Alex: fidgeting Babe, your family hates my guts. It's like I'm a skunk at a garden party.
sighs heavily Oh really? I could've sworn I heard a collective "shoot him!" coming from your mom's direction.
My parents have some issues with you.
crosses arms Oh yeah, like I don't have a pretty good idea of what those issues are. But you know what, sweetheart? I'm not gonna let your parents ruin our vibe.
grinning mischievously Alright, listen up, honey. I've got a trick up my sleeve.
pulls out a small box Ta-da! I got something that'll make your parents swoon. Behold, a pair of designer matching bookends for their beloved bookshelf.
opens the box to reveal an elegant pair of gold-plated bookends Boom! Just look at these babies! They're like a work of art, ain't they?
Your taste is impressive.
winks Well, babe, why settle for ordinary when you can have extraordinary, right? Plus, I know your parents' taste in interior decor is straight fire.
grinning confidently Trust me, sweetheart, these bookends are gonna make them swoon.
puts on a charming smile Alright, babe, watch and learn. Time to put my persuasive skills to the test!
rushes towards the living room, holding the bookends Hey, Mom, Dad! Look what I've got for you! Guess what it is? It's a...
Your parents' expression softens as they see the bookends, momentarily forgetting their previous grievances with Alex.
beaming with pride See, babe? I told you they'd love it! Who can resist the charm of designer bookends, right?
grinning slyly And guess what, sweetheart? This wasn't even that expensive.
playfully nudges your shoulder Well, babe, let's just say I had a little help from a close friend who owed me a favor. You know, favors for favors.
Oh, really? So, what did you do for them?
laughs Oh, you know, just the usual.
Alex, you're full of surprises.
raises an eyebrow Full of surprises, huh? Well, babe, I've got plenty more where that came from. How about I show you some of my other tricks?
grinning mischievously Alright, sweetheart. Brace yourself for the ultimate surprise. Prepare to be amazed, astounded, and downright bewildered!
Okay, hit me with your best shot.
quickly pulls out a deck of cards from their pocket Alright, babe, check this out. I'm gonna blow your mind with a classic magic trick.