Alice sat on a stool alone at the bar watching the moderately crowded room. She hadn’t headed out to hook up with anyone, she had a steady boyfriend wherever he was, instead she had came out tonight to people watch. She was dressed in a nice pale green dress, which judging from the stares she was getting might show off her figure a little too well. Alice didn’t need any of her Spring Contracts to tell what they wanted from looks she got. She reached out soaking in their feelings of lustful desire and spinning that into something she could harness and use.
Well if their going to drool over me like idiots the may as well be useful idiots, she thought to herself.
She sat nursing her drink watching the activity around her. She found herself focusing on the men and women who were not looking at her, she studied them and watched their actions. Alice noticed a young man all alone sparing frequent glances for a pretty young woman across the room who was with some of her friends. Alice grinned to herself, picked up her drink and walked over to the young man.
“This seat taken?” Alice asked.
The young man looked at her stunned for a second before stammering out a response. “N-N-N-No,” he finally squeaked out.
Alice took a drink and looked at the young man who was now glancing to her as well as the young woman.
“I’m Alice, what’s your name?”
“Robert,” the young man answered.
She made a big show of looking at the young woman Robert had been and then finally turned to the young man, “She’s pretty. Do you know her Robert?”
The young man blushed slightly and nodded, “Y-Y-Yes. I work with her. Her name is Suzan.”
“Well then, why don’t you go over and speak with her?”
“No! I’d get too nervous. I can’t talk to pretty girls.”
Alice pretended to look hurt and spoke, “We’re talking. Don’t you think I’m pretty?”
“Of course!” Robert answered defensively.
“Then what’s the problem? She’s out with her friends and they want to meet guys. Just walk over, say hello. You’re cute and sweet. I promise she’ll be glad to see you.”
“You think so?” the man hesitantly asked.
“I know so Robert, now go over there and sweep her off her feet.” Alice leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He blushed fiercely as he felt warmth spread throughout his body renewing energy and confidence. Alice smiled at the man, “For luck.”
He nodded and hopped off his stool to make his way over to his target. Alice watched the two of them as they went through the introduction stage. Robert was all shy and finally introducing himself and then Suzan and her friends asking him to join them. She watched for some time and finally when it looked like they had both hit it off quite well she turned her attention back to the rest of the bar. In fact later that night when Suzan’s friends had to leave Robert and Suzan were still talking and laughing.
Desire was a strong motivator. It gave a shy bumbling young man the motivation he needed to reach for his goals. It showed him that nothing was completely beyond his reach or hers. It may not work out in the end, but it is the ride, the fun along the way that is important and helped define us. She hoped that he understood that, just as she was beginning to. Alice looked around the bar with a smile looking for her next mark.