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"You're my favorite princess!"
No matter how many times she heard it, the exclamation still warmed her belly. Tiana could only hope that the little girl in front of her felt even a fraction of that heat as she leaned down and pulled the guest into her arms, gently squeezing her back.
"Why thank you!" As soon as the girl's grip lessened, she stood back up, giving her another quick glance. Pinned to her pink shirt was a birthday button. "You know, I was about to say the same thing to you, Annie!"
For a moment, she didn't say anything. Then, her eyes widening, Annie drew in a sharp breath. "You mean I'm your favorite princess?"
Tiana nodded. Leaning back down, she pressed a gloved hand against Annie's left ear. "Just don't tell my pal Snow over there, okay? I don't want her getting jealous."
Annie giggled. "Okay!" Still smiling, she brought a finger to her lips. Tiana returned the gesture.
The fire in her belly was warm as ever when she shot the young guest one last wave before her mother took her hand and pulled her away.
"Happy birthday!" she called.
Hot as it was inside of her, it had nothing on the sun beating down across her shoulders. For all her fellow cast member across the coast complained about the humidity, Tiana would trade spots with them in a heartbeat if it meant never having to spend another day stuck sweating beneath the arid California sun. Though she reckoned that growing up in New Orleans gave her an advantage over her friends. Still, that didn't change the fact that leaving the air-conditioned break rooms always felt like stepping into an oven.
Orlando, NOLA... Though located on the other side of the country, they might as well have been a world away. There was no telling when she might get to go back to either, not with a recent suspected Jafar sighting near Destin and the rumor that Dr. Facilier had staked new territory back in the big easy. For as much as she and her friends had mastered hiding in plain sight, keeping distance was always the safest option.
"You okay?"
Tiana's shoulders stiffened. Turning her head, she locked eyes with Eleanor, her young coworker in the DCP who was manning the front of the meet and greet line. "Just the heat is all," she replied in a low voice, fanning at her face.
"Do you need to head inside? I can radio in to see if Mulan can start her shift early."
"I'll be fine." Tiana shot her a quick smile.
It may not have been running the greatest restaurant her home city had ever seen, but it was still one of the best jobs Tiana had ever had - even if it did mean wearing heels and a ball gown all day. After all, who else could say they got paid to stand around just being themselves?