We Are Living In A Material World...

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

If Grant had any doubts about whether or not he would be accepted back into the Titans, they have long since passed. Donna's rescue mission to Newark, the flight home, the briefing with Kory and Vic, and a talk with a very happy nine-year-old almost made it seem like he'd never been gone. Almost. Certain things had changed significantly in the last few years: Lian was four years older, there was a new Tower in San Francisco Bay, and there's apparently a new Titans apprentice who makes a mean bowl of pasta. Two days ago, he'd been wondering whether he'd have to sleep on a park bench somewhere in New Jersey. Apparently, one really can go home again. Even Lian had known that he would come back.

Grant had slept, heavily, until rather late in the morning. There could be some early days around here, he remembers, particularly when Roy decided it was time for some pre-dawn outdoor training. And, somehow, Grant never got the briefing about such training sessions, so he always showed up with his hair in some rather extreme state of disorder, bleary-eyed and yawning. Those counted among the times when Grant really hated Roy. Today, however, he was allowed to wake up at his leisure, shower, change - somehow someone had found jeans and a t-shirt that fit him - and ice down his bruises.

Kory had caught him in the hallway, telling him that she was going to take him shopping and that there was no use arguing about it. Honestly, he'd only had the clothes he'd brought with him, and calling his quarters on the sixth level Spartan would be an understatement. There wouldn't be any complaining - just as long as he didn't have to shell out the cash for clothes and a new bedset.

The long-haired metahuman sits in the lobby, waiting for Kory, dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and a pair of jeans - no belt - and the same ratty, dusty boots he'd arrived in. Seated on a bench in the massive room, Grant looks around at the giant portraits on the wall, each showing an active member of the team: Nightwing, Roy, Donna, Vic, Gar, Kory, and a few faces he doesn't, including a blonde girl, a dark-haired woman with distinctly alien-looking eyes, and some kid Grant thinks he's seen before. The youth makes a mental note to ask Kory about these new recruits.

We're just going shopping...what's the hold up? he wonders, glancing up at the entrance to the room.

Comments

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

"Have you bought enough clothing to exercise in?" asks Kory pragmatically. "You will need much of that, if you are to join the training classes."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"You definately need shoes. And probably something more to work out in. Shorts or something." Bette looks Grant up and down appraisingly.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

The young metahuman looks first at Kory, then at Bette, then back again, mouth a little open, his brows lifted. "Um...no, I didn't think about that. I guess that'd probably be a good idea, huh?" he replies, looking briefly at the bags he's carrying. "None of it has to be anything fancy. Just, you know, cotton shirt, cotton shorts, whatever. Shoes just have to last a while, right?" One would think that the young man isn't all that comfortable at the idea of other people spending a lot of money on him.

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

Kory peers at the bags Grant is holding. "You will need more jeans than that," she says firmly. "Choose four more pairs, and two pairs of other pants. Also, you must select shirts that are not t-shirts." Graciously, she adds, "I will not insist on a tie."

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

Santana peeks through. "I'm sure anyone here would be willing to help tell you what you do and don't look good in." She says. "Sometimes guys are just too much about the t-shirt."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"We could get him ties. He wouldn't have to wear them. I like shopping for ties..." Bette all but scuffs her feet after saying that, realizing how that could sound a little odd.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Opening the bags as Kory moves toward them, looking through their contents, Grant lifts an eyebrow at the golden-skinned woman, then closes the bags up again, and the metahuman blows out a breath. "Alright, I'll see what I can find," Grant says, looking around the store for a moment, then back to the Tamaranean, looking a little a touch perplexed.

"Could you give me a hand with this, help me pick some things out? I don't even know where to start," Emerson says, sounding embarassed. The long-haired youth glances briefly about the store, frowning slightly. "Maybe I should get one of the sales people to give me a hand." An incredulous look is given to Bette at the mention of buying ties. Considering how much hell Roy gives him every time he's put on a suit, Grant rather doubts he'll be purchasing a tie again anytime soon.

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"Be happy to." Santana walks up next to him and takes his arm. "Bette, take right flank."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette steps up and takes the other arm, smilingly. "Where first?"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

The young metahuman looks to his left, where Satana is standing, then to his right as Bette links arms with him. Grant can feel color rising in his cheeks and his ears, but his long, brown hair may conceal the latter. A brief glance is sent toward Kory, but the youth nods - looking terribly embarassed - and looks around the store briefly.

"Um, well...I guess shirts wouldn't be a bad place to start," Grant replies, his voice a little softer than it was a few moments before.

[santana-slade.livejournal.com]

"Aces." Santana says smiling and the two walk off. "Now, lets talk some nice microfiber button-downs..."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Allowing himself to be directed by Santana, Grant looks over in the direction of the guys' section, frowning a little. "I've been working construction for two years. T-shirts and jeans kind of become a mainstay," Grant explains lamely, looking at Santana, then turning his eyes straight ahead. "I didn't really get out much," he adds as an afterthought, eyes flicking toward the floor.

"I guess, we can pick out a couple of things and I can try 'em on or whatever," the metahuman replies. This whole shopping thing is, quite frankly, lost on him.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Oh, cutie, you need to get out more. We can fix that." Bette chuckles softly, "We'll work on really dress up clothes later but right now you'll just need a few things that aren't plain t-shirts or just blue jeans. Maybe we'll get you a nice belt?"

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

"Something in a dark green, perhaps?" Kory cocks her head as she considers the available choices.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Setting the bags on the ground, Grant moves over to one of the clearance racks - the stuff is all seventy-five percent off and looks a lot classier than anything he's worn in a while - looking through the various shirts, all of them out of date, out of season. Of course, it's not like he's really aware of any of that. Looking over at Bette, he gives her a smile, nodding quickly. "Well, um...maybe. Just point me in the direction."

Grant looks over his shoulder at Kory, giving her a 'Please, God, save me' look. He is so out of his element at the moment.

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

Kory comes over to join them, sorting through the shirts with an expertise born of her time in the fashion industry. "No ... no ... I do not like the workmanship on this one. This color is atrocious. These buttons are ill-made. Aha!" She holds up her selection. "Give me your bags and try this on."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Picking up his bags, Grant sets them beside Kory and looks at what she's picked out - a fairly standard, dark green button down shirt - then takes it from her, nodding. "Alright. Uh, anything else you pick out, I guess just...bring it over to the changing room and I'll try it on," he says, a little hesitant. There's nothing wrong with the color or the style, it's just...not something he wears on a daily basis.

With that, Grant heads toward the changing room, breathing a quiet sigh. This is a little more excitement than he was anticipating. He can deal with Girder getting a cheap shot on him, but this is a little much. They're just trying to help. Don't know any better unless you say anything... he thinks, closing the door behind him, changing out of his shirt.

[hugo-clone.livejournal.com]

Hugo observes the young man's discomfort with a trained eye. He catches Kory's attention and mouthes "distract them" to her, nodding discretely in the direction of Bette and Santanna.

He hikes Luum a little higher on his hip, solidifying his grip, and heads into the corridor of changing rooms, stopping outside Damage's.

"Grant?" He asks softly, "Need some help in dealing with..." he smiles. "overeager helpers?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette slides over toward Kory as Grant goes into the changing room. "He's shy, huh?" There is a small smile on her face as she asks. She's not that hard to distract, all things told.

[starfire-kory.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Kory nods. "Here--help me select more shirts? And more pants." She glances in the direction of the changing rooms. "He is wary of accepting too much, but we will help him learn to trust us."