Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Aha. Got out." Serah was behind a wall by the time she sneaked out of her Crystal Academy field trip. It was to some sort of stuffy museum but who would go to such a place when they had such great shops nearby? THe meager time Crystal Academy allowed for break during trips was not enough to walk there and shop and then walk back. Perhaps it allowed time or about half the activities she planned to do, Serah thought dully.

Here was the store she had seen on the way there. She wore a snugly fit sweater over the top of her Crystal Academy uniform, although the blue skirt could still be seen underneath. But nobody around the area seemed to particularly care as she made her way to her target. All the collectibles in the display window-- these were frivolous things that appeals to ninety nine percent of any girl's maiden heart. Sparkling brown eyes gazed through the display window at the array of perfume and trinkets that stood before her.

Her eyes caught with another's, she almost assumed hew as the clerk or cashier in the empty store. But judging form his words, he turned out to be another customer. She waved back, shaking her head at his question, indicating she hadn't been looking at that object. What a nice guy-- not too much people waved at a stranger through a window.

She realized in a moment that she should actually you know-- go into the store and converse, instead of doing it through a glass window? Which she promptly did, walking through the door. She took the red box from him, putting it back in the display window.

"Oh, this isn't the brand you want." She said softly, mindful of any store employees nearby. But there didn't appear to be any of the moment, her forward manner causing her to address him with familiarity. "It's quite a horrid brand unless you're going for the typically male choice of a gaudy and flamboyant type of brand..?" She said skeptically, finding it her duty to prevent this male from making a disastrous mistake. She guessed that he was looking for something, judging by his previous confusion as he sifted through the items.

Serah nodded as if she understood, making an "ahh" sound. But then she shook her head, thinking that what he might be referring to wasn't what she was referring to.

"Are you just talking about someone hard to describe or a girl with preference for other girls? Because for us crystal girls, we tend to think the latter." Serah informed him in a questioning tone, one eyebrow lifted in a strange expression. She deducted that he was buying a gift for a girl. (As if that wasn't obvious!) "If it's the first option, I'd say give me a word or two on her and I'll do my best to work my magic. Crystal girls are infamous for their shopping habits, after all!" She said confidently and cheerfully, a hand spread out at her chest as if to boast.

And who could blame her for boasting? After all, it seemed like Crystal Academy girls hardly had any other life but shopping. Sure, the select few did. And the common rich few didn't. If you asked which category SHE was placed into, she would tell you in the middle. Leaning towards the rich girl side.

She joined in on his laughter as well. Quite good to know that he wasn't a awkward guy who took it the wrong way-- not that she would have changed her manner if he did anyways. He was a good guy, Serah decided.

She made a gesture, her fingers tapping her chin in a thinking gesture, trying to determine the sort of item such a girl might appreciate. But his question interrupted her train of thought, a small pause filled the air, seconds passing by. She gave him an innocently bright smile, brown eyes staring up to look at him mischeviously.

"Well, see.. About that. I may or may not have decided to take an extremely extended break time." She said cheerfully, quite proud of herself for her "smart excuse." She continued on, picking up an item from the display, examining it. No good.

"It's really quite amazing what you can do with a hat and some sunglasses." She patted her lumpy bunny bag with a satisfied look, leaving the other little to guess about how she escaped from her school. "Would you like to try them on?" She asked, quickly displaying an overly large hat accompanied by large sunglasses that seemed like it would cover half of Serah's small framed face.

"Thanks for the cooperation. It's always great to find a partner-in-crime." She winked back, the lumpy items leaving her bunny bag mostly empty and light. She couldnt help but chuckle, trying to do so politely and discreetly, but failing as giggles escaped the hand covering her mouth.

"I thought you looked like a suspicious stalker that has too much time on his hands or a movie star in a horribly bad disguise but that works. In fact, it made me look so embarrassing that nobody from Crystal even tried to look at me." Oddly, she shouldn't have seemed proud of that but it was a little sad that she was. But it was certainly an accomplishment. After all, very little people went out of their way to look -- you know-- horrible?

"Off to find this gift for your Crystal girlfriend." She picked up two necklaces from the display, lifting it up for him to see. She held two delicate designs in her hand, brown eyes looking up at him. "What color do you think she'll like uh..--" She trailed off hesitantly, not quite sure what to address him by. "-- Mister kidnapper?"

"Jude's a nice name. Unusual, but nice. I'm Serah." She briefly introduced herself, the chance for a formal introduction was dismissed. Neither of them seemed to have a great affinity for formality anyways. "A thing for red, huh?" She put the necklaces down, reminding herself to pick up one of them later. She moved on to a different section, motioning for Jude to come. Brilliant idea, go!

Rings.

"How about a ring? Girls are suckers for that. It doesn't matter if they're Crystal Academy or not. If she's not the ring person, perhaps she can wear it on a chain?" She pointed to a large assortment of rings, all in various design and sizes. She picked one up herself, trying it out on one of her fingers. Serah stared at a rose quartz stone briefly before looking at Jude for his input. If this girl of his didnt want a ring, then Serah had to debate what a Crystal girl might like. Sure, Serah liked stuffed animals but she was pretty sure that not everyone shared those tastes.

Last resort could be a red elmo who told the girl that she was beautiful about ten times a day. That might work. Or something along those lines.

She scratched her head, wondering what sort of ring that girls liked. Or more specifically, the girl in question. She looked over the rings with a frown, her tone was not entirely certain. "A simple one I guess..? She doesn't sound like the girl who's going to be wearing a ton of rhinestones or flowers." She shifted away from the spot, allowing Jude to examine the set for himself.

"Why don't you pick a ring, Mr. Jude? Your girlfriend won't be happy if another girl helped you select it. Although if you're having trouble deciding between certain ones, I can probably give you helpful advice." She added helpfully, before wandering off and leaving the poor guy to his own sense of aesthetic taste for the daunting task.

She could be seen awhile later wandering the store with an entire armful of various items that seemed completely useless to the average person. Her pile consisted of stuffed animals, trinkets, stickers and overall, items that radiated adorableness in waves.

Mr.Kidnapper-- Jude came up to her, as she started to pack the items in a small basket given to shoppers. She didn't turn as Jude directed his question towards her, kneeling on the ground to arrange a stuffed animal or two, here and there. She took her time answering, making sure that the small items didn't fall to the bottom or through the basket.

"Some of these are gifts. Most of the rest.. Well, count on a Crystal Academy girl to spend her money uselessly, right?" She smiled up at Jude, having no problems being stereo-typed into the shopping section of common traits for Crystal girls. In fact, she publicly advertised the fact. She saw no shame in the flaw whatsoever. She straightened up, unfolding from her sitting posture, brushing the dust and dirt from her knees.

"So let me see what your manly aesthetic tastes led you to. I do trust that it's probably of decent taste." She took a look at the three rings, all with similar red jewels, in his hand, selecting it one by one, giving each a critical glance, examining the decoration as if it were a life-or-death choice.