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Midnight is just around the corner. The table is long and bursting with dishes to the point the tablecloth is hard to see, which is for the best because its pattern is just Vladimir Putin mounted on a bear repeated over and over. The bigger plates at the center are buried under pickled fish, pirozhkis, homemade potato chips, beetroot salad, and even pink cupcakes with the hammer and sickle.
Despite the food and cake and balloons of all colors, Clara is only staring at her pile of presents. And with raw killing intent; shredding things apart is the only thing on her mind. Surrounded by her friends, their parents, her own family, and two of the four dogs, the girl is laser-focused only on her bounty, like a marathon runner waiting for the shot. Adults often just take the beer as their present and take their birthday as another reason to cram their mouths. Later to be forgotten and buried under taxes, Clara’s fixation is something only kids her age can understand,
In comes Emma from around the corner, looking like a drawing Clara did of her the year before. She had tried; she simply ran out of fuel. Still blending proves easy with all the cheering and clapping going on, so Emma quietly grabs a cupcake while everyone talks among themselves.
If only she were so lucky. Glancing sideways, the Magical Girl spots her mother staring straight at her, her features stiff as she hands off a glass of bear. Looking away, Emma closes her eyes for a bit. Not here. Not now. After all Clara went through, she at least deserves this. Who, thankfully, remains blissfully unaware, her single-mindedness playing in her favor.
Karuna’s birthday was so lonely. It was just the four of them eating pizza in a bar after going to a water park.
Right as the countdown starts, right as everyone but Emma looks at the clock, she feels a big hand pulling her arm away. Emma thinks she shouldn’t have come here. As her mother gently, but firmly, drags her daughter with her, Clara turns at the last second and notices, a confused look on her little face.
>>(Charisma Rolls: 43, (52-20 = 32), Magnitude 6 = Failure)<< (If Emma can hide the pain from her entire family)
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