Lucky Waters PV Emma Hill

13 June 2016
6:45 PM (18:45)
Home - Chelsea, London

Everything was going the same way as usual. The same customary technique the Hills performed every evening. Her grandfather sat bewildered in front of the blaring television, watching as colors swished around the computerized canvas. The parents, including her uncle, were in the kitchen, accommodating each other as they prepared a feast for the household of seven. Both Kiyana and Emma swayed on the playset in their backyard, and her older cousin simply isolated himself in his room; his fingers tapping against the touchscreen of his phone and smiling widely to the insulting texts his companions sent, explaining his no-tech boarding institution. Dinner had yet to begin. In fact, it was a bit overdue than usual.

"What do you think she's got to say?" Murmured the husband, keeping his voice low despite the boiling pot water on the stove and the hustle and bustle of explosions on the TV. Twice he would ask the question, put into different words, but he got the same response. I don't know.

Outside, the sun continued to shine. The doorway leading into the house had been shut, perhaps not fastened, but they weren't for sure. The two would talk, snicker, and talk even more, challenging each other to jump off the swing in motion and possibly injure themselves. At least then it would give Kiyana an explanation to miss out on summer school. To no surprise, both of them jumped off with no injuries, but Emma refused to go mining in the dirt. "But we can find wor-" but she was dismissed by the sudden shake of Emma's head. She couldn't possibly get her clothes dirty and be grimaced upon by her mother. Letting out a huff of annoyance, she planted her heels into the grass and forced the swing to stop its movement. They sat in silence for five minutes, the occasional creaking of swing sounding whenever the ten-year-old pushed it's structure to the limit. Finally, the door leading to the house opened and they were signaled for supper.

Already, the silverware had been set and everyone had made their way down to the table, even Abraham, who for some reason wasn't confined in his phone. One glimpse around the table confirmed something wasn't right. Around came the bowl of spaghetti, but before the phone-trapped teen had the opportunity to reach for it, his father called out to him. "Hands." And the three children made a burst for the nearest bathroom, all leaving their chairs unpushed. Without a doubt, the youngest made her way out last and a small rattling could be overheard on the opposite side of the door. Neglecting it, Emma made her way for her chair and took the spaghetti. "Not it."

However, as Abraham approached the door, it gently swung open and all heads turned in the direction. In the woman's hand lied a small box, stuck together with a bow customarily only seen around Christmas time. "Sis, surprise surprise!" piped the woman, shaking the box lightly. The bringer of gifts had arrived once more and was met with squeezes and exclaims, but no one dared to ask her what she brought. "Tickets-" she pointed to the box and popped the lid off revealing seven tickets, one for each member, but before she could continue, words of disapproval emerged as he got a glimpse of the tickets.

"That's charming and all, but I'd rather not go... Wizards and Muggles? Especially stranded miles beyond land, thought's frightening." The words came from Emma's uncle, and similar emerged from her grandfather. Two down and five to go. Then came the reaction from the children, a straightforward approval. It was the first time they'd ever traveled out of the country besides to go to Hogwarts. It was the first time coming so close to the ocean. Dinner had been forgotten, and a small pile formed around the aunt. Abraham was the first to acknowledge the general feeling amongst the three. 

"You're serious? When? Where?" However, before they could hear where. Emma, Kiyana, and fourteen-year-old (who turned fourteen at the beginning of June) Abraham ran up the stairs to pack their bags. Given that the eldest had more experience after all their clothes were picked, he came into their room and practiced his magic to get them inside of the bag. It made things so much easier. Vacation? It was only a word the ten-year-old heard on television during the summertime. She simply couldn't wait, dinner didn't matter to her anymore.

14 June 2016
9:10 AM
Terminal - Southampton, Hampshire

"Up! Up! Up!" Sounded the ten-year-old, after taking one slight look at the sun seeping through her window. Any other day, Emma would have snapped her curtains shut if she had the spirit to get up, but today, it fueled her with abnormal energy and she knocked on the everyone's door, even if they weren't going on the cruise. Unfortunately but expectedly, Kiyana was the first to awaken. Sharing a room with her cousin was harder than sleeping downstairs.

The song of the birds was louder than ever and everyone's suitcase sat in the trunk of her mother's small SUV. It could fit five people. Like her role in the family, however, Emma knew exactly where she was sitting in the car. The dreaded middle seat. Showers, breakfast, and chatter. It was a basic summer morning, despite waking up four hours early to go on a cruise. They wasted no time during breakfast and were out the door by 11:30, making sure to scan the house twice and bid their final goodbyes to the family. Alejandra couldn't help but think she needed more outfits to wear.

More than an hour of driving awaited Alejandra, being the only one qualified to properly operate the vehicle. Absolutely no one knew the process of getting through security, that's what the tickets were for, right? The odds of two ginormous cruise ships leaving at the same time were slim. 

About an hour and a half of continuous driving and gentle snores coming from the back, the vehicle came to a standstill in the parking lot and the car doors were pushed open. After violently shaking her shoulders to awaken the sleeping head, the ten-year-old stumbled out of the car, her limbs half unconscious from the long drive. The five grabbed their bags and made way for the entrance, anxiously looking down at the tickets. Checking in their tickets was no hassle, but security proved to be a waste of their time. Ten, twenty, and twenty-five minutes passed until the youngest of the bunch went first. What was so time-consuming about going through security? One o'clock read the time and she finally found out. Great.

"You brought my hair curler?" Asked Alejandra, the only Muggle in the group, looking at the trash where it had been disposed. "Your bag was full... so I put it into mine. You were talking about hair... so I- I just... wanted to help?" The nine-year-old explained after collecting her checked bag off the conveyer. Dismissing the thought after looking into her glossy eyes, she took a glimpse down at the tickets and beckoned everyone to follow her, taking leadership of this entire trip. They walked for five minutes, the time being around 1:30, leaving around two hours to get passed the enormous line that practically circled the huge room. Sighing loudly, Abraham approached the line first, the wheels on his suitcase rolling monotonously on the ground. However, he was stopped by Arden with the clap of his hand on his shoulder. "Wrong line." An expression of uncertainty met his features before backing up and gazing into the sea of at least three hundred people, but he shrugged and followed the four over to the seemingly short line with only a few people.

"What are we going to do first when we get there?" Asked the fourteen-year-old in a whisper, as the other two mischievously clustered together. Mixed emotions were presented, one for investigating the ship, another for swimming, and the last one for finding something to eat. Emma's vote wasn't that hard to tell with her stomach constantly growling. "Fine we'll explore, eat, and then go swimming." Standing open-mouthed, Kiyana's brows furrowed and complained without minding her volume, "that's not fair!"

Immediately, she was shushed by her family, and the adults looked up to the closest family beside them and apologized quickly. Well, at least the mother did. As if tradition, Emma waved absentmindedly to the family of five as her mother apologized, not one word emerging from her mouth. "Terribly sorry about of outburst. Excited you know?" As the next group of individuals was called, the family moved up and watched the line beside them move seldomly.

Traveling with a group of five was never easy, peculiarly when the majority of the travelers were still underage. Neither of the three had traveled out of the country, more or less, the bordering cities. Rules, the do's and dont's, and procedures for embarking on the voyage were unfamiliar to all of them, but how different was it than boarding a plane? One visit to the airport was not going to be enough to manage the rest of the family; this was much bigger.

Embarrassment filled the smallest's check, only the ground met her eyes as there was no one to look toward for encouragement. Meanwhile, everyone had a reason to observe the girl, and it had even become a bit quieter, but within a few seconds, everything returned to the way they were. Eyes wandering around, trying to distract himself from the sense of anxiety creeping up on him, Abraham looked up... and down, and both ways before halting on the window panes. Behind the multitude of adventurers, stood a glass wall. Almost like the ones that were seen in the aquariums, but at least sixty feet tall. Temptation dragged him out the line, ducking effortlessly beneath the rope that divided the two lines despite his height. He honestly didn't have a spot in the conversation, and he certainly didn't want to monitor the adults' discussion. In a new environment, it was expected to have a plan, and likewise, he did. 

Everything was breathtaking. The huge ship, the capacious open terminal, the abundance of people, the list was practically continuous. Above on the speakers, a speech regarding safety played, overwhelming the light calming melody. Right, don't take bags from strangers and don't lean over the boat, the middle child thought to herself, a chill running up her spine at the thought of drowning in the ocean. She could not swim... yet. Without anything to do, it was with gratitude the audio gave her something to think about, whether those thoughts were positive or negative. It was something that stopped her foot from rapping against the floor, her body from twisting and her arms from crossing. 

"Uhm.." Emma's fingers pointed back and forth between the vacated spot and her cousin, but her parents were already lost in conversation with the family next to them. Shaking her head, she internally sighed. "Nadie va a..." She turned in the direction of her parents but stopped, catching a glimpse of the family. Was she supposed to wave or perhaps even fake a smile to people she didn't even know? There wasn't much she could do with her eyes wandering from youngest to oldest. Without giving it any more thought, she waved. There was no smile on her face, however.

"All family, if you count step-niece and nephew." Smiling, she gestured down to the youngest who was still burning from embarrassment and scanned around for her brother, the purse in her right swaying gently. Without panic in her eyes, she gazed around and snickered quietly to herself after recognizing his messy hair. "What brings you all here? Summer vacation?"

"I tried to warn you," the ten-year-old muttered sharply under her breath, her jaw clenched as she looked towards Abraham. She hadn't bothered disguising her words. Without looking away from him, she rocked on her heels, waiting for him to turn around and catch her eye. Sure the cruise ship had its extravagant exterior, but if there was anything she acquired from elementary school, the outside didn't matter. It was what's on the inside that counts. Five people in one petite room was frankly not going to cut it. It was impossible. She couldn't wait to board the ship, even if indifference overtook her features. Why wouldn't he just turn around? Snapping in a rhythmic pattern, she tried to get his attention, but the louder she snapped, the more attention she drew to herself. After seemingly observing the cruise ship the eldest turned and Emma beckoned him over.

There was no point in being in the VIP line if it was still backed up. Twelve or so families remained ahead of them, but it was still better than the hundreds (maybe even a thousand) in the regular line. Sure the boat was enormous, but wouldn't it still be cramped with everyone? 

"Do you want me to take him?" The Gryffindor offered, his hands fidgeting around with the phone in his hoodie pocket as he wore a smile. It was a long shot, and part of him yearned for a contradictory response. It was rather with instincts that he asked. The fourteen-year-old didn't even know him, or even where the restroom was, but with a place so large, there were bound to be signs. He really just needed something to do. An unjustified promise emerged from his mouth. "I'll get him back on time." He really needed to stop talking.

Translation:
Nadie va a...   —―    Is no one going to...

Boarding the vessel was no easy matter. The amount of waiting pushed the children into a state of hysteria. Anything from the sound of a crying infant to the obnoxious churning of suitcase wheels caught their attention. Complaints emerged from the three of them, both internally or externally, but their words were drowned out by the intercom informing its passengers. After getting checked in, the two families nonchalantly chatted for a while. Each and every time the intercom blasted over the terminal, the volume would decrease a little before continuing to its natural state. There weren't that many boats outside, what could possibly cause the wait? 

After just about forty minutes, the miraculous words came on and Abraham sent one last text to his friends and shook his family awake. No response from Kiyana though, and with a sigh, he pinched her nose and she sputtered awake. "Basta." Emma drowsily commanded in between the two, leaning further back in her seat to prevent her cousin from causing another disturbance, taking the hits she launched. The last thing they needed was a family fight. The five stood and headed for the exit, farewell England. If she hadn't had taken the nap, maybe the ten-year-old would have been a bit more enthusiastic, but until then, the family had yet another line to get through. 

The cruise ship was enormous, and that was an understatement. It was jaw-dropping. From the outside, there looked to be no way hundreds (maybe even thousands) of people could compress into the boat. The hallways looked endless, and even when they did end, there was constantly a different pathway waiting to be discovered. 

"You guys are going to be in there," Alejandra began, straight to the point as her eyes met each of the kids. To their left, a large goofy sign with bubble letters read 'Kids Club'. A look of repugnance met the eldest two, but Kiyana had already bursted into the room and leapt straight for the ball pit, her drowsiness all somehow gone. There was no way the fourteen-year-old could be caught in a room full of kids. The only beneficial thing that could come out of going in there was the view, and that panoramic scene wouldn't compete with the view from the top deck. "No gracias," came the masculine voice and he looked at a nearby sign to distract himself and his eyes caught one his favorite floor on the vessel. Deck 12. Arcade. 

Emma was going to say the same until she saw a familiar face, and she didn't remember many people. Besides someone needed to keep the wild one intact, and no worker was going to tame a rampant nine-year-old. With a change of heart, she waved goodbye and pulled the door handle open. It was going to be a very long afternoon. Then, activities began and she slipped into the circle. Her circle making skills weren't that great. She didn't want to say much to the boy next to her, but more words continued to pop up. "Oh, um... Hi, again. I'm Emma. Wait, my mom told you that, right? Probably... sorry." 

Huddled in a circle, her knees pulled close to her chest, Emma glanced out the cruise ship window and watched the country of England shrivel gradually. If it wasn't for her hyperactive cousin, the brunette would have cheerfully stayed back in the room, binge-watching the crappy movies that played on the television. It was no Disney channel, but at least she could get some action and watch burning buildings explode on the news. But no, she was stuck here, being treated like a preschooler. 

Even though everyone looked around her age, she couldn't help but assume someone among them feigned about their age, whether older or younger. But before she could investigate the crowd, her concentration was pulled from the window. A sharp, obnoxious voice that effortlessly could have been mistaken for a high school cheerleader. As the instructions were vocalized, a glimpse of anxiety met her face. She didn't have a complete understanding of the competition. So they were passing whatever was in her hand, what was the point? To fit in, she as well squealed with excitement, trying her best to conceal her feelings of apprehension. 

A familiar song played across the speakers, and she sang the lyrics inside of her head, well, at least what she thought the lyrics were. Her eyes widened as she found the rubbery balloon in her possession, so she did what everyone else did and passed it to the subsequent person just as the melody stopped and the brunette looked up abruptly to see who had the balloons. One by one they exploded and she snickered inaudibly to herself as others failed to properly sit on the slippery rubber. She didn't understand what was so hard about sitting on a balloon. With each round, she began to get a grasp of the game, but it wasn't long until she as well had to sit on the balloon and giving the boy to her left a vindictive look, Emma flattened the balloon and scooted out of the circle, waiting for the contest to finish.

Inside the ball pit, Kiyana pretended to drown, allowing herself to descend further into the shallow play area. Not minding her volume, she hopped out and walked to the door, swinging her arms as violently as her body allowed. This was the closest thing she got to a splash in the ocean... even though she couldn't swim. "Watch this!" She called out exclusively to Kyle, and she ran at full speed towards the pit but was immediately stopped by a guide member. One day it would happen. Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but she was going to get her splash. Rolling her eyes, she jumped in anyway, but only a couple of the toy balls managed to escape the pin. At least it was better than nothing. "Hey!" She called out to get his attention despite being a couple of feet away. Asking a somewhat naive question, she smiled. "How long are you gonna be here?" 

Sounds of gunshots rang in the hallway, and maybe a muffled scream in the distance, yet no one seemed to be running around. Not even the emergency signal resonated throughout the ship. This would have been something to worry about if there wasn't an arcade in the proximity. A plastic blue gun in his hands, Abraham pointed it at the screen and directed at the undead coming closer to the screen, only two more lives remaining. He couldn't die now, he was nearing the top hundred.

"Damn it," murmured Abraham under his breath, and he reloaded the rifle and continued to shoot. His heart was actually beginning to pound a little faster. Hundreds of points racked up. It was strange how the modest multiplier of 100 made everything so fascinating. He had to make the voyage worth something.

Translation:
Basta  —― Stop it

"Oh, um... Hi, again. I'm Emma. Wait, my mom told you that, right? Probably... sorry."

"Hey! How long are you gonna be here?"

L'aurore — Deck 6

There was that grin that never left his face. The same feeling he got whenever he went out with friends, whether was virtually or in person. Abraham's world began to casually fade away as the minutes passed with the blue rifle. The small container of tokens was placed on the podium, ready for whenever he needed to resurrect himself or Stacy. His finger rarely lifted off the trigger as he watched bullets glide through. He didn't have the aim of his partner. Sure, it was no headshot, but it unquestionably got the job done. 

Fifteen minutes of infinite shooting passed, then he watched the virtual sun glisten on to the village and placed the gun back on its platform. "We did it!" He repeated, watching their record spring to first place. The congratulating dialogue roared through the speakers, but he was busy celebrating without controlling his volume. The best only continued to get better. 

After driving the tokens into the machine, bright red zeroes developed on the scoreboard. His cheeks were actually beginning to sting a little, but it was worth it. It wasn't like he could willingly stop anyway. Withdrawing the red puck from the bottom, he shot a glimpse at her. "You're on," came the simplistic words. Though Abraham wasn't the most competitive in the family, he'd learned something about having "friendly" competitions with his friends.

It wasn't long before his phone began to sound across the Arcade. He neglected it for a few seconds, before understanding it wasn't just any notification, but a call... but there wasn't any service on the vessel. Regardless, his uncle obviously discovered a way to bewitch his way into universal calls without using the room's phone. Begrudgingly pulling out his phone, he dropped the striker in his right and answered, a clear, polite voice speaking as soon as the device met his ear. "There's dinner beginning at 6:30, I told the Vances we'd tag accompany them there. Can you get the girls? We're in room 1316." Before he could defend his case he was cut off by a kerplunk. Cheapshotter, Abraham whispered silently. Hesitantly agreeing, he hung up and said his goodbyes to Stacy, despite the air hockey table still running. It would have to shut off eventually. All great things eventually came to an end.

Abraham couldn't wait to get to dinner, and it wasn't because he hadn't eaten all day. It was a rare opportunity to see him in something other than denim and a hoodie. He couldn't stop thinking about clothing, and its importance. It was never significant until now. There was nothing elegant arranged in his suitcase, no suits, or even decent clothing. Until wifi, however, magic worked everywhere. He was here to enjoy his time, not to worry about impressing a girl he met moments ago... even if it was at the top of his agenda. 

Immediately fleeing the elevator packed with adults, he found the Kids Club and cracked the door open much happier than usual. Indicating to the other door to retrieve Kiyana, the Gryffindor smiled and waved at guidance counselor before taking the children into his possession. Without saying a word, he naturally beamed and made his way for the room. Both girls gazed at each other, challenging each other to ask him. It was a firm no from the youngest. Rapping his knuckles against the wooden door, he waited silently, rocking back and forth on his heels. 

"Are you alright?" Emma finally asked. She was genuinely concerned about his mental health. As he opened his jaws, the entrance opened and she bursted inside the room. She didn't want to hear the story of him partying with other teenagers while she sat on the ground watching movies. Upon entrance, the room was gorgeous. The turquoise carpet draping over the stairs escorted the family to another room. She could already see the bed. Emma didn't pay attention to the small dining room, or even the balcony leading out to miles and miles of ocean. She didn't even care about the glass chandelier shimmering in the artificial lighting. Running up the stairs, the brunette ran her hand against the metal railing; the only thing stopping her from falling immediately back down to the first level. Her enthusiasm continued to build until she came across her mother wearing formal attire. Before she could run away, she was hoisted on to the bathroom counter.

Minutes lingered like hours as she endured her mother's pampering. The only thing keeping her conscious was the transition from herself to her cousin. If she had to survive the pain, so did Kiyana. A smuggled hair curler plugged in the lavatory, the two sat on the counter alongside each other, taunting each other as Alejandra readjusted each others' outfits. "I don't like this," Emma muttered beneath her breath. Her mother was too busy prepping the girls for the big night. She had come prepared and even brought formal attire for the complete family. There were also seven suitcases in the room. She too had been infected by excitement with the impression they'd truly come across as a traditional family. There wasn't a single contradictory thought in her mind.

Reducio

Outfits!

Alejandra -- Arden -- Emma -- Abraham -- Kiyana

Once congregated in the immense living room, the kids had the opportunity to make fun of each other's outfits as Arden and Alejandra planned their meet up with the Vances. There were the vigorous colors on her dress and Kiyana's enormous bow that captured the attention of anything. Then there was the watch Arden forced his nephew to wear. It was much better than checking your phone during supper, particularly in front of guests. Although he was a strict person, he was never unreasonable when it came to clothing. That was more of his wife's expertise. The men disproved the legend by taking longer to get ready than even the girls. If it wasn't for the dispute of using the iron or witchcraft, both guys surely would have had more time to watch television, or at least what was provided for them.

What kind of food are they going to have? It was the only question inside the brunette's mind. Emma had passed the day with two bowls of cereal and a half-eaten cookie she had to throw away before embarking the ship. Nevertheless, it had gotten her through the day, even if her stomach had the audacity to interrupt her fun. The thought of discovering new things was the only thing keeping her from giving in to her cravings. Now as she thought about it, her stomach became unbearable. Bubbles formed and began to churn, turning her stomach inside, out, and in every direction.

Locating the elevator was much more manageable thanks to Abraham. One-by-one they filed on to the shaft with another family that halted their conversation as soon as the gateway opened. A cloud of cologne and perfume overtook the elevator. Funnily, Emma and Kiyana weren't wearing perfume. The only noise in the elevator was the heavy growling of Emma's hollow stomach. Lurking in the corner from the other family, she glanced down at her dress. If only she could see the Vances' outfits and tell her mother she'd outshone once again. It was only dinner. There was really no difference in wearing this rather than a pair of jeans. She could effortlessly picture their outfits, most of them at least. She didn't know what to expect from Andy's mom. 

Signs dangling from the ceiling were the Hills' only reference of navigation. Ah-row-rae, she repeated in her head over and over again until it sounded correct. Following an elongated elevator ride down seven floors, they stumbled upon the dining hall and likewise, the Vances. The process of alternating compliments and waves didn't last long before the hostess accommodated the couple in front of the group. It was time to find a seat.

Any conversations Emma heard from outside amplified, making it difficult on her ears. She bobbed and weaved under waitresses carrying platters of food and drinks, taking a glance at the outfits of guests. There were definitely some individuals that selected to go all out, but even some kids had the luxury of wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts. So she might have had a little bit of a staring problem; it could easily be defined as examining her surroundings. A mile of tables filled the area of the hall. Circles, rectangles and even those fancy wrap around tables in the corner. 

At last, it was time to order. Reading off the adult menu her cousin had been provided was probably a poor choice, but she wanted to be a 'big kid' and show off a little. After stumbling on the word 'sirloin', however, she was sure to concentrate on the photographs rather than the actual words. Despite being able to read most English, her dictionary didn't include the glorified statements menus liked to include for fun. Much to her disappointment, it wasn't the opportunity to order food. Regardless, the Hills all ordered their drinks. Water for the parents, sprite for Abraham (mostly because he wanted to mimic Stacy), lemonade for Emma, and a chocolate shake for Kiyana because they couldn't say no in front of guests. She glanced at her uncle and gave a light smile as the waitress went to go retrieve the drinks.

"Good evening everyone!" The speakers sounded after letting out a high pitched wail. Turning her body to face the front, Emma saw a man in a tuxedo wave out to the passengers. "I'm going to keep it very brief. On account of the entire crew, I'd like to personally welcome you onboard. It's going to be an interesting two weeks. All we ask is that you sit back and let the waves guide us to Norway. If you happen to think of any questions, please ask one of the staff. We'd be happy to help." With that, he stepped off the podium to socialize with some of the guests.

Once the drinks arrived, Emma dropped her straw into the class and began gulping the sweet lemonade. At this rate, the drink would be long gone before she even got a chance to take a bite of her food. The aroma of coffee mixed uneasily with its environment. The combination of steak, cologne, and coffee was strange, yet it seemed to blend perfectly. Still sipping her drink, she watched Andrew try the caffeinated drink. Her sense of envy disappeared at the first sight of his reaction. It couldn't possibly be that bad, but she didn't want to find out.

Kiyana gave one last look at the kid's menu and gestured to an illustration of chicken tenders and mashed potatoes. She wasn't going to speak up in front of Kyle. She didn't even order by herself in front of her family. The process was so nervewracking. Teriyaki chicken for Abraham, fish and chips for Arden, and ratatouille for Alejandra. Emma couldn't wait to taste the food, but after remembering she had to order, she sighed softly and took the menu out of his hands. "I want this-" She flipped her menu around and pointed to a plate of pasta with some kind of meat on top. Even though the brunette didn't know what the mysterious meat was, the picture was enough to convince her. Didn't everything taste like chicken anyway? 

As orders were exchanged throughout the group, Emma couldn't help but notice commotion starting to stir around the dining room. It was beginning to get extremely loud. Her eyes trained on waitresses, she prayed one of those immense plates carried their food. Wafts of pasta and steak lingered around each time a waiter passed their table, taunting them with food. They had only placed their request just moments ago, but it wasn't that complicated to cook up a meal; at least that's what she assumed from watching her mother's cuisine shows. 

Abraham was completely occupied with fingering his straw, stirring the carbonated drink and watching more bubbles rise to the top and burst. Occasionally, he threw a side glance at Stacy. He was much too busy reminiscing about his experience in the arcade. He didn't know what was more important; getting to hang out with her or breaking the high score. There was no way to communicate with his friends to distract him from his feelings. He had familiarized himself with bothering his buddies that proudly had ladies of their own. Having no service was probably for the best, but he had to find a way, even if it meant using magic. 

"Nope. Not yet, at least," she glanced in her parents' direction. For as long as she could remember, each child used a distinctive approach to beg for the dog whether if it buttering up the adults, or plainly asking. One that could saunter around the house during the day and dance outside in the backyard was perfect. Before she could proceed, however, the brunette was interrupted by her dad. "A dog is too much of a responsibility."

"I think you don't want another responsibility to chase after." Came the audacious retort from the oldest, still fidgeting with the straw. He refused to make eye contact with him, but he couldn't help but smirk somewhat as he glimpsed at the Vances. After all, the teen was right. After being bestowed two children, taking on a pet just seemed impracticable, especially in a disorganized home like theirs, but the Vances somehow made it work.

Forks and knives scraping ceramic plates and frequent outbursts of laughter could be heard from even across the room. It was only growing worse as more families packed into vacant tables. Flashes of light made it seem like the red carpet, but there was no criticizing the families. Everyone wanted to remember their time on the boat, and for several, it was the first and last time. The dinner ambiance was like the sun hiding behind clouds of casual conversation. Kiyana caught bits and pieces of the subtle music before it was overwhelmed by chatter. 

As the discussion continued to progress, there was a single word that caught the youngest's mind. What wasn't there to love about horses? She had always heard of "happily ever afters". The "riding off into the sunset with a fair maiden" was a cliché she had heard countless times. Her understanding wasn't much. "Do you have a lot of horsies? I've always wanted to learn how to ride one. It's not that hard, is it? Cowboys make it seem really easy. Can they fly? Or even d- Ow! What the heck, meanie?" Her rambling was interrupted by a sharp pain in her foot, Emma's heel. Staring up at the crystal chandelier centered on the ceiling, she held her breath hoping not to attract attention to herself. It wasn't wrong to ask questions, but even she knew where to draw the line. Her head was still snapped in Emma's direction, and deliberately she dropped her head to look at the group, simply shrugging without a single word to her cousin. "Sorry, I'm just really hungry; can't concentrate." 

School was a tricky subject for the children. It put a grin on Emma's distracted face and she took a peek at Abraham who didn't dare look back at her.  Her year was coming soon, next year in fact. Until then, she attended a basic primary school like everyone else. Well, her second school. She agreed with Kyle. Schooling naturally came easy for her until it was time to read out loud to the class. Everything was great. Her friends always played around and even messed with other students. It was all fun and games until she got into trouble for punching them. 

"History? Really? Myself as well." The oldest replied nonchalantly, ignoring the grin. It wasn't the first time he had to give out the answer, and while History of Magic was the closest thing to a Muggle school subject, it wasn't his favorite.

"Since when? I thought you were a starry person." Emma's fingers pointed up at the ceiling, struggling to find the word.

"We had a lesson about an astrologist in history. I could go on and on." Quick thoughts came from him, extracting one of the numerous Astrology lessons he'd memorized. That was his favorite subject at Hogwarts, Astrology. The tightness in his voice ceased her speech. She couldn't compete with him, but she would still try. "History just runs in the family, I guess."

"Umm... well my favorite class is.. singing?" The little one said, breaking the tight thread of tension between the two. He was right though. Within a year, she'd even be using the same lie, then Kiyana, and eventually the next generation. "Music, coral, whatever it's called. I can sing the highest out of everybody!" She boasted, raising her pitch with the last word. 

Reducio

PSA: By "coral" she means chorale or choir

If there was one thing that alarmed Arden, it was double dates. Although this was none of the sorts, his vocabulary had been confined to non-flirty terms. He didn't want to come off as a bad person, not so much as to his wife, but to the Vances. His words were usually low and monotone. For the sake of unleashing his excitement, he added interest and dynamics.   

"Even-" Alejandra lowered her voice to continue, snickering to herself, "pregnancy tests? How does it work if it's just... Actually, I should be asking such broad questions. The world needs more women like you, I could never picture myself in a hospital." The mother even had a stressful time returning back to the office for checkups and blood draws. She could handle the lengthy waits and loud guests, but do not shove a needle up her arm, or anywhere for that matter. 

"Jobs, oh, where to begin. I usually bounce from country to country. Lots of traveling." Arden began, also reluctant to discuss it any further. It was authentic. He rarely had a resting moment to spend time at home with his family. He had traveled to Romania, Greece, and then all the way down to New Zealand. Arden was ordinarily out collecting information or materials from fire-breathing creatures, who knew what happened whenever he clocked out from a long day of scorches, burns, and very strange blood-like substances.

"ESL Lecturer. He goes around to places like Italy, Spain, and Ecuador. He can pick up languages like that. As for myself? I'm a manager for Hilton, the hotel company." The wife clarified. 

Without a warning, the lights shut down, leaving nothing but unlocked phone screens and fluorescent flower to light the area. The floral arrangements on every table radiated a vibrant blue, except for the one on their table. The flower instead mimicked the colors of the sunset and gleamed in the darkness, a "subtle" use of Emma's magic; it would have been a lie to say it didn't shock her. As the lights went out, it was at Kiyana's first instinct to let out a scream, genuinely expressing fear. At least she wasn't the only child this time. Children of various ages also had been taken by surprise, clinging tightly to their caregivers. The disruption even caused a few babies to scream out of their lungs.

Reducio

Regular Table Flowers

Their Table Flower

Feedback from the microphone pulsed throughout the diner. "Sincerest apologies, everyone. Perhaps testing the lights wasn't the grandest idea. Now you've all gotten a heads up for the big event." And with that, the host exited the stage again.

"What's the big ev-?" Abraham began to ask as the lights flickered on one by one. He caught a few drops of water trickling down the glass vase and his eyes began tracing it back to the source. A ginormous crack ran horizontally through it. Sure it was glass, but loud noises simply couldn't accomplish that. He gave Emma a look, but she defensively gestured to the seat next to her from under the table. She wasn't the one that screamed.