Anatase, Zacharius, and Mateo all sat around a dining table in the morning.

Anatase sat on her knees, leaning on the table while she ate cereal. A backpack was hung off the back of her chair. Rangoon stuck out of her bag. Zacharius sat next to her, tapping a pen against a the table as he looked at the crossword puzzle set between them. In his free hand he held a mug with tea in it.

Mateo sat across from them with a sketchbook. There was a piece of toast on a plate next to him, and his own mug, his with coffee.

Zacharius tapped the puzzle with the pen as he picked up his tea. "You should know that one."

Anatase squinted, "...Em?"

"It's from The Wizard of Oz."

Anatase slapped her hands on the table. "Aunt!"

Zacharius smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Is that enough letters?"

Anatase looked down at the puzzle, frowning. She counted to herself for a moment, sitting back in her seat. She then sighed, looking at Zacharius. "It's auntie. It can't be Aunt Em, because the last letter's an E. 'cause tether."

Zacharius nodded, and Anatase ate more of her cereal as he wrote down the answer.

Anatase tapped the paper. "Fifty-three down is PSI." She ate a bite of cereal, speaking between chews. "I know that one from when Daddy fixed my bike."

Mateo straightened when an alarm on his watch went off. He turned it off and flipped his sketchbook closed. "Are you all ready to go to school, Ana?"

"Almost!" Anatase grabbed her bowl, drinking the milk quickly before jumping out of the chair. She looked at Zacharius. "You're not gonna finish the puzzle without me, are you?"

Zacharius shook his head. "Of course not. We can finish it tonight once you finish your homework."

"Good." Anatase pulled her bag over her shoulders.

Mateo stopped next to Zacharius. "Don't get too bored while we're gone."

"Of course not." Zacharius stood up, pecking Mateo's cheek. "My sister's actually on her way."

"She's not opening today?"

"I thought she was, but I saw her stopping by. I suppose we'll figure out when she arrives."

"Tell her I said hello." Mateo smiled. "Do you want to stop by the studio for lunch later? I can let you know when I'm free."

"A date? I can hardly wait."

Mateo snickered, "Okay. I'll see you later, then." He kissed Zacharius quickly before ushering Anatase towards the door.

Anatase looked between them with her face scrunched. "You're gross."

"Really?"

"Uh, yeah. Do you know how many germs are in your mouth? There's twenty billion of them. That's more germs than people on the whole entire planet. Just in your mouth! I'll never ever kiss anybody on the mouth, ever. It's disgusting!" Anatase's voice trailed off as they walked out the door.

Zacharius stuck his pen in the puzzle book and closed it. He picked it up and gathered the dishes on the table. He set the book down on the counter as he walked into the kitchen and set the dishes down next to the sink. He walked into the living room, to a phonograph on a cabinet. He pulled the drawer open and thumbed through the vinyls.

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He picked one, pulling it out of its sleeve and setting it on the phonograph. As the music began to play, he set the sleeve down on top of the rest of the vinyls and shut the drawer.

He walked back to the kitchen, rinsing them off and loading them into the dishwasher. He started the dishwasher, then filled a kettle with water. He put the kettle on the stove, and set to tidying up the house as he waited for it to boil.

He emptied the washing machine into the dryer, hanging up a few dress shirts to air-dry.

He made Anatase's bed, pausing only to replace the batteries in the flashlight under her pillow.

He went back to the stove, pulling the kettle off the burner. He grabbed a tea infuser sitting on the counter and a jar of loose-leaf tea next to it. He measured off a portion of the tea and put it into the infuser. He poured the boiling water into the infuser and set two mugs down next to it before walking away again.

He cleared off the table in the living room, stacking the papers neatly and collecting the crayons into their box. He fixed the pillows on the couch, then looked at the clock on the wall.

He turned off the phonograph and put the vinyl back in its sleeve. He poured the tea into two mugs, adding honey to one of them.

He picked them both up, walking to the front door.

He opened it just as Myrtia was about to knock. She held a folder under one of her arms. She looked surprised when she saw Zacharius.

He held out one of the mugs(the one with honey) out to her. "Is this going to be a living room talk or an office talk?"

Myrtia sighed with a breathy laugh, taking the mug as she stepped inside. "Office."

Zacharius' office was small and cozy. Myrtia sat down in one of the two armchairs by the window, and Zacharius took the books off the small round table between the chairs. He set them down at the end of his desk before sitting down in the other chair.

When Myrtia held the folder out to him, Zacharius took it, resting his foot on his knee. "What is this?"

"An application I received yesterday. I want your opinion."

"People tend to be your expertise," Zacharius flipped the folder open, "I'm not sure what help I could offer..." He trailed off, looking at his sister. He gestured to the folder silently.

"That would be why I wanted your opinion." Myrtia held her tea in both hands, leaning back in her chair. "Skyler met him. He actually asked for a paper application."

Zacharius opened the folder again. "Did she say anything about..."

"I don't think she looked." Myrtia chuckled. "Not sure if I'm grateful or disappointed."

"It looks like Latin." Zacharius tilted his head. "...It's not Latin, at least not the one we know. But it looks like it."

"I looked it up; the phone number on his application goes to a motel." Myrtia lifted her mug slowly, "I'm considering calling him for an interview."

"An interview because you're curious," Zacharius turned his head to meet her gaze. "or because you're thinking about hiring him?"

Myrtia shrugged. "Skyler said that when he came in, Darren was there. That he... successfully inspired him to leave."

Zacharius nodded. "He wouldn't be the first person we've hired under the radar. Won't be the last." He closed the folder and set it aside. "Why are you hesitating?"

"That..." Myrtia worked her jaw for a moment. "I have suspicions. The application. His... sudden appearance. I've already contacted the others. Nobody from The Garden sent him."

"I'd assume not." Zacharius sipped his tea, glancing out the window as it began to rain. "You know... there is a potential explanation for where he came from."

"That's what I'm concerned about." Myrtia sighed. "What if I'm right?"

"It'd be a risk." Zacharius hummed, "Of course, how much do we really know about demons? There are plenty of false superstitions about the fae."

"The fae aren't on the news for ripping people apart."

Zacharius set his mug down next to the folder. "You are the matriarch, Myrtia; I will support whatever you decide."

"I know." Myrtia looked down at her own mug. "But what would you choose? This... man, he could be the answer to a lot of our problems. But he may also be the cause of far more."

"If we are going under the assumption that he is a demon; which I, personally, believe is quite likely," Zacharius intertwined his fingers. "I'd give him an interview. If you have the feeling that he isn't safe, then you don't give him the job."

Myrtia frowned, looking down at her drink. She eventually closed her eyes and sighed. "...I suppose I have a call to make."

Characters:

Myrtia

6'3", 210 lbs. A muscular Greek woman with frizzy gray curls pulled up into a messy bun. Absolutely covered in floral tattoos, and dressed in bold colors and patterns. Can normally be found with dirt under her nails and leaves in her hair.