After four stops and fifteen minutes in a hotel bathroom, Rumor, Jerome, and some people they had picked up made their way to Oswald's. Rumor stopped to look at herself in the window to make sure she looked less terrified and more... normal. Sane, even.
She'd combed her hair back down from it's purposefully unruly state and wiped the tears from her face. Now her nails were charcoal gray, her skinny jeans were pitch black, and her shirt was tight and bright red to match the heeled boots she had on. So, a little not-too-normal, but perfectly goth enough for Gotham.
She knocked on the door heavily and was welcomed by the man Cobblepot himself. "I'm sorry, but we aren't open right now. You and your friends can come back later." Rumer stopped the door before he could close it in her face, "Actually, I heard that you were running low on entertainment, which means running low on customers. And in my little bag of tricks, I have: hmm, entertainment, and a paying crowd. How bout it?"
Cobblepot was getting ready to deny them again when Rumer spoke up quickly, never willing to take no for an answer. "And, you won't have to pay me in money."
Cobblepot opened the door a bit wider, his eyes and mouth puckered in suspicion. "Well now, what would you be expecting in return?" Everyone with Rumer and Jerome walked in, getting comfortable, the pair walking in last, "Why I only want a friend. Everyone needs friends, Oswald."
Cobblepot looked at Rumer incredulously, "A friend...?" Rumer nodded, sitting at the bar towards the back, the two men following suit, "I want a friend. So you know, I'm doing this for you, you do something for me, we have each other's backs, do each other's hair, we have slumber parties, I want a friend, Penguin. Not a partner, a friend."
Cobblepot thought it over, the deal not seeming to do enough on his side, "And I'm supposed to trust you? This guy is all over the news. The last thing I need right now, is bad publicity." Jerome just sat back and let Rumer talk, not knowing where she was going with this, but enjoying the show and for once, his own silence. It was liberating to not be the only smart person in the room.
"Oswald, please. I don't beg, but I'm begging you now. I need a friend, and I can promise you, I'm a loyal one till death. Can we give us a try? Friends?" Rumer held her hand out expecting nothing but a resounding yes. And that's what she got.
"Friends." Cobblepot said as he shook her hand, "And, in honor of our new friendship, Jerome's orders are on the house, as I see he has a glass and appetizer tray already."
Jerome laughed, both at your game and with joy. "Now it's a party!" He said as he relaxed in his seat. Cobblepot stood, "If you'll excuse me, we will be opening in an hour and a half and I have some preparing to do, but please, do whatever is necessary to set up your equipment..."
Rumer realized that she didn't tell him her name. She stood, arms wide open, "Rumer to you." They hugged tightly as if literally sealing their friendship and Cobblepot resumed to walk away. "His walk is so cute. Everyone is condescending towards it, but I happen to like it." Rumer said, regarding Cobblepot's limp.
"It's not that appealing if you ask me. Kinda stupid, actually." Jerome said snidely, pulling Rumer closer to him by her waist, "Now what entertainment do you have?" He asked, nuzzling his face into her stomach like a kitten.
"You're nuzzling it, Kid." Rumer snorted like it was obvious. Jerome looked up quickly, snatching Rumer down to his level as his voice dropped two octaves and down to a whisper. "No, no no no. Not in that, not for them, not in public." His mind automatically jumped to the worst case, which he most definitely did not like. At least not for other people to see.
Rumer laughed at him, knowing what he was thinking was going to happen. "Did you know I was in a band in high school? I played bass and sang lead, cause we were hipsters." She said nostalgically. Jerome smiled at her, enjoying hearing new things about her before him, "I'd like to see that." Rumer stood up as she gently rubbed his hair, "You're about to."
* * * * *
With the people Rumer had brought with her and the usual customers, Oswald's was jam packed. Rumer pulled some of the usual musicians to perform with her, telling them to just follow her lead. They were extremely flexible, and actually doing a good job, surprising Cobblepot and Jerome with the energy they kept up throughout the entire night.
Around the end, Rumer got close to the microphone and spoke to the crowd between breaths, "Okay everyone, were gonna end tonight on an extremely soulful note, not for any reason other than I want to, of course." That got a laugh out of the audience.
Once they finished their last couple of songs, Rumer spoke out to the crowd again as if she was headlining a concert. "Before you all get your top hats and canes, can we please give a round of applause to my new friend, and wonderful owner of this classy little joint, Oswald Cobblepot?" Everyone clapped, "Come here more often guys. All of you, good night and evening, ladies and gents."
Jerome got up from his seat, still at the back table, and made his way to Rumer. The flat ironing was long gone from her hair, the loose curls still hanging over her right eye. He couldn't help himself, the way she licked her lips after every couple of lines, how she'd bite her lip in between songs or during music solos, Jerome walked up on the stage and grabbed Rumer up, slamming his lips onto hers, making her knock over the microphone stand she was starting to put away. "God, I'm so lucky." He was saying in between breaths.
Cobblepot called over to the two, "I know we're friends and everything, but please do not fornicate on my stage. It is not smiled upon." Jerome laughed, "It will be today." He went to kiss Rumer again when she stopped him, "He's right, Kid. We've gotta get home anyways. Later Penguin. Butch."
* * * * *
Just mere seconds after Rumer and Jerome walked in, Theo appeared, "And where were you all day?" He asked in an accusing manner. Rumer thought on her toes and grabbed Jerome's hand, pulling him behind her, "Didn't think you'd wanna hear all the noise. I'll remember to not be considerate next time." She said suggestively.
Theo took in Rumer's uncharacteristically curled, messy hair and Jerome's swollen lips and wide smile, "No, no, please. Feel free to leave if the reason is so...personal." He said almost awkwardly as they passed him.
Rumer closed the door to her room, "We've got Cobblepot and Nygma. And Gordon is as good as it gets." Jerome wrinkled his eyebrows, "Who's Nygma?" Rumer waved him off, "He works forensics at the precinct. He's gonna blow, that one. And when he does, I'll be there to pick up the pieces."
Rumer walked over to Jerome and kissed his lips softly, making them tingle, "Don't worry kid. Everything is going according to plan."
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