[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]oh, passho berries! alexander remembers planting one in his garden a while ago. his gardener most likley harvested it and now it's somewhere in his house—he'll have to go find it later.

"i have been known to share a lot."

they soon find themselves in one of the best seafood restaurants sootopolis has to offer. alexander sips on his water as they wait for their food to arrive, and knowing kyle, they've probably ordered quite a bit.

"so, what would you like to know, kyle?"

kyle lopez

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]and there she is: her voice reeks of coldness that even manages to creep chills into alexander. she has never sat well with him; her demeanor and personality have their place in business but that is where they should end.

"i'm afraid that won't be possible."

as brave of a face illeana may be holding, alexander takes a step forward again, protective as he stares down the two doctors. he allows his expression to change ever so slightly, approaching the line of hostility, as if dangling bait for them to bite.

"we have dinner reservations, unfortunately. we're actually running a bit late."

alexander doesn't even make the effort to peer at the time because they both know he's lying for the sake of formalities. he reaches out for illeana then, but never allows his eyes to drift away from them.

illeana reyes

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]the knot in the back of his shirt is all the indication he needs to know that they need to get out of this situation. if it feels uncomfortable for him, it must be suffocating for her. he subconsciously shifts closer to her.

"i suppose not. the timing does seem a bit coincidental, however, wouldn't you agree?"

alexander smiles, if only for the sake of upholding pleasantries, not that there's much to begin with. illeana asks her question and the lull in the conversation allows him to glance around in search for someone in particular.

illeana reyes

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]the tension in the air is palpable. her father hasn't changed much. though their interactions in the past have been brief and mostly in passing, alexander still recognizes the familiar features of the man. it's only then that he realizes that he's missing a key feature to him.

"i wasn't aware you and your wife took some time off."

alexander's words are subtle and are meant to pry without compromising the integrity of his mask. but he can see the similarities in how her father presents himself. it becomes more than apparent that the both of them are familiar with the game, and they both play it so elegantly.

illeana reyes

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]little one?

the voice fills him with a great sense of unease, like his worries are being clawed out from the depths of his existence, because no matter how unfamiliar it is, he recognizes the voice for the threat it bears. illeana's reaction only confirms it.

alexander moves, taking a step towards the man with a polite enough expression to mask his actual ones. for this, he has no qualms slipping on the mask he's so used to wearing. however, he does not extend a hand out. he refuses to shake the hand of someone so vile.

like a pyroar protecting its mate, alexander stands between them.

"mister reyes."

illeana reyes