Work Text:
Willow had been grateful that Rose had gotten her the job on X-Squad: God Loves Man Kills. She was a great makeup artist, but so much of job search is who you know, especially in this industry. Rose seemed to know this, and championed her network of ‘girls in every port’ at every chance she got. It was her own little economy, a mutual aid network. She'd have requests in return of course, or she'd play matchmaker, or some other silly thing.
The joke amongst those in the know was that it was the best thing you could do for your career, hook up with Rose Landry. Or, more accurately, be liked by Rose Landry. If you got on her good side she'd be a pal, and you didn't even have to get in her pants. That was just the most common way.
Truly, Will was surprised she was in the network, they'd hooked up once but it was while Will was desperately painfully trying to be a dude and failing miserably at every turn. It probably was as bad for Rose as her theatre school gay boyfriends. Willow was different in that she was a lesbian boyfriend, but she was struggling to figure that out. A messy, liberating conversation with Rose post disaster hookup had made all the difference for her, but she couldn't imagine it was that fun for Rose.
She was working on the new X-Squad movie because Rose had put in a good word for her. But Rose had a favorite hookup at this time. She heard about it during their four-hour special fx makeup application sessions. But Rose wanted Will to meet said favorite hookup, and maybe do a double date with her friend. In Rose’s mind that would propel them from the situationship stage to the girlfriends stage, but that didn't make sense to her.
The week they were filming on location in New York, Rose texted Willow a time and an address. It was technically a friendly, no-pressure invitation, but Will felt a little pressure in terms of obligation to at least try it.
The address was for a gay bar called the Kingfisher.
“Hey girl!” Rose said as soon as Will opened the door. She was visibly drunk, which was fun but also chaotic.
“Hi, Rose.” Will said as nonchalantly as one can while being pulled by the right arm toward their booth.
“Girls, this is Willow, Will for short. She's my makeup artist for the new X-Force. And this is Elena, she's the smartest in the world and does science or something.”
“Computer science, close enough. Cybersecurity.” Elena offered.
Will had friends in cybersecurity but she was not of the computer trans woman archetype. Closer to the drag scene archetype, it's what got her into makeup, and then special effects makeup.
“And this is her friend Maria, she loves dive bar food.”
“That's how you're introducing me?” Maria laughed.
“I panicked. But you are eating those nachos, I don't know how.”
“They're good nachos!”
“Can I try the nachos?” Will asked, “I want to see for myself.”
“They're taking your Latina card away soon.”
“Oh my god Rose, I never had one.” Maria started laughing. She wasn't mad, it was just silly. “My card says South Asian.”
“Then why is your name Maria Villaneuva?”
“Pop quiz, are there any countries in Asia that were colonized by Spain?”
“She's too drunk for educating, Maria.” Elena helpfully explained. “I'll give her a geography lesson later.”
Rose noticed that she and Will were still standing. She draped herself over Elena.
“I love you baby,” she whined, sing-songy.
“Should I have pregamed? I didn't realize this was a get-hammered type of double date.”
“I didn't realize either,” Elena answered, “But I think she's been working too hard.”
“Yeah, we get up way too early for makeup application, like ass-crack of dawn, and then it's a couple hours in the chair, and then she's filming for hours. I just wait in the makeup trailer for her to come back for touch ups and removal, so I've taken some good naps while she's on the job.”
“Makes sense. I'd be napping too if I got up when you two do.”
“Her chosen profession is a tough one.” Willow responded, “I just have to paint her for it.”
“A career in the arts sounds so hard.” Maria mused. “One of my coworkers at my café job just got into grad school for art history, I hope whoever gets the job after him is even half as fun. He's abandoning me for fucking grad school.”
“Ugh, I hate the new coworker dice roll.” Elena agreed. “But no one who works there will be as fun as Kip.”
They went another couple minutes just talking, making conversation before Will noticed that Rose had fallen asleep draped over Elena.
“Is she good?” she asked.
“I think we should get her to bed.” Elena suggested. “Can you girls help me?”
Maria and Will nodded almost in unison.
“I'll call an uber. Will, can you get her some water? I'll probably need both of you to get her in the car.”
Will laughed to herself. She felt like she just got here and was having to immediately rescue the person that invited her. Maybe too much adventure, she was getting old for this.
But she liked the way it felt when Maria's skin brushed against hers as they struggled to get Rose to the car. It was kind of like carrying a toddler that didn't want to be carried, when they throw their weight into being a disruptive force. Rose didn't mean to be a disruptive force, she's just a little impulsive sometimes.
When Rose and Elena's car drove off, Will and Maria were left behind.
“Do you think they'll be alright?” Maria asked.
“I think Rose has helpers on every street corner.” Will answered.
“Do you wanna come back to my place?”
“I was hoping you'd ask.” Will smiled.