《Alvaro》<br/>Location: Abendblume<br/>Present: Ray Jr., Armando, Marcia, Hale Sr.<a class="username" data-user-id="6997" data-username="Sayd" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/6997/">Sayd</a>, Rebel<a class="username" data-user-id="6997" data-username="Traveler" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/6997/">Traveler</a><br/><br/><br/><div class="bbm_float fleft" style="float:left;margin:0 10px 5px 0">
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</div>It was a good day for certain. Any day Raimundo stopped by was good, but now it was less of a surprise than it was becoming commonplace. Even better. There was work to be done, important work, and well-laid plans for a better future. Alvaro was humming, finishing getting dressed as a lit cigarette dangled at the corner of his mouth. He drew in a deep drag, letting the plume go as he opened the door to join Raimundo both in mission and optimism.<br/><br/>"Armando will see. He will understand." Alvaro added, "I would be surprised if his distaste for me was stronger than his love of you and this community." There had always been that distance between them. Distance in their duties, distance in ethics. Alvaro knew Armando thought little more of him than being a violent thug despite himself having the utmost respect for the man.<br/><br/>The scene as they approached was wholesome, sweet, a true family moment like the many he'd spent with the Rosales'. Like those moments, the togetherness eclipsed the reality of the world around them until he followed Raimundo up to greet the pair at the table. They were like the pin that pricked the ballon forcing all the joy away in the blink of an eye. Raimundo was quick to speak and lay out his orders, skillfully batting aside questions and concerns as easily as his little brother batted away pitches.<br/><br/>Armando turned out to be less resistant than Alvaro had allowed himself to be braced for, responding quickly and readily at the opportunity to be working again. In some men that could be seen as pathetic, like a dog jumping for a bone, but that wasn't the case with Armando. It spoke to Armando's drive to work and protect, much like himself, and one of the things he believed made them more similar than not. Marcia's protest was anticipated. As a mother and a sister, it was her duty to do so. She would not have honored or respected him by sitting quietly by potentially allowing her brother to be taken advantage of.<br/><br/>Alvaro stayed back as Ray and Armando talked, it was how he would be expected to behave and he wouldn't drop that facade on a day as crucial as this one. The soft touch of Marcia's hand on his arm drew his attention and he looked over at her. She was smart and intuitive, her eyes held the fear and uncertainty of the undercurrents she felt moving through the moment but could not define. Her words confirmed the same and Alvaro was quick to realize the conclusions she feared.<br/><br/>His expression softened and he likewise rested his hand gently on the back of her arm. For a moment he watched the children, allowing a faint smile to settle his stoic features, allowing old memories to stir old feelings. "No, no..." he returned quietly as Raimundo and Armando talked amongst themselves. "No es nada de eso. Este es un buen día. Un día todos avanzaremos y dejaremos atrás un pasado feo. Tú. Tus hermano. Tus niños. Todos ustedes estarán a salvo," he reassured her with words that were as cryptic as they were reassuring. "Me odia, sí, pero aún así es como una familia para mí ahora."<br/><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">It's nothing like that. This is a good day. Today we will all move on and leave behind this ugly past. You. Your brother. Your children. You will all be safe. (English) He hates me, yes, but he's still like family to me now.</div>
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</div><br/><br/>Hale Sr. reacted to the necro cleanup mission exactly as Alvaro imagined he would. A little contradictory, a little offended, and a little suspicious. In the new light of everything that was going on in front of and behind the scenes, it left Alvaro wondering how a man could feel those things about his son.<br/><br/>Was he just clueless about Raimundo's skill and strength or was there something deeper? Was he feeling the sting of being replaced? Tightening his grip on control and punishing Raimundo for something that only time and inevitability could be blamed?  Would he hold to that grip regardless of what it did to Abendblume? It seemed so but Alvaro's cool expression was nothing out of the ordinary, something usual and expected when Hale glanced his way with their unspoken command.