[ Perpetually Unamused ]

Alexander Ó Donnghaile | 25 | Librarian Probably Smarter Than You ↱Oh my! [ F e e l s ] just like I don't try Looks so good I might [ d i e ] All I know is everybody loves me↲

[alexshakes]

norafairchildxo:

Waiting for Alexander to accept her offer, the girl’s whole body felt like it was frozen to a pulp. She took a deep breath, waiting for a response from the boy whom she had loved in the past and still loved more than anything, although that was a story for another time. She missed Alexander, as if she would miss a missing limb. Sometimes, that’s what it felt like. When you’re missing someone important, it’s as if you’re missing a limb off of your own body. Honestly, Nora felt lucky to be able to say that she knew him. Sure, their meetings after breaking apart, whenever she came home for visits, weren’t the healthiest kind, it happened because they both needed the other. The brain is telling you that it’s missing something important, and then your heart gets involved, and it’s all down hill from there. 

Yeah, sure. Coffee sounds good. Nora parted her lips to speak, but words didn’t escape her lips to begin with. Instead, she closed them and looked at Alexander and she noticed the color on his cheeks flaring up, which made hers do the same. It was unbelievable how someone could make you feel like that; she thought. So, when were you thinking of? Nora cleared her throat and looked at Alexander, letting her tongue slide across her bottom lip as she watched his finger linger against the dusty old books. “Well, uh… I’m home now, so whenever you’re free, I suppose. I, uh,” she said and giggled, “I’m working at Woodie’s but, that’s mostly night shifts, so,” she continued and shrugged her shoulders while using her hand to push her hair out of the way, her eyes trained on him the whole time. 

“ – I have tomorrow night off. Uh, you could stop by my place, if you want?” 

Sometimes he could be sensible, could hold his tongue until the words were thought through, approved to be spoken out loud. And while this surely was a rare thing whenever Nora was involved, right now was a time where he did stop himself, held back an urgent ‘Yes’ before he could throw himself head first off a cliff once more. He wanted to agree, to take her up on the offer and slip back into old habits. But that thought was also what kept him from going, that stopped him before he gave her his heart once more, never knowing how brief their affairs may be. No, he knew where this path would lead, and it was not one he wanted to walk today.

“How about we go out instead? I know a few cozy places where we could sit down, relax, chat a bit over a cup.” He hoped his words came out right, that they could properly convey how much he indeed wanted to spend time with her. He just wanted to be careful, to spare them both from putting on the same old record, dancing the dance they’d practiced so thoroughly over the years. If they were going to slip back, he wanted to make sure it was for the right reasons, that they could last. It may be unfair, after all it was distance that had kept them apart, rather than personal choice, but he still wanted to give both their hearts time to adjust. “I’m sure some of them are open late if that works best?”

[alexshakes]

lol okay so I’ll be out all day tomorrow and Monday, I don’t know if I’ll be on before Tuesday to do replies but like I’ll be mobile in case anyone wants to talk on IM :’) Still heavily searching for an ex to complete my broken heart connection

[alexshakes]

norafairchildxo:

In a way, looking at Alexander, hurt. Because of how things had ended between the two of them when she had moved to the United States. Not that they had ended badly, it was just that they never really got to explore their relationship and what it had to offer. Whenever she had come home on holidays, and the two of them had met, it felt like everything in the world was okay again and that was a feeling she desperately didn’t want to give up on. It was as if seeing him was the puzzle piece she had been missing the whole time, but then she had to leave, and that same painful feeling surrounded her heart, having it in almost a chokehold. She swallowed and took a deep breath as the look on his face made goosebumps appear on her skin instantaneously. It was insane, really, how one person, could turn another person’s world upside down the way that he had. Nora had experienced a lot of horrible relationships in the past, and still to this day, the one she had with him - nothing could even compare to how good it had been and it was a scary thought, really. 

I guess you found me. She smiled softly and nodded her head as she turned her whole body towards him. She cleared her throat awkwardly and stared at him, the space between the two of them still there although it was as if there was a magnet inside of her, pulling at her. “Yeah, I guess I did,” Nora whispered, tilting her head a little to the side as her heart stopped for a second or two, before it started to rapidly beat against her rib cage. Nora knew deep down that she should be over him - that she should have forgotten about him and the feelings that he made her feel in the past and even now, but it was harder than that. It wasn’t a switch you could just switch off and then bam, they’d be history. There was too many memories that made that close to impossible. I’m afraid you can’t check me out, though. I don’t have a bar code to scan, see. That was one of the many reasons why Nora liked Alexander so much, his humor, the way he always knew what to say to make her laugh. A gentle laugh rolled off her lips and she sank her teeth into her bottom lip in a weak attempt of trying to calm herself down. I, uh, I hope you had a nice trip. “Yeah, it… It was good. I just needed to go and get the rest of my stuff as I didn’t get all of them with me when I came here,” she spoke, licking her lips as she looked at him, keeping her eyes locked on him as if her life depended on it. He looked good; she thought. He looked healthy and happy and that made her happy. “You look great, Alex. Uh - ,” Looking over her shoulder, she noticed the two of them being the only ones in the room. “I was wondering if you would like to go and grab a cup of coffee or something? Maybe dinner? Catch up.”  

Her eyes were the same as they day she’d left, beautiful and mysterious, with a sense of wonder that left Alexander with a sense of curiosity, wanting to know more about the girl, the woman, to whom they belonged. Even if he knew Nora better than he knew anyone else, it was still as if he didn’t know her at all, like an untouched book waiting for a wandering soul to pluck it from the shelf and flip open the pages. He could write countless pages about her soul, her beauty, her laugh that sounded so pure, not even his favourite song could compare. He was lucky to have had the chance to meet her, to know her, and to love her. He didn’t regret a single thing, although he knew that their “meetings” throughout the years after breaking apart were perhaps not the healthiest kind for fragile minds. Knew that this could end just the same.

“Yeah, sure. Coffee sounds good.” The words fell from his lips without a thought, heart stopped in his chest as it dawned on him what he’d just agreed to. Cheeks flaring up at the though of his own words, he cast his gaze downwards as he began putting books on the shelf in front of them. “So, when were you thinking of?” The question came out quiet, a bit shy, fingers lingering against the spines of dusty books.

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

brielle hadn’t really thought about that when she offered buying him a few items. respecting his decision, she sighed a little before nodding. “if you insist. the offer still stands if you happen to change your mind,” she replied. it was considerate of him, to even think about how the wrong and right in her offer. unfortunately, being taken advantage of was a feeling she was familiar with so it didn’t hurt her all that much anymore. but this feeling was refreshing, knowing he had some sort of morals. looking up at the boy, she raised an eyebrow at him. “I can’t tell if I want you to try lighter shades of green or not. I feel like the olive, darker tones are your color.” pressing her lips together, she continued to look through the rack before speaking up again, “go try those and tell me if you like any of them. I’ll wait for you here and keep looking.”

“Maybe we should get two, that way I have something to change into if you spill anything else on me!” Deciding to definitely not stay behind and wait for the response to that comment, he ducked into a changing room. Something about the whole ordeal made him feel nervous, stomach writhing and turning as he watched himself in the mirror. Wait, had she wanted to see the shirts on, or should he make the decision himself? He realized he’d forgotten already as he pulled his own shirt over his head, relieved to be rid of it even though it had almost dried by now. “Hey, uh, Brielle was it? Did you want to see the shirts on or?” How awkward was this, calling out to her from across the store, no idea how close she would be or if she’d even hear him.

[sadd-lonely]

[alexshakes]

lyrebrew is typing..

lyrebrew: hey

lyrebrew: been a minute

lyrebrew: you alright?

chatterbones: hey man

chatterbones: yeah, same as always

chatterbones: how about you?

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

pondering the thought, brielle pulled her gaze away from the rack of shirts and back onto the boy. smiling mischievously at alexander, she brought a finger up to her chin as she scanned him from head to toe. “now that you mention it… maybe I could spoil you a bit,” she responded, playfully. waving her hand dismissively, she returned back onto the rack, pulling out olive colored shirts that went perfect with his complexion. a small laugh escaped her lips, coming to realization on how comfortable she was already beginning to feel around the boy. it was like they did shopping sprees together all the time. “we’ll get you a few options and go from there. let’s just say there’s no limits for now,” she said the last part cooly, as if she offered buying new wardrobes for everyone on a regular basis. tossing the shirts in her hand in his direction, she ordered him to go for the dressing rooms. “off you go ! I want a different pose for each shirt.” pausing from her search, the brunette popped her head back up from the racks to look at him. a smile on her lips, she added, “kidding. just go try them on, yeah ?”

Jokes and playful words had a way of always coming back to bite him in the ass. This time, in a way that wouldn’t actually hurt him - unless you counted his pride. Placing the shirt pack on the rack, his head perked up, eyes locking on the brunette. “No. That won’t do.” He protested, a light shake of his head for emphasis. He was sure that she meant well, but he’d only agreed to let her buy him one shirt in the first place to avoid spitting in the face of generosity. “I mean, I couldn’t possibly let you spend all your money on me. I’m just a stranger from the beach.” It hurt to say those words, even if they were ultimately truthful. Despite the familiar feeling between the two of them, he had to remind himself that they were not old friends. That he knew nothing about her. “It just wouldn’t feel right, you know. It’s sort of like I’m taking advantage.”

[alexshakes]

norafairchildxo:

Nora had always loved books and stories; she loved being able to get lost in different worlds, with interesting characters taking you on their own personal journey throughout the story happening right in front of your eyes. How could you not love books, right? She also remembered how Alexander had always admired and loved the classics, which had been why she had been walking around that section at the library, in hopes of seeing him there. She remembered how, whenever she came home and spent a couple of days at his place with him, that she would find him reading a new book in the morning, looking absolutely lost in his own train of thoughts and the story unfolding in front of him. She had been about to leave, feeling slightly defeated that her mission hadn’t been successful, when suddenly she heard wheels stop and it made her turn around, looking straight into those pair of dark-brown eyes she had fallen in love with for the first time years ago. “Alex. Hey.” 

Honestly, she should get used to this by now - the feeling that he gave her whenever she saw him again, the butterflies that erupted in her stomach, but for some reason, it felt like someone was about to knock her off her feet every time. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked at the cart in front of him, filled with books that she guessed had been returned by people borrowing him and she also put two and two together, thinking that had been where he had been the whole time. Looking for something? Maybe I can help you find it. I know this place pretty well, after-all. She smiled softly and bit her bottom lip nervously as she kept her eyes on him the whole time. “Uh, I was, uh, I was looking for you,” she said and looked over her shoulder. Every feeling that she thought she had managed to push away, came rushing back and her cheeks turned a faint pink. His smile would always be able to light up a room; she thought as she pushed her hair away from her face. 

“ – I’m back.”

How could one person, one look, turn the world upside down the way she did? Make worries wash away, replacing them with memories from long ago. Skin tingling as he remembered her touch, goosebumps decorating his arms at the thought. It was hard to describe the way she made him feel, even after all this time. A single girl, the one he’d given his hear to so long ago, and even if they had not been a thing for all these years it still belonged, in part, to her. Hearing her words made his mouth run dry, words hidden and hard to bring forth as he tried to think of a witty response. “I guess you found me!” He managed, his voice sounded strange and far away, lost in the world hidden behind her eyes. And he knew. Knew that he should be over her. That his heart should not be skipping a beat, cheeks shouldn’t heat as if he was a high school boy asking his crush to prom. And yet all the years of studying up, reading eloquent texts and practicing learned speech seemed so far away as his thoughts spun around, muddled and confused while she, in contrast, stood clear in front of him.

“I’m afraid you can’t check me out, though. I don’t have a bard code to scan, see.” What a horrible joke. He’d beat himself up over it later, feel stupid at his own words when he had time to think about anything else but her. At least he wasn’t stuttering, tripping over his words as if his toes had caught the sidewalk. They came out as fluent as ever, spilling from his lips with ease as if he hadn’t thought them through a thousand times before speaking. Sometimes, with her, he forgot to. Forgot to calculate his every move, to tread with care in case he step somewhere he shouldn’t. Because even throughout all these years, no matter how much pain they’d unwillingly brought each other through circumstances beyond their control - or so he’d tell himself. Despite that he’d never felt the need to be anything but himself with her. And here she was. Home again. Just like so many times before. “I, uh, I hope you had a nice trip.”

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

as they approached the section, brielle felt her heart grow happy at the sight of all the options. from every shade to pattern, the variety was endless. letting his arm go gently, she looked over at him, smiling innocently before nodding a few times. “yep !” her lips popping on the p. gesturing over to the fitting rooms behind him, she explained, “in fact, I’ll be sending you over there a few times until I’m satisfied.” clapping her hands together once, she immediately began to look through the different shades of green, her eyebrows tied together in concentration. “what size ?” she asked, pulling out a sea green colored shirt with stripes along it. scrunching up her nose in disapproval, she shoved it back in the rack before continuing to look through them.

Did stars walk the earth in human disguise? Brielle shone brighter in that moment than any distant burning ball of gas. He wasn’t a religious man, but it would not have taken much to convince him that she was his own personal guardian angel. Maybe they’d met due to mutual lack of spatial awareness, a clumsy encounter that had resulted in one of the highlights of Alexander’s week. “Are we getting me a shirt, or a wardrobe change?” When was the last time he’d laughed so genuinely, however briefly it was. “I guess we’re looking for Medium, or Large depending on the kind of fit we’re going for.” If he was being honest, he wasn’t entirely confident in that statement, hoping to confirm it’s truth soon enough as he fished out a pastel green shirt, holding it up in front of his chest.

[alexshakes]

norafairchildxo:

closed starter ↦ @alexshakes.

Nora was walking down the empty aisles at the library building where Alexander worked, looking at the different books in front of her, while, as subtle as possible, looking around the building for Alexander. The dark-blonde pressed her pearly white teeth into the plumpness of her bottom lip, tugging at it gently, while letting her slender fingers move across the frame of the books that was placed in the shelves in front of her; some of them had collected dust, which made her guess that they hadn’t been rented in a while. When she couldn’t see him, a sigh fell from her lips and her smile dropped as she started to walk in the direction of the exit doors. Although Nora and Alexander had ended things on good terms when she moved to New York but it still hurt to think about what could have been between the two of them. Alexander had been the only good relationship she had experienced, so of course she had missed him. He had always been a good guy and parts of her wished they had the chance to see what they could have been. They had kept in contact when she had left, through text messages and through social media, to try and maintain their friendship, but things changed of course as the years went by and it became harder to see each other constantly. She saw him whenever they went back to Australia, of course, but leaving him behind every time, hurt just as much.

Dust dancing in pillars of light, old books near untouched lining walls and shelves, forgotten words printed on to their pages only to be rediscovered by the few who dared to pick them up - or those old enough to remember their time. He admired the classics, just as he did the unknown stories whose home was found on the back-most shelves, hidden away so only those who came searching for them would be able to pull them from their resting place. Alexander’s job was one of systems, of memorization and patterns, knowing what genre belonged where, what shelf hosted which author. It kept his mind busy, distracted from the outside world and locked in a world of words, of magic and timeless stories. If he wanted knowledge he could pick from the plethora of books whose backs were so neatly tucked in, like children in their cabins on a hot summer night, waiting to fall asleep so the next day of camp may arrive. Excitement and passion, sadness, romance, pain. Any feeling, any experience you could want, it was all right here, covered in dust. It was his own personal wonderland, his escape and his prison all at the same time. Even as he felt at peace in this place, he was not free to roam it as he pleased, to explore the walkways between shelves, to pick out a book and sprawl out on a bean-chair to immerse himself in the pages. Instead, he was pushing a cart before him, filled with books that had recently been returned and now needed to go back on their shelves, the soles of his feet echoing against the floor creating a rhythm that was so familiar to him he barely registered it any more. Everything had become routine, push the cart, stop, place the books on their respective shelves. Follow the system. He wasn’t used to surprises, to find pieces of his own past waiting for him to rediscovered once more, like he’d done so many times before. Just as his footsteps came to a halt, his heart felt still in his chest. He should be used to this by now, to seeing her in familiar places. But even if she brought with her the reality of their past, wondering what could have been, if there was anything they could have done different.  Just as he could not control the pace of his beating heart, the smile that shone on his face was not a voluntary action. It wasn’t unwelcome either, just a surprise. “Looking for something? Maybe I can help you find it. I know this place pretty well, after all.” He didn’t need books to simulate emotions any more, every feeling he wanted to remember was there, burning beneath his skin as she stood there in front of him.

[alexshakes]

prie-st:

How was it that through the awkward years into the years they were supposed to have figured themselves out, through the discouragement and the nights where the script fell to the floor in scattered pages, through the failed auditions and the tears of frustration, Priest would only need to look towards the strong flame of passion that continued burning bright and true at the back of Alex’s eyes to remind himself the worth of getting right back up again? How was it that even now, through the acting and the smiles, the masks and the fixes, any trace of purity left holding tight within Priest can only emerge in the grin that he shares with his old friend, with the gentle squeeze to two hands winding together as easily as they did way back when? How was it that only a moment with Alex brought him back to a time where the world didn’t fall in on itself atop his head, reminding him of what it was like to feel the sunshine on his skin and relish it, rather than mimic it?

He appreciated Alexander so fucking much.

He only hoped that the other knew that.

“Only if my partner in crime is the same as the one I have in real life, and he wouldn’t mind playing the part while writing the blockbuster we’re starring in,” As he leaned in to knock their foreheads together, eyes sparkling bright in excitement, heart thumping just as quick. “And only if you promise not to forget about me when you write for Hollywood.”

When Alexander lacked motivation, it seemed that Priest was a spring full of it, ready for him to bathe in and fill his thirsting soul again. A muse that gave it all to him, asking nothing more than friendship in return for new ideas and old laughs. Sometimes it lasted long enough for him to write again, to start a story, a poem, a new piece and maybe even get to the end. There were times, however, where the clouds in his mind would overshadow the sunshine that Priest would bring, and it’d start raining before he got far enough to fish out a pen or turn on his computer. Sometimes nothing in the world was enough, not even his friend, to make him finally get to work again.

“When I write for Hollywood, you bet the two of us will be like Burton and Depp! I want you to be the star in all of my creations. I want to write so you can shine!”

And in that, he hoped he properly conveyed just how much he returned this feeling of admiration. That he could make it clear how much their friendship meant, that he cherished their shared love of the craft.

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

brielle was not surprised by his comment. the city was a bit overwhelming for people who were not used to busy atmospheres or any sort of chaos. and honestly, new york city was full of it. anything weird, new or trendy was probably happening up there. and while bondi was nothing like it, she still found herself to be a city girl. in fact, she often found herself escaping to sydney every now and then when bondi became a bit boring for her. laughing at his joke, she shook her head. “that’s a first. I’m actually quite the dreamer myself,” she explained, entering the store with him. “it’s kind of hard to grow up relaxed in the city of dreams.” the first thing she looked for when they entered the store was for the t-shirt section. grabbing a hold of his arm, she began to lead the way, dragging him by her side. “alright, alexander, we’re getting you this green shirt. I have to approve first though. we’re not letting you walk out in something boring.”

The fingers on his arm felt almost familiar against his skin, despite this being the first time the two had made direct contact. That is, if you didn’t count her cup against his chest, the drink that still clung to his shirt even as they were searching for a replacement. Normally he wouldn’t set foot inside these stores, purchasing most of his clothes from the cheapest places, the most exciting articles in his wardrobe being the plaid button-ups that he rarely wore any more. Plain shirts and boring jeans were what he wore on most days, sometimes fishing out on of the few nicer sets for work whenever they had an event going. But other than that, his clothes were boring. He lacked the energy to care about looking good in public, so this was a rare, welcomed occasion. She made him want to actually try for once. “Am I going to have to try stuff on for you to judge, then? Or are we good as long as it doesn’t make you want to fall asleep?”

[alexshakes]

prie-st:

An active imagination was the sign of an amazing producer. An active imagination and a dramatic personality was the sign of an amazing actor. An active imagination and a dramatic personality fueled by pure, unadulterated ambition was the sign of an amazing storyteller. And the latter was what Priest saw when he gazed into Alex’s expression as his mind ran like clockwork, picking up on the vibe that Priest had merely projected and building upon it something that could no doubt grow into greatness.

That was what Alex was meant for, after all. Greatness.

“Westside Story can take about seventeen steps back, my friend,” He reached out to ruffle the soft locks of his old friend, the excitement in his eyes glinting genuine and true. “I think we might just have a blockbuster on our hands!”

Although normally he would have flinched at such an action, physical touch from Priest felt more like open arms inviting him home than a threat or invasion of personal space. So he didn’t mind when the hand came towards him or when his hair was messed through, left like a haystack of strands that had no purpose or direction, falling in every which direction that Priest’s hand left them in. He found the life in him fascinating. How he seemed to be constantly moving, animated even in stillness as if endless amounts of energy were trying to burst free from within him. Sometimes it was hard to figure out where the acting stopped and where Priest began, but he was certain their friendship wasn’t just some elaborate play. No, they’d been together too long for this to be an act on either part. Priest was one of his few true friends and for that he was grateful.

“If you’ll agree to play the lead, I’m sure it will break records.” If there was any muse left in the world to inspire his work it would be Priest, so it only made sense that he’d ask him to play the lead if ever any of his stories became big enough to earn a movie. Or just a play.

[alexshakes]

isaichs:

the setting sun drenched alexander’s shoulders in shades of orange and yellow and gold, all warm. his face did something unusual, like he was working out an equation in the air that isaiah couldn’t see, or pushing away cobwebs in his mind. isaiah didn’t know how he could see both in one look; how this stranger managed to look like the brink of a new discovery and something ancient at the same time. after a measured pause, he spoke, and isaiah could have sworn the sun wasn’t receding at all. something got brighter. “ they’re not seeing it. ” he said evenly, thoughtfully. people weren’t seeing it. there were a billion of events that had to have happened before they could have met, in one specific order, which made alexander one of the most improbable things in the universe. isaiah had never met a stranger and felt the urge to say thank you before. “ fuck, man, ” reanimated, isaiah touched his mouth, his wrist, suddenly restless in his own body. “ they’re not getting that— that rush of dopamine or whatever, to their brains after getting involved. there’s no reward. shit. hey, hey, ” he knew better than to lay his hands on a stranger, there were plenty of reasons people wouldn’t like to be touched. everyone had their ghosts; isaiah made it a habit not to make someone else’s harder to live with. he hoped his smile could translate the strength of his next words instead, that it could adequately express how thoroughly he felt them in his chest. “ thank you. you’re a genius. cheers. ”

‘Thank you’ 

The words hit his ears like a wave against rocks, washing over him and filling every gap and empty crack, and he in that moment he swore the sun had made it’s home in Isaiah’s eyes, shining brighter than he’d ever seen before. He wasn’t used to being thanked for this words, rather than his service. To find gratitude after voicing his thoughts. He welcomed the feeling with open arms. “If there was a way of showing them the work their names pave the path for I’m sure that would help.” He wasn’t sure what to say any more, how to react. A part of him wanted to offer more advise, but at the same time there was a looming fear of overstepping boundaries or saying something that need not be said. To ruin the mood or chase the other away. In a way he wanted to reach out and offer his help, but he knew that he would be no good in a crowd, fighting for the attention of just a single person long enough to explain a cause and get them to sign. Anxious and awkward was not a good cocktail for that line of work. “I hope you find a way to get more attention for your cause.”

[alexshakes]

prie-st:

God, it was like he was back in high school all over again. At least, through the bits that hurt less like a stab in the chest and felt more like a star going supernova with every curtain rise and spotlight shine. Even if he never made it on the silver screen, even if he never got through a single audition, even if he ends up at the bar for the rest of his days,

nothing beat an improv session with Alex.

“We’ve gone from Shakespeare to Stan Lee. I smell a good idea brewing and I might be dragging you headfirst into it, Lexi.”

Whenever he felt disconnected from his past, failed to recognize the reflection in the mirror at morning or the voice that spilled from his mouth there was one person who succeeded, without fail, to open the floodgates and let it all come rushing back. When he was with Priest, he felt like a kid with a dream again. Felt as though the world was just waiting for him to leave his mark, to write a piece that no one had seen before and to bring about a new era in the world of fictive writing, just as others had done before him. He wanted to redefine what a good story meant, to invent new rules and set his own boundaries. Being around priest made him feel like himself again.

“You mean like 96 Romeo plus Juliet but with superheroes?” His eyebrows shot up, arms crossing over his chest as the idea took form in his mind, heart rate increasing. “The forbidden love of a hero and a villain who were thrown into their roles by forces they can not control.”

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

brielle felt rather complimented at that. she definitely knew her way around, considering how often she was going out and doing things in her free time. laughing at his explanation, she smiled a little over at him. “so your accent makes the call, huh ? that’s a new one,” she teased. they were beginning to approach the clothing shop before alex mentioned his brother. “wait, really ? where in new york ? I’m from manhattan,” she explained, curious to know if maybe she did know him. new york was huge, yet the chances were slim, but they were there. “have you ever been ? it’s a place to be honestly.” she spoke as she began to walk up the steps to the store.

“I’m not actually sure which part. I’ve visited a few times but there’s definitely been three different apartments already and it’s a big place. I have a hard time finding my way around whenever I go.” Tall buildings and busy streets were not so much Alexander’s thing. He much preferred the Australian beach or the Irish countryside to the never-ending traffic jams of New York; the fresh smell of the sea to the barely breathable exhaust-filled air. At least, that had been his experience with the place. It was fascinating to behold, but not a place he could ever see himself settling down in. “I suppose it’s not really my type of place, but I can see why so many dream of moving there. Hopefully you don’t mind me saying, but for a born and bred New Yorker, you seem very relaxed.”

[alexshakes]

plsbrielle:

understanding his reasoning, brielle nodded. he had a point. after all, it wasn’t like she really knew anyone who spoke the language in general so maybe it had no use. sliding her hands into her front pockets, the brunette shrugged a bit before explaining, “I’ve actually lived here for four years. I bet I don’t seem like a local to you, huh ?” she smiled a little at him. “I’m from new york. I lived there all my life, but bondi is my favorite home.” she didn’t know how much of herself she wanted to tell the boy, considering maybe it didn’t matter to him at all, so she left it at that. “do you like it here ? after living here for so long, you know.”

After a long and thoughtful look, he responded to her initial question “I don’t know. You don’t feel like a stranger to the area.” A shrug of his shoulders as his hands pushed into his jean pockets “You seem to know your way around, and you don’t stop to look around with confusion in your eyes often enough to be a tourist.” He gave her a soft smile at that explanation, finding it a bit odd that someone who had lived there for so long would assume that they seemed like a stranger. After a pause, turning the statement over in his head and trying to decide whether or not he wanted to tell her more about himself, he kept talking “I enjoy it here, but I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I belong. I know I’m technically a local, but I feel more like an Irishman than an Australian. And my accent can’t quite decide what it wants to be, either.” He’d given up on trying to sound like just one of the two by now, accepting that he was always going to have a hint of either Irish or Australian in his voice. He’d grown up with both so they were going to be a part of his life forever. “My brother lives in New York, you know. Maybe the two of you have even passed each other in the streets! Wouldn’t that be something?” He’d lost track of where he was going with this. Talking just to keep talking, wanting to hear more about the other as they walked.