He waits, in utter silence, for her to elaborate on what was brought her to the city, give him some context on how she feels regarding talking about her home or if she enjoys the city as much as the majority of the world seems to do, but instead he is met with another question about himself. He doesn't mind sharing himself with others, considers himself an open book with a few skeletons hidden between lines. But he can't help but feel the need to know more about her. Yet, he obliges, not wanting to impose. "No, actually. I moved here about— four, five years ago? Give or take. I wanted to start over and it had been a long dream of mine to come to the city so I just packed my bags and moved here. It was terrifying, but I've never felt more alive" he shrugs, smile still holding in place. It was easy to smile, he noticed, just with the other's presence.
"Was it scary for you? Do you have family here?" he hears himself question, despite his better judgment. Not due to curiosity or just for the sake of it or continue the conversation going without it leading anywhere, but because Alexander remembered what it was like coming to New York for the first time with no support system to fall to, how isolating it had been at the beginning. It had worked out for him at the end of the day and the city had been kind and welcoming, making him feel at home a few months in but he knew it wasn't the case with everyone who arrived to the boisterous place, all he wanted was to make sure others didn't go through the same hardships he did— especially someone as affable as the beautiful woman next to him.
Alex's smile brights up, inevitably so, upon hearing her speak of what she enjoys doing in her spare time, if anything to match her own. As she laughs at her own anecdote and the melodic sound hits his eardrums, the chef realises just how much he'd enjoy to listen to it again, as much as possible; how the simple sound makes his chest tighten. "What games are we talking about? Video games or like, boardgames?" the enthusiasm in his voice evident. "And a crafty artist, I see. New York does seem to have a special allure for artistic souls— do you have a favorite?" Once again, when faced with a fairly similar question, he smiles, if only to ponder on his answer in seriousness for a brief moment. "Work hours are interesting" he begins, taking his glass and moving it around to make the ice and orange peel move around the amber liquid. "When I work at the restaurant it's pretty much a whole day thing. On my days off I cater events, those are tricky. Sometimes I'm required to be there at 11 a.m and other times I have an event at at 8 p.m, you know?"
It takes him longer to piece the enigma together, a puzzled look on his face until he remembers the yellow icon casually forgotten on his phone yet when he does, his entire set of features lights up with both recognition and amusement. He could remember, even then, when he had swiped right on the profile picture the other had provided, how captivating her eyes had been behind a tiny screen. "Oh my god, you are right" it had been exciting, back then, knowing they had matched, both mutually interested in getting to know the other. As things go, the excitement had subsided when she had decided not to reach out and he had been unable to due to the policy of the app, and had forgotten about the existence of the app until that exact moment. "It's alright, I get it. My profile wasn't as interesting. Maybe I should try with a picture of me holding a fish" he hints with a smirk as the other apologizes, followed by a reassuring grin, tilting his head slightly to the side. "At least I got to know you tonight, maybe it was all worth it in the end. And now I don't have feel as weird about asking for your number to text you in the morning and ask if you'd want to go for lunch sometime."
jbbartram-illu
jacobvanloon
prguitarman
blakekathryn
izzy806
gummygunk
