idris pulls a kerchief from his back pocket and wraps the stone around it. better to keep it somewhat safe while he transports it back home. he misses the sanctity of his research center back in celestic; all of his tools, his assistants, and his resources had been gathered in one place. sure, he could schedule a trip back, but that's nonsensical. 

Yvette Belmont would have a cow to know he'd wasted time merely because he'd experienced a bout of homesickness. 

he looks up when his hands are empty and regards his son. and then he takes an exaggerated gesture towards the rest of the room. his frown is apparent, his annoyance plain in his eyes. 

he reaches for draxon's pokeball, a weathered thing, scratched and scorched from years of use on expeditions. xander's never been fond of the beast within. 

"have you made any efforts since rescuing creighton to preserve the notoriety that came from the incident? or did you cower away, shut yourself out of the world and let it pass you by?" he already knows the answer. he stands. 

"i won't publicly endorse your tie to the belmont name, to my name, unless you give me good reason to do so.

"if you can fell both draxon and petra, and impress me in battle, then perhaps we can further this discussion. and for arceus' sake, have some pride and stop living in squalor."

Xander Belmont

☉

xander still stands where he does not and yet idris can sense it from him, how small his son feels in his father's presence. and as though to reinforce this, idris finally gets to his feet. he smooths out his rumpled overcoat, straightens his tie. 

helping people, helping pokemon. ah, the charade of the hero - a journey for pompous fools who live for spotlight. his degrading thoughts falter, however, when xander's heat brings forth truth from his mouth. idris' gaze flickers, chest tightening, and he swallows the emotion (literally and figuratively). 

he'll do his own research, in his own time, on just what his son was talking about. had he really been so detached he'd missed something like that?

idris sighs. he pockets draxon's pokeball once again and reaffixes the buttons on his coat.

"outside of your apartment complex is no place for a battle like ours. no, we'll sort this before our research begins in earnest."

he steps over another pile of books and turns toward the door. 

Xander Belmont

☉

like a toddler, demanding answers that will hold no meaning, asking for possibilities when there is only one truth. idris checks his watch. this visit has run longer than the time he'd allotted. he'll have to reschedule a couple of things to keep everything on track. 

he doesn't even bother looking over his shoulder as he reaches for the door. 

"me? i'm going to work. my assistant will get in touch about that battle." and with that, he steps outside the door, tension still in the way he holds himself, chest held high. he closes it behind him and raises his phone, burying himself in his work while xander's last few words ring in his ear. 

Xander Belmont

☉