Friday, Aug. 30th 1996 - before noon - Adrian has been shopping
After breakfast, Adrian decided to finally do something else than buying breakfast with his muggle money. He wasn't exactly sure yet, how much £300 was but by looking at the notes, he had a feeling they were worth enough for what he had in mind.
If not, he'd just have to get more.
He needed some muggle clothes and perhaps some shoes. Something that looked like the stuff people, he saw in the morning when he ran with the dogs, wore. His running gear was pretty neutral, so he hadn't earned himself any looks yet, other than the occasional girl casting an interested glance in his direction.
But for the rave he would need something else than running gear. He had t-shirts. He knew that was a steady part of muggle fashion, because he saw them all over. And his trousers were pretty neutral as well, although not with that zipper, but with buttons.
Dressing in a blue t-shirt and a pair of grey trousers, he felt ready. His wand was securely stashed in its sheath and the money was in his pocket. He was ready.
As he went out in the hallway, he glanced at Roger's door. He hadn't seen him since yesterday afternoon and had even waited a bit for him this morning, before going on his run. Roger hadn't showed up. Perhaps he'd run into some old friends and had gotten himself drunk. That would explain why he was obviously still sleeping. Adrian decided to drop by when he came back.
After putting the dogs in the garden and saying goodbye to Mrs. C., he went outside and apparated to a small dark back alley he knew, not very far from the Leaky Cauldron. He quickly scanned his surroundings, but nobody had seen him.
He wandered aimlessly through centre of London, looking at shops and the odd people, some of them so odd, they could've been mistaken for magical creatures. Several shops had clothes he thought was suitable, but when he looked at the prices, he realised that £300 might not be as much as he thought.
As he came a bit away from the exclusive shops, he saw more weirdness, but definitely also manageable prices. Finally he found a shop where the muggle weirdness was minimal, the clothes his taste and the prices were okay.
He entered it and looked around. Electric lights everywhere and he couldn't help his eyes from wandering upwards to the bright spots from time to time, as he moved around. Suddenly a male voice coming from behind, asking him if he needed help with anything, startled him and he jerked around. He found himself face to almost face with a young, very smiling, somewhat handsome and rather short man. Alex, as he cheerfully presented himself. Adrian couldn't have cared less about his name.
He looked around, then back at Alex, who seemed to be checking him out a bit - of course, he could also just be figuring out size and taste - and explained he needed a jacket... or a coat. Something not too hot.
Before he knew it, he found himself in a flurry of activity, as the sales man - and now Adrian was very convince, also gay man - nearly dragged him round the store, showing him different models, prattling on about how faaabulous he would look in them. Also a few shirts were picked out, oddly enough Alex had picked predominantly red for those without even asking. Well, red worked will with him.
After trying on the clothes, Adrian had settled on one dark grey coat. A somewhat severe style, but not too flashy and very comfortable to wear. And several handy pockets inside and outside. He hadn't really thought any of the shirts were something for him. Too expensive, tight or just plain... wrong on him. But when he told Alex, he was surprised by the reaction and also a tiny bit annoyed, to be told - in no uncertain terms - to put the short sleeved on again, and show it to Alex. Adrian looked at him for a moment but the man didn't back down one bit. He just looked stubbornly at Adrian and pointed at the changing room. Adrian turned around and went back in.
When Adrian emerged and saw the very interested look in Alex's eyes, he decided he had been wrong. He definitely needed this shirt. No matter the price. Well, he actually wouldn't be able to buy anything else at all. No shoes then. Not a problem.
At the counter, he pulled out the money, ignoring the look the sales man gave him, and handed them over. The couple of coins he got back held less interest than the bag he received with his new clothes inside. As he touched it, he remembered what it was. Plastic. Damn, he hadn't touched something like that for a long time. As smooth as lambs skin really, but cold and... crinkly somehow.
As he glanced at Alex, he realised he was acting suspiciously, eyeing a plastic bag as if it was something special, which it really wasn't for muggles. Quickly he left and without investigating the bag, made his way into a back alley and apparated to the alley behind the boarding house.
First he brought the bag into his room and threw it on the bed, then he went over and knocked on Roger's door. He was rather curious about what the man had been up to last night. He waited for Roger to respond.