"Damn. I'll try to be more awake next time."

"I doubt there will be a lack of opportunity," Percy says taking a bite out of his pancakes.

"Promise, promises," Lan trills.

"Really, guys? At the table? At breakfast?" 'Chelle doesn't sound too serious, and feels mostly amused.

"I mean, I guess next time I and Lan could have breakfast in bed?"

"Oh my god, that isn't better, Percy!" 'Chelle grins at him anyway.

And Aaren is doing that thing where he watches them all fondly.

Fondness is a great and important of a balanced breakfast.

Eventually, 'Chelle has to leave for school. She does it at high speed, and with hugs all around. "Try not to miss me too badly while I'm gone," she says with a wink at Percy.

"Enjoy your state mandate stay in kid jail," Percy answers brightly.

She laughs and leaves.

"Ange says we can head on over to hers whenever we're ready," Aaren says. "You joining us, Lan?"

"Was planning too. If nothing else, I can play with the cats."

Percy is ready in just a moment and then they can go.

Aaren ushers them all to the car, and off they can go. The drive is strange - it feels like they're rather abruptly in a completely different place, and driving up a long driveway towards a large, sprawling house.

Percy blinks confused. "...What sort of magic was that?"

"I don't actually know. There's a lot of magic on Ange's place. To keep it safe and make sure the people who need to find it do."

"But are we actually... somewhere else? Or... I am not used to have my senses this confused."

"-Oh. No. Are you-? Yes. We are somewhere else. I... Like, I know where Aunt Ange's house is, but it's also kinda...just wherever it needs to be? It's really neat, but also kinda disorienting."

"Don't worry. It is a sufficiently novel sensation. So we are still on Earth? We are not going to run into a yellow brick road or a giant caterpillar if we go to far off course?"

"On earth, no yellow brick roads, giant caterpillars...uh, probably not?"

"Should I be asking about dragons and other beasts?"

"Only on the weekends!" Lan assures as Aaren finishes parking.

Snort. "Fun."

"Any dragons would be under control," Aaren assures him as they get out the car.