Shopping For Stars (Open)

[Simon Garrett]

Fashion. Shoes. Suits. Elegant jewelry and art galleries. Everything good in the world.

That was the Miracle Mile, the divine realm of shopping delights.

That was where Simon Garrett, in a white suit with a dark blue tie, was currently browsing.

He loved shopping. That was one of the lovely things he shared with his mother. In fact, she was one of the reasons he was currently shopping. You never need a reason to buy a present after all... And, of course, he wanted to get something nice for his godfather. ...And something for his father. And something for Machiavelli.

It really was a wonderful thing, shopping...

The sun was shining down, the weather was perfect and he had three credit cards in his wallet, a limo waiting on his call and apart from the whole 'bat' thing, his life was wonderful...

Almost absently, he looked around, gaze evaluating those around him, passing silent judgement. On the outside he looks like an innocent sixteen year old... on a good day. Occasionally he was mistaken for someone as young as twelve... but inside... well, inside, he's keeping up a sarcastic commentary on... just about everything.

"Oh dear god, whoever told that woman that outfit was attractive needs to hurry up and tell her they hate her..."

The words were soft, muttered under his breath and inspired by the woman in question, rather overweight and wearing a spandex tube top and a pair of leopard print short shorts with blue and orange sandals. He wasn't expecting anyone to hear him.

[Thomas Lyons]

"Let her figure it out for herself, it's more fun to watch."

Tom had a low growl of a voice naturally, him attempting to take a lower tone only made it even harder to understand. Unless, you know, the people within earshot knew him well enough to pick up on what he was saying no matter what tone he took. This was as much an advantage as it was a disadvantage. In public, he only had to lower his voice a bit in order to talk privately around those he knew well. Around people he didn't know that well? They often had to tell him to speak up.

"Chivalry be damned, she looks like a fool."

Even he had exceptions. Seriously. Leopard print? In May? She could have at least waited until July. Or until finals were over. She looked young enough to be a student. Then again, everyone looked young enough to be a student to Tom. The old cat smirked, shifting his own purchases around to his other arm. Why else would he be there if he wasn't shopping? Sure that's not exactly all that he'd bought, there were a few art pieces that were going to be delivered to his house, but the point stood. After uttering a slight, short chuckle, Tom spoke up a bit. Easier to understand. Smalltalk, at the most.

"Have you been to that new gallery a few buildings down from Cohen's yet? A bit brash of them to open so close to another gallery, but I suppose there's not exactly much space to work with in this town."

[Simon Garrett]

Tom! His lips curved up into a wide and genuine grin and he absently adjusted his tie to make sure it looked perfect.

The low growl had been a constant of his childhood and even now it made him feel safe and secure.

"Fool is a kinder word then I was thinking but really, that outfit is a crime against fashion." He murmured before his voice grew louder.

"I haven't. I was thinking I might find something new for the office today, so I might consider browsing that direction. I do like helping Mommy make sure the decorating doesn't stagnate. There's a new boutique where Del-Ore's used to be. Hopefully it'll be better then what it's replacing. Honestly, what were those people thinking? I have to wonder if they were trying to market to the blind..."

Surely no one else would have worn those clothes. He was all for staying on the cutting edge while attending to the classics, but that wasn't the cutting edge. That was... well, that was velvet animal print and plaid in the same piece of clothing, the most unflattering asymetry he'd ever laid eyes on and horribly unpleasant colors in shades so bright they glowed. Not ever his mother could have pulled those outfits off.

"So, what brings you out today? Continuing the endless war with Mommy?"

[Thomas Lyons]

Even with his scars, Tom was glad his voice still managed to ring true to some.

"It's a pending assault case against anyone with eyes, but you and I both know I leave the more pointed insults on the shelf until they're out of my own hearing range, Simon."

That he did. Heck, he'd probably been a small influence on how the boy acted now, really. Never so much as his mother had been, of course, but Tom had played a minor part at least.

"I don't even think that's a case either of us could win on defence. Not that I think either of us would actually take it. Who would?"

The walking fashion disaster was out of what he considered earshot, so he felt a little bit more at ease with muttering insults. Poor choice in clothes aside, Tom didn't really like hurting anyone's feelings unless he felt they deserved it. Which honestly, wasn't all too often. Words were as powerful as any weapon in the law game. They could defend, attack, even kill if you uttered the right ones at the right time. So he reserved his for the proper moment.

"Anything would be better than that wonderful little shop."

You could practically hear his eyes roll.

"Oh, I was picking up a few new pieces for my own office. And for the wardrobe, of course. I never could resist adding to either."

Luckily his impulse buys were far wiser and more than likely far more elegant than leopard print and plaid. He wouldn't mention the constant battling he and Madam Garrett-Schmitt went through, not until after he'd dropped off his most recent answer.

[Simon Garrett]

Wrinkling his nose ever so slightly, Simon took the slight critisim with much better grace then if had been delivered by anyone other then his mother.

They had, after all, been the guiding influences in his life. Certainly as much as he was fond of his father, Tom had always been more important, more of a force shaping his personality.

"Yes Tom. But really, it deserved it. I was merely acting in self defense. And I know at least one person that would take it. Mummy told me about an atrocious little rat of a man who's been making comments. She said she's been looking for a suitable case to crush him with."

Simon gave his godfather an impish little grin. After all, between the two of them he was sure they'd find a suitable case, and that would make both of them happy. And Simon did love to make them happy. More then anything else to be honest.

At the comment about the now gone horror, he giggled a bit.

"Would you rather have seen a Costco there? Have you had any interesting cases lately? Mommy said you're taking on Versi cases and she thinks you're both crazy and smart. What with setting precedents and such. Oh. And she wanted me to tell you she got you some cat toys."

He couldn't help but smirk a bit.

He loved the eternal war, loved his ringside seat to the competition and learning from the interplay.

What better way to learn to perfect his poker face?