Shopping for Fools [Alec]

((Follow up from this: Thread))

How did this come to happen again....?

Frankly, Sharaku had no idea, but it was a little too late to worry about the possible outcomes of this unusual scenario. ''No.'', he would simply deadpan to the latest question about 'pretty pleases', although he didn't seem to be bothered by it in general. Regardless, the answer on that would remain negative. Commands were a no for the most part, unless one really knew what they were doing, but deliberately glorified begging was annoying as well. And maybe it was simply a result of his currently jumpy mood, thus he wasn't about to be happy with anything. Or at the very least be a little cynical until the other found a way to turn his state around.

He would say no more for the moment as he moved to follow, a small frown on his face. He probably should have thought this out better, because he apparently bit himself a bit too hard. Or so the estimate was, seeing as it didn't exactly want to stop bleeding, trickling down his chin. Such great development, really. Now he was going to drip red all over himself. Not quite the best way to dye your clothes, is it? Not to mention, it was still stinging a bit, even though the pain was hardly bothering him. It was actually kind of nice, and he was honestly starting to wonder what was wrong with him right now. Is that how you go insane for real?

''....''

His moodiness seemed to be taking on a new level right now, and to add to it, he probably looked like some sort of vampire to boot. He would still remain silent however, just walking ahead after the other, not quite interested in being the one to break the stalemate.

It was kind of odd, having the other agree to come with him and to be honest it was the last thing he expected to happen. He was expecting the other to blow up or potentially walk away, but for whatever reason the guy had stayed and continue to stay after giving a rather negative to response to his earlier question. It was honestly baffling why the other stayed, but even so Alec didn't shun the company...even if the air between them was less than friendly. He wasn’t quite sure what he had done to make the other wired, but he could take a guess that his own moodiness was a big key in the whole matter.

It was odd, by some odd outcome the two males had come to a stalemate of a sort with neither one speaking as they moved down the road. As Alec moved, he would scan the road up ahead looking at the various mum and pop shops that lined the area. These were not his target for clothing, but he did pause at one to purchase a small bottle of water. With that in one hand, he would dig in his pocket with his free hand and pull out a clean handkerchief. Opening the bottle, he would pour a bit of the water on the item in a careful way so no water was split to the ground and the cloth was only slightly dampened.

With this done, he would drop back easily enough as he fell in step with the other. Being careful with his actions, he would offer the damp handkerchief to the other. It was for the blood that was currently coming from his lip wound.

“You do that often when upset?” he would begin his tones soft and neutral for the time being. He wasn’t trying to upset the guy more, but rather try and figure out how they had come to this spot in particular to begin with. He didn’t think himself rude or unfriendly, but something about the guy he was with created tension and instead somehow unearthed his more natural and moody self. As a result, he had said some things he probably shouldn’t have and maybe even stepped on nerves by accident.

It made him feel a bit guilty, even more so when the guy apparently harmed himself due to the stress and seemed to be struggling with his own burdens he did not wish to share. He honestly hadn’t meant for things to go the way they did and now he had to deal with the after math. While he wasn’t sure how to fix it, the handkerchief offer and the words spoken were a small start and a small gesture of perhaps trying to make peace with the other...

The other followed in silence and when offered the handkerchief, he hesitated for a bit. To the raised eyebrow, Alec would tilt his head slightly at the other and give him a few seconds longer to make up his mind. Just when he was about to drop the offer, the other sighed and took the item, which in turn got a barely visible smile from Alec, his features softening a bit as he turned his eye back to the path. As the other cleaned himself up, Alec let the silence linger between them only breaking it with his single question some time later.

When he didn’t get a direct answer, he wouldn’t push the other to answer. Maybe it was the wrong to thing to ask, or maybe it was too blunt. He wasn’t sure anymore, so he would keep quiet for the moment until the other shook his head and actually spoke. To his words, Alec would listen before nodding a bit.

“Well that is good to know,” he would state his words remaining neutral, yet soft. He wasn’t going to pry any further on that matter. Instead, he was taking the listener approach for now, not really wanting to agitate whatever rested between them... or perhaps just trying to keep his own agitated mode in check. Regardless, he would remain mellow enough as they continued to walk, moving pass another small shop that sold umbrellas. The silence would return for a while as each seemed to remain in their own thoughts for the moment.

When the other gave him a faint smile and spoke, Alec would give him a small lopsided one back. It wasn’t a bubbly one, but more like one given to someone who had already been forgiven a long time ago.

“Nah. You’re fine. We all have our moments to shine. Just like we have our moments to be pain in the behind. Like I said before it's best to get that shi..” he paused and shook his head as he caught himself that time. He would try again. “It is best to get that sort of crap off your chest. Besides, I wasn’t exactly being very good myself. So perhaps it was bound to happen,” Alec would tell him softly as his eyes drifted back to the roads ahead. Shit happened and while those times the bad hit the fan and went all over made everyone feel bad, there was no point in the end to hold grudges over what was going to happen by nature. No it was best to accept what was done and push on through understanding...or at least that is the path he tried to walk. Whether others would do the same was always a toss up.

Alec would continue to trail along side Sharaku taking a turn on the path as the district before them widened out and mom and pop shops began to give way to more main stream ones. They would drift past, a shoe store and even one clothing shop, but Alec did not stop there despite saying he needed some new threads. Instead, he would continue down the path, heading towards the supermarket that marked the end of the area. He still didn’t give a topic to speak on, but at the same time he wasn’t sure where to go after what had occurred beforehand. Maybe if things had gone another route, he could rely on his bubbly nature to carry them through the silence, but now?

Now he didn’t have any of the energy left for that leaving him relatively quiet for the time being as he simply searched for something to say to turn this around….

Hm?

Violet eyes would shift to the side as he observed the other as he spoke his word. When he made his statement about how Alec was handling the situation, his eyes would drift away as he let out a soft snort.

“Calm…Heh. Not sure if that is the best way to describe my state. It’s more like I am not exactly one for refueling things for no reason. Not sure what triggered what back there, but…I for one don’t want to repeat that so soon. So instead, I am trying to figure it out so whatever happened perhaps won’t be a repeated thing. You are welcome to join the fun if you wish,” he said his tones shifting from neutral to soft as he looked back at the other with a gentle smile. His attitude while drained was still kind though why he remained that way after such a rough time was a mystery. Even so his ending comment wasn’t a real invite. He honestly didn’t want to pull another down the rabbit hole with him…though if they came anyway, well what was he to do?

Regardless, he would take note of the mellow and hesitant mood of the other as he continued on.

“Whatcha thinkin’ Sharaku?” he would ask, his tone gentle and open. He wasn’t demanding an answer nor was he trying to press for the other to share anything, but rather he was letting the other know he would listen if he wanted to place something out there, but in the end, the choice would be left in Sharaku’s hands.

When it came to his the subject of cursing, Alec would look over at the other with slightly raised eyebrows. He had actually been trying to cut back on the cursing for a while now and typically when he corrected himself, people just let him do it. So getting this sort of response from another was kind of welcoming. At least he didn’t have to worry about reigning in himself completely. Good.

“Okay then,” he would say his tone appreciative under the mellowness. He would become quiet again as the other began to speak, but then for whatever reason trailed off. Instead of prying into the matter, Alec would tilt his head slightly towards the other and wait as he quietly tapped the bottle of water against his leg. When the other spoke again, Alec was surprised that the guy apologized again. The act was a bit confusing considering Alec didn’t peg the other to do such a thing, especially after showing how firm footed and feisty he could be before. The repeated apology made him wonder about multiple things about the guy, but instead of focusing on those things now, he focused on the present and what was occurring there.

So the guy had been having  a bad day to begin with huh….

Alec would take the words in and eventually shake his head as he gave the other a small smile in turn.

“You are forgiven, so don’t worry about it,” he would say his tones remaining gentle. He honestly didn’t blame the guy for the situation, so he wasn’t quite sure why the guy seemed to be taking this so hard. It was odd really, but then again maybe…maybe Sharaku had more piled up on him then he thought.

That realization…made him feel even worse for giving him such a hard time. Even so he kept his own emotions in tight check this round as the other’s state of being took priority over his. Remaining aware of the other’s mood he would ask his question.


His wording was gentle, but not overly so. He wasn’t trying to pry if the guy didn’t wish to speak about it, but even so, he left the option for the guy to talk about what bothered him if he wanted to.

Alec would continue on his path to the mega mart at the end of the area as he listen to what the other said. To his words, Alec would give a light sigh.

“Mmm. Honestly, I was reflecting on what I did back then and trying to see if from there if it could have been handled differently. Learn from your mistakes sort of thing, you know? Though my silence has more than that one purpose. For starters, how can one engage if they aren’t thinking correctly in the first place?” he would ask as he looked over at the other with a small smirk. Yeah. He wasn’t ignoring the guy or trying to exclude the other from anything, he simply didn’t have the right words to state what needed to be said.

“Besides, I can’t exactly engage when all the weight falls on me alone to start things. True, maybe reflecting on the past alone for answers is a futile endeavor and perhaps initiative is what you desire, but we’ve already seen what happens when I attempt to take the lead, so maybe you should try to take the lead this round. Who knows maybe by switching the roles something that was missed before can be unveiled,” he would say, his words remaining non-hostile or challenging. He was simply making a statement there. He was not looking for push back or anything of that sort from it.

In the end, he didn’t know where to tread with the guy and yes trying to mull over the issue alone could cause problems, but how did one approach something without clues onto how to approach said thing?

He was a lost on what to do and did not hide this flaw. He was blind and had no choice, but poke around until he could finally find something to solid grasp in that darkness. Now how much the other would help in that matter was left in the air. He wasn’t hunting for a hand, but rather just something that hinted he did something right rather than place himself in yet another hole.…The matter was difficult still, but by this point he didn’t know what the hell was expected out of him anymore and so this…whatever it was, was the end result of that confusion and lost-ness.

In any case, Alec would become quiet until he posed his question which the other answered in a short manner. To this, Alec would shake his head as he took off his glasses for the moment and folded them.

“Well... If you don’t want to share that is fine, I suppose. Your choice and all, but umm...” he would hook his glasses onto his shirt. “A little sharing kind of help at times in the engage department,” he would say giving the other a small smirk that seemed to hint at something underneath; however, he would leave the what shrouded in mystery for the time being.

The words weren’t meant as a pry, even if there was just a hint of truth behind them. You couldn’t exactly learn much if one wasn’t willing to share, but on the other the guy had his right to secrets just like anyone else. It wasn’t like they were the best of friends or anything like that and even if they were, the question wasn’t there for the guy to spill all his guts out. It was there to offer the other a way to vent if he wanted to.

In any case, from there the world become silent again as the pair continued to walk. The silence would stretch on until the whole forgiveness issue came up. While Alec forgave easily enough, the other seemed to hold onto the error and not let it go. To his words, Alec would tilt his head as he observed his reaction and felt out the mood around him. To what he saw and felt, Alec would blink as he returned the smile with a slightly goofy one of his own.

“It will be,” he said with a light nod. The words weren’t there to change the other’s mood or mind, but rather there to show in his own way he understood that no matter what was said or done, words wouldn’t change this guy so easily. Sharaku seemed to be a man of action, so perhaps that also meant he needed to work out whatever was going on in him on his own terms. As for himself?  Well, Alec was just going to be there for the guy for now. It probably meant nothing considering they were strangers, but even strangers needed someone to lean on at times did, they not?

In any case whatever mood had come up out of that acceptance was quickly shifted with his last question. As the other’s expression crumpled and became sad, Alec would hear the words said and from there remain quiet as his eyes drifted away from the other as he considered what had been given. After a few seconds, he would speak.

“Yeah. I did say that, but just because I said it doesn’t automatically make you mine all of sudden, now does it? Not that I had a chance if you were already taken to begin with,” Alec would say as a sad smile crossed his face, but why that happened was unknown for now and perhaps would remain a mystery as the sadness melted as the smile changed to a gentle one of acceptance. “So you see, it’s okay to speak on the matter. Besides, if I wasn’t going to listen I wouldn’t have asked in the first place, so go on and tell me. After all, we have nothing, but time if you are sticking around to shop with me,” Alec would say as the first small playful smirk came to his face as they finally came to the mega mart.  

Opening the door, he would gesture for Sharaku to go in first. Once the other was in, Alec would follow as he narrowed his eyes and looked around trying to focus on what he needed to do first. Yes, clothing was why he was here, but…that sale on oranges…and that other one in the seafood section. Did that slight blur say there was a sale on shrimp....

Oh boy. This was going to take a while at this rate, so h hoped the other wouldn't mind this slight detour as he gave him a sheepish smile and wandered over to the oranges on display.

Distractions....

“…Can you just not assume that the analyzing is about me holding onto the matter?" Alec would ask his tone chilled as he gave the other a glare. “I told you before I was trying to collect myself did I not? And unfortunately when I have nothing else to focus on I analyze the past to just do that. I don’t analyze it to pick out everything wrong and try to undo it because honestly even with all the branches I could’ve seen myself going down, those are now closed. The event is done and over. I get that, but just because it is over doesn’t mean I can’t reflect on it and in turn get my shit together. Like I stated before, you don’t have to play that route or join in on my reflecting if you don’t want to. I just left the door open if you wanted to chat about something is all. It was not there pick the devil out of thing.”

He would give an irritated huff as he kept moving. Perhaps if he wasn’t already wound up and a bit more stable emotionally, he could’ve taken the words easier, but as he was now? It didn’t take much to trigger him…even if he knew it wasn’t going to help matters. He knew this negative side of him that he tried to keep hidden could always break things between himself and others... thus why he tried so hard to pretend to be nice to get along with everyone, but this guy?

This one not only managed to knock out all his walls of pretend, but he managed to say the just right (or maybe the wrong thing) to keep said walls down. His next set of words only proved how much of an expert this one was at keeping Alec from going back to pretending.

To the first set of words, he was quiet enough, but by the second set the white haired young man had stopped in his tracks as he let the other walk ahead of him as he gave him an unreadable look, his normally violet eyes tinged with a hint of red as a mixture between anger and frustration flowed through him. He looked like he could explode, but amazingly when he opened his mouth, his words would come out calmly enough.

“Alright, yes. I am reflective and do see some form of benefit in examining mistakes; however, said reflection is not why I am being “cautious” or what not. I was being cautious because I was trying not to blow up on your ass to be quite honest.” He would scoff bitterly in low tones as he looked off the side and shook his head, doing his best to keep a lid on his explosive nature before turning back to look at the other. “You say I am trying to do this or that with my wording, but did you not stop to think for a moment that maybe I am trying to figure out just how to do said communicating with you? While I can think of many things to say to you at this moment and many more ways to explode at your words, I am not going to doing my best to not do that. However, understand this. I am not trying to script things or make things perfect just to be nice and peaceful. Oh no. We have gone beyond that point. Way beyond it. So you don’t have to worry about my displeasing nature being a result of that. You say do what I want, but as soon as I do that you think I am scripting and wasting time holding onto the past. I am not perfect and if you were searching for the real me so to speak, then here I am no walls or anything. What else do you want?” Alec would say firmly holding his ground as he watched the other with a heated glare. He was beyond frustrated and confused at this point and while it would seem he was being explosive, he actually wasn't. His tone was more distressed than angry at this point as he tried to figure out what to do. Was something being expected of him and he was missing the cue or what? It was really that bad at this point...and quite frankly he was being worn down by the tossing. "You I say I am nit-picking, but what are you doing with your assumption of my words. Is that not a form of picking?”

He would ask before becoming silent for a while and then shaking his head begin to walk again. As moved his next set of words came out in an exhausted and soft tone as the red slow subsided from his eyes. He wasn't trying to scold the guy or anything, but still...

“I am not trying to make this some form of drama fest or a puzzle for that matter. I am not trying to make it complicated. I honestly prefer it simple, but my nature versus your own is making this more challenging than I thought it would be.” It was the truth. In the in the biting response came from too many emotions running through him at one time. Unlike some, Alec was not exactly his best when he couldn’t bring his emotional state back to a stable order. It was enough to make him cry just to release the pressure that was building up from it all, but for now he did not cry as he instead focused on breathing to try and calm himself as he continued to move.

He didn’t hide that a nerve had been hit, or the fact that he was truly frustrated. He honestly was trying to figure this one out, but every time he thought he found a slight opening or safe ground, the other would unexpectedly do something or say something to knock him right off course. It was truly a stressful thing. Even more so when the other seemed to get all sad about certain matters. Was there really a right way to handle this? He did not know. Regardless, he would stay silent not sure if the other stayed with him or not until some minutes later he took a chance to glance over and found the other was still there. Well at least he didn’t appear to be running away…yet.

“…Hmmm…” Alec would consider the words said for a moment, trying to think through the chaotic swirl upstairs. “Well, what is the one thought at the very front of your mind?” he would ask his tone calmer than before as the heat from earlier died off. Yeah, his question was still vague, but he couldn’t see what was on the other’s mind so he honestly couldn’t settle on one thing or another…and while he could ask the other about his opinion on their current situation, he was not in the mood to attempt reflecting after what happened before.

In any case, he would become quiet after that to see what would be said as he continued to walk along. When they reached their destination and moved into the store, Alec would move over the oranges to pick up a few as he kept an ear open for the other.

“Mmm. Competitors are a thing, but I don’t worry about them too much unless they are after what is most definitely mine. In a nutshell, I don’t see a point in the whole jealousy beef when the one they are after isn’t yours to begin with. That is just as bad as people getting mad with someone for buying a hat or pup you were only looking at and didn’t make your own…Kind of silly in my eyes,” he would say as he picked a few oranges and then tested them for ripeness. Yeah, the guy didn’t have to worry about too much drama coming from him due to that sort of stuff. As for that comment about not being taken…

Alec would give his first true smile in a while, it was a small gentle one, but a smile nonetheless.

“Hehe,” he would give a light chuckle. “You know, I never think to ask the logical questions before attempting to flirt or play with someone. I just kind of jump in forgetting things like: ask if so-so is taken or for that matter is into such things as guys regardless of gender. Maybe I should take a note of from you consideration and remember the my manners,” he said and then becoming more serious he would nod at the last part. “A loyal one, huh? That is good to know.”

Alec would say the comment, but why he would not expand upon as he took four oranges in hand and then got a bag to place them in. He would continue to shop as he listened to the other speak about his said issue.

To his words, Alec would look over at the other with a light frown.

“Well that sucks. Why did you let her pull you around like that for so long?” he would ask quite curious of this as he tilted his head at the other. This guy didn’t seem like the one to let himself get yanked around like that so why did he submit to such torment?

“I am sorry you had such a rough start to your day, even more sorry I am making it tougher on you with my attitude. Now while, I don’t want to add fuel to the flame, I honestly think she shouldn't have treated you that way and at least had the decency to just sit rather think thing through rather than try and juggle you both...especially when she knew you knew her game. I can send this ending all sorts of way, let's not focus on that. It is done now, so all that matters is you…unless she is something that is still in the picture at this point. Might be a stupid question, but how are you holding up? And is there anything I can do to help?”

Alec would remain genuine with his words. He was honestly concern about the other’s mood. Even if one was used to being tossed around, being played like that by someone who supposedly cared about you? Well, he couldn’t speak for the other, but from his experience that shit hurt…a lot and without someone there to at least sit the storm out with you? ….Yeah….let’s stop there okay?

That was the first reaction to the words heard as Alec seemed to close himself off to the other. On the surface it might seemed like a way of running away or trying to block pain, but in reality, he was still wide open to the blow as he continue to walk along side of the other. The silence was just him taking a moment to gather himself enough to speak again. When he did speak, his voice was not aggressive.

“I don’t know. Maybe there was nothing to start a chat to begin with,” he would say his voice surprisingly calm and soft as his red tinted eyes looked over at the at the other catching the frown and head tilt of the other As he saw the action, his eyes would lower to watched the ground for a bit. “However, I wasn’t trying to make you feel like static in the background. So…I apologize for that,” he would say his words hesitant not out of fear of hurting the other or stepping on toes, but rather due to coming down from his heated state. It was taking a bit, but it seemed that something had clicked due to the way Sharaku handled the rather messy situation.
His next set of words only seemed to further lower the heat level on Alec as he watched him.

“Maybe it doesn’t make a difference and it is all the same to you…even so I prefer not to be hostile when it is not necessary. And I am not exactly cool with anything happening here. If I was I wouldn’t have flared in the first place. Though for the record I am not angry just…. very frustrated. There is a difference there...” His voice was drained as he continued to move listening for a moment to what was said before speaking once more.

“Maybe it really isn’t you that is the problem, but perhaps it is the one viewing you. You are a challenging person.... your personality unlike anything I’ve run across even on a bad day. Yes…you do piss me off and frustrate me to no end and the whole ordeal does seem to be a land slide, especially when you already come into the ring expecting this sort of battlefield. I can see why you would actually start blocking the shit out...in your own way. And to be frank, I am not trying to make this hard for you…I really am not. But much like you understand your ways are gonna trigger people, I too understand that my own nature is probably gonna do the same in a different fashion...” Alec would sigh a bit. He wasn’t aiming to make the other miserable, but his behavior wasn’t exactly helping the case now was it?


Alec would say the words as he gave the other expression that was slightly hard to read. While his face didn’t show it much, his eyes did hold a number of things there. He kind of was beginning to understand the guy a bit and by calming down, he was able to see where he had unintentionally harmed the other in some fashion. He didn’t like it the mistakes, but what was done was done. He could apologize for it, but in this case this simply wouldn’t do, so he had chosen a different approach as he observed the other from a different angle. He wasn’t going to run or storm away from this one. No…he would try to weather the storm this round. Besides…the guy really didn’t do anything wrong in the first place. In the end, it was just his own mood that had made things more negative than they should’ve been.

As for that sarcastic remark well....  

Violet eyes would shut for a moment as a small tired smirk crossed his face. “Well, I suppose we could speak on this matter of me constantly missing the mark with these things,” he would say, his respond back half-truth, half-jest. He probably deserved that, but his brain was fried at the moment making random topics and questions a bit hard to come by at the moment.

Even so, he took the bite well enough and in time this too would pass as other topics took its place.

“True.” That was the only word that escaped his mouth when it came to the subject of how people typically reacted to competition. There was really nothing to add to the matter outside of that.

“Hmph, well…maybe the matter is trivial in some cases, but I think if maybe I slowed down a bit sometimes I could avoid some pitfalls here and there,” Alec would say as he scratched at his cheek a bit with his free hand. It was a truth about his nature which was more react first think later….a nature that seemed to get him tangled here and there when it would’ve been better if he had just thought things through in the first place. In any case, he would tilt his head at the other statement about his preference in gender.

“Is that so?” he would say with a light raise of his eyebrows. He could run with that one, but didn’t as the expression soften as he moved along in the store. “I am cool with either as long as we are compatible,” he would say. True he hadn’t been asked anything, but at the same time he found the exchange a natural one, so he did it without a prompt. Just as it was natural for him to chuckle at the cheater comment.

“Isn’t that the truth? Even the cheaters themselves don’t seem to take kindly to being cheated,” he would say as they drifted from the food section to a book section. He was looking through the books that lined the shelves, but paused as he tilted his head at the other.

“I can understand not wanting to hurt another, but being yanked along I don’t get. Even if something isn’t your forte…I don’t suggest letting people play with you like that. I don’t care how much you don’t want to hurt them.... just don’t…” he would say his tone serious as he gave the other a small frown of disapproval. Yeah… maybe he was more jaded in some areas due to experience; however, he wouldn’t go there for now as he shook his head a bit.

“However, maybe I am not understanding your reasoning just yet. You said it was more complex than just that. How so?” he would ask prying a bit at the subject, trying to understand rather than go back to a loop of assumptions and in turn bared fangs. Better to get the whole picture if the other would share. Though he wouldn’t push this too far considering the other had made it quite clear how far he would go when they were only acquaintances. Either way the door was open there if he wanted to go further.

“That is understandable in a way. I mean you did go out of your way to help, but instead got paid back with being toyed with. It is…never a pleasant feeling to be sure. Though I am kind of amazed you can actually forgive her for that and say you’re her friend. Maybe the bond goes a bit deeper than I can see from my perspective…either that or I am just harsh in the forgiveness category….”

He didn’t hold grudges, but he did not forget what people did to him and in turn would not trust so easily when he had been burnt already by said person; however, that story was for another time. Alec would shake away his own view of the situation as he refocused on the other.
“Well, if you are okay with it all, then I suppose that is good enough,” he would say as he gave the other a light nod. Though he was accepting of the answer, if the other did want to share more he was welcomed to do so. He wasn’t barring him from that.

Alec would give the other a small smile as he heard the words the other said as far as being static goes. It still made him feel a bit guilty for doing that, but at the same time he wasn’t going to drill apologizing into the ground either. Instead, he would take a different approach to the situation.

“Ah. So you’re the quiet type. Well that is not so bad considering on the flip side you could be me and talk too much,” he said his tones light, though not in the fashion of play. Just in a way that showed he was at least calming and settling into the peace that seemed to be trying to come between them once more. He would continue to move along giving the other time to expand on that subject if he wanted to or not. Whether he did or not, the small smile would stay as Alec shook his head to the words spoken.

“No, they are not easy to deal with. Quite the headache actually and while I understand it is not good to bottle it all up either… whether I explode now or later someone always ends up getting hurt and typically when I am outwardly explosive it leads to arguments rather than chats to figure it out. And to be frank, I think we are both a bit tired of the arguments. So most of the time, holding back seems wiser. I just deal with my own shit later and in my own way,” Alec would say in calm tones to the others. He understood the pro and cons of both sides, but sometimes inflicting the pain on yourself rather than another was just the better route…or at least that is what experience had taught him.

“I don’t find it odd you can handle stuff being already grounded enough to not let the little things derail you. It’s pretty impressive to be honest. As for myself, you really don’t have to worry much about me stress wise since its not just you that triggers me. You’re fine despite what my blow ups suggest.” Yes. He was going to react, but in the end…he wasn’t so much upset with the other as himself for various things. In a nutshell, the reason things were so hard for him wasn’t so much the person with him, but rather the fact he stressed himself out. Granted, people could fuel his nature when handled wrong, but this guy? It seemed it wasn’t so much bad handling, but rather bad translating of words. Alec was kind of happy this one was willing to at least attempt to work some things out despite what had occurred before. It was a bit of relief considering the common response was typically more negative than this.

The man’s calm approach counteracted the fiery nature and explanation (bad or not) helped the young man adjust and reconsider his approach on this. Maybe this was all that was needed to help them get along…at least a bit better than before. Even if it wasn’t perfect and things would probably get rough at times if they did decide to hang with each more, at least this here was some form of hope that maybe things wouldn’t be so bad in the end. Moving along…

Alec would give a nod at the words heard agreeing he didn’t want to keep arguing as they continued to walk. From here, the familiar wash of silence came between them once more. However it didn’t last too long as the other responded back to his half-joke with a huff and short answer to what was heard, Alec would close his eyes for a second as he let out a light hum to that.

“Maybe so…or maybe my skills have just gotten bad over time,” Alec would say in light tones that suggested he wasn’t looking for a true response to the words. Nor was he using the words to pull the situation apart. It was more of a light joke in the situation. Even so he wouldn’t go too far with it as his mood remained calm.

“Mmm. It can sting pretty bad. Some are okay with correcting ya, but some aren’t so friendly on that front,” Alec would say and then nodding he would continue. “Can’t really say for sure how irritating it can be to another as only one type was typically used on me in the past. Mostly one that rushed me to make a decision. That is a bit annoying when I need a bit of space to think at times. Outside of that, I can’t say I know of folk rushing me in other fashions, but then again maybe because I have the tendency to leap first I may be blind to some of those ways.”

A small truth of a flaw within, but at least he recognized the flaw and sought to bring it under control more for his own sake than others. He didn’t like falling into the same holes over and over again after all; however, that matter was for another time. When the other began to speak on preferences and in turn seemed to hesitate, Alec would glance over at him with a calm expression as he nodded.

“Well, if you prefer other features physically there is nothing wrong with that. I say go for what you like instead bending to a norm and do what society wants us to do. Though to be honest, if I had to choose between the two, I prefer the guys personality wise since they tend to be less dramatic than girls…most of the time, but look wise I am pretty flexible. As long as something is appealing I don’t mind the gender so much. Just have to find one that can seriously tolerate the true mess I am,” Alec would say with a light chuckle as before glancing back at the books, still aware of the other despite his browsing.

“Mhmm. Can’t agree more there,” he would say in regards to cheaters. This was a subject that was rather sore to the guy considering how that event was a bit nearer than some. Even so, he was better off in the end without the other hanging about, so instead of picking old wounds apart he left them stitched up as he picked up a fashion magazine and began to flip through it searching for the latest trend to bend to his own will.

He would pause his browsing when the whole life advice bit came up and the other chuckled at his words. To this, he would tilt his head lightly to the side at first a bit confused as to why the other found what he said so amusing and then hearing his words, he let out an amused “hmph” as small lopsided smile crossed his face.

“I can’t say I understand that way of doing things, but if it works for you I guess I really can’t say much. I guess I am a bit more…particular about those sort of things. I tend to…” he would hesitate as the smile crumpled and he looked off to the left a bit thinking and then deciding on something continued on. “…veer off away from that sort of stuff and do my best not to set myself up for being trolled too badly….Can’t always avoid it, but I don’t go looking for that sort of stuff no matter how much I like or care about the other. Guess you can say I have rode the pain train once too many times in my life to deal with that…” He would trail off as he turn the page in the magazine not really taking in what he saw there as his mind drifted elsewhere for a second as a bit of sadness seemed to linger on him. To the words that followed, he would shake his head as he gave the other a sad smile.

“Mmm. I can see wanting to forgive, but..I think after being bitten one too many times, I’ve kind of unlearned the skill a bit. It’s not that I am holding a grudge though. No..I don’t hold onto the issue. I can let it go easily enough, but I can’t be fully kind to the offender either…Even if they do change, I can't chase away the feeling that they might slide back and repeated it all over again. Sometimes, having the other party say sorry and watch them change is not always enough to save them from being a beast in the end….”

And with that Alec sighed as he shook his, trying to clear it a bit. He would close the magazine and put it back on the shelf as pieces of his past did their best to haunt him; however, he would push the memories down as he glanced at the other books for a moment and then losing interest decided to move on; however, before he could take a step, he heard the change in voices and in turn looked back at the taller male as he..no they spoke amongst each other.

The chat got some strange looks from passbyers, but Alec didn’t bat an eye at the strangeness he had encountered before. He wasn’t sure what triggered it or maybe there was no trigger and the shadow randomly piped in. Whatever the case was, Alec would watch the two speak quite amused until he was asked a direct question.

“Hmm? A story?” he would repeat a bit knocked off guard by the sudden offer. He understood the shadow wanted to tell him a story to prove his point about Sharaku being a fool, but at the same time he was a bit uncertain where this was going…especially with the man’s last words; however…he did have a weakness for stories.....

“I don’t see Sharaku as a fool, so I am not too sure how a story could change that. Even so, I am all ears if you want to share,” Alec would say his voice calm and respectful of both parties as he shifted in his spot and began to walk again.