Daughter of a Witch

Family Game Night

The night was quiet and warm, stars twinkling outside as the Harkness-Vidal household bustled with a rare excitement. In a decision that surprised even herself tonight, Rio convinced her family to participate in a family game night. Y/n sat cross-legged on the living room floor, surrounded by a chaotic assortment of board games that she'd dug up from the hall closet.

Looking both amused and slightly skeptical, Agatha watched from the couch, a steaming cup of tea in hand. "Are we really doing this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Rio, who was crouched over the boxes, eyes gleaming.

"Oh, we're definitely doing this," Rio replied with a grin that promised equal parts fun and mischief. "It's about time we did something as a family that's not life-threatening."

Y/n laughed, leaning over to pick up a box. "So, what's the game plan? Monopoly? Sorry?" She waggled her eyebrows. "Maybe a little Scrabble?"

Rio snorted, glancing at Agatha. "How about something with a little more... competition? It's not a real game night unless it gets intense."

Agatha's lips curled into a small smile as she sipped her tea. "Just remember, love, it's family game night. We don't need a rematch of the Monopoly disaster of '22." She shot Rio a knowing look, making Y/n laugh.

"Oh, I promise to behave," Rio said with a glint in her eye. "Mostly."

Y/n rolled her eyes but was already setting up Uno. "Let's start with something simple. And no wild strategies," she added, giving her mom a warning look.

Rio chuckled, settling down beside Agatha on the floor, pulling the pillows around them to make things cozy. "As if I'd need strategies to win."

Agatha simply shook her head, sitting across from Y/n and Rio. She was already amused by the energy crackling around them; she knew from experience that this game night would get competitive fast. And that was even before she noticed the slight gleam in Y/n's eyes-the one that said she had a few magical tricks up her sleeve. Agatha didn't plan to call her out on it. Not just yet, anyway.

"Alright, family, deal 'em out!" Y/n declared, shuffling the deck with a flair that was absolutely not necessary for a simple card game. The room seemed to fill with anticipation, each of them sizing each other up like they were about to enter an arena.

The first few rounds went smoothly enough. Y/n pulled a couple of skips on her mom's, making them groan, and Rio retaliated with a few wild cards that sent Y/n's hand spiraling back up in numbers. Agatha played her hand quietly, though she didn't miss an opportunity to gently sabotage whoever seemed to be getting too close to victory. The friendly banter grew with each hand, along with some suspiciously precise plays from Y/n, who seemed just a bit too good at drawing the perfect card when she needed it.

Rio shot her daughter a knowing look. "Y/n, are you sure you aren't? I don't know... cheating?" Her tone was light, but her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Cheating?" Y/n replied, feigning an innocent look. "I wouldn't dream of it." And she looked away with just the faintest smirk as she drew a +4 and tossed it down, pointing it squarely at her mother.

Rio laughed, holding her hands in defeat, but not without a glint of competitiveness sparking in her eyes. "Fine, fine, you got me. But next game, it's on."

They continued through rounds of Uno, laughs and playful jabs filling the room as Y/n kept pulling the perfect cards, much to Rio's suspicion. Agatha just smiled to herself, watching her family's antics unfold, her heart swelling as she listened to the sounds of their laughter mixing together.

Finally, as Y/n won yet another game, Rio threw her hands up in the air. "Alright, kid. No more Uno. I demand a game that takes real skill."

"Really?" Y/n teased, tapping her chin. "What do you have in mind?"