"Please enter your selection by pressing the appropriate area on the screen in front of you."

The small screen in front of Jinx Curi flashed as the scratchy-sounding recorded message fell silent., no doubt as a guide to assist the more intoxicated patrons that the cramped 'Autobar' played host to. The huskoon freelancer sighed. Why his contact had requested to meet at such a tastelessly and dismally appointed venue as the Trekka Street Autobar, he had no idea. If there was any firm evidence of the general soullessness in certain parts of New Zanzibar, the autobar was it. Barely large enough to seat three or four patrons, it seemed to specifically cater for the 'drown your post-workday sorrows as quickly as possible and get out' crowd, at the least possible cost to the corporation that owned it.

Depressing.

"Please enter your selection by pressing the appropriate area on the screen in front of you. If you have fulfilled your need for our products, please vacate the seat within the next five minutes."

Jinx's pawfinger jabbed forward, pressing against the cheap plas-film touch-sensitive screen to place an order for a sweetened white Winterian Blend Coffee - the least awful of the caffeinated drinks on offer.

"Thank you. Your account has been deducted two credits. On behalf of TetraCorp, we hope you enjoy your beverage."

Jinx let his mind wander as he watched the robotic arm that served as the 'Bartender' for the establishment with dull interest. With designed efficiency, it plucked a plastic cup with a pincered grip, placed it before him and rotated its toolhead again to squirt his coffee with a muffled gurgling noise as it sucked up the fluid from with the depths of wherever Autobars stored their wares. With a sardonic smile tugging at his lips, Jinx tilted his head and nodded towards the mechanical barkeep.

"So, busy day? How's life treating you? Going anywhere nice on your vacation this year? No? I'd heartily recommend the Steampools of Vooze. You should try them sometim-"

Jinx's nostrils flared as his wry amusement at the one-sided conversation evaporated. They flared again and he shook his head as the arm returned to it's unmoving resting position after it had delivered his order.

Somedays, he really missed a more...personal touch.

---

I realised when I created this piece a couple of weeks ago, that there really hadn't been enough cyberpunk photoart featuring my huskoon fursona, so this was the first of two pieces I created in that theme and spirit. When editing the original Second Life photo I took, I tried to adjust it to give a subtle graphic novel / comic feel to the saturation of the colours and when tweaking the shading filters and I think my tail especially came out really well in the style thanks to it. Let me know what you think!

Photo taken at the amazing Insilico cyberpunk themed sim on Second Life, additional effects including use of customized light and environment engines, re-colourisation and quality and special effects editing in Photoshop applied by myself. Accompanying narrative also written by me.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be the creator of any avatars, textures, sims used as backdrops/scenes or objects/accessories/props used in my photoart, unless explicitly specified. Those are the creations of very talented people, and any copyrights lie solely with those, and the credit for the skill in doing so. I claim only the talent and skill, such as it may be, in modifying my avatars and accessorising them from my SL inventory and creating characters, scenes and stories from them, framing the shots, editing them, applying artistic effects and creating any flavour text/themes/accompanying fiction, with the photos that I take.

Jinx © JustASliver / Jinx Curi