Here We are Now; Entertain Us || Charlie & Ducky
Finally, the train had stopped off in some town in New Jersey of all places. Charlie sat on the makeshift stage of the Burlesque bar, cigarette in hand and a patience equivalent to that of a panther waiting to strike its prey. He’d heard about the fundraisers going on, and being of a good business mind, he knew exactly what he could do.
His little bar catered to a very specific clientele—mainly straight men. He knew there was a plethora of other people out there who wanted a good show, if only he could tap into that potential. He knew a goldmine was waiting for him, for Scar, and for the carnival.
The music started, and Charlie put out his cigarette and stood up. With a lack of available male dancers, he decided he’d give it a try. His girls all had huge grins on their face when he’d told them that, but they still offered him a few tips. The bar was packed with young women and a few men, all wanting to see what Charlie had to offer.
As the song progressed, Charlie moved fluidly on the stage. Sure, he wasn’t much of a dancer, but he could move his hips and sing well enough and that seemed to prove enough for this crowd. They hollered and cheered him on as he threw his jacket into the crowd, shedding his outer clothes. Finally the song ended, and he gave a short bow, jumping off stage as the regular dancers took their places.
He walked over to the bartender, ordering himself a drink. Hopefully his little stunt had brought in some new money—which looked like was the case with all the bills littering the stage. Charlie felt someone next to him but didn’t glance up, taking a sip of his drink instead. “Yeah? Come to give a compliment or critique? I gotta warn you, if it’s a critique, I’d rather not hear it.”
Ducky hopped up on top of a bar stool, quite a big hop for a five foot two girl like herself, but she made it, none the less, biting her lip in anticipation. She had been waiting to surprise Charlie here since that one night in the motel.
But a quick glance behind the bar told her that he wasn’t working there, shaking drinks, and serving sleazes like he said he would be. Course, he also told her working in the burlesque was no fun, and she believed him whole-heartedly.
She smiled sweetly to the replacement bartender, “A Strawberry Daiquiri, if you would please,” the young woman chirped,
Surprisingly enough to her, no identification was asked for. With someone as petite and baby-faced as her, she more often than not was questioned. Even accused her of having a fake I.D. once or twice, a perfectly real one in fact. Apparently people just really wanted to believe she was younger than she was.
She turned from the bar to the stage, watched the last girl finish her dance. Ducky had an appreciation for these girls, after all, they did what they did. After all, this was there job, nothing personal at all. Come to think of it, she worked with these women, hadn’t she? Odd that she had never seen them.
A man hissed something in her ear, something along the lines of, 'Can I buy you a drink sweetheart?"
She shook her head no, as she already had a full drink in her hands. Could he not see that? Silly man.
Ducky looked up intently at the stage as a new song starter, Charlie drifting to the back of her mind. Suddenly, this swapped, Charlie becoming first and foremost, seeing as that was him, up there, on the stage. Wait. She didn't know that he was a performer here. Sure, he was very good looking, but he never seemed to be the type though. Not the flashy performer type, that was.
The woman giggled anyways, covering her mouth as she tried not to snort strawberry daiquiri everywhere. Cynical, sarcastic Charlie Barkin, swaying his hips like the best of them. Even removing a few articles of clothing. Not all of them, but enough to woo every woman in the room. Might have peeked her interest a bit too.
She did some cheering of her own, even being disappointed when it was over. And he sings too.
As he walked over to the bar without noticing her, she jumped down from her seat, taking her strawberry daiquiri with her and walking up behind him.
"Only one. Did a child choreograph that?"
