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Tristan was doing something similar. He was shopping for a group of people, but in a different sense. He'd been performing on the streets of the city for a while now, and collected quite a bit of money. He wanted to purchase each of his family members a gift. He'd so far had no luck. What did one buy for people who were happy with what they had? Timmy had managed it, for Christmas. He'd managed last year, too.

He wandered the road, looking at the shops. He wondered what Fluff would like. Despite having been in the family a year now, he still felt closest to his brother. They were roughly the same age. Maybe a stuffed animal? No, that was more Teddy's thing, wasn't it? Maybe a book? He was sure he could find something Fluff'd be interested in.

He noticed Mariette, and a bright smile replaced the thoughtful expression he'd been wearing previously. "Hello," he greeted her.

New in town? Tristan seemed surprised by the question. His expression became puzzled as he considered it, smile slowly slipping from his face. "New, huh. Kind of, I suppose. I moved into my mother's house about a year ago. I lived with someone else until then, and we lived in a different part of the area." And before that, he'd been a wild pokemon, wandering the streets and scavenging in bushes. "I'm Tristan," he added, smile reclaiming the majority of his face.

"I haven't seen you before," he observed. She was a bug type, and was clearly having trouble expressing herself; at least facially. Body language was something entirely different; something Tristan had had to train himself in, as he wanted to be an actor. Actors often had to make their body language larger than life, enabling even those who could not see their expressions to read their emotions.

"I was looking for gifts for my family, but I give up. Want to try acting out a part with me? I bet you'd be good at it."

"Don't worry about it," Tristan said, shaking his head. He wasn't at all bothered by the mistake; he'd been a bit confused. "I've never seen you either, but then I don't get out much either--I'm usually in some disguise, you know. People don't often see me as me." He grinned, gesturing at himself. It wasn't common for him to go out on the streets in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but it was nice. "Clubs, huh? Can't say I've been in one of them."

"Nice to meet you, Mariette." He'd never been into the club she mentioned; he would have to visit sometime. "Yeah, for my family. I can't find them anything good, though. My family's always been happy with what they have, they don't really think much about what they don't have. So it's hard for me to know what they'd want. They're so happy now, what could make them happier?"

A safe place for people like them? Tristan had never felt different from any other person, but then he had spent the majority of his life with a family that ignored those differences. "I'll have to visit," he said. It would be nice to meet other people, maybe he would find someone he could become friends with. Maybe he'd find someone special.

He seemed startled by Mariette's question. "Rich?" he echoed, shaking his head. "Nah. Not rich. I mean, I wish." He wished they were rich; then maybe Dea would have had all the treatment she needed. He hated seeing the woman who'd taken him in, hurting. "Maybe, that might work." He smiled at her. "I bet mom would like chocolate."

Tristan nodded. He'd have to check that out, now he was old enough to get in. At least, he thought he was old enough. Did he have to be an adult, though? He wasn't sure. He'd never tried. "Maybe I'll see you there, and you can show me around," he offered. He wasn't sure he approved of a girl Tania's age working, but, maybe she needed the money. Maybe they had her doing small things.

"Chocolate, I think. I can work on getting other gifts another time." He smiled. "Come on, maybe I have enough so we can each get something too." There was a candy store not too far away, and if he bought fudge for Dea, he was sure he could get them each a small bag of variety candy.

"What? Oh, no. I meant I could get you something. I wouldn't expect you to get me something. We just met!" He shook his head at her. "But I have some money from acting, so I thought you might like something, and I could get something--we could eat while I help you." He'd promised, hadn't he? And candy always helped him into a good mood. Maybe it'd help her, too.

He offered her his hand. "Come on, it's not far," he said, smiling. "Then we can come back to the square and I can help you with your acting ability, okay?" Maybe she would perform with him, one day! He'd like that.

"I dunno, because I'm older and I want to?" Tristan shrugged. He'd thought candy would have been a good treat for them to share. It was cheap, and it tasted good. "Because we're friends now?" he suggested, awkwardly.

He hesitated, seeming to think of a solution. "I know you can't," he said, "You're one of those who have their emotions show other ways. Lots of people are like that. That's why actors have to be larger than life, and really show their emotions with their body language. They have to move around and show if they're angry with their arms, or show that they're excited with their movements. Back when Shakespeare was around, it was just a small stage. They didn't have a microphone or anything! But not everyone could see their facial expressions, I bet. That's only part of it. There's all sorts of things you can do to show you're happy, or sad or mad." He gave a stomp for demonstration. "See? If I do that, people are going to think I'm mad. But I'm not."