Chapter 10: Gala

Korra stepped into the huge reception hall, trying hard not to feel like an imposter. Bolin had taken her arm after they had made it safely past the humorless staff members taking invitations at the door. Judging from the slightly panicked looking smile on his face, she guessed the gesture was more intended as protective camouflage than anything else.

She glanced at him. Bolin cleaned up nicely, and if his formal wear was a rental, he nonetheless wore it well. She had worried a bit about going on a date with someone who, by his own admission, was strongly interested in someone else. But so far the storied Opal had not yet been mentioned, and he had a friendly, easy manner about him. If only she weren't feeling quite so out of her depth socially in this crowd.

A server approached them. Bolin released her arm and took two glasses from the offered tray and handed one to her.

"I should go easy," she said. "I'm kind of a lightweight."

He shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure it's elderflower. Non-alcoholic. Some of the top members of the Society's committee are in the temperance movement. Anyone looking to get drunk here would need to smuggle their own in."

She laughed. "Well, in that case, Cheers." They clinked glasses

"Bolin, you sly dog!" Bolin turned toward the voice and sighed. Korra followed his gaze. A skinny man with a big nose approached them from the crowd. "Who is this delectable creature?" he said as he drew closer. He captured Korra's hand before she could react and bent over to kiss it. Korra gritted her teeth, reflecting that slugging a perfect stranger within five minutes of arriving at the party would probably count as causing a scene. She pulled her hand back.

Bolin gave another sigh. "Wu, this is Korra. Korra, this is Wu. He…"

"Former society wastrel," Wu interrupted, gesturing to himself, "Now covering the great and the good in all the purple prose a wasted private school education can muster."

"He's the society reporter at the Dragon," Bolin translated.

Korra raised her eyebrows dubiously. "How thrilling for him."

"It is, as they say, a living," Wu said. "A man must eat, and this way I occasionally get to eat hors d'oeuvres." He plucked something off of a passing tray, as if in illustration. "Is the lovely Miss Beifong aware of the caliber of her competition?" he asked Bolin.

"I'm not anyone's competition," Korra said almost at the same moment Bolin said "Korra and I aren't dating."

"Well, at least you seem to agree on that point. It seems a waste. Does that mean that you are available, Miss Korra?" Wu smiled and waggled his eyebrows in an entirely resistible way.

"Not to you." Korra said firmly.

Wu smiled and clutched a hand over his heart as if she had just complemented his looks and given him a come-hither smile. "Perfection. Sadly, Bo, I must tear you from her side. Click-click." He mimed taking pictures.

Bolin looked dismayed. "Already? We just got here."

"Now is the time when people want their pictures taken. While they're all still fresh looking. I'll cut you loose well before the speeches are supposed to begin." Wu grasped Bolin by the elbow. "Now, come. There is a very handsome young general present who is collecting quite the constellation of admirers."

Bolin mouthed a "Sorry" as he was pulled away. Korra gave him a half-hearted wave. She looked around the crowd uncomfortably. Most of the people around her ignored her, but whenever she actually made eye contact with someone, she was sure she could feel the disapproval in their gaze. She took a sip from her glass, suddenly wishing it were alcoholic after all. This was going to be a long evening.

Asami's smile was beginning to hurt.

It was an odd thing. If she was genuinely happy, she never noticed the muscles in her face cramping up. It was only smiling for effect that did this to her. Yin had always informed her that her fake smile was utterly convincing. Since the woman had never shown any inclination toward giving false assurances, Asami could only conclude the difference was all in her head.

It was hard to believe there had been a time when she had enjoyed these functions. Of course back then she had arrived on her father's coattails. Her circle had been the sons and daughters, not the men and women who ran the show. Most of the younger generation, herself included, had just been interested in having a good time. So she had flirted and danced, talking fast cars and fashion, jazz music and martial arts. She had always looked forward to the next big event of the social calendar.

Her first function after taking the reins of Future Industries had been a shock. Suddenly she was one of the men and women who ran things. Without anyone telling her, the group of people she was supposed to speak to had changed, and they were all there to continue their deals. Business, politics, social connections. These were what the grown-ups were supposed to talk about.

So be it. If the circle was to be purely functional, she'd treat it as such. She gave high-society an engineer's analysis, determined that it had no appreciable impact on her ability to sell cars, and gave it up as a waste of resources.

People were taking her appearance here as a signal that she was finally taking the game seriously. It had generally seemed easier to let them keep their delusion that she actually had any need to play. Right now the count was at eight offers of unique investment opportunities, three probes to see if she supported the "correct" political party, and two fairly blatant let's-trade-respectability-for-money arranged marriage proposals from declining old-money families. And five patently insincere inquiries after her father's well-being. The last of these had gone so far as to affect surprise at hearing that he was in prison, and Asami had decided it was time for some fresh air.

The terrace was empty. Normally, there would be some overflow from the party, although usually less crowded than inside. Tonight there was an unseasonable chill to the air keeping people inside. She expected that later the teenagers in the crowd would brave the nippiness in favor of looking for a quiet place to neck. But for now she had it all to herself. It was a great relief.

She took a sip of her not-actually-wine and sighed. Dad would have sneaked a flask of something in. Normally for anything that wasn't an engineering problem, the correct next step after answering the question "What would Dad do?" was to do the opposite. In this instance she wished she had made an exception. She wandered away from the doors looking up toward the moon.

A noise from the terrace doors made her turn back to the building. A young woman, about her own age stood in the doorway. She looked straight out, not noticing Asami in her position off to the side. She was unfamiliar to Asami. That was not as strange as it would have been in the old days. But still. Even with her current disinterest in the society pages, Asami was surprised that she'd never seen so much as a photograph of someone so striking.

Her dark skin and straight brunette hair spoke of an ancestry from either the far South or far North. The hair was worn short, although not quite a bob. It framed her face nicely. She had an athletic figure, which was flattered by her dress. The blue and white gown was a classic, a little ahead of where the current wave of fashion nostalgia had reached. Asami suspected there might be some people playing catchup after tonight. The blue armbands were a touch she had never seen before.

The woman strode out to the balustrade at the edge of the terrace and leaned on it, looking out over the public plaza adjacent to the city hall. After a moment Asami noticed with some concern that the woman was gripping the railing rather tightly and that her breathing was a bit more rapid than normal.

"Excuse me. Are you all right?" Asami took a hesitant step forward as she spoke. The woman whirled around, looking startled

"Sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you out here," she said. In the light from the interior, Asami could just see a flush rise on the woman's face.

"Don't be silly. It's not private property. And you look like you need the air." She moved closer and laid a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Are you all right?" she repeated.

"Sorry. I mean, it's nothing." The woman mustered up an embarrassed smile. "I was just feeling a bit like a fish out of water. Not really my scene here, don't really fit in. Just needed to get away from everyone for a bit." The words came out in a rush

"Hmm. I think I know the feeling," Asami said in a sympathetic tone. "These events can be really good at making you feel alone in a crowded room."

Something like relief crossed the woman's face. "That's it exactly. Crowds don't usually bother me, but I just got this feeling like I was invisible. It kind of freaked me out." Having it put into words seemed to help the woman calm down. "I take it you've been to a lot of these?" she asked.

Asami smiled. "A few. Let me introduce myself. Asami Sato." She held out her hand. The other woman accepted the clasp and actually smiled.

"I'm Korra." There was a pause during which she did a visible double take. "Wait a minute. Asami Sato as in the woman receiving the Mayor's Service Award tonight?"

Asami shrugged. "Well, they've got to give it to someone I suppose."

Korra raised an eyebrow at this, but her smile was friendly and she didn't pursue the subject. "Well, it's very nice to meet you. Thank you for, well, listening. And understanding."

"It's nothing." Asami realized abruptly that she was still holding Korra's hand. Trying not to seem rushed, she let go and raised her hand to brush a non-existent wisp of hair away from her face. "If you're feeling better, you really should try to enjoy yourself. If nothing else, the food's always excellent.

"I've heard that. I think the food's what the friend who brought me was most interested in."

"Your friend just left you alone in the crowd?" Get a grip, she thought to herself. You've known this woman two minutes. She doesn't need you getting overprotective.

Fortunately, Korra didn't seem to take the remark amiss. "Oh, it's not really his fault. He's photographing the event for the paper. He had to work."

"Well, in that case," Asami heard herself say, "allow me to act as native guide in his place."

"All right, how about favorite radio show?" Asami said, arching an eyebrow.

Korra snagged a dumpling from a passing tray, giving the waiter a smile and thanks, which seemed to startle him. "That's easy," she said. "The Adventures of Maaq and Mali." She took a bite from the dumpling, which turned out to be crab. "Wow, that's good," she said through a full mouth.

The corner of Asami's mouth twitched. "Good choice. The show, not the dumpling, although I'm sure that's fine too. I'm a bit on the fence about the shift away from straight mysteries to the supernatural, but the characters are delightful."

"Oh, I love me a good ghost story," Korra said. "I like the old stuff fine, but it's the spooky stuff that really made me fall in love with it. Now you, what's your favorite?"

"The Varrick Variety Hour," Asami said.

Korra shook her head grinning. "Great music, but that Varrick is so weird sometimes."

Asami rolled her eyes. "He's even weirder in real life. Honestly, over the airwaves is the only way I can stand the man."

Korra shook her head. "That's sounds so strange. I mean, it makes sense that you know him, but it's hard to think of him as a real person."

Asami laughed. "If you ever meet him, I guarantee you'll still have a hard time thinking of him as a real person."

"Ouch." Korra grinned and took a sip from her drink. She glanced around the room. As her gaze passed over one man, she got the impression that he looked aside to avoid being caught looking. It wasn't the first time she'd had that feeling.

"At risk of sounding delusional," she said, "I keep getting the feeling people are looking at us."

"Oh." Asami sounded resigned. "That. They're probably wondering who you are."

Korra stared at her. "Don't they get strangers at these events? And why would they care?"

"Usually even the new faces know someone, and then spend the party trying to meet lots more. It probably doesn't help that you've managed to capture the attention of one of the most infamously antisocial woman in the social register. It doesn't occur to them that you're not playing the game, so it worries them that they can't figure out your moves."

"These people need to find a hobby." Korra paused and looked quizzically at Asami. "Antisocial? You?"

"I've rather lost my taste for these events over the past few years. It's a long story." Asami looked down, seemingly becoming very interested in the contents of her glass. "I'm glad I came tonight, though," she said quietly.

Korra rubbed the back of her neck and glanced around. Suddenly, the room seemed warmer than it had a moment ago. She glanced back at Asami, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Yeah, me too."

Korra's cheeks had colored rather prettily, and Asami fought down the urge to stare. Down girl, Asami thought to herself. She hadn't meant to slip over into flirting, and she didn't want to ruin the evening by pushing something she hadn't been conscious of wanting five minutes ago. She wracked her brain for an innocuous change of subject.

"It's a pity the actual story about who I am is such a dull one." Korra's voice was a bit overloud. Looking for a change of subject herself?

Asami ignored the voice inside saying I don't find anything about you to be dull, and accepted the conversational gambit. An idea that appealed to the devil in her presented itself. "We could always make up a more interesting one, if you like."

Korra raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Make something up about who I am?" She didn't sound upset, just doubtful.

"Well, it's more interesting if you don't actually lie. Just tell the truth in a way that makes people jump to the wrong conclusions."

"Do this a lot, do you?" Korra was starting to seem amused.

"Well, not so much these days. I used to do it a lot when I was younger. See how many different people I could be on family vacations, that sort of thing."

Korra laughed. "And you look so normal."

"Now," Asami said, starting warm to her theme, "people here don't tell you what they do. They tell you what they are in. They're in finance or manufacturing or whatever. So instead of telling people you drive an ambulance, you look at them coolly and say 'I'm in medical transport.'"

"'Medical transport,'" Korra repeated. "Is that actually a thing?"

"Doesn't matter. It sounds like it is. If you say it like anyone should know what you're talking about, no one will admit that they don't. Now, you and I. We have been 'in talks' tonight because we have 'mutual interests.'"

"This is supposed to make my story more interesting? Because it kind of seems like it would do the opposite."

Asami grinned. "Only to normal people. For someone who wants to catch wind of the latest big business deal, this all is terribly exciting."

Korra snorted. "OK. If I'm big enough to be 'in talks' with you, how come no one's ever heard of me?"

"Ah, now here's where your friend comes in. What's his name?"

"Bolin," Korra said. After a pause, her brow furrowed and she said, "Oh, Spirits. I don't know his last name. I never thought to ask!" She clapped her hand over her face.

Asami paused, frowning at a thought. "Wait a second. Bolin at the Dragon-Sentinel." She snapped her fingers. "Bolin Zhang."

Korra's eyes widened. "You know him?"

Asami shook her head smiling. "Never met him, but his grandmother works for me. I've heard loads of stories about the whole family, so I almost feel like I do know them."

Korra blinked. "Wild. I can't wait to see his reaction to meeting you, then."

"Anyway, not using his last name is perfect. Just one name sounds arty. You would say, 'Bolin brought me as his Plus One.' Meaning, you might not be big enough to get invited to this, but someone who only needs one name either owes you a favor or wants to romance you. Doesn't matter which. You seal the whole thing by waiting just a moment for them to start to wonder who Bolin is before saying 'I'm sure you're familiar with his work.'"

"Which, since he takes pictures for the biggest newspaper in the city is actually true." Korra shook her head.

"Exactly. You catch on fast."

Korra laughed. "Has anyone ever told you that you're crazy? In a good way, but definitely crazy."

Asami smiled. "Thank you very much. It has been mentioned."

"You see?" Wu said. "There's still at least an hour before the speeches begin. We'll get you back to your Lady Fair, and you can have the rest of the evening to yourselves."

Bolin sighed. "How am I going to find her again in this crowd? I should have asked her to tag along."

Wu shook his head. "It would have been exceedingly boring for her. Think how boring it was for us, and we were busy at the time." He paused. "Although, I suppose this way you did run the risk that some dashing young playboy has swept her off her feet. Good thing you're not in fact dating."

"I don't think Korra would sweep that easily. Anyway, you're not helping. How do I look for her?"

"Well, if she knows you well enough, and she wants to be found, the logical place to wait would be near the buffet."

Bolin gave Wu a look. "Very funny."

Wu arched his eyebrows and smirked. "Are you saying that you didn't mention that you were looking forward to the food?"

Bolin sighed. "Come one then."

Korra was not near the buffet. On the one hand, it would have been extremely embarrassing if Wu had been correct. On the other hand, it meant he had to keep searching. He consoled himself by first getting a plate of assorted nibbles before resuming the search.

Luck was with him, however. He spotted her chatting with another woman near the big glass doors to the terrace. That was good that she had found someone friendly to pass some time with. And he had to admit, he was relieved that it was a woman, not a man. Being a third wheel with his own guest would have been awkward. "I see her," he said to Wu. "This way."

They hadn't gotten far before Wu grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Get your camera back out!"

"What the heck, Wu?" Bolin said. "And my hands are kind of full right now."

"I'll hold your plate," Wu said impatiently. "You've got to get a shot of that." He gestured in Korra's direction.

Bolin frowned. "Why do you want a picture of Korra?"

"I don't. I want a picture of the woman she's talking to. That's Asami Sato. You know, one of the guests of honor tonight?"

Bolin sighed and started taking the camera back out the bag slung over his shoulder. "I know who Asami Sato is."

"Obviously not well enough to recognize her and know you should take her picture."

Bolin fiddled with the focus. "I was planning to take some pictures during the speeches, you know. It's not like we wouldn't have any pictures of her."

"Sato is looking happy and relaxed at a public event that does not involve wearing hard hats," Wu said. "Trust me. That's news." He sighed. "It is a beautiful thing."

Bolin paused while getting a fresh flashbulb in place. He turned to stare at Wu. "Was there something between you at one point?"

Wu shook his head. "Never stood a chance with her." He sounded dreamy. Then he shook his head again and seemed to come back to himself. "Don't be ridiculous, Bo. Why would you think that?"

"You knew a lot of these people back in the old days. You've never spoken about any of them that way before." He went back to readying the shot.

"What way?" Wu asked.

"Fondly. You even sounded happy when you said you never had a chance." Click. Bolin discarded the spent flash bulb and started replacing it.

"Yes, well. Getting disowned is a good way to learn who's been being honest to you over the years."

Bolin decided that he didn't want to push the topic any further. He looked through the camera getting ready to take a second shot. Korra looked back at him, waved, and stuck out her tongue. Asami Sato had a hand over her mouth and looked like she was laughing. "I think we've been spotted," he said to Wu.

"One shot will have to do. Keep your fingers crossed that it turns out. Well, have fun, Bo. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Bolin stared after Wu as the man walked away. "Aren't you coming over to say 'Hi'?"

Wu shook his head, smiling slightly. "Not tonight, I think. Give my regards to the ladies."

Wu had disappeared into the crowd before Bolin realized that he had taken Bolin's plate of food with him. Bolin sighed and continued his way toward Korra.

As he drew near she cried out "Bolin, Darling!" and hugged him. He looked at her in confusion as she pulled back. "Sorry," she said, laughing. "I got a little carried away. I didn't think I could pull off the Ice Queen from Medical Transport, but pretending to be Asami's ditzy old school friend seemed about my speed, so I was practicing."

Bolin, glanced at Asami Sato, who was biting her knuckles in an effort to not laugh. He looked back at Korra, nodded a couple of times, and said, "I'm sorry. Was that supposed to make sense?"

Asami and Bolin seemed to hit it off nicely, much to Korra's satisfaction. She liked both of them, and would have been sorry to have to choose which new friend to spend her time with. The time had passed quickly, until a polite member of staff had arrived to escort Asami to join the others that would shortly be receiving recognition and giving speeches. Bolin had then also departed to get in a good position to photograph the proceedings.

Korra felt considerably more relaxed than the last time she had been left on her own in the grand hall. She no longer imagined disapproval in every passing glance. And even if someone should choose to give her a hard time, the thought held no terror for her. She stood waiting for the speeches, wondering idly if Bolin and Asami would be agreeable to leaving soon after they were done. The food had been everything promised, but she was starting to get an urge for coffee and pie.

"Excuse me, miss?" a voice said close behind her. She looked around and saw a tall man standing at her shoulder. She smiled and stepped out of his way. Instead of moving past he turned to continue facing her, smiling slightly. It belatedly occurred to her that he wished to speak to her.

"Yes?" she said. There was something naggingly familiar about the man.

"I was wondering if I could speak to you a moment." He gave her a smile and a connection clicked in her brain.

"You're Councilman Tarrlok," she blurted. She restrained herself from wincing, and instead added, "I've seen your picture in the papers."

Tarrlok gave her another of his politician smiles. "Always a pleasure to meet a member of the public who takes interest in the city government. Miss…?"

"Korra," she supplied at his prompting. Feeling that manners demanded something more, she held out her hand. He took it and bowed graciously over it. He made no move to kiss it, to Korra's relief.

"Charmed. I hope you will forgive me for being forward," he began. Korra fought to keep her face still. She had no desire to be chatted up by a man her father's age. As such, his next words were actually something of a relief. "I saw you in conversation with Asami Sato earlier in the evening."

She hadn't actually expected anyone to take an interest in her just because she had made Asami's acquaintance, but she wasn't going to let the opportunity pass now that it was here. Asami would be amused to hear that she got a chance to play her role. She gave Tarrlok an even bigger smile. "Do you know Asami? Isn't she just a dear?"

"Alas, I have not yet had the pleasure of interacting with her socially. Have you known her long?"

Korra waved a hand vaguely. "Oh, sometimes it seems like it's been no time at all. You know how it is." Tarrlok nodded politely at the non-answer. Korra was starting to feel like she was good at this.

"I was wondering," the councilman said, "if Miss Sato had chanced to mention her thoughts on the Dragon Flats restoration."

Korra didn't need to feign puzzlement. "Restoration?"

"In the wake of these tragic fires."

"Oh, you mean the city is going to help rebuild the lost homes?" That actually sounded pretty good.

"We have rather been forced to step in," he said. "It seems very few of the original owners are in financial position to rebuild on their own. But having looked at the situation, I have concluded that if the city is to get involved the project will need to be more sweeping."

"Spirits," Korra said. "I had no idea the damage was as bad as all that." She knew she was slipping out of her social butterfly persona, but she couldn't entirely keep the edge out of her voice.

Tarrlok's smile took on a condescending look, as if he were charmed by her naivety. "It is an ill wind indeed that blows no one good. While tragic, these fires provide a great opportunity to the city. It would be a disservice to the city and its people to merely rebuild a tenement here and there, when we could elevate the entire borough. Make it a showcase for what the city of tomorrow could, indeed should be."

"What happens to all the people living in homes that are still standing?"

Tarrlok waved this away. "The buildings you refer to are cramped and aging. I doubt many will mourn their replacement."

"And the city will do all of this without raising anyone's rent. That's amazing." Korra gave him a theatrically vapid smile and fluttered her eyelashes. Tarrlok's smile suggested he wasn't finding her quite so charming anymore.

"Future Industries has partnered with the city before on public improvement projects. I have hopes that a woman of Miss Sato's vision will recognize the opportunity before us."

Korra had her own hopes for how Asami would react to the councilman's proposal. She had to admit that one night's acquaintance was too short to judge, but it was hard for her to believe that the woman she had talked to would take such a callous attitude. To Tarrlok, she simply said, "Well, I'm afraid she hasn't said anything to me. I can't help you. Maybe you should call her office to make an appointment?"

He nodded at her coolly. "Thank you for the suggestion. It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Korra."

She smiled sweetly. "Don't let me detain you, Councilman." Tarrlok gave her one last politician's smile and strode off.

Korra rubbed her temples. Tarrlok's words bothered her beyond just the casual proposed disarrangement of an entire neighborhood. It occurred to her to wonder whether the fires really had come before Tarrlok's ambitions for Dragon Flats. And how ready was the man to make his own opportunities?

She was definitely going to need both coffee and pie. And answers, somehow.