#Have some Vicentije lore

[foxs0x]

I've been trying to roleplay Vicentije better now that I've fleshed him out more during my fanfic. It’s been interesting to explore how his choices differ from my last playthrough and how his character has evolved.

More thoughts below the cut 👇

For example, he killed Oda. It wasn’t something he relished, but Vicentije operates on a “kill or be killed” mentality. In Night City, there’s no room for mercy or idealism. In V's words, "that's some gonk-ass shit!". It’s purely about survival. He told Takemura as much - that Oda was a loose end. It was a ruthless and cold decision, and while he didn’t feel good about it, he also felt it was necessary.

When Arasaka soldiers and Adam Smasher stormed the abandoned apartment to take Hanako back, Vicentije didn’t try to save Takemura. The truth is, he never fully trusted him. He liked Takemura, but in the end, Takemura’s loyalty to Arasaka was a red flag he couldn’t ignore. After all, Takemura was Saburo’s bodyguard! Vicentije couldn’t bring himself to risk everything for someone still devoted to Arasaka, when they're ruining his life and the lives of many others.

Vicentije feels terrible about Takemura’s death, though. The growing body count around him is a weight he carries every day.

One question lingers in his mind, though. Was he always this capable of being so ruthless? Or is it the result of Johnny’s influence infecting his personality?

At this point, he realises the line between who he is, and who Johnny is, feels increasingly blurred.

As for his appearance, Vicentije was always flashy, before the Tower ending. He took pride in his cyberware and loved being noticed for his looks. Handsome and confident, he dyed his hair often, wore makeup, showed off his tattoos, and had more clothes than what he knew what to do with. But everything changed after the coma. His hair is back to its natural brown, his Kiroshi optics are replaced with synth-ganic hazel eyes — the same color he was born with — and he traded his style for a much simpler look, deliberately avoiding anything that might make him stand out.

His story in End Transmission is about rediscovering his confidence without cyberware or being a mercenary.

In this roleplay, it's obviously set before all that, but it's leading into it. V is desperate, cunning and ruthless to his enemies. To his friends, he will drop everything to help them, however.

[foxs0x]

Go With The Flow

A Jackie and V oneshot

('Go With The Flow' - Queens of the Stone Age)

The noodle bar outside Megabuilding H10 was always packed, its mix of cheap eats and decent synth sauce always drawing locals and drifters alike. V sat hunched over his bowl, swirling the noodles with his chopsticks. Across from him, Jackie was all grins, scarfing down his bowl like he’d never see food again.

"Choom, I'm telling you — Dexter DeShawn” He said, jabbing his chopsticks at V. "Fat black Jesus of the Afterlife - only one of the best fixers this city’s ever seen. You land a gig with him, you’re not just some cyberpunk scrounging for scraps. You’re somebody.”

V tilted his head, trying to keep the smirk on his face from slipping into a frown. Jackie’s energy was contagious — always was — but something didn’t sit right. Maybe it was Dex himself. The guy had been off the grid for two years, and everyone knew he got his whole crew iced. 

"Yeah, I don’t know about this, Jackie," V said. "Two years in the wind isn’t just a holiday, it’s exile. And now he’s just… back? Feels off to me."

Jackie shrugged, unbothered as always. "C’mon, V. Guy’s a legend. You don’t stay down unless you’re weak, and Dex ain’t weak. You get in with him, people notice."

"Yeah? What about his last crew, what do they think?" V shot back. "Y’know, the ones who are all dead?"

Jackie paused just long enough for V to think he’d scored a point, then chuckled. "Every gig’s got risks, mano. High risk, high reward, that’s the biz. You’re actin’ like this is your first job."

"Just sayin’," V muttered. Jackie’s optimism could steamroll right over you if you let it, and maybe V didn’t want to fight it. Deep down, he knew part of him wanted Jackie to be right.

"Hey, all jobs get bloody, V. You know that. You move on, get up, keep walking. Like I said, that’s the biz."

"Yeah," V muttered, staring at his bowl. "That’s the biz."

But it wasn’t just the Dex thing that was gnawing at him. Six months back in Night City, and it already felt like home and a trap all at once. Atlanta felt like a fever dream now — just him and his ex, trying to find a slice of happiness and outrun whatever demons Night City threw at them. Didn’t work out, obviously.

"Yo, V, you listening?" Jackie’s voice cut through the haze.

"Hm? Yeah, I’m listening."

"You gotta lighten up. Can’t just sit here worrying about what might happen. You feel me?"

V sighed, finally twirling his chopsticks through the noodles and taking a bite. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great. "Guess you’re right. Just… somethin’ about this one stinks."

"Yeah, well, when doesn’t it stink? Ain’t like this city runs on good vibes and clean hands." His smile softened. "But we got this, choom. Me and you? Ain’t nothin’ we can’t handle."

"Yeah, okay."

Jackie reached over and clapped him on the shoulder, grinning like it was all already settled. "That’s the spirit! Me and you, mano — ain’t no stoppin’ us now!"

V let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "You’re cute, Jackie. Real cute."

Jackie froze mid-slurp, his grin twisting into something more teasing. "Cute? Oh, damn, V. You hittin’ on me now?"

V kept his smirk steady, eyes on his bowl, but his thoughts were already spiralling. Did Jackie know?

"Don’t flatter yourself." He deadpanned.

Jackie laughed, big and loud, and V forced himself to chuckle along. It wasn’t the first time they had joked like that — little comments here and there, nothing serious. 

"Just don’t let this job with Dex, whatever it is, go to your head."

“I’m not, I swear!”

It didn’t matter what V said anyway. Jackie was Jackie — big heart, big dreams, big enough to fill any space he walked into. And V? He was still figuring out who he was and what the hell he even wanted.

“Mhm.” V sighed, letting the argument go. Jackie wasn’t gonna budge, and truth be told, he didn’t want him to. If the big guy believed in this gig, maybe his optimism was enough to curb his cynicism for now.

They sat in silence for a minute, the hum of the city filling the air between them. Then Jackie’s voice broke through, sly and casual. 

"So," He said, dragging the word out. "Any chicas — or chicos — in your life these days?"

V’s stomach twisted. "Nah," he said quickly, keeping his voice even. "Nothin’ like that."

Jackie tilted his head, his grin beginning to feel like a spotlight. "You sure? You’re not still hung up on your ex, are you?"

The mention of his ex made V’s jaw tighten. He set his chopsticks down carefully and leaned back on his stool to fold his arms. “That’s ancient history, Jack."

Jackie raised his hands. "Alright, alright. No need to get prickly, choom. You deserve somethin’ good, y’know? Someone to come home to. Ain’t all about the hustle all the time."

V stared at his bowl, the noodles limp and suddenly unappetising. "Not lookin’ for that right now," he said. "Got enough on my plate without the kinda mess a relationship could bring."

Jackie didn’t push, and V was grateful for that. He always seemed to know when to back off.

"What about you?" V asked, changing the subject. "You and Misty still solid?"

The grin was back on Jackie’s face in full force. "Oh, you know it, mano. I been thinkin’…" He hesitated, scratching his jaw, suddenly bashful. "…might be time to pop the question, y’know?"

“You think she’s gonna say yes to your big ass?"

"She better, or I’d be heartbroken." Jackie admitted, laughing. "Nah, but for real — she’s the one. I know it. She gets me, V. Not just the good parts, either — the messy shit too. And she doesn’t try to change me. That’s important, y’know?"

V nodded. "You two make sense together, Jackie."

Jackie’s face lit up in that way it always did when he talked about Misty. And V couldn’t help but feel glad for him.

V pushed his bowl away, then Jackie started talking again, spinning stories about Night City legends and aspirations of their own names being known quantity at the Afterlife. The guy was always full of pipe dreams and big plans, and V always listened. He let himself believe he was right — that this gig was their ticket to the major leagues, and that they really were unstoppable.