#where's my takemura romance

[soruphie]

I'm sorry sir, but in my headcannon, you don't get to commit your stupid seppuku t-t

(It's my first time playing through cyberpunk, and this dork grew on me in the first ten seconds just to have me crushed in all endings. Takemura, my beloved, you deserved so much better)

[aceghosts]

WIP Music Monday

Hey Everyone! It's been a while, but I have music to share. I've been tagged by @direwombat, @simplegenius042, @cassietrn, @voidika, and possibly others that I'm forgetting, lol.

Tagging (Opt In/Out): @bbrocklesnar, @alexxmason, @sergeiravenov, @tommyarashikage, @chyrstis,

@clicheantagonist, @socially-awkward-skeleton, @strangefable, @imogenkol, @carlosoliveiraa,

@theelderhazelnut, @captastra, @raresvtm, @cloudofbutterflies92, @katsigian,

@inafieldofdaisies, @confidentandgood, @roofgeese, @wanderingaldecaldo, @g0dspeeed

Because I'm incapable of not working on twenty different things, I have a few different songs for you.

First up, I did some editing recently for a rooney/yori smutfic, and I had Rain by Sleep Token playing the whole time. I'll probably pull the title from this song.

And I know, I know the way that it goes You get what you give, you reap what you sow And I can see you in my fate And I know, I know I am what I am The mouth of the wolf, the eyes of the lamb So darling, will you saturate? And just like the rain You cast the dust into nothing And wash out the salt from my hands So touch me again I feel my shadow dissolving Will you cleanse me with pleasure?

Second, I went back to the Relic Malfunction fic in Rooney's Relic AU. I stopped working on it for a while because I wasn't happy in the direction it was going. But I've picked it up recently again, and I think I've finally found a direction I'm happy with. For this one, I've been listening to the Foundations of Decay by MCR.

You must fix your heart And you must build an altar where it swells When the storm it gains, and the sky it rains Let it flood, let it flood, let it wash away And as you stumble through your last crusade Will you welcome your extinction in the morning rays?

Lastly, I've also finally nailed down the first draft of the parade fic, which is the one where Rooney helps V and Takemura escape Smasher and Co after the parade for Saburo. (Predictably, Yorinobu learns of their betrayal and is not happy. I'll have more of a summary on WIP Wednesday.) I've been listening to The Ides of March by Silverstein, and it's absolutely perfect for this fic. I'm definitely taking the title from this song. (It's one of my favorite Silverstein songs.)

And every step I take, I stay in the same place I can't begin to start again, why can't I just be perfect? I will never recover from this I will never believe in this again And I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started

[be-anti-fragile]

Finished CP with the Devil ending the first time, long essay full of Spoilers about how heartbroken it makes me feel

I'm 3 years late, probably, as I bought and played the game only now to be sure it's more polished.

I went in blind, as I had avoided spoilers about the story and game, and the game drew me in immediately.

Especially Takemura really grew on me. In the beginning I didn't take him seriously and didn't pay so much attention, found his parade leaping plan ridiculous and he reminded me of an annoying fatherly coworker. Someone you ask a question and he immediately assumes you can't count to 3 and explains it to you beginning from how life evolved.

Don't even know when or how it happened, but after the mission where you sabotage the wagon, I thought I'd romance Takemura and this, when I believed it was still possible, was the most fun I had in the whole game. I was doing side quests to buy expensive clothes for our next meeting, and then his messages popped up where you can ask him to have dinner and he ghosts, and I was really looking forward how this all would develop.

Well, plot twist, it didn't. At least not how I wished it would.

As we all know, the game is really immersive, so when I had Hellman and he got all cocky about the negative diagnosis, when Takemura entered the room, I felt actual relief. Thank God you're here.

It was a no brainer to go back and save Takemura. And the fact he leaves V hanging and disappears upset me for a whole week. I kept doing sidequests and calling him from time to time to see if anything had changed, but no. So I decided to check out the endings so I could read stuff about the game without fearing spoilers.

Since I had zero interest in interacting with Panam or Judy, I didn't do their quests and went straight for Hanako.

You can't believe how happy I was when I learned that Takemura would pick V up and MAN HE LOOKED CRISP in that white suit. Then when he rolls his eyes on Hellman and defends V. The moment where V tells him to ghost and do gigs and feed cats and he declines but thanks V. The moment before where he learns Saburo did not even tell him the whole truth but it's not enough to make him change.

It was like watching a movie for the umpteenth time and you KNOW what happens and you KNOW it will end bad and it's a movie and will never change but still there's a tiny part in you that hopes this time it ends differently.

The whole episode on that space station just made me sad but then happy again when I heard Takemura's voice after all this testing nightmare. I hated how he didn't want to disclose what he was up to like a real business professional but I signed the contract and his remark to see him in Kagawa made me believe it would happen. Like a real fool. I really believed if V signs up for this thing, they will find a body for her in time so she can go back and visit Takemura in Kagawa.

It hits you differently when all you want in the game is to be with Takemura and THIS IS your romance with him. Only afterwards it slowly dawned on me that he has just said that last sentence to comfort V and maybe because he wants to believe this himself but deep down he also knows it will never happen.

I am sitting here all teary eyed and don't understand myself how much this has messed with my feelings. I didn't expect that it would hit me that hard. I also cried during Soma though which deals with similar topics and left me feeling like someone had punched me in the gut as well, BUT, Soma had the decency to add the happy ending after the gloomy one (which maybe is different because there definitely are 2 simultaneously, unlike in CP, but if CP had added a small scene where V steps out of a vehicle, sun on her face, looks around some Japanese town and sees Takemura waiting for her nearby, that would have been comforting. Siding with Takemura does not necessarily mean it is because of Takemura, maybe V just believed this would save her and she could go back to her friends afterwards, but they could have easily added another choice/check for which people did like Takemura best and give them such a scene instead of messages by people I did not care that much for like Misty and Panam and Judy)

It's not really clear to me how Takemura can be such an important person for V in this ending, as intended by the devs, accompanying V through all of it, even the boss fight, and the last human (besides the guard) you see, yet it seems to dismiss this connection at the same time, like when you can call someone important to you and he's not an option, does not send V a message after V is gone, etc. - but it FOR SURE underlines the message that his loyalty is with Arasaka and this will never change and I feel like an idiot for falling for it. I can't even be disappointed about because I knew from the beginning and Johnny had pointed it out often enough.

Love games dealing with difficult topics, just didn't expect to feel that heartbroken about how it all plays out when you decide to side with Goro.

Didn't really know what to do with my feelings than leave them here where maybe someone understands.

Thinking about playing Baldur's Gate 3 but I'm worried there will be something similar disappointing.

[maddies-writings]

Goro Takemura x Fem!V

Author’s Note: This is pretty general, no specific background or fighting style for V, just the random Goro Headcanons I have. I’ll share my many ideas with my own personal V’s at a later date but for now, just wanna get my love for this guy out in the open. By the way, we need more gifs of this guy. People who know how to do that, get on it.

So this will all be taking place during the game. Our man is on the run and wearing that wonderful leather coat. V is one of the few things keeping him sane during his time in Night City. His hatred for this city plus the stress of everything going on may have possibly taken him down if not for the thief he pulled out of a landfill.

Speaking of, whenever he thinks back to that moment, V weakly calling for his aid only for him to viscously backhand her, he feels a deep pan of regret. If it ever gets brought up he will definitely apologize for it.

Goro is a very traditional guy and I feel like that would also extend to a romance with him. For example, it is customary to give a lady flowers, but seeing as how those are hella expensive and super difficult to get, I imagine Goro leaving V with little origami flowers.

He’d definitely be willing to teach V how to do origami. Showing her exactly how to fold a simple piece of paper in order to create beautiful figurines.

Goro would actually be willing to teach V a lot of things if she asked. He did mentor Oda and I feel like he enjoys teaching. He’d teach V how to cook (she definitely says she’s not letting him go back to Arasaka, she’s keeping him for the food alone) and some fighting moves.

All lessons are filled with varying degrees of sexual tension.

Goro is not used to being cared for. He was trained to be someone else’s protector and he did that for several years. So having someone provide for and protect him is a definite change. Not a bad one, though I could definitely see him as being easy to confuse or even overwhelm with kind gestures. He’s just not used to this.

Seriously though, he needs a hug. Several hugs.

An ideal date with him would probably be a night in where he cooks a meal he can share with V that ends with snuggling on the couch while a good movie plays. Whether V is laying on his chest as he runs his fingers through or hair or he lays on her chest as she runs her fingers through his hair, he is happy.

If Goro laying his head on V’s chest, listening to her heartbeat. He finds it the most soothing sound in the world. He just slowly sinks deeper and deeper into her embrace. If she starts stroking his hair and rubbing his back his eyes almost roll back into his skull. He’s also out like a light. He hasn’t slept that good in a long time, even before Saburo was murdered.

I could see V stealing his shirts in the morning. Once a thief, always a thief. Goro believes she looks better in his shirts than he does.

Goro snores. He firmly denies it but he does. It’s a fairly quite but deep rumble. It only happens when he’s in a deep sleep, not when he’s still alert incase the enemy comes knocking. V loves it because that noise means that he’s actually resting.

[medtech-mara]

12, 22, 23 🔫

Ref Post

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

If we are goin purely off 2077...... It's really hard to choose an unpopular one since everyone is simping for someone.

So maybe she'd not unpopular, but she's rarely spoken about, which is Misty.

I think she has one of the more tragic stories, from losing her boyfriend to also losing one of her closest friends and maybe the last link she had to Jackie, through V's path of destruction for the sake of self preservation of them or Johnny. I think seeing your choom turn into another person against their will, (or maybe with their blessing depending what route you choose ofc) has to do something to you, and i think for those reasons alone, makes Misty a sleeper that everyone should baby and take good care of her. I know a lot of the fandom shares the same sentiment but there are far more who even forget who she is.

I love her so much, I named my token piece after her. that and the piece just had real misty energy about her.

if you wanna know about MY lore?

Theres an extremely underrated Combat cabby driver, who was there day one in NIGHT RAID's first gig, he saved them from Marcus when he chased them through the NID by slamming his cab and pinning him into the wall, buying another time for MAX-TAC to show up. He was there time and time again, when NIGHT RAID needed him the most. (PERSONALLY I THINK HE WAS PAID TO WATCH THEM) Until the very end. Where he dropped off the team outside the Combat zone of the Inclusion zone.

A day later, they run into the same Corpo Solo that chased them through the streets, but this time he got the jump in on them, with the head of the cabby in head, he tosses it at the feet of the team member Dez.

His name was Boris. RIP buddy, you are missed!

22. your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

Uh HOW DANGEROUS NIGHT CITY IS!!!!!!

Poeple seriously underestimate how dangerous the city really was, ONLY because its such a peaceful time in 2077. Things just started calming down in the last couple years. Theres a reason why the NCPD have their own MCGRUFF ads stressing the important of safety, because it was very likely that you could get caught up just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or just some MOOK looking for some trouble and you just happened to look like a easy target.

Theres a reason why everyone's affiliated or backed by some bigger entity. Safety in numbers is important in such a dangerous place.

I know you probably going off about it in the 2077 tab in the sever, but I am just sick of everyone pretending that this city wouldn't chew us all and spit us out.

It's as bad as they say.

For my lore........ Honestly the tragic story of Jack Adams. Hardly anyone gives a shit, but I am still torn to this day over it. I CRY SOMETIMES STILL.

23. ship you've unwillingly come around to

None. I think they are all pretty shallow, and i know theres only so much you cram in but it just felt really lack luster and none of the characters sparked much in me outside of Takemura.

IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE THOUGH.

Johnny and V.

Only because I played with the perspective of someone else as johnny (i just cannot bring myself to think trash daddy is romance option when his likeness is of a real person). When I sat and digested a lot of the dialog, and i unwillingly came around to the idea of romancing the brainrot.

For my stuff....

Honestly.. After the both started exhibiting signs of Cyberpsychosis, I got on board the Dez x Gordie (night raid members)train. I wasn't not crazy about those two being together at all, but once there was actual problems in their relationship sparking up, is when it got interesting.

Thank you so much for asking me stuffffff. I'm actually glad that my inbox is working properly now.

[moonbiscuitsims]

Thanks for tagging!! @cowplantrelish I love this shit

3 FAVOURITE SHIPS: (Cyberpunk 2077) I have had a long time itch of romancing V and Takemura (tbh don't care if fem or male but never played male, with male V ill prob try kerry because I dislike panam) but mainly if he would decide to abandon his loyalty to Arasaka and become a nomad with V which should have been an option <3 especially could work with corpo V imo. (SIMS) I oddly ship Don Lothario and Bella Goth. Imo, and don't get me wrong Don is sleazy, but I like the theories that state that Bella didn't really love Mortimer that much...it actually states this in sims 2 psp; but I get people who like to see them as hopelessly in love. I feel like Don messes around with everyone but if he could get Bella he wouldn't care about the others as much anymore. They might even have an open relationship as both are romance sims. I have also paired Vidcund and Nina and they work extremely well somehow, both are shy sims. Where Nina doesn't commit due to being quite poly, Vidcund is focused on his science and doesn't care. Aside from that I also find tons of different naruto ships interesting, because it isn't based on romance at all I think an AU with romance could be anything. LAST SONG: Mägo de Oz - El cantar de la luna oscura

LAST MOVIE: I rewatched fellowship of the ring last night CRAVING: I really want ramen or sushi. CURRENTLY READING: I've started a fic where Kurama is human, it isn't my fav but I love the concept of a human Kurama so I'm making him in the sims so I can imagine him better in my head cause I didnt like fanarts I found. FAVOURITE COLOUR: black in terms of clothes or usual preference but i love all colours (except sims 3 baby poop) RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single for a long time, I don't have interest in romance. Not sure if i'm ace or arom or not (or perhaps demi) cause i've had past partners but they felt forced in a way and lacking in actual connection. I love my platonic relationships. LAST THING I GOOGLED: a broken missing mesh for some kitsune tails for my kurama sim but before that i googled the japanese number system lol. Im trying to learn it on duolingo and i didnt understand why there are so many variations. CURRENT OBSESSION: stardew valley but i think it's fading away cause im a bit stuck with the desert mines and the island. I tried to make my farm look really cool and it well... could be better...I like my house tho, im saving the last room for later.

Tagging (pls no pressure to participate!): @hamsterbellbelle @arachnophobic-larantula @cryptiam @siliconesims @miss-moe @temperedsims @skaterboi108 @nefarrilou

[sorserah]

Chapter 3: Losing Thrice

Outsider No More | Goro Takemura & Female V/OC

And then he understands, clearly understands what she had been feeling, trying to tell him. And he now realizes too, he does not want to lose her either. 

An interpretation of how a romance between Takemura and Corpo Female V could have been. Changing between Vs and Takemuras POV. Mostly following the main story of the game, adding bits and pieces here and there for a little bit more depth. So spoilers ahead.

18+, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Romance, Panic Attacks, Death, Blood and Injury, Corpo V (Cyberpunk 2077, Takemuras POV, Vs pov, Alcohol, Sexual Tension, Flirting, Denial of Feelings, Internal Conflict, they are both idiots, Guilt, Overthinking, Smut, Sex, Romantic, Gestures

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28434627/chapters/69807828

It is almost midnight, rainfall had started a while ago. The gutters flowed full of water, spilling onto the sidewalk, fog rising from the streets. “あいさつ Yorinobu...” Takemura hesitates for a second then spat out between gritted teeth “..-sama. I have found the woman you are looking for.” “Finally, send me your current coordinates ASAP!” Takemura did what he was told but was sure Yorinobu didn’t believe him for a second, then “Good, my men will be there in five.”

He retreats to the wide, long and dark alley he had chosen for an event like this. Roofed, to the, left a closed metal door, to the right a trash container, behind which he hit his rifle. In the back a small fence, he could quickly jump over, if things get a little too....delicate. He strides into the center of the alley and takes position, hands folded in front of his body, closing his eyes to halt his thoughts, to review final combat maneuvers. The rain pattered monotonously on the roof. The water from the overflowing gutter slowly ran into the alley.

It wasn’t long until the rumble of a loud, high-performance engine could be heard and a dark Quadra drove up. Takemura opens his eyes, as the front and back doors of the car open and four shapes walk towards him, positioning themselves at the entrance of the alley. くそ. It had been apparent to him from the beginning that Yorinobu wouldn't need either him anymore nor V, but he would have preferred to deal with just two contractors - Tiger Claws he would have guessed.

Unfortunately, this was currently the easiest way to get resources and then quickly disappear. „Where is she?“ asks the biggest one with a heavy Japanese accent. Takemura nods to the left „Behind this door, constraint.“ The four executioners look at each other and start laughing „Why is it, that we do not believe you?“ „See for yourselves.“ Takemura hisses in Japanese and steps next to the trash container gesturing to the door.

Regrettably, things did not go according to plan. Two of the thugs are blocking the entrance to the alley, the other two approach Takemura. Suddenly, one of them lashes out, Takemura manages to dodge and hit him hard on both ears, kicks him in the crotch, causing him to stagger backward and fall down, hands between his legs. However, the second managed to pull him back by the hair. Takemura grabs both forearms of the attacker, gave in to his pull until the attacker stumbled and used this to turn around and throw the attacker over his back onto the one already lying on the ground. The attacker hit the other hard on the head with his boots and he remained motionless. Meanwhile, the other two thugs had already gained attention.

One of them grabs Takemura violently by the collar, ramming him against the metal door, and the other punches him violently against his ribs with his strengthened fists multiple times. He could feel one or two of them breaking, his breath caught in his throat. There is only one way to escape. He quickly rips open the front buttons of his shirt, dropped to the ground, hits each one of the attacker's knees with both fists and full force, pushing their legs aside, rushing over to the rifle, dropping hard on his back and firing two well-aimed shots. The two attackers slit to the ground immediately. The last one alive grabbed Takemura's foot. „マザーファッカー“ Takemura kicks him in the temple so that he no longer moved either.

Takemura turns around and onto his knees, releasing the rifle, crossing his arms over his abdomen. The pain in his side is so intense that he feels nauseous. Cold sweat mixed with the warm one, strands of hair glued to his face, but he could not stay here. He picked himself up with utmost difficulty and begins to search the thugs. He finds some ammunition, a pistol, a good amount of Eurodollars and the car keys. He takes his shirt, threw it over and searches the parked car. Fortunately, violent activity is such a normal occurrence in Night City that no one pays any attention to him. In the car, he finds more ammunition and a few more Eddies.

It was still pouring and after a minute he is soaking wet. Limping as discretely as possible, he makes his way down the street, to a marketplace with a few small stalls. Actually a nice spot he thinks. There are masses of red paper lanterns stretched over posts and walls, soaking the whole market in a cozy red light. A constant relaxed noise level in the air, interrupted only by sudden loud laughter. Food stalls lined up in a cluster, occasionally disconnected by bars, tables or other vendors, such as clothing or electronics. Takemura buys a bag of anpan, some not real fish, as well as some water and whisky. For later.

In the background, he could see a half-lit motel sign, just above another restaurant. He walks past a booth that played some rock music outrageously loud, Samurai, he was able to read on the posters. To his left, he saw another booth with a dark leather jacket that might be his size. "Excuse me, how much would you like for this jacket?" "150 Eddies and it's yours, you look really bad man, I'll make her a special price." "Thanks. Can I get this black shirt here too?" „Sure, 50 Eddies.“ Takemura pulls the shirt and jacket off the hanger, he wouldn’t wear another white one in this city if he could avoid it.

At the motel, he was pleased to find that there is no staff there. He pays his Eddies only fot the night - safer to vanish at any moment - and was glad when he could finally enter an empty room, wind down in peace. He makes sure the door was closed and locked. The room is fairly small; with a wandering glance, he obtains an overlook. Putting his groceries on the table, wrinkling his nose at the sight of the spoiled food in the sink, and hanging up his new jacket carefully over one of the three chairs. Takemura peers out the window, stepping onto the balcony and checking beneath the bed. No one was around. He takes the whiskey and his rifle, puts down his dirty and soaked shirt on the way to the bathroom and lets it just fall on the floor.

He checks behind the shower curtain as well, the bathtub wasn’t as moldy as expected and surely not as dirty as the sink. Carefully placing the rifle on the floor but at hand, he inspects his back and abdomen in the mirror, the previous bruises had now been joined by some new red ones. He opens the whiskey and took a big gulp before he started to examine his ribs. Apparently, he had been right, one or two ribs were broken. He would have to see Viktor again. He gets rid of the rest of his clothes and stands under the hot shower. He feels depressed, powerless, embarrassed and alone. Saburo was dead because he failed his duty. He was cast out by Arasaka and he couldn't even use his cybernetics to help himself. 

Takemura strokes the back of his neck with his right hand could clearly feel the Arasaka implants and undid his topknot. His hair was flushed to the right and left of his face, darkening his vision. He had worked for the Arasaka family for so many decades. Never had he dreamed that Yorinobu would be capable of something like this, family had always been the most important thing especially to Saburo and Hanako. And then Yorinobu betrayed his family, killed his own father, was on his old master's throne now, ruling over Arasaka. Takemura opens his eyes again, clenching his fists before turning of the shower tap, making himself aware of his intentions again. He would do everything in his power to revenge Saburo.

Taking another big sip of whiskey - to ease the pain - as he finds a halfway clean-looking white t-shirt on the shelf next to the tub. He put it on, just like his boxers, shakes the pants loose and puts them carefully folded with the jacket and the new shirt. He would leave the old one here. Grabbing the bag of buns and the water, sitting down on the worn bed and then looking out the window as he finishes two of the three buns. He would call V tomorrow early in the morning. She is his last hope to accomplish his mission and restore the balance of the Arasaka family to the extent that it was possible. He let himself sink into the pillows and immediately drifts into a deep sleep.

[fereldanwench]

How does your V feel about River. I just did a playthrough where my own V was crushing after someone else (Takemura) and that whole scene with the kids wanting her and River to get together made both me and my V wanna curl up in a ball and die from how awkward it was. Just curious as to your own feelings on River.

Ahhhhh, so I was writing a very long answer, and then Tumblr just wiped it on me. 😭 Thanks, Tumblr.

ANYWAY, River's romance wasn't for me or Valerie. 😅

I'm gonna put the rest under a cut in case anyone wants to avoid River critical opinions, and I really want to stress that this is just my preference. I'm not trying to convince anyone not to like their boy--I actually liked River outside of his romance, and I genuinely enjoy other folks' River ships. I also think a lot of my issues with the romance can be chalked up to neglect from the devs. But playing through it was nevertheless a minefield of squicks for me.

From Valerie's perspective, she basically saw River as a decent, principled guy while they were working together on the Rhyne/Peralez investigation, but thought their relationship, working or otherwise, would be concluded when they wrapped that up. She admires that he wants to stick to his convictions and go to IA with the corruption, but she is a much more cynical person when it comes to the powers that be, and he doesn't respond overly fondly when she says such.

So Valerie is very surprised when he reaches out for help with Randy, and she assumes it's totally out of desperation rather than any interest in her personally. Johnny, of course, picks up on it, which she sort of brushes off, but when River starts saying things like "I'll tell you about it over a beer sometime," she does get the sense that maybe he's interested in more than just her professional help.

By this point, though, Valerie is smitten with Goro. She's denying it to herself, and trying to keep her focus on the Relic and fixing her terminal condition (which River doesn't even know about), but either way: she has no interest in pursuing anything romantic or sexual with River.

She does help River with Randy, because despite any awkwardness she feels around River, she's not gonna let a kid potentially die because of it. But again, when they part ways, Valerie thinks that's that. So when he calls later, telling her that he misses her and inviting her to family dinners, Valerie is immediately like hey, buddy, don't do this.

I think the most in-character thing for her would be to not go to the dinner and just wish him well on the phone call, but since the game won't let you close out the quest without making an appearance, I made her suffer through the world's most awkward family meet-n-greet.

Valerie doesn't dislike kids, but she's not overly keen on them either, particularly those who aren't related to her, so playing with them and a man she's trying to let down gently is incredibly uncomfortable. She also doesn't particularly appreciate the way Joss probes into her family life or plans for a family life, and when the kids do the "raise your hand if you think River and V would be a good couple," Valerie has pretty much fuckin' had it.

And then, when they're chatting up on the water tank, Valerie is frustrated that River implies she's been stringing him along when she's tried as nicely as possible to tell him she's not interested. She's also sober and the daughter of an addict who lost her life to drugs and alcohol, so she does not find his "I can be awfully charming when drunk" comment endearing at all.

So, after all is said and done, Valerie doesn't really want anything to do with River anymore. She might be willing to help him professionally again, and she's still friendly with him, but she doesn't think of him as a friend.

As for my personal opinion on the romance, I think it was just incredibly underdeveloped (especially compared to the ladies), and that lack of development paired with the fact that he's the only male romance option available to female Vs ends up having a lot of frustrating and troubling implications.

It does kind of feel like CDPR made a very bold assumption that what women who are attracted to men want in a relationship is something that is heavily centered around family and children. As a woman who does not like that in real life or fiction and often has to defend my own child-free relationship, I found that very off-putting. And this isn't to say that it shouldn't exist at all--I fully support anyone who does enjoy this take on a romance, and I'm glad they got to have something they enjoyed--I just really wish it wasn't the only option.

I also don't like that there's no way to reject him without subjecting yourself to the awkward family dinner. It makes him feel very pushy if you're not into him, which I feel probably isn't the intent. I'm sure some folks would take the stance that it's more realistic, but I'm okay with forgoing a little realism if it means I don't have to have the uncomfortably immersive experience of telling a man I'm not into him while we're sitting atop a water tower and he's getting drunk. 😬😬😬

I also really disliked both his and V's responses if you chose the "ever feel lonely?" prompt, which I talked about here.

But the Peralez/Rhyne mission with him is actually one of my favorites in the game, and if his story had stayed more in that route, like fighting the corruption in the NCPD, I probably would have enjoyed him overall a lot more.

And if I remember correctly, Goro's creation also ended up affecting how River was utilized in the story--I think he was supposed to have a bigger role in some of the corporate happenings, but the writers realized they wanted someone deep inside Arasaka instead, hence Goro. Well, first it was going to be a more villainess lady character, and then it became Goro because they wanted to humanize Arasaka more.

So yeah. Those are my complicated thoughts on River. I mean, from the in-character perspective, it's pretty straightforward, but my own opinions on him are kind of ambivalent.

[empireofstarsandsmoke]

LIFE AND GAMING UPDATE

So big news, I finally have a job!!! It took me 3+ months after graduation to find a job. I haven't started yet but the paperwork is in the process so that's good.

Also, I finished Cyberpunk 2077 yesterday. I played on my PS5 and I played a female V. I did all the side quests that I could find and I beat it in about 90ish hours. I decided to play it once it was mostly fixed due to the bugs and crashes at launch. I also bought the piggyback guidebook, but I did not look through it until after I beat the game. I would rate the game 9/10. I would recommend it to people who want to experience it or even those who played it at launch and were discouraged by the bugs. I will queue up some last posts and then edit my Cyberpunk screenshots to post around the time of the Phantom Liberty DLC release.

Thank you to everyone for all the support!!! I will be playing Final Fantasy XVI next (I tried the demo and it was amazing!! 😁🎮) If you want to read more about my Cyberpunk play-through, it will be down below to avoid any spoiled for people who still haven't played or beaten the game.

If you want to talk about Cyberpunk or other video games feel free to reach out. :D

-Cyberpunk 2077 spoilers below-

So like I said I played female V with female voice acting. I thought my V was fire. She was a badass punk with a good heart with a nomad background. I romanced Judy. When I saw her in the game trailers it was love at first sight.

For the ending, I went with Panam, once a nomad always a nomad. I also chose to save V and let Johnny go with Alt. I did not think the ending was going to hit me this hard but man Night City really did leave a mark. I loved how the city was, the NPC's and the side stories were amazing. I cried at the end when I realized that my time in Night City was up. Yes I know I could play the game again but the first time is special. I really liked Johnny. In my playthrough, he and V were friends (in my head at least). I also liked Takemura as a character even though he is an Arasaka kiss ass lol. In the epilogue credits, he told V to go to hell because Hanako died. Also in the Panam ending I did not expect Saul to get his face caved in like that. F*ck Smasher. I killed him for Johnny because I promised him I would do it.

I really liked the Kerry side missions. They were my favorite from all the romance side missions. They were fun and deep. I also really liked Kerry's guitar song that he plays on the yacht. After the mission, I went to YouTube to find it. How Kerry talked about living. I also liked Brendan the SCSM. I wish there was an ending to Brendan's story where he would not get reset. I also liked the psycofan gig by El Padre. I liked how it involved Johnny and Kerry. I feel like it made Night City more alive, idk.

My favorite apartment was the first one in the Megabuilding. I liked how you could change the appearance of it, also Nibbles was there lol. My favorite vehicles were the black Rayfield Caliburn and Jackie's Bike. (Yes, I liked that they were fast lol).

If you chooms (;D) wanna talk about a specific mission/ or part of the world feel free to message me. Thank you for reading and for your support. <3

[severemiraclefest]

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Will Have New Romantic Moments

SO I ASK YOU WHERE IS MY TAKEMURA ROMANCE? OPTION!!!

It's BS anyway:

https://twitter.com/Marcin360/status/1668633883544543233

[thedeadthree]

ADDA (pathfinder: kingmaker) // HINATA (cp2077)

PRIYA (ofna) // MAVIS (when twilight strikes)

VALENTINA (john wick) // EIRINI (twc/succession)

the loveliest @marivenah tagged me to make a few of the loves in this cutest little picrew! ty so much mari!

TAGGING: @griffin-wood, @risingsh0t, @queennymeria, @chuckhansen, @leviiackrman, @blackreaches, @florbelles, @virassan, @jacobseed, @swordcoasts, @aartyom, @arklay, @hoesephseed, @adelaidedrubman, @belorage, @shellibisshe, @yennas, @confidentandgood, @wayhavens, @wayhavenots, @luckycamden, @dihardys, @jackiesarch, @celticwoman, @multiverse-of-themind, @rosebarsoap, @trvelyans, @themysteriouslou, @amistrio, @halcyonmusings and you!

[dewakinnara]

-THE LOVERS-

Because, Goro, happiness is a choice, so please choose to be happy.

[svmpuffart]

✨Goro Takemura✨ [FANART]

Because he is probably one of my favorite character... jk he's obviously my number one but... you know... WHERE IS THE ROMANCE THO????

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT (aka me ranting about the romance)

At least if you saved him or what not, it would have been nice to have more interactions.

I don't know I feel like : even tho the romance isn't supposed to be the main focus of the game it was lacking a little bit. Like having just two choice for each was kind of... yeah i don't know.

And to me it would have made more sense to have Takemura as a choice instead of River. Even tho I really loved Rivers quest line I just nah bruh... I went Judy all the way or nothing at all ( cause she is the sweetest and deserves the peace she's seeking.)

... And just like.... god we went through so many things with Takemura, we got punches, stitched up, we kinda had a "date" moment, found ourselves in a sketchy motel with a dude we kidnapped, we kidnapped Hanako, saved his life, got his revanche,... yea I'm sad...

[ltoasty-ghostyl]

So those cyberpunk romances huh

[dykealloy]

All game romance options should be bisexual i said what i said

[shadowofdarkness22]

No, I don’t have a problem. :I