The Art of Best Intentions [Alex]

[Christian Moynahan]

So what if I beg to differ, my friend?
Let's fall away as fast as gravity will take us there
-32 Leaves, "Way Beyond"

He had planned it this way, of course.

Gabriel was a strategist; there wasn't much that happened to him without his own hand playing a part in it. He only let Fate interfere when he felt like playing a game.

It had been extremely difficult for him to miss noticing the upcoming cholera epidemic in his visions. He was an excellent precog, though, and in almost all cases he was able to tell who was going to fall ill and get them out of harm's way. There were one or two cases in which he was unsuccessful, but he was certain Lucius would be able to handle Dakari's illness well enough, and that the Quatrevauxes would care for Wesley. Neither would succumb to it anyway. Christian, however, would have, in some of the futures. That didn't quite gel with Gabriel's designs. That was one of the reasons for the dinner he had planned for himself, Alex and Christian, at an upscale restaurant in the Four Seasons-Hualālai. Outside of the contiguous States, Christian would be safe from picking up the cholera at the epidemic's onset.

Also, he figured Alex and Christian should get to know each other.

He was kind of glad for the break from the States. Somehow he had never quite fit in within the developed world. His new family, as extended as it was, made that much better, but he still needed to be away from time to time. Alex understood that, of course, and one way to handle the visit would have been to leave the girls with the Babysitter and both head out to Africa. But that wasn't the point of this occasion at all.

The plan had been for Gabriel, who would be just returning from business in O'ahu, and Alex, who would likely be at home, to meet Christian at the Four Seasons, as Christian happened to be staying at the resort for the duration of his visit, which was supposed to be five days but which Gabriel happened to know Christian would cut short. Originally, Gabriel had wanted to have a small, private dinner at home, but in case things turned sour - as it did in some futures - Christian wouldn't get kicked out of and barred from their homes Daniel Briggs-style.

The restaurant happened to be an excellent choice, however. It had an absolutely astonishing view of the sunset, which they would get to see as Gabriel had set the dinner meeting for six o'clock. He had specifically reserved their three seats at the table with the best view. The menu appeared to be superb as well, or so Gabriel had heard; while it did lean heavily toward sushi, it did include many salads and entrees. It was a shame Gabriel would miss it.

As she often did, The Babysitter would look after Athena and Demeter while their parents were away. She was notified first. Very shortly after that, Alex received a series of texts regarding the change of plans, which, when put together, read as:

Just learned of major damage to some work I did in Somalia. Incidental, there was an attack nearby. Heading out there right now to rebuild it. Back in a few days, but will miss dinner. Sorry for the late notice, darling. Will see you soon. I love you.

Christian also received a text, one that was decidedly more succinct:

On my way to Somalia to handle an emergency. Unable to make dinner, but Alex will be excellent company. Sincerest apologies.

The fact that each of them received the texts as they were entering the restaurant was, of course, entirely by design.

Christian frowned briefly at his phone, then set it to silent mode and slipped it into his pocket. He was mostly concerned about Gabriel's safety; he knew there had been some clashes and casualties there very recently. Gabriel could take care of himself, of course, but that didn't mean Christian could feel completely at ease. He considered Gabriel a friend, especially outside of their work relationship.

Besides, he was certain that Gabriel was right. Alex would be interesting to spend dinner with on her own. He was well aware of the disdain - to put it lightly - she held toward what was now his corporation, but he doubted she would behave rashly on that account. The woman Gabriel had married had to be headstrong and somewhat opinionated, but also completely under control, patient. Calculating. At least, Christian thought Gabriel was the sort of man who would be drawn to someone similar to and as respectable - and as powerful - as himself.

An attendant was leading him to the table Gabriel had reserved for them. Indeed, the view was stunning; he wondered whether there was any one place on the island that featured a sunset as spectacular. "Thank you," he said as he took a seat, only to return to his feet once he glimpsed Alex heading toward the table as well.

"Mrs. Constant. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He gave a slight bow and a smile, then moved around the table to pull a chair out for her. It was something of an automatic gesture; he had been taught that chivalry was essential, so it came naturally to him, with barely a thought. Once she had taken a seat, so did he, smoothing down his black dinner jacket as he did.

"I trust Gabriel made you aware of his absence as well." His hands fiddled with the napkin, moving over it to unwrap it, remove the utensils, and smooth it down. "I'm under the impression that he travels to conflict zones often, and that he is well prepared for any possibility, but all the same, he'll be in my thoughts until he returns." He tilted his head slightly and smiled faintly. "I hope I'll prove suitable company in his stead."



(Outfit.)

[Alexandria Constant]

Alexandria was not in a particular good mood for the evening, especially considering she knew exactly who she and her husband were to have dinner with. Gabriel was trying his damnedest to get Alexandria to be more cordial with those associated with Ark, with very little success. Alexandria distrusted Ark greatly and for reasons that both her and Gabriel knew that would take a lot of time to fade. Alex was a very passionate person, if she got behind a cause then it was not like her to abandon it. In some ways she was even stubborn, part of what certainly was an allure for her husband as much as it must have frustrated him as well.

On top of that, this outbreak was something that was quite concerning for Alexandria. Although she was not a person of the medical field, she was a bit of a scientist and something about this outbreak did not sit well with her. Cholera, while a very nasty disease, was not supposed to happen in the developed world nor be as fatal as this outbreak was proving to be. Through Gabriel's behest, she had her sister and brother have a trip through the Tuscan hills in Italy as a way to be out of the outbreaks reach. Daymon enjoyed traveling and learning new things, while Eliza quite honestly needed a break from life. Her parents would both be fine, with her mother being a nurse practitioner and her dad having her mother to take care of him should he take ill.

Instead of worrying about it, Alexandria decided that she would look damned well good for this dinner with the new CEO of Ark. She had seen the pictures, read the transcripts from all the pressers that this new man had done, as well as all the interviews. While he talked the good talk, words were just words, it was actions that a person's worth would be measured by. Ark had the bloods of millions, billions perhaps on its hands, it was a tainted and dirty thing, making Alexandria look rather clean in comparison. Rebuilding it into something that did not cause revulsion at the mere mention of it was going to be quite a task.

Gabriel vouched for this Christian Moynahan though and Alexandria knew that was worth something at least. Gabriel seldom personally vouched for a person unless he was certain that they were worthy of the task. Outside of herself and Lucius Kilvayne, Alexandria could not think of another person whom Gabriel would give such a consideration. The claws would have to remain retracted until Christian would give her reason to use them.

Alexandria dressed in what could only be described as a dress out of a fantasy setting, with the torso ending in a corset top and a large petticoat that flare her hips and buttocks. It was teal and black, with neat decorations and patterns across the whole of it. It was absolutely beautiful but it was a pain to try to move around in, which Alexandria was hoping she would not have to. She added one of her favorite chokers and angel wing earrings, before selecting out a pair of black heels that she felt were right for the occasion. Deciding to feel a bit like a princess, she also picked out a pair of white gloves right before stepping outside of her room, sliding them onto her hands. Alexandria thought she was a picture of perfection.

Dressed and supposed to meet both Gabriel and Christian at the Four Seasons, Alexandria made her way from the room and to the cab that was awaiting her. Dressed as she was, Alexandria knew better than to try and ride her motorcycle or drive one of their own vehicles. The trip was noticeably short, or perhaps Alexandria was merely caught up in her own thoughts to realize the actual length of the trip. She was taken aback though as she was entering the establishment that she heard the buzzing of her cell phone from clutch. Pulling it out, she got a bad vibe as it said she had a new message from Gabriel.

Sure enough as she opened the message and read its contents, her mood went from hopeful to grouchy. Gabriel surely had seen this coming and had still staged this up as a dinner for three, she did not appreciate the deception. Although she would have been quite reluctant to it, she would have likely have come to meet Christian on her own if Gabriel wanted it this badly. She would have to reprimand him when he returned from business abroad. She sighed as she replaced her phone back into the clutch and informed the attendant the she had arrived, as she had known Gabriel already reserved a table.

Sure enough, there was the very man that she was supposed to be meeting being lead to a table by another of the establishment's staff. The media pictures did not do him justice... his was far paler in person than the pictures made him out to be. He had taken a seat but was immediately back on his feet though when he saw her being lead to the table. Alexandria was slightly impressed and amused that he had something of manners, even if they were slightly outdated.

Alexandria had to restrain herself from laughing as he said it was a pleasure to meet her acquaintance. They both knew that was a lie, or at least she believed it to be. If he honestly thought it was a good thing to meet her, then Gabriel had not completely informed him of the situation or did not adequately prepare him for dealing with her. She was leaning towards the former as he pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to take a seat. "Thank you Mr. Moynahan, it is good to see that manners are not completely lost on society." She intended it to be praise as she sat down but it felt more sarcastic than anything.

It was cute how Christian was worried about Gabriel, clearly he was far from being informed on just how capable either of them were. Although she was going to be nice, she was not about to let Christian operate under some false ideas. "Gabriel can take after himself quite well. If he honestly thought there would be any trouble, we would not be having this dinner, for I would be with him. I am the greatest weapon any person can have." It was a boast but one that could be backed up with actions. Few could best her in personal combat, fewer still would have a chance if she was in a combat fighter.

For reasons that she did not quite understand, Alexandria suddenly felt less than a grouchy lioness ready to pounce upon her prey. It was not Christian himself that she held such passionate feelings about, it was merely the company he now ran and a few of those under his employ. He had been at the helm of Ark for only a few weeks now, not nearly enough time to initiate whatever changes from the previous regime. And that quaint smile did show that he was trying to make this pleasant.

"Let's have some wine and see just how good of company you keep." Alexandria said with a bit of grin. Wine would be good, it would keep her calm should any precarious subjects came up and perhaps it would loosen Christian up as well. What that would provide, well she was a bit curious indeed.

[Christian Moynahan]

A quick assessment, and Christian had an idea of how to proceed. Honesty and openness would be key here. Mrs. Constant would be able to see through him in a moment if he attempted to mislead her, he knew. He could read it in her posture, her demeanor, even the way she had dressed, in a blue gown that was absolutely stunning on her. She had taken great care in planning for this evening, although at the time she must have had her husband's presence in mind. Still, she had wanted to make a good impression, as did Christian. They had that in common; it should not be difficult to navigate this dinner successfully.

He did not fail to note the hint of laughter in her expression as he offered his greetings. Christian tried to keep a positive outlook toward others, but often failed; this case was different, though, because he knew Gabriel to be a good man, and so he was able to approach meeting Gabriel's wife with much more tolerance. Whatever the outcome, he would be glad to have had the opportunity to meet her, as he hoped he would soon meet Lucius' significant other.

Christian himself had no significant other, and that was his usual state of being; he preferred the options that solitude provided. Not simply in terms of relationships, but more the ability to travel, and work long hours, and generally keep his own habits without having to consider how those habits would affect others. Of course, he imagined Gabriel and Lucius had once felt the same way, and each of those men had found someone who was compatible with them and their habits. Lucius, at thirty-two, was just shy of Christian's age, and Gabriel had just recognized - "recognized," not "celebrated" because he had approached the occasion with some reluctance, albeit frequently noting that he might not have seen too many more birthdays without Lucius' and Adele's hard work - his forty-first birthday, so perhaps there was some such match in store for Christian as well. He wasn't holding out hope, though.

For a moment, Christian's turquoise-tinted eyes went somewhat out of focus, as though he were looking behind - or through - Alex, but in fact, he was observing her more closely. This was as she approached the chair he had pulled out for her and took a seat in it. There was an air of confidence about her, but not an affected air; one that told of a full belief in that confidence, and the strength and ability to support its existence. She carried herself well, and kept herself very neat and precise, as the meticulously elaborate dress suggested. She also held herself in high regard; that observation came from the white gloves that shaped themselves around her hands. Her jewelry said something about her nature as well, and that part of her nature was the one Christian decided he should avoid awakening tonight. Dark, enigmatic, deliberate, and no doubt dangerous when tested. The contrast between the winglike earrings and the brooding choker offered that part of his analysis.

Just as his eyes had taken on their strange gaze, they reverted in a blink, having lasted half a second at best, and once again she had his clear attention. Christian prided himself on being able to read others quickly and well, a talent that sometimes made dealing with others a touch boring. Fortunately, this was not one of those times. She was a rare sort of individual, which made sense considering the company she chose to keep in Gabriel and Lucius.

There was sarcasm in her tone when she commented on his manners, but Christian was not certain whether the sarcasm was directed at him or at the society which tended to lack them. He let it pass with nothing more than a quiet chuckle. There was no use in harping on something he was not entirely sure about, especially when he had walked into this acquaintanceship with a negative hanging over his head in the form of Ark, and especially not with a woman who would not take to being pushed lightly.

Still, there was little doubt in his mind that he would push her in some way tonight. It was part of his nature. He pushed others beyond their limits because he refused to believe in limits. The why of it was not as important, however, as the when and the how. But if Gabriel had foreseen this evening's result - as Christian was now certain he had, given the man's not-so-incidental absence - then surely he would not have let Christian walk into something he would wind up ruining. It was not the strongest of convictions Christian had ever had, but it was enough to keep him fairly unconcerned about overstepping his bounds too grievously.

She assured him that Gabriel was capable of taking care of himself. Christian could agree with that easily, but he still felt a good deal of concern for the man. Granted, this was the first time Gabriel had gone on a dangerous expedition since Christian had met him, as far as Christian knew. The rest had been stories about various insane events Gabriel had found (or, Christian suspected, placed) himself in. He gave Alex a smile and tilted his head slightly; his shoulders shrugged as though he had laughed. "Oh, I have no doubt of that. I suppose I'm simply in the habit of worrying too much."

He said that in response to only the first part of her statement, but the part that really interested him was the second. He had picked up on her more dangerous side already, but to refer to oneself as a weapon was a different approach entirely. A fool with a gun was dangerous; a poor driver, an inexperienced cook, an infuriated woman, and a trained assassin, and more, were all dangerous. But there was causing destruction, and then there was being the tool of that destruction. There was aiming an arrow, and there was being an arrow. Christian had noted the one, but not the other.

She certainly had not dressed as a weapon tonight. A weapon, more often than not, was sleek and trim, which suggested to him more of a form-fitting dress, while her lovely gown billowed out around her, giving her something of a more gentle look. But that came right back around to impressions; perhaps that was the perception she had wanted to create in Christian's mind. Just as he had wanted her to view him as a perfect gentleman, perhaps.

But he could see it now, in the keenness of her light brown eyes, paired with the same confidence he had noticed before, and the conviction in her tone as she made the statement in question. Deceptively sharp, and deadly in the right hands, reminiscent of a knife, that earliest of blades. In context, the personification made perfect sense, as well. Put a blade in Gabriel's hands, and he was sure to be deadly. But Alex did not merely provide the blade; she was the blade. He was the intent, and she was the action. Christian had seen himself how excellent a strategist Gabriel was; his weapon of choice must be just as sure. A perfect pairing, given the two of them, and one she was clearly proud of.

It was a remarkable and profound relationship.

"I'm sure you're right." He gave her another smile, but this one was softer than the others. "About Gabriel being safe, and about being an excellent weapon. I'd say you chose well when you chose each other." He meant that fully; never had he seen a couple so well matched as the Constants. It was inspiring, in a way. Not in the way that would have made him go out and actually start dating, but in that the thought of there being some force or ability in the world to draw two people so well suited toward each other became somehow very comforting.

He nodded at her suggestion of wine. Their server would likely have been with them shortly in any case, but a very slight gesture of Christian's hand brought him over sooner. Christian had learned that body language served best when it was subtle, and that, as a corollary, having close control over one's most minute movements made oneself that much more easy or difficult to read, depending on one's preference. The server approached them and asked for their drink orders with a smile. Having glanced at the wine menu in the very short time between the gesture and the server's arrival, Christian glanced up and returned the smile, with an answer ready at hand. He was a quick reader and fairly familiar with wines. Champagne went well with everything, which worked because he had not decided what to order yet. There was an abundance of seafood - appropriate, given where they were - on the menu, but prepared in a less familiar style than he was accustomed to. Which was fine; he was glad for the change.

"I've been told I make much better company with a glass of wine," he joked lightly. The best aspect of jokes was that they did not need to be true, although in the case of this one, one could argue either way. Sipping a glass of champagne with dinner was not going to make a difference; he had famously - albeit somewhat anonymously - gone through seven bottles of wine in one sitting; the aim there had been to push himself, once again, past his limits. He had gotten a bit drunk then, and spent the next day with a considerable hangover, but to all appearances he had an oddly high tolerance for alcohol to match his oddly powerful metabolism. He never quite ate enough.

"I imagine you know a good bit about me already," he said; Gabriel had probably mentioned him, and then there was the whole media tour he had done at Fallon Daugherty's behest that had given out more personal information than he had ever shared with any of his past friends. Then again, given Alex's feelings toward Ark, he was not certain that she had seen or read any of it. "I'm an open book, as they say, although more by force of circumstances these days. But I hear you're an excellent pilot, and that you've taught lessons in flying." He smiled again. "That's a unique choice of vocation."

[Alexandria Constant]

Alexandria highly doubted that Christian was in the habit of being a worry wart, it was far from the impression he gave off. If Christian was indeed worried about her husband it was not something common, it was because there was an affection there. It was similar to that which she knew that Gabriel and Lucius shared, if such was the case. Alexandria herself had created such bonds during her time as an Air Force pilot, it was the togetherness of being part of a tight knit group.

It was the following comments that brought her intrigue as he praised her and Gabriel on choosing their relationship. Had it honestly been a choice that either of them had made? While Alexandria was a firm believer in creating your own fate, that the path of your life was not set in stone, she had to admit that at times she was not sure that there had been a choice to become Gabriel's partner. It simply happened, she was drawn to him like a flower to sunlight, she needed him like a person needed air to breathe. Given how miserable each were and continued to be when they were apart from one another for any long duration of time... well Alexandria was inclined to believe in the notion of soul mates.

"Thank you, we do enjoy a quite happy and enjoyable marriage." Their marriage was not perfect, it was unorthodox and was far from ever have being planned. All the same, their woes were few enough, and they certainly had found a happiness she doubted either of them had ever believed would be possible. Gabriel had even said as much in the past, partly even believing that he did not deserve that happiness that they had created. A lot of things had changed in that time though, they had both changed, and Gabriel was no longer looking at a premature death.

Alexandria had noticed early his own eyes glazing through her, peering into her like she would do to others. It was not her soul that he was looking at, it was her, who she was presenting herself to be at this occasion. The act had not gone unnoticed but it was nothing at all that one could or should do about it. She had appeared as a grumpy predator looking at him as prey, it was only natural to see what really was lurking there in the details. Whatever he couldn't obtain from that, he would be able to easily get from any inquiry, she was not shy when it came to sharing her stories or opinions. The latter of which was in all likelihood the reason that they were here alone, her all to willingness to display her passionate opinions at leisure.

She had a small chuckle as he joked about being better company when he was with wine. While Christian had meant it as a joke, Alexandria had been present at his more or less anonymous night on a chat room when he had drowned in the wine like a lush. Luckily the anonymity that the internet provided kept his little experiment from being too much public knowledge and limited whatever embarrassment that had arose because of it. How he reacted in person though, that was what she was curious about, or if he would even attempt to divulge that much into the beverage. While far from the mainland, a public drunk outing would hardly escape the eye of the media and that public relations person had worked soo hard to make him to be the shining prince. It would be tragic if that somehow turned out to be a waste.

The waiter proved to be little more than just a momentary pause in their conversation however. Christian had opted for champagne and was looking over the seafood, Alexandria decided to have a bottle of the house red delivered to the table. While she was ready to order her dinner, it seemed that Christian still needed to decide on his own and she dismissed the waiter momentarily when he brought the wine.

Christian was right though, Alexandria did know a fair amount about him already, thanks to Gabriel but also taking the time to read everything she could from the recent media blitz. Even the transcripts from the town hall meeting and the press conference had been a part of her research into the new CEO, she was well brief on what he did. "I know about you, but I don't know you." There was a difference, however subtle and how many people failed to see it. Just because you knew what the person did, what they had done, you truly did not know who they were as a person. You didn't know the demons they carried, what their morals were, you didn't know anything about them that way.

No, to know Christian she would have to spend time with him, study him as they interacted. Alexandria knew she would have to read between the lines, dissect every word and action he took to get to even have an inkling of who Christian Moynahan was. Her own preconceived notions, her research, whatever Gabriel told her of him was nothing. It was simply a list of his achievements, of his ideas, of his plans. It made her smile a little, but it brought back a moment from one of the Matrix movies, about how one did not know another until you fought them. While she would never reach those levels, she understood and empathized where the sentiment came from.

"Have you ever been in a pilot's seat? It doesn't matter if it is nothing but a crop duster or if it is the newest piece of military technology, there is not a single thing in the world that can replicate the feeling." She paused and let out a content sigh as she reminisced about all the times she had been in command of a plane of some sort. It was a truly remarkable feeling.

"Motorcycles come close to mirroring it, but they fail to create the same sensations, at least in my opinion. Whenever I'm up there in the air, there is nothing in this world that bothers me at all. It is freedom, sweet absolute freedom. There is also power, harnessing it, working in sync with that power to accomplish whatever your goals are. Yet it is the sweet taste of a freedom that nothing else on Earth can duplicate that drew me to the profession. Freedom by the way of servitude." Alexandria sat back, taking her glass of wine in both her hands as she did, with her eyebrow raised. As she took a sip of the refreshment, she wondered if she had piqued Christian's interest or if perhaps he knew of her history.

[Christian Moynahan]

"I am the best," she claimed, "and more;
"A battle-scarred conquistador."
-Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Conquistador"

Based on what he had heard from Gabriel, "happy and enjoyable" was putting it lightly. That was not to say Gabriel spoke of Alex all the time; he did speak of her often enough, but not in the way that new lovers or newlyweds do. His comments tended to be in passing; some outing they had planned, or something she had done for him or vice versa., or, naturally, her feelings about Ark. Often it was simply the way in which he spoke of her that gave his feelings away. It was much the same with Lucius, regarding Dakari. It was admirable, in a way, but something to be careful of, certainly. Then again, he was fairly sure neither man spoke as openly around others, and it might very well be that they had taken him into their confidences, which, if so, was a great honor to him. He did not make friends often or easily, but if he had with these two men… well, it was promising. And very much needed, he admitted to himself.

Around him, friendships tended to be scarce. He had always been fiercely protective of his coworkers and those under his command, as he had proven one day in Texas when the world had very nearly come to an end. Yet none of those had really counted as his friends; he went out for drinks with them sometimes and spoke of non-work-related things, but - and he was not sure whether they had ever noticed this - he tended to listen while they talked. That made any sort of relationship he might have developed with them fairly one-sided. He knew better than to think much could have grown from there. That was how he preferred it, to some extent.

But then he considered Gabriel and Lucius, and the friendship they had built. To call the men "inseparable" would have been a bit erroneous - they tended to be at least a continent apart most of the time. When they did get together, though, they greeted each other as though they had not seen each other in years, even if only a week had passed since their last meeting. As Christian understood it, they had met on Ark's former chat room and found they each had a level of snark and sarcasm that matched each other, and the friendship had grown leaps and bounds from there.

They were a chosen family, of sorts - Gabriel and Alex, and their children, and Lucius and Dakari. The two women had some ideological differences but otherwise seemed to get along well enough. And they all, more or less, seemed to want to welcome Christian into their fold. Dakari did not know Christian well at all, but had nothing against him personally, nor against Ark. It was a bit of a change, since Ark had very directly impacted her, namely her career as a lawyer. She had reduced her practice a good deal since that circus of a Senate hearing in August 2010. Her hatred for Ark had grown more and more since then, but, once her intended had drawn Ark into the Kilvayne fold, she had trusted that things would be… mostly different. That was enough for her, it seemed.

For his part, Christian tended to veer away from relationships of that nature. His longest romantic relationship had lasted only a few months, and that had been in college, right before he took to studying every single discipline he could fit into his schedule. Learning had been his mistress then; afterward, he had become engaged to his work, and that, more or less, had remained the case for the eight or so years since then. He preferred to keep others at at least an arm's length. His understanding was that Lucius had been a deal more free-handed with his relationships, but Gabriel had been something like Christian, aside from Gabriel's habit of forming relationships almost simultaneously in different places and never bothering to follow up on them until he met Alex.

He was glad to hear Alexandria chuckle at his comment about wine. It was a good start, he thought, or part of a good start. He had no intention of pushing his limits that far tonight, however. It seemed more than prudent not to do so. Besides, the night in the chatroom had served its purpose. Seven bottles of wine, one right after the other, each roughly forty-proof alcohol, got him to the beginning of a drunk state. It had left him with a hell of a hangover, too, but that was an experiment for another time.

His online personas - for there were two separate ones - happened to be very different, and served two different purposes. One was the obvious one, the public face, representative of Ark by nature of association. The other was anonymous, for when he did not feel like being Ark's face while not at Ark. There was a bit of transparency there, simply due to Christian's nature. He would not have been surprised to learn that Alex had seen through it.

The server brought around their drinks, an arrival that Christian only partially noted, as he was paying the menu most of his attention. He did notice, though, and gave a little nod of his head to the server as Alex sent him away. He was not sure whether to expect authentic island entrees from a hotel grill, even one that seemed to be independent of its host establishment, but he did not recognize most of the items on the menu, which, in combination with his pickiness, did not make choosing a meal easy. He had more or less decided and was setting the menu aside as he commented lightly on her having learned of him through Gabriel and the media when she made a most striking comment.

"I know about you, but I don't know you."

He looked up at her then, his blue-green eyes settling on her, studying her for a moment. No one - not Gabriel, not Fallon, not any of the slew of reporters and journalists and writers and interviewers - had said that to him since he had taken office at Ark. He had paused in that moment, somewhere in the action of putting the menu down, startled in a fashion, but more astounded than confused. A second or two passed in this fashion before he reverted to his regular mannerisms. "No, indeed," he murmured, folding his hands together and resting them on the table. But he had no other verbal response to that comment, aside from a quiet but fierce thankfulness that someone had recognized that in all the madness of his ascent, and, additionally, that she had been the one to do so.

The point was proven as he listened to her talk about flying. Clearly it was something she was passionate about, as he could tell from the way she spoke of it, the way her eyes brightened as she thought of past times, the way she seemed to relax as the topic changed to one she was not only comfortable with, but one she very much kept close to her heart. Christian smiled faintly as he noted the difference. He had known that Alex was a pilot, but not how intensely she felt about the profession - and the hobby, it seemed, though the way she spoke of it, the term "hobby" hardly seemed sufficient.

Freedom and power. In a manner, and by turns, that seemed to be what drew her most to flying. Everyone had their passions and their motives, and the pleasures they drew from them. His, he supposed, related more closely to strategy and control. The feeling of accomplishing something, of having something in his hands, his to mold or destroy. The opportunity to meet a worthy opponent, whether in swordplay or in chess. He gave Alex a little smile as she sipped her wine.

"You're very passionate about it," he remarked. "Speaking of flying alone gives you a sense of joy. And of accomplishment." He tilted his head slightly. "That's what separates the hobbyists from the dedicated. It's admirable."

The waiter then reappeared to take their orders, and Christian asked for the shrimp stir fry, after waiting for Alex to order first. There was that sense of chivalry and manners again, one of the better take-aways from his youth. That done, he reached for his glass and took a sip from it. "You mentioned servitude as well. So many underestimate the meaning of that these days. 'Every man a king' seems to have taken hold in all the wrong ways." He chuckled softly. The best leaders had not bowed to the demands of their people because of pressure, but because it was what they were meant to do. "My best professor once told me that a people should not serve their king, but that the king should serve them." It was a lesson he had taken with him, kept close to him, but it was difficult to remember that now, when he was, in many interpretations, that king himself. Although he did not quite voice it - but let it show in his expression, however much it did - he was grateful for the reminder.

[Alexandria Constant]

She had stunned him and perhaps even caught him off guard with her answer as he momentarily paused. It surprised her that she had caught him in that moment like she had, as she had surmised others within his circle would have recognized the difference. Christian and Gabriel were well versed with one another Alexandria knew and if her husband had failed to spot the difference she had overestimated him. For his part, Christian did his best to recompose himself and gave her a small acknowledgement to her answer.

He then spoke of her passion, speaking about what was obvious, as if letting his thoughts flow freely from mind to mouth. It was not a trait that Alexandria would have suspected from a leader, as it could very well lead to tense situations if someone had thoughts or opinions that could cause tension. "Thank you, I suppose." Flying had never been a hobby for her, it had been a job and then an opportunity. Alas, that was all in a life ago, in a life that had been torn apart by things so very out of her control.

"Truth be told, it was never something I would have called a hobby or really a passion. It became a gateway to a dream, a foolish childhood dream, but a dream all the same. Life has a way of stealing ones dreams from you though, even if you pour your heart and life into it." All the dedication she had, all the hard word, all the flawless reports and missions were all for naught. In the end, the world had stole away her hope and dream because of something no one could ever control. Was it such a crime to follow ones heart? Those who would call themselves leaders seemed to believe so and her dreams thoroughly crushed in one fell swoop.

Alexandria ordered her meal as the waiter reappeared, opting for grilled salmon, but adding a personal touch with a layer of buffalo sauce. "I have a penchant for enjoying the spicer things in life." She said with a bit of glee at the double meaning, though she wondered if Christian would pick up on it readily. Although it was hard to judge a book by its cover, Alexandria hardly thought that he seemed the time that would partake in the sort of activities that she did on a very regular basis. Christian was far too... obsessed in work she thought to have those sort of forays into the wider world.

He picked up on her passing comment though as the server left with their order and Alexandria was a bit perplexed. She was not sure she understood exactly what he meant by his first statement and the second left itself open to a discussion that was potentially argumentative. Alexandria had in her mind at the start of the evening to cause a good impression which meant she needed to be on her best behavior. Yet simply sitting idle or agreeing with him in silence's consent was not in her character and being a mild puppet probably would not sit well with the new Ark CEO either.

"I agree to a point, there is a bit of give and take. If you let the people be those who rule, then you get tyranny by majority where minorities get stampled over, yet going the other way you get tyranny by minority which creates a populace that is on the edge." One simply had to look at some of the recent debates regarding LGBT rights, abortion rights, and other social matters to see how both sides had their downfalls. "I am not sure what the right answer is, or if there even is one, but I do recognize the falls within each system. Yet I don't think you came to dinner to have a political discussion with a well known rebellious spirit."

It was probably the safest path for them to move the course of discussion away from politics and the like. Alexandria held strong opinions, Christian already knew of this due to her position on Ark and she was sure either Gabriel had told him or he had seen the logs on the chat rooms. Gabriel once in a moment of frustration even said that he would have a better time getting a brick to change its opinion over her. While it was far from the truth, the fact remained was that did hold very strong opinions and usually held onto the motivation for those feelings for quite awhile. And given her natural rebellious attitude, politics were not going to be a topic of discussion that would remain calm for very long.

Her voice lowered a bit so that only Christian and herself could hear the conversation. "So, what are your demons Christian?" In that instant, she activated her ability and her eyes turned into a sea of blackness, iris and all. It had been some time since she had called her powers such, but there was an undertone in her voice. It became obvious to her that Christian was hiding the fact that he was a Special to the public, even if he had not gone to lengths to deny being one. There was a certain way he had spoke around the Special topic that she had caught on and arose her suspicions, now she merely was seeing if he would confirm them.

[Christian Moynahan]

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
-Imagine “Dragons, “Demons”

In many ways, Christian was a natural leader. People took to his open personality readily, and he was mostly transparent about things, including his feelings. But that last trait did also set him up to be used, and he was simply lucky that that had not happened to him just yet. He found it odd that Alex responded to his assertion that she was passionate about flying so blandly, but he supposed it was a bit early for him to show too much enthusiasm, given her initial opinions about him, as far as he knew, at least. That was fine; he was adaptable.

But then she went on to explain her reaction. Christian frowned a little as she told him about how life had kept her from achieving her dreams. It would have been simple to say something along the lines of “It’s never too late to try”; in many cases, it was, and he doubted she would have let that dream continue to stall if she had a way around it. He chose, however, not to pursue that line of questioning.

“If childhood dreams are foolish, then a good number of us are fools.” He smiled faintly. His childhood dream had been vague - simply to be successful, to be the best at everything at which he tried his hand, to be wealthy enough to support his family. Then he had become an adult, and all that innocence had fallen away. He had learned what it was to pay bills on time, to work enough to have sufficient funds to pay those bills, to work hard and gain no recognition for it, to make his way up the ladder to earn more money and recognition and success. When he looked back, he saw that he had fulfilled those childhood guidelines, but at a serious cost. He was successful, he was the best at everything he did, and he was wealthy enough to support his family - but he had no family to support.

“There is something about coming into adulthood that sours even the simplest of dreams.” But that was all he said on that subject, rather than dwell upon the sadness of Alex’s story or the disappointments of his own. That was not the sort of tone he wanted to set for the dinner. He raised an eyebrow at her order, specifically the buffalo sauce, and chuckled when she explained the choice. He should have expected as much from the adventurous and spunky woman Gabriel had told him so much about. With that in mind… there were probably a few different meanings to her use of "spicier...."

“I would imagine so,” he said, a sly smile tugging at his lips, hiding another chuckle. Indeed, he was far too much of a workaholic to take part in much interaction with others outside of it, and especially not anything intimate, but that did not mean he did not have certain predilections when the occasion happened to come around.

He had not meant to get into politics with the comment he made regarding leadership. The metaphor had led in that direction, however. His distaste for politics probably put him in the number one spot in that category among CEOs. Christian did whatever he could to avoid dealing with politicians and their games hands-on, and instead kept a contingent of liaisons and informers in Washington to keep him apprised of any situation that concerned him. Otherwise, he would have nothing to do with it.

And so, when Alex suggested that they move on to a different topic - knowing how opinionated she could be, and that he could also be - he nodded and sipped his drink, instead of replying directly to Alex’s comments. He was not certain what the next subject should be, however, but, fortunately - perhaps - Alex provided one herself.

Christian did not recall whether Gabriel had ever told him about Alex’s ability. If so, it had slipped Christian’s mind. As such, he was a bit taken aback when Alex’s eyes became pitch black. What was she seeing in that moment? Surely the ability was not simply to change the color of her eyes, not given the way she lowered her voice as though they were discussing something confidential. Or perhaps she had figured out that Christian was a Special himself. She was certainly perceptive enough to have figured that out.

The first sign passed quickly, so quickly that if Alex blinked at the wrong moment, she might have missed it completely. A pair of large wings, their outlines drawn in vivid shades of blue and indigo and purple, their feathers a translucent light blue - appeared and unfurled behind him, casting the angles of his face in a blue tone. He smiled briefly; the wing construct had been his favorite since he had discovered it. He seldom used it, however, as it did not enable him to fly very far at all, and worked more for intimidation or for show than anything else - aside from the fact that he usually kept his ability to himself anyway.

But as suddenly as the wings were there, they were gone, their cool tones disappearing in a blue wisp that mingled with the warm-colored lights of the restaurant. He unfolded his hands, however, and there appeared a small blue tulip of the same colors as the wings in his hands. He picked up the flower and gave it to Alex, who, if she chose to, could set it in a clear vase that seemed to grow out of the table. Meanwhile, by now, Christian’s smile had faded somewhat, a more serious look taking its place.

“They never last,” he said, in a voice that was almost a murmur, that rumbled in his chest. “They are not living. The flower and its vase will disappear in a few minutes. Mono no aware. There is beauty in transience.” His gaze met Alex’s directly now. “My demons? Aside from this flower and those wings? I would hardly know where to begin, Mrs. Constant.”

But then, he leaned back a bit and smiled, and folded his hands, a false contentment. “What is it that you see when you look at me, Mrs. Constant?” he asked, a question that directly referred to her inky-black eyes, but which could have been - and was meant to be - taken in a few different ways. “What do you have hiding behind those dark eyes?”

[Alexandria Constant]

Alex let out a small chuckle as Christian smartly commented on her little mini rant and lament. It was true, someone once said that if their child like selves could see how they became, they would beat their adult selves up. While it was not always true, some people did get the chance to chase their dreams and achieve all they ever wanted and more, it was true more often than not. But everyone had dreams as a child, an idea of what they wanted to be, of who they wanted to be when they reached adulthood.

She had begun to comment when he said that adulthood found a way to sour dreams but held her tongue in check. She wanted to say that it was not the world that changed but them that did, but she knew that they were both right. The world did sour such dreams and people did change as they entered adulthood. It was because the world gave them new rules and expectations that they were supposed to meet and adhere to, it forced them to adapt to a certain way how things "were supposed to go" as it were. Few were that could stand up to that system and say no, we refuse to, the system needs to change and not us. History called them revolutions, reformers, or dissidents, but Alexandria knew they were the brave ordinary men and women who refused to conform to a system built on the backs of those just like them with little remorse for doing so.

She had a surprise grin as Christian surprised her with the way he answered her little joke. Could it be that beneath the business like exterior there actually was a man with passions and desires for more than mere commercial success? Could there be a person who could find certain leisure of the more exotic kind, take someone to be more than just a friend of acquaintance? He would need time though... and his time was so often taken up as far as she could tell. Perhaps in another life where he was not the leader he had such desires, likes, and such.

Her own drifting into the political realm seemed to not sit well with Christian, even if he did not say as much. When she offered a move to another topic of conversation, his body language gave a very definite look of relief about it. It was something she shared with him then, a dislike for politics and politicians, though she wondered if his reasons for so were as personal as hers. After all, it was at their whims which certain minority groups held rights and did not, who were given tax benefits, and all other such things that should have been granted without a need for corrupt puppets to try and play a game of chess with.

The look of surprise when she turned on her ability though did not surprise her, even if Gabriel might have mentioned to Christian her ability. There was no real way to prepare for the sight of seeing eye sockets with their whites and iris turning completely black, as if staring right into the abyss itself. The first time she had seen herself do it in a mirror, she had nearly had a heart attack, as it looked something out of a holy book or movie about demonic possession. So they had become her demons and those words came to hold so many more besides that original thought and intent.

She watched as he displayed his own demons as it were, a faint glimpse of wings that faded nearly as quick as they had formed. Yet the flowers he produced from his hands and then the vase seemed to last, as she twirled the one he handed her between her fingers. It felt real enough but it was not, not entirely, if his words were to believed. There was a sadness in his voice though and his look was anything but pleasant, more serious and wounded than its previous contentment. Perhaps more than just the constructs he had made were behind those soft spoken words.

It was her time to lean forward as he asked her his questions, with a grin that hid her thoughtfulness. The questions were so open for her to answer, in whatever way she had decided to go about them. It was purposeful she knew, he was leaving it up to her as to how she could reply, either to the direct or the undercurrent. What a game to play.

"I see everything." Alexandria smiled and tilted her head to the side, reaching out and putting the flower into the vase before putting her hands together and resting her head on them. "I know that these flowers and that vase are not real, not in a certain sense, they do not live as you and I do. I know each shadow and each light in all of this restaurant and where one man had had the light turned off in his booth while he drinks whatever is bothering him away."

What did she see when she saw him though, what did she see indeed? "As for you Christian, I see your aura bright and beaming, centered on your most prized possession. It flows off you in a way that I am sure my sister would have a fit with, she sees energies far better than I can. What else though, what else do you hide?" She weighted her expression, keeping it calm but playful. "I see a man who worries too much, works too much, and will see himself to an early grave because of it. I see a man who will be alone at the end of his days save but for a few friends, not because of a lack of desire, but something more. If I had to wager, perhaps a lack of trust, or lack of understanding at how some people can live their lives a certain way and be content."

She sat up straight for just a moment, to free her hands long enough to sip on the drink she had ordered before returning to her pose. "And why not? We are both scientists, we both desire for knowledge, experience, and understanding the mysteries of the world. Perhaps in different ways, but the pursuit of any scientist is indeed this, to understand the world around us. And yet we also are ambitious, for we look to succeed where others have failed or build upon half finished work. Not all are cut from our mold." Even between the two of them, they were far apart, though not as far as either were like to think before the evening began.

"As for what I hide? I hide nothing at all, I just give no answers unless they are asked. I have my demons, they show me what I need to know in the situations that I have needed them to. I am no psychic, telepath, soul seer, or what have you though. What I see is the light in the dark with a very precise aim." She had told him all he needed to know to know her own abilities, even if he had not been aware of it. It was her own riddle for him, from one scientist and intellectual to another, she just wondered if he would solve it before the evening was through.

[Christian Moynahan]

Built with stolen parts, a telephone in my heart,
someone get me a priest!
To put my mind to bed; this ringing in my head,
is this a cure - or is this a disease?
-Audioslave, “Show Me How to Live”

When Gabriel had first arranged this dinner - when Christian had expected Gabriel to be present - he had expected Alex to be an interesting and engaging woman, but their conversation had, so far, been intelligent and diverting, a back-and-forth game of sorts, a competition, but not one that was meant to have a winner, merely a measure of each other, and, consequently, a measure of themselves. He was already learning more about her and more about himself than he had imagined he would. Alex was incredibly perceptive, and knew how to express those perceptions. Again, Christian thought Gabriel had found a perfect match in Alex.

The examples of his ability he had given Alex were considerably mild, although it had been a long time before he had been able to create any constructs that could imitate living organisms - flowers, for example, and wings. The first objects he had created had been to amuse himself; a Rubik’s cube, a basketball, and so on. But, indeed, they only lasted as long as he was able to hold the illusion. The flowers and vase would disappear in a few minutes as his focus was slowly redirected elsewhere. He could hold them for longer, of course, but in this case, they had only been examples. Still, however, the point stood: They never truly lasted.

Yet he was beginning to understand the consequences of his ability, and how dangerous they were. He could create rudimentary weapons - knives were easiest; guns were too complicated. But the effect of using psionic weapons was that they did not always wound physically. In Christian’s case, they caused the victim to feel as though he had been stabbed, and his body to react accordingly, but there was no physical wound. Christian had only had very few opportunities to experiment with that, but the results always presented the same conclusions. Flowers, wings, forks, and other such innocent little things masked the less benign part of his ability.

While he was no murderer, he took some comfort and pride in that, in being something of a threat. There were very few others who could stand up to him, certainly not a common mugger or thief; besides, it was power, a power that bled through him, and while “power-hungry” would have been a bit too harsh a term in his case, that psionic power matched his personal aspirations very well.

He took a long sip of his drink as Alex began to respond to his questions. He was not surprised by her initial answer, about the flower and the lights, but what came next… made its mark. He was certain Alex meant it only as observation, just as he had asked and expected. But was he really that transparent, or was that Alex’s perceptiveness once again? He didn’t dare to ask.

The positive side of it was that he felt justified in being proud of himself - of his mind - one that he had always somewhat narcissistically thought of being very uncommon, unlike and above most others. Lucius and Gabriel met his level, or surpassed it; he could not have asked for better superiors or friends. But she was right in the rest of it as well, and he knew it. But what else did he have, aside from a few close friends and his work? If he could leave a legacy of respectability and advancement for Ark, then the length of his life would be irrelevant.

Then he recalled something Gabriel had told him - that he’d had Huntington’s, once; Lucius had cured him. But before that, before his children, before Alex, his doctors had given him twenty years to live, at most. And, being precognitive, he knew he would die alone, until Alex came into his life and changed that fate. It was a beautiful story, and one Christian was glad Gabriel was able to share. But few had that sort of circumstance happen in their lives, just as few became the head of a megacorporation. The boy from Roanoke had managed the latter; he wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to expect the former.

He did not respond to Alex’s observations, not verbally. He had leaned forward slightly to pick up his glass; now he leaned back again, his lips drawn into a thin line. Then, after a long pause, he chuckled softly. She had nailed it, of course. “You’re giving Gabe a run for his money,” he said with a slight tilt of his head. “He sees what will be, and you see what is.”

That they were both scientists and both ambitious was true enough, although he did prefer to make the distinction that he was technically not a scientist, but that was semantics. They still shared that thirst for discovery, and in that, they had something of an understanding. ”As it’s said, ‘if it were easy, everyone would do it,’” he said lightly before taking a sip of his wine and continuing, “And it isn’t easy, but we’ve done it. I suspect that’s what has drawn our little group together.” He smiled for a moment while Alex spoke of what she did and did not hide. He was certain there was more to her words than simply what she said.

“We are alike in more than just our ambitions, I suspect. We both come from from financially stable but somewhat unsatisfying childhoods, and aspired to greater heights than they might have taken us. We found ourselves surrounded by lesser peers, some who tried to ride our coattails, and perhaps failed due to their own lack of motivation.” He placed his arms against the table, his hands clasped. “We both love our families dearly. Where the similarity ends is that you have at least one sibling that you are close to. I say ‘more than one’ because you seem to have come from a slightly larger family. You’re very protective, from what I’ve seen and heard of your daughters, but that protectiveness goes back farther than motherhood.” He smiled softly. “Am I far off, then?”

[Alexandria Constant]

Alexandria pondered what Christian meant that she was giving her husband a run for his money. Was there some sort of bet in place for the evening, that this event had a secret wager underneath the encounter and discussion? That would be most unscrupulous of both of the parties, though it was not something that she would put past Gabriel and his little schemes. Christian though, would he play a part in those games that Gabriel liked to create, to make wagers on something as simple as a meeting between what appeared to be a difference of minds.

No, that would be beneath him, or at least the exterior that he projected to the world. And he would not be someone to hedge a bet unless he was ultimately confident that he would win Alexandria surmised. What then did those tiny words mean in the scheme of things, what more, why did that brief sentence have her attention so? It was not wise to obsess over the minor things, even if the devil was in the details. Too much obsessing over the small matters meant that you lost sight of the big picture, that you lost focus of the true goal.

She smirked though as he continued on, he was close to an extent, at least in regards to her perceptiveness. People and situations were easy enough to read if you knew how to observe, what to observe as well. Expressions, changes in body posture, and fidgeting told so much to someone who know what they were looking for when observing others. Enough to make one fool others into thinking they were a mind reader or something as extraordinary, when the truth was that they own bodies betrayed their thoughts and emotions.

Her smirk stayed as he continued on, oh there were parts where she could have interrupted, but where was the fun in that? It also amused her to hear how he was trying to guess at her own upbringing, at her personality as well. Who could have ever know just how amusing it would be to hear a description of yourself from someone who you thought was your adversary? This night was certainly not the bust that it could have turned out to be following Gabriel's little trick at the start of it. But the question was now, how did she respond to the guesses, did she let him know the truth or continue to play in riddles?

"You're close enough to make a picture but not a painting. Your paints are the right color but not the right shades." Riddles was the game of the day and so it was only natural that she continued to use them. Besides, he seemed the type who would be most welcomed to a game of riddles, like a character from an old book that she might have come across a long time ago. Perhaps though a little bit more straightforwardness would be in order for awhile, just to settle things down.

"I am a plethora of things, some of them even contradictory to one another. Whether it be from nature or the circumstances surrounding my upbringing and life experiences, I could not say. Naturally then, I would go with the most likely scenario, it is a bit of both." The nurture versus nature discussion was always fascinating, but it was like the chicken and the egg, the answer would be ever contested regardless of what majority opinion might deem be the true answer.

"Let us not play in these riddles anymore. Ask me what you really want to ask me while I offer you this chance to examine what lies beneath the skin. This will be your only chance where I promise to answer truthfully."

[Christian Moynahan]

So much can be
said through silence
As hard as it seems,
all that we need
is too close to be seen
-10 Years, “Seasons to Cycles”

The entire dinner had Christian studying Alexandria as they exchanged words, albeit at times more closely than others. As he made the comment about her versus Gabriel, he saw a wave of thoughtfulness cross her expression, perhaps a little more so than should have. The motivation behind the comment was simple enough: an idiom, often used when one wanted to express the sentiment that someone was growing better than another at something. He had followed that with an observation of what Gabriel saw versus what Alexandria saw, in as much a philosophical sense as a literal one. He was speaking lightly now, with only a touch of earnestness, as opposed to the more serious topics they had pursued before.

In that vein, he took a few guesses at her background. Admittedly, they were based largely on his own. They had much more in common than he had imagined, and he suspected that had much to do with their respective upbringings. He was a bit off base, however, as Alex told him, in a bit of a riddle. She had a way about riddles, he noted. He took it that Gabe understood them, but Christian did not know Alex nearly well enough to decipher them. They had only known each other for the current length of their dinner.

“I think many of us are a plethora of things.” He did not want to undercut Alex’s opinion of herself, but the most complex people were the ones that either rose the highest or found them in whichever positions they wanted the most. Everyone else had found complacency to be sufficient, and Christian hated that. He would admit privately - although not publicly - that he held a much lower opinion of such complacent people than he did of those who were constantly pushing themselves and reaching for their dreams. For those, he held the utmost respect. And while he had met many such people on his life’s journey, he was surrounded by them at Ark, and was more glad with each passing day that he had earned the position he was in.

He still felt like a regular person. His house was bigger, his office higher, his bank account larger, but when he went for runs or drove to work or shopped for groceries, it felt just as it always had. That part he also liked. He kept to his roots as much as he could, although the base of those roots had withered. He was still unsure what his family thought of him; he had heard nothing from them since his appointment as CEO of Ark. He had sent a birthday card to his mother in August, but heard nothing back; however, this was not unusual. He supposed he would find out come Christmas or his own birthday, which were not far apart.

“If we were defined singularly by our birthrights or our experiences, we might be blinded to other perspectives either way.” He reached for his glass and took a sip of champagne. He had been raised one way and then struck out on his own in a completely different path. His sister, however, had remained within that bubble that their parents made for them, and very gladly too. That was, he felt, his greatest regret in life - that he had not rescued her. Not for lack of trying; she had refused his help, and he had not understood that for some time. Now, having spent about eleven years in the “real world,” he understood very well. Clearly, painfully well.

Alex offered to answer any question he wanted honestly, sans riddles. He considered that for a moment, and would likely have taken longer had their food arrived, unusually quickly, just then. Gabriel’s shrimp stir fry and Alex’s grilled salmon with buffalo sauce were served at the same time, in considerable portions. Christian alternated between eating very slight and very large portions; this evening, he might have leaned toward the former, but the show of power had him inclined toward the latter. His ability tied into his metabolism, or perhaps his entire body, somehow; he just had yet to figure out how. Every test he had created to discern his ability’s true nature had come back inconclusive.

With a smile and nod toward the server, he placed his plate a little more carefully on the table, where his reaching for the champagne flute would not disturb the food, or vice versa; and arranging the silverware in a specific design, which happened to be exact layout dictated by the guidelines of etiquette. The short time on that gave him enough time to think of at least one question, and, instead of being rude by taking a bite and then asking it, he asked the question first and then sampled the stir fry.

His mind went back to the comment she had made earlier, about knowing about him, but not him truly. As it should have, since it had affected him so deeply. “What is it that no one knows about you, Alexandria?” he asked, a bit more quietly than he had been speaking before, which, with as low a voice as his, said little. “Excepting your husband, what is it that no one sees, but that you would like them to see? Or…” This would tread into dangerous territory. “…that you would not like them to see?”

[Alexandria Constant]

He was uncertain as he paused, carefully considering the question to ask her as she laid bare her offer. It was a very special treat she thought, allowing someone a single question that she would answer honestly and without any hint of being cheeky, no riddles, just the simple truth that they desired. What was the one question anyone would ask if they would get the answer without any sort of fib or white lie come creeping into the equation? That was what was before Christian now and Alexandria could hardly fault him for pausing for time to consider the answer he desired from her.

Most fortunate for him, their dinner arrived at that moment, a rather quick delivery based on previous experiences. Fortune seemed to be showing quite a shining glimmer upon him this evening. Fortune was favoring him quite a bunch in the last few months, perhaps even years, for him to have risen to his station as he did. Fortunate favored the brave it was said, yet was Christian brave, of that she did not know at all.

Alexandria watched subtly as he arranged his meal and silverware in an interesting manner. It was a rare thing indeed to see someone these days who actually knew how to set up all the utensils and dinner in a proper way that were not part of the culinary field. Etiquette had become a lost art on society and it was very refreshing to see someone besides herself that still practiced it.

However, given that he was still contemplating the questions to ask her, she held her tongue from giving a compliment. She would remind herself to do so later, if the mood struck her at least and Christian continued to prove more interesting and complex than she expected. It struck her though that he seemed to be eating lighter than he should have been in her estimation. His body was far from being at the peak of fitness and it looked like he could have used a hardy meal, more so than the dish he ordered provided.

It seemed though that the time gained by the appearance of the waiter and their meal had given him the question he wanted to know of her. Christian seemed to be taking a little lesson from one of her earlier statements and wanted to actually know about her rather than of her. Well, that was certainly something that she could admire, the more knowledgeable a person became, the better prepared they were to deal with them.

"We are more learned the more we realize that we are ignorant." She whispered with a small smile as she did. "Why aren't you a clever boy, that is three questions and not one. It does not matter though, I will answer them all and as honest as I can. You may not like the answers though, the past is often hidden for very good reasons." There were things about her that no one should know and she was ashamed that Gabriel had learned of them. Some secrets were better off going to the grave with.

"You recall the riots two years past in LA? The one where hundreds of the rioters were slain in the streets during the chaos following the event in Atlanta. That was me, I was the vigilante who put them down like dogs and with no remorse. Not because I wanted to institute law and order once more but because they stood between me and my goal, because a side of me does not feel compassion, remorse, or even sees the shades of gray that exist in the world." That was the thing she wanted no one to know about, her children should never know that their mother at times could be a monster as threatening as any nightmare or evil tale could portray.

"I once aspired to an astronaut, to travel amongst the stars and beyond this world. I have been curious and outgoing from as long as I can remember, I even participated in those silly science fairs as a child. While others built things like volcanoes, I created a fully operational replica of the Sol system built to scale. I am a scientist behind the blades of fury." And that was what she wanted people to know about her, to see beyond what she was on the surface and what she could be. There was so much more to her than just being the most perfect weapon that a person could hope to master.

"As for what not a single soul knows about me, what could I keep to myself and not share with my siblings or husband? Well, that is an interesting question indeed, especially considering who and what my husband his." Christian would know that Gabriel would ask the questions and she would provide answers, even if they were in riddles, Gabriel knew how to solve them. That she surmised was part of their connection, of the understanding that the two had.

"It not something so easy to say, not for someone such as I. What no one knows about Alexandria Constant is that she is afraid, afraid she is going to fail. That she is going to fail as a parent, to protect and raise her children to be better than she is. That she is going to fail to do what is needed of her to make the world a better place than what it has turned into. That she is going to fail all those that she loves and are counting on her." She did not fear anyone in combat, she did not fear death, but she feared failing those who she cared for and that was her burden.

[Christian Moynahan]

The man that knows something knows that he
knows nothing at all
Does it seem colder in your summertime
and hotter in your fall?
-”Erykah Badu, “On and On”

Despite the warning Alex gave him, Christian did not imagine she could say anything that would surprise him. He had seen people from all walks of life. Specials, civilians, Specials who had yet to manifest. Politicians, gas station attendants, the worst scum on the streets, the best NASA had to offer. He had heard every story - those who had grown up affluent, those who had forced their way to the top. With the latter he could identify with especially well. That was not to say that all stories were the same; hardly. They varied widely, but at the base of them was always the same core problem: a lack of love. Self-love, usually. The love of others, on occasion.

So it did surprise him when she told him about her role in the Los Angeles riots two years before. Had it been only her? Had she cut down hundreds of citizens on her own, for her own gains? She had a darkness in her then, that went beyond her black eyes, that went even behind even Gabriel’s often-black heart, closed to empathy and the sanctity of life. It was… incredible in its own way.

Christian had never killed anyone - at least, not anyone he had not brought back around later. Those had been isolated incidents, and always in the name of science. But to learn of learn of Alex’s occasional inclinations… surprised him not only in finding that level of darkness in her, but the fact that he identified with it.

He did not share that. He did not share the way he felt some nights, and on occasion some days. Sometimes he just… fell into himself. That was when he kept himself within the confines of his home, alone. He was not necessarily afraid of killing anyone, but he did fear doing something he would regret, especially given his visibility as the CEO of Ark. Those days, he challenged the dark sometimes, and sometimes he let it wash over him, closing his eyes and letting himself fall into it, not a sleep, but an altered state of being. He was never sure whether anyone else ever felt that level of the dark. That was what he called it; “the dark” or “the darkness.”

He did not share that. Instead, he nodded slowly. “In one manner, the action condemns you. In another, it is admirable.” His tone gave away which way he leaned. She might have wanted to keep that secret to herself, and it was well that she should - there was no statute of limitations on murder - but it was also something of an accomplishment. Blood on the hands. How many people could say they were dangerous enough to kill that many people and survive it?

That was all the said on the topic; there was nothing much else to offer. Aside, of course, from commiserating; she had not specifically asked him anything in that vein, however, so he felt justified in not offering that information.

He listened and took another few bites of stir fry as she described her former dreams, and nodded as she spoke of being a science. “I am a businessman to all appearances, and I never obtained a degree in a science, but I cannot help joining my coworkers in their projects, or creating projects of my own.” Project Dreamscape was his brainchild; it was still in the works, but it would likely be Ark’s first significant contribution to the world since his ascension. He would take only a touch of credit on that, although all of the work had truly been his, with assistance from his team. He preferred to stand in the background and watch his work sell itself.

“It is never too late for you to find a career in science. Even if you don’t have the credentials, you clearly have the skills; and, if necessary, a recommendation from me might be helpful.” Actually, a recommendation from was a ticket to anywhere she chose, but he liked to be humble on occasion.

She told him of her fears next, that she would be a failure to those she cared about. That was where differed. Christian had no one to to be worried for. The closest he got were Lucius and Gabriel; given that they were his direct supervisors, that was not saying much. He had family, but they were a continent away - from where he lived, at least - and he was still not sure how they felt about him. He was almost afraid to send them a card, to ask them what their thoughts were, but he never did send that card; it had less to do with fear and more to do with apathy.

Alexandria, however, had siblings and parents who cared for her, a loving husband, and children to think about, to worry about failing. His lips pulled tight into a line. It wasn’t jealously… was it? He had no need for anything but a science lab and access to equipment. He was still an engineer beneath it all; that was his passion. A couple of the magazines had asked him about his true and former professions, but otherwise he was just a pretty face at the top of an ugly corporation.

“I have a policy regarding fear. I don’t recognize the possibility.” In any endeavor, he did his best, and refused to believe that he could fail at it. He did, usually, but that only made him work harder. “It’s easier said than done, especially with abstract fears such as failing others. But with what I see in you, I think it’s safe to say that you will not fail those you care about. You may stumble at times, but you right yourself and keep fighting for them.”

From a relative stranger, these might have sounded like empty words. From someone like Christian, they may well have been empty words. They were not. Alexandria had proven to be so much more than he had expected, and that said much; given who her husband was, and what that husband had said of her, he had come into the restaurant with high expectations in that regard, and she had not disappointed, not at all; she had exceeded those expectations by far.

He took a sip of champagne and then gave her a smile. “Is there a particular branch of science that you enjoy?” he asked, out of interest, but also to distract her from asking of him the same questions he had asked her.

[Alexandria Constant]

Christian thought that it was never too late to change her career to her original passion, despite her lack of credentials. It was not that she lacked them, a degree in Aeronautical Engineering went a long way in the scientific field, especially when coming from the Air Force Academy. You could say many negative things about the government and the armed forces, but you could not question the merit of the curriculum they taught at the three different service academy's. A degree there, depending upon the field, was nearly as good as a degree from any of the Ivy League schools.

What she lacked then was references and experiences in the field, the network to pursue those paths. While a recommendation from the CEO of Ark might have been a boon to some, in other circles it would mean about as much as the paper it was written on. There were some in the scientific community who still resented Ark for giving scientists such a porous reputation as of late. Some still respected them for the grand scope of their experiments and the cutting edge nature of their research. All the same, they had been quite reckless or indeed harmful with their exploits and such the divide among the community.

Her last answer brought a momentary change in demeanor from Christian, it was unexpected to see something on the edge of contemplation. Alexandria could take a guess as to why, Christian had no one else while Alexandria had a whole network of people she cared about and cared about her. All Christian had that relied on was his company and even then, they could simply replace him like they had his predecessor. Such was the savage nature of capitalism and corporate politics, anything that was bad for the company and you were out.

His words were as hollow and as empty as they could be, not for a lack of effort, but trying to discern the worth of another in just one meeting was foolish. It would be a start but he could not hope to know the worth that she possessed or what stood to hold in her future. Even Gabriel could not see the future with any sort of certainty, a thousand thousand possibilities was something she heard him muttering about from time to time when he did not think she was listening.

"I am fairly competent when it comes to rocketry and chemistry, though obviously fairly good in astronomy as well. You know, all those tedious and interesting disciplines that a good astronaut ought to be well to do in." That was nothing to say of what she also knew in physics and other abstract sciences and concepts, yet she was not about to be a braggart. Alexandria also knew that Christian was trying to keep her from asking the same questions of him, it was obvious as the sky was blue. There were many secrets that the man behind the magazine covers seemed to want to keep.

"You also have to be great at arithmetic as well, especially as a pilot. Communication skills are also at a premium, along with a decent way with the written word. All those reports you have to file and dossiers that need to be written, proposals as well. Hard to think of space faring or piloting as such multifaceted disciplines, but the devil is in the details. You hardly know what to expect of anything until you are in the situation, three feet into the muck getting dirty doing what is expected of you. Then and only then do you realize just what the world and your position entails."

How many people in this world walked into a certain job or profession expecting it all to go one way but it being something completely different. The same went for media, with movies, books, television shows and the like. So often advertised as one thing and then you get into the thick of it and it something so different that you think you must have the wrong book or channel. The world was full of false faces, false advertisements, and the worst formed preconceived notions.

"What do you see when you look into the sky Mister Moynahan?" It was a sudden and quick question that might have seemed completely random to Christian, but Alexandria had her reasons for asking it. After all, what she saw was grand and so often different from what even the most creative of minds saw. Would Christian follow the trend of those who disappointed her with his answer or did he perhaps have a few surprises left in him.

[Christian Moynahan]

We love our tragedies
We’re both broken in our own little ways
We’re broken, but we fit together just right
You know I saw the black inside your eyes
I saw they were eclipsed
by mine
-Evans Blue - “Eclipsed”

If there was a loophole, Christian would exploit it. He was no lawyer, and had only studied a bit of law in college, but he had retained that knowledge, just as he had retained the ability to negotiate and read others. The last was one he liked to practice, and was not quite an expert at, but anything worth doing took effort, as was so often said.

His words were seldom hollow. They always had some sort of reasoning behind them; it was only a matter of finding what they were. Here, he thought they were clear. He would have offered her a position at Ark, himself, but he knew how she felt about his company, and making such an offer would have been foolish. He had offered what he could, however, but there was no clear response to that.

Her comments, however, were lost on him - not because he had no idea what she was talking about, but for exactly the opposite reason. She had wanted to be an astronaut; he had built parts of aeronautical machinery, not only rockets or shuttles, but satellites and other orbital bodies that no one thought about. That had not been his focus, but he had been called upon to offer his insight on them often. He had yet to fail. That, he could brag about.

Everyone he met in the journalism world seemed to take him for a businessman. He was, in a sense. His upper degree was in business management, and he had been a manager before, and had known the matters of paperwork and details. But he simply took care of his stir fry while listening to Alex speak on the subject.

When she asked him what he saw in the sky, he smiled. That smile had a chuckle in it, a cheerful one. What did he see, indeed? There was a question suitable for the press; they simply failed to ask it. Christian would have to thank Gabriel, even though he had copped out of it, for arranging this dinner. It was so refreshing to have someone ask the correct questions for a change.

“Potential.” He set his fork to the side. “Endless potential. I see what many consider a conquered territory, but one that, in fact, brings so many more challenges than most men cannot fathom.” He smiled softly. “I see what I will invent in the future. I see what I have already invented. I see what will most likely be the only children I bring into this world.”

He took a sip of champagne. “I worked as a propulsion engineer for many years. After Ark, so far, it was the most enjoyable career I’ve held. It was a challenge. I designed many of the engines that you see on spacecraft, and have overseen the launches of many of them. With my teams, I also designed a variety of aircraft, many of which have been used as private aircraft, and some of the principles that have been used on some of the more modern commercial aircraft. So far, none of those crafts, as far as I’m aware, have failed.”

His smile was cocky for a moment, but fell back into a more earnestness as he spoke again. “Some men speak of space as the final frontier. Others say it is the ocean. Both have merit, of course. But just because we are flying doesn’t mean we’re flying efficiently.” He tilted his head and chuckled.

“I see inefficiency everywhere, Mrs. Constant. What if, when we ordered fast-food drinks, it was the cup that was larger, and the lid sizes were the same? How much plastic would we save then? What if there was a more efficient, safer, and less controversial way of propelling our vehicles, one that would attract consumers more than electricity or alternative fuels, and be easier to sell? What if we could design medicinal drugs with mitigated side effects, ones that did not endanger the patient just as much as the disease they were treating?” He picked up his glass and turned it; the glass of champagne was half-full.

His fingers slipped gently along the length of the glass as he placed it on the table again. “There is a fairly irritating saying about glasses being half-full or half-empty. My answer has always been to look at the glass, not its contents.” He raised an eyebrow slightly. Perhaps that was a riddle of his own. Perhaps it was plain as day. He was not always certain how he came across, especially to those who truly used their minds, as Alexandria did.

“What is the glass? The entire saying is a metaphor, of course, but, upon deconstruction of it, most men see it as simply meaning 'how do you see the world?' The question that follows should be, 'what is the world?' For most, it’s a tiny circle. A neighborhood, a commute between work and home. Sometimes, a state. A country, a continent. Few include other cultures. That is one of the roots of inefficiency. Without the larger picture, we can’t correct anything - and make it stick.”

Again, he chuckled softly. “I suppose what I am asking you is, what is your world? And-“ now he smiled and took a sip from that half-full glass- “how do you see it?”

[Alexandria Constant]

His answer was a bit disappointing on its initial glance, for just like everyone else she had asked, he did not see what she saw. However on its entirety, it was up to par if not beyond what she had deemed grand and excellent, it held merit where others who held different answers did not. For that she could forgive him for not seeing the simplicity and then amazement that she saw when she looked out into the wild blue yonder. Few people would get that sort of grace from her, his merit was definitely worth the taking into considering.

She also looked on genuinely surprised as he revealed he had worked on the parts the propelled satellites, space shuttles, and even aircraft. She could see his pride and ego on display as he recalled their excellent performance and maintenance record, one that she had to give him his due. It was critical in this sort of field to have parts that would endure the harsh environments they were put through, the paces that had to be done with them, and still maintain their integrity. The disasters that befell craft so often came down to a part failure, his success rate was quite the achievement.

As he spoke further, she ate her meal, but never losing eye contact with him for more than a moment or two. His ideas were interesting, even if she did not agree with all the points that he was trying to make. Some of them were even lost on her, though that was not entirely uncommon, she had intellect but lack understanding in many concepts. To see through the illusion, the wordplay that others employed however was not something she lacked. She knew though that Christian was being very serious as he explained himself.

By the time he got around to turning her question around on her, she had completed her meal and sliding her plate to the side to be taken away at the most convenient time for the waiter. Taking the napkin, she dabbed her lips and around them before placing it gently on the table before giving Christian her full fledged attention once more. Her eyes she let revert to their normal state, a dark green hue that some considered brown, but they stared perceptively, intensely into his own as she spoke.

"Freedom." Her voice was soft but strong, her lips curled into a blissful smile as the word escaped her. "Pure, bounty less freedom. A world without chains to hold you down and keep you from pursuing your dreams. Freedom to craft whatever path you desire for yourself and to walk it with as much pride and stature as you can shake your tail feathers at." A world without chains for a dreamer to live out their life however they so chose, what could have been better than that? The world they inhabited though was no safe haven for the dreamer, it needed the blade forged by fire not the mind sharpened by the whetstone of imagination.

"You are right, in a sense, about the glass and its contents. It is the contents that should have attention to it, for we should more like the water and wine poured into the glass. Adaptable and able to shape ourselves into the situations we are poured into by the vortex of life. If you can not reshape yourself, you are being left behind." What mask to wear, what costume would be the right choice on any given situation? There was any number of ways to speak of the idea she spoke but the points remained the same.

"What desire fuels greater than the spirit that wants to spread its wings and fly across the sun brushed skies and dare to dream greater than the world would allow it? What moves forward with the greatest thrust than an idea? The world may see no practical need for the dreamers but it is their efforts that keep us moving forward, that open minds that would otherwise be closed and ignorant of the bounties that surround them. Of the wonder that is there to behold if you only know where to look and how to see."

[Christian Moynahan]

I saw you in a pattern
I saw the reason why
They never saw it in you
but I swear I saw it then
-Chelsea Wolfe, “Ancestors, The Ancients”

Often, Christian said that he could read others well; what he meant was that he could read others, and their environments, and their present states. He could see past and through and into them, and, in many cases, understand them. People were similar; they were flat; they were boring. Many of them had the same base motivations and blasé aspirations. They were interesting animals, just as any other animal might be.

The different ones were refreshing. And so, when Alex said that she saw freedom, he felt impressed. Were he to ask the same question of anyone else, he mused, they would have said something along the lines of “accomplishment.” But he had his own perspective, and she had her own. He had long since noticed that Alex was very different, but the support of that theory certainly helped.

Not only that, but she truly felt what she said. So many words were empty. These were full of exuberance, spoken as though she were in the sky right then, feeling that freedom, unfettered, living as she wished, fulfilling her dreams. He hid a smile as she spoke; that would have given away how highly he thought of her at the moment. These matters had to be kept on an even keel.

They thought differently about that half-full glass, but that was fine; there was nothing wrong with a difference of opinion, as long as both sides were well supported. He was not sure how well he would fit into a glass, however, if he were its contents, or even simply his ambitions. While he was certainly adaptable, he had a tendency to shatter his binds. He would have broken the glass.

This time he allowed himself to smile gently as she spoke of dreamers, and of how their ideas shaped the world. His thoughts, different words. As she spoke, he too finished his meal, and set the dish aside.

“Nothing is greater than that desire.” He held his thumb and forefinger together; a small cyan and purple flame sparked between them. “It isn’t common enough. But ideas are spreading faster, and the ways they can manifest themselves are becoming more accessible to everyone. Perhaps the world sees no need for us, but there are more and more dreamers, and we are connecting much more easily now.” He turned his hand palm down, and his fingers took on that flame. “As few as we may be, we’ll set the world alight.”

The flame became wisps that permeated the room as the waiter appeared and collected their plates, and asked them about dessert. Christian shook his head and then glanced toward Alex. “Would you like anything? I’m sure Gabriel left enough on his tab to account for both of us.”

[Alexandria Constant]

Alexandria was amused as Christian continued to demonstrate his abilities as he spoke. It seemed that they had common ground on how they viewed the dreamers, the thinkers, and tinkerers. It was those special and creative individuals that sparked the changes in the world, that improved the world that all was to be shared. Ideas did have a new highway and the speed of transfer was far quicker than it had ever been in the past. Instead of taking years or months, now all it took was minutes and a simple click of the mouse. As much as the world changed though, it remained the same.

"While the flames are being set though, we must be cautious. A wildfire burns everything in its path while a controlled flame burns only what the user wants it to burn." Chaos could be controlled, if only slightly, anarchy could not be. Anarchy was the one thing that Alexandria would not let come to pass, regardless of who was the orchestrator of that anarchy. Controlled chaos could spark changes, even a revolution, it enabled the possibilities for a world to be remolded. Anarchy would burn it all down and then dance in the flames.

That was where the line had to be drawn, there still needed to be a world after whatever it was that Gabriel was up to was finished. There had to be a world for their daughters to inherent, for them to live betters lives than either she or Gabriel had been allowed to. That was her drive for the future, like protecting her siblings and loved ones was her drive for the present. Becoming a mother had changed her, made her even more protective of those she cared for than before. While she had always looked after Eliza as children, there was something more profound about it now.

"I suppose I could do for some cheesecake." It was a treat and one that she would indulge herself in at this time. She knew that in the weeks and months to come, such sweet treats would be bittersweet and lacking all the comfort that they provided now. The world was cycling through the motions and forward into events that even Gabriel could not predict. Where she was in that cycle she was unsure, yet if the blade was needed, the whisper only needed to be spoken and she would be unsheathed.

"And you Christian, are you going to sample any of the offerings? Do you have anything of a sweet tooth to satisfy?"

[Christian Moynahan]

I’m going far away
I don’t know what I’ll find
Don’t lead me astray
Pray me well
-Chrisette Michele, “Pray Me Well”

Control was everything to Christian. He had to be the one running everything; some called him a micromanager, other called him a perfectionist. He considered himself both. He knew his mind was capable of creating more than the average person’s could, and he had no problem stepping in and correcting something, and weaving in the finer points and details. There was a bar set high for perfection, one Christian knew he would never reach, but that he would strive toward anyway. It was the race, the thrill of trying to achieve.

There was only so much he could control, however, as he would learn firsthand in the not too distant future.

And what of anarchy? True anarchy could never be achieved, or so Christian thought; there would always be morals that people stood by, or others people looked to as leaders, as was human nature. There might be a wildness about people, but there was a part of mankind that held itself close and did not let go. That thread could not be severed.

He had little idea of what Gabriel’s plans might be, and he had no progeny to build a world for, just the few changes he had made, the things he had built in the past. Previously, his name would have been dust in the wind soon after he died, whenever that may be. Now, as the head of Ark, it might last a little longer, but how? With what connotation, with what epithet?

Those thoughts were pushed aside as the matter of dessert was presented. Before, Christian had not planned to accept any, but there were certain matters of decorum that had to be followed, and, once Alex asked him whether he would partake, he decided something small would not be terrible. “A small fruit bowl, please,” he said to their attendant, who went off to fulfill those orders.

The night was drawing to a close; the sun had set next to them, and, with dessert on the way, they would likely also part ways soon after. The conversation had been even more captivating than Christian had expected, even given what he had known of her, and he was glad for that. Even if he had not changed her mind about Ark, perhaps what they had learned about each other would lead to a mutual respect.

He gave Alex a half-smile. “A fruit bowl is a bit underwhelming, I suppose, but there are sure to be some kiwi and strawberry slices in it. That may well prove to be an interesting complement to cheesecake.”



fin thread