Music quietly raged from Alice's iPod speakers as her eyes flicked over the words in her book. Her aunt's shop was quiet today, which was a bit odd, but it was still amazingly slow for a Monday morning. Almost reluctantly, Alice tore her eyes away from her book to change the song. Since her aunt had yet to arrive and no one had came in yet, she thought it would be one of the perfect times to play some of her new metal music. Five Finger Death Punch seemed to be this morning's choice.

Just as I.M Sin started playing, the bell to the door rang, signalling a customer. Alice quickly reached over and paused her music, then setting the book down a bit to greet them, only to see it was just her aunt. "Hey, Aunt Beth." she said, lifting up a hand.

"Hi, Alice." was the response as her aunt gave as she walked into the back room to put her stuff up for a while. When she came back, Alice's head was back into her book. It was probably going to be a slow day so who really cared? The book itself was from Stephen King's Gunslinger series. The second one, it looked like, and already Alice was halfway through.

And it was an oddly slow day. Not many customers came in but when they did, they always left happy. Which made both Alice and her Aunt happy. At some point during the afternoon, Alice's aunt went to go make some beautiful jewelry while she managed up front. It wasn't long before the door signaled someone's arrival.

Red eyes glanced up to see greasy looking black hair examining some paintings hanging on a wall. Alice rolled her eyes. Severus wasn't all that good at being subtle. "I didn't think you would be a guy to like paintings." Alice commented.

"Depends on the artist" he replied.

"What're you doin here Severus? I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you I have work today"

"No. My mother did"

"I'm not even going to ask" Alice went back to her book as he walked over. Severus leaned against the counter, raising an eyebrow at the book.

"I thought you were tired of reading" he told her.

Alice set the book down with its marker in place before showing him her hands. They were wrapped in bandages, mainly around her thumb and index finger since she had been playing video games for almost 3 days straight. "Played a little too much of my action games" she commented.

"Wow, Alice. Were you that deprived of them?"

"Yeah I was. Needed to kill a few aliens, take some dragon's souls, behead some zombies and get to the Joker."

"...What? English woman!"

"Ugh.. Halo games, Skyrim, Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, and Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. Happy now?"

"I still have no idea what those are."

Alice shook her head with a small grin playing on her lips. That's how thing's worked between them sometimes. Alice would listen to him rant on about something she didn't know about while she listened and he did the same thing with her.

Thinking quickly, Alice decided tonight would be a good night for some company. She wanted to cook but if she was alone it would just end up being noodles drenched in butter. But maybe with Severus over it would be a better dinner, and why she was thinking about noodles this much, she honestly didn't know. So she made some plans with him to come over later tonight.

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And you're so cynical, Narcissistic Cannibal!
Got to bring myself back from the dead!

Sometimes, I hate, the life, I made
Everything's wrong every time
Pushing on I can't escape
Everything that comes my way
Is haunting me taking its sweet time

Korn raged its way though Alice's speakers as she stirred the alfredo sauce she was making. Severus should be here any moment and she knew she should probably stop with her metal music before something worse came on but she decided against it. She loved her music and didn't care if most people thought it was Devil music or just screaming. There was more to it than that and she knew it.

Alice left the pot for a moment to go repeat the song before the doorbell rang. "Hang on!" she yelled rushing over to the door and opening it to reveal Severus standing at the door. "...interesting choice of music" he commented.

"Oh shut up, get used to it, and get in here. I'm not changing the genre." Alice told him as he stepped in. They walked into the kitchen, Severus watching as Alice finished getting the food ready. They ate in the living room, simply talking and listening to whatever strange metal music came on. Sometimes it was Five Finger Death Punch, Korn, Marilyn Manson, or Disturbed.

Finally at some point in the night, Severus decided if he didn't do what he planned to ask Alice now, he would never do it. He watched as Alice got up for a couple of Pepsis, feeling the small box in his pocket. She came back to sit across from him, handing him the drink. They talked for just a bit longer until Severus went silent for a moment.

"You ok?" Alice asked.

"Hm? Oh, yes. Just thinking." he replied.

"About?"

He was silent for a moment before pulling out the small felt box from his pocket. Alice watched him carefully, not quiet sure what was going to happen. Severus opened the box to reveal a Pokeball based engagement ring. "Alice" he began, "you know I'm not a man who expresses sentiments very often or simple things like that. But you are a very important woman in my life that I want to keep so i have one question for you. Will you marry me?"

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AN: Aaaaaaaaaand cliffhanger! Kinda. Could've made a better one. This chapter was brought to you by the glorious music of Heavy Metal! hope you all enjoyed!