Alex slowly raised his hands as a sign to prove his non-hostility and waited for the woman to gather her two kids before ushering them inside the house. This action alone already seemed to relieve the man before him, who seemed less tense, but still glared at him.
Vines were starting to break ground under Alexander's feet, and he could feel them slowly climbing up his shoes as they aimed for his ankles.
Once the kids were inside, the vines quickly wrapped around his feet and clamped on him hard. Hard enough that Alex winced as they wrinkled his jeans into his skin.
"Now start talking. Or it gets really ugly, really fast," the man said, putting on a menacing face.
Alex looked at him, his gaze icy.
"Get rid of the snaring vines. I don't react well to threats."
The man looked at him, and his eyes narrowed.