Claire J/Alex W: Mainchance
Mainchance was only a couple blocks away from the comic book shop, which was good, Alex thought, as it was sprinkling - rain spitting down from a mostly gray sky - and he hadn't thought to bring an umbrella. Or well, own one. He probably could afford a cheap one these days (maybe), but it kinda felt like a luxury when it was still not the peak of summer and he could wear his hoodie around and keep the hood up. Imperfect as far as solutions went, probably, but he was most comfortable that way.
He'd dealt with most of his uncomfortable feelings about the Crisis Center on the walk over: basically that it had been his first "home" in Repose, that he never felt like he'd belonged there, as it was easily the nicest place he'd ever stayed in, but also that his time there lacked any guilt or shame, because Claire had made sure he kept busy, so it didn't feel too much like charity. Make no mistake: it still was. However, she'd made it feel like something he'd earned, and that made all the difference, even though he'd never had trouble accepting help. It was the guilt which always came after, and this time it had not troubled him. Alex valued kindness above pretty much any other virtue; it had been such a rare thing in his life till he came to Repose.
With all of those things out of the way, he was mostly just feeling happy as he went through the main doors of the Center. The bright colors always put him at ease and even assisted in boosting his mood as he cast his eyes about from under a shock of cornsilk blond which had escaped his hood, looking for Claire. It had been a little while since he'd seen her - six weeks? Seven? How long had he been living in the trailer now? Time - the passing thereof - was always a bit tricky for Alex. He was still short and still thin, but had definitely filled out a little since he'd first come in. His clothes, yes, were a little shabby but they were always clean. He still slouched, but it had a bit more energy and purpose these days. In short, he wasn't the same person who'd walked into this place three months ago.