Episode 9 — Lowkey Moves
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Cold Open — Balance and Smoke
The Bronx sky had that gray-blue tint that made the morning look like a cigarette someone put out too early. Legend sat on the couch, blunt smoldering, HUD alive in front of him.
[CASH FLOW | +$1,700 Deposited]
Balance: $21,740 → $23,440
The number kept climbing, but he didn't smile at it the way he used to. The more zeroes stacked, the louder the world seemed to stare back.
Salina padded out of her room, still in a tank top, hair messy, yawning like she owned the morning. She plopped onto the couch beside him, stealing his blunt.
"You're rich, and you're still here in this busted apartment," she teased.
"Lowkey," Legend said. "That's the game."
"Lowkey's boring," she said, leaning against him.
"Boring's what keeps me breathing."
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Scene 1 — Miles's Buzz
Miles came out next, hoodie up, phone buzzing in his hand. "Bro, we hit 100k streams. Labels starting to DM. A&R talking about meetings. This is it!"
Legend raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And I need money for a video. Like a real one."
Legend snapped $1,000—Balance: $22,440—and slid it across the table. "One. Not ten. Make it clean. Make it count."
Miles grabbed it, grinning. "You believe in me more than I do sometimes."
"That's the point," Legend said.
Salina smirked at Miles. "Don't mess it up. He doesn't give second chances easy."
Miles saluted with the envelope. "Bet."
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Scene 2 — The Syndicate's Call
His phone buzzed later. The Syndicate boss again, voice low and sharp.
"Legend. We got a test for you. Not moving cash. Deciding where it goes. Two crews in the Bronx want the same payout. Only one gets it. You deliver and make the call. Fifteen stacks for your pocket."
Legend frowned. "You want me to pick who eats and who starves."
"Welcome to power," the boss said, and hung up.
The HUD blinked.
[Mission Accepted: Distribution Test]
Payout: $15,000 + Influence]
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Scene 3 — Meeting the Crews
That night, under a busted streetlight, two groups waited. One crew looked hungry, desperate, leaning on cracked sneakers and eyes too tired. The other looked sharper, heavier, already dangerous.
Both wanted the same duffel bag.
Legend stood in the middle, bag at his feet. His HUD pulsed.
[Choice: Crew A (hungry, desperate) → Reputation boost (local). Crew B (dangerous, connected) → Safety buffer (syndicate).]
He snapped $500—Balance: $21,940—and tossed it toward Crew A. "Eat for the night."
Then he shoved the duffel at Crew B. "Don't waste it."
Crew A scrambled for the bills but still nodded thanks. Crew B smirked and clapped his shoulder.
The HUD chimed.
[Mission Complete — +$15,000] → Balance: $36,940
[Influence: Syndicate +] | [Neighborhood Respect: Stable]
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Scene 4 — Salina's Confession
Later that night, Salina sat with him on the couch, wine glass in hand. She turned serious, eyes sharp.
"Men keep trying me. Old friends. New numbers. They want to know what I'm doing, who I'm with. I tell them nothing. I block them. But it's getting obvious. You're making noise."
Legend leaned back. "Noise pays rent."
She climbed into his lap, lips brushing his ear. "Then let me be clear. I don't care about them. I only want you. Even if it gets me burned."
The HUD flashed:
[Influence Strengthened — Salina Loyalty Reinforced]
He kissed her hard, pulling her closer. "Then stay close. Things about to get darker."
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Scene 5 — The Collector's Gift
When Legend stepped out to grab food, an envelope was taped to the apartment door. Inside:
$1,000 in crisp hundreds.
And a note: For when you finally decide to sell yourself.
No name. No number. Just the smell of a setup.
Legend snapped his fingers, burned $100—Balance: $36,840—into ash. The HUD logged it anyway.
[SNAP: -$100 | Balance: $36,840]
[Alert: Collector Signature Detected]
He muttered, "Keep your blood money."
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Scene 6 — Miles's Studio Night
Miles texted at midnight: Studio booked. Need ride money.
Legend snapped $500—Balance: $36,340—and dropped it in his pocket before heading out. He slipped into the studio quietly, sat in the back while Miles recorded.
The kid was hungry. Raw. Lines about survival, about money, about pain that sounded too close to Legend's own.
The producer nodded. "This kid's got it. But someone's backing him." He glanced at Legend.
Legend just smirked. "Someone believes."
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Scene 7 — Quiet Apartment, Loud Thoughts
Back home, the apartment was quiet. Salina asleep in bed, Miles still out grinding. Legend sat alone on the couch, HUD glowing in front of him.
[CASH FLOW | +$1,700 Deposited]
Balance: $38,040
He snapped $200—Balance: $37,840—let the bills fall into his palm. Rolled them, flicked them on the table. "Still lowkey. Still breathing."
The HUD blinked red.
[Quest Update: Collector approaches. Ambush probability rising.]
Legend leaned back, smoke curling. "Let him come. I'll pay him in pain."