The Evening Chill [Alec]

“Well, I guess my maturity is finally shinning through after all,” Alec would say his voice light-hearted before he was looking over at the other with a raised eyebrow. “Man talk about a bad judge. You don’t appear like that in any fashion.” Sure the guy could hit on some gloomy subjects and what not and yes he was taller than any person he’d ever run across. Even so, 30? That was a little off base even if someone was going from looks alone.

“Maybe I already have,” Alec would respond back as he gave the other a lopsided grin. Honestly, he didn’t know when he was talking too much until the other party snapped at him or something. He never understood why people just didn’t calmly tell him to shut up. Why did they have to wait until they were absolutely annoyed to blurt out the words? Seriously. Was it that hard to stop someone blabbering before it was too late? Or did people let you blab because they thought they were being nice? A mystery of the world for sure, but for the moment Alec would leave it alone. “Much worse than me? Wow. Bravo to whoever accomplished that goal,” The young man would say, his words light showing he meant no harm by them. Still it was kind of amusing think that anyone could out do him in a talking match because he liked to talk…and sometimes a lot. Still if this one wasn’t complaining yet then it must’ve meant he was improving on the rambling aspect. Either that or this one just had a way of keeping him in check by some unknown means.

Oddness aside, the subject would go from light hearted to serious in a blink of an eye as Alec spoke out his fears. “I can’t exactly argue with that, but that still doesn’t shut off the anxiety when I think about it. I know I ain’t perfect, even though I do try my hardest to be that. So I am prepared for falls, but the type of fall I am concerned about? I don’t know if I can pick myself up again if I do that. Still, you do have a point, I won’t get very far if I just stay still and worry about it, so I’ll try to take your advice and reign that one in,” Alec said giving the other a light smile. It may not have seemed much, but those words were able to help lift weight off of him….He honestly did not want to become a monster again to just survive…If he did…No. No. Leave it alone, Alec. Leave it alone.

Pushing the worry down into the depths of his mind, he would let out an light hum to the other’s words.

“While I love my sleep, I honestly can’t make up mind which is worse: No sleep or good sleep. I suppose they each have a perk and downside here and there…” Alec would trail off pondering that. While it was true he was a monster without rest, there was also another factor that played into this whole sleep thing. One that he did not mention out loud, but indeed impacted the way he viewed sleep and defined for him at least what a good night sleep was. Even with this factor there, the young man wouldn’t go too much further into that unless the conversation went there. For now, he left it as it was.

“I don’t know. I am pretty bad at simply ignoring things, so I highly doubt I can ignore the bad or the good. The paranoia is more like an instinct that helps me survive in stressful situations rather than the type that will suck you down or make you irrational. It may sound weird, but that is just how it is for me,” Yeah it was a weird quirk, but it had always been there for better or worse.

“Ah. I see. Well that kind of makes it better. Perhaps the guilt won’t be so bad now that I know you’ll up and leave at any time,” he said the words playful, but underneath he wondered if that meant he would leave those around him behind to. Not that it mattered at this point considering they were still strangers. Still, he couldn’t help wondering about it anyway.

As far as the current situation went, there was not much else to say on it. Yes, they had been fortunate enough to not have anything too bad come out of whatever happened at the church and they were even more fortunate with the whole barrier in play making a safe zone. Even with all this good luck in play, Alec had to wonder if and when it would crash. As much as he’d like to believe all this good could exist with no problems, he knew better than to get on that particular ride with high hopes. There was always a fall somewhere…

“Hm?” Violet eyes would drift over to the other as he responded to the subject of recklessness and heroism. Alec would nod lightly at that. “I can understand being occasionally reckless. That’s something I think we all do at some point in our life even if some are in denial about that. Would be no fun if we couldn’t do that here and there, but much like you I have my line as to where I apply it. Just for fun here and there? All good, but to do it to save the world? Well, I guess I value my own life a bit too much to play that sort of game as often. Maybe I am a bit selfish in that regard,” he would say and then giving a soft chuckle he would shake his head. “Oh good and here I was thinking I was the weird one for wanting to avoid the attention “heroes” get.” Heroes…yeah. Those did exist in some fashion or another; however, the few that fell into that category for Alec weren’t the ones that rushed out to seek glory or was proclaiming they’d save the world. No. The heroes he valued did good in a much more subtle and human way that. They weren’t superheroes. Just people…and that is what made his heroes different than the common perception of them…especially in odd situations as this.

As for the death subject, Alec would give a light nod at that one. “Mmm. It’s not death itself I am concerned about. It’s more like I don’t like the idea of running headlong into its arms when there is another way to approach the problem,” Alec would say. “Heh. Maybe your right. Perhaps I should retire from babysitting.” But could he really do that? Probably not. His heart loved too much to simply abandon those in need. Even when he knew in the end it was probably better just to let it all go to cease the pain that was left behind in the end…Maybe he should consider himself more often.

“Mmm. I mainly find rainbows for others, but here and there I can just see my own peeking out from behind the blackness here and there. The only difference is that mine seem to vanish quite quickly in comparison to others. Kind of like something I can almost grab, but it keeps eluding me. A bit frustrating to be honest, but at least there is a tad bit of hope for actually grabbing it one day. After all, that rainbow keeps teasing me, so that’s something no?” Alec would say as he met the other’s look with a calm gaze. Yes, he worked hard for others, but when it came to his own happiness he mostly kept it hidden or off to the side wondering if he would ever find that certain something that would allow him to grasp that happiness fully. A wandering thought for another time.

In any case, a moment of silence would fall between them in which Chrystill enjoyed a nice petting before relaxing again. The conversation between the two males was kind of odd and didn’t really go far when the other gave a rather final answer to the circle question. Heh, so it was a whim thing then? “Is that so…” was all he said to the comment. It was not a statement to be answered, a fact that could easily be grasped by the way he had said the words in the first place.

However, the situation would shift as Alec pulled a play he didn’t usually play on first meetings due to the fact that no one really interested him in playing such a game. However, this guy for better or worse had Alec’s interest like no other at the moment, so he tested the waters with his words and the reaction to said words?
Priceless.

Alec would let out a light chuckle as the other seemed to be a bit confused. “Oho? Did I make you uncomfortable with that one?” he would ask as he watched the other carefully. Maybe he had gotten a bit too comfortable and slipped up a bit with plays, but honestly could you blame him? The guy was pleasant to talk to and he was good looking to boot. Was it really wrong to poke at him for these qualities? Eh. Well…at least he didn’t seem to take it too badly, so maybe this was good?

Anyway, the good mood wouldn’t end there as Alec kept rolling along with the ball he was given.

“Nah. It’s cool. I get ya,” Alec would say kind of surprised the guy didn’t brush that one off. Honestly the comment wasn’t something to be commented to, but even so it was interesting to see how this one translated things.

“True. We didn’t have those buggers around. Nor did we have barriers and what being thrown up. Honestly, I don’t like where the stuff under the paint is leading. I dunno, but it definitely is a bad rub,” he would say as his drifted to the sky above with its strange shades of purple and also the strange stars within in it. Just what did all this mean anyway?

“It is an unfortunate state of affairs, but I suppose even if the rest of the world ignores me at the end of the day, I still hold onto that hope that maybe one day, I’ll find that one person that doesn’t forget me. A silly hope maybe, but it keeps me going since things hardly ever end pleasant on my end,” he would glance over at the other with a small smile in place. It was indeed a sad case, but people had the tendency to only grasp on when death was right in their face and even then that grasp was a temporary one for as soon as they were safe they would just leave. A bittersweet lifestyle, but one Alec had simply grown accustom to at this point. Ah well…

The small smile would turn into a grin as he shook his head at the other. “Wow. That is some serious tough lovin’ there if that is the case. Surely we can be friends without claws and fangs being dug into me right?” he would say easily bouncing off the words said. Honestly outside of cats, animals were alright in Alec’s eyes. While he wasn’t exactly questioning what was on a cat’s mind, he was seriously beginning to think the creatures just didn’t like him. Well at least the one with them was cool.

“Well, I don’t try and kill them if that is what you mean. Honestly, the games are just more like games of tag or hide and seek with the rules changing depending on who is playing with me,” At least those were the common games he played....he could play another sort, but that type of game he didn't wish to repeat....Anyway...

“What sort of hunting did you think I meant?”

The question was a quiet one that was asked out of concerned for the sadness that he heard there. Had this one been hunted before and that is why he sounded so sad? Or was the sadness from something else? Would this one even let him on such information?

As for what he heard next….

Alec would sit forward and clasping his hands before him as he contemplated what was said in silence for a moment before actually speaking.

“You know. That path does seem like the best plan at times, but honestly I would advise looking at a different plan of retirement…I mean surely there is something a bit better out there for you. right? You know the type where you hide out on a beach and relax? That sort of thing?” Alec would say with only a somewhat light tone. He knew where to play and where not to play…and this was frankly one those places he couldn’t play, so despite trying to cheer the other up, he was pretty serious when it came to the subject at hand. Quitting on life didn’t exactly have the most pleasant of endings with it. Either way, he was open if the guy wanted to elaborate more on that.

Alec would tilt his head at the other as he raised his eye brows slightly amused at the answer. “Yeah. You kind of do,” he would say before pausing and looking up at the other with a faint smile. “Can we say you’re fighting with the life ring thrown to ya then?” Alec would say wondering if the other would understand what he meant by that sort of comparison. It wasn’t a poke in the comical fashion, but rather one of understanding. One of the hardest things in life was to figure out exactly what you were doing both for yourself and with interacting with others.

Alec was quiet for a moment as he observed the way the other reacted to the whole solution thing. To his words, Alec’s gentle smile would remain. “Well, you won't know until you try it out, right?” he would respond back in quiet tones the other, trying to help the other not lose hope in the situation.

Alec would grin slightly at the other before shaking his head at that last comment.

“Man. You gotta take a break from life if its getting you that bummed out. Sure, the world may be a bit of a mess this time around, but I am sure even in this mess one can find a nice spot to simply chill out for a bit,” Alec said to the other, his tone remaining light and caring. He understood that with demons running all over the place and what not it was probably going to restrict where one could go without trouble, but even so there had to be some safe havens out there outside of this one spot right? Well. At least he could hope. The situation couldn’t be that bleak…

A light chuckle at the next words, “Well, I am glad to know you’re direct when it comes to that, but let’s try not to ruin my good looks with fists okay?” Alec would say as he stuck his tongue out lightly as he gave a playful wink to the other.

Honestly, he wasn’t too concerned about annoying the guy that much. Sure, he could talk, but he also knew when to shut up too.

As for the next set of words, Alec would give small nod at the other as he took note of the smile. He wasn’t sure if he should pry on who the person was or not. The smile suggested it might be a bittersweet subject for the guy, so out of respect for the other not exactly wanting to add onto the weight this one carried, Alec decided not to pry into that subject at the moment.

“Well. I guess I am not the motor mouth I thought I was. Not sure if I should proud or not about that one yet,” he said words light-hearted suggesting he really wasn’t thinking on that reputation at all. Yeah, he knew people could probably out do him in a talking match, but honestly he hadn’t met a talker like that face-to-face in a very long time. He would give only a light snort of amusement at the other set of words. Heh. It did come up at random didn’t it? Made one wonder just how they came to that conversation to begin with. Ah well. It was a nice little detour from the serious, so the young man wouldn’t complain. Speaking of serious subjects, the next one caused Alec to give the other a sad smile.

“Nope. I don’t have anyone to pull me back up if I did fall. Guess that is what makes it that much more bothersome. I would have no choice, but to rely on myself if that ever happened,” he would state honestly as his eyes watched the wind play around with a piece of paper. He was truly alone when one got to it. Sure, he was surrounded by people and sure some claimed to be his friend, but in reality that was all a lie. When the shit hit the fan like it had today, the reality of that loneiness was that much more obvious. The weight that much heavier…and yet he’d have to bare it and keep going. ‘Sides it wasn’t like someone was going to suddenly come in and save him from that Fate. No. He had lost that hope a long time ago...

“Is that so?” Alec began as he rubbed his chin a bit in thought for a moment. “Mmm.. I suppose I can agree there though. Sleep is not always pleasant…” he would say in an absent-minded tone as he pondered that lovely aspect of life. It was also probably another reason he was doomed to be alone. Who could understand that mess let alone handle the abuse of having him as a bed partner? Yeah… not going any further down that road. So about that paranoia...

“If it was peaceful, I wouldn’t have to be paranoid in the first place, so try as I might I am just gonna have to put up with my zen being all screwed up until things calm down again,” he said with a sigh already bracing himself for whatever rough sea was ahead. Sure, he could find his safe spots here and there, but the raging ocean would always drag him back until the storm ended. The question was would it end this time? And if so when and how? Did he really want those answers?

“Hm?” he would shrug. “I worry about people in general, so I feel bad enough that I can’t help them all, but if I know a face that guilt rises up even more. I always think there could’ve been something I could’ve done better, but didn’t. I am…my own worse critic when it comes to people. Sure, I understand that I can’t be everywhere or make everything right even so…that voice never shuts up….unless I do something drastic and quite frankly I don’t like to pull those sort of plays often,” he said as he closed his eyes a moment as a thin smile came to his face. “Yeah I get that, but that doesn’t shut up the critic all the same.”

With that said the young man would fall silent again until the subject of risk taking came to the table. He reopened his eyes and look at the other. “What’s making you lose hope like that?” he would ask as he watched the other with a questioning gaze. After a pause had passed, the young man would tilt his head at the other’s sigh when it came to the subject of “heroes”.

“In some aspects that is true and I am pretty sure that the pressure is high for those that would act that way, but sometimes you need a goof to look up to in a dark times. Sure, it may seem comical from a one view, but then again maybe a bit of comedy is what is needed in the gloom. For the people at least; however, as happy-go lucky as I can be, I don’t want that light on me either. While I can’t say if that attention is fake or not, I can admit that as of late there are many who like to proclaim the title of hero or villain easily enough. Kind of makes what was once kind of cool a bit overplayed,” Alec would say in relatively laid back tones as he stretched out his legs before him being careful not to kick Chrystill in the process.

“Alright. You got me with that one,” Alec said with a small snort of amusement as he resettled in his seat. “It’s either ironic are we are all cursed into being challenged the moment we become too idle for who-know-whose liking up there. Not a good way to settle high blood pressure or stress that is for sure.”

Alec would chuckle lightly at the other’s words, the sound was soft and somewhat sad rather than amused. “If only it was that easy to choose or not care,” he would say leaving the words at that unless further prodded. It was a catch 22 situation for him with no clear resolve to make it a win as far as the situation went. It was what it was as the saying went.

“Focus on pursuing the rainbow, huh?”

Well now that was a thought. While it was true the rainbows that he saw just around the corner always tended to fade just when he reached for it, the fact they were there kind of gave him hope for something better for himself. It’s just he never really sat down to take that path that would actually let him finally grab one…and even if he, did would he really reach true happiness then? He would ponder this for a bit more before speaking. “That might be one way to look at it, but I am not so sure about the correct path when it comes to that end. Then again, I do hope to get that rainbow one day. See what it is all about,” he would say with a soft smile at the happy thought. He was pretty curious as to what rested at the end, so it would be nice to finally end the teasing, but when that would occur he didn’t know.

That aside, Alec would let out a small huff of amusement as the subject came to the odd thing that was circles. “Well, don’t look at me for direction. I am not quite sure where that was going either,” he said. Yeah…that tended to happen when went one with the flow and didn’t prod for details. What had potential to have meaning quickly died when the parties involved missed the open doors into other topics. Welp. That happened. Moving along. Wait...what was with that look that look.

Alec meet the odd stare with a slight raise of his eyebrows and tilt of his head. Had he said something wrong? He was curious about the silence and the look; however, before he could question it the other spoke up answering his previous question. He would relax slightly at the first set of words. Ah well, that was understandable, but wait… “Hm? What do you mean?” Yes it was one thing to be put into an awkward situation by his randomness at times, but to follow it up with that? Now that was a curious thing. Just what sort of can of worms did he open with that one? Well whatever happened there, another silence would pass between them before chat picked up again.

“Mhmm,” was the soft hum that Sharaku got in response to his answer. Honestly there was nothing else to be said about that. The storm had just begun to roll in, so it could be assumed that just from the start that the back end of it would be the worse and hardest to endure. It wasn’t going to be pretty until the end....And even then, happily ever after was not guaranteed at the end of the road. That was life for ya.

At the next question, Alec actually blinked a few times as he gave the other a stare of mild surprise. He honestly hadn’t thought the other would dive into the subject, so for a moment he was at a loss as to what to say, but then looking away he would actually ponder that as he let the shock where off. When he was composed again he would speak.

“I…I don’t have a word for the relief and joy that would bring,” he would begin. “To not be forgotten and actually connect with another would be more than I could have hoped for. Now don’t get this twisted. I am not talking about that sort of short lived connection you get from seeing an acquaintance again. I am talking about the sort of connections where even when a peace has settled you can still walk along side the one you connected with. Continue to grow and make that connection something more powerful down the road,” he would close his eyes with a light smile and shook his head.

“Heh. Listen to me getting all sappy on ya like that, but honestly that is all I want. A true connection that can finally end this cursed existence of being alone…” he would fall silent for a moment before sighing lightly. “Probably a hopeless dream in the end though...”

Now why did he go and open to the guy like that was anyone’s guess, but the fact remained he had let himself be vulnerable for just a bit around the other. Now whether this would bite him in the ass was yet to be seen. In any case, he would shake off the feeling after a moment more and refocused as the subject turned to cats.

“I can imagine considering your hair is quite long; however, I wish it was just my hair they went after instead of like everywhere,” Alec would say as he used his hands to gesture at his whole body. Cats…he didn’t think he’d ever understand them or why they seemed to enjoy making others miserable with their claws and teeth of love.

Anyway…

Alec would nod lightly at the first set of words glad the guy didn’t react too negatively to his use of the word hunt. When he heard the explanation of why said word had brought up the question, he would close his eyes in thought. “Ah. Well I suppose when you are hunted that can happen. Though, I never had to worry about that, so I can’t imagine living as the prey…” his words were quiet with some form of understanding under it, but why his serious air was there would not be explained unless the other questioned the behavior. In any case, the behavior wouldn’t shift as the other looked over at him and seemed to observe him.

Looking over at the other from behind his red rimmed glasses he would listen to the others words and nod.

“Maybe, but then again maybe not. It depends on who you are trying to teach with that one,” he would say as his mind drifted to a rather darker piece of his life; however, he wouldn’t linger there too long as the seriousness broke with the slight smile he gave as the subject shifted to something a bit lighter in tone..

“Well, what if you had something or someone there with you? Could you do it then?”

What was that? An odd question with some hidden meaning behind it or one simply poking at what ifs? It was hard to say and Alec’s attitude suggested that he was leaving the interpretation up to the other. Where that led he would simply have to see and from there adapt.

“Well, try to hold on a bit longer. Maybe at the end of the rough ride you’ll that something that made it worthwhile,” Alec would say gently. The rivers and their paths weren’t always the smoothest of rides, but sometimes surviving the roughness led to a paradise one could call their own. Now what that actually meant would be left to the one who had traveled to said spot.

“Hmm...if trying is not working for ya, then lets try this. How about we walk down the path way together and just be ourselves? Then from there we can see if we can actually find that happiness for you. Or see if I am really grasping at straws here. What do you say to that path instead?” An odd proportion, but Alec was a firm believer of finding a solution to a problem from different paths. If one didn’t work try another, right?

“Mmm. Maybe I did,” Alec would say with a light hum. “Either that or my mind automatically goes to ways to relax and slack off in situations like that,” he said with the smallest of smirks. He would admit it. He could be lazy…like super lazy. Yes, he got his work done and all that, but at the end of it all he just liked to kick back and do as little as possible. It was okay to talk with him, but if left to his own devices, he would either veg out in front of the TV or go find a beach to relax on rather than do anything else. He wasn’t about wasting energy if left alone. Now if he had an active partner in crime that was a different story. In that case, he would roll with them unless he seriously didn’t want to be bothered, but that was just how he was in the end. “Ah. I see. Well, my bad if I stepped on your toes with that one. It was just a suggestion,” he would say his tone light enough suggesting he wasn’t being defensive or anything like that as he remained quite relaxed in his spot for the time being.

Violet eye would drift over the other as the subject shifted to punching people in the faces. When he heard the words, his eyes would drift over the other’s arms and hands taking note of the claws there. “Won’t doubt you there,” he said with a slight chuckle. Yeah, he probably said some things that would get him in trouble and probably even slapped; however, in either of those cases he didn’t have a real danger to worry about unless said person backhanded with sharp rings on or had a ridiculous nail style. However, with this guy’s condition he would probably be shredded if he did tick him off to the point where he was struck. Good thing for Alec he wasn’t in the business of intentionally ticking off people on a daily basis. Besides this guy didn’t do anything to warrant such behavior.

To next set of words, Alec would simply give a light hum and a nod not really having anything to add to that. He agreed that in the end it was a matter of being respectful to the one you were speaking with meaning you’d have to leave yourself and mind open to different things. Sure, it left one more vulnerable, but that was the price in this case if you really wanted to be able to move around the situations thrown at you in chat. The sad thing was most people were too busy trying force their way of thinking on another than to sit back and actually truly listen to what was going on. Sure, Alec wasn’t perfect at the art of listening and sometimes he got the wrong cues here and there, but at least he wasn’t trying to force someone to change or do something they didn’t want to do by guilting them into the position. He simply let people be themselves…and this is turned caused others to think he was being lazy and uncaring when he went with the flow instead of becoming overly passionate about something. Honestly, it made him wonder why some even got into conversation if all they were going to do is throw around bombs. Another mystery of life he probably never solve.

Alec would give a light snort as he shook his head with a slight smile. “That’s the problem with life and people in general. You can spend your whole entire life with someone and then when things go all over the place they abandon you. So I can’t really tell anything. All I can do is hope that the face that is being shown isn’t a lie. If I could see through personas, I would probably have a lot easier life. Alas, I only have instinct to trust and that is hit or miss these days,” he said as he shifted in his spot to lean forward. Perhaps he had a heart that wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt at times and maybe that is what got him bitten here and there. In the past it had been worse for sure, but he had kind of gotten used to the pain of betrayal or abandonment over time. Kind of expected it to be honest. It was kind of like he wasn’t meant to be with anyone…and yet he held onto the slim hope that maybe one day, he would find that one that was truly genuine. Until that time though, he would carry his crosses.

“Yeah…” Sleep was a necessary thing for sure. He didn’t have to be reminded of that, so even if the option was terrible most of the time, it was better to try and get a little than run off of nothing. At least that way he could remain semi-sane. As for that peace vs. worry thing…”Maybe and then again maybe not. I suppose it depends on the one viewing the topics. I am not sure if one can really settle on one definition of the a pair or not,” Alec would respond back with a light shrug of his shoulder. Honestly, peace and worry could be the same in a way, but at the same time the meanings meant something different to each who viewed it. It was a strange point to be sure, but one Alec didn’t see as something that needed to be overly gone over…unless the other actually wanted to dig on that front.

Alec would wince lightly at that one. “Well, yes. Like I stated before I haven’t exactly figured a way to not care when it comes to people. Even if they don’t need my worry or what not, I still worry, but it is not like I am forcing that worry on a person like a mother hen. It’s just how I work internally and the only reason I exposed that to you was because somewhere along the line the conversation led to this point. If it had never been brought up you honestly wouldn’t have known that aspect of me,” he said as he looked up at the other with a casual glance. Yeah, he worried and he also beat himself about not being able to help others more, but that was just the thing. He kept it to himself unless conversations like this one caused that messed up part of him to come out. He wished he could worry less and shut up the critic, but as it stood now this was simply who he was. You either accepted it or not. End of story.

To the next words, Alec would simply nod as he looked away from the other. "If you say so,” he would say leaving the topic at that for now unless revisited. After all there was no need to explore matters that simply were what they were. Especially when the other party didn’t seem like they were interested in a change.

“Heh.” A small chuckle would come from Alec. “That is true. They don’t always get the messages that they need to take it down a notch, but honestly what are you going to do to stop that? I mean can you really do anything if it is in a person’s nature to just do that sort of thing?”

The question, while spoken in more or less amused tones, was an inquisitive poke at a subject that may or may not have an answer. Still, Sharaku was an interesting fellow to Alec, so the young man was interested in what he had to say on the subject. Whatever came out of that would happen if the other decided to answer. “Heh. Well, we are the same boat there. The show is nice and all, but in the end? It’s what is done that matters,” Alec would say with a nod. He wasn’t against acting out and what not. Nah that stuff was entertaining, but that was all it was unless one actually did something to push the act beyond just a show.

“Perhaps not.” Honestly, when it came to the luck that these islands had of late, Alec wasn’t sure if it was bad luck or something more at work here. Maybe at the end of the day something just wanted this place wiped off the earth, but why? Now that was the question, he couldn’t answer. Still it was a big headache regardless of no answer.

“Heh. Much like how relaxation doesn’t sit well with you after a long period of time, I can’t help, but to protect. The weaker the one I am defending is, the stronger the need to protect said person. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I let people run all over me. In fact far from it, but I just feel if they can’t defend themselves then I should do it. Give them a chance at this whole growing thing you speak of. Can’t do that if they are dead.” Yeah, he had a bleeding heart and to be honest he wasn’t trying to convince the guy of his way of thinking. Sharaku had his way of dealing with things and Alec had his. While they matched up in some areas, there were others where their methods differed. Not that this really would matter unless of course the other made it matter by making a big deal out of the differences.

“Mmm. True, true,” Alec would say as a light smirk crossed his face. “Guess, I’ll just keep wandering until I find the end I guess.” Yeah he would have to make a choice in the end, but as it stood now it was too confusing to simply choose where he wanted to go. Yes he wanted to grab the joy at the end of that rainbow, but at the same time had no clear path as to how to do exactly that. He supposed in time things would be clearer, but just not now.

“Around and around on the merry-go-round we go~” Alec would sing softly in response to circle topic as he bounced off the words he heard. They weren’t going to get anywhere else with that and it seemed he also wouldn’t be getting an answer to his question either. A bit disappointing, but he supposed if the other didn’t want to speak further on the subject, then he should leave it alone. So he did for the time being as a silence settled between them until a different sort of topic came up. One that at first made Alec a bit self-conscious as he wondered if the other even wanted to hear all that; however, when the other further prodded the subject, Alec would shift his weight on his arms as he lifted his left hand upward and rested his head in it.

“A best friend is cool and while they could fill in the family part of the equation, I am looking for a romantic partner. Kind of like finding the other half that makes me whole, you know? Family unfortunately can’t fill that space….” he said not seeming to be too ruffled by the pry. It was true, he was lonely on both fronts and while family/friends could indeed lift a great deal of the burden that came with loneliness. Only a partner could fully balance out the equation for him in the end. After all a partner is who you chose to spend the rest of life with, right? So that was kind of a big thing for him.

Leaving that conversation to go where it would, Alec’s quiet demeanor would shift briefly as cats came back into the conversation. As he heard the other words, he would grin as he shook his head. “A cat rule me? No way, man. No one, but me rules me,” he said his words seeming pretty confident and to be frank it wasn’t a bluff. Sure he had his weaknesses and cared too much for his own good; however, that did not mean his emotions ruled over him and anything that for one moment thought they could rule him would find itself in for a rude awakening. He wasn’t one to be ruled no matter how weak or fragile he seemed on the surface.

Anyway…

“Well that’s good to know then,” Alec would say knocking that odd bit of knowledge within in his mind. It was more an FYI than something terrible important with the man, but still it drew a line with how much he may be able to play with the man if things came down to that. After all, he didn’t exactly want to die from his games, so it was always nice to know where a limit was.

“I suppose so…” Alec would say in thoughtful tones as he considered the consequences of someone actually acting upon that. Even if it was just theory or what ifs, the subject still made him uncomfortable to contend with. He would sit up once more shaking his head to clear it before looking back over at the other with a faint smile.

“Ah I see. Well I won’t knock you for wanting to change up things here and there,” he would say. While he could probably out last the man as far as staying in one spot goes, he had to admit even the most beautiful of places would lose their wonder once all their secrets were discovered, so he wasn’t against moving here and there.

As for the last set of words, Alec would let out a chuckle as he shook his head at the other.

“Whoa. Whoa. Calm down. That is not what I meant at all and I wasn’t trying to force you on any path. Here let me rephrase it. Instead of trying let’s just go with the flow and see how things turn out, alright? What I am saying is I don’t want you change. If I am going to try and figure something out I much rather have the thing I am trying to figure out in its natural state rather than hop around holes of pretense,” he said to the other in calm tones. These interpretations of words man.

“Useless thinking, huh?” Alec would fall silent for a moment as he pondered that. Maybe there was a point to be had there, but then again maybe not. It was true when left alone or not distracted the mind did wandered to places it shouldn’t go. Ask questions you didn’t want to answer. Pull up things you rather stayed buried. He understood that too much idleness was in the long run probably unhealthy, especially when you had a lot on your mind; however, he wasn’t exactly one to be overly active either. Unless he was interested in something, he was fine simply chilling. With said distraction being TV or something else that involved minor movement. He was good at sitting still and could even mediate for a bit without much trouble; however, it would seem this one was a bit more active than himself. A nice compliment if they were perhaps closer to each other, but alas they weren’t and he wasn’t about to knock someone for differences….or translations which they both seemed to be bad at from time to time.

He would close his eyes with a small smile. “Yeah okay. I hear ya,” he would say softly not arguing the case. There was no need to really. Just like it was no need to try and fill in the silence about punching and slashing. Sure it would give them something to poke at, but the poke would only go so far before becoming boring…and boring was the last thing he needed. Besides the silence was kind of a nice break between the chat to give the voice a bit more time to rest and the mind some space to think a bit.

“Hmph,” a small smirk would cross his face as his eyes opened again. “Yes. I do give people the benefit of the doubt and to be honest the few I have tried to go a bit further with have always kicked me in the end, thus leaving me in my current position of simply being around people for now to not go insane, but to say I have true friends and the like? No. I honestly don’t. Haven’t for oh man….I lost count of the years, but its been a while,” he would say. A semi-lie, but one that he wasn’t ashamed of. Unless the other could see through everything, perhaps he wouldn’t catch the hidden meaning under that….and if he didn’t catch it all the better. While Alec liked the guy and the conversation had gone well so far, there were just some things that he wouldn’t allow out in the open at this phase of the game.

“Hm?” Alec would look over at the other as he took off his glass for a moment and observed him with narrow eyes. After a moment, he would nod as he placed the glasses back on. “Well let’s see. You seem well mannered which is a plus and a pretty neat guy; however, under that I see someone who is not all he seems to be. You’re a complex individual that has much going for him that perhaps the world will not truly get in the end. As a result of this, you seem to collide with things here and there making your path rougher than you’d probably like it to be. Even so you’re the sort that push forward anyway and try to find your own truth in the matter. At least that is what my observations and this conversation says of you. I could be way off base, but that is simply what I sense off ya,” he would say as he tilted his head at the other.

Heh had he lost him with that one or the topic that followed? The guy seemed to space out so maybe he didn’t care at all about the answer or maybe Alec was just that boring in the end. Offended? Not really. Kind of his lot these days. He would watch the other for a moment before blinking and looking down at Chrystill who still slept. His mind was drifting elsewhere in the silence, but soon the other would become active again causing the young man to glance over at him. To his words, he would simply shake his head.

“Well if that is so, you’re the first to ever pick up on the details. Most just take what they see and assume nothing is wrong with me. You’re the rarer of the folk in the world that is for sure…” Alec would trail off after that. It was funny a stranger could read him better than anyone else could. Everyone else gave him one look and assumed he was the happy-go-lucky guy he was and left it at that. He helped them with their issues and then when they didn’t need him anymore, they would go back to ignoring him until they suddenly remembered him again in a crisis. He never turned them away or said anything about it…and maybe that softness was his down fall in the end. Sure, he wasn’t a push over, but he couldn’t deny that he was often kinder to the world than it was to him. Yet he simply went with the flow and never challenged it. But one had to wonder did he do it because it was indeed just a kind heart or was it due to the fact that the beating kept people around him? A twisted form of reality perhaps, but that is simply how he knew how to live. A depressing thought that he would soon push away in the face of a different sort of topic.

“So you’d try to save them only when it mattered enough to you? Then are you saying the so called heroes of the past didn’t matter much to you? Did you try to stop them?” Alec would ask his tone quite calm despite his curiosity.

He wasn’t dismissing the guy’s feelings or anything like that with this one. No he was simply looking at the problem from an observer's standpoint for the moment trying to see this issue from another angle and in turn gain a different insight on the subject. Those who thought themselves heroes were always a mixed bag of extremist with only a few pure ones showing up here and there. A sad case, but for whatever reason people liked to chase that light and have it shine on them. He just wasn't one of those people or a believer in that life style.

“Oh. Then what words follow what you believe in?” Alec would ask as the other mentioned showing off. Yeah, he could agree with him to a degree that the show wasn’t the best in the long run despite its entertainment value, but even so it also depended on what was showing off and what appeared to be showing off, but was actually hard work in one's mind. Sometimes the line became grey in between the areas and didn’t show up until the end was reached and explained the actions. But…if this one didn’t believe in the ends justifying the means, then what philosophy did this one run off of?

Curiosity aside, Alec’s eyes would eventually drift to the ground. As his earlier gentleness melted somewhat.

“Yeah, but unfortunately you can’t teach those that don’t want to learn and prefer to hide behind you instead. Perhaps I should tell them to just leave me the hell alone, but I can’t. Annoying, frustrating, whatever you want to call them. I want them to live, so I fight even if in the end it may seem like a pointless or foolish thing to do. That is simply how I am,” Alec would say to the other. Overly attached to people much? No, but to life? Yes, he was one to highly attached to that, but maybe that is what happens when you sit by and watch lives being snuffed out for so long. A tough burden, but he’d carry it until he couldn’t any longer. Now was he trying to convince the other of his ways or argue with what had been said. No. He simply stated a fact. A fact that wasn’t going to change. Sharaku walked to his own drum and he walked to his own. Now whether this was a clashing point or not was yet to be seen. Either way like most things with Alec you either accepted this or not. He wasn’t trying to sway others of his ways and he wasn’t bowing just because someone did something differently. He was his own person even if on the surface he appeared weak or too compliant. He took a stand his own way and honestly didn’t give a damn how it looked as long as it got the job done. He wasn’t perfect, a hero, or any of that. He was simply him and there was no changing that. He did not conform. Ever.

To the snort, he would simply shrug. “Believe what you want,” he would say with a light shake of his head. He wasn’t offended or anything, but he didn’t see a point in trying to explain that one further. Why should he? You either found what you were looking for or didn’t in the end right? What else needed to be said? As for the singing, Alec would look up at the other slightly with a small smile before his eyes drifted downward again.

“Not a common one, but rather one from a story my mother use to tell me when I was younger. The line just kind of stuck in my head is all and I sang cause it kind of fit the whole circle thing." His tone was soft and somewhat quiet as he let his mind drift just for a few seconds into more peaceful days. Back when he didn’t have to deal with the stuff on his plate now. It was a nice memory, but something he didn’t elaborate on at the moment. To the soul mate question, he would give the other a light hmph before sitting back with a smile.

“I actually do. And you? Do you believe in them?” he would ask his tone light suggesting he wasn’t bother by the half joke. Sometimes people believed in the stuff and at other times they did not, but since this one brought it up why not ask the question? He seemed pretty cool with small pries so far anyway, so surely this one wouldn't break him right?

“It’s alright. At least through the bad you can find what you don’t want or need, cruel as it may sound.” Besides his track record wasn’t great either. Everyone he had given a chance to always trampled his heart, so yeah…he had nothing, but sorrow on one end, but on the other, he kept up the hope that he would find his other halfone day. Surely, there was someone out there that could handle him, right? He couldn’t be that unnatural….could he be?

Oho? What was this? Alec would narrow his eye as a michievous grin crossed his face.

“Do you really want to test your luck with that sort of game?” Alec would say as he bounced off of what he heard. He understood the words and actions as a joke and so played back. After all he didn’t mind a poke here or there and perhaps a little push on occasions didn’t bother him either as long as the other doing the pushing didn’t take it to a level where he would fight back. He was all up for games, gambles, and challenges; however, if one wanted to go there with this young man then you had best know how to play because one screw up could turn fun to something far from it. Regardless, the words didn’t seem to hurt anything as Alec watched the other with an amused gaze. It wasn’t often that one would start a game with him, so the change up was nice.

“Ah. Exploring. Now that is something I like to do. What do you prefer to explore? The world or places around ya?” he would ask quite curious at about the other's taste, but why was a mystery. Maybe he was just trying to continue some conversation or something. Who knew?

In any case, the conversation would take a slight detour as the guy actually laughed at what was being said. Not expecting that after the other had been so gloomy and serious a moment before, Alec would look him up and down for a moment with a confused expression, but then hearing what he said Alec’s confusion would turn into an amused grin.

“And here I thought going with the flow was leaving the door wide open for you,” he said teasing the other a bit, but then settling again he would tilt his head as he considered what the other said.

“Hmmm..true, but I wonder what you would say if I really could dedicate myself to studying you. I mean, yes I would be restricted in some fashions by committing to that path, but I highly doubt I would lose 'being me'. As I stated before I am not easily ruled and despite my bleeding heart I am not swayed to change who I am just because I am walking along the path with someone. Nope if you want me following you around, you're going to have to deal with me being me like it or not. I won’t sugar coat, you and I have some difference here and there and I don't expect everything to go all smooth; however, I am can commit myself to things if the other other party is in an agreement with the path. I can’t say what will come out of such a path and in fact, I try not to guess all the roads coming off the main path because I can’t in the end. Becoming an enemy or veering to different paths will always be threats whether or not we are together or not. Now you just told me you won’t be forced onto paths and quite frankly I gave you the option to go with the flow; however, if you truly think you can handle me then sure, I can follow you and see if being near ya would help me better find a solution than simply going off at random.”

The tone that were used were light and seemingly amused; however, the gaze he was giving the other was one of curiosity and study.

“Hmm.” Alec would give a light hum to the subject not having much to add onto the short words given. He supposed he and the other had different ways of viewing idle time. While Alec could indeed sit it out for a long period of time, this one seemed to be more active in his thoughts and ways. An opposite, but how bad that really was he couldn’t say from a first meeting. Still it was an interesting thing to take note of.

In any case, Alec’s eyes would narrow slightly at the other as he seemed to say something, but for whatever reason didn’t. It wasn’t the action, so much as the pause that got the narrowing of the eyes. Alec may have seemed like the just roll with it type and the one to avoid stepping on toes, but in all honestly that was a surface appearance and not exactly truthful. If you wanted to play. Play. If you had something to say. Say it. What was the world afraid of huh? Just do it. Though…perhaps he would let this one slide. The guy didn’t seem to be highly energetic at the moment, so he wouldn’t pressure him this time as his observation ended and his eyes drifted elsewhere.

He wouldn’t say anything more until asked a question to which he would simply sigh before answering.

“It’s bittersweet. On one hand yes, it does make me happy because things can keep me occupied and people are the most entertaining creatures here. It keeps away the boredom and loneiness, but in the end? Happy? Did you actually miss the part where I said, I hadn’t grasp the rainbow that thrills everyone so?” Alec would say as he gave the other a sad smile. He wasn’t asking for arguments with that one or anything, but it was the truth. At the end of the day, people were just that. People. Things that filtered in and out of his life just as quickly as the things in his shop left. The only time he had gotten a small taste of that rainbow was years ago, but since then? Heh…Best not go there at the moment.

Anyway…

Alec would smirk at the words the other spoke when he did his observation of him as he shook his head.

“General? What the hell did you want then? Like you said we’ve just met, so what did you expect outside of general?” he would ask the other not exactly mad with the man or anything like that, but more curious and perplexed at this one’s way of thinking. His words suggested he was taking everything at face value on one hand and then on the other not. It was indeed a confusing situation that one; however, it didn’t seem to bother Alec too much as he remained relatively relaxed in his spot observing the other for a bit.

When the silence hit, he would let it pass with no complaint before tilting his head at the others words.

“An observer of humans, huh? Interesting position to take,” he would say before hearing his last words. “Oho? And what happens when your company isn’t what your observation suggest they are?” he would ask the question curious what this man had to say on the topic as his reasoning behind this question remained hidden. Maybe there was no reasoning at all behind this. Perhaps it was simply just that – Curiosity. Who knew?

“I see,” Alec would say with a nod, but for the moment would not go any further with the subject. Yes, he could see some of the man’s point, but in the end, he didn’t think that he would ever see eye-to-eye with the other on the matter of people and why they should be saved regardless of how powerful they were or not. Sure, the strong did survive in the world and seemed to do better, but who were truly stronger? The ones that fought their way to the top and continuued to be able to stand tall? Or the cowardly ones under them that did all they could just to survive? It was hard to tell and it was that point that kept Alec defending the weak. Yes, the weak were pathetic, but without them could the strong truly survive? He thought not. The weak made the ground stable again…no matter what others said about them. In any case, the point would not be won in any case so Alec opted not to let that one get into a heated debate. Like the man said, he had problems of his own and well quite frankly so did Alec. The difference was, he didn’t put them out in the open so easily.

As for the philosophy thing, Alec would simply give a light nod accepting the answer without really having much to give on that one. He supposed if that is the way the other wanted to live then so be it. It wasn’t his job to change it.

“Mmm. You catch on quick. Very good,” Alec would respond back to the comment about not agreeing. He wasn’t being sarcastic about this point at all. No, he actually appreciated it when someone recognized and acknowledged that a pain point was pointless to beat in the face. The only thing further digging and bashing did was frustrate both parties and created a blow out. And blow outs…never made for fun endings, so it was nice to see this one knew when to hold his tongue on a matter. Sure, it could be revisited if one truly had to have that blow out, but meh. It was over now, so the young man would brush the topic aside.

As for his small pries here and there it seemed that not all would be humored. No biggy. If the other was bothered by something or didn’t wish to explain then he didn’t have to. Alec wasn’t going to pry and poke only to get answers. Nah. He wasn’t looking to stoke agitation or fires so he let the other be when he refused to answer. Just like he would let the simple comment to family slid also.

It seemed like that was a topic that the other did not wish to delve into either. Whether the topic made the other uncomfortable or not was something Alec didn’t really question. Family was a sore subject for him anyway, so he didn’t mind not talking about it when he didn’t have to, so like with most topics this one would be pushed to the side too unless revisited.

“Mmm. Just because I said I believed in them doesn’t mean, I don’t recognize the price to gain it and keep it. I am not as oblivious to things as I sound,” Alec would say giving the other a tired smile that betrayed the bubbleliness he had shown thus far. Even so, the smile would fade as he blinked at the other’s other words. “Then…what is the problem?” he would ask his words careful despite their curiosity.

However, cautiousness would be turned aside as the conversation took a rather odd turn. It started with the questioning of games. As he saw the calm expression and watched those gold eyes carefully, he would not flinch in the face of danger. In fact, a cold steeliness came to his eyes as his grin remained in place. “What would you do to me if I did take the risk?” he asked the other his tone, calm and seemingly light, but behind that was a wall of ice and defiance. He didn’t back down from challenges and he most certainly didn’t bow to fear. If the other was trying to make him submit in some fashion he wasn’t going to do it and he wasn’t going to run away. He was no fool and knew very well what he was dealing with was a dangerous subject; however, he would remain strong nonetheless. Now where that got him in the end? One would just have to see.

In any case, the tension lightened only slightly when the subject veered back slightly to exploring. “Hmph,” he would smirk at the words as he looked away closing his eyes as he thought for a moment. Exploring people…yeah the mind could run in many directions with that one; however, he wouldn’t let any of his wandering thoughts show as his eyes reopened and he continued on. “Alright if that what works for you,” he would say relaxing for a bit…until the other flared up at him.

As the intensity went up to a level that probably would’ve sent most cowering, Alec simply watch the other with wide eyes and stillness for a moment as he listened. Even when the other had stopped talking, he would remain silent and frozen until unexpectedly his body would slouch in his seat and the friendly air he had before completely shut down as something more complex, confusing, and dangerous washed off of him as his counterpart remained sleeping on the ground.

“Your whole issue is that you’re one big contradiction. You seem like the type that looks at all the angles, but as soon as someone offers you a path or a new way to look at things, you shoot it down by explaining how it won’t work or how it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. On top of that you make a shit ton of assumption based on words. How long have we been sitting here? An hour or so? And already you peg me as some sappy little puppy that is trying all so hard to appease you and the world,” he would pause as he clasped his hands together and gave an impression of an innocent looking child with the only desire being to please the world as he batted his eyelashes up at the other; however, the act would last for a second before he was back to pure seriousness as he gave the other an icy glare. “You don’t know shit about me and quite frankly I don’t see a point in explain myself or what I do to you either. I told you before I was what was, didn’t I? It wasn’t a lie. As for your question? I deal with stuff as it comes and it either work or it doesn’t it is as simple as that. Also I wasn’t offering you therapy or babysitting with my words and I sure as hell am not trying to "fix" anyone, Sharaku. I have my own shit to deal with too you know and I am not looking to you or anyone else to come rescue me from my hell. Nah,” Alec's icy eyes would drift back up to the other as he tilted his head lightly before continuing.

“I don’t think it is a matter of me trying to handle you, but you trying to actually handle someone else. Can you really do that?” Alec would finish his words calm and non-hostile, but holding an iciness that met that the intensity given off by the other unafraid. Sure, he seemed like a weakling at a glance, but those who rolled with that assumption always opened a door of pain when he turned out to be nothing like what the pamphlet advertised him to be.

The silences were longer as certain subjects began to shut down. Alec wasn’t sure if he was saying the wrong things or if they were simply running out of things to say. The man next to him seemed either be getting lost in thoughts or shutting down. Alec admitted he could be a bit straightforward and he would also admit he probably did unintentionally step on toes; however, if the other party didn’t let him know in some way that he was doing something wrong, the young man was often left a bit stunned when the said party unexpectedly blew up.

Now for this guy with him, Alec picked on various signs that perhaps what he was saying was not going according to whatever the guy was looking for. It was a bit distressing to see him putting more weight on the other and as a result, Alec would glance over at the other with a tilted head and a small frown asking without words what the problem was; however, whether the other would even take note of the look or answer the silent question was left up in the air.

In any case, the mood did not lighten as the other made a comment about people observing making it seem that he did not take any pleasure in act at all. As he heard the words and the ones that followed, the young man would fold his arms as he bowed his head in thought. “I suppose so…” he would say before trailing off a bit. The guy had a point. One really couldn’t tell what was going happen with another and the at the end of the day everyone was left to adapt to what may come. Whether things went well or not, things always changed.

From here the conversation would be on and off for the most part and even when the other gave a frown to a particular set of words, Alec did not push for the why behind it. It wasn’t that he was trying to be anti-social or not nosy, but rather he found that at this point some things had met their limit and unless the other was commenting or questioning it, the subjects at hand could be left alone for now. Besides, sometimes silence was better than poking into something that could potentially be uncomfortable or not exactly best to share at the moment. So for now, Alec let the silence stay.

Ah. Yes. Soulmates.

“No. I actually don’t see it that way thanks to the fact that there are so many people out there. If you’re focused and locked onto one road looking for Mr. or Mrs. Perfect For Me, then you’re automatically setting yourself up to fail. You could be sitting right next to your soulmate and not even know it with that narrow sort of view,” Alec would say as his eyes gazed out at the city around them; however, his eyes would return back to the other as he gave a simple answer to the whole ‘what’s the issue” question when it came to dates. At first Alec thought to say something about this, but for the moment he held his tongue finding the timing for prying just not right for some reason. Instead, he would observed the other for a moment in a calm way leaving his thoughts a mystery to the other.

That was until of course the other seemed to flare up a bit when it came the subject of games. They would have a stare off, defiant violet eyes meeting those fiery golden ones. He would keep the gaze unflinching and unblinking waiting to see just what the other would say. When he finally did get an answer a bit later, Alec would finally blink as the other looked away. “Uh-huh,”

The response was simple and surprisingly calm suggesting that either Alec was not afraid of what was to come or perhaps he had lost his own version of interest when the other decided to chill out. After all, what fun was a game if the target of said game was going to let themselves be easy prey? Yes, Alec could be quite the handful and even cruel by some standards, but even so he still had some rules that kept him in check.

Speaking of checks and balances…

When it came to the other’s reaction to his words, the young man remained in his relax state as he listened to what he heard. As the other ended his speech, Alec would let out a low hum that seemed to release some of his tension and annoyance.

"And yet you do the same." Guess there was no true control of instinct was there? Alec would take off his glasses and fold them a bit so that he could hook them easily enough to his shirt as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"No, observing won’t help you figure me out any better; however, I don’t exactly see the need to open up when I feel like I am being attacked. Yeah sure. You might’ve meant it in another way or what not, but that is not how I heard it. On instinct, I retaliated back. Honestly, if you want a better reaction and actually want to know me perhaps not seeming so aggressive can help a bit. It’s just a suggestion, but the more gentler approach sometimes works better. Especially when you come across those like me that will lash back. I give you what you give me,” he would say before pausing as he let out a lighter sigh and sat back seeming a bit tired. “…Sorry if I caused you pain with that one….” he would say after a moment in calm tones as the coldness around him melted.

People were a tricky thing and while Alec could handle most, he simply did not know how not to trigger that this one. It seemed that no matter what he did, he would only fall into a hole. Maybe even the apology was a mistake. He didn’t know anymore. What he did know is that it left him conflicted and very unsure of what to do anymore…But then again maybe that is where the other wanted him to be...

The guy didn’t make things any clearer or easier with the look given or the words spoken. As Alec heard the words, he would be silent for a moment as he observed the other with a unreadable expression as he kept his arms crossed. After a moment, he would begin to speak.

“If it really didn’t matter so much then I think you wouldn’t have started it at all,” Alec would lean his head back and look back at the sky. “Look. I am sure whatever I say or do won’t matter….and to be honest, being a stranger I wouldn’t blame you for just walking away at this point; however, if you have stuff weighing you down and want someone to listen then just let it out….”

Alec would finish his voice trailing off at the end. The words were spoken in a soft manner that suggesting that despite what was going on, the young man was truly being genuine with his words. He wasn’t trying to hurt the other or force him to do what he didn’t want to. He just…Heh…Did it even matter anymore?

In the moments of silence, Alec would take to observing the city not really thinking much at first as he simply let his eyes take in the scene. It wasn’t until the silence began to tick on a bit longer than anticipated that he began to worry that maybe he had said something wrong; however, as he gave the other a questioning look and got the head shake in response, the worry would ease up a bit as he gave a light nod. Well at least he knew it wasn’t something he said. Maybe the conversations were dying off because neither one of them was making an effort to continue the ones dying. He wasn’t sure what the other was thinking, but he sure didn’t want to continue things that he wasn’t sure if the other was even interested in. That just ruined conversations worse than being quiet, so for the moment he was okay with the silence.

When the conversation did pick itself back up again, Alec would go with it easily enough. “Well that is true, but then that makes me wonder. If you can’t wait for them to come to ya and can’t recognize them at all, then how did one figure out they had a soul mate to begin with?” Alec would pause and look up at the sky not really expecting an answer to that one. He would let the idea play about in his head for a moment longer before letting it go. Maybe it didn’t really matter if one was “destined” for another or not. In the end, if the person made you happy and complete then that was enough right?

In any case, the situation went from alright to just plain confusing as everything said was either left in silence or countered in an odd way that left Alec more and more baffled the longer he listened to the guy. First it was the hypocrite comment and then the whole thing about things not working in general. Not really sure how to respond to that, Alec would frown as he scratched his head quite perplexed. On one hand, the guy seemed to be reaching out for something, but then as soon as one thought they figured out what said thing was, the guy would turn around and say something that would completely unravel the theory. It made it hard to figure out just what to do with Sharaku, but then again maybe that was the point to his earlier question about handling him. Perhaps he couldn't be handled...or rather maybe the current technique just didn't fit the bill. It was hard to tell and even harder when one was already confused.

For the most part, Alec would remain quiet as he listened to each response given and watched the reactions. He had to admit it wasn’t a pretty sight and when the other decided to leave, he didn’t feel any better about what had just occurred. He couldn’t really say anything that could make things better without digging a hole even deeper than the ones already there, so for once he didn’t say anything as he watched the other for a moment before getting up himself and moving to go in the other direction. He didn’t even attempt to say a farewell that time because honestly with so much whirling in his mind he didn’t know what might come out. So letting the guy go his way, Alec would go his own way.

As Alec moved away, Chrystill would lift her head watching him go one way and before looking the other way and watching Sharaku. She would tilt her head at him as if observing him for a moment and then with a light huff, she’d get to her feet and move to catch up with her master….

For now it looked like the meeting had ended….

~Exit. This thread has ended~