"Foster, calm down, it's a lunch with friends not a banquet-"
"Oh come on Keefe, the house has to be at least half presentable!" Sophie finished setting the table, and stared at it for a minute before using her telekinesis to switch out the polka-dotted cups with floral ones.
"It's always half presentable, that's why we bought it," Keefe told her, exasperated. That was true they'd spent months after their wedding searching for the perfect house, and finally found one that was ten times grander and more gorgeous than all the other Elvin mansions she'd seen combined.
Sophie rolled her eyes and obediently stopped fussing with the tablecloth. "Sorry. I need something to get my mind off... things."
"They'll be alright," Keefe said gently.
"That's hard to believe. Keefe, we're famous! We saved the Lost Cities! Of course our kids are going to get attention we never wanted them to have, and I really did think the Neverseen were gone-"
"Don't talk about it," Keefe told her, and Sophie squeezed her eyes shut. "Just think of happy thoughts. Go to your happy place."
"My happy place. I remember that," Sophie said contentedly.
"Glad you do- 'cause all I remember was trying not to throw up all over Lady Cadence so we could go kick Ro's dad's metal diaper."
"And see, I remember you stealing my startstone!" Sophie shot back, laughing at how young and naive they'd been. Keefe was very good at distracting her, which was both cute and infuriating at the same time.
"They're here!" Sophie said quickly, rushing over to the door and opening it. Her hands shook with nervous energy.
"How are you guys doing?" Dex asked, flashing his dimpled grin.
"We'll.... fill you in later," Keefe cut in, his voice ominously low. But it was right back up as he added, "Come in! Lovely Lady F's been obsessing about lunch."
"Don't," Marella laughed. "Most of the time Dex just microwaves us something and we eat it- we're not big on festivities."
They took a seat at the table and Sophie fidgeted with the edges of the tablecloth. She offered them a nervous smile.
"How's life? Did you guys bring Kinsely?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Kinsely was their six year old daughter. She hadn't manifested yet, and she was pretty much just as stubborn as any other elf her age.
"She's at home- Bex is on babysitting duty. As for us... just the usual," Dex said, shrugging. "I'm working at Slurps and Burps as usual. And Marella's still a Mentor-in-training."
Sophie nodded. She'd finally convinced the Councillors to allow Pyrokinetics to advance to the elite levels and be properly trained through Foxfire's ability sessions.
Dex tilted his head at her curiously. "What's up? I know that look."
"It's the Foster's-Feeling-Frustrated-And-Hiding-Something look," Keefe agreed, stabbing a slice of mallowmelt with his fork and stuffing it into his mouth without an ounce of table manners. "Care to tell our guests what's up?"
Sophie glared at him. "Magnate Bronte hailed me this morning."
"Saying?" Marella prompted nervously.
"They frisk and clean their lockers before sessions start," Sophie explained, already feeling queasy. "And even I didn't get them that young.. that early..."
"Get what?" Marella and Dex asked in unison.
Sophie gulped down a rush of uneasy emotions. "Death threats."
YOU ARE READING
TAKE TWO, kotlc
Fanfiction𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 arella sencen is tired of her life being defined by her parents' legacy - ready to win the next elvin war , even if it means starting it.
