Re: [Secondhand books: Hannah & Aleksi]
“It is one of my favorites, though it has been a while since I read it last,” Aleksi agreed. He was confused for a moment at her next statement, until he realized she meant the book tucked against his side. “No harder than Wuthering Heights, in my opinion,” Aleksi answered, and then moved to offer the book to her, so she could flip through the pages and see for herself, if she liked. “I suppose it is somewhat sad. But still worth reading, if you are interested.”
There was something odd about the way she moved, just for a moment, and it was weird in the same way it was weird that he couldn’t hear her heartbeat - but it wasn’t so bizarre that he felt the need to comment on it. Aleksi merely took note of it, and moved on. Quite literally, actually, as he followed her steps without even thinking about it, that same tether tugging him along automatically.
“My experiences with strangeness are mostly not related to this place, but this does seem different.” It almost reminded him of how he’d felt about Dietre, that very first time, if he ignored all the differences in his actual feelings for the individuals involved. But the instant connection, that weirdly unshakable bond to someone new but not unfamiliar, that felt very much the same to him.
He blinked at her offer, unsure for a long moment, and then nodded. “Tea,” he answered, almost sounding like a question. “Earl Grey, if possible.” Aleksi sat down, the movement delicate in a way that didn’t quite fit with how tall and broad he was. His hands folded together on the table, unsure of what to do with them, and his shoulders hunched slightly, as if to make himself appear smaller than he actually was. “Thank you.”