah, not bad," Lin agreed, swirling the juice in his glass. "The people who make these BDs are geniuses. They know exactly how to keep people coming back."
Hiroshi downed his drink in one go, placing the glass back on the table with a contented sigh.
"First time in a place like this, and you're already handling it like a pro," Hiroshi complimented. "My first time? I made a complete fool of myself."
Lin shrugged, deflecting the praise. "Just trying to keep up. Besides, now I understand why people in Night City aren't exactly rushing to settle down and have kids."
Hiroshi laughed, leaning back in his chair. "You've got a point. Why deal with the hassle of real relationships when BDs can give you everything you want, without any of the mess?"
Lin couldn't argue with that logic. BDs were cleaner, easier—no emotional baggage, no strings attached.
Still, their conversation drifted, and soon Lin found himself reflecting on how strange it was that he and Hiroshi had become so close in such a short time. From strangers to trusted allies, their bond had formed quickly, strengthened by the events of the day.
In many ways, they had already passed two of the four tests of friendship: fighting together and covering each other's backs.
Suddenly, Lin Mo remembered something. He pulled out his commlink, his orange optics flashing as he placed a call.
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, but didn't interrupt, sipping his drink in silence.
"Lin, what's up? Kind of late, isn't it?" David's voice crackled through the comm.
"Nothing much. Just thought I'd call and let you know—I'm at Lizzie's Bar," Lin said, a grin forming on his face.
David's tone instantly changed. "Lizzie's? You mean that Lizzie's? The one with the best BDs in Night City? Man, that's insane... Wait, of course you're there. You've got the eddies."
Hearing the envy in David's voice, Lin couldn't help but chuckle. "It's not about the money. I was thinking—maybe next time, you could come with me."
David paused. "Yeah, right. I'm not exactly swimming in cash, choom."
"I'm serious, David. I'll cover it. All you need to do is show up."
The line went quiet for a while before David finally spoke, his voice much softer. "Thanks, Lin... but I'll pass. I appreciate the offer, really."
Lin sighed, not surprised. David was stubborn, the kind of person who didn't accept handouts easily, even from friends.
"David," Lin said after a moment, "you're selling yourself short. Remember what I told you? It's true now as much as ever."
"Maybe you're just some kid trying to make it right now, but one day, you're gonna be a legend."
Lin left the last part unsaid, keeping the thought to himself. And when that day comes, I'll make sure you're part of my crew. We'll set this city on fire.
He had seen enough through the simulations to know that the future wasn't set in stone. Every action they took now could alter the final outcome. But one thing had remained constant in all of the possible futures he had glimpsed—David had the potential for greatness. Even if he needed to cheat or push himself to the edge, David was destined to become something extraordinary.
While the future was still uncertain, Lin believed that David would one day stand among the legends of Night City.
Before Lin could continue his pep talk, Hiroshi suddenly knocked on the table, his expression tense.
"There's gunfire outside," he said, his voice low.