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The smile seemed to work at least a little bit as Alex could actually wriggle his fingers within Yin's grasp now. The relief was so sweet, he just about sighed, but instead his smile just widened a little more. Progress. It was only a tiny little bit of progress, but it was progress nonetheless. He did manage to steal enough time to have another quick glance around the shop they were stood in, wondering if maybe he could afford to buy something for Nicholas to send back home before Yin was pulling him back out into the main hallway area once more, his thoughts quickly dismissed as he instead focused on just trying to keep up with the weremantis and not trip over his own two stupid feet as they weaved their way around the various shoppers.

"I don't exactly need to, but since I'm always hungry it would be nice to grab a quick bite." He answered as they stood on the outskirts of the food court. If it had been busier, he might have asked Yin to find them a table, but as it was there really were tons of spaces to sit at so he wasn't too worried about it. "What would you like to have?" He asked, even as he moved in the direction of the Bloodbucks, still determined that even if Yin didn't eat anything, he could at least enjoy some tea while Alex ate his own breakfast. He approached the teller and put in an order, not actually knowing the first thing about teas but thinking that screaming green tea sounded like something Yin would like. It had the word green in it. That was all it took to convince him. He handed the cup over to his boilfriend with a tooth filled grin before moving on to another vendor to buy two heaping plates of piggle bacon and piggle sausages. He asked them just to heat up both, not really caring to have either fully cooked, and grabbed a tray to balance both in one hand, so that he wouldn't be forced to release Yin's hand with his other. It was quite the balancing act for the zomboil now, with a backpack over one shoulder and a skateboard still tucked under one arm. Luckily he had all that waitering experience to see him through.

He found a table nearby, giving Yin a questioning look to make sure he approved before sitting down. The other boil was just so busy looking at everyone else he had to assume that they might need some strategic placement to their seating arrangement. He thought it was all very silly, but didn't bother saying anything about it. Yin was just being overly cautious, that was all. Perfectly normal after what he'd been through.

"Here, have some. I didn't realize their portions were so large." He said, pushing the tray to the middle of the table so that they could both reach it. At some point Alex had managed to pull his hands free of Yin's, and he was glad to note that all fingers seemed to be in tact, and that the hand itself was not actually broken. All good things.

"Isn't it a nice morning?" He asked cheerfully as he grabbed for a handful of sausage, trying his damnedest to keep spirits high even if inwardly he was still seething with emotional turmoil.

Alexander leaned back in his seat a little, slouching down a bit as he stretched out his legs, consequentially bumping them into Yin's beneath the table. "Sorry." He murmured with a small smile, reaching out to grab another handful of meat to chew on, looking a bit thoughtful as he pondered the overly simple question Yin poised him with.

"It's a little chewy, and not as warm as I would like, but it's got good flavor." He grinned, giving an honest answer before reaching for more.

"While we're in the area...I suppose I should just get it over with and go and see if I still have a job." He said, mostly just musing out loud, though also considering that Yin might like to know exactly what needed to be done in the maul before they could leave.

"And then the cleaners." If Yin didn't want his own stuff done that he'd shoved into his backpack, that was fine, because Alex had his own things that he'd managed to fit in as well. "Then the phone because that can take a little longer with filling out paperwork...and if you can think of anything that you'd like to do while we're here, of course." Alex beamed.

"Do we need any more kitten food yet?" Yes, basic conversation indeed. Alex grabbed another handful of food while he waited for Yin's response.

Alex was clearly just too lazy to move his leg. Clearly. It had nothing at all to do with his odd preferences towards physical contact at all.

He nodded thoughtfully at what Yin had to say about the kitten food. It made sense, really, if they couldn't even tell which ones were new and which ones they'd had since the first batch had toddled out of the closet. Really Alex still liked to consider them an endless dinner supply, though knowing they belonged to Fei and Lady Terror took the edge off of his hunger.

"I'm glad you like it!" He perked up ever so slightly, a little bit proud of himself for ordering something that Yin enjoyed even without knowing the first thing about tea.

The food court was beginning to fill up as the morning moved towards a more sociable hour of day, and Alex spent some time watching the other assorted denizens of Halloween as they grabbed their food or drink and say down to eat, wondering about what sort of problems they might deal with on a daily basis, or if any of them even thought about hunters or knew what they were as he picked away at his meal, his apettite for meat waning slightly the more he filled his undead stomach.

Within a few moments he was focusing back on Yin however, and he posed his next sentence in a rather casual manner. "So I haven't seen you make any trips to the gym lately. Are you taking a break from training?" No accusation in his tone, no judgement, just what he hoped sounded like genuine curiosity.

Alex pondered over Yin's reply, and nodded, offering him a smile to show that he understood, even if inwardly he was shaking his head. Just another things that the hunter stole away from his bonded, though it was really Yin's choice to neglect training. Still, staying in bed half of the day was not healthy. He was sure of that, at least. Maybe he could find other things for Yin to do to at least keep him active, even if it did nothing to 'strengthen' him. He was very much aware of the change in Yin's tone, and he clued in quite quickly that it was not a subject he wished to discuss further. That was fine, he could drop it for the time, and maybe broach it again later...except probably from a new direction.

And then the subject was turned back towards him, and he continued to pick at breakfast, even if he wasn't feeling particularly peckish anymore and could probably be on his way. But this was nice. Just sitting and chatting. And Yin still had to finish his tea, anyways. He was pretty sure his old workplace wouldn't appreciate outside food and drink, especially from the employee that took off with very little notice or good reason.

"Well uh...ya, there was that. There was also the shifts that I just er..didn't show up for because I had...other things on my mind at the time." He didn't feel like he needed to go into detail. Yin had gone missing, and Alex had done what he felt he'd needed to in order to get the weremantis back.

"When I called them to tell them I was going out of town and didn't know when I would be back, they didn't seem overly impressed, anyways. They told me they'd like me to come in so they could speak to me personally when I got back and...no, I don't think they'll understand but I can try, I guess." It wasn't like the job would be very missed, anyways. He was sure he could always find another one elsewhere.

And then he remembered how long it took for him to get hired on at this particular one and sighed. Mood dampener.

"But that's okay I mean.. that just means I'll have more time to spend with you and to get caught up with my studying." He'd been letting his schoolwork slip as well, which was quite unlike him. Too many things going on. Too much pressure to make decisions he still wasn't sure were the right ones to make.

"Do you mind if I try that? I've never had tea before." He pointed towards the cup, thinking that by now it might have at least cooled off to a tolerable level, and he was mildly curious about what it might taste like.

Yin's liquid was like nothing Alex had ever tasted before. It was slightly bitter, and despite having had time to cool, it felt hot in his mouth to the point of being almost unbearable. He grimaced a little after the first tiny sip, letting the liquid sit and warm up the inside of his mouth before opening his mouth for more. If he was going to try this, he might as well get the full experience.

Of course, being a carnivore himself, and pretty much disliking anything that was lacking in the taste of blood or flesh (with the exception of candy), Alexander found himself instantly unhappy with his decision. It was pretty damned awful, and he had to struggle not to spit it out. No, he could and would swallow this substance and not make a complete fool out of himself. He gulped it down quickly just to get it over with, though it was like his throat and stomach rebelled against him, as he gagged slightly and had to bring up a hand to clamp over his mouth.

Gross. Grossgrossgrossgross. He put the cup down and slid it back over towards Yin, before finally removing his hand from the his mouth and setting both hands on the table in front of him, clasping them and leaning forward slightly to say with the most serious face he could manage.

"It was not what I expected."

Alex wasn't sure whether he should scowl at his bonded or smile. Both seemed like logical choices for different reasons. So instead, he tried to continue the charade of blankness. Two could play the blank face game, but only one would come out victorious. Unfortunately for Alex, he spent far too much of his time smiling at anything and everything, so this was going to be a rather difficult challenge for the boil.

"Well then. If that is your suggestion then I guess I will have to drink what's left." He reached out to grasp the cup in his hand again and pulled it back towards himself. He could do this. He just needed to do it quickly to get it over with. Really, just holding the cup in his hand like this was probably cooling the liquid down so that he didn't need to worry about getting burnt.

Without thinking about what he was doing, he lifted the cup and tipped it back, trying to just..let it go down his throat without letting it touch his tongue. Of course, it wasn't super effective, and this time when he gagged it just made a lot of the tea run out of his mouth and down his chin and neck, some of it possibly spraying..hopefully not towards Yin but he really couldn't control it. He set the cup back down hard, in a triumphant manner, smirking just a little and looking at Yin through watery eyes before reaching up to wipe at his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Delicious. Really. I don't know why I didn't start drinking it sooner." He lied, and then unable to contain himself any longer, he grinned.

"That was absolutely revolting. I don't even...I can't believe you actually enjoy that." He laughed, before pushing himself up out of his chair and holding a hand out towards Yin.

"Come on then, I might as well get this over with."

Alexanders mood brightened at the smile Yin gave him. It made his silly antics all worth it just to be able to see that look on his boilfriends face from time to time. It made drinking that disgusting substance that some called a tasty beverage all worth it.

"Maybe I just need to find a different flavor then." His eyes sparkled with amusement as he patiently waited for Yin to clear the table. Really, he was more then willing to just leave it for the maul staff to deal with, but since Yin seemed adamant about tidying up he supposed he could lend a hand as well.

And then with that little task finished, they were on their way to the area of Alex's employment...or rather, likely former employment. Of course, Yin would want to open the door so he waited and then allowed himself to be pulled inside. The ghoul at the hostess station looked to them and smiled, and then recognition set in and her smile widened.

"Alex! You're back!" But then her smile slipped away a little as though she remembered something. "You're uh..probably looking for Joe, right? He's back in his office."

"Hey, Mel!" He replied, happily enough, though inwardly he was cringing. He really didn't want to do this, but he supposed it would maybe be good for him. Some kind of life lesson or some nonsense. "Uh, ya, I guess I am. Thanks!" He then turned towards Yin, and pointed towards the bench chair along the wall near the door.

"Do you mind just waiting there until I'm finished? I'm sure it will only take a couple of minutes." Hopefully, anyways. It couldn't take that long to be told you didn't have a job anymore, could it?

He slid his hands out from Yin's and went on his way, shuffling around a corner and out of sight.

Some time several long minutes later he made his reappearance, one hand up and running through his hair while he frowned a little to himself. He stopped when he was back with Yin, his hand flopping down to his side once his hair was good and thoroughly tousled beyond any semblance of style. "I uh...seem to still have my job somehow. I...don't know if they're just desperate or what." He smiled a little, though he still looked rather broody. Honestly he had gotten used to the idea of not having any job at all now, and that he would get to go back to an unlife of lazing about on campus and studying. Though he had to wonder if Cynthia and a few others might have been responsible for him still being employed.

"Less hours though, only a couple of shifts a week now. I told them I couldn't do the full time thing anymore." He shrugged, holding out his hand again so that they could leave and head over to the cleaners next, even though his eyes wandered over towards the scarecade a little longingly.