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"Well hello there, lil' darlin'." Spine's deep voice purrs as he saunters up to where Sparky sat at the bar, tipping his fedora to her. He had a goofy smile on his face as he sat on the stool beside her.
"Are you okay Spine?" Sparky asks with a giggle as he regards her with a warm emerald gaze.
"I'm fine," Spine chuckles and gives a small hiccup before continuing. "Just the sarsaparilla is pretty strong around these parts is all."
The copper bot laughs softly at her sweetheart's choice of words. "Did you guys get the sparkling water again?"
"Mmhmm. It's very sparkly sarsaparilla water." The silver automaton nods, adding dreamily, "About as sparkly as a lightning bug on a June night."
This bar must have extra sparkling sparkle water, Sparky mused to herself. It was a rare occurrence that Spine would let himself be so taken with the bubbly substance. It made sense, she supposed. Any bar with a name like "The Bucking Bronco", was bound to have strong 'sarsaparilla'.
The copper bot giggled softly, tonight been a very successful gig for the band, she was just happy her sweetheart and other family members were enjoying themselves. She looks over at Rabbit and Zer0 where they sat a table across the bar with the Walter Workers. They were laughing at a joke the eldest Walter bot had told.
From the corner of her eye Sparky caught Spine giving her a rather strange look. Turning to face him she smiled softly and tilted her head, silently questioning his expression. He blinked at her slowly, emerald optics glowing from under the brim of his famous fedora as a slightly lopsided smirk formed on his silver features before he gently placed his hand over hers on the counter and leaned over to say something in her ear.
"You're as cute as a bug's ear." Steam softly tickled the side of her face as he pulled away. He gives her a little dopey smile as she giggles.
"Is that right?" The copper bot looks away shyly. She wasn't unused to compliments, but these were very different than the kind he usually gave her.
The Spine nods seriously, smile still on his face as he winks at her. "Purty as a peach too." He gives a small hiccup while in mid wink. He tries again, this time winking at her twice, once with each eye.
Sparky shook her head, laughing softly at her silver sweetheart's goofiness. She perks a brow when he raises an index finger in the air, as if to announce something.
"You, are purtier than a picture", he says finally with a slight drawl and gently boops her nose, earning a robotic blush from Sparky as her optics glow brighter, a surprised expression crossing her features before she blinks and starts to giggle again.
Shy or not, deep down she really liked him talking all cowboy like to her.
"This song is perfect for bootscooting! Care to dance with me, lil' darlin'?" Spine asks out of the blue a moment later. A country song had just started playing over the bar's speakers and he was already tapping his toe to the beat.
"Sure but-- " Spine had taken her hand and was already helping her off the stool as she continued "--I don't know how to country dance."
"It's like singing country, anyone can do it." A happy grin eased across his silver features as he gently guided his darlin' into the correct dance steps. It was a little faster than what Sparky was used to, but she managed, only stepping on his foot once.
Once the song was over, the two bots sidled over to the bar again, laughing a bit. Sparky was surprised when he kissed her forehead after she settled herself back on the bar stool.
"What was that for?" She asks with a giggle, heating up in a robotic blush once again. She would need to top off her coolant at this rate. Spine just shrugged, optics glowing with mischief.
"Had to give my lil' darlin' a thank you kiss."
"Aww, Spine you're so sweet." She smiles up at him and gently pats his arm.
Excited shouting from the far corner of the large bar caught both of the robot's attention. The source of the excitement was a group of college aged friends trying their luck on the mechanical bull, whooping and hollering encouragement to their buddy holding on for dear life to the bucking machine before eventually being thrown off and bouncing slightly on the padded flooring around the bull.
Sparky could see the excited gleam in her sweetheart's optics as he watched, a goofy grin spreading across his face as he murmurs, "A metal bull for a robot cowboy, how about that?"
They wait until the group of friends meandered away before approaching the mechanical bull to take a turn. Sparky had never seen one in person and was curious how it worked. She waited by the the small control panel that had buttons to control the settings of the bull while Spine payed the bartender for two turns on the ride.
The silver automaton comes back with a swagger in his step, clearly excited to have his cowboy moment. He flashes Sparky a pleased smirk and in true gentleman fashion offered the first turn on the bull to her. Upon noticing her hesitation he chuckles and pats her shoulder comfortingly.
"There's an easy setting, darlin. I'm sure it'll be fun." His optics sparkled, he could feel his system tingle pleasantly from the sparkly sarsaparilla water still running through his boiler.
Sparky looks at the bull. It did seem pretty fun. "I think I may need some help getting on", she says to Spine with a small chuckle and smile.
"Sure thing lil' darlin." Spine knelt down and steepled his fingers with his palms facing up. "Just step up and I'll give you a boost."
He gives her a little wink as she places one hand on his shoulder and the other on the padded saddle of the bull then carefully steps one foot on his hand. He easily helps her up then rises and goes over to the bull's control panel.
"Ready?" When she nodded excitedly he grinned and pushed the button for the preset easy setting. "Hold on tight!"
Sparky giggles and holds on to the built in handle on the saddle as the bull slowly turns in a circle and gives a little buck every quarter turn. It speeds up after a moment and after a few unexpected turns and bucks, the copper bot loses her grip and falls off the bull, landing on the padded floor with a small bounce, giggling the entire time.
"That was fun!" She laughs as Spine helps her stand. "Your turn! Mount up, cowboy."
Sparky winks and pats his arm as he gives her a goofy grin before swinging himself up onto the bull, ignoring the slightly pained creak that squeaked from the springs. The begining guitar riff to 'Automatonic Electronic Harmonics' plays in his head as he sits up proudly in the saddle, his optics alight with joy.
"What setting do you want Spine?" Sparky asks from the control panel.
"Give me the most rootin' tootin' cowboy setting, lil' darlin!" The silver automaton replied excitedly, getting himself settled in the saddle, seemingly not hearing the springs below him groan in protest as he moved.
Sparky laughs and goes to press the correct button. She pauses when she sees the button indicating the level above the 'hard' setting, marked 'EL DIABLO'. That must be the most 'cowboy' setting, she figured.
"Wanna try the 'El Diablo' setting?" She asks. "I don't know what it does, but it's next to the 'hard' setting."
Spine grins to himself and adjusts his fedora, cocking it slightly to one side. He could take anything this bull throws at him! He was a cowboy after all! A fitting song starts playing over the bar's speakers, a rock and roll edition of 'Rawhide'. His core thrummed in excitement as he nods to Sparky.
"Let's do that one! It'll be a true cowboy challenge!" Common sense undiluted by sparkling 'sarsaparilla' water would've told him that this may not be a good idea, but he wanted to live out his cowboy dream and impress his darlin'!
"Okay Spine, here we go!" Sparky presses the 'EL DIABLO' button and the mechanical bull whirrs to life, immediately begining to spin and buck.
Spine's servos buzz slightly as he lets his body move with the bull's motions and holds on to the handle with one hand, the other hand in the air as he gives an excited cheer befitting a cowboy.
"Yee-haaa!" His cheer was followed by a deep carefree laugh as he rides the bucking bull, his laughter covering up the sound of the mechanical bull's springs and gears groaning painfully with each turn and buck.
A loud pop was followed by the crunch and squeal of metal on metal as the bull gave one last turn before suddenly sagging in defeat onto it's side and depositing a surprised Spine onto the floor unscathed. The exposed wires sparked and crackled at the machine's base as the silver automaton sits up and runs a quick diagnostic on himself.
Sparky's hands flew to her face as her optics widen in surprise. A stunned hush had fallen over the bar. Even the music stopped, it seemed everyone was too stunned to say anything.
From at the table with the Walter Workers, Rabbit blinks her mismatched optics once before a grin forms on her features.
"One sec", she says to no one in particular and takes a large swig from her glass of sparkling water before breaking the stunned silence further by taking a loud spit take and starting to cackle at her brother's predicament.
Rabbit's laughing jolted Sparky into motion, quickly moving to her sweetheart's side to where he awkwardly sat up on the floor, steaming from the neck in embarrassment.
"Spine! Are you okay hun?" She bends down to retrieve his beloved fedora from where it landed on the floor then rubs his shoulder to get his attention as she descretly looks him over for obvious injury.
"Thank you, Sparky." He murmurs after a moment and accepts his hat from her then sets it on his head very proper like before meeting her concerned gaze with a rather sheepish expression on his face, glancing at the remains of the slightly smoking mechanical bull.
It seems he had sobered up very quickly.
"Well, I uh, don't think that was a very smart thing to do" he says as he carefully stands up. Noticing her optics still glowing in concern as she looked up at him. He gives her a small smile. "I'm alright. Nothing is hurt, other than my pride", he assures with a small nervous chuckle that squeaked a bit before he cleared his throat.
Sparky takes his hand and squeezes reassuringly as they walk with as much dignity as possible while ignoring the shocked looks they got from the human costumers, over to the table where the other Walter bots and the Walter Workers sat.
Rabbit had finally stopped cackling, but black oil tears of mirth had trekked down her cheeks as she giggles softly, stream hissing softly from her cheeks. Zer0 was more surprised than anything else, unsure what to say to his brother that wouldn't embarrass him more.
The Walter Workers were already on damage control. Camille spoke with the bar's manager while Chelsea was on her cellphone getting in touch with Peter Walter the Sixth, or Six as he's more commonly known.
The Spine felt so embarrassed and very much like sinking into the floor and disappearing. He frowns, steam venting from his neck. Guilt was starting to set in a little. He knew Six would have to pay for the damage he caused. Almost as if reading his thoughts, Sparky began running her thumb over his knuckles in a soothing manner and offered him a gentle smile when he looked down at her.
"It's my fault too Spine, don't blame yourself. I think if we apologize, that may help. Hatchy always says that communication is the key to conflict resolution." Sparky adds hopefully.
The Spine nods and looks over to where Camille was deep in conversation with the manager. Chelsea had joined her now and was relaying information from Six on the phone to the manager. He seemed to be taking it pretty well over all as the two bots approached.
"Mr. Walter will of course pay for the damage", they heard Chelsea relay.
The manager, a tall man in his mid fifties with a stocky build scratched his thick black beard thoughtfully. "Well, maybe he could only pay for half of the warranty on the bull." He adds helpfully. "It was getting old and I was planning on getting another one anyway."
Sparky gently patted Spine's hand before stepping forward and getting the managers attention.
"Um, excuse me, Bill is it?" She asks, reading his name tag. "I want to apologize, I had no idea putting the bull on the highest setting would do that."
The Spine tipped his fedora respectively as he steps forward as well and adds, "I wasn't thinking clearly when I decided to ride the bull, I'm sorry. It was not my intention to break a source of income for you."
To everyone's surprise Bill gave a jovial laugh, warm brown eyes crinkling as a crooked smile formed under his beard.
"Hell son, you gave that bull a run for its money! I've never seen anyone have such a time on that thing. I heard your 'yeehaw' from all the way back in the kitchen!"
The Spine let out a small puff of steam from his neck as he blinked in surprise at Bill. "In all honesty, I expected a slightly different response."
"You're not mad?" Sparky asks, just as surprised as her sweetheart as she looks up at Bill.
"I've been running bars for over thirty years." Bill explains with a chuckle. "You learn what to get really upset over. I'd file this under 'inconvenience'." He shrugs. "Life happens. No one got hurt, and I was planning on replacing the bull soon anyhow." The man laughs and adds, "Besides, I've never seen anything get wrecked in such an entertaining fashion."
"Alright, hold on", Chelsea says into the phone before offering the device to Bill. "He'd like to discuss how to reimburse you."