Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate

Cam 36- Whispering and winning

I’m definitely surprised when I find myself sitting in a smallish cafe/ restaurant watching as Harry tries to come up with a team name for the two of us. I can’t believe he’s taken me to a trivia contest. How did he even know that I enjoy this kind of thing? I don’t think he’s ever asked me before. We walked in and Harry was absolutely beaming with joy as he watched met for my reaction. When I responded positively he immediately went and grabbed us a sign in sheet. I’m checking out the menu for lunch when Harry runs off to submit our team name. I have a sneaking suspicion that I should have asked to check what he wrote before letting him hand it in. Oh well, too late now. Some battles aren’t worth it. Besides, Harry seems to be on his best behaviour today. Probably because if he embarrasses me in public I would definitely have to retaliate. Still, so far this is surprisingly nice. Actually, I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s an Incubus, seducing and flirting is what he’s good at. I immediately mentally scold myself for the unkind thought. Harry has clearly put a lot of thought into this outing, he even brought me a gift, and something I would like that isn’t super generic. It’s not fair of me to: judge him for… what? Being charming? For being a good date? What am I even bothered by? Of course he’s good at this, he’s gone out with a lot more people than I have. Oh, shit. That’s what the problem is… I’m jealous. This is not a good sign. I am well on my way to getting my heart broken. I need to remember that Harry can’t be a real, long term option for me. Incubi don’t DO long term, committed relationships. Then again, I never imagined an Incubus would be so excited about cartoons or so enthusiastic about a quiz night. He is surprisingly…

wholesome. He is even good with his friend

ann’s adopted child. An Incubus wouldn’t have been my first thought as a babysitter, but I have to admit he is very suited to it. I think I’m getting caught up in stereotypes again. It’s not right to view Incubi as one dimensional sext objects. He’s still an actual person after all! Ugh this is stressful. I was always taught that Incubi are shallow and promiscuous and he’s tipping all those lessons over and leaving me second guessing myself. What was that saying? Your first thought is what society has conditioned you to think and your second thought is what you actually believe? What about my third and fourth thoughts, or my hundredth? Where’s the handy labels for them? How much of what I believe is unfair stereotyping and how much is accurate. Besides I have no idea if Harry is the norm, what if he’s just weird for an Incubus?

“Have you decided what you want to order?” Harry asks, appearing beside me causing me to jump and drop the fork I had been fiddling with as I thought.

“Oh, uh… not yet.” I respond, a little flustered. He looks at me curiously but ignores it.

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Whispering

order in soon, they bring the food out between rounds and we don’t want to be the last ones to eat. You said you didn’t want to risk being late for work. This event is meant to last two hours but you know how people fall behind schedule.” He takes both of our orders up to the counter and returns with a table number on

quiz event starts. There is no theme to this event. It’s just a general knowledge trivia thing, although the MC does take the time to point out that the questions are designed to be broad and to appeal to Humans and Magics alike. I do notice that most of the teams have between four and six members. When I point this out to Harry he just tells me that it will be more fun with the challenge. We’re only a few questions in and already my competitive side is kicking in. I’m determined to win, or at least to make the top three. Most of the general knowledge questions are easy enough and Harry

Any species is fine. It’s one point per Alpha you name with

bonus

I immediately get to work. I hear another table whisper loudly, in that ‘whisper‘ that isn’t actually

do hear someone listing some of the women at another table though so I suppose not everyone here is completely

do fairly well with all the other groups of Magics as well. You learn a lot about people as a bartender and overhear a lot of gossip about current events. Plus my bar is

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Whispering and winning

We

through this competition. If we don’t win I’m going to be so pissed. I wait eagerly, marking off the answers and trying to add up how many

read out the results of the Shifter Alpha question I frown when they only list seven Alphas and leave Ryann off the list. One other table listed seven and got ten points for having all the names.