Threads and Strings

4. Challenge - January 2019

"That's Lia's outfit. I went thrifting for our outfits and called Kai to mix and match on the phone for tonight, genius. He's the stylist of this group, so don't mess with him. This is mine." Emi pointed to the thin black short sleeved button down with a pair of straight legged mom jeans, accented with a floral belt and violet converse. The three of them changed outfits as Charles tried to snoop around for more information on what was being performed. Charles brought out his phone and called Mimi and Trish, who were back in Kansas for their family reunion.

Charles: What are you two doing right now?

Mimi and Trish: Watching a movie with Eomma and Dad.

Charles: I'm gonna send you something in a little bit and you have to watch it live. Don't ask any questions, but do it.

Charles hung up the phone as the three performers came back down the stairs. Kai and Lia came in like nothing much changed in their appearance. Emi became shy and barely made any eye contact with Charles. "Oh now, you're all shy? I've seen you with make up before. I've seen you all dressed up. Let's go, Em. No time for dramatics." He patted her back with a bit more push than she expected. Somehow it snapped her out of whatever state she was in.

She grabbed her mic stand, a tambourine, and took a deep breath. "Ready Em?" Kai said as pressed the lights and stood behind his keyboard. She nodded and faced the camera. Lia, with an acoustic guitar, stood on Emi's left to center her. Kai sent Charles a link to check the quality of what looked like a stream of their performance. Charles immediately forwarded that link to Mimi and Trish.

Kai counted down and they were live.

Charles noticed Emi change her demeanor to a still somewhat shy woman, but an air of confidence radiated with her words.

Emi: Hello everyone, we are here! Per popular request from our fans, we are finally doing a livestream with some requests that you sent us. For those of us joining our little get together for the first time, I am Emi.

Lia: Lia over here.

Kai: Kai always looking forward to perform over here!

Lia: Oh, we do have a live audience with us right now. Charles, Emi's best friend, is here to see what his best friend has been keeping secret for so long. Charles, come on over and say hi to everyone.

[Charles left his spot near the mirrors and stood right next to Emi as she smiled at him]

Charles: Hey everyone. Whoa that's a lot of people. 500. I'm excited to see what these three have in store for you all. Y'all have more knowledge about this than I do.

Kai: Charles, someone's asking if you wold set them up with Emi after this.

Charles: Let's let her get used to her life here first and then we can talk. All interested parties in my lovely friend have to go through me and only me. Thank -

Emi: All right, all right. Enough of this teaming up shenanigans. I admit, I didn't tell him because I was nervous and wanted to make sure I had everything straight. But enough about that, we have some requests to get to.

Lia: She is right. We can interrogate Charles later in the show. Right now, this one was highly requested after Kai and Emi spoke about their go to anime so let's get to Goose House.

[Kai began a recording of the instruments not being used live from their previous recording session]

As the song ended, Charles was in awe of what he had just heard. Emi did not even glance at him as she continued with their set.

Emi: The anime, Your Lie in April, is a high recommendation if you want a good cry, which we all need once in awhile.

Lia: Looks like Charles is still in awe.

Emi: First time, I've seen him speechless in awhile. Kai, any comments that stand out to you?

Kai: Yes, someone wants to know more about your make up Emi. Who did it?

[Emi spoke about Lia's work on her make up look for night and how make up is her favorite form of artistry. Soon the conversation turned over to their outfits and how Kai's eye for taking piecing together others' artwork become his favorite form of expression.]

Lia: Hey Em, I think the audience would like to know what you prefer as your favorite form of artistry is.

Emi: That's a tough one. This is the most I've done in any art form, but acting always seems to catch my eye. I mean, seeing Charles' work is watching him tell a story. I think I might be leaning towards that, but right now music is the only way I see my artistry coming alive.

[Soon comments rolled in for Emi to do her nightly dance challenge, where Kai would play three songs and Emi would have to dance the choreography to it. However, she would not know what would be playing after one another or how long the song was being played for. Emi made it a point to only dance the choreography of the center person as Lia and Kai did not join in on the dancing for this challenge.]

Kai: All right, I'll give you three tonight as you still got one performance you wanted to do for the fans tonight.

[Charles helped Lia move most of the equipment out of the way as Emi was seen stretching on camera and waving to the camera.]

Charles: [dominating the camera before Kai began the music] This is also my first time seeing her dance. So bear in mind, I was already speechless earlier. I don't know what to expect.

Emi: Don't mind him. As you already see, he is the most dramatic.

Kai: All right, Em. Let's see if I can get you this time.

Emi: I'll do my best to keep up with your mischievous choices.

[Kai began with the iconic whistling of DNA by Bangtan to Yoongi's rap; transitioning to Yoongi's rap in Fire by Bangtan to the rap line's verses. Then ending with Sehun's verses in the bridge of Love Shot by EXO to the end of the song.]

Emi: You almost had me at Love Shot [struggling for breath, but able to let out a little laugh]

Charles stood there with a proud smile on his face. He finally saw her enjoying herself.