Saturday, 4/13/2216, Part 3

The bar was very cool, as I had suspected. It was called Battleground Bar and it did indeed look as if it had been one on at least one or two occasions. The window screen was projecting an upside down EarthGov flag and the door had “PCD Never” and “no job, no problem” written on it with actual paint. I don’t even know where people get physical paint. Very retro, very cool. I stood outside looking for an entrance scanner for almost thirty seconds until I blushed, realizing a place like this probably wouldn’t have one.

I couldn’t be too hard on myself for that mistake though. I actually couldn’t be too hard on myself for anything at all tonight. The things that had happened in the last eight hours just barely registered with me. Peace talks between EarthGov and Edison had broken down, again (who cares). Rising tensions downtown and the threat of violent corporate actions between Plex and Orange meant I couldn’t get to my subway station (but thats why I left early). Maybe most crucially, a ground car had almost splashed my leg with gutter filth, but I had effortlessly danced out of the splash zone (and that’s why I wore my expensive self cleaning pants anyway).

‘Don’t even try to mess with me in my popular phase, New York!’ I sing in my head over and over as my mantra for the night. I saved my stupid song as an audio file just in case I need it.

I would need it, in fact, almost immediately. I wore a button down and my expensive dress slacks which made me instantly want to puke at my stupidity. The moment I walked in, I saw the denizens garbed in glowing corduroys, nano shoes, and shapeshifting skin suits. Of course they would be cool and fashionable! Why did I dress like a nerd?

After awkwardly shuffling around by the entrance breathing heavily once I realized how sorely I stood out, I regained my composure somewhat. I walked over to the table nearest the door.

‘Don’t even try to mess with me in my popular phase, New York!’ I sang internally while I found an appropriate preset.

Select main menu, select brain, select pre-loudouts, scroll to ‘business meeting’, select yes. That should work ok, for now at least.

I tried to look natural and attempted to connect to the bar with my NAC so I could order a drink, only to find that there was no Battleground Bar network. I looked down, pretending to be checking something while actually looking at the people around me out of the corners of my eyes. I was sure they were laughing at me.

I want to go home and load shock and hang out with Ami, I thought, why am I even here? To meet Ontivia, I remind myself. I want to meet Ontivia.

I got so flustered that I was about to leave and pretend to show up late so that Ontivia could help me, when a short man with dark skin and fiery red hair exploding out from beneath a straw hat approached you.

“Hey brother.” He said with a southern twang and a wave.

I pretended not to hear. My first impulse was to flee. This was not my place. These people were unemployed and ragged, of course they would want the satisfaction of taking a wagey like you down a peg. In my terror, however, I froze. Having missed the opportunity to flee I was stuck standing there, awkwardly looking down at my feet as this strange man stood directly in front of me and tried again.

“Hey.” He said, forcefully this time, making sure he got my attention.

“Who, me?” I said meekly, raising my head only the slightest degree and pointing at myself like a dork. I don’t look him in his eyes, but I do look him in his beard, a long red goatee that was constantly tying itself in and out of a bow.

“Yeah brother, you must be new around here,” he said with a smile. That scared me even more. I’m not naive. People do horrible things while smiling all the time.

My throat was completely dry while my eyes felt like they were on the verge of bursting. Mustering up every ounce of my courage I stammer out “Y-yeah I’m m-meeting a friend.”

He put a hand on my shoulder. Was I about to be in a fight? I hadn’t been in a fight since high school. I was trembling.

Internal Notice: Heart rate unusually elevated. Do you require assistance?

Select yes.

Public Assistance: What service do you require?

Select Peace Officer.

Public Assistance: What is the nature of your call?

“Well, I’m glad that y’all came to us.” He said, warmly “My name is Grygor, co-founder and co-owner of this establishment. There’re a few things you have to know about how this bar works. For one, there is no network. To order a drink you just have to walk over to that lovely person over there at the bar and tell them what you want.”

Speechless and frozen I manage to glance over at the bar. Sure enough, there was a person standing behind it, handing drinks to people.

Public Assistance: What is the nature of your call?

Select cancel. If I could have blushed harder than I already was, I would have.

“How, umm…” I manage.

“Do you pay? Well with money preferably.” He laughed low and loud “I’m only joking. Well, not really actually. If you have physical credits you can hand them over or you can connect to the machine labeled ‘register’ over there.”

I finally managed to look up into his eyes. Bright and hazel, they worked well with his red hair.

GE:2169:U:72434120148, Grygory Elliot.

I squinted curiously at him.

“Now you’re wondering how I can be the owner if my status is unemployed.” He intuited, shaking his head. “We just have a different sort of arrangement here. Also I’m going to have to ask you to please refrain from scanning people in my bar, we want a more natural, less intrusive sort of human interaction here.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about it, it's your first time! Im not gonna hold it against you.”

“Thank you.”

“Well you are most welcome. Welcome to the Battleground!”

I take a deep breath. What a nice guy!

‘Don’t even try to mess with me in my popular phase, New York!’ I sing to myself, smiling as I walk over to the bar.