"Mmm, you are also somewhat memorable." Ivan nodded, acknowledging Alfred's point, before responding to the American's reminder by seeking out more of the supplies he'd decided were needful. "It is a somewhat strange feeling - and interesting idea that you have." He mused, depositing vanilla extract and a few spices into the trolley as he spoke. "I am no philosopher, but it seems to me that this is a topic that bears thought. I have heard of people having dopplegangers before, do you suppose that it is similar?"

He noticed that Alfred had seemed a little unnerved by some notion or other, but he decided that he would respond to it in the same manner as Alfred - by glossing over it. "You are right, there is nothing to be fussing over with this - is not urgent, merely peculiar." There was, however, something else niggling in the back of Ivan's mind, a notion that
refused to leave him alone. It had begun to tiptoe around not long after Alfred had mentioned not-so-straight guys during his warning that the Russian would likely be an ob
ject of affection at college, and had gradually grown in persistence since then. He had ignored it, for the most part, but it had upped the ante ever since he'd decided to move in with his new best friend, and it was becoming harder to tune out. It was a guilty thought, mingled with anxiety, that whispered to him that perhaps there was something that he should tell Alfred, before he found out some other way, and before things became too awkward. After all, this did seem to be the moment for topics that could alter perceptions.

He was nervous, as he had concerns that his friend might see him differently if he told him, but friends were supposed to trust one another, weren't they? Besides, if he was going to be living in Alfred's house, then the American had reason to know, didn't he? At least he seemed to be the accepting type... But how to broach the subject? He did not want to simply blurt it out like an afterthought. After all, he'd had to conceal it in his homeland, for fear he would be shunned. To state the simple truth of the matter, Ivan was far more likely to be attracted to another male than to a female, and he didn't know how to tell Alfred without putting his foot in his mouth. He had never told anyone before, tending to be somewhat cagey about the subject, so he had very little idea of how to approach the matter verbally. Alfred had mentioned people of similar orientation so casually, though, that Ivan wondered whether he was over-thinking this. Finally deciding to get it over with and face whatever reaction would be forthcoming, Ivan began to feel out the topic. “Ahh, Alfya?" He mumbled hesitantly, fidgeting.

Alfred nodded slightly in response to Ivan's theory. "Yeah there is that saying that everyone in the world has a twin, so maybe that's it," he responded, heading further into the aisle for a few more things, completely unaware of Ivan's current dilemma.

It was mildly reassuring that he'd managed to soothe some of Alfred's confused anxiety with his speculation, but Ivan's own tension was very much still present as the smiley American continued shopping. In Russia, it was not common to see people smiling quite so much while out and about - unless they were tourists - as it was seen as insincere, but it was easy to tell that such was not the case with this person. If only Ivan could be certain that his worries would not cause that radiant smile to fade. It would be such a shame if it were dampened by something that was beyond his control, but nonetheless everything to do with him - he would feel so guilty.

With a slight sigh and a wobbly smile, Ivan shrugged. "Ahh, well, there is something that I must be telling you, but I am nervous." He confessed, fingers twisting in his scarf. His tone had grown more plaintive in the last sentence, like a puppy expecting to be kicked, and his eyes betrayed an unspoken plea for the boot to be spared. "Ahh, you see, I am - ahh, how to say this -" He babbled, his eyes round and abashed, and peering skittishly into Alfred's. "I am one of those not-so-straight people that you mentioned earlier." He admitted, his hands by now thoroughly lost in the coils of his scarf. His nerves were in overdrive now, and he could not begin to hypothesise about Alfred's reactions, so full of fretting was his mind. He could only wait and listen, with the air of a helpless kitten.

((Sounds good to me (and yeah, Belarus is scary). Other than that, there might be a few cameos, but I can't think of anyone who hasn't been mentioned that I'd want to pull in. By the way, do you think the nation-people's bosses have any idea why they disappeared?))

Alfred blinked before he grinned and laughed quietly. "Oh, that's it?" he responded, reaching out to pat Ivan's shoulder before he moved to grab what he'd been going after before. "That's not a big deal, man, you don't need to be nervous about it or anything," he told him before he grinned. "Besides, I already had a vague idea since not a lot of guys are too content to walk through the park holding another guy's hand," he said as he moved back over to the cart to start heading to another area.

((I'm picturing a bunch of bureaucrats freaking out now ^_^))

Startled, Ivan blinked sheepishly at Alfred, his fingers ceasing their agitated twining. "You mean that?" He asked, scarcely daring to believe it. The assurance had been spoken so easily, and the hand on his shoulder a brief soothing weight, and Alfred's voice had sounded at ease, if slightly surprised. "I - ahh, I have not told anyone before this - is not looked on too kindly where I come from. I suppose that would be where the anxiety is coming from. I have not had many friends, and I was afraid that I might upset you if I did not tell you, but also afraid that you might not see me the same if I did. I know in my head that you are a nice person, but I am more used to being nervous that I would be shunned for this."

He could tell? Ivan pondered, taken aback. I suppose that it was not exactly a hidden thing. He was touched by the way that Alfred had accepted what he had said, just like that, and before Ivan had even realised that his secret was revealed. "You know, you are really good at this reassuring thing." He mumbled, removing his hands from the tangle he'd made of his scarf. "I am sure that I am not so twitchy now." Truthfully, Ivan had been concerned about what would happen if their other fellow students picked up on his orientation, but he felt safer already in the knowledge that Alfred was looking out for him.

"Yeah man, of course I mean it," Alfred responded as he looked back with a smile. "Now come on we need to venture further into the bowels of the store to find the meats and stuff. It's usually all the way at the back end," he told him as he automatically moved to grab Ivan's hand again, the oddly familiar dynamic between them obviously not changing a bit. "By the way, wringing your scarf like that can't be good for the fabric. How long have you had it, anyways? It looks like it's actually still in pretty good condition," he murmured, looking at the ale-colored cloth hanging around his neck and shoulders.

When Alfred gave ready confirmation that he had indeed meant it, Ivan's whole face brightened. He was not used to smiling so much in one day, but it felt so natural to do so now. "Da, you are right." He agreed, his relief evident in his tone as they moved further through the store and accumulated more goods. He felt as though he had come to the brink of losing something precious, only to find that it had never really been in danger, and the way that Alfred's hand slipped guilelessly into his own even now sent gladness rippling through him. Breathing easier now, he considered what his friend had just queried him about. "Ahh, I did not notice that I was doing that." He responded, embarrassed. "It seems to be resilient for something old, though. I have had this for as far back as I can recall - it has always been there."

Ivan listened to what Alfred said next, then nodded earnestly. "Da, it is true. I am used to bluntness, and you are so bluntly friendly that I cannot mistake it for anything else. When you speak to me, it is clear that it is what you were thinking, and not something made up to placate me or make me go away. It helps me to understand that you are not simply humouring me, but actually like me and want to talk to me." He replied, in the middle of lifting something into the trolley. Ivan, too, was feeling as though he had laid hands on a long-absent piece in the puzzle of life, and it was a slightly heady feeling. Why this American fit so neatly into things, he really could not say, but he knew that he did not want that to change. "To put simply, your bluntness makes you seem honest, and easier to trust."

"By the way, is that scarf soft?" Alfred asked, looking over and tilting his head a bit. He'd had the urge to kind of reach over and feel it for a good while now but he felt like that would be a bit...uncalled for, given how precious it was to his Russian friend. "I've been wondering that for a while today but forgot to ask about it." He rubbed the back of his neck a bit, smiling at Ivan sheepishly. "Anyways, we just need drinks and maybe a couple extra things for snacks and we should be done and ready to head home!" he announced as he lead Ivan through the store to do just that.

"Hmm? Oh, da, it is soft." Ivan responded, taking one end of it into his hand and offering it up to be examined. "I would say that it is slightly fuzzy, though I don't remember if it was always that way. It is not too delicate to be touching, or it would be needing many repairs by now." He added, realising that Alfred may have felt tempted to touch it. He didn't particularly mind his friend doing so, as he had already decided that he trusted Alfred, but he was glad that the subject had come up verbally rather than by surreptitious investigation. "That is sounding good to me." He agreed, following. Occasionally, he picked up something he thought looked interesting or tasty, but he wasn't on the lookout for anything in particular. He'd considered browsing the range of alcoholic drinks on offer, but he decided that it could wait until he was more settled in. It wasn't as though it was important.

"You are most welcome, Alfya - I am glad to offer my perspective." Ivan replied, his ex
pression mild and apparently cheerful, but nowhere near as smiley as Alfred tended to be. His voice carried a smile in its tone, though, so it was clear that he was not being emotionless. "Have we forgotten anything?"

((I'm not sure that Ivan would know how to respond to that, but I doubt he'd complain. ^_^ It's fun to confuse him.))

Alfred reached out to lightly run his hand across the fabric, blinking once before he grinned. "It really is soft!" he practically chirped, seeming almost excited by the fact. "I can see why you like to wear it so much!" he added, turning to finish up their shopping, grabbing a few things along the way.

"Mmhmm~ It is quite soothing." Ivan concurred, wondering how it was that his friend managed to be so enthusiastic about so many things. It was kind of endearing, that Alfred was so rapt with the scarf he held dear. "I can? That is kind of you to say. I was concerned that it might be impolite to drink when you may not." He added, "Though I do not think I will be passing out if I can help it. In Russia, it is considered - ahh, wording - bad form? Da, it is bad form to become obviously drunk - besides, I have heard things I do not like about hangovers. It is a good thing that many Russians have naturally good tolerances, I suppose." This said, he selected a bottle that seemed reasonably priced and placed it into the trolley. It was vodka, perhaps for the simple reason that he knew what to expect from it.

"So classes can be boring? I suppose I should have expected that." Ivan mused, contemplating Alfred's words. "I would be okay with sharing notes with you, if you like. You'll be able to read mine, I had to take a test on writing in English before I came, and I did fine on that." The cute little pout had returned, though Ivan didn't react visibly to it, in case Alfred twigged that it was both amusing and sweet. "I wonder what would happen if they tried to make things more engaging... Maybe knowledge games with prizes? Seems a little childish, though. Perhaps they have already tried such things, but not been satisfied with them."

Alfred watched at the vodka was placed in the cart, smiling a little bit. He heard a lot of talk about Russians and their vodka, which made this little thing mildly amusing.

Ivan noticed that Alfred seemed slightly amused by his choice, but that was perfectly understandable - the stereotype of Russians and their vodka was pretty well known. He didn't mind, though. "Da, that sounds good to me." He nodded, glancing around the area he'd just been led to in search of the specified items. It did not take long to find the milk, so he picked up some of that first, before trying to find the cream soda. That was a little more tricky, as it was a transparent drink amongst other such drinks, but he was able to pick it out from among the lemonades after a moment.

"Hmm? Well, that would also explain it. If I think of some interesting way to explain something that was boring, I will try to write it down or make a game out of it. Doing that could help me take it in, so it would be no trouble." Ivan replied, after a moment of consideration. "Ahh, I do not recall the difference between the things called ADD and ADHD - or what they stand for. Something about attention? I apologise, but could you explain what you mean? I had noticed that you had plenty of energy, but I thought that it was all the coffee you drink." Was he being insensitive? Ivan didn't know, but Alfred seemed fine. Just ignorance, then. Well, if current patterns held true, Alfred probably wouldn't mind too much.

For some reason, he got the distinct impression that Alfred was in a particularly tranquil mood at the moment - which seemed slightly at odds with all the tension that had been present in Ivan's side of the conversation. It was kind of admirable, the way that the American was so carefree. Ivan wished that he could feel as relaxed as his friend seemed. Perhaps he could learn that from him? It was worth trying. "It is most helpful of you to offer your help with this language - I have already noticed confusing things. For example, hot dogs - there is no dog in them, but they are named as though there was. Oh, and root beer - it is not beer at all, nor has it any alcohol. Why don't these things make sense?"

Alfred grabbed the milk and started to head towards the registers, looking up at Ivan with a slight tilt of the head. "uh, it stands of Attention Deficit Disorder for ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Usually if you're diagnosed with it they put you on pills that chill you out and help you focus but my parents didn't like the idea of me becoming a zombie too much, so, I never had to be medicated. I found ways to cope with my lack of an attention span for the most part, but I can't utilize those when I'm in class unless we'ere allowed to have laptops."

"Ahh, I get it now." Ivan acknowledged, duly enlightened. He could remember hearing about something like that, but he hadn't heard the acronyms before, nor had he previously met anyone they applied to. "Somehow, I do not think you would shine so brightly if you were medicated." He agreed, considering his admittedly limited knowledge of treatments for disorders like this. "You are just fine the way you are~"

He was curious about the methods for coping with the attention-span problem, and listened with interest as Alfred described the motion-related focusing he had. "Would it be helpful if you had something like a Newton's cradle with you, if it is movement that helps? That moves, but it is not overly noisy." He asked, hoping that he had correctly interpreted what his friend had explained. It would be a little embarrassing if he had mixed something up.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry. I suppose that I assumed that you did. You told me that you liked the big cups, and your energy let me think that it wasn't just sometimes. At least you can find it funny, da? I've noticed that you seem to have very positive outlook."

"Won't the clacking of this balls annoy other students though?" Alfred responded with a slight tilt of his head. "That is what that is right? The thing where you pick up one of the balls and it makes the one on the other end move? The...desk toy thing you use to seem powerful." 

Alfred had a point, Ivan had to admit, but he wasn't done just yet. "That is right." He nodded, though he hadn't heard them called that before. It still sounded like the right thing, though. "But what if the balls at the ends had cloth covering them? Oh, or a little sand-clock might work - those are quiet, and they have movement." He suggested, referring to hourglass type objects, and hoping that he was not being irritating with his ideas. He wouldn't keep on at this subject if it proved impractical, but he did want to help in some way. He liked to feel useful, particularly when someone had been helpful to him.

They were at the checkouts now, and Ivan had spotted one where the line was not too long. Pointing it out - with his whole hand, as was the custom in Russia - he felt that they would soon be able to make their way to Alfred's house. "Bozhe moi! You would be bouncing from walls!" Ivan exclaimed, after taking a moment to picture the scenario Alfred had put forward. "I do not think that I want to know how that would end." He added, imagining something along the lines of a child whose hyperactivity had been boosted by the immanence of a birthday celebration. It was the only comparison he had at present, and it involved cake getting everywhere. "By the way, something else that you should know about Russians - we like to feed people~ Usually, is host feeding guest, but I suppose that it depends mainly on who is making the food."

Alfred started piling up stuff onto the conveyor belt, pondering a bit. "Well that might work but I dunno if they'd let me bring it in. Some professors are strict about what you can and can't do in their rooms." He let out a quiet sigh and shrugged. "I'm sure both of us combined will be able to think up something eventually though."

Ivan had to admit that Alfred had a point, and he nodded. "Hmmm... I suppose that irritable professors could pose a problem for such things." He ventured, shrugging. "I am sure that, as you say, we can think of something." He added, wondering just how reasonable these professors were likely to be. Did they know about Alfred's attention problem? Ahh, well, it was likely that they would not be too problematic, or else it would be difficult to learn. At least, that's what he told himself.

"I suppose that this is also true." Ivan responded, thinking about what he'd heard about the American appetite. "I think that the reputation has a lot to do with fast food, though. Home cooking, that is what I was talking about. Do not worry, though, I would not try to feed you too much at once." He added, chuckling slightly. "Oh, do not be concerned, I can pay for my vodka." Ivan put in, rummaging in his pockets. "I have my ID here, in case they do not think I am old enough. I would not want you to get into any trouble because of me - I will do this properly."

Alfred set to putting the bagged groceries into a cart so they could get everything to the car more easily, looking over at Ivan and nodding. "Difficult professors like making everything difficult," he huffed quietly, shaking his head.