The parts my editor cut

like, are they in cahoots. can they laugh together. do they have a similar enough or at least complementary enough outlook that they can connect over something being funny (even if it's funny in a fucked up way! sometimes those are the best in-jokes!)

This is the only known photo of the first trans woman to have her gender legally recognized in Switzerland.

In 1914, Adine T. sent a letter to her local police to grant her a pass to dress as she pleased. She petitioned that "I be granted permission to live as a woman, to wear female clothing and to pursue female occupations, and to be considered a woman before the world in all and every respect, since my emotional feelings are totally feminine and I feel unspeakably unhappy in male clothing."

Her gender was so clear that even the conservative Swiss government had to recognize it. Obtaining permission to live as a woman "is a matter of life and death for me," Adine added.

She heard a disbelieving giggle from Zoey and for a moment, her heart felt full while they floated back down to the stage. As the skies that had lit up with their success faded back to night, she felt Rumi lean into her, weight slumping against her right side. She gripped her, eyes turning to their leader, “Rumi? Are you okay?”

When there was no response, Mira’s eyes glanced worriedly to a confused Zoey and back. The lyricist gripped Rumi too as they quickly helped her off stage, the two waving at the cheering crowd so as not to cause suspicion. The dancer guided them out of the audience’s sight, easing her to sit before taking her leader’s face into her hands. “Rumi, can you hear me?” Taking in her vacant eyes and slack features, Mira’s voice took on an urgency, “Talk to me, Princess.”

“Rumi?!” Mira’s head snapped up to see Celine running towards them. “What happened? She’s-?”

Zoey’s voice wavered, “We don’t know. She just kind of… drained? And isn’t responding. Shock, maybe?”

The dancer took in Celine’s eyes tracing the new paling patterns on Rumi’s arms up to her face. Her hands hovered, not quite touching the vocalist as she whispered, “Rumi.” Mira felt the urge to berate their mentor, but before she could, the woman looked at her and said, “We need to get her out of here.”

As much as she wanted to give Celine a piece of her mind, and maybe her fist too, Mira was just as anxious to get Rumi to the safety and comfort of their penthouse too, so she nodded, scooping the vocalist into her arms and swiftly standing. If Zoey or Celine were surprised, they didn’t comment. The mentor began clearing the way for Mira to carry Rumi out while Zoey spoke soothingly to their leader.

“Girls!” Bobby called out from behind them. They didn’t stop, but he quickly caught up. “Rumi! Is she okay?”

Zoey responded, “We need to get her home.”

He hurriedly nodded, immediately calling for their driver to bring their car around so that it was waiting when they exited. He rushed forward to open the back door, Zoey sliding into the back seat to help guide Rumi’s limp body in with her, Mira sliding in too. Celine got into the front passenger seat as Bobby told the driver to take them home and that he would follow shortly.

~

Dullness hummed in her ears. Blurriness hazed her vision. Numbness overwhelmed her entirely. She wasn’t even vaguely aware of her surroundings.

Had they actually succeeded? Was she dead? Would she ever get to see the women she loved again?

The thoughts flickered through her, but the only thing that stayed was the hum that came with the numbness.

~

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Harmony Secret | Official Pilot