ConstructionJoe: Anyone else get hit with the rent hike? My landlord’s raising it again next month. Feels like they’re trying to push us out of the city. How are we supposed to live?

MomOfThree: Yep. Got mine yesterday. For what, though? The city’s still a mess—gangs, mutants, TKs destroying things. But let’s make it more expensive to survive.

CivicMind: Rent goes up, but nothing changes. Neighborhoods are falling apart, the N.E.O.’s cracking down harder, and now VR arcades are popping up like that’s gonna fix anything.

SilverHawk: It’s like they want us stuck in those arcades. I know people who’ve started going since Kisonic opened, and now it’s all they talk about.

VirtualKing23: Same. My buddy tried it last weekend and now spends half his paycheck there. Says it’s better than dealing with real life. But how long can you run from it?

ConstructionJoe: That’s the whole point. Kisonic and those corps profit off people checking out. They get rich, while we get crushed by rent hikes and TK attacks.

MomOfThree: Speaking of, did you see the news about that TK attack near 8th Street? Another rogue leveled a strip of shops. Third one this month.

CivicMind: It’s out of control. No way to know when a TK will snap. N.E.O. shows up after the damage, but they don’t stop it from happening.

SilverHawk: My niece was near there. She’s terrified to leave the house now. People feel safer in those VR arcades, even though it’s just hiding from the real problems.

VirtualKing23: I checked out the arcade, and I get why people are hooked. It’s like another world where nothing’s wrong. But when you come out? Reality hits even harder.

ConstructionJoe: That’s the trick. They train you to ignore the real world. Let rent go up, let TKs wreck things, as long as you can plug into their paradise. But what happens when you run out of money?

SilverHawk: It’s happening already. My neighbor’s son skipped work to spend more time in the VR. He’s behind on rent, but he says the VR feels "more real" than his life does.

SkyLiner has joined the chat.

VirtualKing23: SkyLiner! Where’ve you been? You had us worried.

MomOfThree: Yeah, we thought something happened to you. Everything okay?

SkyLiner: ...I don’t know. Nothing feels okay anymore.

CivicMind: Whoa, Sky, what’s going on?

SkyLiner: I went back to the arcade. Again. Too many times. I’m broke. Spent everything.

VirtualKing23: Wait, seriously? What about rent? Food?

SkyLiner: I didn’t mean to. But once you’re there, it’s perfect. Nothing hurts. You don’t want to leave. But now I can’t go back. I’m trapped.

SilverHawk: Sky, you’re in deep. You’ve gotta get out. The VR world isn’t real.

MomOfThree: Sky, listen. We know it’s hard out here, but you can’t hide in there forever. You’ve got to deal with reality.

SkyLiner: What’s the point? Rent I can’t pay? A city falling apart? The VR was the only thing that felt good, and now I can’t even have that. I don’t have anything left.

CivicMind: You’re not trapped. We’ve all been through tough times, but you can turn this around. Don’t let Kisonic take everything from you.

VirtualKing23: You’re stronger than this. Don’t let them win. They want you lost in the VR so they can bleed you dry. You’ve still got a chance.

SkyLiner: I don’t know. Everything feels worse out here.

ConstructionJoe: That’s their plan, Sky. They make the VR perfect so real life feels unbearable. But you’ve got to deal with reality. We all do.

MomOfThree: We’re here for you, Sky. But you’ve got to step away from that place before it takes over.

SkyLiner: I’ll try. It’s hard.

CivicMind: One day at a time, Sky. You can get out of this. Just start small.

SkyLiner: Thanks. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll figure it out. I have to.

VirtualKing23: That’s the spirit. We’ve got your back. Don’t go back to that arcade—you’ve got more important things to handle.

SilverHawk: Remember, life’s tough, but it’s real. That’s what matters.

SkyLiner: I’ll try. I’ll try to stay out. Just… hope I can.

>>>End of Chat