Phoenix Maplewood Trippin' on skies, sippin' waterfalls

With suspicions confirmed, an uncharacteristic anger burned in Reek's gut. These smouldering coals were ever stoked by the fuel of jealousy, of fear, and even a bit of envy, until Reek was fully alight. Luke was everything Reek couldn't - but wanted - to be: attractive, truly confident, friendly... He was neary Reek's antithesis— chocked full of traits Reek could only fake behind a few ill-timed jokes and mask-like smiles. Perhaps it was still wrong to worry, as he was beginning his own family with Saena and she had clearly picked Reek to be at the helm, but ever since he saw them together at the maplewood's claiming so long ago, Reek couldn't help but worry that Luke was the sort of man she wished she could be with instead.

It may have been overly simplistic to look at things this way... but, afterall, Saena was pretty. Luke was handsome. Reek was not.

Reek gulped hard in an attempt to suppress his anger and insecurity from boiling over. He couln't bring himself to be mad at Smash, becasue in a way, he understood why she did what she did; Reek figured Luke was the type of man women flocked to, like a shiny, blue-nosed fishing lure as opposed to Reek's slimy, grey worm.

He tried not to dwell on it any further and ended up responding with a muffled, "Somewhat." Reek's body language spoke for him; his ears splayed back and there was a quaver to his voice that he couldn't hide away. The smile that crossed his face was unlike one of days old; a tad forced. Reek quickly tried to change the subject himself. "So, parenthood?" he asked. "Is it harder than when I dealt with you in the river?" The memory allowed Reek's forced grimace to slacken into something a bit more genuine. Of course, Reek figured it would be a new beast entirely different than experiance, but perhaps Smash would have some new wisdom to impart upon him.