When Ethan finally emerges he’s using an avatar I’ve only ever seen him use for RPG islands. Although considering that even this avatar is still only a couple inches taller than mine I guess he probably didn’t have all that many options.
This new avatar is the stereotypical DnD barbarian with massive bulging muscles, heavily tanned skin, long snake-like tattoos wrapping all across his body, and short cut black hair. Additionally his face makes him look like the brother of that new Gigachad meme, or whatever it’s called.
Frankly it looks patently ridiculous and it takes everything I have to not start laughing uncontrollably.
Adding to the effect is the fact that he is only wearing pants. No shoes, no shirt, nothing except a pair of leather pants. Pants — I should add — that do nothing to hide the rather prominent bulge.
“Oh god. Put on some clothes. Please.”
“Hmm? Oh right, sorry.”
Luckily he doesn’t need to head back into the dressing rooms to change clothes and just a few button presses later he has a shirt and some shoes on — although sadly he didn’t change his pants.
“Alright now that that’s done; you ready to go have some fun?”
“I guess but where are we going?”
As if he was waiting for my question he starts striking a pose before I’m even done speaking and yells with far too much enthusiasm “Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight Cityyyyyyy!!!”
“Like… from that old TTRPG?”
“God you are such a nerd. No. Like from the video game.”
“The one announced five years ago that still hasn’t been released?”
“Yes! That one.”
“Also is that pose supposed to mean something?”
At my prompting he looks down at what he’s doing; seemingly only now noticing how ridiculous he looks.
He’s currently down on one knee with one arm fully extended and the other cocked all the way back. Oh and he’s pointing at me with both hands.
“Oh you know, just trying to add some levity to the situation. Plus Night City deserves only the best, and this is my best so…” As he trails off he looks back up at me with an embarrassed smile on his face that quickly transforms into the goofiest grin I’ve ever seen when he sees just how hard I’m trying to hold back my laughter.
And that’s what finally breaks me. Instantly I burst out into a fit of giggles that make my heart swell with… something, I don’t know what but it sure as hell feels good.
Upon finally breaking me, Ethan’s grin transforms into a smile loaded with more love than I can truly process, before he stands up and starts heading towards the exit, saying “Alright now let’s get moving. We’re wasting daylight here.”
And despite wanting to say something snarky my giggles prevent me from speaking and I’m left to follow him in… well not silence, but while holding my peace.
----------------------------------------
When we arrive the first thing I see is an absurdly-large, concrete wall. It seemingly stretches into the horizon in both directions and it looks to be at least a football field tall (yes I’m American, shut up).
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The next thing I notice is the wave of noise slamming into me from just beyond the wall; despite the crowd surrounding me and the massive sound dampener separating us, the noises of Night City still wash over me in a chaotic maelstrom of stories and moments. The woosh of a flying car, a vendor yelling at a thief, trash falling into a dumpster, dogs barking at something, an explosion, someone laying on the horn of a ground vehicle, and gunshots — so many gunshots.
What finally breaks me out of my reverie is the boom of a supersonic aircraft flying overhead. Except when I turn my head to look at it passing by I find not a jet, but a half dozen cyborgs in a dogfight outside of the city.
All of this seems to be just another Tuesday for the thousands of people trying to enter the city though, as even the people just logging in don’t even pause to adjust and instead immediately start heading towards the entry gates far ahead of us.
“Wha… what even is this?”
“Ha! Yup. Welcome to Night City.”
“How are you so calm right now?”
“eh. You get used to it. The first time is always quite something though.”
“How!? There’s so much happening right now! I mean how can I even hear the skittering of rats over the sounds of construction?”
“Yeah so, this Island actually has two modifiers to do with sound. First it helps your brain distinguish all the different sounds you’re hearing and second it makes it so sounds travel super far.”
“Why? That sounds super annoying.”
“I don’t really know but from what I’ve heard it’s to make the city seem supernaturally busy. As far as I’m concerned it definitely works. I mean this atmosphere is exactly what I’m looking for when I’m feeling down. Makes me feel like my problems don’t matter so much, but not in the nihilistic way, more like ‘this is what humanity can be, so why can’t I?’ You know?”
“That… doesn’t make much sense, but somehow I can see it.”
“Right? Now let’s get going. We need to make the most of the little time we have.”
And so without waiting for me to respond he marches off towards the entrance to the city, parting the crowd like Moses parted the Red Sea — super creative simile I know — with his immense bulk.
Luckily I don’t have to worry about losing him since most people around here seem to be six feet or shorter, with the occasional giants like us. Although we’re definitely not the tallest people around. That honor almost certainly goes to a 10 foot tall Beholder floating above the crowd.
It’s not the only thing up there too, wether it’s using wings, jetpacks, or just a straight up fuck you to the laws of gravity anyone who can fly is which brings up an interesting point.
“Say, why are people able to fly without like cybernetic modifications or anything? That doesn’t seem like it fits the theme of this place.”
“Ah well, outside the city you can use whatever abilities your avatar has, but once we get inside anyone with wings won’t be able to use them and the same goes for stuff like enhanced senses, super speed, and those gills of yours.”
“And what about that Beholder?”
“They’ll have to swap avatars before entering, although that’s a massive pain to do here, but yeah.”
I suppose that makes sense. Probably explains why there’s a gate at all honestly. Although it is interesting to know that only something like the Beholder has to switch.
Which makes me wonder, does it have to switch because it can’t get around without floating, or because it’s too far off human to work? I’d assume that I’ll be allowed in since Ethan hasn’t said anything but where’s the cut off point? Do they only allow bipeds? Or do you need to have a human face?
Luckily I quickly find out as we approach the gates and see tons of people with animal features allowed free entry. In fact the number of people who look fully animalistic is kinda disturbing; almost a quarter of the people entering are basically bipedal animals. On top of that I’d say another quarter have limited animal features like me and a third being human like Ethan.
The remaining sixth however are by far the strangest. Ranging from eldritch abominations like the Beholder and a dozen different tentacled monsters to just straight up animals like an ostrich or the hundred odd different fantasy beasts walking around, these are the people that are led off to the side where they can change their avatar inside the massive wall. I guess an Emu is too much for the residents of Night City, they’re probably Australian or something I won’t judge.
Luckily there’s no border security or anything since that’s handled by Islands itself which means me and Ethan can get right in.
Unfortunately I’m once again stopped short as I finally get to take in Night City in all its glory.
Endless skyscrapers stretch not only into the stratosphere but beyond the horizon, each one a city in their own right. Neon ads coat absolutely everything and have absolutely no reservations about displaying almost pornographic imagery. And on top of all that there’s so much movement. Millions if not billions of cars fly through the air or race across the hundreds of highways weaving throughout the megalopolis.
To add to the chaos thousands of cyborgs like the ones that flew over us earlier race throughout the city, sometimes shooting at each other, sometimes ramming into one another, but always flying faster than sound if the visible shockwaves trailing them is anything to go by.
And that’s not to mention all the violence occurring on the ground, as well. Bullets, grenades, rockets, lasers, and any other projectile imaginable is flying from anywhere there’s ground to stand on and something to shoot up at.
And underneath all that is the bone shaking beat of the trillions of clubs spread literally everywhere. Advertising themselves with party lasers and spotlights instead of signboards and videos.
Altogether the effect forms something akin to a city wide rave, even despite, nay — especially because of — the omnipresent violence of the place.
Noticing me stopping Ethan takes the opportunity to turn to me and say “Welcome to the city of sex and blood, drugs and beer, and above all A Party That Never ENDS!!!”