#flyboy's comms

"Look, toots. You either start talking, or take your puppy-eyed gawking to the other side of the lounge. I got enough men drooling on my feet tonight, and I'm not about to add another."

My hand slid along the wall's surface to the door's panel, lingering over the warm glass. I waited. If this was just another pre-show-needy slimeball, I was ready to give the smarmy bastard a real show of rejection.

"Forgive me, Ms. Rose. I was simply taken by the way that dress compliments your figure—"

"My what?"

"—Anyways, my name is Robbie Vang. It's a pleasure to meet you," He holds his hands out towards me, waiting to see if I'd shake it.

I don't, obviously. He's not gutting me that easily. Thankfully, he picks that up from the way I'm glaring at him, awkwardly pulling his hands back.

"You see, I'm here in this very lounge for buisness. I'm a talent scout, and may I say, I not need to search any longer! It seems I already found the star my employer's been searching for!"

He laughs. It's brighter than a thousand of the spotlights I've had to perform under night after night. Airy, light, like there was not a single burden holding that laugh down. Warmth crawled up from my stomach and made itself comfortable just under the skin of my face.

Just the goddamn luck I had. In the middle of a goddamn sting in one of Hyperion's high end bars. Suddenly, life wants to chuck a fox-toothed, handsome talent scout shaped wrench into my system. Hell, I could tell he was gonna be wrench by the way he staring at me. Wide-eyed and expectant. He looked ready to grab me, whisk me off the stage, and drag me off to whatever glittery, contract-led hellhole waited most singers in this city.

Unfortunately for him, Miss Lola Rose wasn't gonna have it, and neither was I. My name's Juno Steel, I'm a private eye. Right now, I'm undercover trying to crack open several missing persons cases linked to this here lounge.

Or, I would be. You know, if I wasn't trying to shake a shark.

"Save it." I spat, "Talk to me about it never and buzz off. I got a soundcheck to get to, unless you wanna watch the lounge's owner to take my head before I can sing Do."