"Emotions," Thomas says acidly. "Show them."

"As you often remarks. I have resting bitch face. But if you want to know."

He sighs and shoots Felix an apologetic look.

"Their son committed suicide. Which is a different thing from murder. However, it is relevant to our situation that their son committed suicide. Does anything about them is good emotional support? Something that they account for when they go about fixing things? I am not good at it. But I acknowledge that it is important."

"That... is a better phrasing of the concept, yes."

"I don't think it can get any better than that without being, you know, a lie."

"Anyway, on a more practical note. I suppose we want to try helping Leo we need a plan."

Dal-Yora, would not directly spy on the date between one of her grandsons. It would be disrespectful and breach of trust. But things that happen in semi-public view have a way to make back to her.

It is a very confusing set of affirmations. Apparently a nice start to the date and then crying? But followed by hugging and a seemingly happy end to their date? Dal-Yora can't tell if Leo has something weird going on or is a next-level master manipulator.

Maybe not a master manipulator. Felix is no good at the social game. Figuring out a weak spot wouldn't be too hard.

She is afraid that if she pokes this too hard it will come undone. So... she will wait and observe.

A few days pass. Maybe, Leo wants to meet again?

Yes, that would be lovely. 

(Aaaaaa.)

(Great.)

Does she want to take a visit to Little Terra? The Earth-themed small touristic-ish district?

This is done through informal messengers, heavy implication of not being an Official meeting.

That sounds both excellent and potentially hilarious. Leo would love to. 

(Only the second sentence makes it into the actual message.) 

Great, they can set up a date and location. Felix will be there, more casually dressed than Leo has seen him before, but not badly dressed. He is sitting in a park bench, in front of a second-hand books store.

"Hi!"

Leo is also fairly casually dressed, and beams at Felix. 

He beams right back and closes the book after bookmarking it. "Hi! How have you been?"

"Oh, fine. I only had two different relatives interrogate me about how our date went," Leo says lightly. "You?" 

"Six. I don't know if that means I win or lose. But I am doing great!" Pause. "I don't think I know about your relatives well enough, and I should have."

Leo makes a face. "The ones who've been poking around this are my father—um, Aron Paresteri—and my uncle Eliseo." This second name gets another grimace. "He's my father's sister's husband, and he cares far too much about reputation. All he's worried about is how being related to a Vaesteri will 'enhance his social prospects'."

The last phrase is said in a fussy, excessively correct upper-class accent, clearly mimicking Eliseo. 

"Oh, sorry. I got acquainted with the type. Wouldn't put past the notion that I met him, but likely in a match-making social function." Pause. "Do you need a hug? I feel bad, because four out of my six relatives shouldn't count."

Leo hesitates a moment, but shakes his head. "It's alright, I'm used to them. 'Shouldn't count'?" 

"I was including my brothers and parents. Who are... pretty much against the entire match-making mess."

"I'm guessing they had...different concerns." 

Felix nods. "Mom and Thomas spent quite a while considering if this was some bizarre elaborate plot by our grandparents." Pause. "We all agreed it wasn't."

Blink. What do you even say to something like that? Leo's lived for nearly two decades in a world where parental and grandparental plots are a real possibility, but people don't usually come right out and say it like Felix just did. 

"Well, that's. Good. Because, um. It's not. Or if it is they haven't told me."  

"'Oh, the perfect plan. So sneaky that maybe not even the plotters noticed' That's a quote from Trevor." He starts standing up, but pauses. "Do you want to walk around or just talk here on this bench for a while."

"I don't mind. Is there something around here you wanted me to see?" 

"Couple of non-urgent things to buy. But it's always amusing seeing Earth through the Elan's lens." He stands.