Bara shuddered a little at the venom, playful or not, exchanged between the group. "Now, you're perfectly safe with me, Bubbles, I only target stuck up bitches." Well, the extent of the smile did give it away a little, making her feel a little less safe if she was honest. But she held on a moment. "When we get there, hide your worry. An organization like them will smell it on you. I have your back, don't be afraid." It had a surprisingly honest tone, yet it being said so soon after the other line didn't make Bara's reservation subside. 

Still, it's important to be on good terms with those you might work with. Smiling, but not as wide, the girl nodded her head yes. "Okay!" Strangely enough, as Bara leaned back in her chair, she felt a little more at ease. Maybe not all of them would kick her to the curb. Maybe things would turn out okay in the end.

Rapidly losing that little buzz as the others continued to banter, she caught sight of a mature-seeming woman with large...(oh dear, Bara stopped looking), a man named Gabe taking up the offer for name exchanges, the name of Evan...an Asian boy who seemed upset and went on in what was probably his native tongue. Bara hoped she didn't bother anyone that badly and that he was just as nervous as her. Just as she was on the brink of losing her composure and diving back into conversation, a powerful looking man in sunglasses commanded her notice. Snapping to attention, she leaned back instantly and crossed her hands in her lap, purposefully trying to look engaged and not worried at all.

As she listened, some small amount of the current reality sunk into her skull. How could this...magic...exist and nobody knew of it? Her grandparents tried to keep Navajo tradition alive even as she spent more time on the farm in jeans and tank tops more her father's style. Perhaps she should have listened to them more, but no amount of their teachings conjured any images of actual magic. Whether related to the topic or not, she had a striking image in her mind of this native tribe going un-contacted, allowed to continue their ancient traditions to this day. Magic though, that'd be worthy of 1000 documentaries. She drifted back out of her head to listen. 

Remembering how little she had been allowed to keep up the self-defense standards of the rest of the world, the prospect of no immediate Pests was a welcome thought. But she didn't know how she felt about learning it herself. Was it going to be like any other skill? Chucking hay? Binding wood? Probably not. Like everything else, she may be behind the others in preparedness. 

As the man went on about free room and board, she actually found herself beaming at him like a child told she'd get candy for being good. Shaking herself out of it, but not out of her stomach pain, she almost hurled on everyone as the craft lowered, swallowing it just in time.

No, she did not know how she really felt at all.

***

"Here we are, Malfic City. Feel free to count the buildings, you will be quizzed on it later. You may all call me Richard, by the way."

Bara consciously slid closer to Richard, upright and formal, before taking in the beauty of her surroundings. Beautiful to her at least, having never seen a city so large. Let alone one with gleaming glass structures reflecting the blue of the ocean and dapple of the sunset as neon lights blinked on like fairies. This place itself seemed to be made of magic. She couldn't help but keep her mouth open in awe. 

She tried to start counting the buildings as suggested. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6..." she mumbled to herself.

That meek accent from earlier.  "どんな魔法？私たちの魔法は私たちの専門分野に特有のものでしょうか？寮は分かれていますか？私たちはルームメイトを持っていますか?" The boy was sure full of questions. She shot him an upset look for breaking her concentration, hand on her hip, not  worried about the food and board as long as it was warm. Though it quickly became clear he was just excited too, even nervous about being ESL. 

Bara felt sorry that she shot him a look, frowning at herself, but went back to counting buildings quietly. "1, 2, 3..."

"Anyways. Lets make our way to the school, and maybe see some interesting stuff on the way." Ugh! Interrupted again! Bara threw her hands in the air before realizing it was Richard who said that. That's got to be the 1000th blush in her cheeks today. She fell into line and hung her head a little.

"Well here we go. On our way to Hogwarts. Did you remember your magic wand?" 

The girl didn't know how to answer that so kept quiet. The blonde woman came up to him and slapped a twig into his hand.  "You can have mine. Your pink glittery wand requires an update." 

Holding her stomach, Bara burst out laughing. "And then I'll take your pink one! Us mudbloods can't afford not to accept hand-me-downs." She honestly thought the comparison to a children's series was so far removed, but at least these guys were keeping the trip from feeling like that march into her prison cell. In an amazing place like this, she hoped she could forget about all those times.