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 Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 12:34 pm
Boy, they were powering through this shopping trip! Toby took the receipt from Maia for safekeeping and followed Maia back out into the mall. He began walking right just to pick a direction so they could begin around the shops. There was a jewelry kiosk and one for cell phone covers and a big department store out by the end.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:32 pm
Maia noticed the phone case place immediately. It seemed the selkie wasn't particularly interested in jewelry. At least not at the moment. "Dari, come look," she beckoned him. "All these pretty colors for phones. And there's one with--" she'd been looking at one with fireworks until she'd noticed one with the ocean and sunset over it. She beamed. "This one! I want this one."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:38 pm
Toby was wary about anything that came from a mall kiosk. Generally they were off-brand and sometimes of poor quality. He bent at the waist to look into the lit cases and then arched a brow at the attendant as he stood. It was just a little bit of Federal Agent Toby to try and judge the situation. They made eye contact briefly.
"Do you want to see it?" the attendant asked Maia.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:47 pm
"Isn't it nice?" Maia asked, admiring it. She was oblivious to Toby's concern, and glanced up to the attendant. "Yes please." She looked at other cases as well. "Hm... Do you guys want one?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:49 pm
"Naw. We've got our own," Toby said. While Maia bent to look at the other cases, the attendant took out the ocean sunset case and Toby accepted it from him. Immediately he inspected it for seams, then ran a fingernail over the corner. Nothing chipped off. A thoughtful frown and a nod. The attendant visibly relaxed.
"Here you go," Toby said, offering it out to Maia. "It looks like good stuff."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:06 pm
Pleased with Toby's approval, Maia took the case and paid the attendant. "Are you guys hungry?" She asked. The question was mostly for Toby's benefit; Dari didn't need to eat, nor did he seem to have the desire to do so. "I'll buy us all an icecream, and if you want to get lunch we could do that."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:12 pm
"Sure, I could eat," Toby agreed. They could get food, put her phone case on, and maybe even get some ice cream. He was a grown man, but there was nothing wrong with a little treat now and again. The older you got, the more you realized how precious life was. It was the little things that mattered after all this time. "You're not paying, though. To the food court? I think the ice cream stand is back downstairs. I think."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:34 pm
Not paying? Maia was somewhat disappointed. Oh well. she would pay next time! "Lets get lunch first," she said. "Lets go." After a moment, her attention was back on the phone case. "You know the guy at the phone case place seemed a little scared of you, Toby. At least nervous. Why? And how do I put this own my phone?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:48 pm
Toby shrugged, as if he had never given the kiosk attendant any sort of questioning glare. "We'll get it on after we sit down. I'll show you."
Within moments they were at the entrance to the food court, full of the usual staples. Desserts tended to be elsewhere in the mall, but that was fine if the plan was to find the ice cream stand. He might want a Slurpee, come to think of it.
"So, what are you feeling like?" Maia hadn't had pizza before so he was willing to bet she had never had Chinese food, and the fast food burgers were bound to disappoint. Her stomach was probably a bit delicate too.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 5:13 pm
Toby seemed to act as if he didn't know what the selkie was talking about. Maybe he didn't and the attendant had a phobia of handsome men. "I don't know, something new?" Maia suggested.
"What do you think?" she asked. "You probably know these places better than me, what's good?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 5:17 pm
Toby looked over the restaurants available and laughed slightly. All of it was terrible. That was why it was in the food court. When it came down to it, fast food might have less grease than the pizza, which was horrifying, and Chinese food was probably somewhat safe.
"Do you want a defrosted burger or some rice with stuff in it?" He turned back to Maia. They maybe should have gone to the restaurant.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 5:54 pm
Neither sounded very good. Maia made a face. "Maybe just ice cream then," she suggested. "Come on, we can stop at shops while we look for it." She reached for Toby's free hand. The food in the food court wasn't worth the time or money to acquire it. And it sounded bad, defrosted burgers?
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:05 pm
Toby laughed. He was almost relieved that Maia wasn't interested in anything here. "No, no. We'll eat. Let's just head down to the restaurant. We can finish walking around up here and then head down, alright?" So they could hit the restaurant on the way out. It'd be a nice end to a productive day.
"A tip for life in general: never eat anything in a food court or from a drive-thru unless desperate."
Dari shook his head. "It's a shame you have to worry about the quality of your food."
"Says the man who once ate most of a hotplate."
"You don't have to deep-fry metal and ceramics."
"I... guess not." Toby laughed.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:47 pm
"Alright," Maia agreed. "You pick where we go next then," She said. "The whole mall, pick one!" There must have been some shop the boys wanted to see. "I like your cooking best, Toby," she complimented. His cooking was certainly better than the hamburger place on the beach.
"What would you like to look at?" She asked.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:03 pm
Not the pet store. Not the jewelry store.
"Uhh..." Toby was having trouble coming up with anything he actually wanted to see in the mall. They'd already been to look at games. What was left? More clothes? He could... buy a new tie? "Today is about you. You don't have to worry about us. Dari?"
The alien shrugged.
At the comment on Toby's cooking he laughed and grinned. "Why, thank you."
Even Dari smiled, but he made eye contact with a stranger shortly after and shut his mouth quickly. Black teeth threw even the most skeptical for a little loop. At least body modifications were fairly common nowadays.
"We could look at laptops?" Toby offered, "Or if you want some... bathroom things?"
"Did you just suggest that all women require elaborate toiletries?"
"Well I don't know!"
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