Owner Pose
Hope Summers After a rousing meal at the cafe (and probably a couple stops by street vendors for Bart), Hope and Bart make their way to the Rue Saint-Honore. According to the guidebook, it is THE street for designer clothing boutiques in the city. And if they can't find what they're looking for here, they can certainly find it on the Boulevard Haussmann. But this is where the hippest and most chic of designers can be found, so this is where they end up.

Hope is glancing into windows, the ultimate tourist in that she doesn't speak the language and has no clue what she's doing here. Each dress looks more complicated and expensive than the last. She looks to Bart with a stunned expression, "I.. I don't know where to go. Please. Pick a store and let's get off the street. I feel like I'm being watched." Stared at, Hope. You're being stared at. She's completely out of place in her mis-matched clothes.
Bart Allen Bart Allen hmms, and looks around. He is a bit better dressed but he is the type to look about as well. He hmms and randomly points at one and offers her his arm, to lead her inside. Once inside he looks around for someone, expecting a bit of a cold reaction. He will ask if they speak english, as he can get by with his accented newly learned french if need be.
Hope Summers Hope takes his arm after a moment of confusion, then lets him lead her inside. She wanders off almost immediately to start browsing while Bart seeks assistance.

The woman he finds is not terribly much older than they are, maybe 25-26, with perfectly coiffed blond hair, rich brown eyes, and the most stuck-up, better-than-you expression he's ever seen. Seriously. Batman could take lessons from the French. "Oui, but I do not think this is the shop for you and your.." her eyes shift towards Hope, "friend. We do not sell 'off the rack' items. This is not a department store."

Hope is oblivious, looking at some of the shorter dresses (no way is she dealing with long slinky skirts). "Hey Bart! This one looks pretty simple to operate.."
Bart Allen Bart Allen looks to the woman, and says "I believe this is where we want to be, we are looking for two dresses for the lady, she is going to be a guest, at a rather high dollar gathering. She is a great mind, and has not worried about clothes much in the past, you know Albert Einstein, had a closet of all the same clothes so he did not have to spend time choosing what to wear." He will looks over and pull out the black credit card for the woman, to see.
Hope Summers THe shopgirl sends a disbelieving look from Bart to Hope and back to Bart, one brow lifting up. She might have been about to lecture him, but the appearance of the credit card changes things. Giving a succinct nod, she murmurs, "Of course, m'sieur. We will be happy to see to both of your needs. Please, have a seat. Would you care for some cappuccino, or sparkling water?" Showing Bart to a pair of luxury sofas with tables at either end where he can relax.

Then the woman is off again, plucking the dress from Hope's hands to a sound of protest as it's put back and she's ushered towards some mannequins closer to the back. The shopgirl telling Hope that the dress she'd picked had unflattering lines for her svelte figure and that these fabrics would suit her better. It takes awhile, some back and forth between Hope and the shopgirl before the redhead is ushered into a dressing room.

The first dress Hope comes out in is as red as her hair, strapless, clinging to her body with bits of glittering stones drifting from the mid-thigh hemline. She shuffles out between the couches and looks to Bart with a lifted brow. "This seems a bit... if we have to do anything but walk sedately, I'm going to come flying out of this dress..."
Bart Allen Bart Allen smirks a bit at her, and does give a soft whistle when she walks out "Well, you got to remember your not supposed to be doing actiony things in it." He hmms, and says "But if you don't like it make sure you find some you like, something you will be comfortable wearing, don't want to buy something you will dread wearing."
Hope Summers "No, but there's going to be -dancing-. Can you imagine what would happen if I get dipped? In this?" She tugs at the bustline and grumbles. "I wouldn't care but this is NOT a dancing dress." She finally catches onto the whistle he'd let out and grins, "But it looks good? If it looks good then we're on the right track. Okay! Back to the changing room!" Hope turns and troops back into the changing room.

Another shop person stops buy with a bottle of Evian for Bart while she gets changed again. When she emerges again, this time its in a short gold sequined dress with a thin halter chain holding it up, a plunging cowl neckline, and no back. This one she strides out in, lifting her arms and doing a bit of a turn so he can see it from all angles. "Now -this- is just... opulent." Someone was studying their vocabulary! "But it fits well and it's comfortable, for a dress." And he can see nearly to her navel!
Bart Allen Bart Allen does look her over and appreciates what he sees. He hmms to himself, and nods to her. "I think it is nice, and works for a night out clubbing, but you may want to get the second one a bit less wowzers, and a bit more formal, so you have something, that you can wear if we need to go to a black tie affair or something."
Hope Summers Smiling brightly at having found a dress, her joy is short-lived as he mentions formal affairs. "Are you sure you guys want ME at those events? Shouldn't someone better suited go? Like Laura?" She sighs after a moment and gives a nod, "Alright, one more dress. Something... formal." Shuffling back into the dressing room, she mutters something to the shopgirl who then hurries off to gather up some choices for Hope to try on!
Bart Allen Bart Allen smiles and before she leaves he says "Never know when you will need to go in undercover or some ball like when I went to the Asguardian Embassy ball, I had to make my own tux, remind me to show it to you sometime.
Hope Summers "You wouldn't want me at the Asgardian Embassy either! We both know that putting me in that situation is going to end up in terrible mistakes." Hope lets out a laugh and shakes her head before she quiets down as options arrive for her to try on. This time it takes a bit longer as she has to get into the dress and get zipped up. These are not ones she will want to get into or out of on her own. Still, she gamely forges ahead.

Stepping out from the dressing room, she pads into the 'circle' and murmurs, "I hate long skirts... but the lady said formal means long skirt. But it does have pockets!" Which means guns of some sort will end up stored in this dress. It's black, velvet with crystal accents, strapless again, leading to a slong skirt with a high slit up one leg.
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods a bit and says "The slit will allow more movement, and you can wear a leg holster with it." He says softly to help her consider the possibilities. He hmmms and says "Black dresses are important I read somewhere all ladies should have one."
Hope Summers "Then it seems as though we've found the dresses. I'll ask her if there are matching shoes for them and anything else that I might need to go with them." The unspoken word being 'and then we can get out of this stuffy place!'. Hope hurries back to the dressing room, taking a few extra moments, then coming back up to meet up with Bart while the shopgirl takes care of the dresses. She leans in and murmurs, "After this, we need coffee and sweets."
Bart Allen Bart Allen does drink the water he was given and once they have everything he will pay the bill with the card giving a bit of a tip so not to look bad, He carries the bag, and as they walk when near an alley where he can stay hidden, he will zoom up to the rickshaw to stow the boxes and back down to Hope, walking along with her.
Hope Summers Once Bart is back with her, Hope lets out a sigh and looks at him, "People do this -regularly-?? That was so... ugh. Okay. Pastries! And coffee!" She pauses to consult the guidebook before dragging him off towards a park where there's a bakery that makes renowned cream puffs.
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods, and leads her way and says "Well some do that for a living even, Nadia's grandmother is a fashion designer." He tells her, as they walk letting her lead the way. "We will probably want to get you some regular clothes too while we are out, jeans, t-shirts, maybe some business casual type stuff. He hmms and again when they are out of sight will be gone but moments later back with an over the shoulder satchel that seems full.
Hope Summers "But... why? Like.. why is it important?" Hope seems genuinely confused on this front, looking to Bart. "My people are struggling to not be kept in camps, or labs, or killed. I just... I don't know. Everything for me has been about... survival. Mine, my peoples'... that's been everything to me. Since I was born. The -reason- I was born." She glances around, then shakes her head and forcibly pushes it away, "No. That's not my life anymore. I don't need to... yes. Regular clothes. So I can stop borrowing from Laura and Gabby." she blinks at the satchel he carries and looks back to him with a laugh, "Did you just.. go shopping for me?"
Bart Allen Bart Allen shakes his head and says "Well not actually." He leads her to a place to sit once they have a bag full of pastries to share, and some drinks. He will open the bag, and show her magazines and catalogs. "I figured you could look through these and circle some you like and we get those for you. That way you got some ideas on different things.
Hope Summers Once they're settled with sweet and pastries and Hope has crammed at least three cream puffs into her mouth, she looks at the magazines and gives a nod, "Good idea." Hope long ago mastered how to speak clearly with her mouth full. This is nothing. Plucking up one of the magazines, she starts flipping through it, "Everything I've worn has been... tactical." She grabs up a pen and circles a few things, then keeps going. "I've never gotten things just because. So this it.. pretty ingenius Bart."
Bart Allen Bart Allen grins at her and says "Well, I figures you could see things. He does bring out something else from the bag, it is a little container, and says "Ok, I did this for this, I did not have it laying around like a creep or anything." He opens it and a picture of Hope's face is in it. He offers it to her, and says "And you can put this over their faces to see how it would look on you, at least kinda how it would."
Hope Summers Laughing at his explanation, Hope gives a nod, leaning over to see... her face! She laughs harder and glances at him, "I'm glad you did the explanation. I might have soem questins otherwise." Plucking it up, she looks at him and grins, "Okay, I still have one. Where did you get a picture of me?" She flips through again, placing her face over the models to see how outfits might look on her.
Bart Allen Bart Allen looks to her, and says "Your outsider file, you don't wear a mask, so your face is on your normal file. I just had the cut and past the costume away, and it worked.
Hope Summers Laughing again, Hope gives a nod and looks back to the magazine, circling another outfit, putting an X across one that's not to her taste. Flip-flip-flip. Looking up, she smilees at him, "In case I forget... thanks for doing this Bart. I really appreciate it. And even if I'm not great at clothes shopping, this has been fun, getting to hang out together."
Bart Allen Bart Allen smiles and says "Hey We future kids got to stick together, and help one another where we can. I am glad you have enjoyed it. We can make site seeing a weekly thing or something if you want, get to see all the cool things out here."
Hope Summers "Sure! Since I'm planning to be here for awhile, I should really start getting to know some of the places and things that are in the world." Hope gives a quick nod and flashes a grin at him. "And we can try food from everywhere! Ooooo, that will be fun."
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods, and says "Oh trust me, when it comes to food around the world, I am the best guide you can find." He offers with a smile. "If you look at the snacks in the pantry I bring them from all over to get some of the cool flavors and different kinds." He munches a bit and says "We may have to do a movie night for you occasionally too.
Hope Summers "I just assumed they came from the store. There's so many things just freely available, I just assume everything is coming from the store or Amazon." Hope chuckles lightly and lifts a shrug. She pauses, then gives a nod, "I took some advice from Steve and made a list. Its... long. Considering I've missed... every movie ever."
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods, and says "Yea, that was one I was able to catch up with faster than most, I have seen most of them now I think." He admits.
Hope Summers "Yeah, I expect I'll be missing out on a lot of stuff for awhile just because I'm not 'getting it'. But the trade off is not having to run in fear every day so..." Hope lifts a shrug and grins at him. She crams a few more pastries into her mouth and swallows them down with coffee. "I'm looking forward to making fun of Star Wars."
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods a bit to this and says "I was told to get the real experience with them watch them in the order they were made, not in the order they took place, at least not the first time. Then there is a whole field of cult classic movies as well."
Hope Summers "It's going to take me years just to catch up on all the mainstream movies. How about... one movie night each week, with one of them devoted to a.. cult classic, each month?" Still with the plans and tactics. You can take the girl out of the warzone, etc. etc. Hope taps her pen against the magazine, "And if we just happen to be in the same room and a movie happens to be on... well, bonus!"
Bart Allen Bart Allen grins and nods his head a bit to this and says "Sounds like a plan." He goes and grabs some more pastries cause well it is Bart. "If you have any questions about pop culture stuff, will do my best to explain it to ya."
Hope Summers Hope also sneaks some final pastries as they stand, chuckling, "We can try but if it gets too complex, just let it go until I can see the whatever for myself." She hooks an arm through his and grins, "Okay. Normal clothes time?"
Bart Allen Bart Allen nods his head a bit and scoops her up in his arms and off to the Impulse Shaw, where he will plan out a trip to the different stores she found stuff she likes "Ready?"
Hope Summers Holding on tight, she waits until she's settled into the Shaw, then grin at him, "Ready." Hope pulls out the magazines and starts flipping through, "I think if we hit the department store plaza, that should do it. We should be able to find normal clothes in a department store."
Bart Allen Bart Allen looks over and says "On our way." He is back to America, and towards Metropolis to do their shopping, they could do it in Gotham or most any where but less likely to run into trouble in Metropolis.
Hope Summers Once they arrive back in the US (presumably with a stopover to leave the Paris stuff at the Roost), Hope and Bart make their way to Metropolis for some regular shopping! TO THE MALL! Hope has never been to a mall. Strange as it seems, it just wasn't on her priority list when she was last in the city. So this will be her first experience with a true blue American mall. She grabs his hand and grins at him, "Now THIS looks like fun. There's so much all in the same place! And each one is it's own store? Independent of the tohers?"
Bart Allen Bart Allen will have changed to jeans and a t-shirt when they dropped stuff off. He grins, and nods his head a bit "Each pays rent to the over all building, now a lot of them are strings of stores, like Gamestop over there there is one here and pretty much one at least every 50 miles or less I would say.
Hope Summers "Huh. This is just... wow." She's looking all over the place as they wander through the crush of people. Occasionally her grip will tighten on his hand if they get too penned in by other people, but Hope takes it all in stride and tries to just be... normal. "Okay! So where do we go first then?"
Bart Allen Bart Allen hmms and says "Well with me it is normally the arcade, but lets his that store over there, they had some things you wants." He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze as he leads her along "And if ya see something ya like you can grab it too, not just the stuff we saw in the catalogs."
Hope Summers "Okay, sounds like a plan," Hope turns a grin towards Bart and heads for one of the department stores attached to the mall. Once inside, she's glancing around, head canting this way and that as she takes it all in. "Whoa. There's so... much. Okay. Clothes. Women's. Uhhhhhhhhhh... am I a Junior, a Miss, or a Plus?" Hope looks to Bart for help with this one, staring between the signs that mark the different areas.
Bart Allen Bart Allen hmms and says "I think maybe a Miss, I aint sure, I know Plus is big people and Junior is kids. I don't know if Miss might be little kids or normal girls." He hmms and says "We can look at the clothes in their section and see."
Hope Summers "Okay, we'll start there and see what they've got!" Hope pulls Bart along after her as she starts going through the clothes racks. She frowns as she flips through one rack, "Uhmmmmmmm, sizes. I don't know... I guess... six? The four looks small but the eight looks big..." Hope shrugs and pulls stuff from the racks, mostly skinny jeans, some shorts. For shirts she seems to stick with solid colors or simple prints. Looking around, she purses up her lips, "I suppose I should get some of those... oh you know. Not underwear but for the top? Goes under the shirt?" SHe looks to Bart for help with the word.
Bart Allen Bart Allen will blush a bit and says "Bras yea, maybe some underwear as well. There is places that sell just that type of stuff, but I think it is normally fancy and lacy and stuff. I have never been it, as is more a girls store of course."
Hope Summers "Okay. So that's a separate store. We can go there after here then." Hope nods to herself, tucking that information away. She smiles at him, "Okay. So I've got pants, shorts, tops... oh, I guess a jacket or two, a hoodie, some sweaters since it's still cold... but first lets see how these work. Honest opinion, yeah?" She looks to him, depending on his opinion for what works and what doesn't.

Heading towards the dressing area, Bart will find a bench this time, not nearly as comfortable as the boutique. But more girls that eyes him up and giggle and smile at him!
Bart Allen Bart Allen will sit there and resists the urge to sit on his hands. Bart cares for his friends, and this maybe one of the most telling moments, not only is he having to clothes shop with a girl, he is having to wait and sit still in one place. He will nod to those he catches looking at him. He does fidget a bit and eventually pulls out his phone to distract himself till Hope returns.
Hope Summers Thankfully, he doesn't have to wait too long, Hope isn't exactly known for taking her time with clothes. She comes walking out in a pair of straightleg khakis, with a camisole and sweater combo. Arms out to her side as she looks this way and that, "Fit look okay? Like... nothing is showing that shouldn't be?"
Bart Allen Bart Allen motions for her to turn around, and stands up, to make sure the tag is in the back not sticking out "It looks good, I don't see anything wrong with it." He moves back to his seat, and says "Want pictures of yourself in the outfits?" He does take one and lets her see it.
Hope Summers "Okay, good. So then I can drop the bottoms and tops in a different size and stick with this size. Female clothes are weird. Tops are XS, S, M, L, XL. But pants are in sizes." Hope shakes her head, then smiles at him, blinking. "Oh? Uh, sure, I guess. Didn't even think of that." She leans in to look at the picture and nods, "Okay. Yeah, that looks good." Straightening up, she grins, "Back in a flash!" Winking, she head back into the dressing room.
Bart Allen Bart Allen will wait to tell her later that means clothes are the same way, but that men and women's pants are measured differently, and shoes as well. He is tempted to grab food but to many people around to zoom over without being seen.
Hope Summers The bulk of the outfits go by quickly, variations of jeans, khakis, and different tops. Hope picks out a couple outfits that she likes... and grudgingly includes one with a short pleated skirt, a top, and a cardigan to go over it for part of the 'business casual' clothing. Looking to Bart, she grins, "Okay. Break time. I can practically hear your stomach growling from in the dressing room. Let's check out for these, hit up somewhere for food, then we can look at more stuff?"

Once he's agreed, they take the clothes up and are told that for an additional fee, the purchases can be sent to the Roost. Yay no bags to carry around! The pair are able to pay and head for the food court!