June 3. 1982 Manhattan, New York Alexandria Lounge
One year ago
"Andrea!! Where are my damn feathers!?"
"Feathers? What is this, a speakeasy in the twenties? Mitch, we wanna woo the audience, not give them limp dick syndrome."
"I'm not going to entertain you and ask how the fuck you came up with that," Michonne sighed, "Seriously, where are they?"
"The new manager, Philip Blake threw them out. Said something about sex appeal and the new age or something," Andrea shrugged, "I don't know what that asshole is talking about half of the time."
"You're telling me," Michonne sarcastically replied, earning a light smack on the arm. "Oh, I'm kidding, you oaf. You know I love you."
Andrea smiled, "I love you too, Mitchy."
25 year old, Michonne Hawthorne stood in front of the few dozen vanity mirrors with her best friend Andrea Harrison. Both getting ready for their spontaneous individual performances at the not so secret Alexandria Lounge.
Michonne was a singer. It's always been something she loved to do even as a child. She had dreams of making it to Hollywood and being a star, but reality unfortunately kicked in when she realized she was a poor woman living in a large city and had a crappy new boss who had a problem with giving everyone a fair chance.
"You know that new girl? What was her name? Karen?" Andrea asked.
"Hm? What about her?"
"I heard she was already quitting. I'm pretty sure it was because of Blake."
"Yeah, so? Are you planning on quitting?" Michonne dryly replied.
"What? No! I'm just saying... with less girls, there's more opportunities for us to go on stage."
Michonne paused. Although Andrea did make a great point, it also meant making even more sacrifices beyond dignity.
"More work hours as well," the darkskin woman sighed, "I know how much you want that break, but you'll only overwork yourself."
Right before Andrea could respond, there was a loud clinking of glass that interrupted them.
"Ladies! The governor would like to make an announcement!" A cowardly man by the name of Milton called out, "Please give him your undivided attention!"
"The Governor?" Andrea scoffed, "What is this? Some kind of kinky nickname?"
"Drea," Michonne chuckled.
"I'm serious," the blonde smiled, shaking her head in disbelief, "He's already strange enough with the fucking eyepatch. I guess our new manager is just a kinky pirate."
Michonne snorted before tuning in to what the governor had to say. He was a tall brunette man with a lean build and a eyepatch over his left eye. No one knows how he got it, but Andrea naturally had many theories about how he might have obtained it.
"Ladies!" The governor clapped, "Tonight is a very special night. We have some of our most important customers coming in, I want you to all be on your best behavior."
"What, are we five?" Andrea scoffed.
"You should really take his words into consideration," A blonde named Jessie interjected.
"What do you mean?" Michonne inquired.
Jessie blushed, tucking her loose hair behind her ear, "We have some special guests coming in."
"Like..?" Andrea pressed.
"Negan Smith will be here as well!" The governor announced, answering Andrea's question.
There was a collective gasp in the room and whispers that followed soon after.
"Negan Smith?"
"He's never came here in person before..."
"I heard he's the most dangerous man in New York!"
"Ladies, ladies, calm down! Now quite frankly, I don't care what you all do. Sing, dance, take all your clothes off and whore around, I don't care! All I know is that tonight will be a gold mine, so you all do what you do best... entertain!"
"What the fuck does he think this is, a brothel?" Michonne muttered.
"I miss Deana," Andrea sulked.
"Cheer up guys! We still have a chance to go on stage tonight!" Jessie beamed.
"As a matter of fact! The girl who makes the most tips tonight gets an extra 300 bonus!" The governor yelled, opening his arms.
"Wait! So who is going on stage tonight?" One of the girls asked.
"Great question! I was just getting to that, sweetheart."
"Jeez, he's a smooth talker too," Andrea muttered.
"God, why do we always end up in the worst situations? With the worst people?" Michonne sighed.
"Hell if I know."
"Alright! Tonight's performers are... Jessie, Annie, Francine, Sherry, Tina, Michelle, and Amber!"
Jessie squealed, running off to get ready for her performance.
"Wait! Amber quit, didn't she? Governor! Amber quit!" Andrea yelled.
The governor looked towards the direction of the two women and rubbed his temples, "Shit. I guess you can fill in for her," he waved off.
"Congrats, Drea," Michonne smiled, "This is your chance to make some extra cash tonight."
"Mitch... you should be out there as well. God knows you need it."
"Maybe next time, right?"
"Those shifts at Dale's aren't cutting it for you, and you know that."
"Andrea Marie Harrison, are you calling me poor?"
The blonde laughed, "How do I look?"
"You're beautiful. And that tan?"
"Thank god for my Italian genes. One thing my father was good for."
"I thought your father was Cuban? He's in Miami, no?"
Andrea snorted, "Same thing, Italian, Cuban, both are the same game in different states."
Michonne laughed, swatting Andrea's arm. She noticed a woman behind her friend standing in the corner of the dressing area looking lost and confused.
Upon closer inspection, the woman was a brunette with chin length hair and green eyes. She was gorgeous in a girl next door type of way. The type to live in a small town and win beauty contests and prom queen. What was she doing here in the bad side of town?
"You alright?" Michonne asked, making her way towards the girl, "My name is Michonne, are you new here?"
The woman looked at her, and smiled, "My name is Maggie. And yeah, I'm new. Is it obvious?"
"Am I a blonde bombshell? Of course it's obvious, girl!" Andrea laughed, "I'm Andrea. I love your accent, where are you from?"
"Andrea, give the girl some air to breath," Michonne grinned.
"It's alright," Maggie chuckled, "I left my daddy's farm in Georgia a few weeks ago. I just needed a gig to get me through college."
"Ooh! I'll be right back!" Andrea announced, running off.
"Alright!" Michonne acknowledged before resuming her conversation with Maggie, "NYU?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"My little cousin Heath goes. It's expensive as hell, but I'm sure you know that. You sing?"
"Oh, no, my sister Beth is the singer in our family. I dance."
"Can't wait to see you out there one day, Maggie."
"You too, Michonne," Maggie smiled. She found solace in finding new friends in such an unfamiliar setting.
Andrea soon returned, somehow balancing three martinis in her hands.
"Where did you get these from?" Maggie inquired.
"Jesus hooked me up," Andrea smiled, handing over the drinks.
The brown haired woman raised a questioning eyebrow towards Michonne at the unusual admission.
"Our friend, Paul Rovia. He's the bartender of this place, and he holds an odd resemblance to the holy man himself. So we call him Jesus."
"Oh, wow," Maggie smiled, trying to hold in a laugh, "Any more surprise biblical figures around here?"
"Other than our political manager, Governor Philip Blake, there isn't anyone else to my knowledge."
Maggie laughed, prompting the two other women to join in.
"Andrea you're up!" Milton announced running up to the three women, "Break a leg, and show some skin!"
"Milton," Andrea scoffed, clearly annoyed about not being able to enjoy her new found drink, adjusted her pink dress, "Just let me do my job, pervert."
"It's not me," Milton sighed, "Governor's orders."
"Tell your 'Governor' to suck my ass, okay?"
"Andrea-"
"Shut up! Michonne, Maggie, wish me luck. I love you guys!" And with that, the blonde sped walked out to the stage's entrance.
"Wow," Maggie smirked, "She's quite the character."
"Yeah, she's special that's for sure..."
"What about you, won't you sing?"
Michonne sighed, longingly looking at the stage door, "It's been a while... but soon... soon I'll be out there again."
Meanwhile, a black 1983 Cadillac Coupe pulled into the front of the club. The dark tinted windows rolled down, revealing a handsome man who grinned at the neon lights flashing, 'Alexandria Lounge'.
"Negan. Want me to put some of the boys on lookout?" Simon, Negan Smith's most trusted right hand man asked.
"Do whatever you want, Simon," Negan smiled, "Tonight is about drinks, women, and forgetting that prick named Rick for a night."
"Got it, Negs."
"So," Negan clapped, "Let's get this show on the road."
Not long after Negan and the other saviors accompanying him entered the lounge, a Ford Thunderbird parked right in front of the Black Coupe.
The backseat of the car opened, and a pair of black leather shoes exited the vehicle, and made its way towards the entrance.
Martinez, the bouncer of the lounge looked up at the man in front of him and raised an eyebrow.
"Name?"
"Excuse me?"
"I asked for your name, wise guy. Name or no entry."
"Who the fuck- Do you know who the fuck you're talking to, asshole!?"
Martinez puffed up his chest, "You got five seconds to keep it moving before I smash your head into the damn pavement!"
"You son of a bitch-" the man pulled out his revolver, and pointed it at Martinez.
"Shane," a southern drawl called out from behind the man with the gun, "What's going on?"
"This jackoff doesn't seem to know who he's talk to!" Shane yelled, waving the gun around.
"Put the gun down, brother," the man with the southern drawl ordered.
He walked towards Martinez and stopped about three feet from him. Placing his hands on his hips, he revealed the concealed colt python from underneath his suit.
"What did you need from Shane?" He asked squinting his eyes, and tilting his head.
"His name," Martinez spat, " I don't remember it being on the fucking list."
"Shane? What's going on?" A female voice called out. A long haired, pretty Latina emerged with a large red head from the passenger and drivers side of the car.
"Some asshole," Shane glared.
"Need me to take care of it boss?" The red head boomed.
"Nah, Abe. I got this," the southern man with the colt python insisted. He stepped closer to Martinez until he was only a few inches away from him.
"N-name..?" The bouncer asked, clearly feeling the energy of danger emitting from the man in front of him.
"Rick. Rick Grimes."
Author's note: Heyyy! Wow first chapter lmao. I know much didn't really happen but it's building up for the real drama! And yeah I know a lot of people in the Richonne fandom doesn't like Jessie, but to be honest I never got the hate. She just happened to be a poor housewife in a abusive relationship with someone with a much higher power dynamic. Not to mention he was protected by the Alexandrians because of his position. It's really not her fault Rick was acting like a dog around her lmao. Anyways she doesn't really have a significant role in the story... for now. Also idc what ppl say I love Andrea so much. She had so much potential with michonne and their friendship and I'd like to bring that to life in my fic. This is just an introduction for one of our main characters, so stay tuned for the next introduction of our favorite serial killer Rick grimes! (That man is so fine). Anyways if I take a while to update this fic through out your journey of reading it, just know im in my last year of highschool and am about to go through the busiest time of my life so far. But I'll try to update as much as possible. Thank you all so much for the reviews so far! My heart dropped when I saw my first one :DDD kk stay tuned for the next installment of the Red Canary -Starlight