"WOULD YOU LIKE WATER, TEA, OR PERHAPS COFFEE?"
Eszter followed Agnes into the dark house before the woman flicked the light switch, brightening the home with the lamps shining beneath the shades. Looking around and taking in Agnes' house, Eszter found herself standing in the middle of the living room, moving aside briefly when Agnes shuffled by, heading toward--what Eszter assumes--the kitchen.
The house looks as standard and basic as Eszter imagined. It looked like a typical house. A subtle couch that gave the living room no life, no color, and the curtains made the place feel dated in the '90s. The rug on the floor seemed outdated, maybe a little off-putting for the house, but Eszter supposes it suited Agnes' style. Then there was the dark contrast of the wood that runs up and down the walls of the house, covering half of the walls while the other half was filled with beige paint and a mural of a garden.
Eszter looked over the living room silently to herself as she shuffled deeper into the living room, searching for nothing. Curious as a cat, Eszter found herself snooping through Anges' house, wondering what kind of person Agnes is. However, as she looked along the walls and tables, Eszter realized the place lacked any form of life regarding Agnes and who the woman is; nothing signified anyone was living in the house because there wasn't anything revolving around Agnes' life. It was silently strange, but then Eszter remembered Wanda barely had anything that felt like home as well, but her sister was slowly getting into the spirit.
The witch continues to wander around the house like a nosy child, unable to keep her nose out of someone else's business; Eszter lets her legs carry her around in a circle. Eszter turned toward the center of the living room and spotted a cage sitting on a small circular table next to the dull, floral printed couch; a rabbit was nibbling on scratches of food that was left from earlier in the day. Eszter stared at the animal before her eyes furrowed, weirded out when the rabbit paused and stared at her.
"Hon?" Agnes pops her head from behind the wall after a moment of silence.
Eszter sprung away from the rabbit and glanced at Agnes with wide eyes, taken by surprise like a child being caught doing something terrible. The woman's voice had caught Eszter off-guard, too engrossed on checking out Agnes' house to acknowledge her. Wholly embarrassed by her lack of respect for the woman and her privacy, Eszter's cheeks flared a bright red until her face was practically scorching hot. The teenager had backed away from the rabbit cage and intertwined her fingers, trying to act natural.
"Sorry," apologized Eszter, fiddling with her fingers. "What did you say?"
"Would you like anything to drink?" Agnes asked again, seemingly unfazed by Eszter's behavior. "I've got water, coffee, or tea."
"Uh, water is fine," smiled Eszter, embarrassed. "Thanks."
"Grab a seat, hon. Make yourself comfortable," called Agnes, now from the kitchen. The woman's voice remained full of energy and preppy, seeming to be in the most incredible mood. "No need to be shy, hon. You know what they say, 'mi casa es tu casa!'"
A snort slipped from Eszter but furrowed her brows when the last words had caught her attention, making her head turn. Why'd that sound so familiar? It wasn't that it was a usual saying, but a distinct voice rang through Eszter's head like a reminder. It was weird; Eszter remembered that phrase, one that happened not too long ago, but it could've merely been a coincidence. Still, the phrase somehow left an unsettling chill running down the back of Eszter's spin, making her skin crawl uncomfortably. Five simple words were quick to snap Eszter out of this daydream and into a different state of mind, taking her away from Westview and back to the place she ran from.
Voices awoke in Eszter's mind that had been tucked somewhere in the back of her mind, and most of them cracked a piece of Eszter's mind. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Eszter cleared it and turned her nose to the ground, closing her eyes and willing herself to keep her thoughts away. It echoed and echoed as if it were trying to wake Eszter up from a slumber she never wanted to wake from. That voice led to another and another and another, but they didn't leave a happy memory for Eszter. Instead, it left Eszter feeling lost, anguished, used; the feeling was disgustingly haunting her mind.
Sitting in the living room of a neighbor's house, Eszter tuned Agnes' chattering out, who was still in the kitchen and brewing a cup of tea for herself, but the teenager was struggling to listen. Eszter's leg bounced anxiously as she clutched the top of her knees like she was trying to stop it, but the witch felt like she was trying to relieve the anxiety coursing through her veins. There was no way Eszter was going to let herself explode with emotions in Agnes' house unexpectedly, forcing the woman to deal with Eszter and her problems. Besides, it would be beyond Agnes' forte.
The only thing Eszter could do to ease her anxiety was a deep inhale, and a shaky exhale to gather herself mentally. Now wasn't an appropriate time for Eszter to be feeling this way. Then, like a light switch, Eszter was back to her happy facade.
"--You know, I used to be an amazing singer," Agnes mentions out of the blue, briefly snapping Eszter back to her senses. The woman was practically stalling in the kitchen with her tea making and water pouring, but somehow, Eszter hadn't noticed. "You wouldn't believe it, but I used to be in a choir group back in the day. It was the highlight of my life."
A strand of hair trapped itself on Eszter's lips annoyingly, so she swipes her hand down the side of her cheek, pulling the hair away from her face. The chocolate hair that once sat perfectly on her shoulder was now unraveling and beginning to fray out of place, making it look like Eszter had gone through some trouble. Eszter sat with etiquette on the sofa, waiting for Agnes to return with their drinks, but in the meantime, the teenager continued snooping around the house in curiosity. There was nothing Eszter could do without Agnes' presence, and the only thing she could do was look around.
There was no harm in being a little nosy.
But then, Eszter glanced down at the coffee table in front of her, noticing a dark and tattered leather book sitting before her. The book was strange and odd-looking, clearly not meant as decoration for the way it looks. Eszter kept her eyes trained on the book, capturing the prominent detail of the design etched into the book's cover; the surface was dark like mold, and pieces of the books poked out from the bottom portion. Eszter turned her head to look at the book better, furrowing her brows together until frown lines were created on her forehead. The book itself was captivating and was practically calling out for Eszter's curious mind and wanting her wandering eyes to read behind the cover.
Eszter reached forward and pulled the book into her lap, running her fingers over the aperture of the cover, feeling all the bumps and ridges of the details underneath the pad of the fingertips. Then, Eszter flipped the book open and scanned the pages urgently but frowned when she found them completely blank. For a second, Eszter had flipped the book shut to check if it were an actual book or not. It could've been a decoration that Agnes randomly found, but when Eszter opened it again, something weird happened. There was no explanation to provide what she had witnessed, and it shouldn't make any sense; at least, Eszter doesn't think it does because it was unreal.
The inky text began manifesting across the yellowish parchment paper, revealing the hidden message within. Eszter stared at the sigils and non-English text that bestowed before her; she ran her fingers across the page to feel the ridges of the ink bleeding onto the parchment paper. Astonished by the magnificent object, Eszter blinked more in confusion when the words were registered in her mind--it was in her tongue language, Sokovian. Wonderfully, Eszter was baffled when spells she'd hear from movies appeared across the top of the page, then underneath the titles would be the summary of it; then, the magic beneath that with the inky sigil printed big toward the middle of the book.
"I see you fancy a bit of magic," Agnes spoke suddenly, appearing behind Eszter like she had snuck into the room without the teenager's knowledge.
Visibly alerted by the abrupt voice from behind, causing Eszter to jump in her seat as her body vibrated with adrenaline, heart thumping loudly in her ears with the drumming beat to her chest. Eszter had never moved so quickly in life at that moment. The teenager slammed the leather book shut and shoved it off of her lap in a heartbeat, putting the book back in its place like she never picked it up.
"Uh," stammered Eszter, swiping her hands over her legs and gripping her knees anxiously. "I'm sorry, I don't--I don't mean to lurk." She apologizes embarrassingly, growing red once she knew she was caught snooping into Agnes' belongings. Eszter forced herself to stray her eyes away from the book or Agnes' gaze, but the book sitting on the table managed to wrangle its grip around Eszter's thoughts. Familiar words echoing in her head--you're a witch. "I just saw this, and it caught my eye. I didn't read it or anything."
Expecting a frustrated and rightfully upset Agnes lecturing Eszter about boundaries and respecting one's privacy, the woman cracked a sly grin with a rumbling sound of chuckling. Agnes was far from upset. Eszter didn't know how to react at that moment because she hadn't expected the dark-haired woman to be laughing from her nosiness.
"Oh, no worries, hon! By all means!" Agnes sets down the two cups on the table as she goes to lift the thick leather book from the table, planting it firmly on her lap as she admires it. "I, too, am fascinated with the magical world--stuff such as witchcraft has always been frowned upon, but the details and history are interesting." Agnes flipped the book over, watching as the inky letters bleed into the parchment until it decorates it. "Got this bad boy ages ago from a family heirloom."
Eszter pauses, staring at the book. "Do you believe in it?" Agnes hums thoughtfully. "Magic, I guess. Do you believe it's real?"
"A hundred percent," claimed Agnes with enthusiasm, a sly grin tugging on the edges of her lips. "Let me tell you a secret, Eszter; I've studied this book from cover to cover since I was a child; I can guarantee that this will change the way you view life." Agnes flips through the parchment paper until she finds what she was looking for. "Do you know what this is?" Eszter shook her head. "This is Magicae Necromantiorum--it's a necromancy spell."
Furrowing her brows in confusion, Eszter slowly lifted her gaze from the book with hesitancy. "What does that mean?"
A strange smile forms on Agnes' face. "Well, for resurrecting the dead, of course."
Interest immediately locked onto Eszter's mind, capturing her attention and sparking a new interesting deep inside the teenager that crawled around her brain, shifting the gears. Strangely, the thought of resurrection seemed to excite Eszter beyond belief, and the idea wouldn't leave her mind. Like a kid finding out they can go to Disney World if they behave, and if they are for all week, they're gifted the trip to the most magical place in the world. The chances of learning resurrection opened up so many opportunities for Eszter, and it was endless. If the book is as accurate as Agnes claims it to be, and if the rumors of magic are true, then Eszter could use the book to expand her powers.
However, disappointment settled within Eszter when she realized the major flaw of her ideas-- Eszter can't work out a spell as complex as necromancy without the ability to conjure a spell. How can Eszter use a necromancy spell if she doesn't understand the spell itself?
Although the bump in the road of magic was enough to stump Eszter and her speculation whether or not magic is realistic, Eszter was more than determined to dive into necromancy. The possibility of resurrecting the dead was going to itch the back of Eszter's mind, and it was never going to go away.
"Does it work?" Eszter wondered.
"Well, aren't you a curious one," teased Agnes with a slight nod, then she pushed Eszter's cup of water toward her. "Drink up. Should head to bed pretty soon." She glances at her clock. "I'll show you the spare room shortly."
Flashing the woman a smile, Eszter nods curtly. Snagging her cup, Eszter took small sips as she listened to Agnes babble on about something she lost focus on the subject she was going on about. Having lost track about halfway through, Eszter assumes it has something to do with her interest in magic but lacks the knowledge. All Eszter did was nod with a slight hum in acknowledgment, making it seem like she was paying attention.
"How does a necromancy work?" Eszter wondered out of the blue, her mind still reeling back to the book. A little embarrassed that her attention was stuck on the idea of magic, Eszter reminds herself of Agnes' story, knowing the woman has used the book before. "I mean, you said you've done this before? How does it work?"
Agnes peered her eyes over the cup that tipped between her lips, seemingly entertained by the television she had flicked up while Eszter had been too distracted to notice. She turned the volume low until it was barely audible, but enough that Agnes could hear some of the dialogue.
The woman had stared at Eszter with a look lingering on her features, analyzing and studying the teenager's expression; Agnes had this glint in her eye that Eszter hadn't noticed when she looked away, unable to hold eye contact with Agnes. Something sparked the interest within Agnes once she recollects her thoughts and ideas; the woman was almost ecstatic to hear Eszter's appeal regarding magic. She knew what she wanted, and she was going to achieve it.
"I wouldn't say I did this specific spell, but I can guarantee you that it works. In all my lifetime, I never once studied an incantation that failed me."
"But does it work?" Eszter asked again, becoming slightly desperate.
"Diving in nose first, I see," joked Agnes. "What do you know about incantations?"
Eszter shrugs at the thought. "Nothing, really," she finally meets Agnes' gaze. "I've never really considered witches and magic to be real if I'm honest, but . . . someone mentioned it to me, and it made me a little curious."
Agnes cocks a brow, practically smirking. "Are you interested?"
Technically, Eszter was interested in this subject, but Eszter wasn't sure if she should be taking lessons from a woman she had barely met. However, Eszter had only met one person who genuinely knew something regarding witchcraft, and as far as she's aware, they weren't here. Fascinated with the new part of the new life she discovered, Eszter didn't want to miss the opportunity of learning something as intriguing as this. It sounded like fun, and Eszter was more than ready to explore the complexity of her powers in a different light of knowledge.
Studying the arts of magic and the witch Eszter has become, she knew this was the way to go without verbally introducing her true abilities to Agnes. Ever since discovering the idea of magic, Eszter was urged to dip her toes into the water and learn to use her powers properly. After growing and learning on her own, with the discomforting dampener resting on her shoulders, Eszter was finally going to get the help she desperately needed. This would help the witch better control her powers and know that her friends are safe within her presence.
Eszter nods vigorously. "Yes. Yes, I am," she urges desperately, earning a grin from Agnes as the teenager was practically begging for her help.
Just as Agnes was about to respond and give Eszter the hope she was looking for, the telephones shrills loudly in the house, bringing the conversation to an end.
Signaling for the teenager to wait, Agnes reaches over and picks herself up from the couch and toward her phone, seizing the ringing altogether. "This is Agnes. How can I help you?" She greets with a cheery tone, and upon recognizing the voice on the other end of the line, Agnes awed. "Wanda, dear! How's the date going?--Oh, dear, it sounds like you've gotten yourself in quite a pickle.--Of course, I'm on my way!"
Agnes smashes the phone back into its home as she hurries toward the kitchen, causing Eszter to frown in concern before she sprang up from the couch and headed the kitchen. Standing at the kitchen entrance, Eszter watches Agnes grabbing different tools and ingredients from her kitchen with a motive. She was lost and unaware of the situation, but Eszter felt the anxious and stressed emotions trailing out of the house and coming from Wanda. She hadn't noticed it before, but Eszter realized she had been so distracted that she didn't bother to check on Wanda the second she felt the woman's emotions alter.
"Is everything okay?" Eszter asked to confirm her suspicion. "What did Wanda call for?"
"Everything is fine, hon," assured Agnes with a gentle smile, continuing her little run around the kitchen, already knowing what to grab. Eszter knew this was a total lie; she could tell from the way her powers were buzzing in her veins and alerting the witch anxiously. "Your sister just informed me that your brother-in-law's boss and wife crashed their wedding anniversary, and Wanda needs some extra equipment to fix tonight's meal."
Wanting to help, Eszter sprung into action. "What can I do to help?" Eszter stepped into the kitchen, ready to assist.
"You can start by helping me carry this stuff next door for your sister," Agnes gestured to the items collecting on the counter, thankful for the extra hands. "Guess we're gonna have to put our little conversation on hold until next time," commented Agnes, though Eszter doesn't reply.
While Agnes hurried across the kitchen, the woman snatches a stack of cards she'd stashed away in the drawers that consisted of different meals with their respective ingredients and directions. Agnes shoved the cards into Eszter's hands as the teenager was attempting to balance as much stuff in her arms as she possibly could. As both women gathered everything into their arms, they shuffled out of the house and marched their way next door.
Eszter was making a bee-line for the front door, but then Agnes made a noise that stopped the teenager from going any closer, confused.
"Wanda said to go through the back door," said Agnes, leading them toward the backyard. "Said the couple was in the living room."
"Oh," Eszter mumbles, turning around and following Agnes toward the back door.
Then, they made their way toward the backyard as they continued juggling different equipment and ingredients in their arms, trying not to let anything drop. It opened quickly as they got closer to the door, and a strawberry-haired woman appeared behind it.
"Oh, Agnes!" Wanda chirped in relief. "You're a lifesaver!"
"What kind of housewife would I be if I didn't have a gourmet meal for four just lying about the place?" Agnes retorted. She shifted her body until Eszter became visible, who smiled softly. "Eszter's here, too!"
Wanda beamed anxiously once her eyes found Eszter's knowing gaze, figuring her sister had a retort somewhere in Agnes' house just in the back of her head. Wanda had expected her night to take a sudden turn as it did now, but Wanda supposed she could use Eszter's help after all. Guilt sat heavily over her shoulders when she realized she'd need her sister's help during her visit, and although Wanda wouldn't let Eszter help, the couple were desperate. Vision can't distract the Harts for much longer.
"You rang?" Eszter teases with a playful tone, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
"Not that Ralph ever wants to eat anything but baked beans, which explains a lot about his personal appeal, mind you," Agnes laid her items on the counter when a pot slipped from the ledge, smacking the ground with a loud thud. "Oh, my!"
"--I'm sure she's absolutely fine in there!--" Vision's voice breaks through the door and window loud enough to catch Wanda's attention, alerting her.
Wanda's eyes widen before she turns around with a quick smile, reassuring Agnes. "Oh, thank you, Agnes. I think I've got it covered from here."
"Oh, are you sure, dear?" Wanda hums in assurance, planting her hands on Agnes' hips as she begins directing the woman toward the back door. "Many hands make lights work. And many mouths make good gossip."
"You're so naughty!" Wanda exclaims, growing strained.
Eszter shuffled out of the way and kept close to the island counter, making sure everything was sitting correctly to prevent any obstruction and make anything any more suspicious. She realized a pot was missing, so Eszter walked around the counter and found the pot; picking it up from the floor, the teenager placed it back onto the table and made sure it wouldn't fall again. Then, peering up from the counter, Eszter noticed Agnes had redirected away from the back door and paced around the kitchen another time.
"Oh, shall I just preheat the oven then, dear?"
"That won't be necessary," assured Wanda once again, reeling Agnes around the small island and toward the back door once more. "I have it under control."
"Oh, alright then," again, Agnes veered back into the kitchen, but this time, her attention had shifted to Eszter. "And what of you, dear?"
"I'm gonna stay for a bit and help out Wands if that's okay?"
"Of course! Will you be returning to my house?" Agnes pestered continuously.
Wanda huffed under her breath, growing irritated when Agnes refused to leave the house when she desperately needed her to go. The look on Wanda's face had to have been noticeable, and maybe Eszter had noticed, but the strawberry-haired woman couldn't wipe off the look on her face. Agnes avoided the exit no matter how many times Wanda had tried pushing her toward the door, and at this point, Agnes was starting to stretch Wanda's patience.
"Yep," nodded Eszter with a chirp, sensing Wanda's irritation. "I'll meet you back at your house."
The leather book had left Eszter's mind when she knew Wanda was in desperate need of help, and at that moment, it was the only important thing. She felt obligated to help her sister, but it was the perfect bonding moment between Wanda and Eszter; the sisters hadn't seen each other in so long. Eszter wanted to use every opportunity to spend that time with Wanda. If cooking for Vision's boss and wife allows Eszter to spend quality time with her sister, she would gladly do it.
Agnes stared at Eszter for a moment until she let Wanda redirect her toward the exit, but then she remembered one more important detail.
"Well, I know you're in a pinch, so this menu can be done in a snap," chirped Agnes with a snap of her fingers. Wanda pressed her lips into a tight line while stomping her feet about like a toddler who wasn't getting their way. The strawberry-haired woman pushed Agnes around the island again. "Lobster Thermidor with mini-minced meat turnovers to start. Chicken à la King with twice-cooked new potatoes for your second course, and Steak Diane and mint jellies for your main." Agnes paused with the clap of her hands. "Do you set your own jellies, dear?"
Without a thought, Wanda nods. "Yes."
"Good girl," praised Agnes, grinning pleasantly as she finally lets herself out. "Recipe cards are on the counter there. Eszter, you have the cards, correct?"
It was Eszter's turn to nod. "Yep," she lifts the cards to assure the woman.
"Fabulous," Agnes waves from outside the door. "Bone appétite!"
Eszter barely smiled at Agnes as she watched the woman being escorted out of the house like it was a battle, then Wanda slammed the door right after in victory. She let out an exasperated huff as she leaned against the door, her wide eyes finding the humorous ones coming from Eszter.
"Don't look at me like that," pouted Wanda, pushing herself off the door and stomping toward the island. The woman looked stressed over cooking a meal for the night.
"Sorry I didn't come sooner; I got distracted and didn't notice it in time," explained Eszter. Ready to get to work, the dark-haired teenager examined the cards in her hands and glanced at their ingredients, a little lost. "But I'm here now, so what would you like for me to do?"
"Essie, you don't need to do this for me," cooed Wanda, placing a comforting hand on Eszter's arm to stop the teenager from her movements. They meet eye contact, and though Wanda's were soft and reassuring, Eszter was puzzled but sure. "This is our mess, not yours. I've got this. Besides, you don't know how to cook."
Cooking has never been Eszter's forte, but there were a few lessons here and there while growing up. Although Eszter never got to learn the traditional meals from when she was a child, Wanda had taught her a few things along the way. Their mama had let Eszter help put ingredients into pots and pans when she was a little girl, but it was never enough to say she knows how to cook thoroughly. So, in a way, Wanda was correct, but that didn't mean Eszter would walk away.
"I'm still part of this family even if you're married," joked Eszter, grinning slyly as she flips through the cards, scoffing softly under her breath. She became a little uneasy at the directions, realizing it was way beyond her expertise, but she could handle it. "How hard can it be?"
The gesture was enough to sway Wanda's heart with an overbearing feeling of love and gratefulness; Wanda usually wouldn't let Eszter do something like this, mainly because her sister has little to no experience cooking. Wanda knew this was a call for desperate measures. There wouldn't be enough time to get these meals finished in time for Mr. and Mrs. Hart. An extra hand couldn't be too bad, right? Wanda was a little nervous to answer her question, but she was desperate.
"Fine but call me as soon as something looks weird," warned Wanda, earning a quick nod from Eszter. "First, we need the cooking tools--" Wanda notes, waving her arms in the air, using her powers to open every cabinet in the kitchen, somehow finding more pots and pans and silverware than food.
Everything started floating in the air telekinetically, clashing and clanging all about loudly, most likely earning weird looks from the Harts.
"Right. I'll sort out the ingredients," informed Eszter, mimicking Wanda's movements and lifting everything off the island, sorting them out into organized categories. With everything now floating above their heads, the sisters worked together and placed the ingredients with the proper equipment. "What are we starting on?"
Eszter pointed at a recipe card and brought it closer to her view, glancing at it for a moment before pushing it away and checking another one. The cooking skill hadn't been passed down to Eszter as it did with Wanda, and maybe it was because the strawberry-haired woman was older; she had more cooking lessons. Cooking hadn't been practiced ever since Eszter moved in with Tony, never needing to cook as it was always made for her; maybe that's her issue, letting other people cook for her rather than learning the skill for herself.
However, Eszter was willing to learn for the sake of Wanda and Vision's night to impress the Harts, but she hadn't considered what would happen if she messed up. Eszter didn't need that happening; for the sake of Vision's job, she didn't want her lousy cooking to get him fired.
Panic was starting to settle home in Wanda's chest, her mind wandering with anxious thoughts. "Uh, let's start with the chicken. it can't be that hard, right?" Wanda glanced at Eszter in hopes of receiving a hopeful comment, furrowing her brows nervously.
To Wanda's disappointment, Eszter merely shrugged her shoulders with a confused hum, not knowing where to start. Eszter might've not been listening to Agnes when she gave a short explanation of each meal, listing what to do first. It would've been a good idea had Eszter taken notes, but she stupidly stood there and blanked out during the critical part.
What was the difference between an appetizer and an entrée--was Eszter supposed to know which is what? Couldn't she just make one single meal and call it a night? Why had Agnes brought so much food and confused Wanda and Eszter?
Suddenly, to both Wanda and Eszter's horror, the kitchen windows reeled open to reveal both sisters using their telekinesis in the kitchen. Frozen in shock, the sisters stared wide-eyed through the small kitchen window, their hearts up their throats as they feared being caught by the Harts. Eszter internally panicked for Wanda and Vision, but she hoped that Mrs. Hart would overlook the sisters using their powers if they didn't move. Keeping under the radar was something Wanda strived for, and Eszter can understand why she wanted to stay silent about her abilities.
If Eszter were in Wanda's position, Eszter wouldn't want her powers out in the open either because it would only lead to panic and many sideways looks. The teenager had lived long enough with these stares, and for so long, Eszter was tired of the world battling against her. She wasn't welcomed in the world because of her capabilities, and due to being dramatically different from an average human, Eszter was frowned upon.
"Yeah, take out the paper and the trash!--" Vision belts out into a musical mid-panic as he averted the attention away from the sisters and their abilities. Mrs. Hart turned around with a peak of interest, oblivious to the situation happening behind her, seemingly captivated with Vision's musical side. "--Or you won't get no spending cash!--" Wanda and Eszter exchanged odd looks, tilting their head like a puppy. But Mrs. Hart genuinely enjoyed the spontaneous song that managed to buy Wanda and Eszter some time. "--If you don't scrub the kitchen floor; you ain't gonna rock and roll no more; Yakety-yak! Don't talk back!"
While Mrs. Hart clapped her hands with much enthusiasm to express her admiration for Vision's voice, Mr. Hart stared begrudgingly at Vision with a sneering expression hinted at on his face. Visibly disgruntled with the night so far, Mr. Hart wasn't as easily pleased as his wife but somehow managed to tame his behavior for the sake of his wife.
However, with the great distraction given by Vision with the sound of his voice, Eszter whips her hands across her face, conjuring the windows to shut on their own. Eszter set out an anxious sigh of relief, glancing at Wanda, knowing her sister must've been freaking out just as she was. Even though Vision managed to avert the Harts back into the living room, Eszter worried they might've noticed something before looking away; there was no way they didn't see a bunch of floating objects in the kitchen.
What are the chances of the Harts not noticing the oddity happening in the room next over--everything was flying! However, Eszter didn't want to freak Wanda off too much.
"That was a close one," joked Eszter, trying to lighten up the mood.
It was too tense, and Eszter wanted Wanda to know there's nothing to worry about--even though Eszter knew this was worrisome, but there was no need of mentioning it out loud. They both knew this.
Wanda chuckled nervously. "You can say that again," the strawberry-haired woman moved onto the chicken as quickly as she could. "Okay, do you know how to make chicken?"
"Uh," Eszter trails in thought, wracking her brain. A little sheepish, she scratched the back of her neck. "Not really."
"Okay, that's, um . . . that's okay. Um--okay, okay. Here, I'll show you," rushed Wanda, circling back toward the chicken that sat on the island. In an attempt to speed up the process, Wanda hoped her powers would magically work. If she can cook the chicken with just her powers, then it should be easier for Eszter to cook the steak. However, something weird happened. "Oh, no, too much!"
Eszter's eyes widen. "Uh, I don't think the chicken should be burnt, Wands," she frowns with a grimace.
"I know it's not," retorted Wanda low beneath her breath, exasperated with a newfound panic again. "It's okay! I've got this perfectly under control." Wanda reassured mainly herself, though the woman was growing more frustrated with everything messing up.
In hopes of fixing her mistake, Wanda tries to fix the chicken once more with a winding of her hands, like she was reversing the process with a roll of her arms, but a puff of smoke exploded from the pot. Eszter scrunched her face and waved her hands across her face, fanning the smoke away as she stared at the pot. However, Eszter wasn't looking at a pot of cooked chicken; but instead, she was faced with a basket filled with eggs, to her surprise.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
"Oh, no, not enough!"
"Well, that's not good," commented Eszter, grimacing at the eggs.
Now, the stress was beginning to rise mainly in Wanda at this point as they continued to juggle everything at once, but it was Wanda the first to crack under pressure. Eszter was practically anxious for her sister, and she knows how important this is not only for Wanda also for Vision. The teenager noticed this and quickly took over to relieve some stress from Wanda's shoulders, raising her arms to take control of the chaos brewing around them. Eszter shifted her attention to everything--the boiling water and the pots and pans spinning around their heads, sputtering when a hammer was pounding into the cutting board.
Eszter turned to Wanda with wide eyes, wanting to say something in hopes of easing her sister's sheer panic, but she knew she couldn't; Wanda was quite stubborn. Nevertheless, Eszter thought about taking over and pretending like she had everything under control. It seems like neither of them does well under pressure.
Wanting to keep the optimistic energy, Eszter continued. "This is fine! It's fine! We still have all these other recipes to make, see," Eszter shuffles around Wanda as she approaches the floating recipe cards, seeming to search for something. "What was it that Agnes called for the main course again? The main course is the main meal, right?" Feeling a little dumb for asking, Eszter smiled sheepishly. "It was, uh . . . the lobsters? No, I don't think so--" She inspects each card thoroughly, picking the perfect one, but the teenager had forgotten the name. Picking up another card, Eszter exclaims. "Diane!"
Feigning a little optimism, Wanda fiddled with her fingers when she couldn't help but feel like everything was drastically getting worse and worse. Nothing was going according to plan, and it was frustrating Wanda that she couldn't handle one night of dinner. Maybe it's the fact that this is very important for Vision, and for the sake of his job, Wanda wants the Harts to know that they can be as average as the next house.
Somehow, Wanda doesn't think they'd think they were anything but weird.
Eszter sensed this, obviously, and as much as she tried, the dark-haired girl had done her best to assist on the situation with Wanda. Still, Eszter realized they barely started cooking; other than their chicken attempt--which is now eggs--there was a bit of hope in the next meal. However, Eszter couldn't allow her hopes to sit too high because with her lack of cooking skills, chances of the other meals making it, in the end, are slim.
"Uh, great, yeah. Okay, we got this," Wanda stretches a smile, though Eszter can spot the grimaces in her smile. "While you start on that, I'll go ahead and get the lobsters cooking."
Setting the recipe cards on the counter and snatching the steak recipe from across the table, Eszter stood in silence and read the card thoroughly. It didn't look too bad, but it was bullet-pointed of each step to follow, and while some of it seemed easy, Eszter didn't know how to tell if it was cooked thoroughly.
With Wanda being too preoccupied with her batch of cooking, who was occasionally glanced over her shoulder to keep an eye on what Eszter was doing. Honestly, Wanda was hesitant to leave Eszter alone with the steak--maybe she shouldn't say anything.
Eszter reads the card. "Meat tenderizer?" She muttered to herself in confusion, wondering what the hell was that.
She searched around for the object until Eszter spotted the hammer-like tool sitting in front of her. Eszter lifts the thing and twists it around, eyeing the tenderizer with a bit of uncertainty; never once has she used anything like this.
The kitchen door slammed open, a figure barging through the door so suddenly, it caught the woman by surprise as they jerked their heads in that direction. Vision had stormed into the kitchen with a ridiculous expression, aware that he might've startled the sisters to the point that Wanda had accidentally shot her lobsters out the window. Though Eszter hadn't noticed the flying lobsters until the sound of a window shutting had caught her attention, she jerked her head toward Wanda; her eyes drifted to the space in front of Wanda, noticing the missing lobsters.
Vision's eyes followed the lobsters, but it was too late to save them. "How can I be of assistance?"
"Well, the chicken is no longer a chicken thanks to Wanda--" informed Eszter, earning a defensive hey! from Wanda.
Wanda rolls her eyes. "And the lobsters just flew the coop, so the steak is the last man standing," stressed Wanda. "Eszter is currently fixing on the steak."
"It says here that I can cut down the prep time with a meat tenderizer," recited Eszter, lifting the hammer-like tool. "I'm assuming this is the tenderizer."
The kitchen window suddenly opens up, revealing Mrs. Hart standing at the other side of the wall. "Hoo-hoo in there!"
Gasping, Wanda turns around and grabs the windows. "Hoo-hoo back to you" She shuts the doors in Mrs. Hart's face while Vision and Eszter continue to send the woman a reassuring smile and a short wave.
An idea somehow clicked in Eszter's thoughts, but she wasn't sure how Wanda and Vision would feel about it, but she figured it could help. It wasn't normal for the hosts to continuously hide in the kitchen in some lame attempt to stalling the Harts.
"I've got an idea," chirped Eszter. "I'll get started on the steak, pretend to look for the lobsters, and think of what to do with the eggs while you two . . ." Eszter unties the apron wrapped around Wanda's waist, whipping it away from her sister, and swiftly wrapping it around her own. Then, Eszter smiles. "Go keep your friends busy."
"Eszter, we can't let you do this all on your own," cried Wanda. "You can barely cook."
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," retorted Eszter, holding her hand up to stop Wanda. "I'll be fine--" Eszter's voice spoke higher than she wanted, making it clear she was lying. Clearing her throat, Eszter began pushing Vision and Wanda toward the door. "Now, go out there and stall them. I've got this. Sort of."
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
"Eszter, are you sure you can handle this? I know this seems unexpected, but Wanda and I are still capable of--"
"Yep! I'm sure!" Eszter cuts Vision off, pushing the couple out the kitchen door with an exasperated look before she hurried back to the steak she had left on the counter. Snagging the tenderizer with a shrug, Eszter swings the hammer-like object down and hits the steak square on; the impact made Eszter jump from the loud noise. She cringed. "Oh, no, this won't do."
"Whoo-hoo!" Wanda squealed suddenly.
"Sounds like they're having fun," Eszter chuckles as she gently settles the tenderizer on the counter, then glancing back to the steak. "Okay, tenderize--" Eszter swirls her fingers in the air, expecting the steak to be cooked, but was disappointed to find no difference. "Again, I guess?"
So, Eszter tries again with her powers, waiting for the steak to cook magically, but this time, the steak had a drastic difference from the first time. She stared in horror once she realized she had not cooked it but somehow destroyed the meat than she had anticipated. The once fresh steak was now moldy and thinned out, meat that looked like a lion had torn into it. Eszter stepped back and stared at her work, not proud of it; she thought she'd try the same trick as Wanda, but she should've known better.
"Oh, no."
Great, what is she going to tell Wanda? What will Vision think once he finds out she had destroyed another meal.
She doesn't know what she did, nor does she know how to undo it. Eszter was royally screwed.
There was a loud slam at the front of the house, catching Eszter's attention for a split second.
"--A salesman!--"
"Telegram!--" Wanda and Vision said in unison, then he corrected themselves. "A man selling telegrams."
Eszter grimaced, muttering to herself. "Oh, this isn't good," the brunette rushed away from the steak and toward the window, peeking out through the glass in hopes of finding the lobsters somewhere outside--but much to her luck, no lobsters were hanging around. "This is bad. This is really, really bad."
Horribly on cue, Wanda returned to the kitchen and reached into the cupboard for another apron, trying it around her waist as she turned to Eszter. The strawberry-haired woman looks around, expecting progress, but Wanda sees nothing has changed since she stepped away.
Wanda furrowed her brows, hesitant to ask. "How's it going in here, E?"
"Uh, well . . ." Eszter winces. "The steak is no longer edible."
There was a short pause.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I, uh . . . I might've made the steak . . . old and . . . moldy."
"You what?"
"I know, I know! I know what you're thinking," Eszter sputters before Wanda could freak out, but it wasn't working. "This looks bad, but--" the teenager turned around and grabbed the basket full of eggs, mustering a wobbly smile. "We still have the eggs."
Wanda scoffs. "What am I supposed to do with eggs?" Then, it hit her. Like a lightbulb turning on over her head when an idea came to mind, Wanda was resulted to turn to her last resort. "What do you think of scrambled eggs?"
Eszter shrugs. "It's better than nothing."
The strawberry-haired woman sprung into action and began making ordered for Eszter to preheat the pans and get them slathered with oil, to which the teenager obliges. While Eszter was getting that situated, Wanda scurred around for a bowl, cracking most of them into it and whisking them together until the yolk broke apart.
As Wanda kept herself busy with the eggs, Eszter pulled out the toaster and popped two slices of break into the toaster; she began slicing the pineapple into a bunch of bite slices, neatly placing them on the plates she had summoned. Then soon after, Wanda approached with a hot pan of scrambled eggs and another pan floating behind her with sausages; Wanda divided the portions.
They worked together at gathering the breakfast dinner with Wanda getting decorations and Eszter lifting the plates, leading them through the small window. Following her sister, Wanda had set down a nice cloth on the table before Eszter could place the plates over it, both fixing the table.
Finally, they managed to get the dinner served somewhat in time. Eszter pulled off Wanda's apron and helped fix her up, and rushed back into the living room. Staying back to allow them to mingle peacefully, Eszter silently wished them good luck once she deemed this as a win--in her book, at least.
Eszter turned around and left with a victory smile, headlining back to Agnes' house, unaware of the situation about to unfold.
☁︎isabel's thoughts☁︎
❝ y'all, i turned 22 yesterday. (0.o) this is crazy. it feels like yesterday when i was turning 15 *cries*.
anyways, in honor of my 22nd birthday, i bring to you a new update. i did rewrite this bc i hated the first edit, so hopefully this one is better. i feel like this book isn't doing as good, but i'm enjoying it. i am working almost everyday so my writing isn't as frequent, but i'm trying my best to keep up with writing to have stuff to update.
also, how crazy was spider-monday? so insane! i had to wait until tuesday morning just to get my no way home tickets.
❞