Strings of Fate

146- Brats and bartenders “So, how are you all enjoying playing house? | think | might be a little jealous, living all by my lonesome.” Harry says, his tone full of false sadness. Megan rolls her eyes.

“Liar, you love living alone.” She accuses. Harry shrugs.

“True, | have always enjoyed my bachelor pad. No women.” He jokes. Darrien raises an eyebrow.

“I doubt that.” he mutters grumpily. Megan elbows him and Harry just winks.

“| prefer not to bring women back to my place. Too much chance of them finding their way. back again. It's better they don’t know where | live.” he comments. This time, both Bellamy and Darrien look at him in disgust.

Shifters apparently aren't into that whole lifestyle. | suppose it makes sense. They mostly live in large family groups. Bringing ha different woman every night probably doesn’t work as well when you live with your parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives. | decide to intervene before the guys decide they hate Harry before they know anything other than his more shallow side.

“You just like having your own room. You always said as a kid that you would never share a room again when you becan adult.” | remind him. Harry shrugs.

‘Share a room with five other guys and see if you ever want to share a room again.” He points.

out, “You and Ryann grew up in the splace, right?” Bellamy asks. Leave it to him to instantly pick up on the chance to ask questions about my childhood.

“Yep. She was just as much of a bossy brat then as she is now.” Harry answers. | glare at him.

“Hey, rude!” | object.

“What do you mean by that?” Megan asks. Harry leans in, elbows on the table and lowers his voice like he’s sharing a secret, or at least sreally good gossip.

1/4 146- Brats and bartenders “She used to parade around organising the other children and making sure they got along. She was practically queen of the playground. At least until we hit our early teens... then things changed I guess.” He stops, awkwardly, clearly not sure what else to say.

“Thus begun my awkward loner years. But that’s over now too so there's no need to worry about it” | conclude, putting an end to the topic. Our teenage years were about the tthat Harry and all the other Incubi cinto their own magic. The hwe lived in was about eighty percent Incubi and Succubi. They have a tendency to leave unclaimed children behind, more than most. Their abilities don’t work on eachother. So The Incubi all suddenly began paying a lot of attention to me. But since | could see their strings | always rejected them which didn’t leavevery popular. The Succubi didn’t appreciate that all the guys would give attention to the non- Succubus girls so they didn’t likeeither. There were other kids there, but most of them moved to other homes as they grew up. Shifters almost never end up in group homes, they're too family oriented. Witches and their covens also tend to take care of each other's kids. Children with Oracle abilities are usually adopted young because they're pretty rare and most people THINK that they want to know the future. They're usually wrong, but at least the kids find families. Straight up Human kids have separate homes they go to. Which pretty much just leftas a loner. | spent a lot of treading and working as soon as | was old enough so that | would be able to move out at eighteen. I've moved on from that tthough and | really don’t want to talk about it over dinner.

“Uhh... Ry, you never answered the original question. How are you enjoying living with us? On my part I'm loving it. | enjoy having you around all the time, even if it is only temporary.” She rambles uncomfortably. | notice Darrien nudging her arm in what | suspect is intended as a comforting motion. Great, | made everyone feel awkward. Bellamy sits up straighter at her comment though. I look up at him and he is looking back at me, an eager expression on his face. Ah, | get it. He wants to share the news from today. | give a slight nod.

“Oh go on. | know you want to.” | tell him. He beams atbefore turning to the rest of the table.

“Ryann agreed to move in permanently!” He blurts out. Megan squeals in delight and claps. her hands together.

“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?” She demands excitedly. | smile and answer.

“Just this afternoon. | didn’t get around to telling anyone yet, but I've spoken to Maggie and Bellamy said he’s arranged for someone to get the rest of my stuff tomorrow.” I tell her. She 2/4 140-Brats and bartenders looks absolutely thrilled.

“Congratulations to you both. | suppose | will continue seeing you around then.” Darrien remarks, a pleased smile on his face. Hmm, if Shifters live in family groups, | wonder if he will move in with us too someday. | know he mostly lives alone right now, Bellamy mentioned once that he moved here a few years ago without his family.

| think he’s mostly on his own. | don’t think it’s super common for Shifters to move away from their families unless they don’t really have one. I think I'm actually looking forward to it.

“I suppose that means it’s been going fairly well, good for you both | guess.” Harry comments. He looks a little down and kind of distracted. He perks up all of a sudden.

“I'll have to get you a housewarming gift. You'll have to inviteover for a proper housewarming.” He says cheerfully. He's talking to me, but he’s watching Bellamy, clearly hoping for a reaction. Bellamy scowls for a second, then smooths his face over and answers. for me.

“I'm sure you will be able to cvisit sometime.” He answers, only a hint of reluctance in his tone.

“Wonderful. Now have you all picked out what you want to eat? | can go place our orders. Cam should be working and | want to... say hi.” He says with a smirk. Megan picks up on his sudden change in attitude.

“Cam? Who is Cam?” She asks eagerly.

“The bartender here.” He answers plainly. Megan and | both immediately sit up in our chairs. and stretch around, trying to see the bar, annoyingly we can’t see much from where we're sitting.

“You mean THE bartender?” | ask pointedly. | swear Harry blushes a little and | can’t help but giggle. He rolls his eyes.

“Yes, the bartender.” He answers. Megan exchanges excited glances with me. Bellamy and Darrien both look confused.

“Is there something special about this particular bartender?” Darrien asks, trying to make 3/4 146- Brats and bartenders sense of our excitement.

“Definitely.” Megan responds with a grin.

“We need to meet her.” | declare. Megan nods eagerly.

“Oh we totally do. We can go order the food.” She offers, already halfway out her seat. Darrien and Bellamy both frown.

“I'll pay for dinner. Sit back down.” Bellamy insists. Megan drops into her seat with a pout. Darrien looks a little disheartened. I'm guessing he wanted to get dinner for Megan.

want to “Darrien, maybe you could get the drinks?” | suggest. I'm kind of annoyed at my own suggestion because | want to go to the bar and meet Cam the bartender, but | al cheer Darrien up.

“Oh no, no way. I'm getting the drinks. This is my usual drinking joint and coming here was my idea.” Harry insists.

“You just want to hit on the bartender.” Megan mutters.