toplvl | unpopular opinions

[ He's just as startled to see her so alarmed — not to mention to hear that artificial text-to-speech voice — and he jerks back a step himself, hands raised in an attempt to convey that he means her no harm. It really feels a lot like scaring a small bird... He half-expects the girl to sprout wings and flap them in a wild panic, as ridiculous as that notion might be.

While he can't shrink to her size, or look any less like some flashy delinquent, he can lower the volume of his voice, and he keeps both hands held up in front of him. It's clear that her views on this particular topic surely stem from experiences that can't be nothing more than an ordinary aversion to hospitals or the like. ]

...I won't pry. Plainly, you've had unpleasant encounters, and there are unsavory types in the world. In any case, I'm no scientist or doctor, so there's no need to be frightened.

Thanks. Some people might consider my opinion callous but I have my reasons for it. [Alice has no idea how right he is on his statement. Not that he would ever be aware of it regardless, but the way she acted would most likely remind him of a tiny little bird- both in movement and in sounds. She eyes the stance and the way he raises his arms in the universal language of 'I mean no harm' and the tightness of her frame visibly relaxes, hands shifting to tug the overly large jacket on her tiny frame closer.] Mhmm..

It's okay! You just startled me, is all. Loud noises tend to do that. [She sends the male a tiny little smile, eyes flickering to his hair with a look of curiosity. Sae has seen many hairstyles but the one Alice sported was.. unique. It was very colorful! Her hair was plain in comparison to his.]

Uuu.. [She lets out a little chirrup, tilting her head to the side.] I like your hair! it looks neat.

[ To tell the truth, the girl's mannerisms are quite charming, though Alice is doing his best not to stare blatantly, now that his conversation partner appears to be somewhat more at ease. She still seems a little nervous, he thinks, but he's grown accustomed to others reacting that way, albeit without any birdlike chirping. If nothing else, it's encouraging that she manages a smile, however microscopic, and her compliment takes him by surprise.

Relaxing in kind, he soon looks distinctly pleased as he folds his arms across his chest, out of the way. ]

Oh? So you recognize the appeal of stripes as well?

[ The girl's own appearance obviously stands out, but he thinks better of commenting on it in return, suspecting that it would make her self-conscious. A part of him remains curious about her circumstances — of course, it's hardly any of his business. ]

You aren't wrong to dislike loud noises, either...

This is the first time I've seen someone with stripes in their hair! so.. I don't really know. It's unique though. The colors are vibrant. I don't think i've ever seen anyone pull it off before. [A rather nice compliment for a stranger that she's just met. The smile on her face grows wider, friendlier in nature the more relaxed she becomes. She shuffles closer, peering this way and that with a little bird-like trilling sound leaving her mouth.]

I don't like my hair color. It reminds me of an elderly person's hair.. [A tiny little pout forms on her lips as her phone speaks for her, one hand ruffling at those snowy white strands. It was one of her biggest insecurities. She has considered dying her hair like she's seen so many men and women do with their own but doesn't think she could ever go through with it. Sae tucks some loose white hair behind her ears, red eyes peering up at him curiously. The look on her face is sheepish as she fiddles with her phone.] I'm usually really good with loud noises. I guess it depends on certain factors.. [Sometimes she was okay with yelling, and other times her PTSD rattled mind did not enjoy it. The reaction she had with Alice was a bit on the tamer side, all things considered.]

Uu.. Sae! [She introduces herself with a little happy chirp, disregarding her phone for a moment. Right from the start, one could tell that she didn't speak all too often from the hoarseness that clung to her soft voice. She didn't seem to mind it though, Sae rocking on the heels of her feet energetically.]

Edited 2022-10-04 00:26 (UTC)

[ It's difficult to stop comparing the girl to a bird, even though she's clearly a human being, and Alice won't voice such comparisons aloud, at least. It's not only the sounds she utters, but the way she inches closer — it absolutely conjures the mental image of a little bird hopping forward, cocking its head inquisitively, no longer on the verge of taking flight. Momentarily distracted by the entire scene, Alice realizes after a delay that Sae has just introduced herself. Since she seems to be a Westerner, as far as he can tell, he supposes he should initiate a handshake?

Moving abruptly could be unwise, too, so he extends one large hand slowly, palm open, so as not to startle the girl again, least of all when she's beginning to feel comfortable enough to smile more freely and even speak a little. If loud noises don't usually bother her, what does and doesn't affect her must be unpredictable... ]

Well then, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Sae. Er... Although I'm a man, you can call me Alice...

[ With his other hand, he gestures at the girl's long pale hair. ]

More importantly, you don't look anything like an elderly person, you know. Besides, you could easily dye your hair any vibrant color yourself without needing to bleach it, and have cool white hair whenever you wish!

Uu.. Alice! [The way she says his name is light and airy, the ends of her words trailing off into a gurgle of a happy little chirp. She eyes the hand with a tilt of her head before it registers just what he was doing. Oh- Was he offering her a handshake? It most likely had to do with her foreign features which were clearly easy to tell were American in nature. She happily leans over to accept the hand, clasping it with her own tiny one. Sae pauses to shuffle on her feet, her hand squeezing at his fingers, the girl barely fighting back the urge to ruffle her feathers at the electricity that runs down her spine.] Nice name.

[For someone like Sae who was incredibly touch-starved since infancy, the simple contact of his hand is enough for her to coo out in delight. Sae wants to keep holding on but she knows that it might not likely be received well- especially from a stranger. She didn't know him well enough for that yet and the people of Japan were a bit warier of showing physical affection in general- which was difficult for a person like her who constantly craved it. Almost with reluctance, she pulls her hand away from Alice, hands rubbing together. She could still feel the sparks that his touch left behind, peering up at him through her bangs.]

Really? Thanks, I guess. I've considered it but.. I don't know. [The idea of changing her hair sounded scary to her. She fiddles with some strands of her long hair, lips pursed.] Dying my hair sounds a bit too much. I know they have those chalks that you can put in hair to color it that way and they can be easily washed off in the shower. I'd try those out! Baby steps, you know?

[ Sae's apparent delight is rather endearing, and it prompts a chuckle. Though Alice has no way of guessing at the story behind the girl's behavior, the fact that she went to the trouble of a few words spoken in her own voice strikes him as something not to take for granted. Choosing to say his name, to compliment that as well, rather than questioning it as strange, is kind of her — whether it's sincere, perhaps the unlikely possibility that it reminds her of a rock band, or merely out of politeness.

He takes care not to grasp her fingers in too firm a grip as she squeezes his hand. She looks delicately built, so it would be terrible to hurt her even accidentally!

Then the handshake ends, and he crosses his arms again, leaning back against the wall behind him. His gaze follows Sae's hand to rest on her hair before he nods in agreement. ]

Indeed... It's sensible to experience temporary options first. After that, you should only dye your hair if you truly feel ready.

What color do you think would suit my hair? Pick one and it will be the one I'll choose! [She gives a little twirl on the heels of her feet before spreading her arms out as if presenting herself. She was leaving the option up to Alice though.

Whatever color he decided, Sae was going to try it out. It wouldn't be her whole hair of course- maybe just a small lock to test it out first. There was a small store on the way back to her apartment that she knows has those hair-friendly chalks meant for such a thing.]

What made you decide to dye your hair like that? [It was a rather striking thing to do in terms of fashion. Did he like the colors, did he want to stand out? She wasn't too sure.]

Hmm? Really?

[ Sae is willing to let a stranger make that decision?! Astonishment spreads across Alice's features for the invitation, but there's something appealing about being asked to offer his recommendation. Straightening back up, he takes a step closer to study the girl in contemplation for a couple of moments.

Finally, he settles on his suggestion to make: ]

Why don't you try blue first? Perhaps you could begin with a streak or two, which would already add more color.

[ After a brief pause, he reaches up to touch his own hair, brushing his fingers through the longer half. Sae's curiosity is novel — she seems so earnest. ]

As for my hair... I've always been fond of stripes, and this look matched our band's aesthetic. Since then, I haven't changed it much.

Blue..? Okay! [She was kind of excited to try it out. She's never actually had the chance to mess around with her hair before. She was pretty sure her hair had been brown at one point as a kid before the experiments bleed the color away to leave her hair now snowy white. Her memories of her time in that wretched lab were fuzzy and thinking back on it too much made her heart race in an uncomfortable manner. She clears her throat, taking out her phone which she taps away on.] You do music? That sound really cool!

Also, this might sound a little forward of me, but- do you wanna trade phone numbers? I want to show you what my hair looks like after I chalk-dye it later.

[She scoots closer to Alice, eyes wide and eager- the look on her face earnest.] I've just never done this before so.. I would like the opinion of someone who has. [She smiles up at him sheepishly, tucking some of her hair behind her ears. Plus it never hurt to make a new friend. Sae was always in need of making more of them.]

[ Swept along by the catching momentum of Sae's enthusiasm, Alice finds himself thinking of the prospect of witnessing more of it with anticipation. It's a pleasant surprise that the girl really isn't afraid of him, even going as far as approaching him and making her request. Since she's out and about on her own, and she doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get home, she probably doesn't have anyone expecting her to return by a certain time — nevertheless, presumably she simply intends to send him a picture of her handiwork when it's done, not arrange to show him the results in person.

With another chuckle uttered under his breath, he retrieves his phone from his pocket, holding it at the ready in one palm, pulling up his list of contacts on the screen for Sae to save her number there. Lifting his other hand, he places it over his heart. ]

I shall promise that you won't regret your decision...

[ For one, the temporary color will wash out quickly, as Sae said, but it's also hard to imagine it detracting from her appearance to begin with. ]

Contact me at your leisure, in that case. For now, I suppose you're on your way home, yes?

[There was no need for Sae to be afraid of Alice. Sure he had the appearance of what some people would call a "delinquent" but those types of people didn't really intimidate her in the least. There far were scarier people out there and she's experienced them plenty of times. Alice just liked to show off his individuality by being different. Nothing wrong with that. She happily saves his number in her contacts list and sends him a quick message so that he could save hers as well.] Mhm! gonna pick up dinner and go home.

text you later. [She quickly jumps forward to give him a quick hug before pulling away. She waves as she turns around and walks off with a hop in her step.] Bye bye!

------
[later that night Alice would get a 'ding!' as his phone alerts him of a text notification. When he opens up the message he would be greeted by a selfie picture of a sheepish-looking Sae. The two locks of her hair in the front of her face were dyed a baby blue color. The color popped vibrantly against the rest of her white hair color. One of her hands was stained with what looked like chalk residue from the peace sign she threw up in the picture. There was also a message below the picture that said:]

It's.. strange..! I'm not sure if I like it or not. >_<

Edited 2022-10-07 08:41 (UTC)

[ Dinner is essential, and he won't keep her from it — he should do the same, besides — but before he can say just that, Sae surprises him one more time. The cheerful parting hug is brief, the girl's slender arms wrapped around his broad frame for the span of that moment, and it leaves him with no time to react. Reflexively, he moves as if to decide what he should be doing with his hands, perhaps to give Sae a pat on the head, but in the end, as she draws away, he only returns the wave. ]

Very well. I'll await your message...

[ At his own apartment, he goes about his evening until his phone announces the arrival of an incoming text. The selfie that appears on the screen isn't what he would personally describe as strange, but Sae, new to changing her hair even slightly, may need some time to adjust.

It's easy enough to respond, however, though it tends to take Alice a little while to compose his messages, given that the small on-screen keyboard doesn't cooperate with his fingers, and he refuses to send mistyped texts. ]

Good evening, Sae. You've fearlessly carried out your plans. What part of it is strange? Don't you think it suits you?

..I don't know! The colors are nice but.. It's just strange, I guess? I've been used to my white hair for so long that it looks odd having two stripes of blue in my hair. I don't think i'm cut out for hair dying.

[At the very least she tried it out and that's all that mattered. She fiddles with her chalk-dyed strands, wings stretching out behind her now that she was in the comfort and safety of her home. She stretches out on her stomach, nibbling on some pocky sticks while she tapped more on her message.]

Alice could probably pull off any hair color the best! :D It looks very cool on him. [Compliments- Sae was very good at that! She loved giving them out freely.]

[ Even in her text messages, Sae sounds earnest, her compliments sincere. It's impossible not to feel flattered. Though Alice can't say that he knows the girl well after just a quick conversation earlier, it seems safe to conclude that this is the sort of person that she is — someone sweet and kind, eager to befriend people.

No doubt Sae has plenty of friends as it is, even if none of them dye their hair, either, by the sound of it... ]

Well, as a proven hair dye expert beholding the sight today, I think you've done well. It's merely a new look, so you're unaccustomed to it, but you're capable of pulling it off. It's vibrant and cool.

However, I also stand by what I said. There's nothing bad about your hair color at all.

Do you wish to delete this selfie?

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