Clarisse Fields

“No, no, not at all Miss Fields, not at all,” he ushered her inside and closed the large wooden door. “Welcome to my home,” he then said with a smile, “Now would you like tea before or after? Or perhaps during the viewing?” 

“Thank you.” Clara stopped after her entrance, in quiet awe of even the entry of his home. “Tea after would be lovely.”

“Where exactly overseas? Did anything good happened?“ Mike laughed out loud at her embarrassment, unable to help himself and when he quieted down, he had a bright smile on his face. “It was nothing new, Clara. I have dealt with my fair share of clan members being in their cups.“

“Chile. I think I found a family of Spectacled Bears that no one knew of before. They’re quite difficult to find and I’m hoping they’ll consider at least visiting Chicago. We have a couple families here that could be good contacts for them.” Clara shook her head but kept the smile on her face. “That doesn’t make it ok, you know. Anyways, what have you been doing besides wooing young women since I’ve been gone?” She gestured backwards to the woman on the bench.

“You’re preaching to the choir,” she agreed, though Clara was one of the only ones she’d admit that too. With the drinks made she headed back round the bar, sitting down again next to her friend. “Maybe someone you start poaching them,” there was venom in her voice when she said that and she washed it away with a sip of her drink. “What did he have to be angry about? He’s the one who almost started a riot,” 

Clara smiled but shook her head. “And then I’d have Sirius on my doorstep demanding to know what happened. Do you think he knocks on anyone else’s doorstep as much as he does on mine?” The last sentence was mused into her glass. “I came in a little hot. And a lot arrogant.” She admitted with a sigh. “Two alphas in one location is rarely a good thing when people are mad.”

Gendry hummed in agreement. There was something warm about the place. Thanking her for his drink he gave her a smile, “I remember coming here not long after it’s opening,” he confessed. 

Clara smiled as she washed the mixing set. “It was really a wonder back then.” She agreed, memories of her youth filling her. “Did you stay here back then?”

In the Fields Hotel Garden

“Hey! Wait up!“ Mike stood up, waving his hand to grab their attention. Halfway across the walkway he stop in his tracks to blow a kiss back at the elderly lady he had been sitting on a bench and chatting with under a blossoming tree. “For good luck. Make sure you catch it on its way down,“ he winked before turning his attention back to the person he saw and jogging up to them the rest of the way. “Where have you disappeared to? I don’t think I’ve seen you since Saint Patrick’s Day.” 

Clara stopped mid-stride and turned in her heels. She caught a glimpse of his gesture towards the woman and found a smile appearing on her face. When he finally caught up to her, Clara had smoothed her face out into a more generically pleasant smile. “Here and there, I had a business trip over seas.” Clara looked down, mildly embarrassed at the mention of St. Patrick’s Day. “I also may have been hiding from you after what I heard you experienced that night. Me beyond tipsy, Asa and Bryce being well... Asa and Bryce."

“Wow. Vodka has started to taste like juice? That’s concerning. The only next step is water.“

“I’m glad too, Clara,“ he grinned, trying to keep her attention on him. “How is it not your place to say how obviously amazing I have been for this clan? Its okay, everyone deserves a little praise now and again.” 

Clara laughed at that. “Well, I think the juice tasted like juice and vodka tasted like nothing. Which is probably the issue there. But yes, water is next.”

“What have you been indulging in?“ Micheal teased. Smelling the alcohol on her breath. “It’s different but I’m enjoying myself. I have no complaints.“

“Some vodka drink that tastes like juice. Not what I usually go for.” Clara sighed, shutting her eyes for a moment to focus herself. “Good. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I feel like you fit in well here. Not that that’s my place to say but I’m glad you joined our pack.” Clara could feel herself rambling and shut her mouth quickly. She looked around for any sight of something not alcoholic.

“Thank you for accepting it,“ Micheal chuckled. “They were… Our human shifters were, lets say they were pleasant. We also had a few witches and warlock covens but they were all separated. The local covens were more like Montagues and Capulet’s without Romeo and Juliet to bring them together or put an end to their feuds. There was also no Undergrounds. The few vampires we had locally were all mated to magic users or human shifters and rarely came out. Our wolf clan had joined the local coyote clan once their numbers were nearly depleted. I think there may have been a few wolverines and foxes that joined them later on. We never shared out land with clan cat, hyena, jackal or rat.“

“I am no longer a clan leader but I have a strong nose for great leadership. Plus, I am a great judge of character. I rather see things for myself than hear it from others.“

“Surprisingly pleasant. Seems like they can’t do much harm on boats.” Clara nodded at the story, drinking more as he spoke. “That sounds almost peaceful, though lonely. I have come to an agreement with almost every clan here. The more people have flocked to the city the more I have come to understand why the ecosystem runs best when everyone is apart of it. My father and our clan were some of the first shifters to settle in the city. I remember when each group came in and fought for their own piece of Chicago. I’m certainly glad I wasn’t the one who had to do all the negotiating then.” She felt the heaviness grow in her chest that always accompanied the thought of her father.

“Young girl, African-American. Clara, it’ll be alright.” He moved a little, “I’ll be alright, some broken ribs and a punctured lung, but the surgery they did has got me on a right path to heal up.”

“I’m here more in a profession capacity. I heard what happened to your brother and wanted to come ask how you were faring as well.”

“So in short all the problems trace back to the men,” Bryce replied as she set about making her best friends usual drink. She had to agree with Clara’s assessment of the last week, it had been a lot and she hadn’t enjoyed how the news about Asa being in hospital had made her feel. “I propose that once Asa is safely home and well, and the whole zoo debacle is resolved we have ourselves a spa day. In the mean time, has Michael apologised for the protest?”

“Men and my temper.” She spun on the stool and let her feet dangle. When the drink was placed down in front of her she took a sip. “The hunters are getting bolder. We need to do something about them before people start getting poached here.” Clara made a noncommittal noise about the spa, but nodded. “He has. We both went into the situation heated. It wasn’t going to be pretty.”

“Well which ever you are you must be a good one to cover their break when you’re not on duty,” he decided. “Lemon, please,” Gendry then glanced around the bar, looking at the design of it, “You know it has been rather a long time since I’ve been here, I always forget how pleasant it is,” 

“You’re too kind.” She scooped the ice into the glass and began pouring. “I’ve always found it very comforting.” As she finished the drink she stuck a lemon on the rim of the glass and passed it to the man. “Did you used to frequent this place often?”

“I assure thats not it at all, Clara. You just seemed lost in thought.”

“My mind is made up. There’s nothing to argue about,“ he smiled, hearing the humor in her voice. “Thank you, Clara, for understanding.“

“Its hard to give someone something when they have everything or can get it themselves. I hope that they will understand that it isn’t a bribe but I’ll take your advice into consideration. Human shifters were fisherman and nimbles were rare since they’re extremely sensitive to the cold.“ Micheal paused, not expecting their conversation to turn in that direction. He took a few gulps of his drink before continuing. “Being honest, without possibly ruining, any further, what I believe is a strong partnership and friendship? That’s impeccably hard. I believe as the leader of a wide variety of heavies and with your numbers, that you have to give off a certain persona. Which can come off as something you aren’t, especially once someone comes to know you on a personal level. Sadly, it’s the way things have to be, otherwise, you’ll be eaten alive or taken advantage of.“

Clara nodded and took another sip of her drink. “Thank you for your apology.”

“How about I get the drinks well you tell me what’s happened because I’m sensing something has,” Bryce replied, making her way behind the bar 

  Clara shook her head, exhausted. “This whole last week has been a lot to handle. Asa getting in trouble with the police and then getting attacked. The protest and everything that transpired there.”