”Don’t forget ta tip the bartenders! More tips ya get more free drinks I get!” Carrick stood up and opened his wings in a showy fashion then mocked bowed towards the patrons showing off his tail. The princess would have seen the bow before, many times. It was the same mock bow he often gave her.

His wings snapped to his back and the light focusing on him dimmed as some of the audience clapped. It was a shame really, he thought he recovered quickly. At the start of the show he opened his guitar case to find all the strings on his guitar broken, more than likely cut. They were all in the same spot and it looked like there was a new scratch on his neck where the strings were broken.

Carrick being Carrick didn’t think much off it but when he tried to restring he found a few of them broken in the same spots as well. He only found out when he pulled them tight. It was even worse because his girlfriend was in the audience. It was hard to look bad in front of her, frustrating even he thought he hid it well with a few jokes while he fumbled with his stings.

It was in an Irish pub and he was Irish so it was hard to not get a few people clapping for you so when it was finally over he gave Amythest a look of relief and an awkward grin before sauntering over to pick up his instrument. The strings were broken again and in the same spot. The gash on his guitar was a little more prominent. ”Fer **** sakes.” he grumbled forgetting he was still wearing the microphone and it was still on. There was laughter and his tail flicked as he smiled to everyone.

After sheathing his instrument he found his way over to the table where the Princess was. His hands already carrying two drinks for them (the owners carded him once with his older ID and he never corrected them after). ”It was entertaining at least right, love?” he asked hopeful knowing once he got into his groove his performance was good. She had high standards which was why he liked her opinion when it came to his performances.

Carrick might have been annoying and silly sometimes, but even Amethyst had to admit he was a talented entertainer. People seemed to like him, especially in this place, which was, as she understood, very Irish. Amethyst, appropriately dressed in a very elaborate green dress, sat at a table, enjoying the show. She knew some of it was for her. Carrick liked showing off.

The thing with the guitar string was unfortunate. He clearly needed better quality instruments. And the place needed better quality drinks, but she was not going to point that out. Again.

>>”It was entertaining at least right, love?”

"Definitely" the princess smirked, moving the hem of her dress to allow him a seat. "You need a better guitar, though."

The shifter’s tail perked up as he smiled from her reply. He didn’t always like to advertise what he was feeling but the look of relief was apparent. ”Yeah, broke my last one during a shift, accidently stepped on it. This one seemed like an alright replacement though.” he sipped his pint of darkness and then sat down next to her admiring her choice in color. She looked good in green.

Mismatched eyes gave her a quick once over (again) then nodded to his instrument leaning on the table, ”Strings looked like they were cut but I didn’t see anyone around. Weird day.” he said shaking his head. ”Caught meself from tripping a few times.” he said thinking about his day, it didn’t help that his shifted forms had been on edge for some reason. Maybe it was the weather?

”Had weirder though, no one hit today so I can’t complain too much.” he said with a chuckle knowing she wouldn’t find it as funny. ”Did I tell ya you look good tonight?” he asked trying to distract her knowing he did already. She liked hearing it and he liked saying it.

”I’ll go look fer a new guitar tomorrow, care ta join me? We can play hooky from school, make a day out of it?” he asked with smug grin.

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Tommy felt awkward, he didn’t do dates. Ever, the idea of being close to someone was a sign of weakness. At least that was what his father had beat into him. It had been a while since he even made an effort towards the opposite sex so he was slightly nervous about it. Thankfully he couldn’t speak so he wouldn’t have been stuttering. She was only here to keep him hidden from his brother long enough anyways.

He was already pissed he had to track down Carrick anyways. Why did he have to search for his bastard brother. If his father just let him take care of the fly boy like he wanted and started to do they were kids he could have been at home. Being useful to his father and the cause. His current objective was to find his childish brother and not kill him.

Carrick was notorious for being a child. He cried often, ran more and did anything he could to ignore how great his father really was. His anger grew the more he thought about it if he wasn’t so close to Carrick he would have destroyed something. Instead he figured while he was in town he could hit two birds with one stone. Both those birds happened to be Carrick.

‘I’m by the stained glass window. You look great I might add. After sending the second text he raised his hand up and took off the ball cap that was hiding his face from the owners and the bastard. The only reason he didn’t already confront him was because he wanted to toy with him a bit. Ruin his show. Maybe beat the **** out of him in front of his girl for a bit then deliver a message from their father.

The girl he was with was pretty. Too pretty for Carrick. Tommy flicked his wrist and sent a telekinetic sweep to it’s intended target quietly cutting the strings for the second time this evening. Satisfied when he heard his brother curse.

Tom forced a warm smile masking his cruelty as she approached. Figuring he’d dress the part he was wearing a black button up shirt, suspenders and his usual grey slacks. People often mistook him for a bartender. His father berated him for it. Tommy offered a hand and grinned his eyes shifting from his brother to the blonde.

A date at an irish pub. Yes, please. Rhia checked her phone as she arrived at the pub. She was meeting with someone she had met through an app. He had suggested the place and she had happily agreed. Normally she would have worn black, but for an Irish pub she dug out a short green dress and matching heels. They showed off her legs which could save lives… or take them.

Rhia’s phone buzzed, a message from her date. She read the message and then looked up, she saw him waive at her and lift his cap. She waived back and then responded,

Careful, flattery will get you everywhere

As Rhia made her way over to her date, she heard a twang and looked up to the stage. Broken guitar string from the… Wait a minute. Rhia recognized that griffon-man. The fly boy who she had swapped with that bouncer a year ago. Rhia frowned. Him and the bouncer just couldn’t let her enjoy the club. She would have swapped them back eventually. It was all the bouncer’s fault, really. Her fake ID worked everywhere else.

Her date was dressed nice but one thing stood out, ”Suspenders? Bold choice. I like it.” She said with a smile as she shook his hand. ”Nice to meet in person, Tommy.”

>>”Strings looked like they were cut but I didn’t see anyone around. Weird day. Caught meself from tripping a few times.”

"Maybe you have had enough beer?" Amethyst ventured with a smirk. Carrick was far from being drunk, but he did seem a little off kilter up on the stage. He was lucky he was so charming.

>>”Had weirder though, no one hit today so I can’t complain too much. Did I tell ya you look good tonight?”

"You did, but it bears repeating" she grinned at him over her drink. She liked to be praised.

>>”I’ll go look fer a new guitar tomorrow, care ta join me? We can play hooky from school, make a day out of it?”

"Sure, why not?" the princess was not very attached to the whole school thing. She liked these outings better. She glanced around, noting a very pretty woman in a green dress, and some other people who were returning to their own conversations after Carrick's set.

"So, what is it with all the green?..."

”Maybe....” Carrick smirked his tail brushing against her leg, ”Bit early to switch ta whiskey though eh?” he said sipping his pint glass before setting it down again. Then turned to his date and added again, ”You do look good.” it was eaier to say because it was true.

Carrick started to purr slightly then stopped when he spotted a blonde walking in. His eyes immediately looked to the table and he lowered his head. The last thing he wanted was to get switched again. He liked his wings, no he needed his wings. His tail hit his leg reminding him that he needed his tail as well.

”Maybe we can hit that restaurant ya like. The seafood one?” it didn’t narrow it down she had a few restaurants for seafood she liked but Carrick was more interested in spending time with her so they could have gone anywhere as long as it wasn’t a class room. Heck he’d even sit in a classroom as long as she was there. Carrick was enamored by her.

The blondie that swapped him and Zek around vanished out of view and he decided that was good enough to resume his date, ”Eh? Green?” he looked around making sure not to look around for the blonde eyeing the window panes the paint and the garb of most of those working in the pub. ”Love, why do ya think I call it the Emerald Isle? Rolling hills of nothing but green. Ireland’s known for the color because of the landscape not because of the actual gem. Actually I don’t think they even have emeralds there.” he said wishing he knew more about his home so he could explain it further. In comparison it seemed Amethyst knew everything about her home. Carrick knew just enough to get by.

”I mean Atlantis had a color they are known for right? Blue?” he asked smirking, if it was under the ocean it had to be blue right? Carrick reached for his pint again but as it was in his hand the glass shattered sending what beer he had left to the floor or in his lap. His fingers holding the shattered glass was cut in a few places. Carrick swore loudly using his favorite words of choice, ”Fer **** sakes!”

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Across the bar Tommy smirked after sending another telekinetic sweep his brothers way. Any chance to ruin his ‘soft’ brothers day he took it. Why did Carrick get to enjoy nights like this when there were so many mutants in Ireland without proper rights. Under the thumb of the government. It made Tommy sick. So much so his face turned a shade of green when he thought about it. His fingers stopped flexing as he reached for his phone and sat down with.... he looked down to his phone for the name. Rhia.

She seemed nice enough, he however had other things on his mind, she was after all a means to an end. Ideally the end of his brother. Forcing a smile he nodded his head and sat down reaching for his phone and typing, ’I’ve been called worse. I’ll take ‘bold’ any day of the week.’ he said truthfully. She was wearing green. Tommy’s favorite color. His eyes traveled up to her face and he started to text again without looking down at his phone. He had memorized the keys this being his preferred method of communication.

’I’m a bartender back home’ he lied, ’pretty common wear for Ireland.’ he typed out then continued, ’Figured I’d see what the dating scene is like here while I’m visiting my brother.’ he texted finally telling the truth.

It was a little odd to carry on a conversation with someone where she spoke and they texted back. It gave the conversation an odd cadence. A small pause where she waited for his reply after she spoke. ”I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland. It looks so pretty and clearly the men look nice. ” Rhia said with a wink. Not to mention the great accents. That, however, was not the right thing to say to someone who couldn’t speak. She did read his texts in an accent for him though.

”I don’t know about the dating scene everywhere in the states, but I can show you that us Texas girls are in a league of our own.” As she spoke she let her accent thicken so that she sounded more like her parents. Not enough to sound like someone from a farm but enough to set her apart from almost everyone else in the city. ”How long are you going to be visiting your brother for?”

>>”Eh? Green? Love, why do ya think I call it the Emerald Isle? Rolling hills of nothing but green. Ireland’s known for the color because of the landscape not because of the actual gem. Actually I don’t think they even have emeralds there.”

"That's true, you don't." Since she'd arrived from Atlantis, Amethyst had been familiarizing herself with the various gemstone resources of the world. It was good to know what came from where, and at what prices. On the other hand, she still had not visited Ireland, so she only had a vague idea of the greenery Carrick was talking about. "But that explains why everyone is wearing green" she added, nodding towards the woman who had just walked in.

>>”I mean Atlantis had a color they are known for right? Blue?”

"I guess" she shrugged. Atlantis had many colors, but the ocean's blue was definitely one of them. She opened her mouth to say something, but the glass in Carrick's hand suddenly shattered.

>>”Fer **** sakes!”

"What did you do?" Amethyst jumped, as some glass and beer ended up on her dress. More importantly, Carrick's hand was bleeding. The princess reached over, assessing the damage before she called towards the bar "Can we get some bandages over here?"

Tommy smiled. Not because of the compliment, but because he could hear his half-brother curse from across the bar. Any chance he could inflict pain in his brother he’d gladly do so. The hatred he had for his brother... it was intoxicating sometimes.

Typing into his phone, ‘Scenery is great though I’ve enjoying this view.’ he finished the text with a winky face. He followed it up with a wink of his own shifting his gaze to his brother who was now staring at the woman he was with while she studied his hand. Why was she with him? His brother was a monster with wings and a tail. Speaking of which.... his fingers were about to send another attack at the swaying tail before he got distracted.

’Texas? Never met anyone from Texas before. Weird I expected spurs and a cowgirl hat?’ he replied, typing into his phone. Why did he think this was a good idea? He was debating on leaving till he noticed his brother turning his head. Just then a woman walked up to them, she was a young waitress but her accent was clear. She was most likely the owners kid. Tommy leaned back a little to obscure Carrick’s sight from him.

“What can I get ya? Our specials are....”

Tommy typed, ’Mind ordering me a pint of the dark stuff?’ ignoring the specials. He kept his head down as he typed, ’Depends, brother’s pretty selfish, was coming to remind him he’s got family back home. Our father misses him terribly. Can’t even so much as give us a call.’ why their father wanted to talk to him he’d never understand.

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The shifter’s eyes turned to slits after he cursed looking at the blood and feeling the glass break in his hand. His tail flicked in irritation and his hair stood on end. ‘Fight?’ his shifted around and he felt the sudden urge to get up but was distracted by the Princess. ”Broke the glass cause I thought it was a good idea obviously!” he rolled his eyes more mad at the situation than the question.

His hand bleed and he shook the hand twice before she grabbed it to look at it. She called out to the bar and his cat like eyes opened back up as he started to stare at her. While he was in pain and irritated he started to purr. ”And another pint.” he smirked calming down a bit.

The owner rushed over after hearing the glass break with a clean bar rag and a broom and dust bin, “What didn’t like our specials? Was concerned fer a second but now that I know it was you who broke it...” he shook his head, ”Not my fault ya serving out of broken glasses.” Carrick quipped. “Ya alright boyo?” he asked offering up the rag before getting to work on sweeping everything up.

”Yeah, just thought it needs another touch of home.” he rolled his eyes towards the princess, ”O’Conners are known for breaking glasses.” he rolled his eyes again. A few of the smaller cuts on his hands already started to close up. Carrick still for the most part oblivious about his healing ability looked back to the owner, ”This mean ewe drink fer free tonight?” he smirked to the princess, ”Good time to get the high end stuff.” he tried to joke.

The scenery was great? Well that was for sure. Rhia was well aware that she was an attractive woman, but not so vain she just expected people to say it nor would she just go fishing for them. The compliments that came honestly were the best.

"The spurs are only for when I'm riding. Not a lot of grass for a horse 'round here though. Might cloud wear them while saving a horse though." Save a horse, ride a cowboy. ”I do have a hat, but mostly it just hangs on the wall. No sense making all the yanks jealous.” Rhia said with a shrug and a smile. As the old saying went; never ask someone if they’re from Texas. If they are, they’ll tell you. If they aren’t, there’s no need to embarrass them.

While she spoke she caught Tommy looking across the pub. She cast a glance where he was looking and saw the griffon. Did Tommy know him?

Before Rhia could ask about it, the waiter showed up and Tommy texted over a request. Rhia decided that when in Rome, or Éire, in this case. She ordered the same thing for herself that she ordered for Tommy. As Rhia ordered, Tommy answered her question about his brother.

Rhia looked at the phone for a moment before looking toward the griffon. Then she asked a question she hoped was a no. ”Is your brother the griffon you keep looking at, or is he someone that owes you money?” Rhia asked, pointing over in the griffon’s direction.

>>”Broke the glass cause I thought it was a good idea obviously!”

Carrick looked angry, and blood dripped from his hands along with the glass shards. Amethyst put a soothing hand on his arm. If the beast decided to make a fuss about the glassware, there was going to be trouble. Luckily, the friendly owner and the promise of more drinks brought Carrick back to himself. Amethyst dabbed the clean cloth over the injuries.

>>”Yeah, just thought it needs another touch of home. O’Conners are known for breaking glasses. This mean ewe drink fer free tonight? Good time to get the high end stuff.”

"Or maybe you have had enough" the princess pointed out, turning his palm upwards for inspection. She blinked in surprise. There had been bleeding, but... the cuts were already closing up. She did not have much experience with human healing, as her injuries always got covered with rubies straight away, but this was... odd. "Looks like you will be fine in a minute..."

The reference was lost on Tommy, but he got the feeling she was flirting with him. Having never listened to anything but what his father listened to and that was their folk music and the occasional rock song that went global. Leaning back a little Tommy smirked. Yanks.

She ordered the same thing. Weird, he was almost forgetting why he came to America. Maybe he should enjoy himself a bit more than what he was planning. A good old fashion half brotherly beating.

The silent Irishman raised an eyebrow to the woman from Texas. While he heard everything was bigger he never heard that they were so astute. Or was he being too obvious with his glancing it was hard not to get up and throw a pint glass at him. Tommy hated the bastard. Looking from the phone up to Rhia he gave a ‘so-so’ hand gesture. Trying to hide said hatred.

Forcing a smile he elaborated via text, ‘Not mutually exclusive. He owes everyone a lot.’ Tommy rolled his eyes in person for emphasis, ‘He’s my half-brother and an Eejit who does nothing but takes.’ he sighed and then didn’t type what he wanted to that tonight Carrick was about to take something else... another beating.

‘Not sure how to approach him though, looks like he’s with a girl though. Be easier to talk to him if he was by himself.’ he texted his thoughts. Tommy was just planning on waiting for a moment to strike when they leave the pub. It wasn’t the first time he had jumped someone leaving a pub.

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”Barely had any.” Carrick said looking at his hand which was now being covered and studied by the princess. At this point he didn’t even want a drink but he didn’t want the princess the satisfaction of him telling her she was right. Carrick’s tail flicked and he started to purr again when she tried to comfort him.

”Aye, I bounce back pretty quick.” he smirked opening his hand and studying it himself, ”Got ya holding me hand. Think I’m alright right now.” he said raising his eyebrows to her along with his wings. Almost ignoring the glass that was placed next to them while the owners not wanting to interrupt got out of there quickly after delivering the drink.

One of his wings opened obscuring the visual Tommy needed to break the glass once he had it in his hand again. Carrick’s good hand grabbed the drink and pulled it closer, ”See, right as rain!” he took a sip and set it down next to him. ”Yer not squeamish when ya see blood are ya?” he asked looking to his hand then back to her.

Oh! Rhia was correct in her guess. The griffon was Tommy’s brother. And based on Tommy’s hand gesture, the griffon was also a bit of a turd burglar. Owing people money or some other similar lack of ability to control himself. Rhia nodded. It made sense. The griffon was certainly a killjoy, not as much as the bouncer, but the pair of them had worked together!

Rhia read the texts from Tommy and a mischievous smile came across her face. Tommy was only further coloring Rhia’s opinion of the griffon. Coloring inside the lines she already guessed were there. He sounded like someone who needed some life lessons. Rhia was good at giving out those.

”We could always go over there.” Rhia suggested, ”I could entertain the woman he’s with while you talk to him… Unless he runs away. I’ve run into him before and I made one hell of an impact. We can just wait for- “

The waiter returned and set down their drinks.

”Thank you.” She said to the waiter before turning back to Tommy, ”Okay. Now we can go if you want.” Rhia took a sip of her drink and her eyes widened. It was fantastic.

>>"Aye, I bounce back pretty quick. Got ya holding me hand. Think I’m alright right now.”

It seemed like the injury was nothing that some flirting and a new round of drinks couldn't fix. Amethyst dabbed the rest of the blood away from Carrick's hand. Tonight, nothing could bring down his good mood.

>>”See, right as rain! Yer not squeamish when ya see blood are ya?”

"No?" she arched an eyebrow at him, taking his drink for a sip "But I still think my own version is more elegant."

Why bleed, when you could make rubies?

‘Are you sure?’ Tommy asked suddenly feeling like he didn’t waste his time looking for a little fun while he was in the states. Sure they could have fun but confronting his brother on one of his dates.... this was more than enough to give Tommy everything he needed to have a good time.

And icing on the cake they met before. She made one hell of an impact? Did she sleep with him? Suddenly the idea of being around someone who slept with his brother grossed him out. The only thing that betrayed his thoughts was the raised eyebrow as he took a sip of his pint. Finally he texted, ‘Do I want to know how you made the impact?’ he asked before smirking at her reaction to the beer. ‘Good right?’

Tommy stood took a breath in and then pretended to get the shakes out (he was limbering up for a fight) things always ended in a fight when the O'Conner's were involved especially two of them. Grabbing his phone and his drink he then offered an arm to Rhia, with a smile and a look of determination. Either way, his brother’s night was about to be ruined. Either from him or the woman he was with. Tommy’s eyes stayed fixed on Carrick’s back studying his wings and tail.

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Something was wrong.... well more wrong than the pint glass breaking in your hand or a guitar string snapping twice right in the middle of a performance. ‘Fight!’ his pupils turned to slits. Carrick tried to ignore the feeling hoping it was just a delayed reaction to the glass breaking and causing him pain. He knew it wasn’t all he knew that he was on edge.

Distracting himself, he did what he normally did to do so and he talked... a lot. ”Well love, elegant it might be but a bit more dangerous eh?” he asked with a smirk sliding his pint glass closer. Either to drink it or throw it at whoever was setting off his fight or flight instincts. ”I mean, I did have to save ya from some magicians.” he made sure he took all the credit it on it. Mirror and Sam were only there to help.

”Sides, you imagine if I could do that too? **** I’d never have to worry about money again, get a new guitar everyday fer the rest of me life.” he chuckled and shook his head, ”Maybe even buy a recording studio?” would he buy fame? Absolutely. Then he paused. ”Wait, I’d flood the market then... and that’d be bad.... right?” he asked recalling her warnings about the use of gems.

Carrick took a sip of his drink then stopped, a chill running down his spin. He was about to be attacked.