Free As a Bird

KevMonal//27//they/them//Costumes&Design

[kevthebird-blog]

Mora was just finished work, she was thinking about having a night in or maybe going out for something to eat before she headed home as she didn’t feel like cooking that day. Hands stuffed in her pockets, she hummed to herself before she spotted somebody familiar outside smoking. She walked over and stood next to them before their voice made her jump a bit out of her skin. “Sorry Kev, didn’t mean to scare you or anything. I was just wondering how you were doing that’s all.

Kev relaxed when they saw the short, bright haired girl beside them. In the dark, Kev didn’t initially recognize Mora, which was surprising given Mora’s inability to blend in based on appearance alone, something Kev as a fellow creative soul understood. Kev met Mora their second day on the job and immediately found the girl’s sweet demeanor and quirky style intriguing. “Oh hey Mora, sorry I didn’t recognize you for a second. It’s been a long, boring day.” Kev took the final drag of their cigarette before extinguishing it on the wall behind them. “What’s up? You’re out late tonight.”

[kevthebird-blog]

Kev stepped outside the costuming department and was pleasantly surprised to find the pier so sparse. They preferred the amusements this way, less blinking lights and minimal noise; just a few well-dresses groups hurrying around the pier, seeking out the late-late night life that Kev had little interest in exploring after a long day of sewing shoulder pads into performers’ costumes. Kev picked the band aid wrapped around their left thumb protecting the gash created when Kev jumped at the sound of the fireworks, unused to the way they reverberate off the concrete workspace walls.

Still a little shaken up, Kev pulled a cigarette out of their pocket and leaned against the brick wall, hoping some late-night people watching would calm their nerves. Despite being an official employee at The Pier for a little over a week, Kev had kept to themselves, preferring to watch the chaos unfold around them before getting too attached. After a few minutes of watching the blur of tourists and employees begin to reach their final destinations, whether they staggered sleepily into one of the many ocean front hotels or drunkenly into one of the bars, Kev felt calmer. Just as they finished their cigarette and began thinking about heading home themselves, Kev felt someone step up next to them and rest against the building. Kev took a deep breath, and attempted to sound more annoyed than anxious when they barked, “Can I help you?”