After sitting and debating on it for the past two weeks, I've finally decided to drop Aleks. I apologize to everyone I was paraing with and everyone's who been kind enough to include Aleks in their interactions. While my muse for him is alive and well, I'm simply having a hard time finding the time to listen to him. You can still find me on Nari in CVRP and again, I'm so sorry to all I've disappointed.
â HEALTHY - Observe everything with extraordinary perceptiveness and insight. Most mentally alert, curious, searching intelligence: nothing escapes their notice. Foresight and prediction. Able to concentrate: become engrossed in what has caught their attention. Attain skilful mastery of whatever interests them. Excited by knowledge: often become expert in some field. Innovative and inventive, producing extremely valuable, original works. Highly independent, idiosyncratic, and whimsical.
AT THEIR BESTÂ -Â Become visionaries, broadly comprehending the world while penetrating it profoundly. Open-minded, take things in whole, in their true context. Make pioneering discoveries and find entirely new ways of doing and perceiving things.
â AVERAGE - Begin conceptualising everything before acting â working things out in their minds: model building, preparing, practising, and gathering more resources. Studious, acquiring technique. Become specialised, and often âintellectual,â into research, scholarship, and building theories. Increasingly detached as they become involved with complicated ideas or imaginary worlds. Become preoccupied with their visions and interpretations rather than reality. Are fascinated by off-beat, esoteric subjects, even those involving dark and disturbing elements. Detached from the practical world, a âdisembodied mind,â although high-strung and intense. Begin to take an antagonistic stance toward anything which would interfere with their inner world and personal vision. Become provocative and abrasive, with intentionally extreme and radical views. Cynical and argumentative.
â UNHEALTHY - Become reclusive and isolated from reality, eccentric and nihilistic. Highly unstable and fearful of aggressions: they reject and repulse others and all social attachments. Get obsessed yet frightened by their threatening ideas, becoming horrified, delirious, and prey to gross distortions and phobias. Seeking oblivion, they may commit suicide or have a psychotic break with reality. Deranged, explosively self-destructive, with schizophrenic overtones.
Poppy had a smile on her face as she made her way to the Starbucks in town. She hadnât been there often, in fact this was probably no more than the fourth or fifth time, which made this just a little more exciting. It didnât surprise her that Holly had picked it as a meeting spot, Holly was always trying new things, but it did surprise her that sheâd texted her in Swedish. Holly only knew the few things sheâd taught her, so Poppy was quite impressed with her sister for writing to her in Swedish. It made her feel a little special too, that Holly would take that time because she knew Poppy would appreciate it.Â
Mid-way there she got a text which she let be, deciding to follow the directions and text when she arrived.Â
A little while later she entered the building âit was nice, fresh and modernâ and scanned the area. She couldnât see Holly anywhere near the window, but concluded that she might be too tired too, so getting her phone out she unlocked it an typed:Â
I'm here. :) I don't see you though. Where are you exactly?
While waiting for her phone to beep, she made her way to the counter and ordered tea. Â Â
He wasn't surprised that Svea was late. Contrarily, he'd all but expected it. His sister had a way of trying to pull time from thin air and though it rarely worked, it was always amusing to watch her try. Tonight of all nights, he asked her to Starbucks in hopes they could talk about nothing, everything and perhaps all things in between. She'd be headed off to college before he knew it and knew not what he'd do without her...The buzz of his phone broke his sad reverie, eyes narrowing playfully at the words written before him.
Despite his outwardly stoic demeanor, with family, the former Chicagoan was an entirely different. Rather than introverted, he dared to be fun-loving and cared not for his lack of social grace. In truth, it was among the KÀllström five, that Aleks felt some semblance of normal. Gathering his phone his hands therefore, he stood ready to play a game. Assuming she'd gone up to order and was hidden by the taller women in line, Aleks texted rapidly.
Take ten steps from the barista counter forward and there
you'll find me. :P
Mathematically oriented, Aleks knew that the tenth step would bring her just in front of the pillar he'd hidden behind. "Found you!" he said just as he reached out and hugged her, realizing seconds later that this person was indeed not his sister. Immediately releasing her, Aleks muttered an quiet stream of apologies. "Oh myâ I'm so sorry. Please excuse my impropriety. I swear it was not my intention to invade your personal space... I thought, or rather, I assumed you might be someone else. IâI...should just call her now. Excuse me again, so sorry..." Aleks turned his back to her as he pushed the call button. More than ever, he wished to talk to Svea. The sound of a phone ringing broke his thoughts however, as he turned around in time to hear and watch the stranger answer. Â
"No", he laughed, "Nothing like that, I donât drink when Iâm desperate, I cook when Iâm desperate. I just happen to love wine and, hey, Iâm supposed to make the most out of my spare time, right? But I canât get my head off work sometimes. Iâm sorry to bother you with my thinking.â
Aleks listened quietly as the stranger spoke, the strangest sensation bringing a small smile to his features. Perhaps it were his envy of the stranger's easy going demeanor or even the way others around him had turned to listen but in any case, he felt obligated to try and converse properly. Nodding therefore, he responded in a soft voice. "I envy that. Not the feeling of desperation but its pairing with something productive over destructive. Is there any sort of dish you favor making?...Oh no, it's truly not a bother at all. I'm always thinking and so it's nice to have fresh in mind. Where exactly do you work if you don't mind me asking?"
He sighed and pushed the half empty glass of wine across the counter table with his index finger. âHow the hell am I supposed to find a new personal assistant?â
Aleks had been seated silently when the words reached him. In truth, the inquiry was one he didn't understand. Looking aside him at the stranger and his accompanying half empty glass of wine, the brunette gave a nervous shrug. "Well, I suppose it depends on the industry you're in, the prior skills you'd require and the degree of liability assigned. Perhaps not as easy as it seems though I do wish you the best. ...I certainly hope that's not what drove you to drinking."
The day in question was a calm day at the Burgery. It wasnât a dead day, and Gabbie thankfully never found the joint empty, but it was safe to say that it was calm. It was calm most days â that was true â but anyone would be hard pressed to find Gabbie willing to call normal days calm days. No, no â this was a calm day, which wasnât normal. On normal days â days who were calm as opposed to days who were calm days â she had to eat her lunch within thirty minutes, but today, sheâd eaten it in twenty-three; and there was definitely a difference in there somewhere. A notable one, even.Â
As always with calm days, the Burgeryâs staff consisted of Gabbie and her cook. It was more accurate to say that it consisted of Gabbie and her colleague â as they took turns with where to work â but on that particular calm day, he was in the kitchen while Gabbie monitored the rest of the Burgery; which made him the cook, and she the manager.
In reality, the Burgery wasnât entirely empty â something which Gabbie was grateful for â and the few customers theyâd had so far had seemed to stay much longer than they usually did. Whether it was because of the calm atmosphere or not, Gabbie couldnât tell â but she sure as hell didnât mind. Customers staying longer meant customers regaining their appetite, and customers regaining their appetite meant more food being sold.
Gabbie had just turned to fetch an order from the gap to the kitchen when a voice called out from behind her. She turned around with the food in hand, though made sure to put it in front of the designated customer before she eyed the guy that had come blundering into the restaurant up and down. Familiarity struck her, and Gabbie realized that he was the brother to one of her temporary waiters; the same guy who had even landed his younger sibling a job at the Burgery. Gabbie distinctly remembered that, because that particular sibling was one of the waiters who liked to be late whenever it suited him.
âHey there,â she said casually, and stepped up to the counter more properly â a little way away from the other customer lest their conversation should disturb. âYouâre talking to her,â she added and fixed her gaze on the guyâs. She could never remember his name, but that didnât very much matter, she thought. It was nice to remember who exactly you were dealing with, but Gabbie wasnât invested in the exchange too much yet to care to ask for his name. âWhatâs this grave and important matter?â
In truth, he'd only met Gabbie once in Alexandria, twice if you counted the day Emil'd gotten hired. Despite the restaurant's less than orthodox scheduling and new standing in the city, Aleks had felt confident in her leadership abilities. His brother needed someone stern and strong, a person for unafraid of his smart remarks and constant smirks. From what he remembered of herâ likely much more than she had of himâ she was more than capable of holding her own and so it was with an atypical confidence he'd left Emil in her care. If anyone could handle him professionally, it was her.
And for a while, she had. Emil had stopped getting fights around school, went to class more often and even left for work on time. There were days when Aleks felt it surreal, almost couldn't believe the positive feedback he'd received from his professors. His brother, it seemed, were finally shaping up and if the Burgery's Gabbie had anything to do with it, he certainly owed her more than he could repay.
That was until a few months ago, when Emil had begun sliding back into his old ways. He resumed skipping school, fighting, staying out all night, the works. What was new however, was his talk of Gabbie; the disrespectfulness in the way she treated him and how unfair he felt it only he had to suffer. The more he listened, the more concerned he felt. As the manager, he'd hoped she'd have been above rising to his snarky comments, docking his pay for his smirk. It was for this reason, he'd come therefore and though immediately Aleks felt uncomfortable, he did his best to hide it as he spoke.Â
"Hi, yes. Ms. D'Arcy. I apologize for interrupting you at work today. I seems business is going rather well and I hope I won't take up too much of your time in my proceedings. I'm not sure if you remember but I'm Aleks and I'm here on behalf of my brother Emil who works as an employee of this establishment. First and foremost, my family and I are very grateful to you for giving him a chance. Things at home and at school have improved immensely since he started working here. I can't say thank you enough..." Aleks paused for a moment, his fingers locking nervously. He detested confrontation and as much he wished he could end the conversation there, he had an obligation to his little brother. "I only came to here to talk of some concerns I have. Recently, I'd heard from Emil that there was some concern over the pay he was receiving and the way he felt he was being treated." Aleks awkwardly looked down at the ground then, suddenly feeling choked and uncomfortable. "Is um, everything okay? I realise Emil isn't the easiest to deal with but...well, I truly hoped things hadn't escalated to that sort of behavior."
Alex managed to keep in a scoff at her tutorâs encouraging comment. Perhaps he believed in her and even if his certainty that his student would succeed was not completely out of reason, the brunette didnât believe in herself. There was no way she would like the subject, let alone do well in the class. Every time she faced a problem whether on homework or on the test, she found it dreadful and a complete torture. She was moaning and groaning inside her head and her facial expressions showed her aversion for math pretty clearly. There was no hiding it, not that Alex even tried.Â
She pouted the moment she heard about the midterm. Half the yearâs material was on it, meaning there was more to study, more to know, more to the test, and more math in general. She pulled the worksheet closer to her and picked up her pencil. Her movements were heavy as she reluctantly read the first problem. She couldnât help but smile when he offered a boost to her confidence. A soft look in them, her brown orbs flickered up at Aleks and looked at him just for a mere second. But, instead of thanking him, she shrugged it off. âSometimes, I am. Sometimes Mrs. Thompson puts harder ones at the end of the homework and then I give up. I hope she puts easy ones of the midterm.âÂ
The thought of Mrs. Thompson evoked a classic Alex eye roll. âDid you have Mrs. Thompson? I hate her. She doesnât teach us and then expects us to understand her homework and test questions. Sometimes she tells us that weâll have a quiz on Wednesday, but sheâll give it to us on Tuesday when half the class didnât have the chance to study. How is that fair?â Alex slumped back into her chair and decided right then and there that her almost failing grade was all blamed on Mrs. Thompson. Though, this was not news, for the brunette often voiced her dislike for her teacher. Perhaps Alex didnât like her teacher not because of her teaching skills, but for the fact that Mrs. Thompson personally called her parents to discuss ways the brunette could improve her grades. Of course her parents agreed to everything she said without questions. Adults always seemed to side with one another.
She forgot about the topic of math almost completely when he mentioned a note. Finally, something interesting to help make the tutoring session more bearable. Her eyebrows perked and she leaned forward, locking her eyes with his. But the moment he dropped them, she found what he said even more interesting. His reaction to his own statement was adorable, to say the least. He was hiding something, wasnât he? Maybe he was shy? Was he lying about the note? Alex couldnât figure him out and every part of her wanted to know what he knew. She pressed on, âI want it now, though. I canât focus on math if Iâm going to be thinking about this secretive note.â Everything about her at the moment radiated mischief and hopefully he didnât catch on. She wasnât as curious about the note as she might have seemed, but she was more concerned about getting him off topic so she wouldnât have to do math problems.
It was a hard line to walk, being both a peer and  an employee of the school. As Alex's peer, it was okay to join in, joke and though he didn't agree with her assessment, saying it so in a milder form was a way of forging a stronger relationship. On the other hand however, Mrs. Thompson had personally recommended him for the position. Knowing something of his family circumstances, she'd helped exempt him from a tutor's upperclass-men requirements. Perhaps the only person he felt more grateful to than his students was Mrs. Thompson so it was with a conflicted mind that he spoke finally, the brief softness in Alex's eyes shaping his words. "I did have her actually, last year. She was about the same as you describe her. A lot of my classmates had trouble keeping up with her demands...From what I hear, she makes many phone calls, outgoing to parents, guardians, older siblings and the like." He paused for a moment, unsure of how the breach the subject. Among those who'd likely received a call was Alex's mother. "I hope things aren't too bad at home because of it..."Â
Within him, Aleks had the urge to console, reassure her of her abilities but as always, he struggled with just how. Finally deciding to place a hand on the back of her chair, his fingers strummed against the plastic lightly. He dared not touch her in fear that she'd find it disruptive or unsettling, something the KÀllström boy was mildly familiar with. Shaking off any negative memories, Aleks gave what he hoped were a warm smile. "The only difference between the harder problems and the simple ones is the number of steps. The skills you mastered separately all have to be applied within one and considering you can do all the individual well, I know you can do the more difficult ones too...You're going to pass. I already know it. I just need to believe it too."
As the topic shifted to that of the note however, Aleks scolded himself for his carelessness. The strange sensation and the burning of the multitude of letters he held within his pocket for her had momentarily distracted him from the larger objective at hand. Both that and the ire of her eyes. Though brown, they seemed somewhat different than those of his siblings. From within them, the strange sensation ensued. Running a hand through his dark locks, Aleks frowned internally. She was supposed to be learning, preparing and practicing for a mid-term she had in the upcoming week. How could he of all people detract her from the task at hand? Â Intentionally not making eye contact with Alex, Aleks pointed back to the paper before her. "If you do the first five problems and promise not to look me in the eye, I'll give it to you. The details of what it means will come after you finish the second five. Do we have a deal?" He looked up instantly, immediately directing his eyes downward as they made brief eye contact. "Sorry..." he murmured distractedly. "So, is it a deal?"
CHARACTERS : Aleks KĂ€llström and Jasper KassÂ
TIME FRAMEÂ : Evening, just after 5:30 PM
 LOCATION : Their shared flat
WARNINGSÂ : NoneÂ
OVERVIEWÂ : In an attempt to surprise Jasper with a house full of new furniture, the two flatmates run in their conflict and luckily, resolution.
Aleks: A clean home is a happy home, or so his mother'd always said. In anticipation to the day's furniture delievery, Aleks had decided it were finally time to give his apartment the spruce-up it needed. He'd started in the bathroom, having both four new towelsâbody and wash clothâ for the two of them to use. After bleaching and scrubbing all surfaces, he'd gone on to the kitchen and living to do the same. Aleks had even gone so far as to label sections in the cabinets and pantry. Glancing down at his watch, he anticipated Jasper to be home any minute. If the male were able to overlook the cleanliness, he'd certainly notice the new sofa, rug, TV and lamp now located in the living room. "Apollo, come here boy." Aleks whistled causing the dog to come trotting over. With any luck, seeing their newly adopted puppy would deflect some of the surprise and perhaps even anger that'd befall Aleks himself.
Jasper: Jasper had been out busking, dancing, singing and generally having the good time that coincided with his work. He'd earned a fair amount today, actually, for how empty the town had been, and had gone to the bank to exchange the loose change and small notes into something a bit more useful, mostly tens and twenties. He'd ended up with maybe sixty dollars stuffed in his pocket, not including what he'd spent on a hot dog and a coke earlier. It would all go in the jar he kept in his room, towards rent and bills, or into his rainy day savings, which were still depleted from what he'd bought for Apollo and the bills left from his brief hospital stay. He was humming to himself as he trotted up the stairs, ukulele swinging by his side, but fell silence as he stopped dead in the doorway, trying to take in the new additions. His eyes followed the path of tv, rug, lamp, sofa, Aleks once or twice before he finally took another breath and relaxed from his stiffened pose as he walked in, gently tossing his ukulele on the sofa as he crouched to scoop up Apollo, cradling him close and running long, spindly fingers through the creatures fur methodically. 'Uh. Aleks? You, uh, you... Can we even afford this stuff?'
Aleks: Aleks stood immediately, his expression passive and almost blank. The keyword being, almost. The brunette ran a hand through his hair before nervously scrambling into the kitchen. If Apollo didn't workâand he'd suspsected it wouldn'tâ Aleks had prepared a second distraction: two boxes of Dominoes Pizza. "Are you hungry?" he called out, pouring the two of them Crystal Light lemonade. " I didn't have much time today so I ordered in... Cheese and pepperoni pizza. Is one of these to your liking?"
Jasper: 'Nah, I had a hot dog, but it's pizza so I'm gonna eat it anyway. Hey, but don't you start thinkin' you're outta this one, Aleks,' Jasper grinned, trying to ease the nerves he could see on Aleks, ambling after his flatmate for pizza, though he detoured to set Apollo on his appropriately pizza-slice-shaped bed. 'Uh, I'll eat whichever you like least? I like 'em all. Except pineapple, an' the fish ones. Who puts that stuff on a pizza?' He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the idea of it, hands held out for his pizza box. Right now, he was figuring that he'd bring it up over the pizza and hope for the best- which mostly meant he really hoped Aleks didn't run away and barricade himself in his room.
Aleks: Aleks had almost cracked a smile before Jasper mentioned against the furniture again. His brow furrowed slightly as he handed Jasper the box Pepperoni. Truth be told, he'd always preferred cheese. Taking a singular slice from the box, Aleks looked his flatmate hopefully. "Yes, I suppose it is rather unorthodox to eat anchovies. No one in my family likes them either." He paused for a moment before gesturing to his room, feet moving inconspicuously closer to the door. "Well, I'll be in my room if you need me. I need to catch up on some work from the office."
Jasper: Jasper took a slice quickly, half-closing his eyes in some idea of bliss as he took the first bite, groaning in happiness. 'It's been so long since I've had pizza this good,' he said, opening one eye lazily to look at Aleks, though he opened the other soon after and continued eating regularly, all necessary dramatic effect now in place. 'No, no, don't go?' he protested, squinting ever so slightly at Aleks. 'All I need t'know is if we can afford the stuff, like if I gotta go out an' play more to make up for it- I ain't mad or nothin'! I like it. I ain't even had a tv in a year an' a half, I got some catchin' up to do.' He smiled warmly, blinking as he tilted his head slightly, attempting to prompt an answer from Aleks.
Aleks: Aleks nodded solemnly, the thought of being unable to afford something rousing an old memory to the forefront of his mind. Back before the settlement, the life insurance checks and university...back before Alexandria or D.C, there'd been Chicago. From thirteen, he'd found a job, working to help bring some food to the table. His mother had always asked if they could afford on-brand things. A small yet sad smile formed and his lips and Aleks nodded once more. "You don't need to pay for anything. Just enjoy it as if it were your own. As far as I'm concerned, it is."17:27
Jasper: Jasper's brow creased in noticeable concern at the sadness in Aleks' smile, but he nodded and smiled again, nodding gratefully. 'Uh, thank you. Am I allowed t'ask how y'got to afford all this, or is that gonna send you to your room?' he queried, head tilted again in question. He would honestly rather Aleks sat in the living room with him, he would enjoy the company, but wasn't going to actively stop his flatmate from retreating if he wanted- after all, not everyone thrived on socializing like Jas, he knew, and it was very much an each to their own situation.
Aleks: Though perhaps contrary to his unsociable personality, Aleks was very much a people pleaser. He did things for others while asking one thing in return. He wanted to see them smile, feel their radiance. Beneath Jasper's question was a multitude of connotations, one of them urging him to stay in Jasper's company. Clearing his throat therefore, Aleks answered while avoiding eye contact. The very words he spoke made him rather uncomfortable. "My family is fairly wealthy and so am I, independently. My father had a rather sizable life insurance policy when he passed..." Aleks looked up momentarily before settling on the sofa. He felt as though he'd said too much and his mind burned in pain at his revelation. "Can you not ask me anymore questions about it? I'm sorry but I really don't wish to answer."
Jasper: 'Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense?' Jasper nodded as he took in the information, although his bit the questions that burned his tongue back. There were simply things he was curious about- like why would anyone choose to stay in this building if they were rich? Why would they choose Jasper- a busker, of all things- to live with? Plenty of people wanted flatmates, people with actual jobs and no tattooes. Alas, these were not questions that could be asked, so Jasper instead opted to nestle into one corner of the couch, stretching out his legs as far as he could until his feet bumped into Aleks. 'Hey, no- don't worry 'bout it, yeah? Don't be sad. What's on TV? What d'you like t'watch? Put that on.' He spoke with a small, warm smile, prompting Aleks by nudging him with a foot. 'C'mon, smile. I will hug you, don't think I won't. Smiiiiiile.'17:59
Aleks: He'd held his breath until his room-mate started talking, relief washing over him in waves. It wasn't everyday he admitted itâ openly or to anyone for that matter. Inside, he liked to pretend his father was alive and well. Narrowing his eyes at Jasper's feet, Aleks reached for the remote before turning on the T.V. "Well, I primarily watch the Discovery channel...that and a bit of comedy ver now and then." Flipping through the stations, he stopped once he reached a program on space. To this day, it fascinated him greatly. "...What do you usually watch?" Aleks asked offhandedly, eyes still focused on the television. It'd been a long time and he'd missed so many episodes.
Jasper: Jasper just wriggled his toes in response to Aleks' glaring, a smug grin on his face as he did so. 'Mmf, I don't watch, so y'can stick on what'cha want. Never really ever got a chance, y'know? I've seen the important films, though, like- Star Wars! I liked that. Uh, 'cause my friends, see, they'd throw little sleepover parties an' what when I was a kid, 'cause I never had.... access to a tv, so I could see all these things! An' we'd all just sleep over there, an' I'd always be the last awake, an' then sometimes we'd just sleep at someone else's house the night after. It was the best.' He'd rambled on dreamily, smiling quite happily- though he'd carefully placed his pizza box on the floor and was shuffling over to Aleks until his just let himself fall on top of the other, arms wrapping around his shoulders quickly enough and drawing his flatmate into the threatened hug. It was a particularly awkward position from which to hug, but Jasper didn't mind- he had to follow through, right? 'Can't say I didn't warn ya. Smile jus' a little, please? Just a teeny bit. Don't be sad.'
Aleks: Aleks was silent for a moment, his eyes glancing over Jasper's thin frame. It seemed the two of them had more in common than Jasper thought, the faint memory of his seven siblings crowding around a family friend's TV bringing a small smile to his face. His mind was pulled back to reality at the sudden weight that landed on his shoulders. Immediately, Aleks stiffened, his expression morphing into one of earnest confusion. "I'm not sad...just uncomfortable. Could you please let me go? I don't think I like this..."
Jasper: 'Side hugs are the worst sort. You're not so comfy yourself, yknow,' Jasper huffed, letting go of Aleks and shuffling back over to his spot, leaning over to pick up his nearly-finished pizza again and starting to eat the third to last slice. A curious Apollo who had pattered back over to him was slipped a slice of pepperoni every so often- Jas didn't think meat would do him much harm- as Jasper sprawled back out like he had done originally, his attention on the tv for the first time. 'This... This hurts my head. It's real pretty, but jeez- that's big! We live in that, right? The Milky Way?'
Aleks: Aleks shrugged as Jasper released him. He wasn't sure why his flatmate seemed unsettled. It'd be he to endure the unwanted touching. Still, not wanting to burn bridges between them, he spoke after a moment's thought. "Sorry... I'm not particularly a fan of that kind of thing, or really anything with strangers touching me...er, not strangers...but you know." Aleks refocused on the TV, feeling suddenly embarrassed. He had no intention of saying anything else until the patters of Apollo caught his attention and even worse, Jasper feeding scraps of meat. "Jasper, don't!" Immediately, he scooped up the dog trying to examine if he swallowed it. To his dismay, he'd eaten every bit. "Jasper. You promised me you'd follow his dietary plan. He's too young and still too weak to eat table scrapes. It could make him sick, throw up or worse, he can't poop properly for days...Why did you do that?"
Jasper: 'Don't worry 'bout it!' Jasper grinned, mumbling through a mouthful of pizza. 'I'm cool, don't worry. I'm just a little touchy feely sometimes. I'll jus' hug Apollo instead!' He shrugged, a what-can-you-do face already on his features as he gulped down the rest of the slice and flipped the lid of the box shut to save the rest for later. 'Huh?' was all Jasper had to say, though he sat up bolt straight and shuffled over to Apollo the moment Aleks had him, a worried look of guilt on his face. 'I thought it'd be okay! Like the treats! An' it's just a bit of meat, dogs are like, meat-eaters, so he'll be okay, right? I don't wanna hurt anythin', I don't wanna hurt him. I'm sorry, I'm sorry..' he mumbled, staring unhappily down at the couch before he looked up again, offering a small, hopeful smile. 'Can I hold him?' He was intently worried that Aleks would be angry at him, and wasn't taking the criticism- the questions!- well at all, at least not in his head. Aleks probably knew better, though, so he was doing his best to stop the sulky discontent that lurked somewhere in the back of his mind (it was working) and replace it with the hope of having Apollo back with him. 'I won't do it 'gain. I didn't think it would do nothin' that bad, honest! I thought that was okay. I'm real sorry.'
Aleks: The guilt that crossed his face reminded Aleks of his siblings, the youngest in particular. Nova always looked that way when he scolded him, ready run, hide even tuck her tail beneath her legs metaphorically. Casting his eyes down awkwardly, Aleks mumbled what he hoped would be as an apology. "S-sorry... I'm not... I don't know how to do this kind of stuff. I'm not good at making friends." He handed Apollo to Jasper before hurriedly cleaning the spot he'd occupied. "It's okay, really. I'll just watch him over the next few days. He's just young and still highly susceptible....I'm sorry. I should do my work now." It was all Aleks could say to excuse himself. For not the first time, he regretted being himself.
Jasper: Jasper frowned more at Aleks' apology, going to reach out to put a hand on his shoulder, try and comfort him before realising that Aleks didn't like contact, and that that wasn't a good idea. 'No, no, Aleks. We're friends. Well, you're my friend, at least. Maybe I'm not yours. But that's okay, see, 'cause you're mine.' Taking Apollo and cradling the puppy close to his chest again, Jasper offered a warm, comforting smile towards Aleks, trying his best to do something to make it better. He mumbled a small thanks in appreciation of Aleks' effort to help Apollo, and nodded understandingly to his excuse to leave. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed Aleks to stay through here, but in honesty- Jasper didn't regret it, not really. He regretted feeding Apollo, and he regretted making Aleks so sad, but he didn't really have any remorse for asking him to stay. None at all.
"Edible"? A loud, good-natured laugh escaped him. Okay, it was official. This guy actually had no fucking idea what googly eyes were. Poor thing. âIf you like the taste of plastic, yeah,â he deadpanned, fumbling around the pocket of his doctorâs coat, and dropped a few of them on the boyâs palm.
"Those, my dear friend," he explained solemnly. "are googly eyes. They are, as you can observe, eyes that are googly. Thatâs why theyâre called googly eyes. You stick them on stuff and itâs absolutely fantastic." To demonstrate, Jake stuck a couple of them above the mouth of a trash can standing next to him. "See? Itâs like a face," he remarked, facing the guy with an expectant look.
If Aleks were confused before, how he felt now was almost incomparable. The strangerâwho he was starting to question the credentials ofâhad given him a handful of plastic eyes. Literally plastic eyes. Aleks stared at the odd toys, still unable to see the allure. "So essentially, you simply stick them on various inanimate objects with the objective of creating some sort of face?"Â Even as the words left his mouth, Aleks was no closer to truly understanding. Holding them out to the stranger therefore, the brunette forced a small smile. "...Right well, I hope you enjoy them. It seems for some reason they are just of little amusement to me." His gaze shifted awkwardly to entry way before him. "Well...if you'll excuse me, I best be be going...Enjoy your toys and have a wonderful day." With that, he cleared his throat, hoping the stranger would allow him to pass.
"No, dude, thatâs alright," he lightly brushed off the younger manâs apology, feeling slightly guilty. He hadnât meant to startle the guy. It was just that he had about twenty minutes left of his lunch break, and he was bored.
He casually took a sip of his coffee, nearly spitting it out at the guyâs answer. âWhat?â asked Jake, horrified. Was this real life? Was he actually meeting a living, breathing human who was completely ignorant to the delightfulness that was googly eyes? âTell me youâre joking. Please.â
"Oh, well, alright then..." Aleks murmured just as wave of relief washed over him. He'd never done well with strangers and the thought of upsetting one was more than enough to make him anxious. Once again, conflict had been evaded. With the smallest of nods, the brunette was just about to off and on his way before the stranger's voice surprised him, his tone saturated with disbelief.
"I'm not sure what I could have said to have given you the impression I was joking but I assure you I'm not. I've never heard of a thing called 'googly eyes.' Can I assume it's something edible?" His blue eyes displayed confusion, while his hands dug into his pockets. Like it or not, it seemed he was moments away from finding out.
CHARACTERS : Aleks KÀllström and Jasper Kass
TIME FRAME : Two weeks or so after Aleks moved in
 LOCATION : Their shared flat
WARNINGS : None
OVERVIEW : Jasper introduces Aleks to the newest member of the family â Apollo!
Jasper: Jasper had to take the lift up to the flat, an exercise that he hated. The thing was rickety, it smelled funny, it jolted and jerked, and Jasper just wasn't all for that. It seemed dangerous to him, and usually, he'd rather take the stairs. Even with this considered, though, he couldn't take the stairs, for the sole reason that he now had a puppy, and with a puppy came an amount of food, toys and shampoo bottles that just seemed proportionally unnecessary to Jasper. As he stepped out, the tiny body of the dog nestled against him and a large amount of carrier bags in hand, he exhaled in relief before he began to make his way to his flat. One thought that hadn't crossed his mind until he walked into the still-bare apartment was just how to break the news to Aleks. This was a matter Jasper solved quickly, dropping the bags with a thud that announced his arrival to the boy he shared the place with. He knew the Aleks was in; that was, the lights were on, something that Jasper would forget to take care of, but Aleks probably wouldnât. Bags now safely on the floor, door now closed, Jasper tucked the puppy under his shirt, where it pressed against his stomach, and paused to giggle to himself at the image of his âenlargedâ stomach before he walked further into the living room. âAleks!â he shouted, although in a more muted manner than he might otherwise- dogs had easy to hurt ears, right? âI have news! Itâs real important!â
Aleks: "Done," Aleks uttered softly, the paper before him complete with all the apartment's dimensions. He'd been careful to observe what Jasper had and hadn't; the sort of things he enjoyed and might enjoy. More than simply carve out a piece as his home, Aleks hoped to include his flatmate. Despite his still questionable habits, Aleks found Jasper a kind companion. The slow addition of a t.v., sofa, natural lighting and a rug... It was all the beginning of his new life. Aleks had just closed his eyes to enjoy his accomplishments when he heard Jasper, thin frame jolted right out of his seat. Hurrying through the thin doorframe, Aleks immediately checked Jasper for injuries. "Are you okay? Is everything alâ" He paused as he noticed the movement beneath his shirt. "...May I ask what that is?"
Jasper: ' 'M fine, 'm fine! Relax. I don't get hurt all that often, y'know,' Jasper grumbled, although it came across with a hint of banter, as he was checked for injuries, performing a slow twirl just to prove the point that that had happened exactly once, and yes, Jasper knew he'd been in a state then, but no, Jasper probably wouldn't get into that situation again. He then grinned broadly before the expression dropped off of his face as he spoke solemnly. 'I'm... pregnant.' He couldn't keep a straight face for long though, and collapsed into laughter at himself as the puppy began to lick at his tummy. This pushed him into doing a funny little bouncing dance for a moment as he tried to not be licked (it tickled) and, eventually, resulted in him unwrapping the small creature and holding it, as usual, against his chest. He looked at it, and then up at Aleks again, offering his flatmate a brilliant smile. 'For real, though, we got a new little one. I already checked with the buildin' people, an' pets are cool, so we can keep him, yeah? He's cute. I fell over him, he was in a box on the street, an' then I figured to take him to the pet store, y'know? An' then I ran into Kendall and we went to the pet store, an' the checked him over an' gave him a bath an' all- he was so dirty, I never knew if he was a cat or a dog at first- an' then they said I could keep him. He likes me!' He grinned again, somehow even brighter, as the dog wriggled up to lick his cheek, and then pointed at the carrier bags he'd left in the entrance. 'An' anyway, I got the stuff we need to take care of him, so we have to! 'Cause otherwise I took the lift for nothin', an' you know how much I hate the lift.'
Aleks: Aleks was silent as he listened to his flatmate's rebuttal. From the day they'd first met, there'd been multiple bruises marring his entire body. Could he really to be faulted for assuming the worst? For all he knew, the male's kind and goofy demeanor were a facade. Within him, a man capable ofâ Aleks frowned then, mentally scolding himself. Though skeptical, to assume such was improper. He instead chose to focus therefore, on the movement beneath Jasper's shirt and the plethora of laughter that escaped him subsequently. "A dog." Aleks uttered finally, Jasper's speech concerning its origins finally having come to an end. "You want to keep him here?" He paused for a moment before continuing on. "Of which gender is it? ...Here, let me help you get things settled." Aleks moved towards him then aiming to take some of the essentials from Jasper's hands. He'd never owed a dog before but he suddenly wanted this one. That was one of things that made a place home, a pet.
Jasper: Jasper watched Aleks for a moment, registering the frown. He had assumed Jasper was lying, then? That was a little rude, especially considering Jasper's disposition to violence. He hated it, he wouldn't even fight back, had never raised a hand to anyone in his life. That, he had decided long ago was an achievement; and that, he decided now, was nothing of relevance. 'Yeah! A puppy. He's cute, an' fluffy, and I saved his life, so.' He nodded firmly like this was how he was definitively viewing the matter, and smiled brilliantly. 'He's a boy! The guy at the shop told me. Thank you, thank you,' he said, brow creased in the concentration of: a) not dropping the puppy, and b) handing Aleks some of the other things he was holding. Once this task was completed well enough, he smiled again, brightly, holding out the creature towards Aleks. 'So can we keep 'im? Here, hold him. I bet he likes you too! Then we have t'keep him. Ohana.
Aleks: If Aleks had not six other siblings, he likely wouldn't have understood a thing Jasper said. The male spoke in a never-ending stream and though he felt as thought he should have smiled and at least tried to be supportive, it just seemed to cause him to worry more. Could he really care for something so fragile? By the look it, the dog was underfed. Placing the his food in the appropriate area therefore, Aleks took the small animal in his arms. It was cute, small and immediately stirred a paternal feeling within him. Looking back at Jasper therefore, he gave a small smile. "We can keep him on one condition..and one condition only. You have to follow the dietary plan I set forth. He can't skip any means."
Jasper: Jasper watched Aleks carefully as he took the puppy, mostly just waiting for the decision. He knew Aleks wouldn't hurt the creature- even his short time of knowing his flatmate gave him that much trust- but was anxious to see if he could keep him. So, on hearing the positive response, Jaspers' face lit up in a grin, evidently particularly happy with his new puppy and the fact Aleks was actually smiling. 'I know, I know, 'cause he's real skinny? The pet people gave me special food for that, too.' He bounced on the balls of his feet a couple of times before starting to tidy away the toys, fill the water and food bowls and place the bed carefully in a corner. Of course, the animal could always come and sleep in Jasper's room if he wanted, but he figured he'd better not push that with Aleks today- until one thought crossed his mind and he turned to face the other with a smile on his face. 'He needs a name, though!'
Aleks: Despite how much Aleks didn't want to mind, he found himself smiling a bit wider at Jasper's excitement. Though he'd know the man only a short time, Aleks found his spirit...contagious. His demeanor, mannerismsâeven way of speech, were all childish in nature and while most would consider it a nuisance, Aleks felt the smallest urge to look out after him as he did his siblings. "A name?" he uttered warmly, trying to imitate Jasper's animation. "Do you have any ideas? I feel as though since you found him you should get to name him. It's only fair truly."
Jasper: Jasper maintained his happy, excitable mannerisms, pleased with Aleks' smile. This was one of the few times Jasper actually thought he would get a grin or a big smile out of Aleks, sure, but he was mostly just quite happy that Aleks was happy. Sad people made Jasper sadder, he made them happier and then everything was balanced. It was easy for him to understand but maybe not quite so explainable to anyone with common sense. He paused for a minute, though, shaking his head, though he appreciated the change in Aleks' tone. 'No, no. I can't name him, see, 'cause I ain't had to give anythin' a name before, an' then he'd get a really dumb name like Wolverine or a different comic book hero. 'M not great at that stuff, I don't think.' He shrugged, watching Aleks for a moment as his typical, slightly more relaxed smile slid seamlessly back across his features. It was a cheery and friendly expression, one that seemed to radiate trust and the peculiar type of innocence Jasper seemed to have, and it suited him well for nearly every occasion. 'You got an idea?' he prompted, aware that he hadn't offered the question yet.
Aleks: To most, a name was nothing special. It had meaning sure but functioned more as a marker. To most, naming anything was a fun...even humorous occasion but for Aleks, it reminded him of second chances. Scratching the ears of the dog before him, he tried to think of a name he likedâone he'd be proud to bestow on anotherâ while still making Jasper happy, of course. "Oh..um, I don't know. I've just only met him, let's see..." Aleks paused for a moment as he collected his thoughts. This puppy was to be be a true pioneer in their lives. "Maybe Astro, Max, Comet...? Galaxy has a nice ring to it too...Will you tell me your ideas? I think I'm ill-equipped for the task at hand alone."
Jasper: 'Ooh, space...' Jasper murmured absently. Something was coming to mind with him, but he couldn't quite think what. He knew it would be along the space theme, andJun 14
Jasper: 'Ooh, space...' Jasper murmured absently. Something was coming to mind with him, but he couldn't quite think what. He knew it would be along the space theme, and he knew he'd heard it elsewhere before, but couldn't quite reach it. It took a moment of this uncharacteristically focused sort of thinking, trying-to-remember-ing before his brow relaxed and he brightened up again, complete with his typical smile. 'Apollo! That's the one I was thinkin' of. Couldn't remember it well, but I did now. I mean, there's also, like, usual puppy names, like, uh- Fluffy, or Smudge, or somethin' like that, if that's what you want.'
Aleks: Was he really that obvious? Immediately Aleks felt embarrassed for his love of all things space. For as long as he could remember, he'd been fascinated by the universe, infinity of stars quite comforting. They were clusters of siblings, cousins and families alike; the sort of household he tried to foster. 'Just like this one Aleks! You can do it you know!' The voice of his sister Nova called out to him. Taking in a deep breath therefore, Aleks gave a sincere smile. "Apollo. I like Apollo alot. ...Could we name him Apollo Comet, or is that just too much?"
Jasper: 'For real?' Jasper asked, tilting his head slightly in question as he returned Aleks' smile. He'd never had to name anything before, and he had been unsure if that was even a good suggestion. 'Apollo Comet is super cool. He has a cooler name than any of us, don'tcha?!' His speech moved towards the dog then, as he leaned over to scratch the creatures ears, grinning when he wriggled around in response. 'Ah, he's just so cute! An' he's got the best name ever. He's all set up to do somethin' real important, aren'tcha?'
Aleks: Aleks nodded, feeling encouraged by Jasper's responses. He felt lighthearted, the smile on his face telling him he'd done something right. "I think so too. Apollo Comet KÀllström-Kass... Not many animals can claim such an elaborate name." He held the puppy out then to Jasper. From the way his fingers scratched at Apollo's ears, Aleks was sure he missed the puppy. "I...I'm glad you found him. I will do my best to make a home for him here. I just have one condition though." He paused before smiling sheepishly. "Walmut or Cherry wood?"21:38
Jasper: 'He's got a good name now, mmhm!' Jasper grinned as he took back the puppy quite happily, cradling him close again and using one hand to scratch his ears, smiling down at the little creature. 'I'm glad I found him too. But hey- this place is pretty much an open home, he's already got a home here! It just ain't much right now. It'll come together 'ventually,' he said, pretty confident of this at least. The apartment was bare, yes, but he'd had to at first pay rent and bills by himself and sometimes there were more important things than furniture that one had to buy. A look of bemusement spread on his features as Aleks spoke again and Jasper took a moment to consider the point. 'Uh. Cherry wood sounds more interestin', but I can't say I'm an expert- why?'
Aleks: Aleks shook his head quickly, the briefest hint of mischief crossing his face. For the first time since he'd moved in, he felt happy. Better than that, he felt at home. "No reason." Aleks answered quickly, speeding back into his room. He had things to order and a home to build.
"What?" Aleks turned to face the stranger behind him, eyes immeadiately focused on the white of the walls. He hasn't done anything or worse, said anything to attract negative attention, had he? Surely he'd been as quiet as always. "Ah, um, no...sorry. I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression."
The brunette forced a small smile before attempting to tuen away, the next question bringing his attention back to the good doctor. "Pardon me? I'm not sure what you mean..." he answered quietly. "I can't say I'm familiar with the term 'googly eyes.'"
Walking into the Starbucks for the third time in a week's span, Aleks felt the trip more habit than luxury. Since he'd moved to Alexandria in the weeks prior, the former Chicagoan had found himself continuously seated by restaurant's windowsill. Unlike the others, the small table he chose was nestled some distance away from from the plush armchairs, students typing away at their laptops. From it, he could see the night sky clearly, enjoy the vibrant hues of street light as it washed over his skin. Gentle musicâwas it Jason Mraz or John Mayer?âflowed through the restaurant speakers and Aleks sighed in relief. Here he was, in a coffee shop waiting on his little sister. Years ago he couldn't have imagined a more perfect existence and nowâ well, now it'd finally come true.
Glancing down at the cup of coffee in his hand therefore, Aleks looked back at the door patiently. SInce she'd just gotten off work, he expected her to be late; fingers eagerly typing a quick message.Â
Aleks: Seatesd closest to the window and farthest from everyone
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