#fff184

"Glad to see someone prepared in advance," Pham grumbles. They flail their arms at the sides. "I should have had a warning label!"

Keeara twirls a lock of her lavender dreadlocks. "Can I be honest? I so did not get any memo it'd be today."

Pham huffs a heavy breath, harrumphing. "See? We are so gonna mess this up! If I'd known we'd be assigned to this, I wouldn't have thrown those previous props for nothin'."

With a shrug, Yu-Phin slides her phone over a table. "You're just gettin' antsy, no need to freak out. We can sort this out before things start."

Tegan drums her fingers along a script's cover.

She'd have an input, however, it might not allay Pham's current issues. They're worked up for today's agenda.

Behind the stage wings, they're lounging across backstage. Surrounded by decorations needing to be arranged across the stage. They're only missing some items to finish the look they need.

Since she worked at Boulevard Theatre, she managed to find a group of friends. Thanks to their mutual love of musicals and plays, they've developed a bond. They may have different skillsets, however, they have a common ground. She hadn't imagined how she'd be involved in such.

Prior to this, she only had two close friends, who she still hangs out with regularly. Despite how they might be busy with their own jobs as well.

Yet she has a balance between all the friends she's got. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I mean as long as we do fine," Tegan says, propping her chin at the back of her hand. "We won't have much trouble."

"Who am I to complain? We're gonna get glamorous costumes," Liandri says with a blissful sigh. "A bit of mystery with 1920's Harlem flair!"

Yu-Phin grins. "Yeah! It's what I've been waiting for weeks! If things go well, it's gonna be glamorous and chic!"

"Can't argue with that." Keeara tilts her head to the side, adjusting her cardigan sleeves.

Pham plops down on a crate, frowning. "I suppose I probably need to chill out."

"Just 'probably', huh?" A corner of Tegan's mouth rises.

Some of the others snicker at her usage of air quotes. Pham throws a glare, only knitting their brows together. They tug on their beanie, aiming it at her. As if they'd smack her with it like a glove.

Eh. She'd like to see them try.

"Don't be imprudent, young lady!" Pham lightly swats it on her upper arm, tsking. They raise their head. "Shameful! No one taught you manners?"

The rest of her friends begin cracking up, hooting and hollering at their antics. Tegan shrugs, stifling a chuckle threatening to take over her.

"To be fair, you look like you're about to break into a soliloquy."

"Hey! Take that back! This instant!"

"Whoa, let's not get hasty!" Yu-Phin saunters, blocking Pham's way to her. She lifts a hand. "We got priorities to focus on."

"Of course," Pham mutters, taking a step back. "Anyways, don't we need some backgrounds? I'd have got it done if I'd known."

"We can split into groups," Liandri suggests, her expression placid. As if she wasn't about to witness a beatdown. "Alright: Keerara and Pham, y'all go to a store to buy a background. Or print one."

Keeara nods as Pham crosses their arms, striking a rebellious sort of aura. Tegan flicks a glance at Keeara, who compresses her lips.

Tegan dusts her shirt. "I'm sure we can get this done by tomorrow."

"Yup, the production won't start until next week," Yu-Phin adds, clapping. "For now, we got to set things up."

"Alright, sure." Pham beckons at a path at a corner.

As Keeara goes after Pham, Liandri and Yu-Phin examine the props and things they've got.

They gathered the boxes containing different types of props to set the stage up. It had been a Renaissance-themed sort of play. Masquerade balls and all that jazz.

Initially, she had been hesitant of the concept. It had been rather unconventional even for this theatre company. However, her interest started rising as she reevaluated on what it presented to the table, so to speak.

"Okay then!" Yu-Phin saunters towards a pile of boxes, flourishing them. "Let's get started, shall we?"

Liandri chuckles, patting her at the back. They both squeal and laugh again. Tegan grins, moving her folder back into her backpack.

Someday if she progresses in her job, this will lead her to bigger things. If her own musical launches, she looks forward to these shenanigans on opening night.

With her friends preparing to unpack the décor, Tegan follows them. She picks up a package, scanning on what wonders it contains.

She wriggled under the sheets, greedily stretching out in all directions. She contracted her stomach to sit upright and stretch with a playful groan.

The cool breeze from the window thrilled her skin, and spread a smile across her face.

Time to get busy!

With unaccustomed speed, she cleaned up, got dressed, and ate a decent breakfast.

The whole time, she was nearly dancing with excitement.

Her list was ready. Her money was ready. Her (ok, Lin’s) sato was ready. Now, for everything else.

The pickup at the dress shop? Too much fun to rush. Done.

Swinging in at the tailor’s? Can’t turn down the offer of tea. That would be rude. But soon enough, done.

A stop by the florist? Done in minutes.

A last pass through the grocery store? Took about ten minutes too long, but done.

Everything collected, Kya struck out for the park.

She pulled into the lot and parked. The cart she brought wasn’t quite big enough for everything, so suddenly, she had a bit of a problem. One hand on her hip, she glared at her car, thinking hard.

“Hey, Kya!”

The voice carried from far across the parking area. She turned to see Korra and Asami, hand in hand, walking over in her direction. She watched them, clearly happy to see her, but still quite focused on each other. She felt about four different smiles cross her face before the pair made it close enough for hugs.

Asami took a step back, and gave her predicament a professional appraisal. “Could you use a couple of hands carrying a few things?” Kya could see the narrowed eyes, the tightly restrained smirk.

I think she’s on to me.

“Hands? Who needs hands? You have the Avatar at your service!”

With that, Korra swirled her hands, and lifted the cart on a tightly spun wheel of air. Kya and Asami laughed, but pulled out the final few items. They wandered through the park until they came up to a small pavilion with a low stone table.

In just a moment, the girls had set up a small tent, hanging the two garment bags inside. Korra’s airbending came in handy as she strung lights and a few red curtains in strategic locations around the pavilion's eaves.

Asami took charge of the food and flowers, laying out a luscious display on the table and setting the cushions just as Kya would have. When she stepped back, she noticed Korra was settling back to the ground. Kya’s back was turned and Asami waved to attract Korra’s attention. With some vigorous eyebrow wiggles and wide-eyed encouragement, she finally got through Korra’s obliviousness.

Korra gasped.

Kya snapped up straight. “Korra? What’s wrong?”

Korra’s face lit up. “You’re just setting the stage, aren’t you?” She clasped her hands close to her chest. “Can we watch from over,” she whirled around and saw a far too-small bush just below the foot of the bridge. “There! That’s the same bush I hid in my first day in Republic City!”

She turned her eager face back to Kya, whose bemused grin gave Asami all the clue she needed to get the Avatar as far away as possible.

“Korra, dear, you promised Meelo.”

Korra looked confused. “Promised him what?”

Asami rolled her eyes dramatically before giving Kya a sideways glance. “Someone has to look out for them, right?”

Kya just laughed and hugged them both. “Thank you. I have a lot more time because of your help. I think we’ll see you later tonight.”

Asami was still laughing when Kya couldn’t see them anymore.

She picked up the basket of peonies and walked back to the car. Retracing her steps one more time, she laid them in an obvious path to the pavilion, leading right up to the tent. She ducked inside, and a few minutes later, emerged from the other side.

She settled onto her cushion to wait.

Lin said the two words she was asked to, then nothing again for several minutes.

Kya stood in her fitted blue suit, the setting sun lighting her from behind.

Lin emerged from the tent in the long-sleeved, deep-cut, high-slit emerald dress, her feet bare on the grass.

Kya stepped forward with a cup of tea.

Lin stared at her as Kya placed the cup in her hands and gently pushed her to drink. Lin held her gaze and drank.

She blinked and lowered the cup. She blinked rapidly several times before waving her hand above it.

A small gold ring floated up into her hand. She looked at Kya.

“You want me?”

Kya just nodded, her eyes bright.

Lin clenched the ring in her hand and leaned forward for a kiss.