Alex de Rooij

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*This article is about Alex de Rooij, the protagonist of Glory Hounds. You may be looking for Alexios from Adastra.*

## Alex de Rooij

* Alex
* Dusk Hound

### Aliases

Dusk Hound
Al
Spot (By Raoul)
Spotty (By Ishmael)
Laddie (by Ahab)
Uncle Alex (by Lou's children)

## Physical Description

### Text Color

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*"One day after foiling a robbery, Alex discovers his boss, Raoul Brevard, moonlights as a masked crime fighter called the Dawn Hound, and he finds himself suddenly thrust into a world of heroes and villains.*

*Alex becomes Raoul's sidekick under the alias of Dusk Hound. With the support of Raoul's butler, Milo, the pair begins working to keep the city of Schippersburg safe. Though easily frightened and more than a little pessimistic he'll always do the right thing in the end. Probably. Hopefully."* - Alex de Rooij's character profile

**Alexander "Alex" de Rooij** is the main protagonist of the visual novel Glory Hounds. After foiling an attempted robbery, he finds himself suddenly thrust into a world of superheroism upon discovering that his boss Raoul Brevard fights crime on the side as a masked hero named Dawn Hound.

Alex becomes Raoul's sidekick under the alias of **Dusk Hound**, and with the support of Raoul's butler Milo, the pair begin working to keep the city of Schippersburg safe.

## Appearance

Alex is a tall, lean Dalmatian dog with characteristic black spots all over his white fur, including four across his eyes in a domino mask pattern. He has brown eyes and slight stubble-like whiskers on his chin and upper lip. Alex has a piercing in his left eyebrow, as well as barbell nipple piercings and a circular tongue piercing.

Alex's civilian clothes consist of a jean jacket and a yellow hoodie with the crown-like logo of Brevard Enterprises on it in red, as well as black sweatpants and purple sneakers. While training with Milo, he wears a red tank top and black sweatpants.

As Dusk Hound, Alex dresses in a high-collared black singlet that opens to reveal his chest and stomach. He also wears a black and yellow jacket, a studded collar around his neck, fingerless gloves, and thigh-high purple boots accented with yellow. Over his face he wears a purple bandana with holes for his eyes and long streaming ribbons. Like Dawn Hound's, his costume includes a prominent studded belt that bears a paw-like insignia. Additionally, he wears a star-shaped tongue piercing.

## Personality

Alex is good-natured and caring, although in addition to the altruistic qualities that make him a hero he sometimes displays a more self-indulgent side. He is disenchanted by the way his life has gone so far, feeling that he has stagnated and lacks purpose, and can be overly hard on himself as a result, but when freed of his self-doubt he displays confidence and optimism.

Alex is clever and capable, with a reputation for finding himself in trouble yet getting out of it just as easily. He is somewhat impulsive at times and fairly accident-prone, but his quick thinking and ability to read situations accordingly typically helps him overcome any obstacles, self-created or otherwise.

He tends to be something of a straight man in comparison to the larger-than-life characters around him, and is often disgruntled, surprised, or flustered by the antics of others.

Alex has been in a multitude of relationships over the years and is confident in his flirting abilities, though his lack of success in finding a lasting companion has left him unsure about his prospects of finding love beyond a hookup. He can be easily distracted by people he finds attractive, such as being flustered by close proximity to Raoul or Ahab, even while in the middle of high-stakes situations.

## Story

### Prior to Glory Hounds

Alex was born and raised in the freshwater district of Schippersburg and is the adoptive son of two firefighters. He developed a reputation as a mischievous troublemaker growing up, but also kept up good grades and always dreamed of making a difference in the world. After dropping out of college, however, he began to lose his sense of purpose. He briefly worked as a bartender at De Halve Haen before eventually moving on to a job in computer repairs for Brevard Industries, where has worked for the past ten years. At the start of the story, Alex feels stuck in his unfulfilling job and is coming off a string of fizzled relationships.

About a year prior to Glory Hounds, Alex met a lion named Stephan during a leather party at the Haen, and the two dated for a time before breaking up. Alex seems to retain lingering feelings for Stephan and keeps a photo with him as the lock screen of his phone. He is also said to have dated a centipede, a spider, and a lamprey at various points, as well as many other partners who he drifted apart from. Alex's most enduring connections are with his friends Lou and Willem, with whom he often spends time with at De Halve Haen. He is also an almost lifelong patron of Maria de Bruin and visits her corner store nearly every week. Alex has a strong relationship with his parents, who are aware and supportive of him being gay and remain amicable terms as a family despite their divorce.

He shares an apartment in Schippersburg's Sweetwater District with Max.

### Issue #1

On his first night as Dusk Hound, Alex joins Raoul to confront Auguste Khameau, who has stolen a valuable dress made of banknotes and diamonds. Alex and Raoul corner Khameau, whose name Alex can't quite recall, on the roof of a skyscraper, only for him to summon a horde of sword-wielding butterfly henchmen. Alex is terrified to see that his foes are armed, and before the fight can begin he flashes back to how he found himself in his new career as a superhero.

Some time earlier, Alex is spending an evening catching up with Lou at De Halve Haen. The bar's proprietor, Willem, remarks that a popular art gallery called Opgedoekt has just opened across the street, and Lou looks it up to learn that it has recently acquired a richly adorned dress called the ‘Money Talks' gown.

Willem then invites Alex and Lou to an upcoming celebration marking De Halve Haen's twenty-fifth anniversary, but Alex declines because he has to work his job at Brevard Enterprises. Lou, who works for the same company, offers to help Alex get moved into a different position in reception with them, but Alex is unwilling to change because he feels his computer repair work is the only thing he is good at. Alex and Lou agree to see each other outside of work more often, and make plans to go to the movies.

Alex waits outside the bar for a rainstorm to pass and is joined by Willem, who asks Alex if something is bothering him. He tries to brush off the concern, but Willem recounts the day Alex came out to him and reminds him that he shouldn't bottle things up. Alex confesses that as he gets older, he feels more stuck and unfulfilled in his life, and Willem tries to reassure him.

On his way home, Alex stops at Mrs. de Bruin's corner store for a snack. She playfully reminds Alex to take better care of himself so that he can get another boyfriend, much to his discomfort. Suddenly, a robber forces his way into the store and Alex quickly ducks behind a shelf. He tries to contact the police, but the automated answering service cannot understand him through his panic. When the assailant, a barracuda named Ishmael, points a pistol at Mrs. de Bruin, Alex knows he has to do something.

Despite his fear, Alex finds a potent-smelling condiment on the store shelves and pours it onto the fishbowl helmet Ishmael is wearing to breathe, badly disorienting him, then directs Mrs. de Bruin to make a run for it. Ishmael turns his gun on Alex, only for a neoprene-clad Rottweiler to burst in through the store's front window. Despite his strange getup, the masked hero quickly demonstrates his competency in a fight and calls on Alex to help him knock Ishmael back out onto the street, where he escapes by diving into a canal.

With the danger passed, Alex feels a euphoric sense of relief, and is thrilled that he was able to make a difference. The costumed man calls himself Dawn Hound, and explains that the robber was a member of the Saltwater Syndicate, a crime ring he has been tracking. Alex can tell that Dawn Hound is excited to have someone to talk to about his superheroics from the way his tail is wagging, and considers him 'cute for a guy in a gimp suit.' Dawn Hound playfully mentions that he could use a sidekick like Alex, whom he calls Spot, and the two banter warmly. Before Dawn Hound leaves Alex winks at him, and earns a blush in return. Offscreen, Mrs. de Bruin clears things up with the authorities to prevent Alex from getting in trouble after the police find him in the wreckage of the store.

Alex returns home and, after seeing himself on the evening news, immediately receives a check-in call from Willem. He then falls asleep on the couch, only to find himself in a strange dark void. He hears irregularly dripping water nearby, along with a sound like footsteps above him, and smells something awful enough to make him dry heave.

A voice that seems to come from the inside of Alex's head speaks to him, and assures him he is not dreaming. It tells him that the "city has lost hope" and needs someone like Alex to protect it, since there are many others who feel helpless and unappreciated like Alex himself often does. The voice assures Alex that he will return to the strange dark place when the time is right, then the sounds around him intensify uncomfortably until the vision ends.

Alex awakens the next morning and learns from Max that he has overslept and is late for work. As he hurries through the busy city, Alex collides with a well-dressed stoat who introduces herself as Fenna, the curator of Opgedoekt. She gives him a ticket for two to the gallery and calls him "Mr. de Rooij" as she leaves, only for Alex to realize moments later that he never told her his last name.

At Brevard Enterprises, Alex learns that Lou has been trying to cover for his tardiness for two hours. Despite this, Alex is reprimanded by his supervisor and fired from his job. In the hallway afterward, he encounters a well-dressed Rottweiler holding a comic book whose voice sounds familiar. The man cryptically recommends that Alex visit Opgedoekt, then calls him "Spot" before departing, and Alex wonders if he may have just met Dawn Hound in disguise. Upon inspecting the back of the gallery ticket he got from Fenna, Alex discovers that "Signed, D.H" has been written along with an address. Alex tells Lou he has been fired, and they promise to take him out on the town that evening to cheer him up.

The mysterious address leads Alex to a secluded mansion on the outskirts of the city. He is welcomed inside by Milo, an imposing butler, whose sharp gaze and stature make Alex feel insignificant. Alex notes he has heard Milo's accent before, when Dawn Hound was speaking to someone over an earpiece during the robbery. Milo tries to dismiss Alex, but warms up to him immediately after being shown the signed gallery ticket.

Milo leads Alex into a sumptuously decorated room and, before leaving to summon the master of the house, tells him not to touch anything. Alex cannot resist snooping, and discovers a conspicuous bust with a smudged handprint on its surface that smells like Dawn Hound did the previous night. He touches the bust and the floor beneath him opens, sending him down a chute into a subterranean hideout. He is greeted by the Rottweiler from earlier, who is revealed to be both Dawn Hound and the reclusive Raoul Brevard himself.

Alex is overwhelmed to learn that Dawn Hound is actually his boss, and feels like someone is making a joke at his expense, but Raoul calms him down. Raoul commends Alex's lifesaving courage during the robbery and invites him to become Dawn Hound's sidekick. Alex deprecates himself as he reflects on the terror he felt while in danger and tells Raoul that he can find a better sidekick.

Alex leaves the manor apologetically, and opts to walk home alone. He reflects on the failures that he perceives as having defined his life so far, such as turning down a promotion at work because he balked at the increased responsibility, and considers the high stakes of taking on a life-and-death job like being a hero.

Alex begins to reconsider, however, when he realizes that he has finally received a chance to do something more with his life. To avoid regretting another missed opportunity, he decides to take a leap of faith and returns to the mansion. Raoul and Milo happily open the front door in response to his desperate knocking, seemingly having expected his change of heart. They welcome him home, and when Raoul proposes 'Dusk Hound' as the name for Alex's new alter ego, he immediately accepts.

### Issue #2

After agreeing to become Dusk Hound, Alex spends some time in combat training with Milo in order to prepare for the field. Alex struggles with Milo's harsh regimen and comes out of the session aching and exhausted, but having made some progress. He and Milo briefly talk about Milo's history before being interrupted by Raoul, who has been hard at work attempting to design a costume for Dusk Hound. Alex is horrified by the eccentric and embarrassing costumes that Raoul has come up with rejects them all before sketching an idea for himself, which Raoul approves and begins adding his own refinements to.

As Alex and Milo wrap up their training for the day, the headquarters receives a video call from Fenna. She is happy to see that Alex has successfully made it into Dawn Hound's inner circle and explains that Opgedoekt has just received a calling card from the Saltwater Syndicate declaring their intent to steal the gallery's most valuable piece, the Money Talks gown. Raoul suggests that Alex visit the gallery in plain clothes to perform reconnaissance and look out for signs to the Syndicate. Alex and Milo both express trepidation, but Alex ultimately agrees and sets out toward Opgedoekt on his newly purchased bike.

While en route to the gallery, Alex rationalizes that it might help his cover to bring a friend along and calls Lou, who agrees to accompany him. After he picks Lou up from the Haen, Alex is forced by their curiosity to create a cover story for his new job and tells them that he is working as a "cleaner" out of desperation, but is being cagey about it because he is embarrassed. Alex and Lou are welcomed into Opgedoekt by Fenna, who explains a bit about the gallery's collection and charitable endeavors before asking to have a private word with Alex. Fenna then tells Alex everything she knows about the Saltwater Syndicate and once again accentuates the importance of the Money Talks gown. Alex musters up some bravado to reassure her before she leaves Alex to his reconnaissance mission.

While looking around the gallery, Alex notices a few of the cleaning staff giving him odd glances, then runs into a large "statue" that he quickly discovers to be a whale calling himself the head janitor of Opgedoekt. Alex is flustered by the janitor's size and good looks and has a brief conversation with him about the imminent danger of the Saltwater Syndicate. The janitor gives Alex his number and invites him on a date later that night.

Alex returns to Lou and asks them about any potentially suspicious activity they might have seen around the gallery. Lou remarks on an excess of janitors, one of whom Alex suddenly recognizes as Ishmael. Realizing that the cleaning staff is actually the Saltwater Syndicate already in place for their heist, Alex leads a baffled Lou to an exhibit to hide them before escaping into the restroom so he can radio for help.

After calling Milo and Raoul to inform them of the Syndicate's presence, Alex is startled to be near-instantly transported from a bathroom stall to headquarters through one of Raoul's "secret passages." Raoul proudly reveals the completed Dusk Hound costume, which Alex dons, and supplies a grappling hook for him to use. Alex then receives a call from Lou, who suspects that Fenna has been captured by the thieves and plans to go help her. Milo scolds Alex for bringing Lou along and potentially exposing them to danger, then explains that the only way back to Opgedoekt is a lengthy car trip. Thinking quickly, Alex uses his new grappling hook to travel right back up the secret passage, followed by Raoul, and the two return to Opgedoekt ready for combat.

Almost immediately the heroes cross paths with Ishmael and Polly and Alex makes short work of both by using the momentum from his grappling hook to deliver a soaring kick. Alex shakes off the collateral pain from colliding with a wall in the process, then he and Raoul make their way further into the gallery to encounter Khameau, a captured Lou, and Ahab himself. Alex is shocked to discover the massive janitor he had been flirting with is the head of the Saltwater Syndicate and is once again briefly distracted by his attractive physique, but is interrupted by Lou immediately recognizing him through his Dusk Hound costume. Alex is able to use his grappling hook to cause Khameau to release Lou, but he and Raoul are then soundly defeated by Ahab.

Upon awakening, Alex finds that Milo has arrived and Lou has rescued Fenna from the broom closet, but the Syndicate has escaped with the Money Talks gown. After assuring Fenna that they will recover the gown and promising Lou that he will explain everything later, Alex regroups with Raoul and Milo and they make a plan to pursue the Syndicate by using the tracker Raoul previously placed on Ishmael during the corner store robbery. Milo's foresight means he has brought gear for underwater travel, and so Dusk Hound and Dawn Hound make haste to the undersea part of the city.

Once in the Saltwater District, Alex and Raoul manage to trace the Syndicate's location to a seedy pub called De Zoute Zeeman. Alex is shocked to see Raoul once more burst in without a plan beyond "using the element of surprise," but swiftly follows his boss' lead. Alex briefly fights Khameau before being set upon by Ahab. While attempting to pull a hanging chandelier down on the captain, Alex inadvertently misfires his grappling hook into Ahab's "crown jewels" and incapacitates him. With the commander of the Syndicate taken out, the rest of the crew surrenders and gives up the gown, though Alex notes that Khameau has escaped during the conflict.

Upon returning to the surface, Alex and Raoul are met by Milo and Fenna. Alex is congratulated on the success of his first mission as Dusk Hound, but the group is dismayed to discover the gown has been removed from the container that the Syndicate handed over, with nothing left in its place but a calling card from Khameau. The group agrees to break overnight to look more into Khameau's possible whereabouts, and Alex again assures Fenna that they will retrieve the gown as soon as possible. Realizing that the best way to find out more about Khameau likely involves asking his former teammates, Alex texts Ahab and asks him to meet up for their date as planned. He is somewhat surprised when the captain swiftly agrees.

While waiting for Ahab, Alex calls Lou and convinces them to hold off on saying anything about his new job to anyone, and promises that he will bring Milo and Raoul to explain everything to them at the Haen's anniversary party the following day. Ahab arrives and reveals that he immediately recognized Alex as Dusk Hound, but tells him that he holds no grudges and that he finds him cute. Alex explains that Khameau double-crossed even the Syndicate, and Ahab promises to tell him everything he can about the traitor after their date. The two get drinks together and later return to Alex's apartment to find Max and Ishmael attempting to make a cake. After getting over his shock at seeing Ishmael, Alex firmly rejects Max's invitation to taste test and ushers Ahab away to his bedroom for the night.

### Issue #3

During his date with Ahab, he and Alex discuss Khameau’s betrayal of the Syndicate and possible current whereabouts. The following morning, Alex and Ahab flirt a bit before being interrupted by Max, who informs Alex that his boss called looking for him. As Ahab departs, Alex assures him that they will catch Khameau on his behalf and encourages him to stay out of trouble. Afterward, Max playfully ribs Alex about his activities with Ahab and offers him free tickets to a fashion show that night, which Alex denies on account of work before returning to bed.

Before he can get back to sleep, Alex finds himself falling down another of Raoul’s tunnels to HQ, embarrassingly ending up in front of Raoul and Milo in his underwear. After making himself decent, Alex fills the pair in on the intel he received from Ahab and suggests that the group visit the Haen to talk to Lou in order to fill them in on his new job as promised as well as ask them about the information they have found on Khameau since the previous day.

Alex, Raoul, and Milo arrive at the Haen in the midst of its anniversary party, where they encounter “Mother Hen.” Noticing Raoul becoming overstimulated in the crowded environment, Alex comforts him before the group makes their way over to Lou. After explaining their work to Lou (and hiring them as intelligence and a social media manager in the process,) Lou fills the group in on Khameau’s past as a struggling designer who seemingly turned to a life of crime. Eventually, the group comes to the realization that Khameau’s calling card contains invisible ink pointing toward his presence at the prestigious Bonds through Bondage fashion show that night.

While considering how to get into the show and the dangers that may lie ahead after doing so, the group is interrupted by the arrival of Barend. Alex is embarrassed by his father’s intimidating and immediately overfamiliar introduction to his new friends and briefly reflects on how his parents’ heroism has made them difficult to live up to. As Barend asks him to say hi to Max while he departs to serve drinks, Alex realizes that his roommate had been offering him tickets to the Bonds through Bondage show that morning and departs for his apartment with Raoul and Milo.

After retrieving the tickets from Max, Alex and Raoul get into costume and make their way to the fashion show. There, they rendezvous with Milo (who has disguised himself as a waiter) and learn from him that Khameau is in the VIP section. After gaining entry to the area by passing themselves off as models, Dusk Hound accidentally finds himself walking the runway before spotting Khameau in the crowd and causing a distraction by identifying him to the public as a thief.

Following an invisible Khameau to the backstage area, Dusk and Dawn Hound confront him, during which Khameau explains the motivation behind his crimes and reveals that he set up the fashion show himself in order to rob its high-profile guests of their valuables, among which he is storing the diamond-encrusted bodice of the Money Talks gown. As Khameau flees toward the roof to make his getaway, the heroes continue to pursue him (with Alex comedically cutting in from his long-running flashback to establish that his tale has finally caught up to the present.) Upon seemingly cornering Khameau however, the pair are met by his minions- the butterfly wait staff of the fashion show, now wielding swords.

Though surrounded, Dusk Hound and Dawn Hound improvise a spinning team attack that takes down the butterflies. Unfortunately Dawn Hound is then knocked unconscious by Khameau, who has turned invisible again, leaving Dusk Hound to face him by himself. After struggling with Khameau for a bit, Alex is able to turn the tides of battle by using his sense of smell to track his foe. While at first Dusk Hound seems to gain an advantage, he is caught off guard and knocked off the roof by Khameau’s tongue just as Milo catches up and looks on in horror.

Rather than hitting the ground however, Alex once again finds himself in void with the mysterious voice who previously encouraged him to give the city hope. The voice tells him that he is in a sort of limbo following his death, but that it still has need of him as a “blunt instrument” in order to inspire hope. After asking Alex if he wishes to live again, the voice tells him that he shall “as many times as it takes.” Afterward, Alex finds himself back on the roof just prior to his fall. This time, Dusk Hound manages to grab Khameau’s tongue just before it connects with him and knock him out by releasing it to turn the force behind his own attack against him, finally taking the criminal down.

After checking on Dawn Hound as he regains consciousness, the heroes move to arrest Khameau just as he begins to awaken himself. Upon hearing Khameau express his wish to be recognized in a world that ignored and took him for granted, Dusk Hound offers him solidarity but affirms that Khameau’s actions are not the way to go about it. As Dusk Hound successfully remembers Khameau’s name for the first time and offers him a hand, Khameau willingly takes it and submits, informing the heroes of where he stashed the rest of the Money Talks gown before being taken in by the proper authorities.

With Khameau securely in custody and the Money Talks gown recovered, the group returns the gown to Fenna before making their way back to the Haen’s party with her in tow to celebrate. They are met by Lou, as well as Willem and Barend, both of whom saw Dusk Hound’s televised exploits at the fashion show and recognized him. Though Barend is at first angry with Alex for the danger he is putting himself in with his newfound occupation, Alex explains that he wants to make a difference in the world and be a hero like his father. He receives support from Milo, Raoul, Lou, Fenna, and Mrs. de Bruin, all of whom explain the good he has done for them as Dusk Hound. After affirming that his new career makes him happy and that he will be careful not to get hurt, Barend finally relents and refers to the group as a bunch of “Glory Hounds,” which Raoul decides to adopt as a team name. The group then rejoins the ongoing party.

Later that night, Alex privately attempts to explain his near-death experience to the rest of the team, finding skepticism from Milo but belief from Raoul. Fenna then interjects and explains that Alex’s description of his experience reminds her of a folklore story involving Schippersberg being built on top of a massive set of catacombs deep underground. These discussions are cut short by Lou returning with a wildly drunk Barend, who Alex offers to escort home.

## Relationships

### Raoul

Raoul is Alex's boss, teammate, and one of his possible love interests. Alex first meets Raoul's more outgoing Dawn Hound persona and the two quickly develop a playful rapport. Raoul identifies Alex's potential and provides frequent affirmation of his abilities, reassuring him in the face of danger, and serving as a boundlessly optimistic antidote to Alex's self-doubt. Alex can sometimes be exasperated by Raoul's unfounded confidence, especially when his split-second decision making gets them into trouble, but does his best to back him up as a friend and sidekick. Alex is particularly attentive of Raoul’s difficulties in navigating crowded social settings, and tries his best to help him stay calm by meeting his needs as they arise.

Alex also finds Raoul attractive, which seems to be mutual, but their initial chemistry has yet to be explored more deeply. Alex is notably distracted by Raoul's physique even at inopportune times.

### Milo

Milo is Alex's combat coach, the "mission control" for him and Raoul while they are on the job, and one of his possible love interests. Alex is intimidated by Milo on their first meeting, but comes to respect him as a mentor and teammate through their training together. While he remains somewhat daunted by Milo's stone cold demeanor and prowess in various fields, Alex seems to enjoy talking with Milo in order to get past his professional exterior and understand him on a more personal level. He also remarks that Milo's accent and elegant bearing are "alluring" and that he is "adorable" when flustered, likely indicating a budding attraction.

### Ahab

Ahab is one of the various criminals that Alex faces as Dusk Hound and also one of his possible love interests. Despite being on opposing sides, Alex and Ahab are on congenial (and even romantic) terms outside of their "work." Upon their meeting at Opgedoekt, Alex is immediately attracted to Ahab's physique and becomes flustered by his playful flirting, leading to the two going on a date following their confrontation.

Ahab recognizes Alex as Dusk Hound but does not bear a grudge against him off of the battlefield, playfully noting that they will be enemies at “work” despite their affection for each other “off the clock.” Aside from their mutual attraction, the two share a common enemy in Khameau. Alex is pleasantly surprised to hear that Ahab apologized to Mrs. de Bruin and repaired the damages caused by his subordinate, and seems to have greater faith in Ahab to “stay out of trouble” compared to other antagonists due to his code of morals.

### Lou

Alex and Lou have been friends since high school. Alex is impressed by Lou's composure and their ability to effortlessly multitask, though he is occasionally exasperated by their proclivity for gossip. Though the two have very different tastes, they get along well and share a strong and supportive rapport. Alex occasionally babysits for Lou when they are busy, and their children refer to him as “Uncle Alex.”

Despite Alex's efforts to keep his identity as Dusk Hound secret, Lou immediately sees through his disguise. Though they are surprised by his change in occupation, Lou is supportive of Alex’s newfound career and does their best to help him however possible, even offering their services to the team as a one-person marketing team and informant.

### Max

Alex and Max are good friends and get along well enough to share an apartment, although Alex is often baffled by Max's horrible cooking. He seems to have a fond, albeit somewhat weary, attitude toward Max's various referential and pun-based jokes, as well as his teasing over the partners he brings home. When staying out later than usual, Alex texts Max to inform him, implying that the two are close enough to somewhat keep tabs on each other. Alex credits Max’s mother, who is a famous model, as the main reason the pair has not been evicted from their apartment yet.

### Willem

While still coming to terms with his sexuality and scared to tell his parents about it, Alex wandered into De Halve Haen and Willem became the first person he ever came out to. Willem assured Alex that he would always have a place to belong and since then, Alex has been coming to De Halve Haen almost every week, and routinely updates Willem about his life. Alex looks to Willem as a mentor of sorts, though he also considers him to be one of his closest friends. Alex is also familiar with Willem’s “Mother Hen” persona, and is willing to offer extra help when she is brought out knowing that keeping up appearances adds to Willem’s hard work.

### Barend

— Alex on his father

Barend is Alex’s adoptive father. The pair are close, with Alex talking to him frequently and Barend taking an active role in his son’s life wherever possible. Alex was extremely scared to come out to his parents and had Willem help him do so, but upon telling them he was gay he was met with overwhelming support. Though Alex loves his father and knows he means well, he is frequently embarrassed by Barend’s over the top mannerisms, informal nature, and overprotective tendencies, especially when it comes to introducing him to his boyfriends over the years. Alex also grew to develop a simultaneous admiration and resentment toward his father’s heroic nature, which later contributed to his decision to take up the mantle of Dusk Hound and follow in Barend’s footsteps in hopes of making a difference.

### Mrs. de Bruin

Alex has known Mrs. de Bruin and her wife for most of his life and thinks of her very fondly, considering her a grandmother figure of sorts. He visits her store almost every week, and though he is occasionally embarrassed by her questions about his love life, he appreciates her generosity and kindness. Alex first meets Dawn Hound while defending her from Ishmael, making Mrs. de Bruin a catalyst of sorts for the events of Glory Hounds as a whole. Later on Mrs. de Bruin proves to be one of his strongest supporters, especially in regards to convincing Barend to support his son’s new occupation.

### Other

Like with his father, Alex seems to have a strong relationship with his mother, who has supported and loved him wholeheartedly since his adoption. Despite this, Alex seems reluctant to talk to her for unknown reasons. Alex’s admiration and slight jealousy toward Barend for being everything he wished he could be seems to carry over to his mother as well due to her also being a firefighter.

Despite being one of the first villains he faced as a hero, Alex struggles to remember Khameau’s name. After hearing his backstory and seeing him break down however, Alex finds a slight bit of common ground with Khameau in their shared fear of being forgotten without doing anything to leave an impact in the world. Though he acknowledges that the way Khameau has gone about doing so is wrong, Alex offers him solidarity and finally remembers his name upon his defeat.

## Trivia

* At 28, Alex is the oldest protagonist of an Echo Project VN.
* Very early on in the conceptualization of Glory Hounds the option to play as either a male or female protagonist was considered. In this hypothetical draft, Alex was named Spot, and his female counterpart, who was named Alex instead, was a motorcyclist hyena.
	+ Another early concept for Glory Hounds saw Alex with the name Will.