against_all_trouble | This song is for the people who live this dream.

Arthur Black was sitting on the couch trying to tune his guitar, but his perpetually-indecisive roommate has decided that this week she is a singer again.

"Come on, Art, I'm a good singer!" Suzy pleads with big eyes and a bigger wave.

"Suze. That is not the thing that worries me, Suze," Arthur says as he sets down his guitar to the side, "The thing that worries me is that this week you want to sing and the next you'll be back to sculpture. Or painting. Or found-object collages. Or interpretive-freaking-dance!"

"Interpretive dance is silly, Art, why would I do that? And anyway, you know you want to try some of the vocals you wrote ♫ for ♫ high ♫ voices! ♫"

That's two things Arthur is not good at refusing: chances to show off and requests from Susanna Blue. The look he gives back, though, is definitely a scowl. Not a smirk at all. "One of these days, you're going to wear out your welcome... with everyone but me. OK, show up to tonight's practice a little after we start, I'll bring the guys around."

"Yay! You're still the best, Art." She really is happy, that hug was only about a third tackle.

Practice comes and goes, and the rest of No Rainbows goes along with Suzy's request. Arthur isn't explicitly in charge, but he's a big personality and the group started out of bluegrass jam sessions he organized, so they're used to following his lead. And her voice is pretty good.

A couple nights later, they are all setting up in the back of an Atlanta restaurant. Suzy's helping Arthur set up the amps while there's still space to move things around near the stage while the other three tune up.

Erica's been in Atlanta for a couple of weeks now. She's... managing. She knows all the shelters she can stay at, and she's found some places that will let her work for cash. Mostly restaurants, a couple stores that need help with restocking, those kind of gigs. It helps if she blanks the managers a little when asking for work. She's found nothing long term, certainly nothing interesting, but it keeps her in food, and occasionally she'll make a few bucks.

And here she's free.

That night, she heads for a restaurant near the shelter she's currently in. She's been there a couple times before; they do live music, some nights, and need the extra help. She'll get dinner and a few bucks for helping with the dishes. She walks in through the back door, trying to stay out of the way of tonight's band, and scans the room in search of the manager.

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