Alignment (Brooke)

[call_me_phobos]

Alexander had never had a relationship last this long. He'd never had a serious relationship before.

Brooke motivated him to strive for more, for better things in his life. The longer they were together, the greater his ambition and hunger became. He wanted bigger and better. He wanted more and more for himself and for her.

He wanted his tribute.

But he and Brooke needed to get on the same page before anything happened.

Are you free today? We need to talk...

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[call_me_phobos]

Alexander felt the shockwave and his own mood brightened in response. Just before now, he could feel the minor fears, hesitancy and trepidations around the school. But Brooke's feelings eclipsed it all, stilling the fear to silence.

The sensation was different and alluring.

But all of that vanished when she said yes.

He returned the kiss and pulled her close.

"If it's anywhere near as happy as you've made me...I think I can guess." he said.

"We'll set the date at your leisure." he whispered.

[hellfire_empath]

"Would it be wrong to say that I didn't want a long engagement?" Brooke asked softly. "I'm not saying let's get married tomorrow, because I also don't want people to think this is some sort of shotgun wedding -" Though people would certainly talk, that much was certain. Stephanie and Marcelo had been together for two years before tying the knot. Brooke and Alexander had only been together five months.

But it felt right. That was the important thing that mattered.

"But I don't want something that's drawn out."

[call_me_phobos]

"Then we won't wait long. I'm looking forward to calling you 'Mrs. Aaron' in the near future. I don't want to wait long." Alexander said.

"Although...making you wait has its own benefits." he said, giving her a devilish smile.

"I suppose that I should meet your parents soon. You'll have to meet my father. And get reacquainted with Roxanne." he said.

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke blinked at the prospect of Alexander meeting her parents. Regan Wyngarde would probably try to see if she could take Alexander for herself.

Manuel...well. Brooke still didn't know him well enough to figure out how he'd react, but given how he had all but abandoned her again after suddenly coming back into her life...well.

Sometimes I think that the illusory dad that my mother had created was better. Even if he had been in jail for tax fraud.

"Wait," she said. "Your father's the God of War." She had known this, but meeting Ares had never been something she thought she'd do anytime soon.

Instead, here it was.

"That's..." intense. "Oh god. Literally."

[call_me_phobos]

Alexander wondered if she was suddenly rethinking her answer. Explaining the bit about his father was tough.

"Yes, Father is the God of War. It seems overwhelming. Believe me, I know. But he's not a bad man. He's just like any other father out there. Only...his power comes from a part of human nature that most people don't like to contemplate." Alexander said.

His father drew his power from war. Alexander, unlike most people, did not consider war a wholly bad thing. It was unfortunate when innocents were caught in the crossfire, but the idea of world peace terrified him beyond words.

"We don't have to do it right away. I'll talk to him and explain everything. In fact...I know someone who can help." Alexander said.

He pulled out his phone and sent Roxanne a text.

Little Sister...we need to talk. I have joyous news.

"Don't worry, Brooke. Everything will be just fine."

[hellfire_empath]

Good god.

Roxie, her former best friend, was going to be her sister-in-law.

There had been a time when the two had dreamed of such a thing, of being sisters.

Now it was going to be a reality.

Funny. We're so different now. How will it be, I wonder.

Had Roxie matured any? Had Brooke loosened up any? Funny, the curveballs that life throws your way.

But she smiled down at Alexander. They were adults. They could make it work. Brooke believed that when you married someone, you were also marrying into their family, and Brooke and Roxie had been like family once upon a time.

She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I don't doubt that for a moment. With you by my side, nothing worries me."

[call_me_phobos]

"Excellent." he said, smiling up at her.

"I'm going to give Roxanne the news. Is there a chance we can meet at your place later?" he asked.

"I'd like to celebrate our engagement but I get the feeling that the rest of your friends wouldn't like the feelings we put out." he grinned.

[hellfire_empath]

God, she wished she could keep her emotions in check. Brooke's eyes wandered over to her bed for a moment, but she thought better for it.

If anything could have Rachel turn to the small spark of the Phoenix that she possessed, it would be Brooke doing that here.

Where everyone would be forced to feel it.

She turned scarlet. "I'll speak to Rachel, but yes, I'll be there tonight." She'd call Sharona to prepare her apartment.

She'd also have some extra things on stand-by in case Alexander was planning on surprising her with Roxie.

[call_me_phobos]

"Then I will see you tonight. Maybe I'll bring some Pablo Neruda to read to you." he said, stepping back.

And with that, he vanished...