It was really odd to stay between two ladies whom one he kissed lately and one insulted him in the Cafeteria but not so difficult. Just felt odd nothing he though he could not handle. Or rather he though he could handle everything about people except any attemps on a physical attack like he though it might happen sooner or later with that boyfriend of Dora. 'The Guardian of Ladies' Very cute. That was a noble behavour and Ryan could not blame him for acting out the common male-macho role he was given within the society but on the other hand the incident was totally pointless and unnecessary.

The two ladies. Birce and Calla. The blond man put a little smile on his face when Birce greeted him back and as he expected, the latter, did not bother to respond with any greeting words. Then she was speaking...surprisinly enough...and it was satirical, the tone she spoke with. 'Love birds' Now that was not something he was planning to hear for he did not love anyone, he wanted to believe that he did not love anyone, he could not love anyone, could he love?, maybe, no...no...not again, never again. Then how was he going to make his way out from this words of Calla? As he thought deeply his blue eyes met the figures on the fountain then 'Magic is Might'...magic is might... ''Nah, i totally disagree.'' he said with a firm tone.

Calla had no patience with this man, but also did not want to upset his girl friend. She had no issues with her. Still looking for an out she saw people walking past many on auto-pilot like she was.

As Ryan spoke, Calla was caught off gaurd by what he said, "What exactly do you disagree with?" She wasn't sure if he was saying she wasn't sorry for interupting (which she wasn't... well sorta she was) or did he disagree with the love bird part?

Calla adjusted the bag on her shoulder, while doing so she held a very expectant expression toward Ryan on her face.

Love birds? God no no no, it'll get more awkward! Even though Birce wasn't a type to blush, she just couldn't have a faint redness on her cheeks this time. Love birds. Bleh. Calla should choose more polite words.

She wanted to parry it but Ryan was quicker than her. Her heart sank at his reply. She could easily understand on what he had disagreed: They weren't in a relationship to be 'love birds'. For three seconds or so, Birce looked in disbelief and was heartbroken, before she composed her expression to a mere amused one. "He means-ahem-we aren't a couple. No." He kisses me, even though we are friends! Her mind was just frozen to say something to Ryan. Once she got over the first shock of his point of view to the incident, she'd deal with him. And of course not in the ministry, that'd be too inappropriate. Maybe in on DA, in a café. She was too new to make fool of herself in the public, or else she didn't care how Ryan would look now.

Ryan was not surprised that Calla asked that kind of a question. She was curious. She proved it long ago with her ability of asking question even while she had fire-burning rage towards him. And most likely she was still angry and wanted to push his head into the fountain literally or else but unable to do so because Birce was there. Or the place was public.

Ryan was not surprised that Birce told that kind of an expression. She was dominant. She proved it long ago when she revealed that her ideas and concepts were the bound to be ones. And most likely she was annoyed with this and wanted to push his head into the fountain literally or else but unable to do so because Calla was there. Or the place was public.

''Actually...'' he began in a kind tone with a little smile on his face. ''...i was talking about the fountain.'' he did a move indicating it ''It says 'Magic is Might'and i do disagree with it. There is power beyond magical ones. And just look at the figures, look closer...'' he bent down a little examining the little statues of a witch and a wizard ''This is too ideological. So i believe this monument is from some other period of time with a different understanding of human rights since i am Muggle-born and walk safe within the Atrium''

Calla wasn’t listening to Ryan... blah blah blah… She was thinking about her, him, Birce…

Calla rolled her eyes at them both. Yea right, not in a relationship. She was getting fed up with the lies. In all honesty it shouldn’t matter to her, but it was the principal of the matter. She wasn’t really even interested in Ryan any longer, but he had upset her and embarrassed her. And honestly, she felt like IF she was interested in him she maybe shouldn’t run from it… but fight for it.

She flipped her hair behind her and got a very sly look to her face. She had always been a nice and shy person, but everything that had happen since she started working at the ministry has started to make her cynical – and maybe more daring.

“Oh not in a relationship?” She said this with a certain air in her voice. Throwing caution into the wind she stepped toward Ryan, glancing at Birce out the side of her eye, “Then you won’t mind this.” Totally inappropriate, but she’s already started the motions. Standing on her tiptoes, placing her small hand on his arm for balance she softly kissed his lips.

Pulling away she glanced at them both. Biting her bottom lip she wasn’t sure what do to – or what would happen next. She wasn’t sure if she should walk away, or watch for their reaction. She decided to stand there.

What in Merlin’s name are you doing?

There, Ryan did it again. He had neatly slipped out of 'danger' with his wit. That was it. Birce couldn't help but roll her eyes along with Calla, but stopped abruptly when he mentioned he was a Muggle born. How was he so talented then? There were examples of such talented and succesful Muggle borns, but Birce could never understand the logic behind it. Whatever. It wasn't much of a deal as long as he was a wizard.
Wait, why was Calla looking so... shifty all of a sudden? And why didn't she comment on Ryan, but on Birce's sentence. Something was coming. Birce could feel it, something was--oh no, she wouldn't dare to kiss him--

O_O

Birce blinked, mouth dropped open. Blinked to see it was only a hallucination, to believe that Calla just didn't kiss HER kind of a boyfriend. She blinked, but the image wouldn't go away. It was as if struck there, in front of her eyes, and wouldn't go away for a hundred years. She slowly closed her mouth to open it more viciously and blast a curse, when she was finally able to see the world: Calla waiting for their reaction. Eyes narrowed with disbelief, anger and some other nasty feelings, she summoned all of her breath to shout.

"WHATARYADOIN'?" Why was she reacting so much? She had said it herself, they weren't in relationship -to her they were, but these Europeans were odd. Their sense of manners were very different from hers. So maybe, probably, Ryan's kiss had been like this one, to test or something. Her hand went to her wand, but she reminded herself that she was an International Cooperation employee, that she should build up relationships, not break them. She quickly thought of her options: slapping, cursing, yelling, leaving... She took a deep breath. She could control her jealousy, and she could refrain from breaking the relations. "If you ever -EVER!- get close to him again, things will get dirtier." she spitted the words out through gritted teeth. Silly Calla drooling over HER boyfriend. Ryan thought the same or not-if he kissed her, he would have to bear the consequences. She glared, not even caring that she had just contradicted herself both externally and internally. She then turned on her heels and made her way to the lifts. Enough of spectacle, she'd neatly go up to fifth floor, avoid both Calla and Ryan, then go home. Perfect plan.

Dora came trotting into the Atrium and noticed some belligerent woman yelling at Calla and then walking away... oh no that wouldn't do! Oh and of course Ryan was involved. Dora walked up to them and cleared her throat as her hair and eyes turned crimson. Looking the woman up and down as she walked away she said loudly and curtly so that the woman could DEFINITELY hear her before she got on the lifts, "I believe you had better watch your tone and keep your hand away from your wand. Threatening people who are employed by the Ministry, as I am sure you well know, is not a good idea. Not to mention threatening a friend of mine probably won't get you anywhere." SHe meant it to be a warning not a threat.

Turning to Ryan she said in just as curt a tone, "Maybe you need to stick with one girl and my friend won't have to deal with belligerent women screaming in her face. Is that too much to ask hon? I think not. So I will have to ask you to stay the Hell away from her before someone gets hurt because of you" and she turned her glare to the idiotic woman yelling and finished, "Or because someone loses their temper and loses control. Which I ahve been known to do."

Dora then smiled sweetly at them and fingered the beautiful riong on her finger. It was a reminder to stay calm rather than blast both of these worthless gits into the fountain and laugh about it. SHe had had more respect for Ryan, but this was getting ridiculous. She wouldn't have her friend getting screeched at by some idiot.

They did not comment on the stuff he was talking about...'Magic is Might'. They even did not mention something like 'What is the relation with it now?' The answer for this clear and ready : 'We are looking at the monument'. Then there were some informations Ryan could conclude with. One: It was great possibility that they were not Muggle-borns, two: Their minds were still busy with the previous utterances, three: if that's the case this meant his trick had worked so he was free of commenting on this 'love birds' expression. He was glad that he still had the ability to buy himself more time before he could make up a proper way out of to deal with relationships. Though, he knew words and tricks could not help him forever so he had to be careful. Very careful.

Ryan smiled and stared at the knuts inside the water as Calla spoke again apparently still stuck with the relationships topic. She was such a bad lier? She was trying to lie herself that she was not interested in him and trying to repress it using her rage towards him but her curiousity was ruining this hard labour. *Sigh* Calla was so... He stopped thinking, if that was possible but yes he literally stopped it because he was confused over Calla's next words and the reality that she gently touched his arm. 'Won't mind what?' he looked towards her to get the answer somehow which came the next second. His confusion turned into a shock when her lips touched his. Now either he was losing his skills or he had to review his psychoanalysing tests, or both. His mind was busy again so when he was back in the world the kiss was over before he could think of how to react it. Well, she tasted good but he could not mention this since Birce started to see red. It was scary. He was scared, he had to confess. So he just stepped back his wand ready to cast between them if things were going to get dirty as Birce snapped out.

Then someone else had come? Yes and it was Dora. Things were getting more and more complicated. But he still only played the spectator, neither the attacker nor the defender. So, Dora had run for her friend's defending and Ryan wondered if she did see what happened a moment ago while she warned Birce with a strict and firm language. Then she turned and imed her words at him. The usual one and he was the guilty one again and again without even acting out. ''Hey'' he said raising her hands in a surrendering position ''I did not do anything'' He looked around. Women shouting at each other, women freaking out, women were crazy and dangerous. ''Ladies, ladies... will you please stop this madness? Or my brain will explode.''

Pandora swept imperiously across the atrium. Today was not going well. She was looking forward going home and closing the rest of the world out. She saw a flash of colour, pink and blonde turning to crimson. It was Dora and she was shouting. Pandora wished that she could just keep walking and go Floo home, but it really wasn't for the best to leave an angry Dora to her own devices.

She crossed to them and saw Calla looking... sheepish? Embarrassed? Dora on the other hand had a thunderous expression on her face. "Dora?" She asked, impassive as ever, "Is everything ok? I sent you a note earlier, perhaps it went to the break room by mistake. I was hoping to speak to you, I've got news." She gave Dora a meaningful look, adding "You too Calla."

She dreaded to think what was going on here, but looked at the unfamiliar man and said, "I'm sorry, Pandora Fortunea." She held her hand out for him to shake.

Dora narrowed her red eyes at Ryan as he played innocent in the matter and she shook her head in disbelief. "Why can't you be a man and admit that you have been stringing these women along with your psycho babble nonsense. Why don't you quit trying to analyze people and be a real person. Calla is not one of your little experiments, Ryan. SHe is sensitive and loving person and you are leading her on. It will stop now or I am afraid of what I will do if your belligerent girlfriend makes me angry again." Dora said in a deadly voice. "Ryan, you are a Ministry of Magic employee now, not Muggle psychiatrist or psychoanalyst... or whatever it was. You can't treat us all like your patients." she told him sternly.

Dora heard Pandora's voice as she appraoched and smiled before turning to her. She then said, "Why, yes. I'd hate to think there was a problem here." She looked pointedly at Ryan and in the direction that the crazy woman took off in. It was probably best that she had not stuck around long enough for Dora to handle things.

She looked at Jadis curiously when she sadi she had something to talk to them about. Nodding her head she then answered, "Okay. We can go to the cafeteria and talk over lunch, if you'd like"

He knew it was going to be an odd day from the moment he woke up on the couch instead of his bed and though he was late then arrived early. And next what? He could not tell. This time Birce stormed away first this was surprising, and all the things happened as well. Ryan saw another woman approaching and hoped she had not also come along to accuse him for flirting with her or tricking her in any means. And happily enough she did not, just a friend of Dora. He smiled kindly and shoke hands with her. ''Ryan Chambers.'' it was weird that nearly all people he met since he came back to England were women. ''Nice to meet you Pandora. A beautiful name, i do like Greek Mythology.'' with another little smile he turned back to Dora when she started to speak again.


''Don't say that, i am a man. It's upsetting'' he uttered at first place. Actually regarding from some outside view she sounded to be right at most of her points. He once realised that he was threating people as experiments with his sentence 'Every new person i meet is another character to explore'. Mayhe he should really stop it for it sometimes seemed to drive him into fallacies. But the question was how? His brain was accustomed to work like that. His smile faded and he nodded seriously as he fixed his eyes at Dora's ''I understand. You are right. I'll try then...'' '...mom'. He did not include the lasy word because Dora seemed like she was going to be a good friend for him. ''I also happened to think that Calla was sensitive but maybe she is not as sensitive as we though she was for i have not cursed or hypnotised her to kiss me''. Yes he did nothing. It was all her work.

As Calla waited, and watched she felt calm. Not nervous, like she probably should but clam. She watched Ryan as Birce yelled, not moving her eyes from Ryan she said, “Oh but I thought you weren’t a couple?” She said this very coyly as she raised an eyebrow and bit her lip again. What in Merlin’s name has gotten in to me? She didn’t know but she loved every minute of it. All that pent up frustration and energy was slowly releasing itself.

Watching Ryan she couldn't tell if he enjoyed the kiss, but that wasn't the point at all. Well, maybe it was? She had wasted her first ever kiss on him, but did it really count. I think not she decided instantly.

She kept her stare on him, watching everything come undone. She laughed internally. It's his fault really, he asked for it when he flirted and enticed multiple women at one time.

Finally turning her eyes to Birce she said, “I am so sorry. If I had known he was your boyfriend it wouldn’t have happen.” Calla knew that was an incredulous statement. She would not typically run around kissing men, especially in the middle of public like this. But she had grown quite tired of Ryan’s games and lies. She honestly meant no harm to Birce, but she deserved better than him anyways.

Calla never said a cross word at Birce, Calla knew she deserved the threat. Glancing back at Ryan Calla heard Dora in the background. Dora was yelling at Birce for yelling at Dora, Calla couldn’t let that happen. Turning to Dora Calla quietly said, “Dora don’t, not at her.” Trying to make a face of ‘I’ll explain later’ to her. It wasn’t working.

Dora then turned to Ryan; Calla didn’t try and stop Dora on this one. He deserved it. Calla smiled at him sweetly and innocently. Ryan made a poor attempt of defending himself, although really at this particular moment he had no reason to (this time he really hadn’t done anything wrong). Calla didn’t care; she liked seeing him this way.

Pandora approached. Calla turned to her, “Yes I’m fine.” Calla smiled at Dora, she was a wonderful friend. She mouthed ‘thank you’ to Dora. Eyeing Ryan once again Calla spoke to her friends, “Yes I’d love to have lunch with you both. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria in a few minutes.” She was hoping they’d take the hint so she could have just a word alone with Ryan. She wanted to hear everything Pandora had to say, and Calla was pretty sure Dora was wearing an engagement ring (she had to hold in her reaction of squealing accompanied by ‘OH mY Gosh!’)

Smugly glaring at Ryan she waited.

Pandora was impressed to see that Dora was managing to keep her temper. She had been planning on going home for lunch and perhaps not coming back but she simply said "That's fine."

As Ryan shook her hand, Pandora kept her face impassive and managed not to roll her eyes. At least he had restrained himself and not mentioned boxes and jars. "It's a pleasure." She said simply and listened as he went on to say that Calla had kissed him. Was that the cause of all this? Pandora couldn't see how but her head was pounding and she didn't really want to try and work it out.

When Calla said that she would meet them in the cafeteria, Pandora nodded, regretting the movement instantly. "Come on Dora, I think that Calla can handle this." She kept her usual dispassionate expression and linked arms with her friend.

Dora glared at Ryan and said very clearly, "I never said she was weak and I never said she was in no way innocent in this situation. But, you will do well to remeber that I will be watching you from now on and if you hurt Calla you will have to answer to me."

Then turning to Calla she pursed her lips and said, "I don't think it appropriate for someone to screech like that in our place of employment and certainly it is not okay to threaten a fellow employee, irregardless of whatever you may or may not have done." SHe gave her an icy glare and turned to Pandora as she spoke to her.

"Yes, let's hope she can because this is making my head hurt" Dora all but snapped. She was tired of dealing with this Ryan crap all the time. He seemed to be causing more trouble in Dora's life than she would like to admit. SHe still had nothing personally against Ryan, but it was not very nice of him to hurt her friend like that and he had made Silas pretty angry also.

Thinking of Silas made her think of the beautiful ring on her finger so she ran her finger across the back of the band and smiled to herself.

"Yes, let's go Pandora. Calla, see you later." Dora said as she let Pandora link her arm through her own and away they went together toward the cafeteria.

"I know Dora, you're right." Calla agreed with her friend and then watched the both of them trotted off to the cafeteria, "I'll be along shortly" She called after them.

Turning her gaze toward Ryan she waited a moment before starting in on her lesson. "I want to make myself most clear. I did not kiss you because I like you in any way." Lie... did he enjoy it? ugg, who cares.. She flicked her hair behind her and continued,"I kissed you because I could tell that Birce most certainly thought you and her were indeed dating. It's not fair of you to be running around flirting with women enticing them, leading them on and then denying the entire situation."

Looking from him she was trying to maintain her emotion. Very softly she continued, "You denied flirting with me; you denied the relationship with her. You can only fool yourself for so long."

"I'm not sure what happen to you to cause you to be so cruel with another person's emotions but you sir certainly are in need of a mental health care professional." Looking toward the cafeteria doors she said one last thing, "I know my eruption in the cafeteria was out of place, but all I said is indeed true."

Calla was starting to almost feel sorry for the man. "Look I'm sure your divorce was horrible, and your probable have plenty of resentment build up toward her - which lead to resentment toward all women. But you can't lead women on like this; you'll never get what you're looking for." She pleaded with him.

This did not sound so sincere, did it? Prejudices. It was too bad that he turned out to meet someone else while discussions on him flirting multiple women hovering around, though his intention was not about being greedy and satisfying himself emotionally with more than one woman if this was even possible, of course. He believed not but women always thought of the worst if someone was a little bit too nice. ''Pleasure for me too.'' Really it was pleasure for him but he was not sure that she thought of the same.

Then he looked back at Dora when she started to speak or more to warn him much like her sweetheart did for his surprise. ''Well... i did not say she was weak, either, did i? I believe not'' And again he heard the smililar expression 'i watch you/ My eyes are on you/ Watch yourself/ Behave...' and a dozen more he had heard smililar things before and all refused that it was threatening, they were all threatening which meant the number of people who wanted to kick him away this world had not yet stopped increasing though he had moved away from where he had been in trouble. Hopefully the ones here were not at an unmanageable degree. ''Thank you.'' he replied her 'i am watching you' warning. Hurting Calla? Nah, not among his lifetime goals.

Ryan watched the two women made their way towards the Cafeteria and Dora said 'See you later Calla' not to him...reasonable enough since she was angry...maybe. Turning back to Calla into her eyes which had a sly twinkle in them if he was not mistaken. ''You started to scare me...'' he said slowly he was about to go on but did not so when she started before he could.

'Ah yes maybe you did not kiss me because you liked me, you wanted to test Birce. Fine. But it still does not mean that you dislike me, unless you mention anything regarding that' He wondered why they never understood. He saw them seperately and could not even rememver or thought of the other while he did so. He had no bound to anyone plus flirting was not something worked if it was one sided. Then why all the blame was on him? Actually he could guess why but this would never go far from only a guessing till he got further information on these women. But he doubted he was going to analyze them more since they thought it was open flirting. 'Cruel...what kind of a word is that? I am not cruel'. The whole time she spoke, the blond man did not disturb her only listening carefully but he, for some reason, needed to urge to cut off her at this point. ''Unfortunately, dear, i don't think it is possible to get my mental state in its right place if there's any problems with it as you claimed. Because i know the treatments and how they do work therefore they won't be any help to me'' and silence he fell in again as she went on about...his marriage again he sighed there was nothing much he was going to talk about this. ''I believe i have already heard your ideas on my marriage or divorcement so there's no need for further comments on it...Then is this all. Are you finished?''

The moment she started to feel bad for him, he opened his mouth and ruined it. “You’re full of yourself and hopeless.” She shook her head at him.

Calla raised her eyebrow at the man, am I finished? How rude! Cocking her head to the side she looked at him for a moment. How could he be so self-righteous?

“Oh yes, yes I’m quite done with you and everything that has to do with you.” Again Calla’s sly little smile worked its way to the surface. She stepped towards him and got as close to him as she did right before she kissed him then whispered, “I should have done this in the first place.” With that she placed both hands on his chest and gave him a great shove towards the fountain. She didn't stick around to see if he fell in or not. She turned on heel and walked toward the cafeteria.

Apparently Calla was having a hard time understanding him, no defibitelt she could not understand since she again and again came to the result that he was full of yourself even when he tried to explain something about himself. ''Hopeless maybe...'' he said accompanied by a soft smile ''But am not full of myself.''. What was wrong with her? What was so hard to accept? And most of all why she was trying that hard to be unfriendly towards him?She looked like she was hiding something behind childish behaviours and words. If she could soften a little everything would be a piece of cake business for Ryan. Indeed maybe he could soften her...a little.

No matter what this girl managed to surprise him when she approached him again nevertheless this time her nasty-looking smile was no a sign that she was going to kiss again. That'd be unreasonable while she tried that hard to dislike him. Then...what was going on? Was she really going to...? And the thnig he could remember next, after he felt her hands on his chest was all the moisture around him, his clother were almost all wet and the thin line of water dripping on his hair from the tip of the statue wizard's wand.

Childish . Now It was her who needed not only a lesson but also a homework with it. Ignoring all either pitying ot curious looks on himself got up, jumped out of the fountain and made his way to the Cafeteria after her with fast steps.

Chris was standing near the fountain alone. He was like a security guard standing but for real, he didn't know why he wanted to stood there. He glanced around, wondering if it was his co-worker's vacant time too. Chris leaned on the wall as he watched the flow of the water of the fountain. It was just that he was bored to be somewhere else and the sight of the beautiful fountain makes him feel fine. He took out a pocket book on his pocket. The book is a contact book where he puts numbers of his colleagues and relatives. He searched for Cedric's number, 'cause he would call him soon.

Eva was wandering around. Ugh stupid Mark making her get a job. What was the point ? He had a job, so why did she need one ? Excatly She didn't. Hmph. She'd rather be out shopping with her friends. She twisted her hair round her finger. Oooh hello ? She smirked as she saw a rather hot looking man. Time to flirt ? She walked round to the other side of the fountain so he couldn't see her. "Im sorry heels but I have to break you." she whispered breaking her heel. She walked round to the side where he was standing. 3...2...1. BREAK! "Ugh! Stupid shoes. Always breaking." She said, this was were being a good actress came in handy.

Chris was glancing around and then he noticed a woman who was having a problem about her shoes. He wondered though what the girl was doing as it made him wonder when the girl walked to the other side of the fountain and he could barely see her. And then the girl appeared in Chris' sight and ooh.. her shoes are BREAK! poor her but Chris won't gonna be helping her with her 'problem'. Chris just stood still and continue watching the fountain. He couldn't resist and he ended up gazing at the girl though he didn't have any plan to walk toward her and to has a flirtatious chat with her.

UGH. Seriously what was wrong with people around here ? Well if he wasn't gonna come over to her. She was gonna wait for him to come over to her, He'd have to sometime go over to him. She felt weird. She didn't wanna walk straight past him and scoff like she usually did around people she didn't know, She had the urge to go talk to him. Which was totally un-Eva thing to do. She walked/hopped over to him. "Sorry about that." she said, standing next to him, smirking slightly. She looked at him, and her smirk grew bigger. "you have amazing eyes." Unlike her brother she acctually knew more than one pick up line.

Chris just continued glancing to the beautiful fountain a meters away from him. His mind was preoccupied by some things and it was like the things he was thinkin' of was showing itself at the flowing water of the fountain. His eyes flickered as someone had just talked to him and apologized to him for something he didn't know why. It was the girl he saw who broke her shoe a while ago. "Why you're apologizin' to me? you don't owe me anything." said Chris in his velvet voice as he scrutinized the girl and found her somewhat beautiful. The girl is beautiful indeed but it was just that... she seemed odd. "Thanks." his voice didn't sound like he was thankful, he just said thanks so as not to be rude to her.

Eva rolled her eyes. Hot boys were a total fail here. She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Uhhh no reason." She said shrugging. She began walking off, hopefully he'd call her back or something. Meh, prolly not as she said the hot boys here were a fail so he'd probably just stand there. Siiigh. She rolled her eyes before looking back still walking away.

Chris just watched the girl as the girl started walking away. Great. He would be alone again and free to talk about things and stuffs. He glanced around if anybody was with him, and he found nobody but him and the girl who was walking away. He shuddered for the thought that the girl was expecting that he would call her back and eventually, he would do 'cause the girl had left her broken shoes. He picked up the girl's shoes and ran toward the girl. As he reached her, he's said, "Your shoes. You'd left them." And for the first time Chris smiled to her so broadly and sweetly and it might thaw the girl's eyes.