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"I never been there." Cee didn't like hearing the laundry list of places she couldn't go. She apparently had to demonstrate her trustworthiness before she could even go near the east coast. Whatever that meant.

She'd packed a bag, something way nicer than what Ever was packing, and the pair was getting odd looks from the techs because they just didn't look like they should have been hanging together. For all of his lean angles, she was compact curves. For every bit of shabbiness he advertised, she had polished glamour to spare.

"Let's jus'git the ******** oooout." She trilled, as Cee often did, in a falsetto Mariah-Carey-ish manner.

The portal was keyed up by a tech now, taking Ever's last suggestion as the definite one, and each got their pendant tucked snuggly into their clothes. They emerged into a standard city alley, damp and vaguely smelling of pee, but the air... there was nothing like air from off-island. It was a tangible difference and no matter how musty, stanky, or smoggy it always seemed fresh to a ********. YA." Cee literally jumped in place and YELLED.

"Well we're in a alley right?" It was the kind of alley in business districts or higher income city apartments. The kind of place that people congregated in the bright hours of the day. As if on cue the shadows of people walking danced through the light. "People means places to buy s**t."

Cee click-clacked her way down the alley to a partially cloudy day. Currently glowing grey-gold clouds were giving them some shade a cool breeze. "After we get the essentials.." She could make do with a drug store for both of their needs, "Maybe some food er'a club?" Her head tilted, puppyish, "I'll even settle fer a hipster bar where they make good food."

"N'Starbucks.." She had become once more glued to her phone, mostly because this city had wifi and she could browse the real world news. "Ugh.. Ukraine.. UGGHHH Isreal what the ********.. OHOH Kimye baby piiiiics!"

Cee pushed the beautiful child into his face and while he looked she absorbed the environment. Mostly she was people watching, looking for a new trend or a new gadget or maybe just a hottie. "Ya know.." She withdrew the phone and looked up at Ever. Her expression read deadly serious. "I'm startin ta not be able ta tell which dudes are gay and which arnt."

As if on cue a hip group of young black guys walked past in neon sneakers, tight jeans and thick brightly rimmed glasses. Two of them had crazy designs shaved into their heads.

As they passed she lifted her arms and wide-eyed, shook her head mystified.

Cee gave Ever a bemused side eye, almost walked into traffic and put her hand to her mouth. The shrillest, loudest whistle echoed off the buildings and within moments cab pulled up.

The cab ride was quiet but not uncomfortable. Cee scrolled through her phone, lilting out pop culture news more to the ether than to Ever directly.

"That comic con thing just happened." - "Biebs is still a hot mess but he still cute." - "Oh s**t Nicky Minaj album cover! DAYUM."

By the time the cab got them where they were going she seemed content enough to tear her eyes away and put her phone into her handbag. The Walmart was the bigger landmark so they went there first, though Cee had only gone in one once in her life to buy some doritos. "I gotta git like shampoo and makeup. But.." She made a very difficult face, "Ugh I hate havin ta cheap out on my s**t. But this salary aint supportin me right now."

His makeup comment earned a classic, "I cannot even speak to you right now."

Cee actually grimaced at what he was using as a wallet. She silently resigned to find him something else. Perhaps once of those thin things with the elastic bands that flipped like magic and held all your crap plus a key.

"I will prob be quick.. and unless I git distracted," likely, "I will come'n help you witchur clothes." It was implied heavily that he would need it.

Cee spent a few minutes too long in the makeup aisles but Snap seemed good at tightening on her mind whenever she was too tempted by something expensive. She began to hate it and the feeling was enough to drive her away. She had a small carry basket with some shampoo, deodorant, non-generic tampons, a bottle of benadryl and a strategically selected collection of makeup. By the time she'd found Ever Cee'd picked up a pair of super fuzzy rainbow colored socks and found that wallet thing for her friend.

"OK whatchu got? Lay this s**t on me." Was how she announced herself behind him.

"Shame you ain't straight cause you could prob get a good running with America in these things." Cee smirked and snuck in a pack of boxer briefs in an approximate size. They clung better and had less of a chance of junk falling out.

Ever was lucky that Cee was who she was. She seemed adept at shopping for men and even knew which brands sized larger or smaller. "You probly ain't actually cared but now since errybody is a ******** gay-chic like every dudes shirt is tight."

There were workout shirts, graphic tees with things like microphones and boomboxes, and even a section of fake distressed band tees pedalling Led Zeppelin to kids who wanted to seem like rockers. She held them up, waited for his opinion, and usually ended up putting them back. Cee was also quickly realizing how cheap he was being.

"How bout one ******** button up? It can be plaid or camo or whatever tough a** thing you want. Just one???"

"You know I needa change before we go out right?" He was given a look that could kill. "So what you wanna do about a hotel? You wanna get one room or should we get two just in case.." There was a smirk there because this was leave and she was sure as hell looking for a hookup. She didn't mind roping Ever into her sexual plans but was almost positive he wouldn't share her enthusiasm.

A couple button up shirts were held up in front of him on hangars, a white and black plaid and a plain army green. That one was taken and put into the basket before they turned for the registers. "I'll look us up a place.. hotel. And then I'll look up somewhere ta go."

And there she went off into the world of the web while the waited in line. Cee wasn't even considerate enough to look up much when the cashier got to her and only spared a casual glance over her phone to say 'Credit' when prompted to pay.

When they finally stood outside (Cee now looking properly laden with bags thought she handled it with well practiced grace) she looked triumphant. "I got a hotel for less than a hunnert a night and it ain't far... and the pics meet my standards."