alternativewriting | (no subject)

Alec has noticed this. And it's highly unfair that he has to eat properly. With vegetables and things like that.

Still! He'll lead the way. "Lukas got me a hat and some books," he says as he walks.

He neglects to mention that Lukas also let him have ice cream already.

"That was nice of him. I got you a present, too. You can have it when we get home."

Because he hadn't thought to bring it with him. Of course not. This whole birthday party thing was new to him, even one so simple as this.

"Is it better than books?" he asks. "And it's not socks right?"

Andrew's getting to do all sorts of new things.

"Why would I give you socks as a gift? And it's not books, either."

At least he's aware of what is and isn't an appropriate gift for a ten year old boy. Mostly. It remains to be seen.

"There's a boy in my class who got socks from his grandmama for his birthday last week," he explains, "Apparently she said that socks were always a good gift."

He is satisfied with the lack of books and socks answer. He's curious to see what Andrew got him, but he isn't going to ask.

"Well, I think grandmothers are contractually obligated to give gifts like that."

A pause, and then the inevitable question. "Are we nearly there? You're not dragging me all the way across town for ice cream."

"It's around the corner. And I guess." He's never met his grandmother so he doesn't know for sure.

"Good."

They continue walking for a few moments until they arrive at the ice cream parlor, and Andrew pushes the door open for Alec.

"What are you going to have?"

He can't say with any certainty that he's ever stepped foot in an ice cream parlor, not even this one that's apparently within walking distance of his apartment.

Alec's scouted all the ice cream places. And other sugar places.

"I want a banana split with vanilla and strawberry ice cream, caramel, whip cream and peanuts." He says this promptly. "What about you?"

He frowns and looks over at the selection of various flavors and combinations with consternation.

"Vanilla, maybe," he finally says. Sugar has never been his thing.

"You have to get at least something."

Alec lives on sugar. At least, he'd like to.

The guy behind the counter smiles at Alec and looks amused. He recognizes the fact that the boy was there just an hour or so ago.

"I'll order for you first," Andrew says, and directs his comment at the guy behind the counter. "The young man here will have a banana split with vanilla and strawberry ice cream, caramel, whip cream and peanuts."

See -- he's capable of listening. Even if he thinks the idea is terrible and likely to result in a stomachache.

"And I'll have a small scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup."

"Yes sir," the man says.

Alec is going to have a major sugar buzz and then stomach ache later.

"It has fruit in it. It's healthy."

"The nutritional value is next to nothing, but it's your birthday, so I can ignore that fact."

The ice cream is handed to him, he pays, and then walks to a table, setting Alec's ice cream on one side.

"There you go. Knock yourself out."

"I don't see why I have to eat healthy things if you don't."

Still, he attacks the ice cream with rapid scoops.

"Because you want to grow up big and strong, et cetera, et cetera."

He doesn't sound exactly convinced, but feeding a child healthy, well-rounded meals is something you're supposed to do, right? He picks at his ice cream with his spoon, not taking a bite yet.

And that gets a bit of blinking. "You're funny sometimes."

The strawberry is gone and he's got whip cream on his nose.

"I'm surprised you think so. Most of the time, you think I'm utterly embarrassing, I imagine."

He's not going to comment on the whipped cream on Alec's nose. He'll just get more on him even if he wipes it off, at the rate he's eating.

"You're not embarrassing. You don't do anything like that. You're very proper and um..." he pauses, thinking for a moment. "Scary."

"Scary?"

He's not sure if being scary is really the best way for your pseudo-child to describe you.

"You loom scarily a lot. And looks like this." He makes an attempt to look like Andrew being Stern Like.

It's... actually a pretty good impression.

He raises an eyebrow as he finally takes a spoonful of ice cream. "I wasn't aware I generally looked so... unfortunate."

Finally! Alec was starting to wonder if he was going to let it melt or not.

"I dunno if it's unfortunate. It's just scary looking. At least that's what the other kids say."

"The other kids talk about me?"

Well, he supposes children do tend to talk about parents. Still, he wonders just what they say.

"Course they do. Well... I mean, I'm in the paper with you and they see it and so they want to know who you are and then what you're like and everything." He sounds smug about being in the papers with Andrew.