Kori couldn't hide her amusement. Rachel kept her hands behind her back as she stared at the massive parlor, looking terrified of touching anything. Garfield, on the other hand, seemed compelled to get as close as he could to every vase, painting, and trinket in the room. His mom swatted the boy's hand twice while they waited. Victor simply sat on a bench and stared in awe until an old man entered the room with a tray of glasses.
"Master Robin will be down shortly," he said. "Then we will begin the show. Sparkling juice? I have grape and apple."
Kori joined the cluster around Alfred and picked the paler drink. Unlike the others, the flute of faux champagne fit naturally in her hand, making her look even more refined than her soft red dress or pearl earrings. Her long hair curled carefully around her face and over one shoulder. A little eyeliner and lip gloss perfected her "simple" elegance.
She smiled at Raven as she sipped her drink. After hours of work, the goth actually looked human. Her hair was tucked into a false bun and highlighted with a purple flower. A gentle pink blush and lilac eyeliner gave life to her skin. Her black dress and a decorative veil painted her as a griever in this mystery.
"Do we start playing right away," asked Victor, "or… wait for Rob?"
The boys watched Rachel expectantly, but she only shrugged.
"Mm," Kori hummed, "I shall wait for Robin. Besides, it is not proper for the lawyer to touch all of the antiques."
Garfield chuckled and adjusted the tie on his too-big suit. "Who decided to make me the lawyer, anyway? I don't know law."
"That's why your primary role is just to read the script," said Rachel flatly. "Trust me, no one is pegging you as the killer."
Victor laughed. "I think my character did it. The butler always did it. No offense."
"It's not a job for everyone," Alfred said.
"Can we really say the flirty new girlfriend wasn't part of it?" asked Rachel, eyeing Kori with a smirk. "Maybe for the money."
Kori giggled. "I like this part. I get to be a woman I am not for a time."
She blew a kiss to Rachel, chuckling more at the red flood rising in her face. The goth growled back.
"Naw, you're a tease every day, Kori," Garfield laughed. "You just don't notice it."
Kori stared at him as Victor smacked him upside the head.
"OW! What was that for?"
"I am causing impure thoughts?" asked Kori.
Victor grabbed Garfield's arm tightly and said, "No! No, of course not! Even if you were, it isn't your job to keep boys in line. Gar here, for example, is responsible for how he acts, right, Gar?"
"Y-yeah. Can- can you stop squeezing?"
Victor released him and resumed examining the paintings. Garfield winced and rubbed his arm where Victor had grabbed him. Kori bit her lip as she watched him.
"I did not know," she said. "I am sorry, Garfield."
"Hey, it's cool! We're still friends, right?"
Kori nodded. "Of course. Oh! The coming of home-?"
"Seriously, it's okay," Garfield said, feebly laughing it off. "You're too tall for me anyway."
"If you're interested in people based on height, I just want to say right now," Rachel interjected, "'no.'"
Garfield crossed his arms and pouted. "Yeah, like I'd be interested in a Debbie Downer. I'd date Vic before you."
Rachel mimicked his pose and said, "Agreed."
"Please do not fight," whined Kori.
"Especially not over me," Victor called from down the hall. "I ain't dating either of you little weirdos."
"'Weirdos' is a bit subjective, don't you think?"
Kori looked up the staircase towards the newcomer. Robin practically ran down the steps to join them. Kori grinned. He looked… relaxed. Genuine contentment replaced the fake smiles from the day before. He wore a sleek jacket over a blue sweater and khaki pants. Behind him, an older man stood proudly. Aside from a red sweater, he could have been an aged version of Robin. Wayne.
"Who's ready for a mystery?" the legend asked.
"Was that really based on a true story?" asked Garfield, leaning over the table impatiently.
Wayne nodded. "I was there. It happened almost exactly like you saw. Although Miss Rae was much more convincing than the real Adeline."
Rachel laughed breathily. "Let's hope I never need to kill someone."
"I wasn't expecting two killers, though," Victor said. "That's cheating."
"Someone's never seen 'Murder on the Orient Express,'" joked Garfield's mother.
"No," chimed all five of the teens.
"What is it?" asked Kori.
Wayne explained, "It's an old novel. Agatha Christie, I believe? It's had several play and film adaptations. A man is killed on a train, and the whole plot is finding the killer."
"Or killers?" said Robin.
"Exactly."
The discussion continued as Alfred entered and began serving their lunch. Rachel looked around awkwardly before folding her hands together and shutting her eyes.
"Mm, perhaps we can make a Movie Night of the Month?" thought Kori aloud. "This 'Murder on the Orient Express' sounds fun."
"Ooo! Yeah! Movie night, movie night!" chanted Garfield.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Wayne," his mother said.
"It's fine," the host insisted. "Robin? Do you want to host a movie night here for your friends?"
"Y-yeah! Maybe after Homecoming?" He looked at the others nervously and asked, "We're still going as a group, right?"
"Totally," said Victor. "If we do a movie night, though, I think we should have a rotation or a vote. Just so no one hijacks the screen."
"Well, if we rotate who picks, we'll have to meet every Friday," Robin said.
"Every Friday?" Rachel asked nervously.
"Is that a bad time?" asked Victor.
Rachel poked at her food with a fork. "I'll see what I can do."
"Hey, Mom, we gotta add this to the menu," Garfield half-shouted.
"Hush, Gar. I'll get the recipe," she laughed.
"He's excitable," Wayne observed.
"You have no idea."
"Ask him about hippos," Rachel said.
"No-!"
"What about hippos?"
"So the hippopotamus was thought to be vegetarian for a long time, but we're just now learning that they're probably not! They've been seen eating all kinds of animals, even other hippos on a few-"
"You had to get him started," Victor scowled.
"It's hilarious."
"No, Rae. Just… no," Robin laughed.
"I like his passion," Kori said.
She started eating her chicken as the others debated over whether Garfield was adorable or annoying. He seemed not to hear them, too wrapped up in the story of how important conservation is, since the leading theory is that food scarcity caused the dietary change. The chaos of all her peers talking at once, the sympathetic glances between the adults, the butler effortlessly filling glasses with bubbling juice brought her to another place in her mind. Memories enveloped her. The scent of sumac and honey. Her bickering siblings. Mother shaking her head patiently at them while Father watched sternly…
It felt like home.