@tildaballantine​

“No, I mean it. If there’s anyone you shouldn’t be embarrassed in front of, it’s me. I can count the amount of successful hexes I’ve thrown on one hand.” Evi is perched upon one of the assorted chairs that are set out on the back deck, shaking her head with sincerity toward her friend. “Don’t believe me? Watch.” She stands in order to accomplish what she’s sure will be a pathetic display of magic, frowning for a moment as she tries to pick a target. “Look. Garden gnome. I’ll...” Evi shrugs, knowing her choice hardly matters. “I’ll try to grow it. Make it taller.” She inhales, closing her eyes and stretching out a hand for a moment. The gnome itself doesn’t grow, but the spot of moss on its forehead certainly does, hastily enough that the statue goes tipping over backwards. It clatters to the ground beside Layla, whom Evi had handed an animated flower mere moments before. The baby is only momentarily vexed, clearly, as she blinks then laughs loudly enough that it echoes. “Oh, I’m glad someone thinks it’s funny,” Evi shakes her head, though she mirrors the laugh as she stands the gnome upright and quickly shrinks the growing moss. “There you go: case in point. Unless it’s leafy and green, I’m essentially only as good as any carnival magician.” With some notable exceptions, but that’s not the point. She gives Layla’s head an affectionate pat before returning to her seat. “In short, I’m happy to practice with you. I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I have the feeling we could both use a crash course without some family legacy breathing down our necks.”