Synthia moved forward, blinking suddenly as a neon coloured holographic woman appeared opposite her on the other side of the bar. She'd heard that Exxhaust was the highest tech club in town, but this was a step past what she'd expected. The woman flipped her hair over her shoulder while blowing out a pink bubblegum bubble, biting down on it to pop it as she leaned forward, the projections shirt designed such that its ample cleavage could be clearly seen as it leaned towards Synthia.
"What can I get ya sugar?"
The synthetic voice issued from in front of Synthia, tinged with a heavy dose of femininity. Synthia stammered as her cheeks reddened, as much as she hadn't expected the holographic bartender, she expected the display of the holograms generous chest even less.
"Ah, j-just a gin and tonic p-please."
The holographic bartender winked at her as automatic machines within the bar churned, producing her drink. Synthia picked up the drink and turned, looking to find a less explicit view. The dance floor stretched in front of her and as her eyes adjusted to the strobing lights flashing across the club her hopes of a more modest sight were dashed.
People gyrated against each other, some kept modest only by small scraps of material glued to their bodies, others having had their modesty removed, dress straps pulled to the side to unveil breasts as their dance partners touched and squeezed. Elsewhere, people had their hands at their partners groins, dresses pulled up, or zippers undone to allow the grasping hands free reign. Here, it seemed, lust reigned supreme.
Synthia turned back around, heat rising in her body as she greedily started drinking, desperate to hide herself from the rampant debauchery happening in the club. She began rapidly reconsidering her decision to come here, she was a tech geek for God sake, not some kind of wild slut like the rest of the people here. Cementing the idea in her mind, she placed her drink back on the bar and turned to leave.
As Synthia turned, she felt her bag smack into something, hard. Glancing back to see what she'd hit she was taken aback to find herself staring at a large muscled young man. Blindingly obvious was the chromed arms that he was sporting, the metal biting into his flesh at the shoulder. He was lightly touching her bag as it had hit against his clearly toned stomach beneath his tight shirt.
Smiling down at her he let his hand drop from her bag, proceeding to move his arm over a small scanner built into the bar as a disguised panel in his arm lit up. He leant onto the bar, his eyes locking with hers as the machinery in the bar spun, producing a drink that he smoothly took into his hand.
Synthia abruptly realised she'd been staring at him for the last few moments, enraptured in the movements of his body and the thrill of being so near an Augment. She let out a small nervous laugh,
"S-sorry. I was just, um, leaving. I didn't mean to ah, hit you there."
The man smiled wider at her, replying with a voice that sent small shivers down Synthia's spine,
"It's not a problem. You were leaving? A shame, I was just coming to offer you a drink."
Synthia felt her cheeks redden impossibly further, the thought of an Augment offering her a drink sending her into a spiral of surprise and denial. Catching herself, she managed to choke out a response
"Me? But there's all of... " she gestured towards the dance floor, where the participants seemed to be in full swing of their revelry, "That."
The man chuckled softly in reply,
"Ah, but each person desires something different yes? However, talk of desires isn't something for the bar. Please, what can I get you?"
Synthia couldn't help but let her mind get drawn slightly into what his desires may be, she could almost feel the juxtaposition of his cold metallic hands holding her close against his warm chest. She hastily redicided her plans, placing her bag back down on the bar seat that it had been resting upon and moving a step closer to the Augment.
"Gin and Tonic? If that's okay?"
The Augment smiled wide back at her, scanning his arm back over the sensor on the bar and collecting the drink as it was dispensed. Synthia was slightly amazed that even with the obvious power his arms must have, he was able to delicately collect the drink and hand it to her. She touched his hand lightly as he passed over the drink, feeling the cold, smooth metal as it shifted and moved beneath her hand. Letting her hand drag slightly back over his as she took the drink Synthia smiled up at the Augment, feeling another shiver pass down her spine as she noted him watching her intently with a small, intrigued smile. She took the drink, moving back a half step
"Thank you, uh. What can I call you?"
The Augment took a moment to raise his drink, replying slowly.
"You can call me Xavier. But I can see that I intrigue you, yes?"
Synthia felt her face flush again, knowing by now that her face must have been a beacon even in comparison to the bright lights flashing throughout the club.
"Ah. I'm sorry. It's just I've never met... I mean, sorry. I can go? I'm sorry."
Xavier grinned at her, shaking his head slowly
"No, no. Stay, drink."
He gestured at her, nodding as she took a gulp of her drink.
"If you'd like, we could finish our drinks, get away from this... intense place and you could have a closer look at what intrigues you?."
As he spoke, his arms twisted and clicked with various small panels and tools coming into eyesight for mere moments before shifting once again beneath the metallic skin. Synthia could feel her eyes grow wide as she watched the display, knew she was letting her curiosity conquer her anxiety and worries.
Synthia threw back her drink, feeling giddy as she watched Xavier gulp back his. She grabbed her bag and gestured towards the door. Xavier smiled and shook his head, holding his arm out for her to hold on to and began leading them towards a side door. Synthia could feel his arm, smooth and cold to the touch, shifting against her own arm as she let him lead her from the bar.
Xavier led Synthia out from the club area of the building and down a set of stairs, the sounds of music from the club falling away as sound cancelling came into effect. Synthia glanced around the smooth white walls and unmarked doors in confusion.
"Wh-what is this place? How do you differentiate the doors?"
Xavier smiles down at her, replying slowly
"Apartments. For people like us..." he touched his face just below the eye "we tell them apart using ultraviolet light."
Synthia stared around at the walls, desperate to know what hidden messages were surrounding her as Xavier opened a door, leading into what was clearly his apartment. He dropped his arm, moving off towards the kitchen,
"Another drink? Gin and Tonic again?"
Synthia followed as she watched him subconsciously drop the tension from his back and shoulders, moving into the kitchen and taking bottles from shelves. He reached up to a cabinet to remove a pair of glasses, and she watched as his shirt lifted up slightly, revealing the muscled small of his back. Synthia realised she had been distracted watching Xavier again and hurried to stammer out a response