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'𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬' the wedding, pt. I
━━ -ˋˏ★ˎˊ- ━━
...D'QAR, ILEENIUM SYSTEM
IT TOOK THE REST of the afternoon to string up the lights. Reeve, with Rose and Paige Tico's help, had managed to drag no fewer than eleven crates of strand lights and ten lamps out of maintenance storage, muttering the whole way about the absurd weight of "just a few decorations." Aliyah and Lyra stayed outside in the cool breeze, their fingers growing stiff as they looped strands between branches. By some miracle, Reeve had roped Elgie into helping. The droid happily puttered back and forth with a retractable tether, tugging loads as if this were the most important mission of the day.
The clearing by the runway began to take shape. Lights crisscrossed the open air, dipping in soft arcs that would glow warm at dusk. The trees had been looped in clusters, making a canopy of tiny bulbs. Eleni eventually took over the operation, commandeering Ellis into helping her straighten every table with the precision of a military drill. Dash Pellian and a handful of other pilots were playing with the microphone until Eleni's sharp voice cut across the grass: "If you don't want to help, get back inside and fix a ship!"That sent them scattering.
Georgie placed the last of his strategically-organized lamps on the ground and stepped back to admire his work.
"That actually looks good, Georgie," Lyra said, opening another crate with the heel of her boot. She glanced at him with a tired but genuine smile. Eden was the only one not outside, deeply concerned about her family after her home system had been destroyed. Lyra and Aliyah had helped her set up transmission scans the previous night, but so far, it was fruitless. No contact had been made.
He gave a small bow of acknowledgment. "I've been to a fair share of high-society weddings back home. Those were all for show—money and appearances. This?" He swept a hand at the chaos of laughter, sweat, and stubborn pilots. "This feels real."
"I bet the food was better at those weddings, though," Reeve said with her hands on her hips. "Shit, I'd kill for cake that wasn't dry as dirt."
"That's the spirit, Reviera," Georgie told her with a shit-eating grin.
Reeve groaned. "If I ever find out who let you into the Resistance personnel registry—"
Georgie tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Did you tell me to stop calling you that? I must've forgotten."
