Hi, um, it's me. So, uh, in case you didn't know (probably didn't) but I'm a British beanie. So, if some words here are different from words you may use in America or something. So, sorry about any confusing words???

Virgil handed over the 'change' shyly, taking the bags as nonchalantly as he could. "Wait!" Said the man at the counter.

The young god froze and turned around, keeping his face one of mild confusion. Please say he hasn't noticed. The cashier rooted in his pockets, sticking his tongue out softly, and then handed him a small black case.

The cashier beamed. "It's brand new, still in its' packaging and all. Yours just looked real cheap, so I thought you might want some really good stuff."

"Eyeshadow," Whispered a young ghost. "Emo's' or goths sometimes put it on their bottom eyelids to make them look more sleep deprived or something."

Virgil gave the tiniest nod and smiled gratefully at the cashier. "Thanks, you don't have to-"

"It's fine, kid. You look like you need some more or something." The man returned the smile and gave Virgil a two-fingered salute. Virgil hesitated, but quickly returned the gesture. He didn't bother informing the man that the dark rings under his eyes were completely natural.

After a while of walking, Virgil peeled off the thin, plastic wrapper and dropped in the nearest bin. The young god flicked it open and jumped slightly when he was greeted by his own face.

Remus appeared next to him and Virgil tried not to vomit at his suddenly white eyeballs - now he knew why people were so creeped out when he did this. Remus grinned crazily. "That's called a mirror, it shows your reflection and sometimes the stuff behind you. It's like a solid, portable lake."

Virgil bit his lip with a tiny nod and looked at the bottom of the case. There was stiff, black powder in a tiny dip. A thin brush rested in the crease and Virgil picked it up curiously.

"I think that's what you use to apply it," Remus commented, floating aimlessly above the head of a toddler sucking on a popsicle. The spectre thought for a moment and let a puddle appear on the ground - the toddler took a step towards her parents and slipped over instantly. Remus cackled, spinning back to Virgil who tried not to laugh at the wailing mortal.

.:*:.

Thomas waited outside of the changing rooms for Roman. The god was trying on several pairs of skinny jeans and was taking a little while. Thomas understood completely, for these gods had never needed to wear things like jeans or leggings when they had togas all year round.

Virgil appeared next to him and Thomas yelped. It wasn't like Virgil could teleport, he was just incredibly silent and managed to materialise when he wanted you to see him like a ghost. "Thomas? Are you okay?" Virgil asked.

"Y-Yeah, I'm good, you just shocked me!" Thomas assured, smiling nervously.

Virgil smiled back and gestured to the bag in his hand. "I found that 'Hot Topic' place you recommended. I bought a lot of black and purple stuff." He said.

"I saw. How much of my money did you spend?"

Virgil smirked. "None. Here's all your money." He dropped the purse in Thomas's' hand.

The mortal stared at him. "Did you steal them?"

"No, I just paid them in illusions. The illusions will solidify in a minute, so it won't even be a problem." Virgil shrugged with a growing smirk.

Thomas blinked slowly. "So you could make an illusion of something, and then it'll solidify?"

"Not immediately," Virgil said with a shrug. "But it would eventually, yeah. if you give it ten minutes or something."

"Sweet," Grinned Thomas and Roman sauntered up to the two.

Virgil glanced at the ground quickly, bringing his arms around him. "Y-Yeah, I guess. See you..." He mumbled, vanishing almost instantly.

Roman frowned. "Did I do something?" He asked.

"I don't know. He may just feel really guilty for what happened this morning." Shrugged Thomas apologetically.

"Yeah..." Roman thought for a moment before returning to his loud self. "Well, he better go back to his brooding self so Patton can stop sympathising - there's only so much Logan I can take!"

"It's been a day!" Laughed Thomas.

Roman rolled his eyes. "I know what I said, Thomathy. Logan can get very annoying quickly, and at least Patton has humour."

Thomas shrugged and looked at the jeans in Roman's' arms. "Did they all fit?"

Roman nodded. "Yep, I got all the right sizes, so they all fitted perfectly."

"Sweet, lemme take them and I'll go find Joan. They should've finished helping Patton and Logan by now, so we can all pay together." Thomas said, taking the several pairs of jeans over his forearm. 

He navigated his way through the aisles, trying to find his way to the cashiers. Thomas never usually went out shopping, especially when he wore about five different shirts the whole time. To be totally honest, he'd probably need a map to get back to the changing rooms.

He found the cashiers just as Joan turned through the other aisle. They had at least two baskets filled with clothes on each arm while Thomas was only loaded with at least ten skinny jeans and ten different shirts. Thomas approached his friend quickly with a bright grin. "Got Patton's' and Logan's' clothes?"

"Yep. Got Roman's' and Virgil's'?"

"Actually, I told Virgil to go and find stuff in Hot Topic, because that's definitely more his kind of shop. Roman literally wanted as much white, red and gold as he could throw in." Thomas replied with a small shrug.

Joan snorted with small amusement, the pair stepping forwards in the queue. It was reasonably short, with only one or two groups of people ahead of them. Patton and Roman moved to wait for the two mortals, standing near the row of cashiers, by the exit. Virgil was staring into a small black case, which looked a little like a pocket mirror. His eyes were white and he was robotically following instructions given to him by some form of spirit. Logan had managed to find a collection of pocket dictionaries and he rushed over to Joan, dropping it in a basket filled with dark clothes.

"Aw, no, really?" Joan complained. Logan nodded sharply and the mortal sagged. "R.I.P my bank account then." Thomas laughed at his friend's' misfortune.

Joan reached a check-out first, handing over the baskets and watching a small screen show the prices as the worker scanned them with a bored expression. Their face turned mortified when the total price ended up to be over $100 dollars. Reluctantly, they inserted their card and began to type out a pin. Thomas went to a free check-out a till or two away from his friend.

Luckily, Roman had only resulted in over $50 dollars and, although it was still expensive, Thomas was really glad Virgil had pulled that illusion trick earlier so he could keep his change. He wasn't in any financial trouble in the slightest, but he didn't like to spend too much money.

Leaving the cashiers, helping Joan with the sudden bombardment of carrier bags, Thomas handed some bags to Roman. "Here you are, all your clothes." Roman smiled back gratefully and Thomas could've sworn a group of young women fawned with a soft sigh. Roman flinched slightly.

Thomas quickly kissed his cheek, glancing at the women, who all looked shocked before turning away sadly and returning to their own shopping.

"What was that?" Roman hissed quietly, although his eyes glistened gratefully.

"They were staring and you looked uncomfortable. It's a really cliche thing but it was the first thing I thought of, so..." Thomas said with an apologetic smile.

Roman thought for a brief moment then nodded thankfully. "Great, thank you, Thomas."

Joan nudged them, clearing their throat. "Should we get going then, guys? We could get a McDonalds, Virgil's just gotten us a black card!"

Thomas gaped. "No way, really?"

The ghostly god materialised next to Roman, his hands stuck firmly in his hoodie pockets. The dark rings under his eyes were heavier and shinier, looking like eyeshadow - Thomas allowed himself a small moment to wonder when he found eyeshadow.

"Yeah, L-Logan told me th-that black cards where good things to h-have, financially... So I-I made one..." Virgil mumbled to the ground, tone almost sour. Odd, thought Thomas, he's never sounded sour before...

"Tell him how much money you put into it!" Joan said, obviously geeking out.

Virgil's' face flushed under all the eyes on him and he scuffed a converse trainer on the ground. "$1,900,000..." He muttered.

Thomas's' already open jaw dropped even further as he stared at the embarrassed god. "No way, Virge, that's epic!"

Virgil gave a tiny, private smirk, eyes flicking to the mortal. He paused when he caught Thomas's' gaze and he narrowed his black eyes slightly. "...Thanks." He said, almost sarcastically.

"Thomas, Joan, can we go yet?" Patton asked, obviously oblivious to whatever was going on with Virgil. He and Logan had somehow gotten Joan to buy them glasses and Patton was wearing his.

"Patton, you adorable buffoon, we're taking you to McDonald's." Joan took the gods' shoulders firmly, staring him dead in the eye.

Logan frowned, looking at the Book which he had managed to slip from his messenger bag while he approached them. "But McDonalds is a fast food centre. We, as immortal beings, don't need food. Surely, it'd be a waste of valuable time?"

Thomas replied, "Logan, you four may be immortal but, and I don't know about Joan here, I am starving."

"I could eat my house at this point," Joan complained.

"Well, wait until you get home, where you already have food." Hissed Virgil. It was obvious he didn't mean for anyone to hear it, as he wasn't looking at anyone and was absently fiddling with his jacket cuffs.

Thomas looked at Virgil and placed a hand on his shoulder, making the god jump quickly. "Is everything okay, Virgil?"

"Ye-Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Replied Virgil, pulling away from Thomas.

Patton gasped, suddenly catching on. He wrapped his arms tightly around Virgil and said to the others. "We'll head back to Thomas's' place, don't worry. Have a good time!" He said with an awkward smile.

"Virgil, the pin for the card is, uh, 2006, right?" Joan said, checking a tear of notebook paper that they'd pulled from their pocket.

Virgil nodded, pulling Patton along with him out of the shop. The pair left the shop almost instantly.

Roman frowned. "Okay, it can't just be me who thinks Virgil's been getting odder, right?"