"About four hours. I hope you like road trips."

"Maybe Darren will teach me things about runes while we drive. Pretty please?"

Darren laughs. "Sure, I don't mind."

"Auuuugh," says Savannah. "Augh, I don't want to listen to four hours of magic nerds!"

"What would you rather fill the audio channel with, Savannah?" inquires Bella. "Perhaps we can compromise."

"Anything else! Interesting topics. We can talk about - things to see in the Avalon, how things are going, just... Not magic all the time."

"If I tell you that you may require us to pause in talking about magic for ten to fifteen minutes at will how flagrantly are you going to abuse this privilege?"

"... Some. I mean, I can also just sleep, too."

"How about you can engage us in conversation about stuff that's in the Avalon, or whatever, till we're bored, and then you take a nap?"

"Okay." Pause. "... Now I don't know what to talk about."

Darren snorts with laughter.

Bella yawns theatrically.

".... So! Met any cute boys, lately?" asks Savannah, around Darren.

"You know literally all of the people I am presently in social contact with," Bella points out.

"That does not make my question any less valid! Besides, you could have seen a guy that I don't know at the grocery store or something, I don't know your life."

"I don't make a habit of evaluating the cuteness of boys I encounter in the grocery store," says Bella. "Is there someone in particular whose respective appeal you want to compare? Is this a roundabout way of wondering if I'm available to come to the Valentine's dance as friends, because I don't dance, it would be a terrible idea."

"Huh. Well. How accepting of a family?"

"...Very? Why?"

"So! Heeey. Bella. I'm gay. No, I'm not joking, yes I'm sure."

Darren pats her hand, in a supportive way. "We happen to also be a very accepting family. It's not 'wasted.'"

"Okay, good to know."