1.

V stood in the dingy parking lot of Lizzie’s, staring at the blue neon sign above the door. There was no sign of the bouncers she usually gave the mail to. She sighed, trying to think of another way to make the delivery.

She was surprised when the door opened for her and equally confused when she entered the empty lobby; no quirky, typical remark about her appearance she usually received when she visited during her downtime with Jackie.

The echo of keys clicking and a frustrated groan came from the room to her left. She timidly stuck her head through the door, knocking on the wall to announce her presence. The woman raised her head and scowled at V, and she instantly recognized her as Suzie Q, the leader of The Mox.

“What do you want?” V winced at her less than welcoming tone.

“I have some post, I would normally give it to the bouncers out front, but they’re not there today.” V held up the letters addressed to the club, and Suzie rolled her eyes.

“Just place it on the desk and get out of here. I’m busy.” V placed the letters down and then rummaged around in her shoulder bag, pulling out a small cardboard package.

“Nuh-uh, whoever that’s for, it’s not staying here. I don’t want it messin’ up my workspace. Who's it addressed to?”

“Erm, Judy Álvarez.”

Suzie pointed towards the door at the other end of her office. “Go through that door, and keep going straight until you’re in the basement. She should be there, probably brooding away.” V nodded before making her way through the dressing room and into the basement.

As V approached the double doors, they slid open, revealing an ample open space filled with a wide array of flashing tech equipment. Two ‘runner chairs basked in light in the middle. It was an impressive setup, and V figured this was the source of Lizzie’s awe-inspiring braindances.

“Can I help you?” V jumped at the sudden question. Her eyes roamed over a woman appearing from the back of the room, taking in her slim build, exciting array of tattoos, and abstract hair. V couldn’t help but appreciate how stunning she was, despite the annoyed scowl on her face.

“I have a parcel for one, Judy Álvarez.” V fumbled through her messenger bag and pulled the box out.

“Oooh, awesome! Must be my new sensory amps.” Judy walked to V, plucked the package from her hand, and sat down in the chair at the desk.

V scanned the room, fascinated. This was clearly where the magic happened, where mediocre erotic braindances were transformed into masterpieces. Her gaze landed back on Judy while she absently scanned through a magazine. Her head rested on her hand, clearly paying no mind to V as she stood awkwardly in the room.

"I'm guessing you're into your tech then?" V commented.

"What, all this?" Judy waved her hand. "Nah, I’m actually a dancer upstairs. I just enjoy the hum of electronics and the cool air during my breaks."

V’s eyes widened. “Really?”

"Haha, sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm the editor. Won't see me dancing up there, well maybe after a few drinks you might, but … that doesn't happen often." Judy winked, and V felt her knees go weak. She needed to leave, mail had to be delivered, and she couldn't deal with the backlash if she didn't meet her quotas for the day.

"It was erm nice meeting you, Miss Álvarez." V awkwardly made her way to the exit while Judy smiled.

"Judy is fine, Postie...." V stopped and timidly looked back.

“V, just V.”

Judy smiled warmly. “Postie V it is then.”

2.

"You know anything about the postwoman?" Judy asked while absently twirling her Broseph, staring at the liquid inside.

Rita eyed her from her bottle, lips already pulling up into a sly smile. Lizzie's was empty. A few Mox milled around preparing for the evening, and ambient music played quietly in the background.

"What about her?" Rita replied, placing her drink on the bar top.

Judy picked at the label on her bottle, processing her thoughts. "How long has she been delivering the mail?"

"About a month. She's a real looker, ain't she? And she does this sweet little thing when we flirt with her. Practically trembles when she hands over the mail with cheeks redder than a whore’s ass. I keep upping the lewdness to see how red she gets." Rita winked and took a large swig.

Judy breathed out a laugh while rolling her eyes. "Where were you today anyway? She wandered into the basement looking like a lost puppy."

"One of the girls needed a hand taking something inside, was gone for like five minutes. Our awkward postie decided to turn up just then. Suzie has already chewed me out for leaving the door unattended."

"I imagine V has a strict schedule." Judy commented, finishing the dregs of her drink. Rita raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"She told you her name? Haha, she barely converses with us. Just blushes, hands the mail over, and deltas out of there as if I'd flat out asked her to fuck me on the floor. Actually… might try that next time, would love to see that reaction." Rita smirked.

"Right. I gotta get back to work, got a backload to sift through. But V just delivered some new tech; I'm eager to try it out." Judy slid off her stool and smoothed out her overalls.

"You like her!" Rita's statement stopped Judy in her tracks, and her hands awkwardly rested on her hips.

"No. She's a good-looking girl, and I'm allowed to admire. You usually tell me all about the eye candy that turns up ever since Maiko."

Rita downed the rest of her drink and jumped off her stool. She picked up her bat, swinging it with practiced ease onto her shoulder.

"Well, I just never thought the postwoman would be of interest to you, but now I'll let y'know when she turns up. Maybe you can ask her to fuck you on th-"

"Rita! I'd rather not drive our new postie away.”

"I'll continue having my fun, though." Rita laughed while walking towards the clubs’ entrance.

3.

V chuckled when she read the name on the delivery slip. It had been three weeks, and Judy had ordered an alarming number of parcels within that time; however she wasn’t delivering to Lizzie’s now.

She stopped at the door, inspected the package confirming that she had the correct address, and pressed the intercom. She could hear some rustling on the other side and then a loud crash, followed by a string of Spanish obscenities. The door slid open, revealing a somewhat flustered Judy.

“V! I didn’t expect you to be delivering this far out.”

“I do cover the whole of Kabuki, Judy. I’m surprised you didn’t get this delivered to Lizzie’s.” V said while handing the package over.

“I have a few days off, and I’m working on a personal project.”

“Anything interesting?”

“Come in and find out.” Judy chuckled and nodded her head towards her apartment. “I can offer you a coffee or something.”

“I’m due my lunch break, so why the hell not.”

The apartment was spacious, larger than her own, and had more personality. She inspected the artwork scattered on the wall, mentally taking note of more of Judy’s interests.

"How'd you take it?"

V's marveling of Judy's apartment was interrupted as her voice cut through the quiet. V shifted towards her shoving her hands into her work jacket pockets.

"Just a splash of milk, please."

"Huh, same as me." Judy smiled before turning around to grab the cups.

V continued studying the apartment, surprised when she saw a large fish tank taking up a segment of the wall.

"Are these fish real?"

"Have you ever seen real fish in Night City?" Judy replied with a hint of amusement while she poured the coffee.

"I suppose not."

Judy walked up to her with a smirk and offered one of the cups.

"Then you've answered your question."

V took the cup with a soft smile and followed as Judy sat on a chair next to a robotic dog. Judy opened the package, and V looked on while she pulled out a small metal circular object.

“V, you know anything about electronics?”

V leaned back on the kitchen counter and took a thoughtful sip of the coffee, eyeing the object in Judy’s hand.

“I know the basics; I know that is a motor, and that big thing on the table is a robot of some sort.”

From her angle, she could just about catch the cheerful eye roll from Judy.

“You’d be correct. I found this little thing in the trash while walking back from work. That was about two months ago, and I’m still struggling to get it up and running.”

“Well, I’m always here if you need help. I don’t think I can help you with the technicalities, but I can hand you tools, make coffee, and offer snacks.” V cemented her offer by leaning forward, picking up a screwdriver, and handing it to Judy, who took it with an amused look. Their fingers grazed, and the slight touch sent a jolt through V’s body.

V’s attention snapped to a sudden alert on her HUD, and she grimaced and stared at the indication informing her that she had been static in one location for over twenty minutes.

“I’ve gotta shoot back to work. Thank you for the coffee, it was lovely, and think about my offer. I'm very good at delivering things to people.” V finished with a smirk, and Judy let out a light chuckle.

“Thank you, V. I’ll see you around.”

V shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and tipped her head before making her exit. Judy watched after her affectionately; when the door slid closed, she inspected the screwdriver V had given her. She laughed, placing it down, and picked up a smaller one which was more suited to the task.

4.

“Well, well, well, if it ain't the delivery girl. What you doing here tonight, sweetcheeks?” Rita swung her bat, pinpointing it at V’s face, and V’s arms twitched at her side to raise.

“Rita, y’know me, this ain’t the first time I’ve come here.”

“True, but it is the first time you’ve wandered up to these doors with me knowin’ your name. So how about it, V, what brings you here tonight?” Rita emphasized her name by jamming the bat into her sternum, and V restrained from reacting.

“Same as every night, Rita. Just wanna unwind from a hard day's work.”

“Oh honey, you could unwind with me. You and that handsome, bulk of a man next to you.”

“He’s just a friend, and you’ve also seen him before.”

“Whatever you say, hot stuff. Doors open; enjoy your time at Lizzie's. And remember, this bat isn’t for decoration.” Rita finished with a wink as V and Jackie walked by her.

Muffled music emitted from the dancefloor when they walked into the main foyer. The ambient sound of frivolous conversation echoed around her from the few patrons who sought refuge in the slightly less chaotic room. V was still surprised when the friendly yet endearing Mox member who ran the foyer didn’t comment on her appearance.

As they passed through the beads into the dancefloor, the bass of the music hit her. It vibrated through her body and rang in her ears. It was almost too much for V to handle until Jackie’s comforting presence leaned into her.

“There’s a spare booth up in the corner. Let’s grab it and order some drinks.”

V nodded and followed Jackie’s massive frame through the crowd. They sat down and signaled to one of the waitresses.

“If that dog chased you for at least a mile till you realized you had a half-eaten synth burrito in your bag, you’d have also been shitting yourself!” Jackie let out a howl of laughter, and V scowled in the corner of the booth as the two of them reminisced.

“Dunno why you’re laughing so much. I remember you asking me to deliver a parcel to Misty because Vik scared you so much.”

“Have you seen the size of his arms? And I’ve felt the blow he can deal when he’s holding back in a ring. Imagine if he was punching out of anger.” Jackie shuddered.

“Hey, V!” A familiar voice caused her body to tense, and her hand tightened around the glass of tequila she had been nursing.

Judy haphazardly sauntered towards them with a lazy smile and an amber colored drink in hand. A knowing smirk spread across Jackie’s face, and V rolled her eyes.

“Is this your boyfriend?” Judy tipped her drink towards Jackie, spilling a small amount onto the table between them.

“If I said yes, what would you say?” V smirked, ignoring the incredulous look from the man himself.

“I’d say you got yourself an absolute catch. I mean, look at the muscles on this guy. I reckon he could give Rita a run for her money.”

V choked on her drink, and Jackie burst into a fit of laughter.

“I don’t think big muscular guys like me are V’s choice, chica.” Jackie replied, slapping V painfully on the back while she recovered from her coughing fit.

“Ah, so you’re more of a scrawny woman or maybe even a dad-bod type of girl?”

“Oh, she likes the ladies alright.” Jackie playfully grinned while V glared at him. She didn’t mind Jackie playing wingman for her; she’d done the same for him with Misty, but she felt like a total gonk and was beginning to regret telling him about Judy.

A flash of shock crossed over Judy’s face, quickly replaced with a sly smile. She placed her drink on the table and offered her hand out to V. V’s eyes flickered between Judy’s hand and her eyes until a nudge from Jackie forced her attention to him. He was still grinning like an idiot, nodding his head enthusiastically towards Judy, and it took V a moment to decipher all the nonverbal gestures. She snapped her head back to Judy, eyes widening when she realized what she was asking.

“Oh, I don’t dance, Judy.” V awkwardly replied.

“There’s a first for everything, V. Come on, unwind a little, and if you’re struggling, I’ll be there to hold your hand through it all.”

V sighed and forced a timid smile. She placed her hand in Judy’s, who lifted her from her seat in a surprising display of strength.

“Plus, I seem to remember you being excited about the prospect of me dancing.” Judy finished with a wink. V had no time to react when she was pulled towards the dancefloor.

Judy navigated her through the bustling group of sweaty bodies in various states of inebriation, and the crowd seemed to part for them as they ventured towards the center of the dancefloor. V had never been able to walk through the crowd at Lizzie’s without some difficulty, but Judy seemed to have an aura that caused everyone to make space for her. V pulled herself away from her surroundings and focussed on Judy’s confident yet comforting touch. She could feel her palm become clammy from the closeness, and her heartbeat began to increase.

Judy stopped abruptly in a small clearing and turned to face V as a popular song came through the speakers. Judy started dancing, her hips flowing rhythmically with the beat, eyes closed as she lost herself in the music. V stared at her, completely mesmerized. Judy opened her eyes and fixed V with a seductive look. It took all of V’s brainpower to start moving. She wasn’t as smooth as Judy was, didn’t have the natural fluidity, and probably needed a few more drinks. But she was enjoying herself, and by the grin on Judy’s face, she was too.

They danced together, carefree as the DJ played a variety of songs. Their bodies came closer during slow romantic numbers, and they shared laughter as V showed off her robot moves.

V’s eyes widened, and her breath hitched when Judy stopped and reached out, placing her hands on her shoulders. V’s eyes cast down to her lips as Judy pulled her close and closed her eyes. Judy’s head skimmed to the side of hers, and she shouted over the music next to her ear.

“I could do with some water!” V grasped her arms, pulling her back so they were face to face, and nodded.

“Sure, let’s head back to the table.”

Jackie was still there absently sipping his drink while staring across the dancefloor. He shot V a suggestive look when she walked up to the table with Judy in tow.

“Was wondering when you two would need a refill. I ordered some water, thought you’d both need some hydration after a heavy dancing session.” He nodded towards the bottles on the table. Judy hastily reached forward to grab one.

“Thanks, choom.” V picked up her own, ignoring the playful wink Jackie threw her way.

“It takes a special chica to convince V to get up and dance. I’ve tried for years.” Jackie directed towards Judy, and she chuckled.

“I don’t think that was the dancing V was hoping for.”

“V would take any type of dancing with you. Beggars can’t be choosers.” Judy looked at V teasingly, and V turned to Jackie in disbelief.

“What the f-”

“Hey, aren’t you the delivery girl that covers Kabuki?” The retort was cut short as a man staggered up to them.

He was dressed in a white shirt, unbuttoned far too low for V’s liking, that hung untidily from his suit trousers. V studied him. The man was more than intoxicated and was using the railing of the booth to steady himself, his face a contortion of anger and suspicion. From the corner of her eye, she could see Jackie sit alert, ready for any confrontation that this should turn into.

“I ordered a parcel two days ago, and it still hasn’t come. What did you do with it, you fuckin’ bitch?” The man slurred and pushed himself off the railing, poking V in the chest. She turned her head away from the putrid stench of his breath.

“Not my problem, I just deliver anything that is given to me. If you have an issue, I suggest you raise it with the Night City Mail Department.” V replied in an authoritative tone. The man's finger still hadn’t left V’s chest, and he was continuing to put a growing amount of pressure on it; V figured it was to keep himself upright.

“I have a problem, and I’m raising it with you. So, give me my fucking parcel!”

“Alright, that’s enough. She’s told you where to go, back off, or every Mox in here will be on you.” V was just as shocked at Judy’s interruption as the man currently using her as a balancing beam. His face twisted into a dark sadistic smile as his gaze scanned up Judy’s body.

“I wouldn’t mind you being on me.”

If Judy had a reply, she wasn’t fast enough. V’s right fist connected with the man's jaw, and he staggered ungracefully backward onto his ass. Jackie appeared by her side in an instant, ready to pitch in if the man tried to retaliate; however, he seemed pretty content laying on the stairs, moaning and clutching his face.

She turned to face Judy and saw several Mox members converging on their location. V grimaced, unsure of what had overcome her, but would do it again in a heartbeat.

“Who’d have thought that the postie can deliver a punch just as well as she delivers a package.” Rita used her bat to nudge the guy on the floor, which earned her a muffled moan.

“You two.” Rita pointed her bat between Jackie and V. “You know the rules, time for you to leave.”

V looked to Judy, her eyes alive with worry.

“I’m sorry, Judy.”

Judy looked up from the man on the floor with a small smile and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it, V. Guy was seconds from getting punched by me anyway. You were just faster.”

They shared a quiet laugh before Rita forcibly pulled V toward the exit.

“I’ll see you around, Postie V.” Judy called out.

“I’m sure you will, Techie Judy.” V grinned back.

5.

“As of today, each of you will be required to wear the new Night City Mail Department uniforms. Not much has changed except we now have branded hats.” Mr. Feedpex, V and Jackie’s supervisor, held up the awful-looking hat. V cringed at the reveal. It was bright yellow with the department’s acronym written all over in comic sans, an absolute crime to every fashion rule that existed.

“If you are found not to be wearing this, there will be serious repercussions. These can include docked pay, forced leave without pay, and, in extreme circumstances, termination. In addition, a notice to the public has been distributed; if they see a member of the NCMD incorrectly dressed, they have been encouraged to report it. In return, they will receive a discounted premium membership or cash equivalent. You will follow these rules by the book, as is the way at NCMD." He finished, and a cult-like chorus of “as is the way” echoed around them. V sighed. The people of Night City would jump at any opportunity to make quick cash; there was no way she was getting out of this.

When they arrived at their lockers to prepare for the day, Jacke pulled out the hat first and placed it on his head.

"What do you think, V?" He accompanied his words by conducting a gracious twirl as if showing off a dress. V picked up the hat in her locker, staring at it in disgust.

"It's fucking horrible, Jackie. Not only does it break every fashion rule, but it also singles us out. I don't like being so obvious on the street."

Jackie raised his eyebrows. “The trucks don’t do that already?”

“The trucks have security on them; at least I know if someone were to attempt anything, the turret system would kick in, and I could make a quick getaway. With this-” V held up the hat between them and waved it around,” I stand out like a sore thumb asking to be robbed.”

“You worry too much, chica.”

“I’m just cautious, that’s all.” V threw on her jacket and hat and inspected herself in her small locker mirror, entirely dissatisfied with her outfit. Jackie stared at her with a silly grin, and she suddenly felt like a child again as her mother watched her try on ill-fitting clothes she’d picked out.

She sighed as she closed her locker, said her goodbyes to Jackie, and made her way out to her truck.

The day had been torturously slow for V. She checked the time, disappointed at how late it was. Luckily she was on her last parcel of the day. She felt giddy as she read over the details of the last package on her datapad. Of course, Judy had ordered another parcel; it had become a common occurrence over the past month. V never complained; it was always a highlight of her day when she turned up to Lizzie’s, and Rita had begun to let her personally deliver to Judy. It was always accompanied with a teasing smirk and lewd comment.

Rita’s eyes widened in shock when she spotted her, and her eyebrows raised in a questioning manner.

“I should straight up refuse you entry for that shit show on your head, but I know I’d never hear the end of it if Judy didn’t receive her package from you personally.” Rita’s eyes glowed blue, and the front door slid open. “Remember hot stuff, only delivering parcels, not punches. Although, I’d love an excuse to manhandle you again.” Rita finished with a smirk, and V shot her an awkward smile.

“I promise I’ll behave myself, Rita.”

The route to Judy’s basement had become second nature to V, and she’d learned about the back way after unsuccessfully attempting to go through Suzie’s office again. She’d received an extreme berating, almost akin to a guard dog. When she passed through the dressing room, she used the opportunity to check herself over and opted to take the hat off.

She entered Judy’s workspace and found the woman reclining in her chair, one leg resting on her desk and her custom wreath around her head. Her hand was drawing delicate patterns in the air, and her eyes were closed, but the optic displays' bright lights danced across her face. She looked at peace, clearly in her element. There wasn’t the slightest sign that she was aware that V was in the room. It was intoxicating, and V couldn’t help the warm smile that crept across her lips; she could watch her work like this all day.

As calming and enjoyable as it was, it was, admittingly, slightly creepy. V cleared her throat.

Judy’s eyes fluttered open, and they darted around the room unfocused while she adjusted to the change. An irresistible smile spread across her face when they landed on V, and a slight hint of pink warmed her cheeks.

“Postie V, how long have you been stood there?” Judy removed the wreath from her head, letting it rest around her neck, the simple action having V’s eyes lingering.

“I just got here.”

Judy smirked as her eyes scanned her.

“I believe you’re incorrectly dressed. Oh, imagine the fun I could have with a discounted premium NCMD membership or the extra eddies I could get from just from snitching on you.”

V placed her hand over her heart.

“You wouldn’t dare?”

“It can’t be that bad, can it?”

V sighed and reached into her bag. “Fine, but promise you won’t give me too much shit.”

She placed the atrocious garment on her head and looked at Judy.

“Oh. Oh.” Judy placed her hands over her mouth, and her eyes widened in amusement. V could see the corners of her lips quirk up, trying to contain her laughter.

V crossed her arms and turned her head, focussing on the neon Lizzie’s sign above Judy’s desk.

“Go on, laugh it up.”

It was nice to hear Judy’s laugh, even if it was at her expense. It was a pleasant change from the stoic members of Night City she usually delivered to.

“It’s worse than I thought it was gonna be. Are they really insisting you wear that at all times?”

“Yeah, it’s demoralizing, and if we’re caught without it, we can get our pay docked or potentially fired.”

“Oof, that’s rough.”

“What were you working on anyway? You looked a little flustered when you came out.” V replied, taking the hat off and placing it in her bag.

“Smut.” Judy deadpanned.

It was V’s turn to be flustered. She was aware the braindances Lizzie’s provided were for a euphoric experience; she just didn’t expect such a straightforward answer.

“Do you ever work on anything else besides heightened orgasms?” V kicked herself as soon as the question left her mouth. Her cheeks flared up, and it didn’t help that Judy was giving her a teasing look.

“No, but I’m pretty good at those.” Judy couldn’t resist. V rolled her eyes; she had walked into that one.

“So, what other types of braindances are there?”

Judy gave her a skeptical look. “Have you not seen other braindances?”

“Well, I have, but I must have been around twelve years old. It didn’t really blow me away, and I haven’t dabbled in them since.”

“You’re fucking with me, right? You’re always in Lizzie’s.”

“To relax and unwind, not to sit and get off in the middle of a club with dozens of people watching.”

Judy’s foot fell from the table, landing with a thud, and she slapped her thighs with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes.

“If you have the time, I could show you a decent one right now.”

“It’s my last delivery of the day, so why the hell not.”

“Saving your best till last,” Judy smirked when she stood up. “Hop up on the chair, and I’ll set up some calibrations, then we’ll let you dive in.”

V made her way to the ‘runner chair and attempted to get comfortable, which was difficult with Judy moving around her and fixing the wreath on her head. When Judy had confirmed everything was secure, she put V through a quick calibration.

“Everything looks good. I’ve got a short vacation roll I can put you in to really experience what braindances have to offer.” Judy popped up from behind her array of monitors, and V’s heart skipped a beat; it was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.

“Sounds great; fire her up.”

The screens in front of V’s eyes flashed sporadically before she was immersed in a new world.

She was standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, spanning the entire length of the room that overlooked a city she did not recognize. The city glow was unlike anything she had seen before. There weren’t any neon signs assaulting her eyes or evidence of the chaos that normally roamed the streets. It was peaceful.

She looked at her faint reflection in the glass, appreciating the curves of her body. It was a stark contrast from what she usually saw. Her skin was darker, her hair a more vibrant shade of red. She was slightly shorter, and her eyes were a bright ocean blue instead of her natural green.

The flow of water stopped from a nearby source, and her emotions were suddenly overwhelmed. She turned her head to the soft sound of footsteps that echoed around the room. Her eyes lingered on a man as he exited the bathroom, and his impressive physique was enhanced by the shimmering water that dripped from him. Her eyes roamed across his midriff and down towards the towel that draped across his hips.

“Enjoying the view?” The man smirked, and she started an enhanced strut towards him.

“More than you can ever imagine.” Her voice was foreign, but the attraction wasn’t. She could feel every fiber of her being pulled towards this man, but she didn’t find it odd. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and they met in a heated kiss, the scent of his shower gel sending sparks straight to her core. He tugged at her hair and attacked her neck, moans emitting from her throat, and could feel her arousal building as he continued his assault towards her breasts.

Something wasn’t right. Judy studied the screens in front of her that measured V’s vitals, among a few other things. Her heart rate steadily increased along with her breathing; this was a roll in Canada overlooking a lake while on horseback, and her reaction didn’t match the experience. She scanned over the code and double-checked the stream to ensure nothing was wrong.

“Mierda!”

She had loaded ‘C-H-1’ not ‘C-L-1’. She debated whether to pull V out. It was a scroll she had put a lot of effort into, one that would show V the full potential of braindance. She remembered the actor was more interested in the room service order they had placed prior to this escapade and had spent countless hours navigating her thoughts and emotions.

With a heavy sigh, she intervened; it wasn’t fair to keep V locked in.

“V, don’t be alarmed. It’s me, Judy. This isn’t a part of the scroll. I may have put you in the wrong one, so I’m going to take you out. It will feel a little sudden and weird, but you'll be fine.” V didn’t react physically, but Judy noticed her heart rate increase at the sound of her voice.

V felt disorientated as the scene she was in slowly faded around her, and the basement of Lizzie’s came into view. Her breathing was heavy, and her emotions were in turmoil. The braindance was leagues above what she had experienced as a teenager, and she was slightly disappointed Judy had taken her out.

Judy was leaning on the arm of the chair and her eyes alive with concern as they searched V’s face.

“Hey, slow deep breaths, you’re fine and here with me.” Judy softly reassured and placed her hand on V’s shoulder, the gentle touch doing nothing for V’s breathing. Their stare lingered for a second before Judy averted her eyes and made her way to her desk.

“Sorry about that, smut isn’t exactly a great reentrant into the braindance world. I can let you dive into another if you’re willing to give it another go?”

A sheepish smile graced Judy’s face, and V felt determined to comfort her.

“Are you kidding? That was preem! Those few minutes I experienced were incredible, and I’d be more than happy to try out all of your work, smut included.”

Judy’s smile spread into an embarrassed grin, and V’s heart fluttered at the small expression.

“You’re too kind, V. However, you weren’t in for a few minutes; it’s been almost thirty.”

“Shit. I need to get going before they send out the mail recovery team.”

V jumped out of the chair, pulled the wreath off with care, and handed it to Judy. She grabbed her bag and shoved her hands in her pockets.

“Thank you for this. It’s nice to experience a master's art. See you soon, Techie Judy.”

“Don't forget your hat, Postie V.” Judy chuckled.

6.

V clutched onto the small envelope with clammy hands and could feel beads of sweat trickling down her forehead while she stood on the perimeter of Lizzie's parking lot. Rita stood guard, as usual, eyes roaming the area as she swung her bat.

It was just a letter, a simple confession of her feelings, and an invitation. She could do this. She took a deep breath and walked up to the door.

Rita smirked when she strolled closer. “Hey, Punchin’ Postie. Judy hasn’t informed me that she’d be receiving any parcels today.”

“No, parcel today, just a letter.” V waved the envelope around, and Rita eyed her skeptically.

“Is it addressed to her?”

“Yeah, has her name on and everything.”

Rita continued to stare her down, and V felt incredibly small under her gaze. She sighed in relief when Rita’s eyes flashed blue, and the door behind her slid open.

“Alright, in you go. Word of warning. Judy isn’t in the best of moods at the moment, think Susie just chewed her out but seeing you might cheer her up.”

V nodded and made her way to the basement. In a twist of the norm, the muffled music wasn’t coming from the main floor but from Judy’s den.

As the doors slid open, she was assaulted by the loud electropunk of Perilous Futur with no Judy insight.

“Judy!” V shouted over the music and got no response. She scanned over her computer; it was still on, so she couldn’t have gone far. She debated leaving the letter on her desk and disappearing, avoiding the awkward meeting.

“V?”

V jumped at the sound of Judy’s voice.

“Fucking hell, you scared the shit outta me.”

Judy chuckled. Her eyes flashed blue, and the music faded to background noise.

“What are you doing here? I haven’t ordered any parcels yet.”

V eyed her suspiciously. “Yet?”

“Well, I haven’t ordered anything I need - yet.” V watched Judy’s cheeks tinge with a slight shade of pink, and she would have laughed if she wasn’t so nervous.

“It’s just a letter today. I, erm, I thought I’d deliver it to you.” V placed the letter down on Judy’s desk. “You look super busy, so I’m gonna delta. See you soon, Judy.” V shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and made a hasty exit as Judy watched in bewilderment.

“Uh, see you soon…Postie V.”

Judy walked to her desk and picked the letter up. Her name spanned the small space in simple handwriting, but Lizzie's address didn't accompany it.

She pulled her seat up, placed her feet on the desk, and opened it. She smiled when she read the familiar pet name.

Judy’s cheeks hurt by the time she had finished reading the letter. She glanced at the clock on her screen - 16:00. Maybe a trip to Gold Beach wasn’t such a bad idea, but there was still work to be done and she had to finish it after her meeting with Suzie.

She placed the letter in her desk draw and jumped into editing her backlog of work with a smile on her face.

7.

After delivering her letter, V had spent the last few days alone at the harbor. She'd avoided seeing Judy, handing the mail to Rita with her constant barrage of suspicious questioning. She didn't linger, usually whipping up a plausible excuse before making a hasty exit.

She'd had been disheartened the first day when Judy didn’t show up, ready to express her feelings for V. The possibility of Judy never showing always sat heavy in her mind. Still, V was patient, and if she never accepted her invite, she could deal with that.

She gazed across the water, watching the pretentious corpos sail by while she meandered with her thoughts.

“Y’know, it’s dangerous for a pretty girl to be sitting alone in a city like this.” V jumped slightly, but smirked at the familiar voice.

“Well, I’m not alone now, am I?”

Judy scoffed and stepped uneasily to the end of the bench, placing her hand on her hip.

“I could just be passing through, providing a cautious warning.” Judy remarked.

“I don’t think you’d come so far out of your way to provide cautious warnings. Stop humoring me, and come take a seat.”

V gestured towards the empty spot next to her with a tip of her head. Judy accepted the gesture and sat next to her. She gazed out over the water, appreciating the quiet murmur of the city in the background and the slight smell of salt that hung in the air.

“I’m glad you came.” V’s soft voice interrupted the silence that had enveloped them. Judy started to twiddle her thumbs.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, I just had a lo-”

“Ah, don’t be sorry. People have to think things through. I would never hold that against you, and as I said, I’m here every day after six. Well, I actually wrote that, but y’know what I mean.” V timidly finished.

Judy laughed quietly, enjoying the view of the space station in front of them; she turned to look at V, eyes roaming over her striking features while she stared across the water.

“You’re a very easy-going person, V.”

“You’re an easy person to be around. And now that I’ve said that out loud, it contradicts everything I wrote in that letter. To be honest, I didn’t actually plan anything I was gonna say if you turned up, I must look like a gonk.” V fixed her eyes on the floor and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

“What letter?” Judy’s eyebrows scrunched together in feigned confusion, and V turned wide, panicked eyes towards her. To Rita’s credit, it was fun seeing V so flustered, but reading V’s body posture, she was clearly nervous, and Judy wasn’t a sadist.

“I’m joking, V. I got your letter, wouldn’t have found this place if I didn’t, and you personally delivered it. Too much of a wimp to ask me on a date face to face.” Judy smirked.

V let out a sigh of relief and started to relax. She stared across the water again, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Just like I wrote, funny.” V turned to face her, that small adorable smile still there. Judy felt her stomach become weightless. She willed her own emotions not to be so evident and fixed V with a teasing smile.

“What else did you write?”

V looked up in a recalling manner before casting her eyes back towards the space station.

“Intelligent. I bet you can tell me everything about that space shuttle over there.”

Judy followed V’s gaze.

“I couldn’t tell you everything, but I do know that they launch at least eight per hour and that they use braindances to train the ones that have pilots. I’d like to make braindances that help people someday, not just ones that are only good for flogging log.”

Judy stopped herself from rambling any longer, suddenly aware of how easy it was to open up to V about her ambitions and future dreams. From the corner of her eye, she could see that V was looking at her.

“Inspiring and determined. We both know that you’re more than capable of achieving those dreams, shoot for the stars.” V finished with a grin, and Judy rolled her eyes whilst playfully nudging her shoulder.

“That was terrible, and you know it. You’re such a gonk.” Judy laughed.

“Hotheaded?” V inquired, and Judy shot her a wry smile.

“You haven’t seen a completely hotheaded Judy yet.”

“I’d like to.”

V was surprised at how fast the retort was, the words not fully comprehended in her mind before they left her mouth. A sense of dread enveloped her at the shocked expression that fleeted over Judy’s face before her lips quirked up.

“Flirtatious. Are you flirting with me, V?” V matched Judy’s expression and leaned in, accepting the challenge.

“You started it.”

“Oh, and you think I’m the one that should finish it?” Judy leaned in closer, and V watched as her eyes glanced down to her lips. She was certain she could hear her heartbeat thundering in her chest.

“Only if you want to.” V shrugged absently, trying to appear calm.

“I could never stop flirting with you, V.”

"Cute. You have no idea what you do to me." V husked.

"Then show me."

V slowly raised her hand, and tentative fingertips traced Judy’s jaw before settling on her cheek. Judy’s eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned into V’s touch, enjoying the warm feeling that flowed through her body at the small but loving gesture.

“Beautiful, Judy. You’re so god damn fucking beautiful.” V whispered, and a jolt shot through Judy’s body, her eyes slowly opened, locking with V’s.

V moved in close enough that there were only millimeters between them. There was no hesitation when she brushed her lips against the soft ones that she’d stared at and dreamed about more than once.

V's eyes closed as her lips crashed against Judy’s. A satisfied sigh escaped her as she took in the other woman’s soft touch and divine taste. She tilted her head to let her lips slide against’s Judy’s, capturing her bottom lip in a gentle nip.

Judy responded immediately with a slight whimper and let her fingers slide into V’s hair, pulling her closer. The kiss was the result of months of built-up tension, made evident by the urgency and tenderness of their reactions. V opened her eyes when she pulled away, just far enough to see the brightness and arousal in those brown eyes and feel Judy’s erratic breath fan over her face.

She broke out into an impossible grin, and Judy quirked an eyebrow.

“What?”

V chuckled softly. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long, and you only made it harder by ordering all those fucking packages.”

Judy snickered as she stood up, and entwined her fingers with V’s, pulling her up off the bench. She leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on V’s cheek.

“Well, I could be the one delivering things to you tonight. I’ll be Postie Judy.”

V broke into laughter before looking at Judy fondly.

“And I’ll be Techie V.”

~SLUT~