"Good afternoon!" Mai greeted brightly as the NA200 android stepped through the door once more. There were no customers at the moment. It was just past mid-afternoon, so most people had eaten lunch and headed back to work already. "There must have been a business meeting today," she added cheerfully as the handsome android strode up to the counter to place his order. He tilted his head slightly as he processed her comment. He did that quite a lot. She supposed it was a programmed quirk shared by many androids. It was a little similar to Charlie when he was confused by one of Takigawa's jokes. In the NA200's case, she guessed he was curious.
"There was. How did you know?" he asked, blue eyes following her movements as she started up the coffee machine and heated the latte milk. The machine roared to life, spitting out steam as she frothed the milk with one of the nozzles. Her hands were small, he noted, but dextrous and skilled. She worked with precision and practiced ease, able to focus on him completely as she made his order. Her eyes were a pleasing shade of hazel with pale flecks of amber that almost seemed to shine in the sunlight. This information was unimportant, but it registered on his sensors nonetheless. He automatically stored it in her small file lest it prove important in the future.
"You always come back for a second round when there's an afternoon meeting," she replied brightly, giving him a warm smile as she clicked a plastic lid on the first cup. The NA200 processed the comment and concluded that this human was observant. She had paid attention to his habits and recognised the pattern of his visits. She'd also made it a habit to remember his order to the point he no longer needed to recite it for her. She was efficient. Her service was exemplary. He cross-referenced her behaviour and was returned with the phrases hardworking and kind. This human was certainly kind. "I hope they're not working you too hard," she added considerately as she started the coffee cycle again.
"My workload is satisfactory," the NA200 replied uniformly, but the human didn't seem to mind. She smiled again, barely removing her eyes from him as she finished the next two drinks. He scanned her subtly, though he didn't expect her to notice. Her name was Mai Taniyama. Seventeen years old. She'd been orphaned at thirteen when her parents had been shot and killed during a robbery at this very café. She was currently in high school and ran the family café alongside it. "What of yours?" the NA200 asked politely. His social subroutine was running, suggesting it was polite to engage. It was referred to as making small-talk. The NA200 was familiar with it from the numerous meetings he'd taken part in since his activation.
"Oh…I get by!" Mai replied sweetly, though this conflicted somewhat with her schedule. She was always serving at the café, no matter when he came. This led him to the conclusion that she was neglecting her studies or else completing the work at home. He scanned her vitals to find she suffered from fatigue and was slightly malnourished. It seemed get by was an accurate phrase. An alert popped up, suggesting it was socially unacceptable to comment. "Thanks for asking!" she added sincerely, her heart skipping a beat as she met his intense blue gaze with her usual beaming smile.
The NA200 ran another scan, noting the various rises and falls in her vitals. Her skin had warmed and her heart rate had increased. He cross reference the data. It aligned with happiness. She was pleased. There was something more. The slight rise in her heart rate suggested that she was emotionally invested in their conversation. Sexual interest. It would be socially unacceptable to comment on it.
"You are welcome," the NA200 settled on instead. She smiled as she handed him the bags, her rounded cheeks flushing a little as their fingers brushed during the handoff. He reflected that this often happened. Her touch lingered a few seconds longer than necessary. He raised his blue gaze to meet her gentle hazel. Pupils dilated. Sexual interest. She dropped her gaze, her cheeks heating as if she'd been able to read his conclusion. Embarrassment. She had not anticipated his direct attention in this manner. "Your payment," the NA200 stated in his usual monotone, noting she'd forgotten to process it.
"Ah! Yes, of course!" Mai said sheepishly as she put through the order. She watched the LED at his temple circle from blue to yellow as he made the transaction with a flickering blink. She smiled as she watched him nod his satisfaction. He bade her a good day and was about to leave when her voice called to him. "Oh, wait a minute!" she urged, the taps of her feet on the wooden floor telling him she'd come out into the seating area. He paused and looked over his shoulder as she approached.
"Yes?" he prompted in a curious tone as he waited. This was odd. He had everything he'd ordered, and he'd paid. He had nothing he could have dropped. This led him to the conclusion that Mai required him for something else. He waited as she hurried over, noting the small packet in her hand. It was wrapped in colourful paper with a small ribbon. She seemed hesitant as she held it out to him. "Is it a delivery?" he asked politely as he accepted it from her almost shaking hands. She shook her head, her cheeks flushed.
"It's a present…for you," she replied, her voice quivering slightly. Anxiety. The NA200 processed the news and looked up the appropriate social etiquette. He was not a personal unit, nor did he belong to her. He was company property designed to follow business rules. He was unsure how he should proceed with the current situation. He ran a check through the social protocols of his position. "You've been coming here every day for a few months now…You're one of my regular customers," she added quickly. He hit a file. On various holidays, it was not unusual for business owners to show appreciation to patrons with small gestures of kindness or discounts.
"I understand," the NA200 replied politely, noting the happy flush on Mai's cheeks as she looked up at him. Sexual interest. He looked at the small packet. The paper was a deep shade of purple and covered in small orange pumpkins and black bats tied with a shiny orange ribbon. It was almost Halloween. It was a Halloween gift. This holiday wasn't known for gift giving, but it would be rude to decline such an offer.
"Open it," Mai encouraged cheerfully, so the NA200 obediently tugged the ribbon and paper free. It was a small orange pumpkin pin. Mai took it and pinned it neatly to the lapel of his standard issue Cyberlife jacket. The NA200 looked down at it before meeting her soft eyes. "I thought it would cheer up your uniform a bit," she added brightly as she fiddled with her frilled apron. The NA200 looked for a suitable response. He wasn't authorised to wear decorations, however his social subroutine suggested the infraction was small and easily overlooked on this occasion.
"Thank you," is what his program told him was the acceptable response. Mai smiled brightly, clearly happy with his acceptance, and held the door open for him. She lingered in the doorway and waved as he headed down the street without looking back. He didn't feel the cold as he went. He walked calmly into the bank and headed for the elevator alongside a few other shivering humans returning from various errands. He requested the nineteenth floor and waited silently, blue eyes dropping to the small brightly coloured pin. The smiling jack-o'-lantern was barely the size of a coin. It looked happy, with thin triangle eyes and a wide smile. When the doors opened, he stepped into a spacious office area with various desks scattered about in closed off sections with tall dividers.
"Kaz! You're back!" a familiar voice called in a bright, almost relieved tone as he approached. The NA200 barely had time to reach his desk before the bags were removed from his grasp and the young Asian human eagerly hunted through for his caramel latte. He sighed lovingly as he sipped the hot drink, smiling sheepishly as the NA200 held a napkin out to him. He always ended up with cream on his lips. "Thanks…Oh? What's this?" the young man asked brightly as he spotted the pin. This was unheard of. The NA200 followed his gaze before stepping behind his own desk. Two of the young ladies in the office hovered beside them as they spoke, clearly listening in.
"It was a gift from the proprietor of the coffee shop," the NA200 replied in his usual disinterested tone as he shook his ebony bangs from his eyes. He immediately dropped his head and began typing away, pausing only as the human's shadow fell over his desk. A hand landed on his shoulder, easing him back in his chair as he leaned on the desk. He looked interested. The NA200 found a new entry. Office gossip. He should engage, but not allow it to interrupt his work.
"Oh no-no, you don't get away with that. Spill!" the young man demanded enthusiastically as he folded his arms and leaned forward. The NA200 was unsure what his co-worker was expecting. He tilted his head as he tried to assess the instruction. He was unsure what he was supposed to be trying to get away with, and the instruction to spill didn't make sense in this context.
"I have no beverage to spill," he replied with an innocent tilt of his head and open confusion in his features. Both men paused as their two female colleagues joined them. They seemed equally intrigued and somewhat amused. The NA200 looked up at the newcomers curiously as they both broke into fits of laughter. He failed to understand the humour of their situation.
"Yasuhara, you need to ask the right questions! Who's the proprietor?" one of the women asked through her laughter. She had thick brunette hair that brushed her shoulders as she stood before the NA200's desk with folded arms. The NA200 shifted his attention to the young lady, whose clothes were standard for the office. A simple suit with a pencil skirt. It hugged her hips and encased her knees, giving her a figure that many humans would likely find pleasing.
"Her name is Mai Taniyama," the NA200 replied obediently, unsure why the humans were so excited by this news. He looked down momentarily to open a spreadsheet to work on. Yasuhara looked thoughtful as he pushed his rectangular glasses up his nose. His shirt sleeves were rolled up in the warmth of the office, though the two ladies remained in their blazers. The NA200 had yet to remove his blazer, but he often did so. Yasuhara could only assume he was programmed to remove it when the temperature reached a certain level.
"Is she hot?" he asked with interest as he examined the NA200 for a reaction.
"I did not enquire," the NA200 deflected obliviously as he typed away, bringing up various definitions as he was asked to comment on Mai's attractiveness. He tilted his head as he looked for a suitable word. He compared her image to others. "Plain. Average. Cute," he recited, though he couldn't be sure they were entirely correct. Humans seemed to have a fairly subjective view when it came to physical appearance. It was something he was unable to consider himself.
"Do you have a picture?" the other woman asked as she leaned on his desk eagerly. She had long blonde hair that she kept tied back in a low tail with a few loose strange caressing her cheeks at the front. The NA200 held up his hand obligingly, the skin peeling back to show a holographic image of Mai behind the counter in the cafe. The two women gushed over her while Yasuhara slapped his shoulder in approval. Apparently, Miss Taniyama could be considered both cute and adorable. The NA200 did not understand the group's enthusiasm.
"Nice! You've got yourself an admirer," Yasuhara praised cheerfully, though the NA200 failed to see how this was a positive thing. He was simply a machine designed to complete a task. He would have voiced as much if the brunette woman hadn't chimed in herself.
"Yeah, but he can't do anything…He doesn't have the parts, you know," she added meaningfully as she eyed between the unit's legs, speaking in a stage whisper as if it would be rude to allow him to hear. The NA200 tilted his head as he turned his attention to her. He had no feelings about her words, however, he was duty-bound to correct her error.
"I have been fully fitted to fulfil that role, Miss Jeanette," he announced, noting the six eyes that turned to him in shock. It seemed this warranted further explanation as they continued to stare expectantly. "It has been found through research that office workers regularly enjoy the benefits of romantic liaisons in the workplace. In an attempt to combat extramarital affairs and the resulting divorces androids such as myself have been designed to fulfil that role without the romantic entanglements involved…I assumed you were aware. The full range of my abilities is clearly listed in my manual," he added, watching the girls smirk while Yasuhara looked utterly scandalised. The NA200 didn't particularly understand their reactions. Yasuhara seemed particularly upset.
"Wait, so you're a Traci?" he demanded incredulously, his hands moving to his hips as he searched for somewhere to put his indignation.
"Negative. I share a few base programs with those models, but I am designed for many higher functions as well," the NA200 replied systematically. If Yasuhara didn't know better, he'd say the NA200 was offended at being compared to a Traci. Not that he'd blame him. Tracis were designed with minimal abilities outside of giving sexual pleasure. The NA200 sat back and looked up as the blonde woman approached and sat on his lap demurely. He dutifully supported her hip and rested a hand on her knee as she did so.
"What kind of base programs?" she asked teasingly as she rested her arm across his shoulders and played with the hair on the back of his neck. Her actions were affectionate and somewhat provocative. Sexual interest. Yasuhara shot her a glare as she slipped her arms around the NA200 with fresh interest. The NA200 dutifully gave her his full attention, seemingly unbothered by the added weight or physical contact.
"I am programmed with the ability to satisfy partners of either gender," he stated, hearing Yasuhara choke on his coffee at the news. Jeanette was chortling behind her hand as she watched Yasuhara's brain implode on the spot. He coughed a few times as he wiped his mouth on one of his tissues.
"You have both parts?" he demanded loudly, a few heads turning their way curiously. People looked over the desk dividers to see better. It wasn't too unusual for Yasuhara to be so animated. He was one of the youngest in the office, but also one of the most liked. He was both kind and funny. An excellent combination when it was added to his intelligence and sharp wit.
"Not in the sense you believe. I am physically male, however my rectal port has been designed with a self-lubrication protocol in the event of a dominant male partner wishing to perform penetrative sexual intercourse," the NA200 replied without an ounce of shame, watching in confusion Yasuhara stammer incoherently. "I would be happy to allow you to experience those abilities if you have such an inclination, Mr Yasuhara," he added with an almost coy expression, and Yasuhara swore he'd said it on purpose. He got to his feet with a firm and incredulous no before stalking back to his own desk.
"What about you, Mel? You want a crack at him?" Jeanette teased as she looked down at the blonde with her hands on her hips. Mel seemed quite content to remain on the NA200's knee. She was quite tall, so her feet comfortably touched the floor as she sat there in his arms. The NA200 looked up at her with patient interest. Mel giggled as she agreed she wouldn't be averse to the idea.
"Would you like to initiate a sexual encounter now?" the NA200 asked dutifully as he looked up at her. Her cheeks flushed pink as she felt movement between the android's thighs. She jumped up with a small yelp, Jeanette failing to hide her amusement as Mel hurried around to her. She could have sworn the NA200 had done that on purpose.
"Maybe later," Mel replied sheepishly before hurrying back to her own desk in a fluster. The NA200 was about to return to work when a grey jacket sleeve reached across to tug his lapel firmly. The room fell silent. He hadn't noticed the older man's approach and was unsure how much of the interaction he'd been witness to. The NA200 looked up emotionlessly at the middle-aged man, who stared intently at the small pin with squinting eyes.
"What the hell is this?" the man demanded, though his sharp tone didn't bother the NA200. The man's profile popped up in the corner of his vision as it was programmed to. This was his superior, Mr James Royce, the forty-seven-year-old head of department. The NA200's programming had just kicked in to answer the demand when another voice cut in.
"It's a present! The NA200 found himself an admirer," Yasuhara piped up as he reappeared and gently tugged the jacket free of Mr Royce's grasp, his expression bright and friendly. The NA200 noted that he often did this. Yasuhara was quite protective of him where their boss was concerned. It was a well-known fact that Mr Royce hated machines, even ones as simple as the photocopier. He'd been resentful of the NA200's arrival and made no secret of his dislike despite the positive results the NA200 had brought.
"Social protocols dictated it would have been rude to refuse a gift under such circumstances," the NA200 added as he returned to work. If Yasuhara didn't know better, he'd think the machine felt intimidated. It didn't. He was just projecting his own feelings onto it. He knew that. The LED on his temple swirled yellow as the hand reached across and tugged at the button with the clear intention of pulling it loose. Yasuhara was almost surprised as the NA200's hand rose to cover it almost protectively. It seemed Mr Royce was also confused as he drew his hand back quickly.
"I don't care about that, standard issue uniforms only!" he stated in a grumble, not trusting the way the NA200's LED stuttered between blue and yellow upon contact. Yasuhara stepped closer and looped his arm around the NA200's shoulders, almost assuringly. He swore he felt him relax slightly as he squeezed his shoulder.
"Oh, come on, Sir! It's almost Halloween! And the girl at the coffee shop will be upset if he shows up not wearing her gift, right?" he added in a friendly manner as he looked at the NA200 for confirmation. The NA200 processed the information and nodded his agreement. Mai would likely be a little upset if he removed her gift so soon. Yasuhara held up Mr Royce's coffee meaningfully, watching him look at the cup and then the button. He finally sighed and took the coffee. His was one of the Americanos. He sipped the strong bitter liquid before glaring down at the NA200.
"Fine! But it comes off after Halloween!" he gruffed, before turning and stalking off with his drink. Yasuhara almost sighed in relief as he leaned on the NA200's desk and gave him a thumbs up. The NA200 processed this as a show of support and returned it in kind.
"Nice save Yasu!" Jeanette murmured from her desk as she turned her chair with a wink. Yasuhara gave her a thumbs up before checking on the NA200, noticing the way he looked absently at the small smiling pumpkin pin. His expression seemed almost like he was contemplating something as he ran his thumb over the shiny textured surface of the pin. It was almost a self-soothing gesture.
"Don't worry about it Kazuya, he'll probably forget by the end of the month…After Halloween you can take it off and keep it in your drawer. He'll never even know," Yasuhara assured in a comforting tone, watching the NA200's LED blink yellow as he processed the suggestion. He nodded obediently, filing the suggestion as an order. Timer set – November 1st. Jack-o'-lantern pin to be relocated to locked drawer. Authorisation - Yasuhara. He blinked before returning his fingers to the keys, feeling a final clap on his shoulder before Yasuhara returned to his own desk.
