Alec blinks, mouthing helicopter?! like he's not actually sure he heard that right. He will process her offer to go out into town with him in a moment, right now he's busy with the follow-up.
Because her reaction is, a lot, in general. He belatedly considers that maybe he should be more careful about his tone, but holds a hand up to hopefully try to de-escalate the situation either way. He's got younger siblings, so he's not unaccustomed to Drama™, but also it's probably not particularly acceptable to just trap a strange teenage girl in a headlock until she chills out if she gets too out of hand like he absolutely would feel comfortable doing to Jace or his little sister. (What else are older brothers for, after all?)
But she should definitely get new clothes that don't look like they've been through a woodchipper with her, regardless of whatever he's up to, so while he's not exactly going to contradict her he still interjects: "Okay, calm down." He still sounds a touch exasperated, but honestly he's making an effort here! He's not in diplomat mode, and he tends to be a little catty even when he actually is, so. "Did you get a giftcard, too?" He gets the feeling that, like himself, she is not from around here. Call it a hunch.
ope sorry this is so late! was out of town during tdm week, bad luck
Because her reaction is, a lot, in general. He belatedly considers that maybe he should be more careful about his tone, but holds a hand up to hopefully try to de-escalate the situation either way. He's got younger siblings, so he's not unaccustomed to Drama™, but also it's probably not particularly acceptable to just trap a strange teenage girl in a headlock until she chills out if she gets too out of hand like he absolutely would feel comfortable doing to Jace or his little sister. (What else are older brothers for, after all?)
But she should definitely get new clothes that don't look like they've been through a woodchipper with her, regardless of whatever he's up to, so while he's not exactly going to contradict her he still interjects: "Okay, calm down." He still sounds a touch exasperated, but honestly he's making an effort here! He's not in diplomat mode, and he tends to be a little catty even when he actually is, so. "Did you get a giftcard, too?" He gets the feeling that, like himself, she is not from around here. Call it a hunch.