No One Can Hurt You Now (open!)

[Rose]

Rose furrowed her brow as she thought. "Y'know...I don't really know. I'll have to get back to you on that." She took her coat off and hung it up in the cloak room. "That man over there, with the funny mustache, he's the guy you need to speak to. If you don't get a music job, just come find me and I'll work something out, okay?"

[Birdie]

Birdie glanced over to where Rose directed, squinting at the man in question. "Man in the funny mustache. Got it." She turned back to her and took up her hands. "Thanks for helping me, Rose. You've been really nice." She grinned, then rather impulsively gave her a quick hug.

[Rose]

Rose's eyebrows shot up and it took her a moment or two to hug her back. She quickly patted the girl on the back, chuckling nervously. "You're, uh, welcome..." No girl had ever been this nice to her before. But then again, she'd never been this nice to a girl before.

[Birdie]

Birdie released her, beaming, and then turned to run off toward the man with the mustache, nearly dropping her case in the process. "Wish me luck!" she called over her shoulder.

[Rose]

"Luck," Rose muttered to herself. She stood there for a bit, wondering what had just happened. Had she just made a friend? As she made her way to the bar, she shook her head slightly, laughing quietly.

[Birdie]

When Birdie finally cornered the man with the mustache, he begrudgingly took her back to his office for an audition. Though he might not have known what to do with a peppy little girl like Birdie Sims, she had enough skill with the violin that he consented to let her play in the pit during the week, and if she did her job well, he'd consider finding a spot for her on-stage.

Gleeful, Birdie rushed out of her audition forty-five minutes later, stretching on her tiptoes to try to find Rose in crowd of people.

[Rose]

Rose was tending the bar, her favorite job, listening intently to some drunken fool tell her about the woman who had broken his heart. This is why she loved tending the bar so much; hearing stories like this.

[Birdie]

Birdie finally caught a glimpse of blonde curls at the bar, so she tucked her case securely under her arm and hurried that way, barely avoiding barreling straight into a few patrons. When she reached the bar, she leaned over the counter, practically glowing with excitement. "Rose!" she cried. "Rose, I got it! I got the job!"

[Rose]

Rose smiled back, getting out two glasses and setting them on the counter. "That's wonderful, Violin, really! We should have a drink to celebrate."

[Birdie]

Birdie climbed up onto one of the stools, giving a little laugh at her new nickname. "He said I was too scrawny for anyone to see me on the stage, but I'd do well in the pit, where nobody'd know what I looked like." She grinned broadly.

[Rose]

"Hey, that's a compliment coming from Hugo," Rose assured her, pouring them both a small serving of whiskey.

[Birdie]

Birdie giggled, clearly still a bit shaky from her audition. "Oh, Rose, I was so nervous I thought I was going to faint right there in the middle of his office!"

[Rose]

"I'm sure it wouldn't have been the first time. Hugo likes to think it's because he makes the ladies swoon from his good looks." It wasn't hard to tell that Rose was trying desperately not to laugh.

[Birdie]

Birdie wrinkled her nose as she pulled the glass of whiskey toward her and then turned it around on the counter absently. "He reminded me of a Scottie dog, actually, with that mustache." She bit her lip and smiled guiltily. "That wasn't very nice of me to say, sorry."

[Rose]

"Nah, no need to apologize," Rose replied casually, downing the drink in one gulp. "I barely talk to the guy. Plus, it's not like he has the best personality to offset his looks."