"Oh, yeah. Sorry I get distracted easily."

Turning on her heel with a flourish, she headed back down the hallway. A helpful sign pointed them towards the elevator. They passed quite a few sculptures and paintings on the way, but she put her blinders on and ignored them.

"I know you'll like this place. It's pretty chill, but they have awesome food."

Maybe it was a little presumptuous of her to assume he would like the food and/or place just as much as she did... but she was generally honest with her opinions. He seemed like the type to like it, so that's where her mind settled on the matter.

Stepping aside once they reached the elevators, so other people could exit, she smiled at him. Boarding the elevator she bopped the 2nd floor button and waited for others to shuffle in before the door closed. The ride could have been described as tense, as every other passenger kept glancing at the bird settled on Alex's shoulder nervously.

One short ride later they were all filing out, some more glad than most to be free of the confined box. Pointing toward where most of the small crowd was heading, she followed after. One spacious hallway led them past bathrooms and a few unlabeled doors, until it widened into a cavernous room that smelled primarily like burgers and french fries. It was packed with other museum denizens all stuffing their faces with various things. Shelby dodged and danced her way up to the front of the line, making sure not to move too quickly lest she lose her guest.

"Feel free to order whatever you want, Alex."

"I know you'll like this place. It's pretty chill, but they have awesome food."

He chuckled at that, "I like most places with awesome food." Really any food place, where he could eat without worrying about paying for it. Which wasn't a lot of places to be honest. Not without the added tension of don't get caught. Still it was nice to not have that for once.

Once on the elevator he barely payed attention to the focus who were eying Ace. Though he couldn't say the same for the bird of prey. Ace, ever the curious creature, craned his neck around Alex and behind himself to eye the passengers right back. Though he made no other movements to frighten the other people. He was just making sure Alex was safe after all.

Alex followed Shelby out the elevator, down the hall, following the smell of food. He was practically salivating in anticipation.

"Feel free to order whatever you want, Alex." His dear patron said. "Oh, be careful. I might just get all the things."he said looking up at the menus. Ooo good god, all of it sounded really good. It was unfair he couldn't actually eat all of it, lest he make himself sick. Still he needed the most calorie packed meal he could think of, really squeeze all he could get out it.

Smirking, she shrugged her shoulders at his joke. "If they let you. I've heard rumors about getting between New Yorker's and their food."

The line shuffled up a little, and she followed. The man directly behind them in line rolled his eyes at her joke, but said nothing. Eventually they were front in line. Shelby ordered for herself; plain ole' burger and fries with a soda. " I'm buying for his too." Then she stepped slightly out of the way so Alex could order for himself.

Man behind the counter, who looked to be in his mid forties, chuckled and adjusted the cap on his head. "Ah, you kids are cute. What with your unorthodox dates and all. You know, in my day.."

Someone cleared their throat behind the line, and he cut himself off while casting dirty look over their heads. Shelby fought to keep a pleasant smile on her face, even though she felt like groaning.

"So what'll it be, son?"

Alex could feel his face heat up a little as the guy behind the counter commented that they looked like they were on a date. Thank goodness for the guy clearing his throat behind him, get that guy a soda, goodness gracious. It wasn't that he was embarrassed to be hanging out with Shelby or that the girl wasn't cute or anything but...he barely knew her and he knew that after this they'd go their separate ways, likely to never see each other again. Best not to get too attached.

"So what'll it be, son?"

He jerked a little at the question and found himself staring at the menus again. So many choices so little time. In the end he ask for a couple slices of cheese pizza, a double cheeseburger, fries, a soda, and a couple of the cookies for dessert. There that should definitely cover him for the rest of the day. It probably had way more sodium than he should be eating but he honestly didn't care. His powers relied on him eating enough for more than himself and he was going to do just that.

He grinned at Shelby, "I warned you, all of the things."

Honestly it was hard to wipe the surprised look off her face. She... hadn't really taken him seriously. Could he really fit all of that inside him? Compared to his order she didn't feel quite so bad about pigging out with a burger and fries.

Grinning, she laughed outright at him and handed her card over to the guy behind the counter. "Where are you gonna fit all of that?!"

Once her card was back and her receipt, she tucked both away into her bag and stepped off to the side. There was a separate area for food pickup, and she was ready with their order number floating around her head.

"But really, how--"

"Shelby!" Sherry's bubbly voice pitched over the murmurer of the crowd to reach her. Instantly the smile melted off her face, replaced by a grimace. She'd been hoping not to run into her classmates again. Their personalities were rather draining on her.

"We didn't see you when we got here. Thought maybe you'd gone home or something." David chimed in as the two of them sidled up with Alex and Shelby. Each had an empty, or nearly empty tray in their hands. Apparently they had just finished eating.

"David, Sherry... sorry, I took a little longer than expected getting here." The brunette bounced on the balls of her feet, a happy grin on her lips. Tossing her tray on top of Davids, she all but flung herself at the poor Ginger, who in turn had to struggle not to dart out of reach like a frightened animal. She hated people touching her... hugs, hand holding, shoulder squeezing. If she hadn't gotten so good at suppressing the knee-jerk reactions of knocking peoples hands away from her in order to preserve a meager image of tolerance, she was sure no one would talk to her at all. Which made normal life rather difficult.

Still, it was obvious to most that she was uncomfortable. Sherry, unfortunately, wasn't one of those people. "Have you been down the exhibit yet? David and I have. There are so many amazing pieces!"

David, who was looking at Alex, shot her a questioning glance. "Oh, right. This is Alex. He's a... friend I ran into on the way here. Thought he might want to tag along so I invited him." She shot Alex what she hoped was an apologetic half smile, instead of a panicked grimace... which it felt like. "Alex, this is David and Sherry. My classmates."

The brunette pouted slightly as she let go of Shelby. 'Classmates' may have been too formal, but the ginger didn't exactly think of them as friends.

"Where are you gonna fit all of that?!"

He laughed and shrugged. He'd eat as much as he could and if he couldn't finish he'd ask for a box or something. He had already eaten a bit earlier but being a teenage boy had the benefit of having stomach that was endless pit. Or it could have something to do with his mutation, who knew. He'd find out when he was older and stopped growing but for now, he'd eat.

He was about to say as much when they were interrupted. Two strangers greeted Shelby and one promptly invaded the poor ginger's space. He stood back and allowed them to talk a bit. It wasn't his place after all. Still, it made him feel a bit awkward, being the odd man out. He didn't know these folks and they didn't know him.

When the male of the two strangers glanced at him Shelby introduced them. "Oh, right. This is Alex. He's a... friend I ran into on the way here. Thought he might want to tag along so I invited him. Alex, this is David and Sherry. My classmates."

"Uh, hi, it's nice to meet you."he said giving the two a little wave. He glanced at Shelby, she hadn't told him that her friends, or rather classmates were going to be here. At least not to his memory. "So you two are in Shelby's class. That must be fun."he said, absentmindedly shifting Ace from his shoulder to his arm and stroking under Ace's chin.

David nodded. "Yeah. Sherry and I are studying fine art together. Same degree."

Shelby shifted on her feet nervously. "I'm in the class as an elective. Not going for the same degree as them."

Sherry giggle, linking arms with David. "Given the doodles you work on in class, it really wasn't much of a surprise." She glanced at Alex with a smile on her lips. "Last week she was working on this one with a giant squirrel rampaging through the city while the rest of us were buried up to our ears in art history books."

Shelby's cheeks and neck burned with a furious, sudden blush. She hadn't realized anyone had seen that one. She muttered something similarly, before pushing on.

"So... Alex, we should find somewhere to settle down and eat before all the seats are gone." There was a smile on her face, but she was attempting to plead with her eyes that he would agree.

"Ah, right. I totally forgot you guys were going off to eat." David mused, glancing at Sherry. "Would you want us to wait for you? We don't mind."

"Ah... no! That's okay. We were gonna wander a little bit anyway... You guys should go on ahead."

Alex listened and nodded appropriately during the conversation. He was surprised that neither of Shelby's friends made mention of the hawk perched on his arm. But then again perhaps they were used to weird around here.

"So... Alex, we should find somewhere to settle down and eat before all the seats are gone."

"Ah, yeah." Again he nodded, grabbing his tray from the food pick up area. "Ah, right. I totally forgot you guys were going off to eat. Would you want us to wait for you? We don't mind." He paused and looked over at Shelby at the suggestion. That was up to her, he didn't mind either way. But Shelby looked strangely uncomfortable around these to.

"Ah... no! That's okay. We were gonna wander a little bit anyway... You guys should go on ahead."

Ace scooted up to his backpack again to make it easier for him to carry the tray. The smell of the food was intoxicating and he couldn't wait to dig in. God, he was so hungry. This could possibly last him a good long while, calories wise anyway. He planned on eating as much as he could.

She had to resist the urge to turn and physically drag Alex away. Instead she remained rooted to the spot while David and Sherry eyed her suspiciously, and then shared glance. God. She was going to pay for this later when they cornered her in class. that much she knew already.

"Kay. We'll see ya around the exhibit, then!" Sherry chimed, before turning to tug David away. "It was nice to meet you Alex! Next time you'll have to introduce us to your birdy friend!"

Shelby couldn't put enough distance between them fast enough. She bee lined for the first available table with two open chairs and dropped her tray down.

"...."  She probably owed Alex an explanation for what he'd just witnessed. Weirdness on that level coming from her was a spectacle all of itself, sometimes. Just... how to word it?

For now, she stuffed her face with a bite of her burger and glanced around to make sure none of her other classmates had chosen to stop by the museum today.

"... How's the grub?" She muttered lamely. Smooth move, Shelby.

Alex said goodbye to the overly friendly couple and follow Shelby to a nearby table. He didn't question what had transpired there. Figuring that it was really none of his business and that if she wanted to tell him what was going on she would. Still he noticed how strange it was. People didn't usually brush other people off unless they were outright avoiding them in the friendliest way possible.

When she started eating he took that his queue to start as well, munching eagerly on one of the pizza slices. It was good, really, really good. Maybe it was his perception of living day to day scraping by but god damn did it make him happy. And it was warm, freshly cooked food! Dairy even! Not something he'd usually get his hands on.

He was so enraptured by those first couple of bites he nearly forgot Shelby was there. "... How's the grub?" Her quiet murmur broken him out of his reverie. "It's so good."he chuckled before wolfing down the first slice then reaching for the next.

Ace hopped off his perch near Alex's shoulder to the empty seat next to him. The curious bird studied the food, pecking at it once only to have Alex shoo him away.

Watching the bird quickly became all consuming. It was too cute! Adorable even. Probably only to here, though. Hawks were supposed to be majestic and junk. She nearly lost it when he investigated the food.

Containing a fit of giggles, she wiggled in her seat and pushed the giddiness back. "... Can he have a fry?" She still wasn't too sure on exactly what happened once it was inside the bird, but she figured it'd be a nice gesture even if it just... sat in him... or something.

Alex had probably explained, and she'd just forgotten already. She had a habit of doing that.

Clearing her throat again, she glanced at Alex from under her bangs and wrinkled her nose. "...Sorry 'bout that. I kinda...eh... forgot i'd be running into them again." Really, she probably didn't need to apologize... but it had just been so dreadfully awkward (to her at least) that she felt the overwhelming urge to explain.

"...My bad." She poked at her burger with a fry.

Alex chuckled at the look of joy on Shelby's face. The fact that she found Ace's analyzation of the greasy food cute was amusing. "... Can he have a fry?" It was an odd question but, "Sure, why not. Not like it'd hurt 'em." He picked up a fry and offered it to Ace. The bird didn't hesitate to chomp down the morsel, knowing that if it was safe for Alex then surely it must be safe for him.

Alex couldn't fault the birds logic. Though if the food had been poisoned then they'd both be screwed. But that was a paranoid thought for another day. Instead he attention was drawn to Shelby once more. "...Sorry 'bout that. I kinda...eh... forgot I'd be running into them again." She sounded more worried than she should be. So he could only shrug. "It's not a problem. They were a little weird sure but not the worst that I've met." Not by a long shot.

The smile she returned was a genuine one. She liked the fact that he didn't really talk much... it made her feel less like she needed to put effort into seeming more social. Hesitantly, she set an offering of one of her fries out for Ace, before digging into her food too.

It took her significantly less time to eat hers, seeing as she didn't have as much on her plate as him. She dug out her sketch book to fill time, and sectioned off a few pages to doodle out a few of the paintings and sculptures she'd seen so far, for reference. Starting on one, Shelby manged not to zone out fully, and managed to catch the echo of an announcement over the loudspeakers through out the building.

--pologies, the top section will be closing early today due to technical malfunctions, please make sure to use--

She ignored the rest of the announcement, turning to fish out the little guide pamphlet she'd picked up at the front desk... and cursed under her breath at her luck. "Damnit... there was a piece up there I really wanted to see, too."

Ace snagged the offered treat. In the back of his mind Alex could feel just how pleased the bird was. It wasn't often that the constructs were fed anything. Alex often times couldn't afford to share his food on the off chance it'd be more than just a waste. He wondered if there'd ever be a time when he could. It was doubtful, given how he lived. He internally shrugged off the thought and went back to eating. No point in thinking on it if it was never going to happen.

By the time he was finished with most of the food Shelby was distracting herself with a sketchbook, a message flitted over the loudspeaker. Ace corked his head, looking for the source of the loud noise. "Damnit... there was a piece up there I really wanted to see, too."

Alex sipped on his soda thoughtfully, "What's the piece? We could probably sneak up there and take a peek at least." It'd be more fun than just walking away. Besides, what could be so important that they had to shut down an entire floor? Surely not anything too bad.

Blinking at him, she pondered his words before a sly smirk curled her lips. He had a point.

"There's a guy from my home city who has a sculpture on display here. He does this really amazing thing with drift wood... like a mix of carving and a natural eye for shape." She couldn't honestly form the proper words to explain it. For her it was to personal.

"Call it nostalgia, but I think it's the same piece one my of friends modeled for a while back. She went to school with him at one point."

What time had that announcement said the top floor was closing? She hadn't been paying any attention. "Are you sure you want too? I could always come back another day..."

She didn't want to feel like she was guilt tripping him into anything. Heck, she didn't normally consider this type of thing, anyway! But, she was a little over eager for a glimpse of home.