Re: [The Capital Mall: Atticus & Janus]
"No one checks to see if you're you." Atticus was making assumptions. Didn't actually shop in person to be certain, but remembered his mother using his dad's card all the time. Assumed it was his dad's. "Would just assume Steve is Atticus McVickers. Looks like he could be an Atticus?" Steve did not look like an Atticus. At least Atticus didn't think Steve looked like an Atticus. Looked like a Steve.
None of that was relevant when Janus reacted to the prolong scratching of furred belly. Atticus smiled. Was a smirk, really. Was the smirk of a man who knew why he was being watched, who approved. Had come along way in a few years. When he'd first moved to Repose, he'd refused to even place a toe out of the closet. Now look at him.
But Ricardo interrupted. Thanks, Ricardo. Atticus scowled at him.
Atticus took what Janus offered. Tried on the shirt. Tried on the slacks. Made certain to take his time putting on both items of clothing. Wasn't hard, since Atticus was always slow at everything. Lethargy was settled bone-deep, and he did buttons and zipper up over boxers with sleepy fingers. Wasn't surprised he was expected to go do a little turn on the catwalk, as the song said, and was lazy about that too. Up. Down. And then a shrug of shoulders. What next?
Next came more items of clothing, all of which Atticus slumped into with increasing laziness. Could be he was tired. Could be he liked being looked at. Could be both. Either way. He walked his way up and down a few times. Then he gave up the walking altogether and just stopped in front of Janus, knee to knee, turned there, and then tried on something new.
There were still more items to try when he waved Ricardo off. Done. And he sat himself down on the raised lip that led to the circles of mirrors. Didn't bother with a chair. Was wearing a pair of slate dress pants and a charcoal sweater, and he just nodded at the shirt draped over Janus' arm. "Done. Now, you." Wasn't a request. Was entitled. Was as entitled as someone with an AmEx black card burning a hole in their pocket should be.