A Bigger Stage

[AndreaSubbie]

"What? You think he'd actually want me?"

Rosi was a little surprised. Ok, she didn't expect Dane to turn down a girl who threw herself at him, not without a good reason, but when he went hunting?

"So um, just asking, what is his Vic Profile? I mean, he's already seen me naked, held me naked, but more?"

It was clear that Rosi was fishing, but she was still on her high, and any attention she could get was very welcome just now.

She reached for a celery stick herself, and sucked on it, her eyes on Cindy, then Sarah.

 

[Blase]

"Well, don't take offense, but Dane likes them young and innocent," Sarah replied. "He's said to have quite the eye for quality, like a master rosarian who can walk into a garden in full bloom and pick out the freshest, dewiest rose in the place from fifty yards away."

"So think about it: You're only eighteen, and you've made it this far on The Choice. You're intelligent, and Dane, stereotypes about males notwithstanding, likes that. Oh, and you're also that rare combination of pretty and cute that looks like it would melt in a man's mouth. And Dane doesn't even have to imagine how you'd look out of those jeans that you wear so well: We saved him the trouble."

"I really should add that, rumors aside, Dane does have ethics. I wouldn't expect him to hit on you while he's helping to coach you on The Choice. But... I have a feeling you're going to be in this world for quite awhile, kitten. And you may be surprised just how small a world it can be."

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi could only gape open mouthed at all the compliments being flung her way.

"Er, take offence? Seriously I've never had such nice things said about me since, well, forever?"

She tried to process what she'd just heard, but was struggling. It was almost overwhelming.

"Haha, when I next need a recommendation will you write all that down?"

She picked on two of the compliments.

"So, you think I might have a future in The Business? And you think Dane might actually hit on me?"

Rosi thought about those two things for a moment, when another thing struck her.

"Er, I just realised. I've been thinking all along that this is just some adventure, like a once in a lifetime holiday trip that I'll never do again. But um, if I really do have a chance of some success, and I don't mean winning this show, I mean after it's over, you don't think that Shower Scene, or the performance we just recorded, you don't think there'll be a problem that I, er, got naked?"

Rosi bit her lip and looked to her two friends, her guides into worlds that she'd barely experienced.

"And another thing, you're not going to abandon me when the show's over, are you?"

Suddenly the last question was the most important, and Rosi couldn't keep the anguish from her face.

 

[Blase]

Again it was Sarah who answered. "Haven't we already talked about that, kitten? We don't do the casting couch thing," she laughed. "Mind you, we don't know what opportunities you might have after the show, or where they might take you. But as far as Cindy and I are concerned, the three of us have a new relationship that, so far, has been going quite well."

"As for the whole getting naked thing, the shower scene footage was whittled down to essentially nothing, as you know. Maybe in a couple years they'll release a special collection called The Choice: Too Hot for prime Time, but by then I doubt it will matter. And today's footage will hopefully stay under wraps, although there are no absolute guarantees. Still, I don't think you need to worry."

"As for Dane hitting on you, well, he seldom has to... But again, I'm sure he'll behave himself as long as he's your coach."

"If you put anyone's celery stick in your mouth this week, I don't expect it will be his."

Cindy, meanwhile, was looking askance at Sarah while doing something naughty with a celery stick and a piece of cream cake.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi nodded, happy with Sarah's answer.

Then looking at the cream cake activity, added, "I dont expect I'll get to put anyone's celery stick in my mouth, unless I'm sharing it with Cindy?" And she laughed, remembering that comment from what seemed like so long ago.

She was feeling reassured about the three of them as a unit, and just hoped she didn't mess up.

 

[Blase]

"Imagine if she ever gets invited to one of Dane's parties," Cindy said. "Then there'll probably be a whole tray full of celery sticks and she can grab as many as she wants."

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi looked at Cindy, a slight frown of confusion on her face.

She didn't know if it was a funny, or serious. Or maybe just a tease.

Perhaps she'd ask more questions later when Agent Rosi checked in with Control.

 

[Blase]

"Please don't overstimulate the kitten," Sarah said.

"She's just started thinking about the idea of one celery stick. I don't think she's ready to contemplate the image of a train of celery sticks being presented to her in succession."

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Oh!" It came out more like a squeak as Rosi did just that, her mind's eye busily picturing the scenario so briefly described by Sarah, and filling in lots of detail.

Rosi unconsciously licked her lips and pressed her thighs together, risking a sideways glance at Cindy but too scared to look at Sarah, knowing the dancer would read her mind.

What were they doing to her?

 

[Blase]

"You mean like maybe if she was kneeling on the floor?" Cindy asked sweetly.

"Possibly naked? Perhaps with her hands bound behind her back?"

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Mhph!" The quiet whimper escaped unbidden, and loud enough to be heard.

Rosi couldn't stop herself from adding, "that collar, the chain in your hands .." It was only a whisper, not meant to carry, just for herself. She clasped her hands in her lap, thighs wriggling slightly, fingers gripping each other tightly.

She stared at the stalks of celery, but was seeing something different in her head.

 

[Blase]

"Ooh, I have an idea!" Cindy exclaimed brightly. "Wait here!"

She disappeared, but was back not five minutes later, bearing the trench coat they'd used earlier to restore Rosi's modesty on the stage.

"I think it's time to send Agent Rosi on another mission," she told her friends. "This one is a bit riskier, and will require more specialized equipment."

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi looked at Cindy with a slightly mystefied expression, though she knew very well how she'd last worn that coat, and what had been tasked in the Coffee Shop Mission.

But what was Cindy planning now? It looked spontaneous, so presumably Sarah wasn't in on it, or at least, not yet. A quick dart of the eyes in her direction gave nothing away.

But Rosi adored being their plaything, their kitten, and stilling her knees took a new stick of celery to suck on while waiting for Mission Parameters and her Orders.

"Agent Rosi reporting for duty, Maam," and she sketched a relaxed salute with her free hand.

 

[Blase]

"Well, it sounded like Owen was quite nice to you yesterday," Cindy said. ""Making that romantic design on your coffee and all. Perhaps he deserves a bit more recognition for his efforts."

"Notice that the coat has an inner button that can hold it closed nicely. Unless it happens to come undone."

"Of course, agents have to be aware of conditions in the field. Sometimes it's impossible to isolate the target, and a mission has to be at least temporarily aborted."

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Um, are we talking about twin High Beams and single Low Beam?"

This was an Interesting Development, and Owen was a pretty safe target, not someone who was likely to escalate the situation out of control.

And Rosi had thoroughly enjoyed the last Mission. And Cindy could be trusted.

But Rosi also heard the warning about being careful and using her judgement.

"The Agent understands that the Target should be isolated, not risking collateral, um, exposure?"

She reached over for the coat. "I think I need to go to the Ladies Room for a wardrobe adjustment?"

 

[Blase]

"I think you understand the mission parameters," Cindy responded.

Meanwhile, across town, an unsuspecting Owen greeted every customer politely, making each order into a little work of art.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

The walk over to the Cafe was a lot draughtier this time. The only thing she had to block the breeze whistling up under her coat was a pair of heels, and they were useless in that regard.

Rosi had fastened the inner button and one low outer, preventing the front from opening below her hips or above her chest. Safe. So far.

Cafe Java was pretty full. Before going inside she slipped the inner button free. Owen was doing a good trade, his social awkwardness not inhibiting his barrista accomplishments, and Rosi was fairly sure she recognised a customer from the last time she had visited. Regulars! Good for Owen.

Rosi was pleased for him, and smiled as she approached the counter, waiting her turn. Just before stepping up, she turned sideways and leant over as if to check out the display and subtly undid the outer button.

The previous customer turned away, bearing their trophy of an Owen coffee, and Rosi stepped up.

"Hi Owen!"

 

[Blase]

Owen glanced up, then blanched and quickly cast his eyes downward.

It was Her! The girl whose breasts he had Seen!

Sadly, there was just no way to tell her that she had brought the light of boobs into his life and that he would forever treasure the memory in his heart as well as sometimes in the bathroom and in his bedroom, so he settled for mumbling, "Oh, hello, Miss. Can I get you anything you'd like?", then silently cursing himself for an idiot.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Well, you probably don't remember me, but last time I was here you had some of the most delicious carrot cake?"

With her coat now undone and no one between her and Owen, Rosi leaned forward to scan the display of cakes, apparently searching for the ones that had been on the back row before.

Entirely by accident, of course, the coat fronts opened, screening her completely but only from the sides. From his vantage point Owen would be able to see everything. If he looked.

"Can you see them?" she asked with an easy innocence, her eyes searching the counter.

"Oh, and another latte. I would love some of your froth?"

 

[Blase]

Owen could see them, alright. Rosi was lucky he was able to tear his eyes away long enough to prepare her order.

Fortunately, Owen was so completely taken by surprise that he actually managed to act sort of nonchalant and simply make Rosi a coffee, decorating it with a picture of an arrow-pierced heart.

It wasn't much, but it was all he had to offer.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Closing her coat over as if she hadn't realised just how much was on display, Rosi paid for her coffee and carried it to a nearby table.

The ones furthest from the counter had filled first, so hers was still quite close to Owen.

She was disappointed. He hadn't appeared to look, or notice, or react.

Maybe he wasn't as socially awkward as the girls thought.

Sipping her admittedly nice coffee with it's ironic love arrow, Rosi took her phone from the coat pocket.

"To Mission Control. Partial Success. All equipment operated successfully, but target impervious to missiles"

Frowning over her steamimg brew, without the carrot cake that both she and Owen had forgotten, Rosi tried to work out what had gone wrong.

 

[Blase]

"Here's your carrot, Miss!"

"Cake. Here's your carrot cake."

"I'm sorry about that, I don't know what I was see-"

"thinking. Don't know what I was thinking."

Owen fixed his eyes determinedly on the floor and fled back behind the counter.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi positively glowed.

"Oh, thank you Owen," was all she could get out before he fled.

She messaged, "Mission Update. Total Success, repeat Total Success!"

Since she was so close and there were no customers at the counter, Rosi considered it safe to allow the unfastened coat to drift open while she sampled the rather good cake.

It was only a hint, not a full artillery salvo, but she felt Owen deserved a reward.

 

[Blase]

There was nothing more that Owen knew to do or say, having never, as he believed, had a girl pay him any serious attention in his life.

In the end, he brought Rosi another latte, this one with a butterfly floating atop it. With a murmured apology for forgetting Rosi's carrot cake, he set the drink on the table in front of her, then headed once again for his Fortress of Solitude.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Rosi looked at the offering, and felt that Owen deserved a little more of her respect. She didn't like that she had been using him.

Closing her coat, she approached the counter again.

"Owen? Owen, look at me," she said gently.

"Look, you need to know I've never done anything like that before, you know, the top? Not anywhere, not with anyone. I just wanted to get your attention. I wanted you to remember me. I'm sorry If I offended, I didn't mean to. And you make great coffee, and I love your carrot cake, and thank you for the little designs in the latte.

"I was going to say, if you're ok with everything can you put a clean paper napkin on my table, just so I know you're doing ok? You don't have to say anything or look at me. If you actually liked what I did, put two napkins, ok?"

Rosi went back to her table to enjoy more coffee. And wait.