Wanting to tug at his collar, Yuri wished he had something a bit more casual to wear because unlike the dangerous situations his job put him in (infiltrating the bases of villains, though half the time that meant tricking some poor idiot who didn't have any friends and was desperate for one into letting him into their house, travelling through warzones and sites of attacks, dealing with Aris), the pressure he was under was actually starting to choke him. At the same time, he knew that even if he did wear clothes aside from dress shirts and formal pants when he went out, he'd still have dressed like this now. What else was he supposed to wear for a so-called date with the Grim Rea- Seira, after all?

Any moment could mean death, and he had no intention of looking like a slob when it came to him. Neither was he comfortable enough to when it felt as if every second with her had him under scrutiny from whatever dwelt in the heavens. It definitely had no mercy and Yuri had long accepted that both the creatures up there and down below were evil incarnate. If they even existed in the first place, of course.

He couldn't show any signs of his nervousness though (despite how his hand definitely trembled in Seira's cold one), so he slowly took in the surroundings as he was guided to wherever it was Seira had dubbed 'the perfect first date'. Channelling his fear like this was much more productive than physically showing it. Knowing the train they'd got onto, the station they'd got off on, and what time it was when they were out of the building meant that if he went missing, there would be a search party out in exactly half a day since he'd sent his superiors a text from the bathroom after she'd barged into his home this morning. The pitch-black vehicle that picked them up had a perfectly ordinary plate number, though Yuri wondered if there was any point in remembering it. There was little chance of a car decked out in bones and other grim decorations being forgotten by anyone, especially since this wasn't the time of millennia past where cities were built around cars and the roads were filled with innumerable amounts. Honestly, the tinted windows were the least noticeable part of the entire thing.

"Thank you for driving again, father," Seira spoke, and immediately Yuri felt his spine turn to ice.

"Anything for you, darling," said the man at the wheel, his stature elegant even at such a task.

Yuri cursed his inability to move from Seira's side since it prevented him from seeing much else of the man aside from his hair. Though perhaps it would have been better if even that wasn't visible considering the sleek black and white streaks had been spotted on a certain line of Generals, one that wasn't the Grim Reaper. He was able to see the boy in the passenger seat though, especially as he turned towards them.

With a heavy pout and a sullen tone similar to Seira's when she was upset, he quietly said, "I'm here too."

"I'm happy to see you too, Fili."

"Mm-" the boy (her brother?) smiled, satisfied, and sat back properly.

Knowing Seira wouldn't say more after because of her propensity for silence (something he was generally glad for. it meant he didn't have to struggle to make conversation with her), he took the opportunity to gather more information.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both, I'm-"

"Yuri, yes? We know of you quite well," said Seira's father, lifting a gloved hand from the steering wheel in a shrug, "I do apologise for not being able to shake your hand or greet you properly, and for Philemon's abysmal behaviour. I'm sure he'll grow fond of you soon enough. As for my name…"

The man tilted his head and Yuri saw his gentle smile through the mirror- "I am Rousare Dadra'il Landegre, Seira's father, and one of our majesty's Generals as I'm sure you've gathered by now."

Even though he'd been cut off, he didn't feel too badly against the man. What use was there in wasting time introducing himself when Rousare had probably already knew about him extensively. No doubt he had managed a successful investigation unlike Yuri's side who hadn't managed to get a drop of information on Seira, much less anyone else. Not to mention he didn't act as strangely as Seira did.

"I had thought her family was missing, but not anymore?" he asked.

Rousare chuckled, "Oh yes, Seira did tell you all about that. It was very overeager of her, foolish-" a glance to her as the man spoke showed her cheeks flushing as she lowered her eyes- "but I suppose it matters little if you know. You'll be my son-in-law soon enough."

Yuri didn't like those words, especially how nonchalantly they were said. What was the implication here? Was he really going to disappear today? He hadn't thought that it would really happen considering Seira had seemed to slow down on the idea of marriage, but it wasn't like there had been a guarantee.

"The ones my daughter spoke of were my husband, Ea, and his elder brother, her predecessor. Seira and her elder brother were born of their genetic material, while the only child borne of my husband and I is their younger brother, Regis. So no, the three Loyards remain missing.

He didn't even want to question any of that and yet- "So Philemon is…"

"I'm Seira's cousin," the boy said, his second time speaking making it obvious that he was just naturally soft spoken.

"My first cousin once removed."

"…Cousin," Philemon repeated, his frown palpable and Seira smiled.

Yuri wondered if her entire family was like this. Maybe that would make things better since it meant he wouldn't have to talk to them either. Aside from Rousare and her younger brother depending on who he took after.

"So he's not your brother," Yuri mused.

"No, it's not even possible for him to be hers. Philemon is older than his cousins, and much older than I am."

Just how advanced was their damn technology? Was he really saying that the boy sitting there, who both looked and acted like a child, was over a century old? It was one thing when it was just the Generals, but their entire family had it too?

"Then which brother is missing?"

With anyone else he would have more tact in the way he asked but it didn't seem like any of the freaks in here were adversely affected by the disappearance of their family. Or if they were they wouldn't react badly at being asked about it.

"My eldest son, Lusar. I do miss having him around, he's a riot."

"I don't know about him, but I'll introduce you to Regis soon," Seira said, tugging on his sleeve, "We can have a proper family picnic."

"That sounds-" utterly terrible- "wonderful."

Seira's face lit up at his words and she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. It took everything Yuri had not to stiffen up as she did; it was bad enough having to hold her hand this entire time, did he really have to put up with this too?

A sigh broke through his thoughts, and Seira lifted her head too, her confusion apparent. It wasn't from Philemon, he was too busy messing with the radio, seemingly unsatisfied with the music choices with how he brought out his own phone.

"Darling, do give the man his space," Rousare said reproachingly, and Yuri appreciated how he had noticed his unease even despite what it said about his ability to discern how people worked.

It was kind, and it meant something that even the worst of the worst had some of that in them. It meant that perhaps the Generals wouldn't be as difficult to deal with as they had thought, as long as they gathered sufficient data. Maybe even that there was a reason for their actions that wasn't nearly as bad as a simple 'because I wanted to'.

"If you don't," Rousare continued on, "he'll kill himself trying to. Especially after what you've already done."

Yuri froze as Seira shifted to give him some space. It was relieving and yet, the empty space was just as biting as her touch with the full meaning hitting him. He knew. Rousare knew the entirety of the events that had occurred when Seira had come to him a week ago. Perhaps it was still well-meaning. Nothing said suggested otherwise, as twisted as it was.

"That's my girl," praised Rousare, making Seira blush, "You wouldn't want to go to his funeral instead of your marriage, would you? As much as you like them, that one you wouldn't. And-"

Yuri finally noticed Rousare's eyes through the mirror as the man looked to the turn at the intersection. As if to match the softness of his smile, a warm amusement filled them.

"I'm sure he wants to enjoy the view too," Rousare finished.

Even though there was nothing sharp in his expression, Yuri felt the piercing cold from it too, all of a sudden. Just like Seira, Rousare had been playing with him this entire time. And yet, he still moved to sit by the window, memorising the landscape, and appreciated the space he was given.