we_bring_hell | (no subject)

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Harrow is having a slow-motion argument with the Bar over breakfast. She wants water and a little bread, and the Bar does not agree that this is a breakfast.

She has rejected an omelet, a breakfast sandwich, and biscuits and gravy. The Bar is trying a bowl of porridge on her and she's considering it. (She hasn't noticed it has raisins in it yet.)

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"There was only one other child on the Ninth," she says. "So it was hardly an issue."

Also, Harrow was the one doing the bullying. To be fair, she regrets it.

"Oh, were you lonely? I didn't have lots of friends, but my brother was always around, so it was kind of like just the two of us growing up. I have friends now, though. College is way better than school ever was."

She hesitates. "I was very busy," she says.

"From the time I was ten I had inherited much of the responsibility of leading our House. I was rarely alone."

"You were in charge when you were that little? That must have been really hard."

She frowns. "It was--necessary. When my parents died, I knew if I asked the other Houses for help... if anyone knew... it would be the end of the Ninth as an independent House. The only question was who would devour us."

She's hoping she means devour in a non-literal way, but Alyce grew up in Sunnydale, so she's not going to assume it's not literal.

"That really sucks," she says, and she is genuinely sincere.

When she was ten, their parents didn't even let the twins stay home alone yet.

"Yes," she admits. "But you will be amazed at what you can endure when there is no other choice."

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