Ty wasn’t particularly interested in parties. House parties, university parties, birthday parties; he just never saw the appeal. What he did enjoy, however, was the people-watching and the free booze. Though he would have preferred if the party weren’t in his own flat. But the promise of free booze won him over.

“Ey,” Jack started, elbowing him. “Hot, right?” He gestured to the woman on the other side of the room. Her hair was short, a deep mahogany color, and striking against her fair skin. Her lip color matched her hair. She had a beer in hand and stood in the corner with two other women, chatting to them casually. She glanced in their direction. She met Ty’s gaze and smiled slyly and a chill ran up his spine. Something about her seemed so… familiar. 

“Dibs,” Jack said. “That’s the chick I was tellin’ you about.”

“Right,” Ty said. “How much did you pay her?”

Jack shoved him lightly. “Watch and learn, mate.”

Ty watched as he strode to the woman and started up a conversation with her. He couldn’t hear anything over the loud music, but the other two women rolled their eyes and made a comment to him. The third woman, the one whom Jack was trying to pick up, smiled at him and said something, and Jack turned and left them alone, moving back to Ty’s side.

“I’ll get there,” he said quickly. “Night’s still young.”

Ty rolled his eyes and made his way into the kitchen and reached into the fridge for another drink. When he turned back around, the woman was leaning against the counter behind him, and she smiled in greeting.

“Ty, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

She offered her hand. “Scorpio.”

Ty shook it slowly, keeping his gaze on her. “What?”

She grinned. “My name is Scorpio.”

“That’s… an interesting name.”

“Isn’t it?”

Ty opened his drink. “So, how do you know Jack?”

“He tried to pick me up at a bar,” she said.

“And you’re here because?”

“Because I wanted to meet you.”

Ty hesitated. “Me?”

“Well, he said if I wasn’t interested in him, then maybe I’d be interested in you.”

“Oh.” He paused to drink. “And are you interested in me?”

“Probably not in the way you’re hoping,” she said, still grinning.

“That’s bloody clear,” he muttered.

“So, my name’s not familiar to you?”

“You mean like the Zodiac sign?”

“Well, sure.” She shrugged. “You didn’t know I was coming?”

His brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing from Hephaestus?”

“Heph - what?”

“Tall, dark, ruggedly handsome. Didn’t he talk to you the other day?”

“How… do you know about that?”

“We work together.”

“Hold on,” he started. “You work with the crazy guy who’s been following me around and trying to tell me I have to save the world?”

She grinned. “Yeah, that’s him.”

Ty frowned. “And how exactly do you work with him?”

“Well, since he wasn’t able to convince you, he was hoping I would.”

He blinked at her. “Is this a joke? Did Jack plan this?”

She straightened. “No joke,” she said. She crossed her heart with a finger. “Promise.”

“Oh, you must be serious, then,” he said, rolling his eyes. 

Scorpio grinned. “Hey, I get it,” she said. “It’s completely unbelievable. But you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed the signs the last few weeks.”

“What do you mean?” he asked slowly.

“The mysterious news reports,” Scorpio started. “Weird people sneaking around and attacking people and disappearing without a trace. Giant footprints in strange places, looming shadows that seem to come from nowhere.” She shrugged. “And, oh, I dunno, maybe the weird feelings that have been plaguing you.” She winked at him. “The familiarity you feel towards me.”

“Right,” Ty said dismissively.

“I don’t blame you for being suspicious,” she said. “But I know there’s a part of you that knows I’m telling the truth. Ignore it all you want, it won’t change anything.” She turned serious. “The Gigantes threaten the fate of the entire universe. The world you live in. And we need all the help we can get.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Her smile returned. “Because I’m your Ouranos. I’m your Scorpio. I’m here to guide you on your quest, should you choose to accept it.”

“Quest?”

“I saw your D and D stuff.”

Ty’s cheeks warmed slightly. “That’s cute,” he said. “So, what, you’re a Zodiac sign that knows about D and D?”

“We know everything there is to know about your world,” she said. “We were brought to life by the Olympians to help you. It’s only natural we should know a thing or two around here. Helps to blend in and all, yeah?”

“Right.” Ty sighed. He had finished his drink and turned to the fridge behind him, reaching in to grab another. “Get me good and drunk and maybe I’ll go with you.”

“Well, if you think it’ll help.”

Ty passed her a beer and they tapped their bottles together in toast.

“To getting drunk and going on a quest,” Scorpion exclaimed.