Invisible String

C.1: drunk on something stronger than the drinks in the bar

"Good haul?" Rosa nodded towards the two piles of cash as she finished up the drink that she was mixing.

"Decent enough," She lifted up one pile, trying to hand money to Rosa, "This is for you."

"I don't want your pity money," Rosa snapped, trying to push Madison's hand away from her, "Just because I called you a pretty rich white lady, doesn't mean I want your charity."

"You think I'm pretty," a quick smiled pulled across Madison's lips, Rosa blushed slightly, shaking her head, trying her hardest to ignore the heat rising through her cheeks. "It's not pity money nor is it charity," Madison stated, "Call it a finder's fee or something like that. It's a tip for you. For your services tonight."

Rosa looked at the money, and then back up to Madison, seeing the sincerity written across her face.

"It's the living wage that this place owes me," Rosa took the money, shoving it into her back pocket before anyone else she worked with could see it happen.

"I do just have to clarify things, I'm not actually that rich, and I have less than a hundred bucks in my bank account. I'm unemployed and technically I'm homeless, could be kicked out at any second. Where I used to work, I needed to dress nicely or I wouldn't have been taken seriously." Madison nervously explained, "And the clothes I own have next to no resale value because they've been tailored."

"That's sexism for you," Rosa quipped back, knowing the underlying meaning of what Madison said.

"Yeah," Madison smiled back.

Rosa pushed the drink that she made towards Madison, another whiskey sour.

"I didn't order this," she stated as she tried to push the drink back towards Rosa.

"I know," Rosa pushed the drink back, "The guy at the end of the bar did."

"Why?"

"He liked the music," Rosa shrugged her shoulders, "Or something, I guess." She added.

Madison took the drink, before nodding to the guy at the end of the bar, in some attempt at saying thanks.

He nodded back, tipping his own bottle of beer in response.

"I think I should thank him properly."

"I think you should," Rosa coly replied.

Madison grabbed her own pile of cash, shoving it into the outer pocket of her suit jacket. She stopped in her tracks before looking back to Rosa.

"If I get murdered tonight will you report this guy to the police?"

"What's in it for me?" Rosa jokingly asked.

"If I die, you won't be a share of my tips the next time I do this."

"There'll be a next time?"

"Of course, there'll be and probably you'll get all of my tips if I get the job. Can't have awkward undisclosed income." Madison admitted, "And if you don't, I'll haunt you. I could be a very spiteful ghost."

"Of course, I will. Us ladies gotta stick together. And I know him, he won't murder you."

"You argued with him." Madison pointed out.

"That's more because he's a jerk," Rosa was unable to finish whatever else she was meant to say as Madison cut her off.

"That's resounding character reference," The sarcasm dripped from her words.

Rosa snorted, as she grabbed another glass to clean.

"As I was saying," Rosa shot Madison a look, one in good jest, in response Madison held up her hands to give a fake apology, before laughing to herself slightly as the bartender continued speaking, "He might be a bit of an arrogant jerk, but he's a good man. Not capable of hurting someone..." she paused for a second, "he might bore you to death, but that doesn't seem like it'll be a problem with you."