-

After hearing about the exhibition boasting new discoveries from life on Earth, Bella has been looking forward to the museum visit for weeks, waiting until her one day off rolls around that she can afford to take. She's already brimming with excitement after reading the first few sentences, and it doesn't mater if the information is there for Felix to read for himself, she just can't contain herself. "Don't you think that's beautiful!? It was more than a practice but a whole lifestyle!" Bella gasps, eyes back to the exhibit as she reads more. "These people really didn't want to cause suffering, and they even had whole sciences to back up why it was healthier, why it was better for them spiritually. They were rebelling against where they bought from, what companies they supported. They literally changed certain economic trends and food productions! All because they didn't think they should use from sentient beings. I love it. I love it so much." she beams widely, not even monitoring her town. "I want to be vee-gan. I think I really want to, maybe this old practice can come back to life because of this exhibit. And that's sort of beautiful too, how the past can shape the future but for the better. How we can learn so much from it."

-

There comes a point where small talk reaches it's limit. Pleasant smiles can only go so far and Bella hates to admit that it happens more often with her father than ever before. She's not really here to catch up, and she isn't really excited to talk about a green and black themed wedding idea. The Tiered Resource Distribution Program is actually what's on her mind, a new plan that her father openly supports but one that Bella knows is just another fancy wordage for keeping resources with Equinox and Olympia. "Look...Dad, can I just...be honest, right now?" Bella sits up straighter, and the shift in her demeanor happens quickly, because she knows her father also knows why she's here. "I need to talk to you about the TRD thing, and I really hate that I have to do it right now but every time I try and use the proper channels, I'm getting more no try again's than a bad wired NexBot." Bella gently gestures to her purse, already learning to get her star link from inside. "I really need you to hear me out, Dad."

-

"I say this every time but it's pinker every year, right?" Bella muses as she passes over a flute of pink champagne to her cousin and then taking one for herself. A quick glance through the large party and Bella decides that pink neon lights actually have a certain calming effect. If it wasn't for the music thumping through the penthouse, she might have found herself lounging across a couch under the glow. Her gaze settles back to Chloe, clinking their glasses gently together. "You look so beautiful, by the way. I hope I said that already." she adds as she gestures to the other witch's dress, there's a reason why Chloe is the model of their family after all. "I think um..." a hint of mischief touches Bella's grin but she feigns a curious yet casual demeanor. "I think Noah thinks so too." she quickly shrugs, as if to dispel her own words and breeze around them. "Just a...hunch."

-

The silence stretches around them and if shock had a form it would be right there in that room with them, heavy and unmoving. Bella's eyes dart from the open notebook to Oskar, searching his face. The older witch has always had an expression like a locked door, but she catches a glimmer of realization flickering behind his eyes. Madi sits in stunned silence with disappointment clinging to her. Beside Bella, Felix emits his infamous intense energy and Sprout no longer flutters among them all but now, rests on Felix's shoulder to nestle against his neck.

Bella's gaze returns to the notebook with it's secrets now laid bare. She reaches out, slowly closing it as if to trap the raw energy back inside. The words she wants to say are lodged in her throat and her eyes sweep across each of their expressions once more. She doesn’t expect anyone to say anything and clasps her hands together near her mouth, drawing a steadying breath. "Okay, so…I'm going to make everyone some coffee." Bella declares, stepping into a role of gentle authority. "While I do that, I want you all to think about a few things."

She points to the notebook, gaining a slight surge of confidence. A sense of now or never, because if it's left up to anyone else, it will be never. "First, consider how this has made you feel." her eyes shift to Oskar and Felix, though she tries not to make it too obvious. "Second, think about something you haven't said to each other yet, something you feel should be said. Whether it’s about this or anything else." she pauses, expecting either eye rolls or huffs which she's ready to ignore. "And lastly, what do you need or want from each other right now?" Bella moves slowly to the kitchen area and her final look at them is determined, shooting a more obvious glance to Oskar and Felix because, whether they like it or not, "Yes, we will be going around the room." she states, moving away and only returning once she has a tray full of coffee. And snacks. And she nudges away the notebook to make room for it on the coffee table, her eyes meeting Oskar's with a slight nod. "Ready?"

-

She doesn't think he's actually asleep, but if he isn't then it's impressive how Felix manages to keep his eyes closed and a straight face during Bella's attempt at getting ready for bed. From the obligatory filled water bottle that whacks against the wall, from her tangling up in her purse strap for a moment too long, to a few stumbles here and there. She's surprised he hasn't made some form of a comment, not even as she slips under the covers next to him and prods his face. "This isn't the couch, I think you've got confused." she mentions in a whisper, eyes gliding over Felix's features and then to the box of cereal he's left ceremoniously on the bedside table. It's quick then for Bella to lift up the covers and check for any pokey crumbs, brushing her hand so they all send towards his side of the bed. "I know you're awake, and you're literally dying to say something smart and witty." she adds, glancing back to Felix as she shuffles closer under the covers. Maybe he is asleep after all, the realization making Bella plonk a quick kiss to his cheek before she settles back with her head against the pillow. "Thanks for the cheerio crumbs. Goodnight." she whispers, shifting around more to get comfortable. "And I'm glad you had fun, and I'm glad Emine texted me so I got to have fun. And FOMO isn't jealousy. And I'm glad you had f-Oh I said that already. Goodnight, I love you." her words mutter around like one big slurring sentence as she closes her eyes.

-

"Are you sure you've had enough to eat?" Bella asks, arm around her friend as they clamber into their apartment, waving the burrito near Emine's face in case she wants another bite. "And water?" once it was obvious the night was over, Bella's kept her wits about her, grabbing them water bottles and food before the ride home so there wasn't a purse puke incident. She's not entirely sober herself, but she's certainly more sober than Emine and Felix, watching as he's already wandered ahead and into her bedroom with a confused expression as his figure disappears. "Ah, couch!" she calls before feeling Emine peel from her arm to go to the living room. "Not you, you're with me." she corrects, taking Emine's hand as she then takes those instructions literally and veers towards her bedroom too. "No, not with me but you're staying with me right now. Until we get to your room." Bella laughs, hands moving to Emine's shoulders to shuffle her in the other direction. "Okay, we got this. Just a few more steps."

-

"...you had an Afghan hound. I can't remember his name, but Emine didn't even look like herself. That's when it got kinda weird, because a random cousin who I don't even know pulled a girl in the pool, who kinda looked like the gymnast...er...Ines Alvarez?" Bella recounts her vivid dream as she laughs, of course leaving out the part where she and Felix were engaged in her subconscious. "And then aunt Winnie and Marie were there, too. And Aunt Win brought back these two Italian guys." she can't stop laughing as she remembers more details, none of which make much sense to her. "I really don't want to analyze any of it." Bella finalizes, glancing to her mom with a beaming smile.

"Could it be a reverse ward?" Bella's voice cuts through the silence of the library with words like revelation. But, Bella doesn't think anything could be that simple. The quiet had stretched too long as she and Nick buried their own thoughts in books for what felt like hours, eyes constantly bouncing between the once fractured ward and the texts stacked high around them. But, nothing seems to lead anywhere. Clutching at straw isn't the worst thing in the world, she thinks. "Maybe it drained the leylines instead of reinforcing them?" she moves without thinking, pushing away from the desk. "But then..." a flicker of doubt makes her brow furrows, fingers tapping at the side of her leg. "If putting it back together fixed the problem, then maybe not." now she's pacing a little, chewing the inside of her cheek as she thinks.