A MILE OR TWO OUTSIDE OF TOWN...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

"i appreciate you saying that, even if it isn't true."
[break][break]
gabriel leads her back to the parking lot and towards a black luxury vehicle. the chauffeur waiting nearby opens the door for the two of them.
[break][break]
inside, plush leather seats, small monitors and even a selection of whiskey awaits. he stands aside, beckoning for the woman to enter.
[break][break]
"ladies first."

A MILE OR TWO OUTSIDE OF TOWN...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

"is that so?"
[Break][break]
he understood her sentiment. these creatures were a money sink; more a lineage go maintain than anything else.
[Break][break]
"im too old for the thrill your employment likely provides. there's a peace to this sanctuary, however."
[Break][break]
placing his hands atop the chain link secondary fence, he continues gazing at the proud creatures for a moment longer.
[Break][break]
than he breaks off.
[Break][break]
"come. we'll share a meal."

A MILE OR TWO OUTSIDE OF TOWN...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

she was right - he hadn't. that was before the shift in public attention, however.
[Break][break]
last thing he needed was brutal scrutiny in the media.
[Break][break]
"covering my bases is all."
[Break][break]
he watches the lions slowly come too.
[Break][break]
"ever keep any of your rescues?"

A MILE OR TWO OUTSIDE OF TOWN...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

his attention shifts to the crushed bud of the cigarette, his expression a void of emotion. gabriel makes a note to get that cleaned up.
[break][break]
turning back, he nods approvingly.
[break][break]
"good work."
[break][break]
typically he didn't much care how she accomplished her job. this time, though...
[break][break]
"where did you get it?"

FATHER DAUGHTER BEACH DAY...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

his daughter wraps her small hand in his, pulling him with eager excitement towards the line. the size difference is notable, and he's reminded for a moment of just how small her hands were when she was born. it brings a small smile to his face, and the goliath goes willingly.
[break][break]
he stands out heavily, with his massive size, in the crowd, but gabe pays no mind to it. instead, he hands the gentleman a few bucks, and comes back with two large doughy meat sticks. gabe hands gabrielle one, smiling.
[break][break]
"you first."

A MILE OR TWO OUTSIDE OF TOWN...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

gabriel watches with a passive gaze as a truck unloads the newest addition to the sanctuary. still caged, and sedated, it sleeps soundly even when the enclosure thuds heavily against the grass.
[break][break]
a number of pyroar and litleo watch from the other side of the fence, curious to their new houseguest.
[break][break]
"any issues?"
[break][break]
he asks to the woman nearby, aware of her presence.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

"this is different."
[break][break]
the figure that approaches senses the tension, and hovers near another table, as if waiting for permission.
[break][break]
"it's one thing to put me in the limelight —⁠ another entirely to place my family there."
[break][break]
he lets the tension slide mostly, but a sliver remains, unperturbed by the woman's pout.
[break][break]
"it just needs to be said."
[break][break]
with a nod of his head, the staff approaches, smile lopsided as he takes in the atmosphere of gabriel's expression against the ease of ana's. he turns to the woman, first.

ANA STONE

[attr="class","credit"]milky

[newclass=.one]color:var(--accent);[/newclass]
[newclass=.one]color:var(--accent);[/newclass]
[newclass=.one .pokesprite]color:#32a852; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.2); margin-right:10px; margin-top:5px; padding:5px; filter:grayscale(90%); transition:0.5s all;[/newclass]
[newclass=.one .pkspr:hover]background:rgba(0,0,0,0.2); filter:none; transition:0.5s all;[/newclass]
[newclass=.one .pokeclass]text-align:right; width:520px; [/newclass]
[newclass=.one .pokeclass img]background:#2b2b2b;border-radius:100px; border:1px solid #solid 1px #232323; border:1px solid #232323; margin-top:-30px; padding-bottom:12px; transition:1.5s; margin-left:8px; box-shadow:2px 2px transparent;[/newclass]
[newclass=.one .pokeclass img:hover]background:var(--accent); transition:1s all; box-shadow:2px 2px #232323 [/newclass]
[newclass=.one ]position:relative;[/newclass]
[newclass=.one .credit]font:bold 15px poppins; transform:rotate(90deg); position:absolute; bottom:55px; right:45px; color:rgb(65,65,65); text-shadow: -1px -1px 0 #232323, 1px -1px 0 #232323, -1px 1px 0 #232323, 1px 1px 0 #232323;[/newclass]
[break]
[newclass=.one .setting]background-image:url(https://i.ibb.co/x1RdYHQ/gibby3.png); background-size:cover; background-position: bottom; filter:saturate(110%); height:150px; width:400px; margin:10px auto 20px; [/newclass]

FAMILY MATTERS...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

the greeting of a totem-esque ladder of bears was certainly not something he expected, and he gives them a hesitant, curt nod, before turning his pointed gaze onto the seated girl.
[break][break]
"i'm not sure i understand the reference."
[break][break]
his voice is heavy, carrying the weight of someone who was used to commanding a room. it was as if the man didn't know how to have a one-on-one conversation about anything under than business.
[break][break]
"but... no, they didn't. it's something me and gabrielle black occasionally do, and i was curious if you were interested in joining me."

FAMILY MATTERS...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

gabriel sat in his office, attention torn between work, and his own idle thoughts. typically, work would alleviate the minor annoyances, and stresses, that came from his mind freely wandering.
[break][break]
but not today.
[break][break]
instead, he places the far too expensive pen down, and gathers a coat as he slowly ascends the stairs. they creak, and groan, under his impressive size, and he pays them no mind.
[break][break]
he approaches a door, and knocks.
[break][break]
when, and if it should open, he greets the woman with an awkward half-smile; his attempt at being friendly.
[break][break]
"do... you want to go get some ice cream with me?"

FATHER DAUGHTER BEACH DAY...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]

the duo walked along the beach, the dying remnants of summer still clinging on as a warm sun washed them from above. the sand, the water, and the boardwalk were all packed with people, all who'd come to celebrate one of the local holidays - he wasn't quite sure which one.
[break][break]
still, despite them, his present company kept his neutral face from flipping into a scowl.
[break][break]
"do you want... one of those?"
[break][break]
he points to a vendor selling some sort of breaded meat on a stick. it looked appetizing, and the smell of fried dough, and grease made the giant of a man hungry.
[break][break]
but mostly, he wanted to spend time with his daughter, and do things to make it showed he cared.
[break][break]
he wasn't the best at that nromally.

A PASSING OF KNOWLEDGE...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]
"mm."
[break][break]
he nods as she speaks, listening to her reasoning with keen interest. the names kim and fernando are known to most who are in politics - one a two time councilman, and the other, a seeming career politician.
[break][break]
still, under their tenure, things were still as fucked up as they were without. begged the question - what were they doing to change things?
[break][break]
then again, gabriel knew things were easier said, than done. as freya says, the bureaucratic red tape could be brutal. a necessary evil in these trying times.
[break][break]
her question does broker thought, however. what could he do?
[break][break]
"i don't know."
[break][break]
he admits truthfully. it pains him to say it aloud, lips turning thin in small annoyance.
[break][break]
"part of the reason i've asked you here is to figure out the answer to that very question."

A CALL TO MY SEED...[break]

[attr="class","setting"]

[break]
gabriel felt none of the familiar nervousness that his son did, behind the door. the man barely gave their meeting a second thought; another impending checkmark on an ever expanding list.
[break][break]
the giant lifted his head, heavy gaze falling onto the oak frame. his words were no less of an order in their commanding bark, yet still held a subtle undertone of professionalism.
[break][break]
"come."[break]