"So more like chemistry class than like hostile genies or something?"

"Yeah, that's a good analogy. It's not out to get you but it's not out to make nice and be your friend, either. So treat it with respect."

Darren has recovered from his giggles. "I do, dad."

"Yup. That's why I let you."

"Are magic lessons going to be supervised or something?"

"Might be. Mr. Swan - want me to supervise? 'Cause I can supervise, but I trust my boy."

"And I trust Bells, but she doesn't know much yet, so - time being, yes."

"Fair. Yup, it's supervised."

Bella shrugs. "Okay." She goes fullform, sprawls comfortably on the couch. "You know how cats always look like they're really comfortable? They totally are."

Darren snorts with laughter.

"Good to know. Deer are just as prancy as they look, by the way."

Bella giggles. She scratches under one of her wings carefully with a hind foot, then decides this is a bad idea and reverts to having hands.

"I am not prancy," defends Darren. "I am majestic."

"Mhm. That's what they're calling it now, eh?"

"You looked very capable of prancing," says Bella, done with the need for non-clawed digits and fullforming again.

"I am capable of prancing but I refrain."

"I've got pictures that say otherwise," says Vernon smugly.

"... You win this round."

"I want to see prancy deerbird pictures."

"No, dad, you can't show those, those are like baby pictures, you are not allowed."

"'Course not. I'm saving them for prom."

Bella giggles.

"That's evil."

"Nah. Basic parenting. Nips the rebellious teenage phase right in the bud, blackmail."

"Evil!" repeats Darren.