A Slow Day

>Spring had normally proven to be a popular time of year for Cassy's performances.
>All those lovers taking their partners to be serenaded-by-proxy by her dulcet tones.
>Unfortunately a late frost had settled over the city, resulting in those lovebirds staying home to nest.
>Because of that, business had taken a slower pace during the day, with even the nightly performances proving to be low-attended affairs.
>The club had been forced to make several cutbacks in light of this, and that meant Cassy had a lot more free time between shows.


>It wasn't so bad; at least she could spend more time rehearsing.
>Though if Cassy was completely honest with herself, her heart just wasn't in the right place today.
>Between taking care of Caroline and her nightly escapades, Cassy really hadn't been able to think of much else.
>Now with nothing to take her focus, all she had was time to think.
>She'd organised her dresses, alphabetised her accessories.
>She even tried asking the boss if there was any other "work" she could be doing.
>Even that side of the business was slow. The boss had told her to stay there and stay pretty, meaning Cassy was going nowhere.

>It had felt like Cassy had been sitting at the bar for hours, running her finger along the rim of her glass, just for the changing pitch as it slowly emptied. At least that gave its own pleasures.
>"Well hey there, little lady. Buy you a drink?" a voice came from beside her.
>Cassy turned to face whatever schlub was asking her out this time.
>Being asked out was certainly not a novel occurrence for the cybernetic starlet.
>She'd had to turn down plenty of would-be suitors since she'd begun to headline. It made her feel bad to let so many down, but she had her own priorities.
>Her life was a tightrope balance, and adding on a paramour was certainly not the weight she needed to pull her down.
>Turning round on her stool, Cassy was already prepared to shut this guy down.

>She could tell from the get go this guy was gonna be a fighter.
>Cassy had seen it all before. Some guy with more courage than sense, hair slicked back with more oil than a garage.
>Shoes shinier then her eye-lights turned to max.
>Still, bold of him to try.
>"So how about it?" the guy asked, pressing his luck further.
>"Sure, why not, handsome" Cassy said with a smile.
>Cassy was pretty sure this guy was doing a flip internally as he seemed to land his hook.
>"Hey barkeep, something for the lady here?" the guy called to the bar-keep bot. The server looked at Cassy with an expression that screamed "really? This guy?” to which she just gave a gentle shrug.

>She turned back to the gentleman while waited for the drink to be served.
>"So what do I have the *pleasure* of calling you?" Cassy asked. If she was gonna put up with this guy, she might as well know his name.
>"It's Anon" the guy replied.
>"Huh, that name seems to be popular at the moment. Well Anon, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Cassy asked as she stretched back towards the bar counter-top.
>It was almost cute to hear Anon gulp as she crossed her legs.
>"I've been watching your shows for a while now. You're always so amazing..."
>Going for flattery. Not a particularly inventive approach, Cassy thought.
>"...But you always seem so lonely" Anon continued.
>This got Cassy's attention as she began to sit forwards.
>Normally a guy tried to big himself up or grease her cogs, but did this guy think he could negg her into liking him?
>"Excuse me?" Cassy asked incredulously.
>Anon froze like a deer in the headlights. He seemed aware he'd misspoken, but he was already too deep now.
>"I-I just mean, it seems like you're always singing about finding someone or how someone broke your heart, but you never seem to sing about anything happy, that's all."
>Cassy raised an eyebrow.
>Did this guy think she chose the songs? She just went through whatever the song-sheet gave her. She didn't mind what the songs were; only that she got to sing them.

"I guess I just thought you might want someone to talk to?" Anon continued.
"Well isn't that just sweet." Cassy said, shifting her weight towards Anon on the bar-stool next to hers. The bar-keep decided this was the best time to intercede, passing Cassy a Martini glass. She took it in her hand without even turning to look at the bartender. Right now, all her attention was directed at Anon, who began to sweat at the sultry look the Nandroid had started to give him.
"So you saw me all lonely, and now you're coming to the rescue? *My hero*..." She said with a slow grin, taking a sip of her martini.
>She might as well have some fun with him while she was there.
>Anon was practically sweating buckets now.
>"Uh, yeah. Me and the boys get up to trouble now and then, but even they got someone to be with. Meanwhile I'm..."
>"All alone?" Cassy asked, to which anon gave a sheepish nod.
>"Well then," Cassy began, "Aren't we just some kindred spirits."
>Even if she was toying with him, Part of Cassy had to admit she knew the feeling. Even with some of the other bots at the Spark-Easy to work with like Rusty or Moxie, it wasn't like she had much of a social life beyond schmoozing clients for the boss.
>he he, yeah...” Anon said as he began to settle.

>Cassy's hand traipsing up his arm threw that settled-ness out the window though, as he stiffened up from the metallic touch of the Nandroid.
>"Now where did that bravado go, Anon?" Cassy began to purr as her hand reached his shoulder, before gently moving to his head, the back of her fingers gliding over his cheek, before a single finger was placed on his lips.
>Anon was completely stuck now. If his words weren't trapped by the Nandroid's delicate finger on his lips, her other hand, now having left the glass on the counter-top, was already feeling up his other arm.
>Was this what his friends had meant about girls not being able to take their hands off them?
>"~All alone, just wee two, oh why don't you~" Cassy began to sing, “Do something? ~" Cassy asked in a sing-song way. It was a mix of cute and seductive at the same time, her pitch gently gliding down as she purred into the something.
>This was his moment, anon thought. He gently moved Cassy's arm off his lips with the back of his left arm, while the other went to her side.
>He gently began pulling her closer, and closer. She unfolded her legs to better lean forwards as Anon brought the two of them closer together.
>They were right up against each other now, Cassy's head sitting snugly against his chest as the shorter Nandroid looked up at him.
>"You've got such a *lonely* girl in your arms, Anon. Why don't you show her what she's been missing?" Cassy whispered to Anon.
>"O-ok" Anon said. His nerves were fraught. He had no actual plan for getting this far, but he wasn't going to waste the momentum. The boys would never believe this.
>He began to slowly lower his head, the both of them slowly closing their eyes as their faces began to approach one-another.
>Everything began to slow down as they were inches from each other. It was like the world had been put on hold for them to have this moment.

>Or it would have, if not for two large robotic arms taking hold of Anon's shoulders, wrenching him back and out of the embrace with Cassy.
>"Hey, what’s the big idea-" Anon began as he was spun around on his stool before coming face to face with two very large and angry goons.
>"Sorry we're late, Ms." The round headed-one apologised. The square-headed one gave a sheepish grin to the singer.
>"No problem boys. Z, B, how was it?" Cassy asked non-chalantly, confusing Anon further as he tried to twist his neck around to look at his presumed paramour.
>"It was a blast. B over here took down three guys with a pipe wrench!" the square-headed bouncer exclaimed.
>"I still say it was 4!" The round-headed one shouted back.
>"W-what’s going on? Cassy?" Anon began to ask panickedly.
>"Oh right. Y'see, while you were here, trying to seduce such an innocent girl, Z and B over here were out making sure your boys couldn't mess with any more of the Boss' operations."
"But I thought-"
>"That I wouldn't recognise Anon the Mouse? You've been making a name for yourself on these streets. Unfortunately for you”, Cassy said with a flourish," You crossed the wrong one. Take him away and teach him a lesson, boys."
>The two bouncers nodded, picking anon up by the shoulders.
>"Oh wait, before you go." Cassy called. The two turned around, a desperate Anon looking hopeful at this stay of execution.
>Cassy got up off her bar-stool and sauntered over to Anon, before giving him a peck on the forehead.
>"Something to remember me by while you're in the hospital. Bye-bye!" Cassy said with a wink, before a struggling Anon was dragged into the backrooms behind the bar.

>"Just sit here and look pretty. Honestly..." Cassy talked to herself as she picked her glass back up.
>"Well at least it's better than nothing" she admitted, before downing the last of her drink. She left a neat little tip for the barkeep before walking off, humming a tune to herself.
>It was a real shame, she thought. He was kinda cute.
.