Meeting Daddy, Saturday the 19th

[Alloy]

Featuring: Alex, Gordo? And Alex's dad
Where: Riverside
Tags: Anyone

---

Alex was barely able to contain her excitement at seeing her dad again. It ahd been a while and she worried about him a lot when he was out on his own missions. She wondered sometimes if he felt the same amount of worry about her, now. She also sometimes wondered if he thought about her mom whenever Alex went out. Her mother had been the great love of her father's life, and he hadn't been with any other women since.

She sat in the taxi, sprawled out as she usually was. Her pants were unisex, and she wore an oversized flannel shirt unbuttoned over a black a-shirt. Her hair was messy and she had a bruise on her cheek that was nasty and fresh from the fight she'd had the night before. She had a few bruises on her body that were covered by her clothes but she felt great. She'd won with a TKO.

Finally the taxi stopped and Alex moved out squeezing Gordo's hands as she handed the driver money. "He said he's at one of the outside places." She headed into the Riverside then saw her dad. He was very much a symbol of the military even in pressed jeans and a collared shirt. His hair was buzzed short and he was tall, handsome, and had an edge of danger to him, and amazingly looked like he was still in his mid 20s.

"Dad!" Alex called. She picked up her pace and grinned as he saw them. He got to his feet and she stopped in front of him, not hugging him or touching him. The joy they felt was still apparent in their matching smiles. She apparently only had inherited his smile, as his hair was black, his eyes were brown, and he had a much darker complexion.

"Alex," he said, amazingly speaking in a British accent. "Looks like you took a nasty hit. How was the fight?" He turned his attention to Gordo, the force of his gaze like a punch. "Gordon." He held out his hand to shake the boy's hand. "You must be something special for Alex to have shown such interest. Why don't we sit? I'll cover the meal, of course."

---

Summary: Meet Alex's dad.
Tags: Gordo

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

For as excited as Alex was, Gordo was feeling just the same amount of energy. Unfortunately for him, the energy that he was feeling was definitely more of the type where he wanted to jump out of the side door of the cab and bounce his way to safety instead of meeting her father. She'd told Gordo that he was military and apparently pretty damn good at it too, beacuse he'd made it a career.

Getting out with her, he felt like he was facing an execution and he tried really hard to breath regularly. The last thing that he wanted to do was go do this, but he knew how important it was to her. He almost flinched when Alex's dad turned his gaze onto him, but he managed to keep himself from doing so and reached a hand out to shake the man's.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Honeycutt. Alex is always talking about wanting to see you, so I'm really glad that we got this opportunity, and something to eat would be wonderful. I always get a little bit hungry around this time of the day." Stepping over to one of the chairs, he pulled it out for Alex and waited until she sat down so he could help get her pushed in a little bit.

---

Synopsis- Gordo's scared itshayless
Tags- Alex, Alex's dad

[Alloy]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

As Alex sprawled out in a chair she grinned, glad to see Gordo being so polite. That was the best way for her father to like him. "So she missed me then? It's always difficult to tell how Alex really feels about things, as I'm sure you've noticed." Smiling at his daughter he said, "How was the fight?"

"Good. She got this hit in early. So Ah gave back and apparently much more than she'd given. She hit the mat and we had to wait a bit for her to get conscious again. She tried attackin' me in the locker room so I hit her again 'n' she ended up goin' ta the hospital ta get looked at for not bein' conscious for so long. Don't worry Ah wasn't wantin' ta do it but she was angry 'n' violent." She gave a lazy shrug.

Nodding, Honeycutt waited for the waitress to leave with their orders before saying, "And do you feel the school is giving you the proper education? I would like to hear your take first, Gordon."

---

Summary: Alex answers a question, her dad asks sum
Tags: Gordo

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

Gordo was smiling about Alexs fight and midsip into his water when her dad put his attention on him again. It nearly made Gordo start choking a little bit on his water, but he fought his gag reflex as hard as he could, doing nothing more than getting a little bit red in the face over the situation.

"Uhm, I uh, I'd say it's pretty great, actually. My old schools usually had thirty or more kids in them, and the teachers were usually spread real thin. A lot of them were fresh out of college too, so they weren't always the best caliber, you know?" He still felt a little bit nervous, but seeing how relaxed Alex was definitely helped him out a little bit on things. "Here, you know, uh, at the school the teachers all know what they're doing. My parents actually did their research before they agreed to let me go there, and they were really impressed. It would be really hard to fall behind in a class where there's like seven other people at most."

Taking another sip of his water and feeling a bit more able to talk, he said, "The only thing I really have a problem with is they don't have much for an athletics department, you know? I know Coach Archer kind of feels the same way, but at the same time, we barely have enough people to make a decent football team. So I'm just going to keep practicing drills and working out, and hopefully I'll be able to do a walk on at one of the colleges in the city when I go for college."

---

Synopsis- Gordo is still sad about no football
Tags- Alex and her dad

[Alloy]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

"Ah think it's good dad. We'r elearning lots about workin' together 'n' alone,. We're learnin' lots book wise and in everythin' else. Ah've been enjoyin' it as much as I can bein' off base."

Honeycutt watched Gordo as he talked then turned his attention to Alex and nodded. "I did research into the staff. They are all quite competant, and I also spoke to your uncle, Alex. He has a good working relationship with the school. He has referred a few students to McNeil, and that has given me cause to like the school more."

Alex nodded and said to Gordo, "Mah uncle... er Ah suppose mah great uncle is the head of the Ministry of Powers. Ah don't know if Ah mentioned that before."

"As for the athletics," Honeycutt continued, "I have have always felt it is more rewarding for youth to seek out and join sports on their own time, rather than depend on it to occur in an educational setting. That is one of the reasons I suggested Alex take martial arts when she was of age." A grin on his lips he said, "It was much to my enjoyment that Alex showed such a proficiency in boxing as well."

Alex shrugged, "Ah don't have much interest in any organized sports. Ah've said that before anyhow. Ah much prefer doin' boxin' or fightin'. Ah like ta know Ah've won or lost based on mah own skills alone. Ah don't wanna hide behind teammates an' Ah don't wanna advance at someone else's speed. If Ah'd been waitin for teams Ah'd never be fighten at the level Ah am now."

---

Summary: Honeycutts don't like sports.
Tags: Gordo

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

There was a good side to all of this as far as Gordo was concerned. Alex and her dad very likely weren't cheeseheads, which was very very good. He didn't think he could ever form a real emotional connection with anyone who thought that Favre was a great player. Owens was also a very big loser as far as he was concerned. But this wasn't the time for football thought so much. There were more important things to think about at the moment.

"I'm definitely planning on going out and finding a football league to get into during next season. At this point, it's a little too late for it. As for getting involved in other things, Alex's been giving me some lessons, and I'm really interested in picking up some more wrestling as well, getting myself rounded out a little bit better. With what we're doing anymore, and specifically what I do, I definitely need to get in very close and hold on."

He felt a little stupid for not knowing what the Ministry of Powers was, and the look on his face definitely begged askance. "I'm not familiar with the Ministry of Powers. Is that something like the government here does with putting special people into the military?"

---

Synopsis- Gordo still loves football and doesn't have a clue about things
Tags- Alex, her dad

[Alloy]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

Honeycutt shot his daughter a look. "Giving lessons? That seems a bit out of character."

Alex flushed a little. "Ah've been givin' basic lessons ta some a the kids. Ah know Ah'm not a professional but Ah'm just tryin' ta help some a the other student's out. Ah'm not so good at the grapplin' side a things. Ah've been takin' some lessons, Ah've had people tryin' ta recruit me ta the MMA stuff, and Ah'm not so interested right now. My career in boxin's goin' good so Ah don't see mucha need ta do so."

Honeycutt nodded a look of pride flashing on his face. "You are one of the best boxer's I've seen. It's difficult since you are a girl, but w all have problems to work around." Alex looked down at her plate. It was a common theme in dealing with her father. He had always wanted a son, and he had never really been able to come to terms with her being a girl. It was why she tried so hard to prove she was as good as a man, and had lost a lot of her femininity. She pushed her hand through her hair.

Both she and her father seemed to forget the old and impossible struggle at Gordo's question. "The Ministry a Powers is... sorta like AEGIS. They deal with all the metas, the difference bein' they use metas. Like Sheridan's worked with them for a while, mostly doin' searchin' 'n' stuff. They're more geared ta metas with full powers, so they don't know how ta really get people ta learn ta use them. Like most of us aren't fully geared ta bein' professional yet so they wouldn't take us. They sent Juliet out also 'cause she's so dangerous. They're a good place ta work for though. They were a major force in stoppin' World War Two 'n' organized the Allies a Freedom. It's not a well known part a history but ya'll find it if ya know where ta be lookin'."

Honeycutt looked proud of Alex for her explanation but there still was a lack of touching. "That's as good of an explanation as any. I am a bit of an Emissary from the United States to the Ministry of Powers, and I have done work for both of them. Most of it is classified, however, and it would not do to talk of it."

The food was delivered and Honeycutt paused to give up a prayer before they started to eat. He ate with the same quick proficiency his daughter used and said to Gordo, "How long have you known my daughter? And to become the cliched father, just what are your intentions toward her?"

Alex groaned and covered her eyes, "Ya said ya weren't goin' ta be like that, sir." Honeycutt let out a deep belly laugh that coaxed a laugh from Alex that was much more embarrassed, "I still am your father, Alex, and I believe proper protocol is to embarrass you in these situations." She sighed and continued to eat. She was letting Gordo field this one.

---

Summary: Talk gets more interesting
Tags: Anyone

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

The conversation had seemed to be pretty pleasant, and Gordo was finding out a lot of stuff that he didn't know about that whole Ministry of Powers organization. He wondered if Alex's dad was a meta too, but he wasn't going to be rude enough to ask. And when everything seemed to be going as nicely as it could, then her dad started getting a little scary, and Gordo was caught off guard by the questions that he was starting to ask.

"Uh, wow, I didn't know if you were going to ask me something like that or not, sir," he said with some trepidation in his voice, "but I've known her almost as long as I've been going to the school, so maybe a few months now? And I plan on treating her like a lady, if that's what you mean by intentions." He was fiddling with his hands a little, definitely feeling put on the spot but feeling like if he was honest, everything would be cool. "I'm a pretty big jock, so we both like physical things, but I'm not going to try and push her into doing things that she doesn't want to. To be honest, she'd probably beat me up even if I tried, sir."

Gordo flashed his eyes to Alex, a little perturbed that she seemed a little disconnected from the conversation, but he was sure that she couldn't be enjoying this too too much either.

---

Synopsis- Out of the fire and into the fryer for Gordo
Tags- Alex and Mr. Honeycutt

[Alloy]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

"All y'all are embarrasin' Ah hope ya know that," Alex said with a sigh. "What did ya expect, Sir? That he'd say 'Well Honeycutt, Ah pretty much plan on stayin' with Alex until somethin' prettier comes along, which should be any moment now?' What other answer would he be givin'?" She was still flushing and her father began to laugh at Alex.

"They say she doesn't have a sense of humor, but don't believe it," he told Gordo. Focusing his gaze on Gordo he said, "I don't like this sound of liking 'physical things'. just waht do you mean by that?" He was having of bit of fun with everything. It was hard to get Alex to be emotional about much, and having something to actually tease her about was very entertaining. He always had a better sense of humor than his daughter, although he didn't know if that was his fault or just the way she was. "I know my daughter is more than capable of fighting off someone she isn't interested in. I just worry what she will do if a someone she is interested were to ask her for something she may not be ready for."

Alex looked at Gordo then back to her dad, a slight quirk touching her lip. "Don't be worryin' dad, Ah already gave up my virginity to him. 'Bout what? 2 weeks in? Ah was happy as a tick on a fat dog 'bout it. Do ya wanna know what positions we used?" Her father stared at her, getting red in the cheeks before Alex arched one eyebrow. He began to laugh again.

"Fair is fair, Alex. I received your message loud and clear. We can change the subject."

"Ya sure ya don't want ta see pictures or video? We can be showin' it if need be."

Honeycutt shook his head with a chuckle, "Just tell me it was all a lie, and I will never dare to ask those questions again."

"It was all a lie, sir," Alex said, settling back into her seat. She smiled at Gordo. Honeycutt started to eat more of his food and said, "Onto safer topics. Gordo, what is your family like? Where do you come from? Alex very rarely shares much information, unless it's conversation on fighting."

---

Summary: Alex puts her dad in his place and the subject is changed.
Tags: Gordo

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

Even though initially his eyes went as wide as saucers when they started joking around with one another, Gordo couldn't help but laugh a little when Alex asked her dad if he wanted to know the positions that they'd been in, but he quickly turned the laugh into a cough, just in case. Taking a sip of his drink and finding that his throat felt so, so very dry, Gordo set it back down and ate some fries before Mr. Honeycutt started asking more questions.

"My family... yeah. Mine's a little different than most peoples, I guess." Looking a little bit abashed about the whole thing, he said, "Well, my parents, uh, my mother and my father, they got divorced when I was younger. I wanted to live in Albequerque with my mom but instead I ended up in Boulder, Colorado with my father and his, hmm, significant other. I stayed there until I had my, well, I guess you'd call it an accident, the one that ended up putting me in Claremont."

"After that," he said, still fidgeting just a little but feeling more comfortable around the two, "I moved back to Albequerque. My Mom'd gotten remarried to a really nice guy who treats me like his own son, which is why I have the whole hyphenated last name thing going on. I stayed out there for a little while, but then I ended up out here. So I kind of have family all over the place."

---

Synopsis- That's the long and the short of it from Gordo
Tags- Alex, Alex's dad

[Alloy]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

Alex was relieved when everything she'd said moved over. She didn't mind the joking but she always worried she'd come off wrong.

"Don't be ashamed of your family, Gordon." Honeycutt said. "Divorce is common, and many people choose a partner without consulting the well being of their children. It is a sad truth, but despite what many will tell you, you are free to cut off family that is toxic." He looked at Alex and she nodded. There was a very good reason why she never spoke about her mother's side of the family.

"It's always good to hear, however, of parents who make good decisions. I never remarried or dated after the death of Alex's mother. Not only because I have yet to meet a woman who is half as wonderful, but also because I always felt it would be unfair to Alex. The courtship would have to be fast with my line of work, and there would be no real time for adjustment. One day could be the wedding, and then I would be off for a mission and not return or have contact for several months. It was difficult enough to Alex, but to have a virtual stranger in the house would only have made it worse."

Alex looked uncomfortable and played with her food, and Honeycutt looked at her a moment. "Luckily for us, we had a family without blood relations or marriage. Bubba says hello, by the way, and that he's happier than a pig in shit to receive your letters." The southern idiom sounded extremely odd in the crisp British accent Honeycutt held, but Alex lit up.

"Really? Ah didn't think he'd care much, 'n' figured he'd just be readin' 'em and throwin' 'em away." She turned to Gordo, "Bubba was one o' the cooks on base, 'n' he took care o' me."

Honeycutt smiled and said in a dry tone, "Bubba was from Mississipi, and helped with the continuation of Alex's accent. Alex spent the first four years of her life in the deep south, and took to Bubba..." he looked at Alex who grinned.

"Like ticks on a dog, sir." She looked at Gordo, "Bubba was really willin' ta take me under his wing. He ended up gettin' punished 'n' havin' ta do child care, that's how he ended up takin' care o' me."

---

Summary: Parts of Alex's past are exposed
Tags: Anyone

[Crash]

Featuring- Gordo, Alex And Alex's dad
Where- Riverside
When- While Gordo's scared stiff

---

"That makes a little more sense, then. I was kind of curious about how the whole Southern accent thing crept in when you don't speak like that, sir, but I figured that it might be a little bit rude to just ask outright." He guessed that it was one of those situations where you found out a whole lot more about someone from the people that they knew and loved than from themselves, but he also considered that maybe Alex just hadn't thought to bring it up before. Not that it was really his business or anything anyways.

The fact that Alex's mother had died was something that caught Gordo a little more off guard, but it wasn't something that he wanted to bring up with her, considering the look that'd moved across her face when her father had mentioned it. He wondered if she'd been British just like her father or something else, and what'd happened that was bad enough that they'd cut contact from her mother's side of the family. "I can definitely u nderstand your reasoning for that then, sir." Twisting his glass around on the table a little, he said, "If you don't mind me asking, are you planning on staying around for a few days, or just briefly? I'm sure if you wanted to see the school that Alex and I could give you the grand tour."

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Synopsis- Gordo files what he's learned about Alex away for later
Tags- Alex, her dad