Work Text:
Nobody (Featuring V)
Judy removed her braindance wreath and editing glove. Frustrated and annoyed, she rubbed her temples. Gotta think, gotta think …
She had been contemplating her idea for weeks, tinkering with virtus, trying to figure out how to scroll two actors’ experiences at the same time. She knew she could do it, and she was certain that she had found the right person to scroll it with. Now it was just a matter of putting the pieces together, to figure out how to make the tandem scroll work.
She tried a few different things already, but there was always interference; too many sensations, especially.
Judy rolled away from her equipment and took a huge stretch. She’d been working for hours, playing around with virtus and experimenting. Nothing was working how she wanted it to.
It was a genius idea, she knew it. She had a clear idea about what she was going to do, she just needed to figure out how to do it. However, staring at screens and tinkering wouldn’t do the trick. She needed to clear her mind, get some air and focus on something else.
Often, mundane tasks would help. Once her mind was clear, she was able to stop thinking and just let the answer come.
It was still frustrating. Sometimes, stepping away felt like giving up.
The project wasn’t the only thing on her mind. She’d also been thinking about that night non-stop, the night that Tom and Roxanne stormed Clouds and kicked the Tyger Claws out. The night the dolls re-gained control of Clouds.
The night that V eliminated Hiromi Sato and the Tyger Claw bosses and spared Maiko, despite Maiko’s betrayal.
The night that Judy kissed V on her cheek and thanked the mercenary for helping out.
Judy was still surprised that V wouldn’t accept her payment. Judy told herself that V was just being kind, that she was just helping out. Judy didn’t want to admit why she hoped V turned down her payment.
For days, she thought of V. She thought about the tandem scroll. Once she figured the tech part out, Judy wanted to do the tandem scroll with V.
But first, she needed to figure out how she would do it, how she’d create a braindance using two actors’ experiences and include their emotions without too much interference.
She needed to get out of the apartment. Thankfully, she had a good reason to get out - she needed to do laundry. Her own machine wasn’t working, so until the parts arrived to fix her own washing machine, Judy had to leave the apartment and find a laundromat.
Judy loaded her laundry in a duffle bag and headed downstairs. She tossed the bag in her van and drove to the closest laundromat that was still open. It was three AM. There was one that was fairly close and still open. It was over in Little China, so the drive gave Judy a chance to clear her head and focus on something else.
* * *
Three AM was the perfect time to do laundry. V didn’t want to deal with people; she just wanted to get her shit done and not be bothered by anyone.
There were a few people inside of the laundromat, but everyone minded their own business. Music played in the background, providing white noise to fill the silence in the fairly quiet, fairly empty space.
As V worked, Johnny materialized and sat on top of one of the folding tables.
Johnny said, “Gotta be honest, V. I think a lot about taking over the body and having another night out on the town.”
“Oh, I know,” answered V. “I can feel it. It’s like a fuckin’ itch I can’t scratch. Just do me a favor and calm your thoughts. Those goddamn pills make me tired as shit. Don’t make me pop another one.” V rubbed her head. The throbbing pain from the steady headaches wasn’t going anywhere; rather, it was getting worse. Johnny’s annoying presences, coupled with his engram stored on the Relic, were seeping into her brain, causing irreparable damage that was only getting worse.
She needed answers. She needed to get better.
She also needed clean clothes.
At least she could do something about that last part.
Johnny stayed quiet until a familiar, old song came on the radio. V felt Johnny’s desire to do something gonk - he wanted to sing a duet.
V quietly said, “Ugh, really?!”
Johnny hopped off of the table and leaned onto one of the washing machines. “C’mon, V! It’s a great song. And it’ll be fun. You could use a good singin’. It’ll make you feel better. And it’s three o’clock in the morning. No one’ll give a shit.”
V sighed and quietly said, “Fine.”
She did like to sing, and it would be a fun way to think about something else for a few minutes. Plus as soon as she agreed, the throbbing in her head from the headache temporarily subsided. Now it was just a dull pain.
“I’ll take Keith’s parts of the song. You jump in when it’s Athena’s turn.”
V rolled her eyes. “Yeah figured you’d take his parts and I’d take hers. Plus he does most of the singin’.”
Johnny replied, “But she has the best vocal parts. When she comes in? Fuckin’ shimra!”
Johnny did have a point. The female vocals of the song really were the best. Especially after the refrain from the second chorus.
The fifteen second intro played, and Johnny was up first.
(Johnny singing)
I wanna tease you
I wanna please you
I wanna show you baby
That I need you
I want your body
‘Til the very last drop
I want you to holler
When you want me to stop
And who can love you like me (Nobody)
Who can sex you like me (Nobody)
Who can treat you like me my baby (Nobody)
Nobody, baby (Nobody)
And who can do it like me (Nobody)
Who can give ya whatcha need (Nobody)
Who can do you all night long (Nobody)
Nobody, baby (Nobody)
When it was V’s turn to sing, she quietly mumbled the lyrics. Naturally, Johnny could hear her; or rather, he could both feel her thoughts and hear her mumble-singing along.
(V singing)
I want the night
For me and you
So come here, baby
And let me do it to you
Don’t be afraid
Cuz I won’t bite
I promise to give it to you just the way you like
V started to get into it, and instead of mumbling along, she actually
sang
. She was actually singing along and getting into it.
And who can love you like me (Nobody)
Who can sex ya like me (Nobody)
Who can lay your body down (Nobody)
Nobody baby (Nobody)
And who can treat ya like me (Nobody)
Who can give ya whatcha need (Nobody)
And who can do you all night long? (Nobody)
Nobody baby (Nobody)
And the band keeps playin’ on
(
Johnny and V together)
On, on, on, and on, on
On, on, on, and on, on
On, on, on, and on, on
(V)
Nobody, baby
(Johnny)
C’mon, baby
(
Johnny and V together)
On, on, on, and on, on
On, on, on, and on, on
On, on, on, and on, on
At that point, V was feeling much,
much
better. She reluctantly admitted to herself - and of course Johnny experienced the thought as well, since their thoughts were shared - that he was right. It really did make her feel better; she was feeling physically relieved from the headache, and her spirits were lifted.
Johnny was elated, and V felt Johnny’s elation. He really did miss singing, and having the experience with V made him feel like he had a piece of his life back, even if for just a moment.
This experience, even if it was in a laundromat at three o’clock in the morning, made him happy. Johnny was actually happy.
V felt happy for him, felt happy with him. And it really was fun. She was enjoying herself.
So when the next verse started, she really started getting into it.
This was it. This was the best part of the song.
Johnny’s energy was thrilling. He was actually giddy.
(Johnny)
I want you
Right now
For my lover
V knew what was coming next. The best part of the song. She was about to sing the best part of the song, so she thought, fuck it.
She went for it. V loudly belted out her parts.
(V)
OH YES I DO!
(Johnny)
Place no one above you
(V)
OH YES I DO-O-OOO-OOOOOH!
(Johnny)
If you need love
I’ll be right there
I’ll be right there, baby
(V)
OH YES I WILL!
OOOOO-OOH-OOOH-OHH!
V tossed her clothes down on the table and sang the rest of the song with all her heart and soul, finishing the last lyrics in a duet with Johnny.
(V and Johnny)
And who can love you like me baby (Nobody)
Who can sex your body like me baby (Nobody)
Who can do it like me my baby (Nobody)
No, no, no (nobody but me)
Who can lay you down just like me (Nobody)
Who can kiss you all over your body baby (Nobody)
Who can laugh, who can cry and drive you crazy (Nobody)
Oh yeah, baby! (Nobody)
I want to know who can love you like me baby (Nobody)
Nobody but me (Nobody)
Who can treat your body as good as me baby (Nobody)
Who can get you down and just do it like me baby? (Nobody)
Nobody but me
As the song ended, V let out an enormous belly laugh. She felt ecstatic. That felt amazing .
“Now THAT had some soul, V! I’d let you fill in for me with Samurai any day!”
V laughed. “Fuck, Johnny. That felt really good.” She was speaking to him out loud, but she didn’t care. It was three AM and they were the only ones in the laundromat. “Thanks, choomba.”
Johnny grinned and answered, “Anytime. Hey, so I’ve got an idea, actually-”
“Not this shit with Kerry Eurodine again, Johnny. Not again.”
“It’s just a thought!”
V shook her head as she finished folding her laundry. “Fine. I’ll think about it. No promises!”
“Nova,” Johnny replied.
* * *
Judy finished doing her laundry and packed everything back into the van before she realized that she forgot her laundry detergent in the laundromat. It wasn’t a big deal, but something told her to go back and get it.
And that’s when she heard the singing. It was sort of quiet and mumble-like at first, but then it built into a crescendo until it became downright epic.
“OH YES I DO-O-OOO-OOOOOH!”
“OH YES I WILL!”
“OOOOO-OOH-OOOH-OHH!”
Whoever was singing was signing their fucking guts out. And she wasn’t bad!
Judy didn’t want to disrupt the performance, so she stayed low as she turned the corner to sneak a peek.
She covered her mouth when she realized that it was V.
Judy hid back behind the wall and kept her hand over her mouth.
Holy. Fucking. Shit. V can sing, Judy thought to herself.
After the song was over, Judy heard V talking.
“Fuck, Johnny. That felt really good. Thanks, choomba... Not this shit with Kerry Eurodine again, Johnny. Not again...Fine. I’ll think about it. No promises!”
V was talking to Johnny.
Then, she got it. Judy figured it out.
The key to the tandem scroll was to isolate specific sensations .
Now that she had her answer, she just needed to refine and fine-tune her equipment and prepare for the scroll.
And, most importantly, ask the other actor to take part in the experience.
Judy knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that V was the one.
And after hearing V sing, Judy couldn’t help but wonder about the potential of their experience. Of course, if V agreed to it.
Judy quietly sneaked out of the laundromat and got back into her van. She couldn’t wait to call V. She couldn’t wait to share the experience with her.
Where it would lead them, that was the most exciting part.
Later that day, Judy made the call.
V agreed to do the scroll with her.
As Judy packed her wetsuit, she thought about how preem the scroll would be, how fascinating the experience would be, and of course, she wondered what would happen.
She then thought about the lakeside bungalow and realized that it would be a great staging area for them to set up her tech.
She then grinned when she realized she still had the authorization code to access the inside of the bungalow.
Judy thought about what she said to V when V asked if it was a date.
“Guess you’ll have to find out. We’ll have to.”
She was excited to see how the experiment would lead, and what might come from it.
For both the braindance as well as whatever could potentially happen with V.