forum I'll be your Sweet Radio Demon

Started September 06, 2021 by @Festive_Fenrir

tune

"Is that so? I never really thought of it like that. Well, if that's the case, I'm glad you trust me. But you are cute when you're possessive." Alexander's tone was light and teasing as they walked into the ramen shop, an on-campus spot that offered a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere with subtle music playing in the background.

"Table for five, please?" Richie requested in a much softer voice than he had been using earlier. The woman at the front nodded, gathered five menus, and led them to a table off to the side of the restaurant. She placed the menus down and quietly left.

"You’ve got to stop doing that every time you see an attractive girl; it’s misleading, you know?" Daphne playfully nudged Richie as she sat down, with Emily on her right and Richie on her left.

"I'm the only single person here; do you know how sad that is?" Richie groaned, leaning his head on the table while glancing at the menu. "When Alex joined us, I was excited because he was single, but now we find out he's not, which is awesome—and Alex is such an awesome person—but that doesn’t make me any less single. Let me live for once!"

Alexander chuckled as he took a seat across from the three and pulled out Faybian's chair. "Well, even still, a girl wouldn’t want to find out that you act differently when she's around. She’d want you to be your true self, which is why you shouldn’t fake how you act. Maybe that’s why you’re still single," he teased, laughing as he set his bag on the ground between him and Faybian. Leaning on Faybian's shoulder, Alexander began to peruse the menu. "I don’t know what to get; everything looks so good. Could you pick for me?" He put down the menu and looked up at Faybian, using this as an excuse to admire his soon-to-be husband for longer.

"I'll have to keep that in mind for the days you want to wake up early," Faybian murmured with a teasing grin, taking in the restaurant as they arrived. He had been expecting a typical on-campus restaurant where the student would gather in hoards and turn the place upside down by midnight but he rather liked the quieter atmosphere. He stood back with Alexander as Richie asked for a table, curiosity sparking inside him when he noticed how subdued he seemed to suddenly be around the waitress. It only made more sense when Daphne chimed in about Richie being single. He wasn't clinging to Alexander because he was interested in him romantically, but because until recently he had thought Alexander was single. And while Faybian couldn't entirely rule out that Richie wasn't interested in Alexander, Faybian did find the situation amusing.

For the briefest moment, just a millisecond in time, Faybian wondered if Richie would be willing to make a deal. After all, it was Faybian's specialty. He made dreams come true but for a price. Well, he used to. He smiled softly at his fiance and settled in the offered chair. "You know I'm supposed to be doing that for you, right?" He kissed Alexander's knuckles and flipped open the menu, starting to look through the appetizers and entrees. He lightly rested his head against Alexander's and gestured towards the ramen options. "you did say you wanted to try authentic ramen," he suggested. "Usually the bowls are huge portions so we'd have ramen for days. If you want to order the ramen I don't mind ordering something different to have variety." He said, already eyeing the tonkatsu options and rice dishes. "Unfortunately I'm not on this menu, darling," he murmured, peeking over at Alexander and gently squeezing his hand underneath the table.

Faybian chuckled, shaking his head at Alexander's playful remarks. "Oh please, I can do something for you every once in a while," he mumbled softly, nodding along, though his thoughts seemed half elsewhere. "Yeah, well, you should be. I’m sure you taste much better than this ramen ever could. But I am starving, so how about we get a rice dish and a ramen dish? The soy-glazed chicken with rice sounds good, and I caught you eyeing the tonkatsu, so we could get that too. Whatever you want to eat, I’ve got enough money for it." He smiled and gave Alexander’s hand a gentle squeeze, finding comfort in his touch. The day had been long, and his social battery was running low, but with Faybian beside him, he felt a bit more at ease.

"Pleaseeeeeee, get a room! Don’t make me feel more lonely!" Richie groaned dramatically, pointing at various dishes on the menu. "Since you wanna act all lovey-dovey, you’re paying today."

Alexander chuckled, shaking his head as he laced his fingers with Faybian’s. "Sorry, but that offer only stands for my fiancé. You have money, so you can pay for yourself."

"What? No fair!" Richie protested, pouting at the injustice.

Emily leaned forward, teasing Richie with a smirk. "Actually, it’s completely fair and makes sense. I wouldn’t want Daphne to pay for you. Unless you like her or something!" She playfully pulled Daphne closer, as if to shield her from Richie.

Daphne smiled, pressing a hand to Emily’s cheek and kissing her forehead. "I only have my eyes on you. No need to bring Richie into this."

"I'm flattered you think I'm as delicious as ramen but considering you've only had the micraveable stuff I don't know I should accept the compliment." He teased, leaning in close and whispering in Alexander's ear. "Besides, you and I both know I'm the dessert," he kissed Alexander's cheek and nodded, "I think I'll go with the tonkatsu then." Faybian set their menu off to the side and settled more comfortably in the booth, switching hands so that he could hold Alexwnder's hand with his right and wrap his left around around his shoulder. He drew soothing circles on the back of Alexander's hand as he took a moment to look around the restaurant. Faybian chuckled softly "thank you, dear, but I can cover tonight. Consider it my treat for being invited." He reassured.
"So are all of you in the same degree as Alexander or do your classes overlap?" He asked, not wanting the entire night to about just their relationships, or in Richie's case, lack of relationship. He had been keeping a warry eye on the waitress who had seated them, tracking the lulls in time when she wasn't at a table.

Daphne crossed one leg over the other with a casual air, glancing at Richie and Emily. "Well, I'm in the same degree, but Richie and Emily’s classes just happen to overlap—requirements and all that," she explained, her tone relaxed.

Richie leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, it kinda sucks. I only get to see these girlies a few times a day. I’m a mechanical engineering major, and Emily’s an art major. But it’s cool when our classes line up sometimes. We get to walk together every now and then." He grinned, then squinted at Faybian, curiosity shining in his eyes. "So, Faybian, are you also in college? How’d you two meet? And now that I’m thinking about it, Alex is getting his doctorate—does that mean you’re also going for yours, or have you already finished school?"

Alexander shifted in his seat, exchanging a brief glance with Faybian before looking back at Richie. "Well, um…"

Before he could continue, the waitress approached notepad in hand. "Are you guys ready to order?"

Alex visibly relaxed, thankful for the interruption. "Yeah, I’m ready. Can I get the soy-glazed chicken rice bowl, no vegetables, and a plain Japanese soda, please?" He flashed a smile at the waitress before nodding towards Daphne, signaling for her to place her order next.

Daphne smiled politely, her posture straightening a bit. "I’ll have the spicy miso ramen and an iced green tea, please."

Emily smiled, "I'll have the same but with a strawberry Japanese soda."

"Yeah, I'll have the Kaisen Ramen, please," Richie answered next his voice becoming a lighter tone than before.

Faybian flicked his gaze around the group as the conversation was redirect to him. He hadn't planned on telling them where he had come from. Of course he had his whole fake story when he would make deals and stay long-term with contracts but that was a rare occurrence and never happened with someone who went to college. He cleared his throat and straightened a bit, glancing at Alexander for a moment, "Well, we…" Faybian snapped his attention up to the waitress, a small sigh of relief escaping him as he took a moment to look at the menu while everyone else was ordering.
"Just the Tonkatsu and a pot of Oolong tea for me, please." He handed their waitress the menu, watching her go before he turned back to the group.
"I got my degree a while back as an exchange student. I'm a toxicologist for a research company now. I only just came to the university a few years ago and needed a place to stay. Since Alexander is in a similar degree and lives off campus my team reached out to the residential life here and put me with him. Now since I've been here for a while I'm considering taking up a position as a part-time professor." He explained simply. He didn't feel particularly comfortable with lying to Alexander's new friends, since if they did further research on him they'd most likely find holes in his story. He did have a degree in science though it was fake and there could be some vague well well-placed references to a Faybian Leander as a part of a small research team from Canada but fir the most part none of it was true.
"I'll admit, at first it was not easy getting along with Alexander but eventually he melted my cold heart and I think I eventually won him over with my cooking." He kissed Alexander's temple lovingly before making room as the round of drinks were brought to the table.
(Was looking back at the character sheets to see if I had put Faybian's nationality (I didn't) and completely forgot how Alexander transitioned, now I just want a scene where Faybian learns and tries to understand Alexander more and just be supportive)

(ahhhh yeah I don't think I did for mine either but I put him in my head as Latino, hence the Spanish outbursts but yeah all for the scene honestly I forgot too because I haven't been here in like a month so no worries, wait does Faybian know he's trans? Maybe we should start with that first because I don't think he does ToT)

Alexander nodded along, trying to mask just how impressed he was with Faybian's story. "Yeah, it was quite a shocker when I got that email. Honestly, I never would’ve let him in at first, but I figured it could be my chance to network and maybe break out of my shell a little. Before meeting you all, I was… well, a wreck. My apartment was a mess, my fridge was barely stocked, and I lived off instant food for every meal. And don't even get me started on my old habit of overanalyzing everything." He chuckled, his fingers toying with the cap of his Japanese soda. "I’m a researcher at heart, but looking back, I took it to an extreme."

He paused to pop the marble cap down into the soda bottle, taking a sip before continuing. "But Faybian, he helped me a lot. I met you guys because of him, and he’s been there supporting me throughout my career. I try to support him just as much, of course." Alexander smiled, feeling a sense of relief after getting all of that off his chest.

Daphne sighed wistfully, leaning into Emily. "Ah, I’m jealous you two live and even work together. You guys seem so close. I wish I could live with Emily, but, well, family stuff. Her parents aren’t exactly thrilled about the whole 'your daughter is gay' thing. Slowly but surely, though, we’re working on it. And that’s what matters." She kissed Emily's forehead, a soft smile on her lips.

Richie cleared his throat, quickly jumping in to shift the conversation. "Well, you know my professor dumped a ton of homework on us today. But I got lucky—he gave me less work 'cause I actually pay attention in class… unlike some people," he trailed off, avoiding eye contact with the group.

Emily smirked and jumped in with a teasing tone. "Or maybe it’s because he likes you. I mean, we’ve been saying it for a year now. He’s young, one of the few actually attractive professors. Don’t even get me started on his chest—I didn’t even know a man could have a bigger chest than me! It’s honestly tragic every time I think about it," she sighed dramatically, sipping her soda.

Richie’s cheeks flushed, and he quickly waved off the idea. "Oh, please! If he wanted anyone, there are plenty of other girls. Not that I care either way! You all need to stop with these weird fantasies. Just because he’s two years older than me and maybe gay doesn’t mean he likes me! Besides, what makes you think I’m gay?"

Emily raised an eyebrow, her tone turning more pointed. "Richie, we’ve been friends for two years, and you know what I’ve noticed? Every time someone mentions sexuality, you get defensive. Nobody does that unless there’s something going on."

The food arrived just in time, cutting through the playful tension. As Daphne and Emily continued their light-hearted teasing, Alexander couldn’t help but glance over at Faybian’s plate, eyeing the food like a child tempted by candy. With a grin, he leaned closer and nudged Faybian gently. "I can have some, right?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

(I'll keep him Canadian then. No I don't think he does, yeah that probably would be a smoother transition than just dropping it out of nowhere that he suddenly knows.)

"We both weren't our best when we first met. It took a lot of work and more than a few mistakes for us to even begin to try and understand each other. But in the end, I think we both found a way to work together and even enjoy each other's company. It took a while but I'm glad we're here." Faybian smiled over at his fiance before pouring himself a cup of tea, holding it in his hand for a few moments before he took a small sip, savoring its warmth and herby taste.
Faybian tipped his head curiously but stayed quiet about his own opinions on relationships. He understood it wasn't easy for everyone to express themselves and how they chose to love another person to the rest of their family or society. "I hope everything works out for you two." He chimed in softly, genuinely hoping for the best for the couple.
"So you were right about the rumors of students getting together with their professors." Faybian said to Alexander with a laugh "I just never expected Richie to be the first." he arched an eyebrow as he grinned. "Perhaps not only attracted to men," he mused, nodding towards their waitress a few tables down. "it doesn't take a genius to notice how naturally sociable you are with everyone. Maybe that's just how you are or that could contribute to who you find attractive, men, women, or those outside of that spectrum." He shrugged "Just speculating I suppose. I don't know you well enough to make assumptions."
Faybian set aside his tea and unwrapped his utensils as the dishes were placed in front of everyone. He chuckled softly and handed Alexander the fork. "Go ahead, dear. But this means I can try some of yours too. I've never had soy-glazed chicken."

"Told you, the funniest thing is this is my first time hearing about this." Alexander chuckled, breaking his chopsticks with a practiced snap. He picked up a small portion of noodles, hesitant as usual when it came to trying something new. He slurped up a few strands, nodding with wide eyes. "This is so good! I wish I'd ordered that!" He pouted, then turned back to his own dish, spearing a bite of sticky rice and chicken. "But you can definitely have some of mine," he added, offering a piece to Faybian with a smile.

Richie, watching the exchange with narrowed eyes, softened his expression and suddenly grasped Faybian's hands. "See? He gets me!" Richie grinned, basking in the moment. "I'm just a social, likable guy—it doesn’t mean I’m into guys!"

Alexander slapped Richie’s hands off Faybian in mock offense, rolling his eyes. "I don’t think that’s what he meant, Richie," he said, unable to hold back a smirk. "But believe what you want. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who you like. It’s just… your personality kind of gives off vibes, like you're into both genders. And now that I think about it, I see where they’re coming from." He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Hate to break it to you, but… it's okay if you like men."

Emily and Daphne had been trying to hold back, but at this, they broke into silent laughter, shaking with amusement. Richie, his cheeks flushed with irritation, picked up his chopsticks and angrily stabbed at his food. "You guys are so mean to me," he grumbled, his voice muffled by a mouthful of noodles. "I'm straight, and that's final!"

Daphne, with a sly grin, chimed in, "Yeah, for now."

"Taste it," Alexander took a spoon with rice and a piece of chicken on it and held it up to Faybian's mouth with a hand under it to catch any food that might fall off.

As much as Faybian prided himself on knowing many things and having various talents, chopsticks unfortuneately were the bane of his existence so save him of embarrassment and possible disrespect, he opted for the fork. "I'm glad you like it, dear." He cut into the fried pork cutlet and set a but aside for Connor before digging into the dish, the noddles and crunchy bready very tasty and comforting.
"Well, I didn't exactly say that. There is definately something there." Faybian waved to Richie vaguely, gaze snapping to Richie immediately when he grasped Faybian's hand. Thankfully Alexander shooed Richie away before Faybian broke his wrist. He relaxed slightly and continued eating, not wanting to upset Richie any more than he seemed to be. "As straight as a circle perhaps." He muttered with a light laugh, joining in with the girls before he turned to Alexander. "You're too kind, doll." He carefully held Alezander's wrist as he took the bite of rice. "That amazing, more flavor than I thought." He marveled, already trying to identify the ingredients to see if it could be replicated at home. He offered a piece of his Tonkatsu to Akexander and snuck a bit more of the salmon and rice for himself.

(I hate to add more writing but I really wanna do a side relationship with Richie and the teacher ToT THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE, but if you don't want to I might just write it on my own yk)

Alexander eagerly took the piece of tonkatsu from Faybian, savoring the flavor before flashing a grateful smile. "This is all so good," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Thank you for recommending this place. I’ve found a bunch of new things I like!" He finally focused on his bowl, setting aside his habit of sneaking food from Faybian’s plate, and dug in with enthusiasm.

Across the table, Daphne grinned and joined in, enjoying her ramen bowl. The atmosphere was warm and casual, the conversation flowing as they continued to eat and laugh together. After about thirty minutes, with their empty bowls, Daphne leaned back and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Are you sure about paying for all this?" she asked, glancing at Alexander with concern. "I don’t mind pitching in, especially since ramen can be kind of expensive." She offered a small smile.

"Yeah, are you sure you want to pay for all this? You don't have to really." Alexander took Faybian's hand in his, interlocking their fingers.

(Awe that would be cute! I actually have a professor character who's really sweet. Gotta age him down a tad bit could work! Please send it if you end up writing it regardless!)

Faybian watched Alexander for a moment, a small smile flashing across his features before he dug into his plate food. He thought he had seen Alexander happy at home tinkering with his projects or setting up another addition to extensive computer set-up. But he had rarely seen Alexander this excited about being outside with friends enjoying a night out. He only wished he had encouraged this sooner. Faybian was glad that he had agreed to go out to meet Alexander's friends, glad to know that other people in Alexander's life made him happy.

Faybian fell back into conversation with the group, asking more about their college experiences and offering what he could about his own life, trying to make it sound believable. The parts that involved Alexander were easier than personal questions so he tried to steer the conversation towards that as much as he naturally could. By the end of the night he had Finished off most of the plate, setting aside a few pieces of tokatsu for Alexander's lunch tomorrow and a bit for himself if he got hungry throughout the day. "I'm touched by the concern, my dear but I can cover it just fine. Not to worry. it's my pleasure paying for dinner." He reassured, pressing a kiss to Alexander's hand before finding the small dessert menu and scanning through the options before passing it around.

(Yayyyy that could be so cool. We should prolly start that after the main story cause having two stories is hard ToT)

Alexander watched Faybian's lips press against his hand, a slight shiver running through him as the gesture stirred feelings that surprised him. Somehow, that simple touch brought a surge of butterflies that even compared to a kiss was on a different level. "If you say so," he murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips. He glanced down at the menu briefly but decided against dessert. They’d be heading to a cafe soon, and he didn’t need more sweets. "I’m good for now, but you guys feel free to order if you want."

Richie, dramatically placing his hand on his chest, let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, I need some chocolate ice cream after the devastating loneliness I’ve endured throughout this dinner." He passed the menu to Emily and Daphne, who waved it off with polite smiles.

As they settled, Richie leaned forward, his expression shifting from playful to thoughtful. "You know, Faybian, you’re a sweet guy. Honestly, from the way Alexander described you, I was a little worried." He chuckled, but his words carried a serious undertone. "I mean, there were no pictures of the two of you, and it seemed like Alex didn’t know a lot about your past. There were gaps, and, well, I thought he might be involved in something shady." Richie’s gaze softened as he continued. "But now that I’ve met you, you seem like a genuinely good guy. Even though we’ve just met and we’re getting to know each other, I still want to make sure he’s okay, you know?"

While Faybian had promised Alexander he'd pay for anything using "ethically sourced money," however humans chose to identify that these days, he wanted to treat his fiance and his friends tonight. He didn't know how much longer he had until he was completely cut off from Hell's assets. He was sure Luce wouldn't mind anyway, considering Faybian would be paying every penny back eventually. He gently squeezed Alexander's hand, watching his fiance in amusement. It brought him so much joy knowing even just the simplest gestures of affection could get such a reaction out of Alexander. he casually set his hand on Alexander's leg, lightly brushing his thumb in slow circles as he relaxed against the booth, trying very subtly to lean away from Richie. He was fine with the energetic young man but still not that comfortable.

He arched an eyebrow, a slow grin spreading on his features. "If you really want to convince us you're straight, saying things like that to a man you just met is not helping." He advised, his smile falling slightly as Richie analyzed him. What Richie said wasn't wrong, but he didn't need others to know what he had been like when he first met Alexander. He didn't want to be like that anymore, especially now that he had someone he cared for. "Admittedly, I wasn't the best person when I first met Alexander. He's probably one of the only people who knows as much as he does about me, and even then, that's not everything." He softened slightly when he saw Richie didn't mean anything accusatory and gave a reassuring smile. "Of course, you would be worried. I'm glad Alexander has friends who care so much about him. It's what he deserves, especially after putting up with me for two years." He chuckled and pressed a kiss to Alexander's temple. He was teasing a bit, but for the most part, he was telling the truth. Alexander deserved to surround himself with people who loved him right from the start. It had taken Faybian way too long to let himself feel anything for Alexander, but he wanted him to know everything, eventually.

(Sorry for some grammar errors, but I will fix those when I get home!)

Alexander felt a smile creep onto his lips. "I can't believe it's been two years. It's only felt like a couple of months. Thank you, Richie, that means a lot. I never really had friends in high school, so having you guys be so open about everything feels nice." Alexander was now grinning as his life seemed to finally turn into something worth living, thanks to Faybian. I mean, I wouldn't have even gone out of my house if it wasn't for him. I was a bit of a shut-in after I-" He stopped his words, looking at Faybian, realizing he hadn't told him yet. He hasn't told him about his transition, and if he had met his parents before he got to talk to Faybian, the moment would have been ruined, and he shouldn't have had a chance to explain. His eyes widened, "fuck." he whispered. "After I got a job…" he finished. "I had to work from home, so I rarely left unless I had to go to class for mandatory attendance." He continued, but he was nervous now. There will always be a divide. You may accept trans but people but, that doesn't mean you would be okay being with one. He started to tap his foot under the table but tried his best to keep a calm expression on his face.

"Lucky would want to work from home-" The sentence seemed like it was goi to continue, but Daphne got a phone call, and the table fell silent. She picked it up with a smile. "Hey, mom! I'm just out with friends. What's up, but I can….yeah….okay, okay, pushy. Love you too, bye." Daphne started to stand up, taking Emily's hand as well. "My mom needs me to look after the dog for a few days since she's going on a business trip, so I have to go to our apartment to walk him and stuff. We'll be leaving, but thanks for taking the bill. Nice to finally meet you." Emily stood up and waved as well before editing the store hands interlocked.

Richie tapped his hands against the table, unsure what to discuss. "So, uh, I guess I'll also take my leave. Good to meet you; you hurt him, I'll kill you." He stood up abruptly and started to walk out hastily. Alexander looked confused but saw their professor walk in, and he understood.

"He likes that teacher. Anyway, are you ready to pay? We still have plenty of time to go to the cafe." Alexander smiled and turned back towards Faybian.

(No worries, grammar isn't a thing here anyways 😅)
"I can't take all that credit, dear, if anything, your friends are the ones who got you out today and yesterday." He mused, nodding towards the three across from him. He hummed softly and tipped his head thoughtfully "Something wrong, dear?" he asked, momentarily lightening his hold on Alexander's leg. While he didn't think Alexander would be particularly bothered by the gesture, seeing how close they were at home, he did understand having an audience while your fiance teased and made you flustered wasn't always comfortable in public. So Faybian, ever the gentleman, moved his hand instead to lace their hands under the table. It was only when he turned his attention back to Alexander that he got the sense that something was wrong. His easy smile fell slightly as the conversation continued like normal, but Faybian could tell something wasn't right. He nodded slowly, not wanting to raise concern with the others until he could figure out what was wrong with Alexander in private. "I see. I'm glad you're more comfortable around other people now." He replied softly, glancing up as the trio began to depart.
"It was lovely meeting all of you. We should do this again." Faybian gave a friendly wave as the girls departed and then watched as Richie awkwardly scooted out of the booth. "I would love to see you try, but I already promised I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. You have nothing to worry about." He looked around the restaurant momentarily and found what Professor Alexander had pointed out before nodding his approval. "Not a bad choice." He mused, chuckling as they watched Richie make a prompt exit.
Faybian nodded as he found his wallet and set his card down to pay. He kissed his fiance's hair and rested his head against Alexander's, socially drained for the day but glad he met Alexander's friends and had a nice night out regardless. "You okay?" He asked softly, brushing his thumb along Alexander's hand. "Did I push you too far before? Is that why you got nervous?"

Alexander playfully slapped Faybian’s shoulder, his eyes widening in mock disbelief as he whispered, "Faybian! That's my professor…" He couldn't help but giggle softly, biting his lip before adding, "He is pretty hot, though. No hotter than you, of course…" With that, he leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against Faybian’s lips. When he pulled away, it was only slightly, their faces still close enough that he could feel the warmth of Faybian’s breath on his skin. His eyes softened as he whispered, "Yeah, I'm okay." But something flickered in Alexander's gaze, a brief moment of confusion before he quickly shook it off. "No, of course not," he reassured, noticing Faybian's concern. "I like your hands there. I don’t have any issue with you touching me in public." He gave a small smile, but there was a hint of something else lingering beneath the surface. Alexander’s gaze drifted away for a second as if lost in thought before he spoke again, his voice softer this time. "No, there's just something I remembered about my parents." He looked back at Faybian, his smile back. "I'll tell you at home, okay? Wanna pay and head out? I'm dying to try these sweets. One can never be too full."

"I'm yours darling, I'm simple approving of Richie's choice in men." He reassured, gently cupping Alexander's cheek as they kissed, tugging Alexander close as they waited for the waitress to come back with the card. Faybian sighed softly, still unconvinced, but brushed his thumb over Alexander's cheek and placing soft kiss to Alexander's features reassuringly.
"Good to know, dear." He studied Alexander for a moment, a set frown on his features as Alexander's parents were mentioned. "I see, then probably best discussed a t home." He agreed, straightening as the waitress came back with Faybian's card. He thanked her for the food and service and before standing and pulling out the chair for Alexander, offering his hand."you had all that food and you still have room for more?" He asked amused, draping his jacket over Alexander's shoulders as he led them back outside. "Though I suppose I can't argue with sweets. Lead the way, angel."

Alexander shoved his arms through the sleeves of his jacket, the fabric bunching slightly as he hurried to adjust it. “Thanks,” he said, flashing a sheepish grin. He leaned against Faybian as the cold started to settle in, and they made their way towards the sweets shop. “You know what they say: my stomach’s a bottomless pit. I just can’t help it. I’ve never had so many new things to try, and when it’s this good, I end up devouring it like I haven’t eaten in weeks.” He paused for a moment, glancing at Faybian with wide eyes that practically sparkled with curiosity. “Did you have fun? And was the food good? Oh, wait—do you even need food to survive? You know, because you’re a demon and all.” Alexander tilted his head, the gears clearly turning in his mind. “From the books I’ve read, demons supposedly feed on souls, or at least that’s what the rumors say. How fascinating would it be if you did, though I’d feel bad for the souls, of course, but imagine—” His words came tumbling out faster than he could catch them, a stream of unchecked wonder and enthusiasm. Then, abruptly, he stopped mid-sentence, his cheeks flushing as he realized he hadn’t let Faybian get a single word in. “Sorry,” he mumbled, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his jacket as he averted his gaze. It was hard not to be swept up in his own thoughts when the subject was so intriguing—and when Faybian himself was so effortlessly captivating.

Faybin wrapped his arm around Alexanded's shoulder, trying his best to offer what little warmth he had or at least sheild him in some way. "Ah so now I know who to call as a guinea pig whenever I try out a new recipe." He mused with a grin, tilting his head in amusement. " I did have fun. You've made some great friends." And while he didn't say it out loud, Faybian was glad Alexander had good people around him in case anything were to happen with him. He chuckled softly as he contemplated the question. "Your books aren't entirely wrong but I can survive just fine off of mortal food. More or less. It limits my ability a bit but not to the point hwere I'm uncomfortable. It takes less experienced demons to adapt but it's necessary if our deals are on the longer side. Or if we happen to be marrying mortals and staying long-term. Thought that happens less often than one may think." He teased, gently nudging Alexander's shoulders. He shook his head and kissed the tip of his fiance's head "don't be, dear. It's adorable when you're curious." He encouraged, the earlier conversation still nagging him. He knew something wasn't alright with Alexander but but he also didn't want to press in case it deterred him completely. He supposed as long as Alexander was overall happy he could wait to ask more questions until they got home. "Any idea on what you're ordering?" He asked instead as they turned downt he street with all the shops and bakeries.

Alexander walked quietly beside Faybian, his mind busy piecing together every fragment of information about demons and their habits. What they ate, how they lived—everything intrigued him, and he made a mental note to jot it all down later, a scribbled addition to the journal he kept for moments like these. His cheeks flushed a soft pink at Faybian’s offhanded comment about him being adorable, a compliment he didn’t quite know how to accept. “Thank you…” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He’d never thought of himself that way—awkward, sure, weird even, especially when it came to fumbling through social cues—but adorable? That felt foreign and almost too kind. He glanced down at his shoes as they walked, trying to will the blush away. As they stepped into the store, the rich, sugary aroma washed over him like a warm wave, instantly lifting the weight of his earlier thoughts. Yesterday’s worries felt distant now, replaced by the comforting hum of the pastel-colored bakery. The interior was a delight to the senses: soft purples painted the walls, accented by whimsical decorations and glowing fairy lights that made the space feel cozy and magical all at once. The glass case near the register caught his attention immediately, a treasure trove of sweets displayed like precious jewels. His eyes widened as he took in the offerings, each one more tempting than the last. “I would order the whole menu if I could,” Alexander confessed, leaning in to get a better look, his excitement spilling over. “But I think for now I’ll take a cinnamon bun—oh, and maybe a crème brûlée. But wait, those fried Oreos look so good… or maybe the funnel cake.” He let out a small laugh, pressing his hands to his cheeks in mock despair. “I just can’t decide!” He glanced up at Faybian, “What do you think? Do you have a favorite, or should I just go with everything and call it research?”

Faybian peeked over at Alexander, a small smile quirking at his lips as he found the now familiar expression Alexander got when his mind was at work. Faybian still couldn't exactly place why he loved watching Alexander work on his little projects or figure something out even if Faybian had no clue what that thing was, he had narrowed it down to that moment it all seemed to click together for Alexander; that excitement and fascination when he finally understood how his lab experiments came together or when something clicked into place in his mind. It was why Faybian kept telling Alexander about himself. He liked having someone he cared about actually try and understand him despite his worry it may be too much for Alexander to handle the more details he gave. But for now, Faybian didn't find harm in telling him how he managed to survive in the mortal world.
Faybian glanced around as they entered the bakery, glad to be somewhere warm and deliciously inviting than out in the cold. He followed Alexander deeper into the cafe, peeking over Alexander's shoulder to look at the items in the display case.
"Research hm? I wouldn't object to that at all, though we wouldn't want you getting sick. The bakery insn't going anywhere, doll. We can come back anytime you want for more." He reassured as he looked over the options again and tapped the glass, pointing to one of the items. "I haven't had one of these in ages!" He exclaimed, showing Alexander the display of a peach cobbler in an ornate dish and a tiny fork. "We can split one of these if you'd like" He offered.

(Sorry for the late reply had to work out something with a college I got into)

"Right, because technically, you haven’t been alive for hundreds of years,” Alexander teased, the corners of his mouth quirking into a small smile. “So, no human food in Hell? That’s kind of tragic. His voice softened as he glanced down, the weight of his words settling in. “I guess it doesn’t matter, considering I’ll be there with you at some point in my life. So, I'll be able to see for myself." The thought hung in the air for a moment before Alexander caught sight of the peach cobbler behind the glass, his attention snapping back to the present. His stomach growled faintly, and he felt his mouth start to water. “Okay, sounds like a plan! And we’re definitely getting some fried Oreos, too. I mean, just look at them!” He pointed animatedly at the display. “I read somewhere they’re basically funnel cake with crushed Oreos inside, but, like, the description didn’t make total sense to me. I think once I try one, though, it’ll click. Like some kind of fried dessert epiphany.” Alexander’s excitement faltered for a moment as his gaze shifted from Faybian to the barista waiting patiently behind the counter, then back to Faybian. He shuffled closer, the tips of his fingers brushing Faybian’s arm before he clung to it with both hands, his voice dropping to a shy murmur. “Can you order, please? I’m…still not great with new people." He gave Faybian a sheepish smile, his cheeks dusted pink again. “Besides, you’ve got that whole smooth, confident thing going on. You’d make ordering a cinnamon bun sound like poetry or something.”

(No worries! Big congrats on getting into college!!! Hope everything goes well for ya!)

Faybian chuckled as he tipped his head from side to side "More of luxury, less of a need. We need it more if we're going to be contracted for a long time. Hence why I learned how to cook." He shrugged as he looked over the other options as they waited, a small smile crossing his features. "and I think it's fun. While being practical, it is a bit nostalgic of my time alive." Faybian slowly slid his attention back to Alexander, his small smile turning sad as he kissed his fiance's head. "I hope that day never comes, my dear. You deserve an afterlife full of vibrancy and joy. Not to be stuck in some dark, decrepit place with me." He murmured, glancing back at the display case and finding the fried Oreos. These weren't your ordinary fried Oreos. These were large, oversized, fried homemade cookies filled with creme and candies like extra cookie bits or sprinkles.
Faybian nodded excitedly. "Absolutely, though these don't look like your run-of-the-mill carnival Oreos. I fear you might be disappointed if we go to a fair and find them there. They might not be this great." He warned with a knowing smile as they reached the counter.
"You seem to be doing just fine talking to people when making friends on campus, how is this different?" He asked with an encouraging nudge. "You had the confidence to ask me to marry you; I'm convinced you can do anything." He murmured back, pressing a reassuring kiss to Alexander's cheek. "as you wish, dear." He looked up at the awaiting barista with an easy smile and started pointing out the items of food they wanted as well as some drinks to wash them down with.
"That should be all for us, dear. If possible, we would love to eat in for the night and enjoy your bakery a bit longer." He pointed to the table by the window and asked their order to be brought there before he guided Alexander towards the seating area, hands laced together in reassurance.