Sayaka had insisted on taking Alex out to Gull's caf and buying him a milkshake or something..Which was totally NOT a date, and totally an effort to encourage him to do 'normal' things in hopes that it would help him get more in touch with his humanity. Well, that was the idea, anyway. She wasn't sure if he'd actually come here after she'd texted him, and is undoubtedly skulking in some alleyway somewhere, but..One can always be hopeful right?
Unfortunately she got a bit lost aand in the end, Saya found herself outside Tako caf instead (is this Gull's caf? Well she'll find out soon enough!) For now, she lurks outside the caf, knowing how antisocial he can be. And starting to wonder why she's putting so much effort in trying to help him but..Hey, this is what heroes do..Right?
Honestly, even if it *was* a date, Alex probably wouldn't realize it was such. Even *before* he turned into a vampire. Despite his surprisingly acute observational ability, he never quite manages to catch on to things like that when they were directed at him.
But that's really way besides the point right now.
It takes a while, but she can eventually see Alex walking down the street towards her-- or atl east someone who looks vaguely like Alex, with the hoodie and all. It gets to be confirmed as Alex, at least, when he gets closer, and tugs the hood al ittle higher to show his face.
"This is not the Gull's cafe," he notes, in deadpan, once he's close enough to actually talk to her.
It seems that Saya doesn't have to wait too long for him to arrive. And well darnit, that dark hoodie's pretty well recognizable anywhere, even before she sees his face. And it causes her to smile, inspite of herself. Right, all solemn and way to serious as usual, butWell.
"You came! I wasn't sure you would!" she beams inspite of herself, quickening her pace to meet him. Glancing over at the caf as he makes that comment, Sayaka makes a face. "Oh? Err.. I guess it isnt, butI kinda got lost and..Well..Close enough! It's 'A cafe' anyway, right? And they have a sale on drinks today, so you're not getting out of it that easily! c'mon!"
Rather bodly, and a bit playfully, she attempts to grab his hand and gently lead him towards said cafe before he can find some melodramatic excuse and slink off again.
"...I had to look for you, but I did," Alex offers with the same deadpan tone, still, and he gives a slow blink of his eyes at her. He still doesn't really draw the hood fully away from his head, on account of the missing person's report out on him and all, but hey.
When she takes his hand, he looks down to look at their joined hands. He looks... confused, even if he doesn't really try to draw himself away. This feels... familiar, somehow. But for some reason he gets the feeling it doesn't feel the way it should. What was it he should be doing now?
Eventually he decides to squeeze at her hand after intwining his fingers through hers. This is normal, right? Completely innocent? At least that means he's letting her take her into the cafe.
Yep, totally innocent..Because it's not like it'd ever work anyway, right? He's a vampire and she's..Well. She bites her lip, glancing at their hands. "It's okay, you dont have to fake it or anything. I just wanted to hang out and try and cheer someone up who needed cheering. It's just an innocent milkshake right?"
She lets go then, opening the door for the 'vampire' before stepping in after him. Oh yeah, this is totally not Gull's cafe, and in fact she hasn't been here before. "Oh well.." she sighs, "I was hoping I could chat with Gull but" But that's okay!
Fortunately there's not a huge lineup at this time of day. It's mid afternoon in the middle of the week. Why isn't Sayaka in school today? Is she playing hookey again..? Who knows? She sure isn't talking.
"So! What's your favorite flavor? This cafe is supposed to have good drinks, but they have loads of flavors.." she peers at the board, looking for something to choose. She can't help but notice a few glances from other couples who smile sweetly at them. 'Awe, how cute'. Maybe this was a bad idea. At least this place isn't super crowded today.
The confused look turns up from Saya's hand, next, to settle on her face, and Alex repeats with a more obviously bemused tone, "Fake...?" He headtilts when she takes her hand away, too, but he doesn't ask her about that whole matter or anything.
Just like he's completely oblivious to people giving them looks, for that matter.
Upon the question of flavor, he looks up to the menu, squinting his eyes at it. "Um," he sounds out, uncertainly, after a few seonds. "...Chocolate. I guess."
Sayaka bites her lip, reflecting his confused look. What exactly IS this anyway, a real date or just a hero trying to help out someone in need? She's actually not sure how it evolved from one to the other. But either way, she feels her ears reddening a bit, self consciously.
"Fake? I meanWellUm, just..You know. Let's just try and have fun, like normal people, okay? That's all." She smiles and proceeds to order a vanilla shake for herself and a chocolate for Alex, searching for a place to sit. "C'mon, relax, Alex. You seem so..Stiff. I cant believe you've never been to a cafe before, maybe before you became..This? I think, this would be good for you."
Good for them both, maybe?
"...?" Sayaka's explanation doesn't seem to help Alex's confusion over her behaviour, here. He tilts his head to the opposite side while he studies her, and then decides to just shrug it off.
"Of course I've been before I... turned," he confirms then, with a sigh. "I know I liked chocolate. I just... haven't been hungry for... eating or drinking, since I changed, you know? I do. Still taste it. And like the taste."
He follows her towards a table, then-- and though he's mostly oblivious, he's at least starting to notice the looks given to the two of them. Huh. Either way, after sitting down, he murmurs, "I dunno. Maybe. It's more human."
"Sorry, guess I'm just as confused as you." Sayaka replies, "I really did intend for this to be just a social thing, two people hanging out, trying to be normal. Like, friends or" she bites her lip, looking away towards the window as she leads him towards a window booth. "But I guess I kinda" she flushes a bit, "Ended up liking you a bit more than I thought, but I guess it doesn't really matter if you cant feel emotions like that so.."
Sayaka laughs nervously before she takes a long sip of her milkshake, "So nevermind! I really do want to help you either way, because what happened sucked, but I think there's still hope for you, especially after talking to Norie. Maybe if you just do normal human stuff you'll feel more normal human, right? No need to go out fighting baddies all the time."
"Like me...?" Alex repeats, and his brows scrunch together briefly-- maybe trying to process that, to some extent. Still, even with him - and his condition - it's hard to be COMPLETELY oblivious after she's gone and said that much. "You mean. Like 'like' in the way like...?" He leaves the question hanging in the air instead of completing the sentence right away.
With the mention of Norie, he glances aside briefly, and lets out a sigh. "You talked to her," he murmurs. "What did she... tell you?"
She bites her lip, feeling very self conscious by now. "I guess, the kind where you think about someone a lot, and when you see them your pulse quickens and you'd go to great lengths to make them happy, butBut.." Sayaka laughs again, rather nervously and awkwardly, "Like I said, it doesnt really matter, because that wouldnt mean anything to you and I shouldn''t have even brought it up because its silly so forget I said anything, okay?" She's starting to babble, and nearly chokes on her milkshake she's speaking so fast.
Sayaka's glad for a change of topic though, "YeaaahI talked to her. More like..Lectured her. I wasnt happy to hear that she turned you, or why. Are you really happy like this? But..I think she agrees there's still hope for you, that you still have a human body and maybe you can try and have a normal life. That's all. I didnt beat her up or anything though so dont worry."
"Oh," Alex lets out, quietly-- and though he claims, at least, that his emotions are mostly deadened, he looks... vaguely rueful, now, after that admission from her, and he peers down at his milkshake uncertainly for a few seconds of silence. "I guess," he starts, eventually. "If I was not. Like this. Things might have been different." He actually looks at her with a vaguely apologetic tone in his eyes, there. "I can. Still feel fond for people. I do for people I consider. Friends. But..." He lets that sentence trail off, too.
"I am not happy, no," he admits then, but goes on to say, "But... I am alive. Thehre is... that. I am not... angry at Norie, either. For doing what she did. For whatever that is worth."
Sayaka Miki bites her lip, staring down at her milkshake, uncertain about his response, but she has some reason to smile, glancing back at him hopefully.
"Then maybe, some day, you...I..." she blushes a bit, shaking her head, suddenly impulsively reaching out to grab his hands. "But whatever happens, I wont give up on you, or trying to help you!"
Then there's the topic of Norie again. '"Yeah..I was pretty mad at her, but I guess I can understand not wanting to lose someone you care about. Besides, if she'd let you die, I' never have met you, so I'm thankful for that."
Alex opens his mouth to say something-- but even if there were some words that he was going to formulate in the first place, they are warded off for certain for the moment when his hands are suddenly taken by her. He blinks at her hands, thus, in confusion-- uncertainty. He... does not know what to do, now, truly. What should he even be saying?
"...I don't know if. I'm worth... hoping for that kind of thing," he says, eventually, and his eyes turn slowly aside from her. "Even if I wasn't. Like this now."
His eyes drift downwards, for a moment-- thinking something over. "I suppose. Norie told you?" He says then, before his eyes turn upwards again, to look towards her. "How... we ended up like this. Since we found that out."
She bites her lip again, pulling away quickly. "Sorry, guess it was just a silly, romantic notion."
She takes another sip of her milkshake, having almist finished by now, and peers curiously at his own shake, wondering if he'd even touched his.
"Yeah, she told me all about how it happened. But that there's still hope for you, unlike her. I..Offered to help her too, but apparently she doesnt trust strangers I guess."
Well. Akward. Even with his vampirism Alex is able to gather the current situation as such, after Saya's drawn herself away. And as if it is supposed to make her feel better about it somehow, he murmurs after a moment, "...It's not your fault I am. The way I am." Also as if that's somehow related.to that whole thing, too.
Alex was never very good with the romantic things.
"I guess. In theory I am." He agrees with that much, at least, but... he still seems uncertain. Rueful. "I can feel the parts of me. Where I was impaled, you know," he says suddenly then, and his hand goes slowly over to trace along his chest. "They're not really. There, anymore. It's some... dark energy matter. Replacing it. Making up the flesh and the few ribs and... my lung. Maybe part of my spine, too. I'm not sure."
"If I. Change back. I don't know what will happen... to all that."
Sayaka Miki falls into a long, awkward silence for a moment, pondering what he says, wishing she had known him before he became this. Wishing she wasn't so terrible at romantic situations. He probably thinks she's silly to feel that way..
"I dunno, maybe I shouldnt assume too much or expect anything from you but, just a little hope in a hopeless situation isnt all that bad, is it?"
But what he says next almost completely dashes her hopes as she listens in wide-eyed shock. "Is it really that bad? Dark energy is the only thing holding you together??"
Her face falls, searching for anything she could say to make him feel better, seriously starting to question if there is anything left to even hope for..
"Geez..I'm sorry. But maybe the way to save you isnt to cleanse you of dark matter. Maybe it's just to learn to control it, to bend it to your will? I dunno.." she sighs.
"I am not... entirely sure," Alex admits, and his fingers clutch at the front of his shirt, briefly. "At the very least. I think I would be left with a heavily bleeding wound. *Maybe* there owuld be enough time to. Heal me after it's all gone from me, but... Can't say for sure."
He shakes his head, then, and his expression makes an effort in returning to the deadpan he usually wears-- but doesn't quite make it there. "It doesn't really matter now. It's not. An immediate concern. ... It's not. Wrong of you to have... hope, either. I am just..."
He wrinkles his nose, and considers for a moment what he's actually saying.
"...Not good at things like this."
Sayaka Miki frowns. "Well. Healing just happens to be one of my specialties, I'm sure if I used enough energy, I could save you even if you did start bleeding again, profusely." she decides not to mention if she'd even be able to survive such intensive healing.
"Isn't saving you and restoring your humanity an immediate concern? I just..Wanna help you, even if that makes me a crazy fool..Doing one thing worthwhile in my life would make me happy too, even if, after all of that, you didnt feel the same way.."
Sayaka shakes her head, "But forget about all of that! I just wanted you to be happy, to live a normal life even if just brief glimpses here and there. How is the milkshake? Do you like this place? It's not as nice as Gull's place but it's still kinda, cheerful, isn't it?" even if mostly couples come here, making it a bit awkward. Maybe she's just trying too hard..
Alex actually... blinks in surprise at Sayaka. "... It's... not like it can be done. In the immediate future," he insists, on the matter of 'saving him'. "...Really. In the grand scheme of everything else that goes on, around here. It doesn't rank that high up in priority."
Well isn't *that* just the most upbeat way of looking at it then. He doesn't really seem that upset about that whole thought either.
EITHER WAY.
After her headshake and the further words, he draws his eyes to looking over theri surroundings, slowly. Taking it all in fully for the first time, really. "... I suppose. It's nice," he offers, after a moment. "I might not be able to feel. Happy. But I can still appreciate the place for. What it is, you know?" He eyes the milkshake, then, which... he hasn't drank all that much of. "...This tastes good, too. even if I'm not. Thirsty."
"Wait, what?" she blinks in surprise at his admission, "Do you really think you're so unimportant in the grand scheme of things?" She makes a face, "Don't be so modest, I'm sure you're important to a lot of people. I wish you could see that just once. At least, Norie constantly worries about you right? And Naru-chan, probably even Kyouko, in her own way. And Mamoru and his court..I'll bet they worry about you too. And of course, you're a priority to me, for all that it's worth.."
She loses herself in her own thoughts for a moment longer, sighing softly, shaking her head, but is pulled back to the now when Alex actually makes a compliment. "Really? You like it? I'm glad." she smiles inspite of herself. "Yeah, it's kinda nice and relaxing, like you can just enjoy the day and not worry about tomorrow. I think it's cool that they have an old jukebox over there too. You got any requests? I really love music. All kinds, but mostly classical. Always wanted to play violin but I was never really good at it. Even so, I just love listening to violin music. How about you? Are you a music person? Got a favorite song?"
"I try to be realistic about my place in the world," Alex says, completely deadpan now in contrast to the surprised reaction Saya's had over his words-- he even pauses to calmly sip at the milkshake through the straw. "In the face of reality-bending magical people, even with me being... like this. Whatever I do doesn't matter much. And I will only get in the way with my condition if I... lose myself in it. That's all there is to it." Another milkshake sip.
The conversation turning towards the subject of music leaves him thoughtful for a moment, and he peeks towards the jukebox, too. "I do not have the talent. To play or sing anything. But I like. Listening to music." Beat. "Still do actually. Even like. This." He peeks back to her, then. "...But I'm more. A rock and jazz guy."
Sayaka sighs, "I suppose you have a point. Guess I was never considered a terribly realistic person. Idealistic, more like. But even so, I'll do what I can to help out. And you should know there are people who care and want to help." But he's as stubborn as a brick and she knows when not to push too much so she lets it go for now.
"Sometimes just listening to a really good song can bring a wash of good memories or just good feelings. That's what I like the most about listening to music. The memories.." She glances over at the jukebox, pulling out some change and slowly walks towards it. "Rock n' roll, huh? Guess it's always worth trying something new. Then, Alexis Raskoph, I dedicate this song to you.." She rolls some coins in and the jukebox whirrs and clanks, playing out the rock ballad 'shadows of the night..'
tThe music starts loud and rhythmic, and Saya smiles, tapping her foot, itching to dance, but knowing she'd probably be dancing alone. All the same, she lingers near the little dance floor for a moment as she sways in tune to the music..
~We're running with the shadows of the night
~So baby take my hand, you'll be all right
~Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
~They'll come true in the end
Alex doesn't say anything of the considerably more solemn matter, anymore. He just... kind of looks quietly rueful over it, though.
He does watch after her while she's moving towards the jukebox, head tilting aside in a curious manner after the declaration of dedication-- and then the song itself starts playing.
It's a familiar one for him, at least. Though he understands the lyrics - he's been in england with his parents enough to have had to learned english too - the hidden meaning behind the particular selection of song might be completely and utterly lost on him.
Because again, kind of a dumbass when it comes to these things.
After a moment of watching her, however, he pushes himself up from his seat, and goes stepping slowly towards her. And despite all the apparent previous worries of him keeping his face hidden amidst potential risk of someone recognizing him as a missing person, he draws the hood back away from his head on his way there.
And so, he comes to a stop just before her, there-- silent for a few seconds, with an obvious enough akwardness this time around.
"...I don't know how to dance," he confesses then, even while he's drawing one hand up just enough to hold out towards her.
"Show me?"
Well, Saya's not usually a rock n' roller, but this song's catchy enough, and the words are somewhat meaningful. It causes her to smile, a little as she sways back and forth, wishing she could dance with someone to it. But Alexis is.
Suddenly rising from his chair and coming towards her, asking for a dance?! Wuh? She blinks, trying to compose herself.
"Oh. Um..Really? You wanna learn to dance?" She's surprised, but maybe a little impressed. Maybe just a little, he seems to be opening up. "Yeah, sure! I know how to dance! I mean, I took formal ballroom dancing lessons and all, I guess it's part of being cultured!" with a grin, she takes his hand and pulls him gently towards her, trying to reposition his frame so that they stand square.
"Alright, this is a faster song, so usually swings and salsas work best with it." she holds both of her hands in his, facing square straight. No romantic hugging or hip and shoulder holding in fast songs. Which is just fine with her right now. "Alright, just sway to the music, three steps to the right, three steps to the left, one rock step back. Like this!" and she does just that, a relatively simple step, hoping he can follow.
"I mean..." Alex mutters out, and for just a second, akwardness rises through him again as he briefly averts his gaze from Saya-- though the hand remains reached out to her. "It's... normal, right? Maybe it will. Help a little, too? It did with Norie, apparently." Probably by the time he's finished that response, she's already taken his hands, though.
IT's probably not surprising at all, then, that he's still a little shift when she starts guiding him along-- eyes turned down over to watch her feet, mostly, in an effort to mirror their steps. He's at least used to quick footwork, but more for the sake of boxing and such, so this is still at least somewhat foreign territory for him. He's still making an effort of keeping up with the unfamiliar step pattern that she's practiced significantly more than he has.
At least the part with holding hands is going fine, failing everything else.
This is probably also not at all helping with the looks the older people in the cafe are sending the two of them.
"Oh?" she tilts her head, arching a curious brow, "So Norie's into dancing too, huh?" she smiles, "Well that's pretty cool. I mean, she seemed pretty uptight, like, moreso than you even.." Saya gently teases, squeezing his hand slightly - either intentionally or unintentionally it's hard to tell with her. "Well, like I said before, I do believe that music is the window to the soul and the best way to stir up emotions. Music and dance kinda go hand in hand dont you think? And dont worry about the missteps.." she quickly pulls back her foot then, narrowly missing getting stepped on. "The important thing is to try and have fun, and the rest will come when it does."
She falls into silence for a moment, just trying to gently guide his steps, swinging around and swaying to the beat of the song, totally ignoring the bemused stares from the other customers they receive. "So, what do you think of this song? What do you think the words mean? It's kinda a neat song, I think. I guess I can see why some people would prefer rock over classical music. I mean, classical is peaceful and cultured, but rock is like you're fighting some kinda battle, and those words..Hmm.."
She wonders if he realizes how applicable they are to him. And in the background, the singer continues:
~You said, oh girl, it's a cold world
When you keep it all to yourself
I said, you can't hide on the inside
All the pain you've ever felt
Ransom my heart, but baby don't look back
'Cause we got nobody else~
"... I didn't. Used to be that uptight," Alex admits after a moment of self-conscious silence. "She used to, anyway... Not anymore, after some. Things happened. But she said it helped her feel more... human."
The ironical timing of his own misstep does not go unnoticed, and he peeks back upwards at her face, breifly, with that near-mishap and mutters, "Sorry." If he notices her squeezing his hand - which, honestly, he might not, considering everything - he doesn't show any outward reaction to it.
"Rock can be. Soothing," he says then, on the matter of the music itself. "Just because it has... guitars, electric or not, doesn't mean it can't still be this... calming thing. Lot of slow love songs from people who play rock." He peeks sidelong at the jukebox. "...Like this one. Really. I guess they tend to be more somber when they get slower, though. Blues can be the same, too. That's what I was thinking about it before I turned, anyway."
"Oh yeah?" she smirks, "I'd like to see that other you sometime, but no pressure. I mean, this is kinda silly and all, but there were things that drew me to you, even if this isn't the real you." Sayaka smiles as she continues to swing to the music, "But whoever you are, there are some things about you that will always remain. Like your sense of justice, your stubborn determination, your lone wolf attitude.."
Saya winks, teasingly as she lets go to do a pirouette, then spins back in towards him, "I'm only kidding though, because a lot of that stuff is what's important to me too. Nothing wrong with that. But you're right, I think I might check out more rock music in the future. This song has a kind of sad tilt towards it too. It's like one person offering to help the other bear their burden in a dangerous situation. I dunno. It's kinda cool though." totally no relevance to anything in reality of course. Whatsoever.
"I haven't listened to much blues though. Maybe you can select a blues song next? That is, if you're not too bored yet?" the song is nearing its end either way.
~You can cry tough baby, itt's all right.
You can let me down easy, but not tonight
We're running..
"...I haven't actually listened to blues closely enough to really... know songs," Alex admits sheepishly, then. "Maybe I should. If I ever turn back." Well. At least he's putting it as a possibility now. Even if for the weirdest reason.
"I might not be. As good of a person as you think, though," he insists more somberly, then, with his teeht teasing at his lower lip with sudden nervousness. "I've. Done a lot of bad things. Even if I've thought they're for good reasons. I was fighting a lot even... before I turned this way. Even before I came to Japan again."
The assessment of the song brings him peeking at the jukebox again, briefly - after the bemused look over the pirouette, mind you - and he wrinkles his nose thoughtfully. "...Yes. That's... what it is, I think." He narrows his eyes slightly. MAYBE there isn't any relevance, but now he looks *suspicious*.
Sayaka smirks, "Well, I'm sure there are some blues you can check out on that jukebox." She shrugs, "Why wait for the future? Just live life in the fullest for now, cuz you never know what tomorrow might bring." she smiles "But I'm glad that you came here today, and danced with me. It's a first step at least. So how do you feel now?"
The songs whirrs to a stop, and she peers at it curiously, before glancing back at Alex thoughtfully, "Hmm, I dont think any of us are perfect, but maybe your heart's in the right place, at least?" she smiles, "Well, thank you for the dance. It was..Fun!" But then he gives her a suspicious look, and Saya holds out her hands in surrender.
"Heey, just telling you what it sounded like to me. I mean, it's like a totally random song I just plucked out of the jukebox. I'm afraid I know very little about rock music but I'm sure you can educate me on some more good songs maybe? I know a really good music store not far from here.." Yeah, she's totally innocent!
"Maybe," Alex allows with another peek given to the jukebox. "I feel like I might accidentally pick something completely weird, though." A quiet hum of a sound comes up his throat with that statement, too-- one of mild amusement, perhaps.
Once the song stops, he draws his hands back only after she's let go of them, and he dips his head downwards slightly in a vague nod, murmuring "That's good," to her words of thanks.
Her reaction to his look of suspicion, however, just makes him look *even more suspicious*. He looks at her like that quietly for a moment, before letting out a sigh, and then slowly bringing his hand up. There's no real hesitation there, when the hand finds it's place upon the blue-haired girl's head, lightly patting and then brushing over before drawing back again, as he quietly murmurs, "I could, yeah."
She tilts her head, arching a curious brow at him, "Really? Is that all? I dont think anyone would mind if you chose something totally weird. Actually that sounds like fun! C'mon, live a little." Well, she doesn't push him to try another random song, and would probably not be embarrassed if it spewed out another cheesy romantic song or something. Or at least she'd put on a cool act.
Saya does beam when he responds positively to the song and dance..Well, she wasnt intending this to be a date, but somehow it kinda turned into that..Didnt it? She tries to laugh it off rather nervously, shrugging, "Well, I'm glad you had fun! So err..Music shop next..?"
Then he suddenly pats her on the head, causing her to blush a little, "Um?"
"What?" Alex asks in turn when she reacts like that to his hand's presence, and after another brief brush of his fingers along her blue hair, he draws his hand away slowly, eyes slowly blinking at her. "Have people not. Done that to you before?" He asks, of all things -- and in complete and utter deadpan, no less.
With his hand drawn away, he sticks both of them into the pockets of his hoodie, and eyes over the jukebox-- maybe considering just hitting the random button on it. Not that there really *is* a 'random' button, but that's besides the point. "I don't know. Do they even. Have blues or jazz on this thing? You might enjoy going over. Records together, more."
"Umm..No not really. I mean except for Miss White. Who did that as a gesture of affection, butAHhahahaha! Forget I said anything! I'm just being silly, thinking that you're showing are moreHuman side..Than before..Maybe?" she continues to laugh nervously as she peers at the jukebox, looking through the list of songs. "Hmmm, looks like it's mostly old rock n' roll tunes Well that sucks! I'd like to show you some classical songs too. Guess it's to the music store then! it's not far from here. C'mon!"
She then darts really quickly out of the cafe, trying hard to avoid the curious stares of the other couples here. Sheesh. That was awkward. But kinda..Fun? She's totally waiting outside the cafe for Mr. Suspicious to join her, apparently, talking herself (and hopefully not being caught doing so).
"Phew, smooth move, Saya. What were you thinking?"
"...Huh?" Alex is left staring after Saya with that same deadpanned face of confusion that has been present on his face for a large portion of this whole encounter.
So, at least for a moment, it seems like she's safe to talk to herself, but...
"What's a smooth move?"
So, not only did Alex actually overhear her-- but he somehow ended up coming to stand just behind her, without making all that much in the way of sound with his moving there, or even otherwise making it very apparent that he was even *there* before he opened his mouth. He's just... suddenly there. STanding with his hands in his pockets. And head tilted to the side while his curious-but-otherwise-neutral expression peers at her.
Well, what the heck!? How'd he get there!? Sayaka just yells in surprise, jumping about 20 feet into the air. "Waaah!? how did you? Where did you.? What theWhat!?" And now her face is totally bright red. "UmmAhh, nothing! You've never heard that expression before? I meanHaha.." she continues to laugh nervously, "It's nothing, really! I just meant, err..Nice moves..Back there? Witth the dancing and everything? Yeah, that's it!"
She looks around nervously, then instinctively grabs for his hand before realizing what she's doing, "C'mon, it's this way! We dont have much time before they close, only an hour so."
It's really hard to say if Alex is convinced by Sayaka's excuse or not, what with the utterly neutral expression he wears. Really, the best one can gather, from the slow blink and the sideward tilt of his head is that he's curious abotu how she's acting, at the very least -- and possibly not entirely sure what to think of it. But either way, to explain himself, he says, "I just walked out." Which... really does not explain it at all. Other than the fact that he didn't teleport himself out, at the very least.
The grab for his hand might come as a surprise, too, considering how easily her sudden motion does yank him into movement-- not that he really tries to resist being guided along afterwards, either. Or release his hand from hers, for that matter. "... Alright?"
Poor oblivious dumbass.
Sayaka is either oblivious to all the hand-grabbing going on today, or she's just in a good mood and not really feeling enough resistance to let go. Whatever the case is, she hurries towards the music store before letting go. "Heh. You're a lot faster than you look, I guess." she shrugs, "Well, here we are! It doesnt look like much, but they have a pretty good collection here. Plus, they have some good listening stations." Saya sighs, "But I guess that we will have to be quick..Hmm, looks like they have a sale on today!" she opens the door, waiting expectantly, "After you!"
"... I'm not that fast," claims Alex after a few seconds of considering the compliment(?). Though Sayaka might get the sensation that he's not really the type to own up to compliments in the first place. Definitely something that's carried over from being fully human.
He still doesn't say anything about the handholding incident even when she's let go of it. The neutral expression does, however, break briefly to make room for bemusement when she holds the door open for him, but rather than question *that* either, he murmurs "...Thank you," quietly and steps past her and through the door-- though he does peek over his shoulder to see if she is actually following after him. And if she does, he goes on to ask, "...Do they let you. Listen to anything they have. Or is it just. Select things?"
Sayaka hmms, stepping in after him as she peers around. It's a quaint little underground store, located in the basement and not terribly large, but the plush carpeting and soft tunes playing lend an air of homeliness to this place. "I dont think you can listen to absolutely everything, but they do have a good sample of most music genres, and most of the major composers. Also, sometimes the store clerk will let you play a particular CD over the speakers. Let's see, what's a favorite composer of yours? I'd like to hear some of this blues you talked about. Any composers that are good to dance to?" she grins, having taken a quick liking to dancing, a casual hobby that she has not, until now, had much opportunity to put to good use.
"I see," Alex says bluntly. "Maybe I should. Buy you something if they don't. Let you listen to something." Well that's an awfully casual offer, all of a sudden.
Saya's following questions bring him to look back at her curiously, though. "...I don't think. 'Composers' are really that much of a... thing. Outside classical music? I don't know. Songs I listened to never had one. Listed. And favourite...? Um..." He turns his gaze away from her, to scan over the rows upon rows of shelves lined with CDs -- and probably some vinyls too, for that matter. "I. Don't know. Um. But... I know what bands and artists I liked, at least. I know I was. Particular. To..." He starts stepping along again, looking for a section with older music. "Led Zeppelin. Pink Floyd. Def Leppard. Bob Seger... Queen. Pearl Jam. Things like that."
... The fact that he was talking in the past sense might be a little worrying.
Sayaka sweatdrops as he lists off some bands and artists, "Hmm, they sound vaguely familiar. Dont think I've ever listened to any of 'em. Okay! What's a good song by Queen?" she pauses. "Wait, You Used to like, or you still like? Don't you still listen to music? Just because..You know..Doesn't mean you can enjoy music, or food for that matter."
She's a bit ssurprised when he offers to buy her a Cd though and smiles, "Hm! Well, how about you chose something for me, and I'll choose something for you? As a surprise?"
%r"Queen is... I think one of the most famous bands in the world, actually," Alex points out in deadpan. If he was... normal, he'd probably say that in a more teasing manner, but, hey, there you go. "And Led Zeppelin... They have a song that I think is pretty often voted as the greatest song in the world."
She then goes and asks that question. And he stops in place, to look at her, blinking slowly. His mouth opens, once, to say something, but then drifts closed again, upon failing to find words. He looks... confused. Like he's not quite sure he understands it, either. And ultimately, instead of offering any proper insight on the matter, all he says is "...I guess," as if just to ward the whole line of thought away entirely.
Come to think of it, he never did finish the milkshake at the cafe, either. Or even went halfway with it.
The suggestion of cd-exchange, though, he nods his head to, and with a simple, "Alright," he... just turns off to disappear between the rows of shelves. To go look for. Something. But with obvious enough purpose in his movements. Maybe he has something specific in mind already.
Sayaka arches a brow, "Hmm? You said 'did', but it seems to me like you're still passionate about music, mm?" she smiles, teasingly almost, trying to get a reaction out of him perhaps..? "So, what is it about Queen and Led Zeppelin that you like so much? This great song of Led Zeppelin'sIs is inspiring to you? is it soul stirring? What? I'd like to know, cuz I'd like to broaden my horizonsHey I know! Maybe you can sing something for me!"
Yeah, she's totally trying to embarrass him here, and she grins as she peers at some classical music, searching for something that would work well. "Heh, I've got a couple in mind..This will be fun!"
There's a quiet sound in Alex's throat that vaguely resembles an effort at clearing his throat. Rather pointedly, he avoids answering her first question, something that might not escape her notice, at that, even when he attempts to distract her by muttering, "I can't sing," to her particular suggestion at the end. Though, after a few seconds of consideration he does admit, "Maybe... It would have been easier for me to explain that. Before I was like this. I don't know."
And then he disappears between the shelves for a moment. *Totally* not for the sake of escaping questions he can't answer. Yeeeaaah.
But, he does reappear a moment later-- in not all that much of a different manner from when he appeared outside of the cafe, suddenly standing by Sayaka again when he says simply, "Here," seemingly oblivious to how unsettling his reappearance trick might be even as he shoves a CD at her. Led Zeppelin IV.
"Song number four. That's the one."
Sayaka Miki smirks, "Heh, I'm only kidding! You dont have to ding if you dont want to..."
Then he suddenly vanishes, and she stares blankly at the empty soace in frint of her. "...Umm..Okay.." shrugging, Says goes back to hunting fir a good CD. Tgen suddenly! There he is again, popping out if nowhere.
"Waaaah?" she yelps, caught off guard. Again. "Seriously! You're gonna give me a heart attack ond of these days!" she elbows him playfully as she presents her own CD, entitled 'Mozart's Requiem'.
"Ehhh, I hope this isnt too moody but the music's good. Led Zeppelin huh?" Saya grins, "Not familiar with him but I'll give it a shot!"
Slooooow blink. That's what Alex sends to Sayaka in response, first, to her accusations. He just kinda stares at her like that in bemusement. As if though *she* is the one being weird here.
"Song four is the one I told you about," he says then, deciding to move on from *that* particular matter, finger pointing to the CD once she's taken it from him. "Stairway To Heaven. The one people keep calling. Greatest one in the world. Or something like that."
And the Mozart recording is taken from her, in turn, and eyed over, curiously. The name is at least familiar to him-- as if there was someone in the world who didn't recognize the name, particularly someone from Europe. "Them," he corrects her, however, a moment later. "Them. It's a band."
"What?" She makes a face at him before peering back at the CD with a smile. "Ok. Thanks! Soo what is it you like about song four?" she ponders, "I'd say the title song is the best. Lacrimosa, though maybe a bit emp? If you kniw the meaning behind it?"
"Uh." The question she presents him leaves him looking vaguely helpless again, for a moment. "I... don't know," he admits outright, and turns his eyes away from her. "Not now, I don't. But I think..." He pauses, to consider that. "I think I thought of it. As 'beautiful', back before. To put it simply. If that makes sense."
Her words on the matter of the Mozart recording, however, causes him to blink at her again, before he confesses, "I really know nothing about all that."
Sayaka Miki smiles, "Hmm? Beautiful? I think I'd like to hear it then. I dont listen to a lot of rock but I think I will from now on."
She nids at the one she chose, "Guess I'd say the same about that one. It's soul stirring."
"...I see," murmurs Alex, holding the Mozart CD lightly iwthin both of his hands now, eyes lowering down to it. "...Soul stirring..." he repeats her words, thoughtfully. "I'll. Listen tonight, I think," he allows, then. "I haven't really... stopped to listen to music. Since I changed."
Sayaka Miki sighs. "I think it's awful that yiu stopped listening to music. I find it very healing to the soul..I'm glad that you'll start listening again. Maybe one day you'll sing for me too, hmm?" she winks teasingly as she heads for the checkout.