Chapter Text
To say Ty Lee was anxious would have been an understatement.
It had only been a few months since she first met the casting director and screenwriter of the film during her circus’ stop in Ba Sing Se. They asked her if she was interested in being in a movie, and everything since then had gone by insanely quickly. In just a few months, Ty Lee left the circus, started to take acting classes, got an agent, spent her life savings on a cramped apartment in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se and entered the world of film.
An enormous wave of impostor syndrome filled her as she approached the home of the producers of the film. The producers, two old men in the industry whom Ty Lee had already forgotten the names of, were hosting the entire cast and crew for a start of production party. Ty Lee was ready to vomit out the side of the black SUV she was riding in the backseat of.
“Suki. Suki, I need you to slap me in the face,” Ty Lee stared out of the window up at the mansion the car was pulling up to.
“Lee, don’t be ridiculous. Your makeup artist was more than you could afford, if I were you I wouldn’t let anything near my face for the next few days.” Suki was still looking down at her phone as the car came to a stop, and the driver got out of his seat to let them out. Ty Lee had invited her agent, Suki, as a plus-one. Suki had been Ty Lee’s crutch in these past few months and Ty Lee knew she couldn’t go to this party without her.
“I can’t believe this. I never thought I would go to the upper ring in my life…” Ty Lee felt her stomach lurch as the driver opened the door. “Suki, I can’t do it. Just tell them they need to find another person, I can’t go in there.” At this Suki finally looked up from her phone.
“Are you on drugs?”
“No?” Ty Lee secretly wished she was. She would’ve done anything to numb the anxiety coursing through her body.
“Then pull yourself together, Lee. You’ve performed in front of what, thousands of people, hundreds of feet in the air, and you’re scared of a little house party? It’ll be fine. I’ll stay with you the entire time.” Suki smiled at the driver and accepted his outstretched hand to get out of the car. Ty Lee took one last deep breath and followed suit.
“Tell me the game plan again, Suki?” It wasn’t just any house party; the producers of the film had kept the entire cast and crew secret up until now, and Ty Lee didn’t know who she would see behind the doors that loomed in front of her. For all she knew, she could be co-starring with the Earth King, or her estranged father.
“Alright, tonight all you need to do is just be your regular, smiley self. You’re gonna meet the rest of the cast, the most important people in the crew, the producers, et cetera. You’ve already met the writer at your show, of course, so the only big first impression you need to make is with the director–” Ty Lee started to tune Suki out, staring past her shoulder to the house, where she could see people already mingling on the balcony. People, she would be spending the next months of her life with, non-stop.
“--and try not to drink too much. And yeah, I know you’re great, casting knows you’re great, but you do have to earn these people’s respect. I mean, there might be some serious industry veterans in there and let’s face it, it’s not like you’re–Lee, are you even listening?” Suki waved a hand in front of Ty Lee’s face.
“Yes! Yes, I did. It’s fine, I don’t drink much anyways.” Ty Lee smiled unnaturally wide. Suki looked exasperated, but grabbed Ty Lee’s hand.
“Alright. We’re going in. Let’s network, baby!”
-------
Azula was already bored. An hour and a half into the party and the people she most wanted to meet hadn’t shown up, and all anyone could talk to her about was her father.
So far, she had been subjected to listening to Lo and Li, the producers and old family friends, talk about how tall she had gotten (despite her being well into her twenties) multiple failed attempts to try to get insider information on her father’s theater franchise, and a disgustingly cheap glass of wine.
She was out on a deserted part of the balcony having her fourth cigarette of the night when someone with blue eyes and a man bun approached her.
“Hey, uh, you got a light?"
“Yes. I do, just a second.” Azula reached into her clutch to grab her lighter.
“Thanks,” the guy said, grabbing the lighter from Azula.
“Hey, watch it with the thumbprints. It’s a vintage Vivienne Westwood lighter,” Azula watched him warily, regretting her decision. The guy looked at her like she was crazy from behind his lit cigarette.
“My bad,” He took a long pull from his cigarette. “God, it’s been a long night, huh?”
“And you are…?” Azula looked up at him expectantly. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disrespected that this man didn’t know who she was.
“Oh of course, yeah! My name is Sokka, I’m gonna be in the movie. I’m playing the main guy, Helik. Nice to meet you. Are you cast or crew?” Sokka reached out his hand.
“Charming.” Azula’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m Azula. I’m directing the film.” Azula watched in delight as his face dropped.
“My god. Azula. Azula Sozin, of course, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re–you’re. Wow, I feel like an idiot for putting my paws on your lighter.” He awkwardly laughed. Azula couldn’t say she was excited about the direction the casting team had chosen to go in. The secrecy, the “new faces”, her own separation from the entire casting department. It all felt, well, ridiculous.
“Ha. I have to ask, have you met any of the other cast members yet?”
“A few, but no big names. Everyone’s waiting for the leading lady, but I don’t think she’s here yet. To be honest, I’m a little scared!” Azula lifted her cigarette to her lips.
“Ridiculous,” she muttered. Who did this girl think she was, coming this late?
“You know, uh, I don’t know if you would find this interesting at all, but me and your brother have met before. Zuko Sozin?” Sokka smiled and Azula raised her eyebrows.
“I know his name.” The mention of Zuko caused Azula’s heart rate to speed up. She hadn’t talked to Zuko face to face in months, despite living in the same city. After their parents split when they were teens, Azula and Zuko lived separate lives. Azula studied film in the Fire Nation, anxious to step into the same industry as her father, while Zuko moved in with their mother in the Earth Kingdom and later made a name for himself with his poetry. True, it’s not like Azula reached out often, but she knew that the reason they never talked was because Zuko looked down on her for her relationship with their father. Sokka, oblivious to Azula’s narrowed eyes and worsening attitude, kept on talking.
“When I first got to Ba Sing Se, I was at some random tea place in the middle ring, and bam, what do you know? He was chatting up the owner. I introduced myself, told him I loved his books, and well. I guess it’s more like I met him, but, uh….yeah! He’s a nice dude.”
“You’ve read his poetry collection?”
“Well, my sister has. She said they were good… I’m pretty sure.” As if he were an angel sent from heaven to protect Sokka from being glared to death, the writer of the film, Lao, came up to the pair.
“Oh, you two have met! Incredible. If you would follow me, I think we’re about to meet our leading lady.”
Azula dropped her cigarette on the floor and ground it under her heel. “Finally.”
----
Ty Lee stepped through the doorway behind Suki, trying her hardest to keep her smile pasted on her face. Like Suki had said, she had done scarier things. She could handle a house party.
The two walked through the enormous entryway with marble staircases curled against the wall into the living room. Ty Lee wasn’t prepared for the magnitude of the party; men and women in expensive jewels and cocktail outfits stood with martinis and wine glasses in hand. Staff in vests and bowties stood at the sides of the room with plates, and a bartender theatrically poured drinks in the corner. Ty Lee felt out of place in the dress that she made herself from a few yards of pink silk and tulle she found at a shop in the lower ring. She smoothed the skirt of her dress and tried to remain calm. She needed a drink, something, anything. Immediately, Suki saw someone she knew.
“Sola!” Suki waved at a woman in heavy red eyeliner across the room. “Lee, me and Sola went to college together. Come with me.” Suki grabbed Ty Lee by the elbow.
“Actually, Suki, I’m gonna get some water first. I’ll meet you in like two seconds.” Suki’s eyebrows furrowed, but she let Ty Lee detach herself.
“Okay Lee, remember what I told you. Just be careful."
“I got it, I got it!” Ty Lee gave Suki a thumbs up and turned around. Before she could reach the bar, one of the waitstaff came up to her.
“Hello, I’m Lee Zhou, it’s so nice to meet you.” The server looked taken aback.
“Uh, thank you. Would you like a glass of wine, ma’am?”
“I would love it. Thank you so much. Have a nice evening!” Ty Lee took the wineglass off of the server’s platter and kept walking. Why did the server look at her so crazily? Had she done something wrong? Was she following Suki’s instructions too carefully? She gingerly took a sip. The wine was sweet, much sweeter than Ty Lee would expect at such a fancy party. She kept sipping, scanning the room for any familiar faces. She wondered if the casting director Yuna was there. Ty Lee remembered vividly the night Yuna and Lao, the screenwriter, had attended one of Ty Lee’s circus performances and accosted her backstage right after.
“We’re making a film about circus artists, and we would love to have you on board. The storytelling you crafted through your performance… it’s exactly what we’re looking for. It’s a 3 month shoot, sometime later this year. All we’re asking is for you to think about it.”
Ty Lee had been in the circus for almost 10 years, and was almost burnt out. Yuna and Lao were like angels at that moment, and Ty Lee wasn’t the type of person to say no to any new adventure. Saying yes was a no brainer. Ty Lee tried to channel that version of herself; the outgoing, never say no, perfectly shameless trapeze artist. She downed the glass of wine, and built up the courage and started to introduce herself to everyone she saw.
An hour later, Ty Lee had acquainted herself with every cameraman, mic operator, editor, choreographer, ensemble member, makeup artist, and set designer she could find. She grabbed another glass of wine from the server (who’s name, she learned, was Yumi) and stood in a corner to recharge. Ty Lee felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see a thin bald guy a little taller than her.
“Hi, I’m Lee! It’s really nice to meet you.” She stretched her arm out to shake his hand.
“Oh, I know who you are. I’m Aang. I’m a trapeze artist as well, I’ve seen you many times before. Can I just say, you’re incredible! I’m really excited to be working with you.” He grabbed her hand tightly and shook it enthusiastically. Ty Lee felt her face heating up. Her work in the circus had taken her across the whole world, and she had performed for thousands and thousands of people, but it still felt odd to be recognized, especially in a place like this.
“You don’t even know how much it means to hear that. Thank you, Aang!” Ty Lee smiled at him.
“Lee!” Ty Lee turned to the right to see Yuna waving at her from the door to the balcony. Ty Lee waved back, grateful to see someone she already knew. She turned back towards Aang.
“It’s so great to see a fellow trapeze artist here. I have to go, but we have to talk later! It was so nice to meet you.” Aang smiled and nodded and Ty Lee made her way towards Yuna.
“Yuna!” Ty Lee pulled Yuna into a hug. “Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you. This place is insane.” Ty Lee and Yuna had become friends over the past few months, often meeting for meals and drinks. For a moment Ty Lee had thought that there might have been something between them, until Yuna mentioned a girlfriend during one of their talks. Ty Lee then realized it was probably for the better to not mix her work and romantic life.
“Great to see you, Lee. It’s about to get a little crazier. Lao’s with the director and your co-star right now. I assume you haven’t met either yet?"
“You would be right.”
Ty Lee followed Yuna through the sliding doors to the balcony. She recognized Lao, who was talking animatedly to a brown skinned man with blue eyes. And next to them, a woman with straight black hair in a strapless red dress facing away from Ty Lee, leaned off the rail of the balcony. The wind swept her hair slightly to the left, and when it moved, Ty Lee could see a tattoo, the swirly tip of a blue flame, peeking out of the top of her dress. Ty Lee knew she must have never seen it before, yet a sense of familiarity lurched in her stomach. The woman stayed leaning over the railing as Lao walked towards Ty Lee with his right arm outstretched.
“Lee, so good to see you again. This is Sokka! He’ll be your co-star. Of course, you know Yuna, and–” before Lao could introduce any further, the girl against the balcony turned around. Ty Lee’s perfectly pasted smile dropped. So did the girl’s, for a fraction of a second, before she let out a dry laugh.
“Azula.”