Chapter 14: Fleeting Days of Calm

A month had passed since the confrontation with the Black Circle and autumn gripped California, enveloping all in a slightly below ideal temperature for surfing. The group had kept a low profile, as their tussle with the Black Circle had the city of Gardenia in an uproar, which had begun to make waves in the rest of the country. Suspected bombings already put people on high alert, but the recent events had really stirred up the hive. In fact, the only thing that seemed to stop the military from being deployed was that people still didn't know how to handle something as absurdly cartoonish as ten people in tight clothes battling a group of men in black with magic. It was as if the sheer weirdness of it all paralysed officials, making them hesitant to act and more than happy to hold off on doing something while waiting for investigations to report, as if they hoped that an inspector could certify that it had all been a very tasteless commercial.

Of course, that is not to say that there was no reaction at all. There was now almost a cop on every street corner, construction workers were busy repairing damages all over Gardenia and the destruction at the station had resulted in severe congestion of traffic. All in all, a strange tenseness had gripped the town and people made sure to look over their shoulder, as if at any moment stuff would just explode.

Crammed up in their apartment, the girls had Roxy over for a talk with Faragonda. A talk which was taking its time being set up.

"What a hunk of junk," Techna grumbled, as she lay on the floor with half her body tangled up in wires while elbow deep in the computer's innards. "Fucking connection is still on the fucking fritz and I am this fucking close to ripping the whole thing in half."

"You're starting to use that word like most of us use commas," Musa dryly remarked. "Can't you just use your magic?"
Techna propped herself up so she could send the black-haired musician a deadpan glare. "Cacophony, if it was that simple, don't you think I'd have done that already? I'm a weirdo, not an idiot."

"I guess interdimensional communication is a lot more complicated than one would think," Flora remarked.

"I just need this device to work. But it interfaces about as well with the system as a psychopath with a college sleepover."

"I take it from that comment that slashers are a thing in the other worlds," Roxy remarked.

"Yep. But now, there's actual leprechauns with gimp masks and chainsaws," Bloom replied. "I'm not sure whether that's an improvement or not."

There was a buzzing sound and Techna quickly pulled her arm from the machine's innards with a: "Dragon's ass, that hurt." She waved her hand to get rid of the pain, while commenting: "There we go. I think that did it. Let me just get out of this... There. Alright. Now let me try to contact her." She began typing on her keyboard.

"You know, we could just have called her and put the phone on speaker," Musa said. "Much easier than trying to set this up."
"If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right," Techna insisted. "Ah, there's Granny."

"Hello, Techna," Faragonda replied with a bemused smirk. "Hello girls. It has certainly been a while since you last called. I've actually been worried."
"Sorry," Bloom said a bit forlorn. "But things have been... Well... Busy. We've kinda tried to keep a low profile for now, as people are in a frenzy."
"Oh dear," the headmistress mumbled. "Girls, I'm afraid that it is not going to get easier. The pixies have sent me some readings of Earth's magic. It is on the rise, growing along with the conflict. Very soon, dormant magi will start manifesting their powers."
The colour slightly faded from Bloom's cheeks. "What?"
"That could have an... Interesting effect on things," Aisha tried.

"Hold on, back up," Roxy interrupted. "What does that mean exactly?"
"Ah, I presume you're Roxy," Faragonda noted.

"Oh, sorry. Yeah, I'm Roxy," the pink-haired girl stated. "Didn't mean to be rude, I was just waiting to get introduced. But you're saying that there will soon be more people like... Well, like us. Is that right?"

"Very much so. The magic has been stimulated by your activities."

"It seems that despite our best efforts we will end up leaving rather large footprints on your world," Flora mused to Bloom, who had buried her face in her hands.

"Though it has had a side-effect of generating a new round of debate among the realms about whether or not they should assist Earth," Emanuela continued. "I gather the information you have been sending us has been very helpful in convincing them to take up the debate once more. As has the fact that for some of you, intervention will be the only way they can make you come home."

"Yeah. My parents were tots torn between supporting and grounding me," Stella noted. "What about your parents, Aisha?"
"Well, they keep calling Nabu and telling him to take me back home," the dark-skinned princess mentioned.

"Oh yeah, he'll just throw his fiancée over the shoulder like a rolled-up rug and carry her home," Musa stated, rolling her eyes. "Super respectful."

"On that note, do you have any idea when you will be coming back?" Faragonda asked.

"Not yet. But there is something else," Bloom said and placed the white ring on the table in front of the screen. "We want this thing investigated. It has already caused a lot of trouble and even if you can't find anything, it's safer for everyone if it's away from Earth."

"I could get DuFour to take a look at it, yes," Faragonda mumbled as she inspected it through the screen.

"Good. Then I'll send it over," Stella chipped in, summoning her staff. She pointed it at the ring and concentrated. A second later, it vanished.

A moment later, there was a plop from Faragonda's side as it landed in her tea.

"Oh. Ups," the Solarian princess mumbled.

"Can't tell whether that was good or bad aim," Techna admitted.

"Right. Well, I'll get back to you on that as soon as possible," the elderly headmistress said, as she inspected the cup. "Until then, goodbye everyone."

The girls said their goodbyes and ended the call.

"So, what now?" Aisha inquired.

"Don't know about you, but I have a shift coming up at the bar in half an hour," Roxy said as she went for her jacket. "So. I'll see you all later."

...

"This can only be a series of radical..."
"...signs of the end times, as stated in..."

"...the second amendment, that's for..."
"...evidence points to alien activity, as..."
"...an insider job. If you look at this picture, then..."

"...we currently lack conclusive evidence, due to the elusive..."

"...military should just shoot 'em on sight."

"Everyone seems to be having an opinion," Mirta noted, as Musa zapped from channel to channel.

"And not a single one of them seems to just believe what we've said," the black-haired musician noted. "Typical. We've made outright statements, yet they insist on reading all kinds of sinister ulterior motives into everything we've done."
"To be fair, Cacophony, they do barely know anything about us," Techna noted. "They're just trying to make sense of things based on whatever they already know."
"The problem of operating without the full picture," Flora commented sagely. "It is unfortunately unavoidable at times."

"Maybe we should just admit to everyone what's going on," Techna suggested. "We can always send Firetop home so she can avoid all the press."

"It does strike me as a tempting option."
"Would have been much easier if Roxy didn't insist on staying," Musa added. "I mean... I guess I don't blame her. But still, would have been easier."
"That is true. But Roxy has the right to choose for herself. After all, that is the reason we oppose the Black Circle to begin with," Flora added. "Besides, I am starting to think there is more to this than we know. The incidents with the white ring certainly seem to indicate as much."

"Maybe it would have been better if we hadn't found it," Mirta suggested. "It's taken its toll on poor Roxy."
"She's made of some real stern stuff. She'll bounce back," Techna stated confidently. "Or my name isn't Techna."
"Ehm, it isn't," Mirta said. "That's just your nickname. Wouldn't it make more sense to say 'Or my name isn't Polly...'" She trailed off as the magenta-haired girl's head slowly turned. She was still smiling, but there was an ominous glint in her eyes. "I... Forget it."
"Good girl," Techna said, as she refocused her attention on the television.

...

"Alright," Klaus said, as he looked over the table at Brandon and Nabu. "Despite the lack of papers documenting your work experience and even you very existence, I welcome you as formally employed people of the Frutti Music Bar."

"And we graciously thank you for the opportunity," Nabu said, as he stood up with a theatrical bow.

"Makes one wonder how the others got their jobs. It's not like they have any papers either. I mean, besides Bloom," Brandon noted.

"Eh, all that there paperwork is really just for internal affair's sake," Klaus mentioned. "Some jobs just don't care enough to demand too much."
"Like when you hired Sky?"
"Like when I hired Sky, yes. Really, you'll only be in trouble if anyone from the government starts asking questions. Partially also why I gave you this job. Makes you part of the landscape, less likely to stand out." He corrected his shirt. "'Course, doesn't mean you get to slack off. I still expect you to pull your weight."

"We didn't expect anything else," Brandon replied.

"Indeed. Pulling weights is practically a necessity with the company we keep," Nabu added.

"On that note, how is Roxy doing?" the squire inquired.

"Well, better. The support you all show her has done a lot of good," Klaus answered. He bit his lip for a moment, before asking: "I gotta ask, if nothing else to satisfy my curiosity. Whatever did happen to that ring? Roxy said it was sending her messages and you all thought that maybe it was from a relative of some sort."

"We've sent it off world for analysis for now," Brandon said. "And preferably, we can keep it away from Roxy unless absolutely necessary. It has effortlessly taken control of her mind twice now."

"Understandable. Damn shame though, since it seemed to pack a wallop," Klaus mentioned. "But I can see why this is for the best. Anyway, can you both start tomorrow?"

The two men exchanged glances.

"Don't see why not," Brandon said. "We've had plenty of time to relax ever since the incident, so that won't be an issue."
"Though of course we should point out that if future incidents do happen, we might have to call in 'sick' for a couple of days," Nabu stated. "These fights are very draining, even if the whole magic returning thing Faragonda told the girls about is true."
"Ah yes, Roxy did mention that," Klaus said, rubbing his chin. "More magic. Heh, I wonder if that is good or bad. Either way, I'd love to get a framed photograph of the Bleak Circle's faces when they figure out that everything is coming apart at the seams."
"Black Circle."
"Whatever."

"Well, if that was all, then I shall return to my domicile and eagerly await my chance to contribute to this noble and fruity endeavour," Nabu stated, before marching out of the room.

Klaus blinked. "Does he have an off button?"
"Not one that I know of."
"Does one get used to that?"
"Depends."

...

It didn't take long for Brandon to get into a routine on the job. It was a very simple job, as Klaus himself preferred to handle all the drink mixing. Which meant that all that was really left for the others was to serve snacks and drinks, while making sure the place was clean. Brandon suspected that the three of them might be more help than the Frutti Music Bar actually needed, but Sky had agreed to go down in pay to compensate, since it was all shared by them anyway.

A couple of days after getting hired, Brandon was in the midst of giving the floor a good sweeping, when he was approached by two familiar figures. The billowing purple hair and white suit made Jason instantly recognisable. Brandon had never figured out how he managed to make his hairdo defy gravity to such a degree.

Being led by the Suit's leader was Andy, who was pale as a sheet, had trembling knees and looked like he was just about to faint. The squire found himself wondering what mono event had set off the neurotic musician this time.

"Yo, man, how's it going?" Jason greeted. "Can you fix my buddy here a drink? I think he's just about ready to curl up and take the short bus to Heaven."

"I'm sure Klaus must have something that can help," Brandon said as he led the two over to the bar. "Hey, Klaus. Got anything that's good for getting people back in shape?"
"Tomato and blueberry usually does the trick," the bar owner said as he began mixing. "Mind you, it doesn't quite have the immediate kick of some drinks, but it helps once it settles."
"Right, but if I give him anything with a kick to it, I think his ticker will go boom," Jason noted, as he helped Andy sit down.

"Well, his usual response to worry seems to have refrained from manifesting," Nabu noted, as he curiously slinked over. "What happened?"
"I'm done for," Andy hoarsely croaked. "It's all over."

Jason rolled his eyes. "The good Mr. Queen offered him a singular opportunity. But as usual, being given a hand by Lady Luck sends Andy here running for the hills."

"Could you elaborate?" Klaus asked, as he handed Andy his drink.

"You see, Mr. Queen is getting hitched and he wants Andy and his band to put a sick beat to the proceedings."

"He's gonna rip me in half when I mess up his wedding," Andy announced with a thousand-yard stare. "I'll be a laughing stock. I'll be run out of town. I'll die in a ditch somewhere scorned by all, with only my guitar to mourn me."

Jason observed him for a moment. "Andy my man, what have you been smoking? That is the wackiest idea ever. The good Mr. Queen looks like he'd have trouble with a balsam board, much more so with you. And why would me and the crew kick you out of town for messing up the beat? You think I've never slipped while trying to cut a rug?"

"He makes an excellent point. Even the greatest of us make mistakes. As long as you do your best, I am sure you employer will forgive minor mishaps," Nabu insisted. "Now please, drink your tomato blueberry mix. It is sure to do you good."

Andy observed the drink, before grabbing it and chucking its content down his throat.

"Be careful not to drown," Brandon dryly mused, as Jason paid for the mix.

"Hello, someone wanted a pizza?" Riven announced as he entered the bar.

"You also bought him a pizza?" Klaus asked.

"No, that's for me," Jason explained, as he gave Riven the money. "Figured after getting him marched over here, I'd be good for a slice or two. My way of rewarding myself, ya dig?"

"Fair enough," Riven said, as he handed over the box. He eyed Andy. "So, what's up with him?"
"He's been invited to play music at a wedding. Nearly gave him a heart attack apparently," Brandon noted.

Andy stared at the empty glass for a moment, before he suddenly and rapidly explained: "But not only is it a problem if I mess up the song, it will also be a problem if I pick the wrong song, because Jason, that is Jason Queen, told me to surprise him, so I have to pick the song and what if he doesn't like it and then what if..."
"And there we have it," Nabu stated. "He's already feeling better."
"Yeah, now we just have to worry about him suffocating," Brandon replied.

"Real glad I dialled for a pizza," Jason remarked, as he munched on a slice.

"Okay, I'll just be leaving now. You weirdos have fun with getting him to shut up again," Riven dryly stated, as he turned around and left.

...

Timmy stared at the tangled mess of wires, metal and various objects that had once been the front end of a car. Then he looked up at the nervous teen boy who was rocking back and forth on his feet. With no small amount of disbelief, he remarked that: "You told me over the phone you just bumped into something."
"Well, ehm, I might have bumped a little bit hard," the boy tried. "Anyway man, can you fix it? My parents will be back from Hawaii the day after tomorrow and they'll kill me if they see this."
"Fix this mess? In two days?" Timmy replied in shock. "I don't know if I can..."
The teen desperately grabbed him by the shirt. "Listen, man, you have to help me. I'll be grounded for the next decade if I can't get this covered up. I'll pay whatever you need, just save me, man."
"Are you sure they'll get that worked up over you breaking your car?"
"It isn't my car, dude!" the teen hysterically proclaimed. "It's theirs!"
"Oh." Timmy paused as he firmly, but gently, loosened the boy's grip. "Care to tell me why you were driving around in their car, presumably without permission?"
"I, ehm, well, I might have... You know... Said that I owned it... To a girl... That I know..." the boy admitted, fumbling with his fingers.

The sharpshooter sighed. "Okay, let me give you some advice. Be honest with girls, because sooner or later you will be found out. Now then, I can't promise anything in regards to the car, but I'll see what I can do about this."
"Thanks, man, you're a lifesaver," the teen exclaimed, as he embraced Timmy in a tight hug.

"Wow, you're really getting popular 'round here, Timmy," Techna chuckled as she walked into the garage. "Lucky for you I don't mind sharing."

"Oh, what, no," the teen said, as he pushed himself away from Timmy. "I was just... I'm... Gotta go." And then he dashed off.

The magenta-haired girl giggled, before asking: "So what was up with that guy?"
"Some dumb kid who got his parents' car thrashed trying to impress a girl," Timmy replied as he took a look. "I promised I'd do my best but..." He sighed. "Look at this mess. I won't be able to get this done in two days, even if I worked overtime, and I doubt the kid could pay for everything. He must have had a frontal collision with a wall or something. You can see the damages further up. I don't think we even have enough spare parts."
"Geez. Sounds like you've got it rough," the scarred girl commented. "But I see what you mean. It's completely busted."
"Dumb kid," Timmy groaned, removing his glasses so he could pinch the bridge of his nose.

"They all are. Part of being a teen. Or what, you've never done anything stupid?" Techna inquired with a mischievous grin.

The soldier sighed. "I once tried to surprise my father by programming an archiving system for him. It ended up ripping the computer's files apart before somehow overclocking it. Never found out what I did wrong, as the whole thing melted." He paused. "But Dad was very surprised, so I accomplished that much at least." He investigated the car once more, before heading over to a shelf full of tools. "I'll need to disentangle everything first. See if anything can be salvaged."
"Sounds like you'll be busy all day," Techna commented, rubbing a finger along the edge of the open engine while concentrating. "Like you'll come home and pass out busy."
"Probably," Timmy replied, as he grabbed a toolbox. "But I said I would try my best. I just don't see this ending..." He paused, as he starred down into the car. "Wow, the engine looks like it was never broken."
"Yeah. Maybe you just needed to take a second look," Techna commented, looking a bit paler. "To see that it wasn't that bad."

"Most of the wrinkles in the metal are even gone. Now I just mostly need to replace the glass." He paused. "So, do you have any idea why this wondrous miracle happened?"
"Perhaps the world is trying to tell you that you should go on a date with me today," Techna suggested.

Timmy blushed a bit, before replying: "Heh, I wouldn't mind." He paused. "Ehm, any place in particular?"
"Nah. I just figured we'd go out and see what we stumble across."
"That is so very much you, Techna."
"You're such a flatterer."

...

Stella curiously observed the state where Andy and his band had been playing for quite a while, idly twirling her hair. She looked up and smiled as Brandon walked over with her drink.

"Your banana-strawberry milkshake, milady," he said over-dramatically, as handed it over to her.

"Oh, why thank you, that was just what I needed," she replied in her best haughty woman voice. She tried to take a sip, before having to stop to snort and giggle. "How do you keep a straight face?" she asked as she calmed down again.

"You try to lead the pack of knuckleheads I got saddled with and you'll learn it. You simply have to," Brandon said, as he sat down beside her.

"I'll keep that in mind." She took another sip. "So, Andy and the gang's been at it for a while."
"Yeah. He and his band are training."
"What for?"
"Oh, you haven't heard," the squire said surprised. "He got a message from Jason. Jason Queen," he clarified. "He wants Andy and the band to play at his wedding."
"That's tots nice," Stella said and whistled. "They're moving up in the world." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "So, like, how bad was it?"
"Andy's freak-out? Real bad. Jason from the dance club ended up paying for a couple of those tomato blueberry mixes. According to Klaus, they're a real good hangover cure."
Stella made a face. "Eh, no thank you. I think I'll just, like, try not getting a hangover."

Elsewhere in the bar, Musa was sipping some blueberry juice, when Riven slinked over and sunk down into a chair besides her with a groaning: "Hey."
"You sound like you've been through the wringer," she noted, pushing the juice over so he could get a sip. "How was work?"
"People are idiots," Riven grumbled, before taking a sip. "It's like, I get why somebody would get annoyed if they paid for extra pineapple and then the pizza arrives without any pineapple. But why do they always get so fucking pissed at me? I'm not the one who made the damn pizza, I'm just the delivery man. They've got to have the number, how else did they order in the first place? It's not like I can do anything. What, do they think I've hidden a secret stash of ingredients in my bag that I'm refusing to share with them?" He rubbed his face. "Do you ever run into that?"

"Yep. I guess they imagine we must somehow be responsible for the very simple reason that we're there." Musa sighed and leaned back in her chair. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the music. Then she asked: "Do you ever think of the future?"
"Huh? What about the future?" Riven asked.

"Well, what you want to do in it. You know, career, hobby, anything like that?"
The magenta-haired soldier rubbed his chin. "Dunno. Hadn't really thought much of it. Right now, I'm still in Red Fountain. Will be for one more year than planned due to this little trek."
"Well, fortunately Red Fountain allows students to stay on duty after training is done. So it's not like you have to figure it all out now."
Riven shook his head. "Nah, I like Red Fountain, but I know I want more than just being a goon there. I just haven't figured out what that more is." He turned towards her. "What about you? Have you figured it all out?"

"As if," Musa replied, rolling her eyes. "I've thought of maybe releasing some music online and such, but that would mostly be a hobby. Even if I did get popular, I'd rather not be touring everywhere with screaming fans wanting my bra. If there's anything I've learned over the past couple of years, it's how annoying being popular is." She shrugged. "Still, I do like sharing my music. So maybe some indie work with that." She paused. "I know that's not really a job. I dunno what I would be good at. Music teacher maybe."

"What, for kids?" Riven asked, before chuckling. "You sure you won't end up with a permanent migraine?"
"They can't be worse than the press."
"True that."
Musa took another sip. "Oh, by the way. Did you hear about Flora, Mirta and Helia?"
"No, what's up now? They've finally managed to figure something out?" the magenta-haired soldier inquired.

"Not exactly, no. They'd try to go on a date, all three of them, and see if that helped," the black-haired musician explained.

"Wow, I don't know whether I'd want to be a fly on the wall for that or not. It sounds like it's going to be all kinds of awkward."

...

"Well," Helia stated. "This is awkward."

"I suggest eating your chicken and not thinking too much about it," Flora stated. "Otherwise, you risk panicking."

"Is that why you're staring so intensely at your beef?" Mirta asked.

The brunette paused. "Yes."

The three had elected to eat at a simple looking restaurant. One which didn't look too fancy, too dirty or too occupied. Something with enough people that they wouldn't stand out but few enough that they could pick a quiet corner.

This had mostly just resulted in a lot of staring at dishes and a few attempted conversations with the lifespan of a mayfly.

Mirta sighed, pushing a potato back and forth with her fork. "What are we doing wrong? It, well, it seemed so much easier back with you, Flora. I just invited you over after the party and... Well..." She paused, blushing slightly. "Well, it just kinda went from there."
"I do remember you being slightly tipsy," Flora mused. "Plus, neither of us were explicitly looking for a relationship. It just turned into that over time. That might be it."
"Well, don't ask me. I've not really been dating much. Ever," Helia stated.

Mirta paused. "Maybe we should ask Techna."
"Techna has had a lot of flings, but Timmy is her first serious long term partner," Flora explained. "Besides, what works for one couple will not necessarily work for the next."
"No, of course it couldn't be that easy." Mirta sighed, giving the bit of potato a couple of rounds around the plate again.

"Wish these things came with instruction manuals," Helia commented.

Flora rubbed her chin. "You know," she began. "That might actually explain why we are having these troubles now."
"That we lack a manual?"
"To a degree. Much of this has been spontaneous up until now. Rarely have we explicitly planned to see if a given thing would work out. But now we have consciously decided to try this. Because of our understanding of this, we might be holding back from taking those intuitive leaps out of a fear of hurting one of the involved. We are holding back, because we do not want to push any one of us away. I can honestly say that is something that weighs heavily on me and has done so for a while."
Helia leaned back in his seat. "Sounds familiar. I've refrained from doing anything about it for two years because I didn't want to risk breaking the two of you up. I just kinda wanted you both to be happy. But I also kinda wanted to be happy with you. Does that make any sense?"

"If it doesn't then none of us are making any sense. Flora is right. This does scare me." Mirta put her cutlery down. "I still don't know what to think. I mean, I've tried picturing it. And I can honestly say that I don't mind the idea. But is that the same as being into it?" She buried her face in her hands and groaned. "Wish I could just figure out what I felt about it. Would it really be so bad if I could just print out a reading of my emotions and be done with it?"

"Well, not minding is better than not liking it," Flora said. "But you know, I think having said that and realised this makes me feel at least a bit more comfortable. If we are serious about this, then we cannot let fear hold us back. Instead, we should trust each other to be adults about this and be ready to talk if anyone is feeling hurt or pushed out. But the first step has to be coming clear with ourselves whether or not we want to make this work. I would like to and so it seems to be the case with you too, Helia. But you need to find out where you stand on this Mirta. And in no way do I want to put pressure on you and I do not want you to fear that I will love you any less if you decide this is not what you want out of this relationship."
"Yeah. I'd rather have you happy without me than miserable with," Helia agreed.

Mirta blushed again. "Well... As I said, I don't mind. So, you know... I guess if nothing else, I'm okay with it. I'm just afraid we'll try to go ahead and suddenly I'll hate it. I don't... Well, I don't feel that would be fair for the two of you." She paused. "Again, scared."
"Well, nobody said we had to figure it out in one day. So let's just enjoy our food," Helia said and started to consume the chicken with renewed vigour.

...

The doorbell of the Peterson home rang.

"I'll get it," Mike said as he got up from the sofa.

"If they're here to blow up the house, ask them to wait until my soufflé is done," Vanessa replied.

"Will do." He opened the front door. "Ah, Klaus and Roxy. Good to see you."
"Likewise," Klaus replied, as he and his daughter entered. "I trust everything is okay here?"

"Very much so. Just be careful. There's a soufflé in the oven."

"We'll keep that in mind," the bar owner said, as he and Roxy sat down on the sofa.

"Hey, Roxy," Bloom said as she exited the kitchen while taking her apron off. "How are you doing?"
"Well, considering everything recently, I'd say I'm doing okay. Starting in school again has been... Weird," Roxy said. "Everyone's talking about the incidents and I'm sitting there thinking 'I know what happened but I can't tell because it would be too dangerous'."
"Yeah. It isn't that fun keeping secrets," Bloom admitted.

The pink-haired girl watched as the redhead hung up the apron. "Helping with the soufflé?"

"I'm mostly helping by not getting in the way," Bloom admitted. "I'm trying to get better at it. If I can learn to cook food, it means more of us can take turns with it."

"A good skill to learn," Klaus agreed. "Anyway, Mike, was it? You said you wanted to talk about these recent, well, events, for lack of a better term."

"We just figured that if we could help make this easier for the two of you, we should. So, is there anything you'd like to know?" Mike politely asked. "'Cause as you might have figured out, we have quite a lot of experience with this."

"Yeah. Does Roxy have to go to another world to learn this magic thing?" the bar owner asked. "Because that has been brought up a couple of times apparently."
"Well, it is the only place she can really learn to master it as far as I know," Bloom said. "There doesn't really seem to be any place to genuinely learn magic on Earth. Or if there is, it's well hidden."

"But is it necessary?"
"Don't know. That's actually a good question," the redhead admitted. "Her powers aren't that dangerous, so I think it would be okay. She might even learn other things through experimenting, but it will be a lot slower than if she had an experienced teacher?"
Klaus paused for a moment. "Dangerous?"
"Well, magic reacts to emotions. For example, when I get angry I... Well, I tend to heat up. I've occasionally left black footprints," the Dominian princess explained. "But my knack is fire so... Well, so yeah. But Roxy's appears to be animals." She scratched her head. "Not sure how that would work."

"Is that why that horribly staticy sound appears whenever Musa is getting grumpy?" Roxy asked. "Because that was really weird."
"Yeah. Best piece of advice is, find an outlet if you can."
"Alright, well, at least that isn't set in stone. Now then, what should I do, if anything?" Klaus inquired.

"Honestly, my best advice is, be there for you daughter," Mike said. "You won't be able to answer all questions, but luckily she has Bloom and friends to ask if need be." He paused. "Also, get ready for things to get weird."
"They haven't already?"
"You haven't seen anything yet, trust me," the fireman noted. "For example, has your phone been turned into a fruit."
"No."
"Well, then I rest my case."
"Huh." Klaus leaned back in the sofa. "That's surprisingly simple advice."
"The best kind usually is," Mike sagely noted. "Anything else?"
"I think that covers it for now."
"Excellent. Now, would the two of you like to stay for dinner? We got a soufflé coming out soon."