Last time around, V had gone to Jackie's Ofrenda solo, mostly because he hadn't known about the problems between Mama Welles and Misty. So in his mind, obviously Misty was going to be there and also be a big part of the whole thing, since she was Jackie's output.
It was only after finding Misty outside of Jackie's garage that V had learned just how bad things were between Jackie's mother and his girl. At the time, V had a lot of shit on his mind and hadn't been able to do much beyond drag Misty into Jackie's garage and then over to El Coyote Cojo for the Ofrenda.
This time around, he planned to do things a little differently. For starters, he picks up Misty outside of her shop rather than expecting to meet her at the garage, mostly because he'd promised he would and he wasn't about to break that promise. V didn't consider himself an overly honorable sort or anything like that, but Misty was his friend and that meant something.
Even as she gets into his car with him though, she seems rather unsure of herself.
"This might be a bad idea, V. I don't want you to spoil what you have with Mama Welles on my account."
V snorts derisively at that, even as he begins driving them over to El Coyote Cojo. Funny, it feels a little strange to be the one in the driver's seat for once seeing as he'd been relying on Panam ever since he picked her up as a full time member of his crew… but this was special. It was too important to be dragging anyone not involved into it as well.
"If she can't handle ALL of Jackie's important people wanting to pay their respects, then whatever relationship she and I have is already spoiled, Misty. I'm not going to let her bully you, especially not today."
Misty bites her lower lip and ducks her head, but V nevertheless notices the small smile on her face out of the corner of his eye. They exchange only a few more sentences with one another on the car ride over, but the silence, when it does permeate through the vehicle, is companionable and comfortable all the same.
That said, when they're finally outside of Mama Welles' place, where V needs to get the key to Jackie's garage, Misty refuses to come in.
"I'll wait here; V. I don't want to push my luck."
Sighing, V decides he won't push his luck either on this. He wants Misty to be comfortable today; he doesn't want to hurt her. So with a nod, he leaves her in the idling car and hops out, going inside to see the place already decorated for Jackie's Ofrenda.
It doesn't take long for Jackie's mother to notice him and come over, her eyes lighting up as she wraps him in her arms and gives him a big hug.
"V, good to see you. You're a little early though."
V returns the hug, squeezing Mama Welles back even as he grunts.
"Yeah, came by because I hoped you'd have a key to Jackie's garage for me. Wanted to pick out an offering before the Ofrenda."
Pulling back, Mama Welles looks surprised but also extremely pleased, even as she produces a key from one of her pockets.
"You took the words right out of my mouth, young man. Good to see how much thought you've put into this. Here, you know where to go I assume."
V nods, taking the key from Jackie's mother just like he had last time. Unlike last time however… he hesitates. And then he does something potentially inadvisable.
"Jackie's output Misty is in my car out front. She's coming to the Ofrenda."
The smile drops from Mama Welles' face, her lips parting as she sucks in a sharp breath.
"V…"
But V puts his foot down, shaking his head.
"I don't want to hear it, Mama Welles. I know you don't approve of her. She wasn't what you had in mind for your Jackie, was she?"
It helped that V knew Jackie's mom could see past her dislike for Misty with some prodding from the right sources. After all, she'd been able to do so in the past timeline and he'd barely been able to put any effort in then. Now though, V had all the time in the world to make sure Mama Welles and Misty got along.
"… It's not that simple, V."
V raises an eyebrow at that and can tell from the way Mama Welles flushes that even she hears how weak her excuse sounds.
"Well let me help simplify it for you. Jackie loved her. With all his heart. And she loved him back. Still does, just as much as I'm sure you do too. You tell me… would Jackie want his girls to be at odds with one another, be it here today or any day after?"
When Mama Welles stays quiet, V just grunts and steps away.
"I'll let you think about it, Mama Welles. We'll be back in a bit for the Ofrenda."
Even if he's gone more aggressive with things this time around, he's not too worried about Jackie's mother uninviting him or anything like that. Deep down inside, Mama Welles is a good woman who knows she's letting her prejudices get the better of her where Misty is concerned.
With that conviction in mind, V heads back out to the car and hops in, flashing Misty the key to Jackie's garage before driving them over. Misty opens her mouth a couple times, probably with every intention of asking him something about Jackie's mom, but she never quite manages to get the words out.
Finally, they reach the garage and using the key, they're able to step inside. Immediately, V is hit with enough nostalgia that it feels like a fucking brick across the face. It's been a lot longer than even Misty knows since he was in here last. From Jackie's beautiful bike to the nudie posters, to the workout equipment and beer. All of it is so… Jackie.
When Misty tries to post up on the wall like she did last time however, V nips that in the bud.
"Make sure you pick something out too."
Misty's eyes widen at that and she immediately shakes her head.
"No, I can't just-!"
But V isn't having it. If he ain't gonna take Mama Welles' shit, then he ain't taking Misty's shit either. Ignoring her denials, V grabs the key to Jackie's private room off of the nearby desk and walks over to unlock and open it as well.
Misty's words die in her throat as she looks inside to see the unfinished sand mandala on the coffee table.
"Oh Jackie…"
V smirks and crosses his arms over his chest.
"You see how much he cared about you, Misty? You see how much you meant to him? Don't even start with what you can and can't do… if Jackie were here, he'd say that you had just as much right to any of his things as I do. More so, even."
Misty fidgets and blushes at that, looking down at her hands as she pokes her index fingers together.
"… He tried to give me a key to this place half a dozen times. I always turned him down. I wanted him to have a place he could call his own…"
V nods, but doesn't move an inch, keeping his arms crossed over his chest as he raises an eyebrow at her.
"I'm not picking out an offering until you have, Misty. So unless you want us to both miss the Ofrenda and make Mama Welles hate me too… you better start looking."
Head snapping up at that, Misty blanches when she sees the serious look on V's face. Biting her lower lip, the new age spiritualist hesitantly nods and begins looking around, her eyes sliding over the room's contents for a moment before settling on the bottle of tequila over on a small side table in the corner.
She hesitates for a moment, glancing V's way as if she's going to offer it up to him to take instead. But V cuts off her words with a simple look, one that has her ducking her head again before scurrying over and picking up the bottle. Smiling, V nods approvingly.
"Jackie's favorite tequila."
Misty lets out a shuddering breath.
"More than that. He called this bottle his lucky charm. One of the first ever made by Jesus de Abajo."
V hums, knowing this bit already. But he still lets it play out like it should.
"The founder of Centzon Tequila?"
Misty's smile gains a modicum of strength as she nods.
"Yeah. Only a hundred of 'em said to be left in the world… all owned by the one percent."
Grinning, V tilts his head to the side.
"And how did Jackie say he got this one?"
"He said some shriveled abuela in Mexico sold it to him. Way he told it, she claimed that de Abajo had stolen her recipe."
They both stare at each other for a long moment before V laughs and Misty breaks out into giggles. Jackie was always… like that. He talked a big game, but he didn't tend to tell tall tales. He could be honest to a fault most of the time. That in turn led to him trusting certain types of people more than he probably should.
V didn't doubt for a second that Jackie had bought the bottle off of an old woman down in Mexico. But whether that old woman was on the up and up about things or not… well, that was a whole other story. That said, the bottle is a great representation of who Jackie was. The kind of man who always made his own luck… and lived life to the fullest, no matter what.
Of course, with Misty having picked her offering out, now V needs an offering of his own. His eyes drift to the only other item in this back room truly connected to Jackie's life… but he only spends a moment looking at the belt that once belonged to Jackie's father.
On the one hand, it had a good story to it. Jackie kept the damn thing just in case his father ever tried to come back, both as a reminder and a promise. But on the other hand, V wasn't about to bring the tool Jackie's old man had used to hit him and his mother to Jackie's Ofrenda. Certainly not with Mama Welles in attendance.
Stepping back out of the side room with Misty on his heels, V looks around the main garage again, his eyes darting from item to item. In the end, there's only ever been two that stood out in this part of the garage as well. The basketball… and the book.
Last time around, V had chosen the basketball signed by Dante Gonzalez as his offering. He figured it was a damn good tribute, a representation of everything that Jackie had accomplished. Him and the man who'd signed that basketball had both managed to get out of the Valentinos, to escape that life and become something more than just a couple of gangers on the street.
… But after Mikoshi, after becoming King of the Afterlife and spending the rest of his six months of life as a Living Legend in Night City, V had some extra time on his hands. Time he'd used in part by picking up his own copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway.
Damn thing was over a hundred years old, so it wasn't like V was expecting much from it. And yet… after reading that book, V finally got it. He got why Jackie loved it so much and he felt as though he'd gotten more of an insight into his choom's character than he ever had when they were alive.
Gravitating over to the book now, V runs his fingers over the weathered front cover of Jackie's copy, a fond smile ghosting across his face. From behind him, Misty clears her throat and speaks up.
"Jackie must have read that thing a dozen times. He always made sure to pick it up the night before a big job. Said the man who wrote it was tougher than Morgan Blackhand."
… Yeah, that sounded like Jackie. With a satisfied sigh, V picks up the book and turns to Misty.
"Looks like we've both got our offerings. Shall we head back, Misty?"
Misty hesitates, even clutching at the sealed bottle of tequila. She looks as uncertain as ever, but V cuts her off before she can start suggesting she stay behind again.
"I already told Mama Welles you were coming with me to the Ofrenda. No need to be worried about the welcome. And besides, Jackie would want you there. Today, that's all that should matter."
Misty's eyes are wide at that first part but soften at the second. Finally, she nods her head sheepishly.
"… Thanks V."
Together, they slip back out of the garage and V locks up behind them before they head back to his car. With their offerings obtained and the time of Jackie's Ofrenda rapidly approaching, V drives them back over and this time they both pile out of his car and head into El Coyote Cojo together.
Time to pay his respects to an old choom… one last time.
**-x-X-x-**