Happy 2015! xx Lady Knight xx

Ragnor cleared his throat for the seventh time since Magnus's shift at the coffee shop had started. Magnus resolutely ignored him, sending crumbs flying from the counter as he banished them with his cloth.

Ragnor started to clear his throat again until Camille poked her head out of the back room. "Problem, Ragnor?"

He smiled falsely, showing both rows of teeth. "Just fine, boss."

Camille frowned, and then sent him a slow burning glare. "Keep it that way."

Ragnor gave a brief nod, waiting until Camille took her attention off him.

"So. You didn't tell Alec that this all started as a bet?"

"WHAT!" Magnus spun around, scowling. "That's not true."

"Really? I thought that's how this happened…" mused Ragnor. "Maybe I should go have a chat with him and let him know." Ragnor casually loped a curl of his long green hair through his fingers as he spoke.

"Ragnor. My little rotten Brussel sprout. I know you hate to lose bets, but if you so much as look as Alec then I will utterly destroy you." Magnus's golden eyes were practically glowing, and looking in them, Ragnor felt a small jolt of unease.

"And of course, completely ruin your social life for ever and ever." Magnus finished, winking brightly at Ragnor. Ragnor shook his head to clear his mind of the almost hypnotic effect of Magnus's eyes.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I am supposed to be interviewing a new employee for Queen Camille." Magnus rolled his eyes at Camille's utter apathy and laziness. "So just let it go." Magnus concluded, shouldering past Ragnor.

Ragnor's face twisted angrily for a moment, but was forced to redirect his energy into his job when an entering customer caught his attention.

Sighing, he stepped to the counter and began to make the girl with long black hair a white chocolate peppermint mocha drink.

Meanwhile, Magnus settled into the table across from the prospective employee, grateful at least that he got the chance to get off his feet while conducting the interview.

"Name?" he asked, flipping through paperwork, glancing down.

"Raphael Santiago."

Magnus looked up and assessed him. A skinny Latino boy with shoulder length black hair and burnished brown skin gazed back at him with an unreadable stare.

"I'm Magnus Bane. Why would you like to work here?"

Raphael fidgeted in his seat. "Need the money. I'm helping look after my little brothers."

Magnus nodded. "Any past job experience?"

"I used to work at the Hotel Dumort, just helping out, doing odd jobs. Luggage, busboy in the restaurant, front desk."

"Front desk? You look a little young for that." Magnus commented absently, his mind on dark haired boys with blue eyes. Oh god, I've got a type, he inwardly moaned while also secretly delighted. How cliché.

"You don't look all that old yourself." Raphael said, scornfully eyeing Magnus's glitter hairstyle with blue streaks. "Besides, mi mama always said I had a silver tongue."

"Bilingual, that's a plus." Magnus noted, jotting it down. "It is a shame that you are unable to appreciate the newest trend in hair, but fortunately for you that has yet to become a requirement to work here." Magnus glanced back at Ragnor, scowling and Raphael's mouth quirked.

"Oh, good. Anything else?"

"Availability looks good…" Magnus tapped the pen on the desk, lost in thought until Raphael cleared his throat.

"Oh! Still here. Sorry. Any questions or concerns for me?"

"Nope."

"Great. You're hired. Follow me and get changed, you can start now."

From the other end of the shop, the girl with long black hair sipped her drink carefully. She savored the taste of the white chocolate mocha and beamed when the peppermint flavor rolled across her tongue.

Watching Magnus lead the boy behind the counter, she frowned and considered.

Was it possible that this boy, this Magnus, was good enough for Alec? There seemed to be rather a lot of glitter involved in his overall persona but perhaps Alec enjoyed that.

Sighing, Isabelle took another long drink and out the window, headlights flicking across the window. She'd simply have to observe for a while longer before she decided. And there was no need to be decisive. If Magnus broke Alec's heart there was no reason she couldn't hack his personal electronics and make a few…interesting changes. No one messed with her big brother. Except her.