It wouldn't have surprised Tyler if someone had walked right past him. In fact, it had already happened. With his signature black skullcap and gray hoodie on top of an "Against Me! Cavalier" tee and somewhat ratty jeans, Ty just blended in with the wall he was leaning against. He was sitting cross-legged, snug in a small spot between two bookcases against the far wall on the second floor. Dark eyes were completely mesmerized by the book he had picked, one of four that he had ravaged the shelves to find.

It was a book on Alexander the Great. Well, it was more of a fictional book on Alexander the Great, centering on the myths of homosexuality surrounding him. It was good, though, and amusing enough. Tyler estimated it would take him about an hour or two per book, but it was a Friday evening and he had nowhere to go. It was perfect. Every once in a while he would look up, as if expecting someone. He wasn't, it was habit. He always seemed to be waiting for someone.

Aeson quietly entered the bookshop, lightly brushing the tips of his fingers over his pixie-cut, dark brown hair. A few snowflakes fell as he did so, and he smiled lightly, watching them float to the warm floor. It wasn't chilly in the shop, but he hugged his thick medium-lengthed coat closer to his slender frame anyways, enjoying the weight of the thick woolly fabric. As he moved forward in the bookstore, he casually browsed the rows he passed, removing his black gloves as he did so.

He wasn't looking for anything in particular, more bored than anything. But Summer had recommended this little place for him to visit, and he decided he'd take a look. Dark, near-violet eyes caught a glimpse of a pretty cover, white with amethyst lettering. Something titled 'Forever'. Aeson gently slid it from between two other books, only to be dissapointed in finding it was a sappy love story.

Finally, he made it up to the second floor, still glancing at the covers of the books and fidgeting now and then with the fingers of his gloves. Perhaps he could find a nice gift for Summer here, he had no one else to buy for .. Aeson glimpsed another male sitting alone reading a book he couldn't read the name of. Damned nearsightedness.

Aeson didn't realize it might've seemed as though he was staring at Ty while he tried to make out the cover of the book. Hnn.

Tyler was secure in being unnoticed. He was used to only be spoken to when he was expecting it or had started up the conversation, and really the idea went for being paid attention to. He had no reason to think that anyone would ever approach him. Of course, he still looked up to check. One could never lose hope.

As he glanced up, his eyes lingered. Yes, there was someone actually looking at him. Ty watched him, a boy apparently a bit younger than he was, and staring determindly at Tyler. Well, no... Ty guessed he was more likely checking out the book than he was checking out the boy. He tilted it so the cover was in a better position to be seen.

"'Alexander & Hephaiston'," he offered, voice soft and unintrusive. "Better than it sounds." His last words sounded almost like an apology.

The younger male blinked, and pulled his head back when he heard the other male speak, slightly startled. He hadn't expected the other to respond to his staring, then again he hadn't really realized he was staring. Eheh.

Aeson nodded his head as though he knew exactly what he was talking about. "Oh, I've .. never read it. I wouldn't know, hah." He offered a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry .. I didn't mean to stare." Aeson's gaze dropped, a slight blush coming over his otherwise milky skin. He began to feel awkward, unsure of whether or not he should say his name or something .. Or perhaps just leave with a friendly nod.

Tyler gave the boy a soft smile as he became alert. Dark eyes watched him steadily, gleaming slightly in their molten glory. The smile got a cast of teasing, as if Tyler was implying that Aeson should be ashamed for now knowing it. "It's alright. Not everyone's as nerdy as I am."

He made one of those single-syllable giggles, his eyes trailing back to the page for a few seconds. "Of course... Alexander was a genius. His love life doesn't seem as nice, though." Tyler seemed to ooze a kind of quaint contentment stuffed in his little nook. He watched Aeson calmly, with an open kind of friendliness.

Aeson grinned bashfully in return to the teasing one. He uncertainly took a few steps forward, unknowing of whether or not he was welcome to do so. The younger boy chuckled at Ty's comment. "I dunno, I'm sort of a geek myself," His voice was still soft, but he tried to speak up a bit.

"Oh, really? What's it like?" He edged a bit closer, glancing from the other male to the books on the shelves, then back to the other male again. It felt awkward standing around while the other sat.

The smile twitched to a slightly bigger one, a slightly bolder one. It was still timid, though, and very inoffensive. That was Tyler all around, though; subtle and inoffensive. He could see the bit of awkwardness his companion was suffering and gestured vaguely at the floor. It was an invitation to sit, of course; no one was going to mind. The book store was enormous, and it would be easy to step around them.

"It's not so much bad as... complicated." It was clear by some small change in expression that this was a subject Tyler really was a nerd about. "To start, he had three wives; one the daughter of a warlord he conquered and two Persian princesses. He had at least three mistresses on top of that, and about the time he married the princesses he took a Persian courtier as a lover. Bagoas, it was."

Tyler blinked, as if breaking from a trance, and grinned a bit ashamedly. "But, well, the book mostly focuses on Alexander and his commander, Hephaestion. They were childhood friends, and then became very intimate lovers. Once, when the Queen mistook Hephaestion for Alexander because he was taller and bowed to him, Alexander excused her by saying 'He is Alexander too'. They were said to have died within a hundred days of each other."

He glanced at the book and then Aeson again. "His dad had an interesting love life too."

Aeson gratefully accepted the invitation to sit, gracefully lowering himself to the carpeted floor and crossing his legs, smiling politely, faintly, the whole time. He listened quietly as the other male explained the story to him.

"Oh, it all sounds very interesting. Maybe I'll give it a read," He rest his hands in his lap. "My name is Aeson . . By the way." He extended a slender hand for the other to shake.

"Oh, well..." Tyler blushed faintly, looking away. "To be honest most of that stuff is only mentioned in the book. I know Alexander by heart." Again came the slightly ashamed grin, the molten eyes. Those same eyes seemed to flash, Tyler's grin holding the edge of delight that came when people were passionate about a subject. His spirit seemed to have stirred a bit with talking to Aeson, and as he held out a hand, Tyler took it.

"Tyler." As if his joy in talking about the book was too much to keep to himself, as if his timidness was a well-fitting mask, Ty brushed his lips against Aeson's knuckles for a moment before letting go with a sheepish smile. "Old-world manners."

Aeson smiled faintly at the light blush that came across the other male's face. It was nice to talk to someone, even if he didn't really know much about the subject of discussion.

The boy smiled and nodded his head as he listened to his name. Tyler, simple, easy to remember. As he felt silk lips against his hand, he shivered slightly, it would go unnoticed -- most likely.

The light rosey hue upon his cheeks brightened slightly, and he looked away bashfully. "They were sweet in those days, weren't they?" Aeson glanced timidly, smiling faintly, back to Tyler.

The sentiment of talking to someone was shared. Tyler could count his friends on one finger- and Darrell was about three hundred miles away. Though he was mostly content with being alone, and sometimes felt he deserved it, Ty still hungered for other humans occasionally. It was the real reason he'd plopped down in the bookstore instead of curling up at home- the hope to be talked to.

"Yes... Alexander often referred to Hephaestion as another part of him." Ty smiled softly.

Aeson returned the soft smile with the signature, faint one of his own. Sweet and slow, usually accompanied by his trait shyness, too. He was glad that he'd sat down with Tyler, it was nice to meet someone.

"That is sweet," The younger of the two nodded his head. What should they talk about now? Aeson bit his lip thoughtfully. "Um .. Are you looking forward to Christmas?"

Tyler looked up and nodded. As Aeson asked the question, he bit his lip before answering.

"No, not really. I mean..." he looked away for a moment. "I don't know anyone here besides you."

Aeson's expression softened, and his lower lip formed a sort of pout. It wasn't a mockery or anything, it was simply a part of him, his features.

"Really? Well, that's okay. I only know you, Summer, and .." He didn't want to say Brandon or Stacy. ".. And that's all, heh." The younger boy held a hand to the back of his neck for a moment. "Why don't you and I .. do something? Maybe we can at least meet up .. or something? Heh."

It was one of those things that Ty just couldn't help. It was one of those feelings that he shied away from, avoided because they didn't lead anywhere. It was feeling with his head, and whether it was good or not he never managed to figure out. It was this which made him look away from Aeson as the boy pouted, because he just- he looked so cute. He made Tyler want to just scoop him into his lap and cuddle him!

But he really couldn't; they'd only just met. It wouldn't be... polite.

"Sure," soft words, soft eyes. "I can just... buy these and we can be off."