A/N:Before Reading-I'm sure you've all caught that they are all guys, but just in case, so far all the newbies have been drag queens. Now I'm throwing in some more of our favorite RENT characters, just to make it fun. 'She' won't only be refering only to drag queens anymore. In FLAWLESS, Rusty did a comedy act at a bar/club type place. I'm not sure if he owned it, or if he was just a regular there. In my story, he owns it.
There is a rival drag queen 'gang' in the movie, lead by Stormy. They got in a fight when Stormy said there was no way Cha-Cha would win the contest, and when she did, Stormy screamed about Cha-Cha not being a true beauty and that the contest was fixed by Gypsy, one of the main judges.
When Walt had to go the hospital, Rusty used the money he had been saving for his operation to pay for Walts surgery. You'll see why I mentioned that later. Enjoy, and feel free to ask me questions if you don't understand something.
Big thanks to Miss Kristy! She helped a lot with this chapter.
Miss Flawless:Chapter Three
It was eight weeks before the Flawless Contest, and all but one of our five drag queens were ready. Cha-Cha, having spent the last week helping Miss Ivana find an outfit, hadn't found hers.
Collins didn't understand the life threatening dilemma. They still had eight weeks, surely that was more than enough time? Like all men, Collins simply didn't understand the way the woman mind worked. As he sat on the counter, he tried to grasp the concept that it wasn't that they only had eight weeks left, it's the fact that they had waited until they only had eight weeks left. He couldn't see the difference for the life of him, but he valued this said life, and so he wisely stayed silent.
The five sat noisily around the table. Rusty was sewing a sleeve to Amazing Grace's dress while holding scissors between his teeth so Cha-Cha could easily grab them whenever needed. He and Angel were cutting out patterns for Ivana's white corset top.
Angel took this time to really dive into the group. He shared amusing stories of his life, like his connection to a certain yappy dogs' untimely death. The four new friends laughed uproariously and wished they had been. While Rusty began his tale of how he and his retired cop neighbor, once mortal enemies, are now the best of friends, Collins slipped off the kitchen counter and snuck into the bedroom. He picked up the phone and quickly punched in a few numbers.
"Hello?"
"Roger? Collins."
"Hey, what's up?" asked the tired musician.
"Did I wake you?" Collins asked, amusement in his voice .
"As a matter of fact," Roger yawned, "you did."
"It's four in the afternoon."
"Is there a reason you called?" Roger asked, intent on ending this quickly to get back to sleep. "The couch is calling my name."
"Tell Mark to get over here. And make sure he brings his camera." Silence. "Roger! Wake up!"
Roger tumbled to the floor and dropped the phone, alarmed by the shouting.
"Sure. Fine. Whatever," he mumbled into the phone, once he found where it had landed. "What's going on over there?"
"Mark missed it last time, thought I'd give him a heads up."
"For what? What'd he miss?"
"They're leaving soon, tell him to hurry."
"Who? Wait, what?" Roger sighed.
"Thank you, Roger," Collins smiled and hung up the phone, going back to the kitchen.
"Mark!" Roger called, grabbing at the couch to help pull himself up.
"Ouch!"
"Oh, sorry Mimi, didn't see you there."
"What's going on?" she yawned. "Who called this early?"
"Collins. Wants Mark to go over with his camera."
"Well go find him then," Mimi said, rolling over.
Roger stood up and yawned, blinking a few times, trying to wake up. He wandered around the loft and found Mark in the kitchen.
"Collins called for you. Said you missed it last time, thought he'd give you a heads up."
Marks eyes widened in glee, and he quickly began packing his things. He knew exactly what Collins was talking about.
"Yeah, he said 'they' are leaving soon, so you better hurry. Whoever 'they' are."
Marks head snapped up.
"When are they leaving?"
"Who are we talking about?" Roger asked, tired of being out ofthe loop.
"Angels new friends." Roger looked blankly at Mark, waiting for something more exciting than that. "Four other drag queens."
"Wait…you mean there's more than one Angel…in the same room?"
"It's not an exact copy," Mark laughed, grabbing a soda from the fridge, "but pretty close, from what I hear."
"Mimi! Get up! They're cloned Angel!"
"What?"
Angel pulled the thread tight, bit it, and tied it into a knot in seconds, to the delight of the camera-happy filmmaker. Although they had planned on going out again to look for more materials, once the new three saw the camera, they insisted it could wait. They could go hunting tomorrow. Today they'd play. Mark was turning in circles, tripping over random items, and people, on the floor, trying to record everything at once.
Mimi jumped right in, joining Amazing Grace who was dancing, then sang along as Ivana belted out a song she'd been working on for her performance next week at Rusty's club.
Angel stole Mark away from them just long enough to point out for the camera who everybody was before camera whores Cha-Cha and Mimi took over once again.
Mark was worried he'd run out of film or miss something, not being able to shoot five places at once. Without looking away from the bizarre scenes before him, he ordered Roger to call Maureen and Joanne in for backup.
Rusty, on the other hand, was more interested in learning why a boy was walking around filming them than actually being filmed. For a while anyway. Once Angel asked him to play something on their new piano, he was just like the rest of them.
"When did you two get a piano?" Roger asked Collins as they both watched Angel and Cha-Cha dancing wildly, Mark catching every moment.
"Yesterday. Angel's idea. It's not that expensive…it was used and a little beat up, but she seems to like it," he smiled.
"Can she play? I thought drums were her thing."
"Rusty's a teacher, she's learning from-"
"Whoa! Where'd they come from?" Joanne stood with her mouth open as she and Maureen took in the craziness in Angel and Collins' apartment. A large redhead was thundering on a piano which hadn't been there two days ago, and an unknown blonde was dancing dirty with a tall black man who'd better not be Collins-no, he was over there by Roger. And who was that dancing with Angel? She could be her twin.
"Angel," Collins said simply, knowing that would answer that and other questions. Maureen's face lit up and she ran over, hopping in between Angel and her dance partner.
Joanne, Roger, and Collins sat on the couch, enjoying themselves immensely. It had been a long time since they had all relaxed together. It had been even longer since they had this type of entertainment. These girls could give Mimi a run for her money on dancing skills. Of course, the five were fully clothed, unlike our favorite member of the Cat Scratch Club.
"Mark is having a field day with this," Joanne chuckled in Rogers ear. He smirked and nodded. "You getting hungry, Roger?"
"Yeah, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to try to stop them."
"Coward," Collins laughed. "Ladies," he called when Rusty finished the song she'd been playing. It took a moment for them to all calm down, then they looked interestedly at him. Collins stood up. "Anyone hungry? We were thinking of going down the to Life Café," he motioned to the two on the couch. "Care to join us?"
Maureen grabbed Amazing Grace's hand, who looped her arm around Cha-Cha. "Ready when you are!" Maureen smiled. Joanne pushed her way over through the crowd to grab her away from them.
Angel hopped over to Collins, whose arm was waiting for her, Rusty on Angels other side. Roger nodded at Mimi, and she skipped over. He wrapped an arm around her possessively, walking out of the apartment first. Mark stood off to the side, his camera not rolling for the first time this evening.
"Hey," Ivana said with a wink at Mark. "Come on," he smiled, linking his arm around Marks.
"Ooooh," Maureen sang. "Markie's got a girlfriend!" Mark rolled his eyes and Maureen glided out the door laughing, dragging Joanne along with her.
"Let's go everybody," Collins said, leading Angel to the door.
They were just a block away from the Life Café. Just one more corner, and it'd be in view. It was then they heard laughing, and the newest members of our group slowed their pace.
Around the corner came an assembly of fabulously dressed men.
"More drag queens?" Joanne whispered to Maureen. "How many are there around here?"
"It's Americas least wanted," Rusty said, eyes narrowing.
"Mm hmm," Amazing Grace agreed, looking them up and down unimpressed.
The closest member of the rival group started towards Rusty, and Angel jumped between them.
"Easy, sugar, easy."
Collins quickly stepped beside his lover, protectively wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Who's the newbie?" asked the stranger, glaring at the two of them.
"Angel," Rusty said from behind. "More competition for you, Stormy. She's entering the Flawless Contest with us." Angel smiled nervously as Stormy looked her over carefully, and Collins tightened his grip.
"I fail to see how he's competition," Stormy sneered. Angels smile fell, and she choked on her defense. Ivana and Amazing Grace had to struggle to keep Cha-Cha from jumping on Stormy, whose group was snickering behind him.
Maureen, Joanne, Mark, Mimi and Roger weren't sure if they should step up or let the two groups handle it themselves. They backed off, but were still ready to rush in if they were needed.
Rusty moved in front of the wounded Angel who was still determined to stand her ground.
"Shove a landmine in that hole you call a mouth, mister. She didn't do anything to you."
"'She'? Rusty, what 'she'? Your Angels' chest is as flat as a wall."
"Now that has nothing to do with the-"
"Honey, it has everything to do with the contest," Stormy smirked, cutting Collins off.
"Take a look in the mirror, sweetheart. Didn't faux go out last year?" Ivana called, still restraining the enraged Cha-Cha who had been shouting insults in Spanish for the past few minutes.
"Hah," laughed one transvestite from behind his leader, stepping to the side to be seen. "What about your Rusty?"
"All real," Rusty said, matter-of-factly. "Walt paid for half last year once he was out of the hospital." The brave member scoffed angrily then fell back into the center. "Now get out of here, boys," Rusty snapped. "Your personality might be catchy."
They huffed and began to turn around, Stormy pausing to call out one last line.
"We'll be watching you, Rusty."
"Oh watch my ass!" And with that, they were gone.
It wasn't until Angel was sure they weren't coming back that she let a few tears trace their way down her pale face. Insults from skinheads were one thing. Insults from fellow drag queens, now that hurt.
Have you all seen the RENT movie yet? I've seen it twice already lol. I cried forever the first time I saw it. Like...walking out the theatre I was still teary. Im such a dork. Oh, have any of you looked at my homepage, the link is in my profile, it has pics of everybody. Well...not Stormy cuz no one likes him lol
THEfelineOFavenueB: awww thank you!
L.M.Ward: lol I'm glad
Koishii-Kitsune-Akira: Hmm, we'll see, won't we?
Alice Midnight: I love your stories, just wanted to throw that out there. Im glad there is another ChaCha fan out there! Yes, you're right we won in the movie. :) a RENT/Law and Order/Flawless crossover would make my life! If I don't find one, I might be tempted to do it myself lol that is, if I have your permission ;) twas your idea. I'll count your vote now, so feel special lol
CanaceErinn: Oh goody! Yes, join us Rentheads! I think the OBC is better than themovie soundtrack, but even that is awsomely awsome.