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"Italian would be great," Lyserg said. He really did hate German food.

"Great!" Faust said enthusiastically, grabbing a pay phone and making reservations at a fancy Italian restaurant. "Yes... for four, please... at one o'clock, if that's the soonest we can be admitted... thanks... a name? OK, um, Faust." Faust flinched as the earpiece volume increased considerably. "Yes, that Faust.... no, a rolls-royce is completely unnecessary... but I do have three children with me, so accomodations might be made for them... no fuss, please... thanks." Faust hung up.

"Are you a VIP, Faust?" Lyserg asked.

"No... I'm just a man who wants to eat Italian food in good company," Faust sighed.

"Well, it's a little while until one. How long has it been since you've gotten new clothes, Faust?"

"Why do you ask?" Faust inquired guardedly.

"Because that suit looks like your dead father was buried in it."

"Well... we have forty minutes...." Faust said. "Fine. Let's find a department store. And, of course, if you kids see anything you like, I'll get it for you," he offered.

They found a nice men's department store. When the saleswoman saw Faust, she nearly jumped out of her skin. "May I, ah, help you, sir?" she asked, putting her finger on the button that was meant to call security.

"I need a new suit," Faust replied.

"Do you know your size?" the woman asked. Faust shook his head back and forth dejectedly. Sighing, the woman took out a measuring tape and started to take Faust's measurements.

"You do realize that these measurements are not considered healthy for a man your height?" the woman said dryly. "We can try to find something to fit you, but I'm afraid what we have will either be too short or too baggy."

"Let's go with baggy," Faust suggested.

"What color do you want, Faust?" Lyserg asked, helping Netsubo.

"Um... brown?"

"Brown suits scream pathetic," Lyserg said, rolling his eyes. "How about charcoal gray?"

"Black will make him look like he's going to his own funeral," Lyserg argued. "Gray will bring out the blue in his eyes."

"I like black," Faust said helpfully.

Faust took the suits. "Are these the only ones?" he asked the saleswoman.

"Well, as close as we can come to your... extraordinary... proportions," the woman shrugged. "I'll get you a fitting room, and your children can color until you're done deciding."

"Indeed," Faust agreed quickly. "Um... Shizuka, Lyserg and Netsubo should definitely help me decide, I think."