Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me

Search by :  Username E-mail Region Interest AOL IM ICQ Number Yahoo! ID MSN Username Jabber

Theodore Horațiu (antiqueroman) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-02-25 02:20:00

Who: Horatio and Glinda.
When: Saturday before Valentine’s Day.
Where: A shopping centre near you.
What: Apparently Horatio doesn’t know how to shop for himself.
Rating: PG (at the highest).
Status: Complete




Theo never really tried to play up certain stereotypes, but when it came to shopping, he was definitely a typical man. He just wanted to get in and get out, and while he appreciated the art of looking good, he never really saw the point in putting plenty of effort into it. But he did need a new pair of shoes, which was enough to make him find his way to a department store.

The shoes were easy enough to find. Too easy, really, and he couldn’t justify making the drive for a five minute excursion. Besides, when was the last time he actually bought something new? Eventually he found himself bringing not only the shoes to the cashier, but a couple of new shirts and a new jacket. Comfortable professor attire.

If you were looking at stereotypes then Glinda was definitely a typical girl, she adored shopping and did it quite often. To relieve boredom, cheer herself up or even with others for a little bit of fun. She absolutely agreed in the phrase ‘retail therapy’. And when it came down to it she could afford it so why not.

She had picked out a lovely pink dress, similar to the one she was wearing, and was waiting in line to pay when she noticed the man in front of her. Before she could even think to stop herself, not that she really would have, she stepped forward, “Please tell me you weren’t going to take this poor mans money” she chastised the cashier before turning to the man with a bright smile, “Honestly, those colors are terrible” she told him not unkindly as she placed her hand on his arm, “They do nothing for you.”

He blinked for a moment, looking between the poor girl at the checkout and this woman, then to the items in his hands.

“Oh,” Theo said, because what else could he say? “I think they’ll be all right. Really.”

Glinda looked at him slightly startled before smiling once again and letting out a laugh, "Oh bless you" she said before adding more seriously, "Really you can't buy them"

She swept the clothes off the cashiers desk and moved off before turning back to him,"Well come on then, I'm going to help you" she smiled.

He looked back at the cashier, who just shrugged, then hurried to catch up.

"You really don't have to. Honestly."

And he was suddenly struck by how much taller than her he was, and he nearly laughed.

"Really. I think I'll manage with what I have."

“Oh I know that’s what makes me so nice” she smiled up at him - he really was quite tall - “Why manage when I can help? After all you’re here now, it won’t hurt” she may be little but she wasn’t easy to sway once she had her mind set on something.

“I don’t know. I suppose I just got so used to managing.”

Theo decided to just play along. After all, what harm could it do? And it’d certainly be a good story for some time later.

“Do I at least get to know the name of such a generous woman?” he asked.

“Well you know what they say, change is good and all of that. I’m not sure who they are though” she replied, wondering for a moment before shrugging.

She smiled upon realising he wasn’t arguing any longer, “Oh of course” she laughed, “I’m Glinda” she introduced herself, “And you?” she asked as they reached the menswear section.

“They also say to thine own self be true,” he replied, cracking a grin. “Theodore. It’s a pleasure.”

“Well in that case let’s just ignore them and see if we can’t have a little shopping fun” she replied with a grin of her own, “Nice to meet you Theodore”

“Do you do this a lot? Intervene at department checkouts and save all manners of people from probable fashion faux pas? I’m not on some strange television show, am I?” He laughed, albeit a bit nervously. He was just too polite to not let her do as she pleased.

She let out a tinkle of laughter as she replaced the clothes he'd picked and began to browse. "This is the first time actually" she admitted, "You just seemed so unknowingly desperate for my help" she teased as she picked out two new shirts before continuing on.

"Definitely no reality shows, I mean please they are so tacky"

“I’ve never been called unknowingly desperate before and had it sound so sweet.” Theo followed her around, holding out his arms to offer to hold whatever it is she pulls off the racks. “I don’t really ever need more than a jacket to wear now and then, depending on the lecture I’m giving. I’ve never given clothes much thought before beyond buy and wear.”

She flashed him a smile, she hadn’t meant it as an insult so she was glad he hadn't taken it that way, Glinda had a habit of simply saying whatever was in her head., without much of a filter. She happily pulled things from racks to have him hold, “Oh don’t worry, not many people do. But really the right clothes can keep peoples attention more than anything you say” she replied, “You’re a professor then?” she asked having picked up on him mentioning giving lectures.

“Er. Yes. At UCLA - And I should hope they’re paying more attention to what I say than what I wear.” Theo flashed her an amused look, then looked at the growing pile in his arms. “Wow.”

“Oh they probably are, but if the clothes gain their interest then it can only work in your favour” she replied, before waving her hand at the clothes, “Oh don’t worry, I just want to try out colors on you. It’s much easier if you try them on rather than hold them up” she explained as she began leading them to the changing rooms, “So what is it you teach? I’m guessing literature or something in that area”

“That makes sense.” She’d probably have to stand on a stool to hold anything up to him, so, no trying them on was definitely the more reasonable choice.

“No - I mean, sometimes, if it comes up in a course. European studies and international relations, actually.” Theo says it with a bit of pride, because who wouldn’t be proud about picking a path and following through on it? “I mostly teach the research courses, so right now I’m doing politics in nineteenth century European literature. It’s more exciting than it sounds.”

She really would and even then it would still be a stretch on her tiptoes. Besides what red blooded woman would pass up the opportunity to see an attractive man wear these clothes, and Theodore was definitely attractive.

“It sounds pretty specialised” she told him, “I’m afraid when it comes to politics you’ll find I’m your stereotypical blonde” she grinned, “And throw europe in the mix and I’m even more lost” Glinda wasn’t stupid but she knew her strengths and academia wasn’t one of them.

“It’s definitely not for everyone. Still, I like pushing my students to think outside the box.” Theo smiled at Glinda and shrugged a little. “What do you do, then? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“Oh I’m sure you’re a very good teacher” she replied, if his students were taking his classes they must be interested in the subject anyway and he must obviously enjoy it a lot in order to specialise in it.

She laughed lightly, “I shop, attend parties and premieres” she shrugged, “I was a model for a while but it got incredibly boring and now, well now I don’t really have a ‘job’” she told him.

“So you’re a professional socialite. That’s exciting.” He grinned, then laughed a bit himself. “Still, I bet you never have a dull moment, do you?”

Glinda smiled, it wasn’t often that she met someone who didn’t end up mocking her life so she knew he must be a good guy when he was quite sweet about her lack of job. “Oh I try not to” she told him, “Life’s too short anyway so I intend to make sure mine is packed with fun things. Now I think we’re ready” she told him as she added one last shirt to the pile of clothes, “Changing time” she added in a sing song voice.

“Changing time,” he echoed, less sing-song and slightly apprehensive. He followed her toward the fitting rooms and shrugged at the person there, then turned back as he was being led to his. “Do you really want to see me in all of this?”

Glinda raised an eyebrow, “Honey, I’d see you in or out of them” she teased, “But I think you’d prefer in” she winked as she took the clothes from him and hung them up. Taking the first outfit she handed it to him and gestured to the first changing room.

Theo could feel his cheeks turn slightly pink and he just cleared his throat, doing as he was told. In the changing room, he pulled on the outfit and paused a moment to ask him what, exactly, he was doing. Then he resigned himself to the fact that he’d come this far, what was a bit more vague humiliation. Not that she made it humiliating, she was very nice about it all, so he owed her something for her kindness.

“All right. Please don’t laugh at me,” he said, stepping out of the room.

“Now why on earth would anyone laugh at you? You look great” Glinda told him honestly as she took in his appearance, “That color looks so much better on you and you look far less stuffy than you would have in the things you picked out” She walked around him taking in the fit of the trousers (in truth they could be a little tighter but there was another pair that should be just that) and the cut of the shirt (which really was much nicer).

"I'd hate to look stuffy." He tried not to fidget too much under the scrutiny, and was, for the most part, pleased he looked better. Even if he didn't think he needed to improve. "Have you thought about taking personal shopping as a profession?"

It wasn’t really that he needed improving, Glinda just thought he could look just as nice in a different way. She paused at the question, “You know I haven’t. I spend so much time shopping anyway, I guess it wouldn’t be much of a change. I mean I’ve used plenty of personal shoppers in my time too, it’s always quite good fun” she regarded him seriously, “You really think I could?”

“Well, why not?” He raised his eyebrows at her and shrugged. “You enjoy doing it, and you’re obviously good at it. You may as well get paid to do something that’s already a part of your day to day life, right?”

Glinda wasn’t used to people having faith in her, nothing had ever really been expected of her so she’d never thought too much about what she could do. Beyond her little stint at modeling.

She gave him a bright smile, “Thank you” she told him, “It’d definitely be a lot of fun. Maybe more for me than the ones I’m helping” she winked, “Though I guess they’d chose my help rather than having it thrust upon them”

“It’s true. And I don’t mind it. You’ve got a wonderful disposition that makes this is a bit easier to handle,” he said, teasing a little. “I think I’ll go change into the next outfit, now.”

Theo retreated into the dressing room and began changing into the next outfit, though he had to let out an amused puff of breath.

“Are these pants meant to be tight?”

Glinda grinned, “I find people are much more likely to say yes if you ask with a smile” she said before he disappeared into the cubicle once more.

She laughed at his question, “Some were more form fitting than others” she replied, “I’m sure you’ll look just fine”

Theo peeked out from around the door at her, eyebrows raised.

“I think I’m a bit too old to be wearing things like this,” he said as he opened the door all the way. He didn’t have quite enough in him to step out into the hallway properly, because he simply wasn’t to use the cuts of well-fitting clothes. While it might, in fact, be perfect, it feels like there’s not enough room for him to breathe.

“Be honest, then. How is it?”

“Nonsense” Glinda replied when he mentioned being too old, “I’d never put you in clothes that are too young for you” she added in reassurance.

“It looks damn near perfect” she told him honestly stepping closer since he didn’t move to come out, “But the look on your face is telling me you’re not in the least bit comfortable”

He laughed.

“Damn, am I that transparent?” Theo turned his head a little to view himself in the fitting room mirror, then nearly put his face in his hands. “It’s just very new to me. I trust you when you say it’s not bad.”

“It’s far better than ‘not bad’” she assured him, “But theres no point in buying clothes you aren’t going to be comfortable in, that’s as bad as buying clothes that don’t fit” she added, “You need to still be yourself” she smiled before teasing, “It is a crying shame though because honey that ass needs to be seen”

He was certain that he could feel his cheeks turn bright red, and he ducked his head a little to try and let it pass.

“Er. Thank you. Maybe I’ll consider it some day down the road.”

“I’m just playin’ with ya” she told him with a grin, he really was quite adorable, “We’ll work you up to the tight trousers”

“So this is going to be a common occurrence.” Theo laughed a little. “I guess there are worse things to look forward to in a month.”

“Everybody needs a best friend and I’ve decided you’re going to be mine” she told him simply, “Unless you already have one?” she added as an afterthought.

“You’re in luck. I don’t. I find it hard to believe that you don’t have one already, though.” He raised his eyebrows, amused.

“Then good, that’s settled” she grinned, “Oh I have friends and acquaintances and people I have to talk to in social circumstances but no best friend, until now” she smiled.

“I’m flattered. This is turning out to be a profitable weekend for me.” He grinned right back at her. “I’m going to get changed again now.”

“Yes do” she nodded shooing him in, “Notice you became more comfortable as you got used to the clothes” she pointed out cheekily before he disappeared from view.

“Like any red-blooded American man,” he said from the fitting room, “I do know how to appreciate attention from the opposite sex, regardless of how ridiculous I feel.”

Theo laughed and tried on a few more things, eventually emerging with neat little pile of clothes.

“So, this is all appropriate, then?” he teased.

His statement caused Glinda to chuckle, he didn’t look at all ridiculous but, of course, if you felt that way it was very hard not to believe you didn’t.

She nodded with a grin, “I approve of it all” she told him, “And I won’t be the only one either, you’ll see”

“I’ll take your word for it, otherwise you’ll be getting an upset phone call.” He laughed.

“Not gonna happen” she told him confidently, “The only call I’ll get is one of gratitude when people comment on how amazing you look. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get hit on more either” she teased, looking at him with a sly smile on her face.

He laughed again, a bit more nervous this time, and he started walking back to the check out so she couldn’t quite see the blush on his cheeks.

“Well. Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves,” he joked.

“We’ll see” she replied happily.

“Mmhm.” Theo shook his head and handed his things over to the girl at the register, who politely said nothing about the impromptu shopping spree. When he took his bags, he looked over at Glinda.

“Well. Thank you, again, for this. Really. It was very kind of you.”

“Thank you for letting me take over your shopping” Glinda replied with a smile, “Next time we’ll make a day of it” she winked.

“Next time.” He laughed and then gave her a bit of a wave. “I’ll let you get on with your day, then. And I’m certain I’ll be seeing you around.”