(no subject)

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

Who: Kat Lowsley, Victor Brannigan, and Thomas Kemp
What: Computer shopping
When: Friday
Where: A Computer Store (I'm so clever)
Warnings: TBD


It was never pleasant to have to spend money, but if she wanted to keep her papers and make sure all the programs she used for classes continued working, she knew she had to fork up money for a new machine. And knowing Thomas needed a new one himself she'd send him a text to meet her at the store, to make sure he'd not get ripped off.

And because she'd wanted to she'd send Victor a text too, but told him it would be perfectly fine if he chose to stay at home. She liked spending time with him, but also didn't want to be too clingy. She'd told him he could meet Thomas, Jamie's dad, if he did show so shed see if he would turn up.

Now she waited for Thomas at the store. She knew what she wanted, so she figured the hardest part would be finding something for Thomas.

Comments

[thomas_kemp]

Thomas knew he had to replace his computer and while he would miss his dinosaur of a machine, it would be nice to have something that actually worked.

He walked into the show Kat had told him to meet her in and he spotted her easily. "Kat!" he said cheerfully as he approached her. "The beautiful Kat, great to see you!" and he opened his arms wide for a hug.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She grinned when she heard and saw Thomas. She liked him. She often talked whenever she hung out with Jamie. Smiling she returned the hug, "Hi Thomas. And you only say that because I'm helping you find shiny machines that get you internet." Smirking she released him. "First question, do you want something that's just for simple things, or do you want to have it be useful for other things too? If Jamie wants to use i for his art tell him he'll have to sell his soul for a Mac. They tend to have the best programs."

[thomas_kemp]

Thomas was fond of Kat too. Anyone who adored his son as much as she did was okay in his book, and she was smart and funny which was helpful too.

"I was going to ask you about that," Thomas said cheerfully. "I wanted to get him a graduation and birthday present and it definitely should be something to help with his art. For me though...useful for other things would be good. In case I decide to take up gaming so I can stalk my son 24/7 like a good any co-dependent parent."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

He didn't have to ask her to not say anything. She could gather he wanted this to be a surprise. "well, you aren't using your limbs right?" she gave him a teasing smile. "Joking. They have some here. Not so great as they have in the Mac store but they're cheaper. We'll take a look." She gave a laugh and shook her head, "this way then. So hows life?"

[thomas_kemp]

Thomas chuckled and he followed Kat obediently. "Cheaper is good, though I do want to get him something that works. I have a bit saved up." It felt nice to be able to say that, it really did. "Life has been interesting lately. Jamie learned some less than fun truths about when he was younger so he might want someone to talk to about it. Nothing scandalous, just things I went through."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

"If you want I can do some internet browsing for you. That way he can't find out by accident or something?" Jamie tended to deserve surprises at times. She nodded, "he knows I'm there, and I'm sorry for that. You do know if you need to talk I do listen?" She'd offer that, no matter what. "Also, I invited Victor but we'll see if he turns up."

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

"That would be great, actually! We'll be in cahoots," Thomas chuckled. "It's alright, it's all in the past. He just feels things so strongly sometimes, I worry. But he knows we're here for him, which I want to thank you for, by the way." Thomas grinned at her. "You're pretty wonderful, and that goes both ways then. I'll listen too." He was about to ask about Victor when an older man walked up to the pair of them and kissed Kat.

"Sorry, I couldn't find a park," Victor said with a grin.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She nodded. "I'll send you a few websites that have some cheap ones. Not eBay though. Mac's are hard to get around and used ones are usually tricky." She waved his thanks off. "Duh. Jamie's awesome." She nodded, "thanks but my life isn't hard. It's just a lot of student woes." When she spotted victor her smile brightened, it was never hard to figure out how she felt about him, and returned the kiss. "Hi you."

"Thomas, Victor. Victor, Thomas. He's Jamie's dad. I'm dragging him into the 21st Century. Also, behold the reason I don't drive. Parking's never an issue."

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

Thomas couldn't actually hide the slight shock on his face at meeting Victor. "H-hi," Thomas stuck his hand out and Victor shook it. "You're Kat's Victor. You're-"

"Old," Victor supplied with his usual good nature.

Thomas chuckled, relieved that he hadn't offended Victor. "Something like that."

"And you're Jamie's father. You're-"

"Young," Thomas returned with a wide grin. "It's true."

"Well, now that's out of the way, it's great to meet you," Victor laughed, clapping Thomas on the back. He wrapped his arm around Kat and planted a kiss on her head. "She dragged me into the 21st century as well, and since I'm from the Jurassic era, it wasn't easy."

"See, I'm just Cretaceous. So I'm only a little behind."

Victor like Thomas already. He was great. To Kat he said, "I knew I shouldn't taken the subway. How was your day?"

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She watched the two with a smile. At least they got along, that was something. "That was the weirdest conversation I've ever heard." She leaned into the embrace and kiss. "And you're both being way nerdier then I am right now, which is scary. I'm not used to not being the nerdiest person in any conversation."

"I have no idea why you even keep a car. And alright. Classes. Going home to so many papers and assignments it's going to make me cry. Hows yours?" Once the introductions were over she walked to the computer section. "Right.Thomas. Laptop or desktop?"

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

Both Thomas and Victor laughed at being called nerds and they followed Kat to the computer section. "Do you have papers already?" Victor asked in wonder. He was not looking forward to writing essays.

"Augh, assignments," Thomas groaned, which was odd since he was a teacher. "I sympathise. Laptop would be best so I can take it to school with me. The work computers are ridiculously worthless."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She nodded, "yup. They have little mercy on us these days." It was more a hassle then anything else. She raised an eyebrow at Thomas' comment. "Don't you give those out?"

She walked to the laptops and made a face at the prices. "My credit card is not thanking me today." She found the one she wanted and figured she'd pick it up once Thomas had made his decision. "alright. If you want something Efficient, but can run other things the one I'm getting is really good. Good graphic card, plenty of memory. It's also an arm. Desktops are an arm and a leg. But as with most things you pay for what you get."

[thomas_kemp]

"Evil," Victor mused.

"Yes, yes, but I remember having to do them too. So occasionally I am merciful!" He grinned, slightly whimsically.

Victor wanted to offer to pay for the laptop, but he didn't think Kat would appreciate it. She didn't seem like someone who would let him, so he stood with his arm around her while she helped Thomas.

"I'll go with the arm," Thomas said with a nod. "I'll save the leg for another day. This seems like it'll work well enough."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

"I quite agree." She just gave Thomas a look before giving him a nod. "If you're sure. The more high end stuff is, well, more high end and it'll give you more. But this saves a bit of money and I can get it optimized for you."

She was grateful Victor hadn't said anything. She'd feel far too guilty for letting him pay for something this expensive, and she had budgeted around the expense. It was a manageable one. She took the case out from the storage area before glancing to Victor. "Here, you're strong." She wouldn't make him carry it, mostly joking, but it was still heavy. "Helper boyfriends are so useful. A definite advantage."

[thomas_kemp]

"I like being useful," he said, taking the case into his own arms. He could carry as much as he wanted now, it was nice. "Want to get some coffee once you're both done becoming more technologically advanced?"

Thomas grabbed his own case and he smiled, "I could do with some caffeine. I have about thirty essays on To Kill a Mockingbird to read tonight."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She gave Victor a grateful smile then nodded. "yes. Coffee good. I'm going to need it. I have to get this thing running then use it to do my assignments."

She looked to Thomas as she walked to the registers. "I have three papers to write and then I plan on vaguely worrying about my thesis. I have no pity for you." She paused. "Or maybe a little because I can't remember if that was ever a movie, because I'll bet if it is there'll be someone writing about it."

[thomas_kemp]

They reached the registers and paid for the computers as Thomas gave Kat a sympathetic look. "I'll have to write a thesis if I ever go back to school. I don't look forward to it. As for To Kill a Mockingbird, it was indeed a movie and I have no doubt about five of the essays will be about how wonderful Gregory Peck is in it."

"To be fair though, they are right," Victor laughed.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She paid and took the bag with a sigh. It'd be easier to carry now at the very least. "It's going to be such fun. I'll probably be a wreck during it." She wasn't too sure who that was, and it showed. "Yeah. I have no idea who that is, so I doubt they will."

She shifted the bag as she moved outside, "alright so what shall we do? Walk to the nearest coffee store? And please, not Starbucks. I know it's the convenient one but bad memories, and I promised myself I'd not give them any of my money. They're terrible."

[thomas_kemp]

"Such a pity, Gregory Peck is truly awesome," Thomas said with a smile.

"I agree, no Starbucks," Victor agreed. He had no particular love for the place any more either, even if he had met Kat while visiting one. Anything that gave his girlfriend bad memories wasn't something he really wanted to be involved with. "I'm sure we can find a cafe close by."

"I wouldn't mind a snack as well," Thomas chimed in.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

"I'll look it up." Her taste in movies was usually sci fi and adventure, but she gave things a try when her friends suggested it.

"If you don't mind covering me," she glanced to Victor. She liked paying for herself when she could, but she figured he wouldn't mind terribly if she let him pay. "This is going to kill my coffee and snack budget for a while. At least until I've paid it off." She tried being smart with her credit card, paying every item off before purchasing another one. So far it worked for her.

[thomas_kemp]

"You should. Gregory Peck was in the original Omen movie too, but Mockingbird is much better. If Jamie had been a girl I would have been very tempted to name her Scout. Or Claudia from Interview with the Vampire. I was obsessed with that movie when he was born. I wanted to go find Lestat and be a vampire with him." Thomas wondered if somehow revealing that meant Victor would think he was an idiot.

"I was always a Louis person myself," Victor said with a small smile. "And of course I'll cover you, always. There's a cafe there if it looks agreeable to you both."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing else. Everyone had their interests, and she'd liked the movie just fine herself. "I am questioning both your tastes right now. I'd so go run away with Armand. I'd probably be far to aggravated with Lestat's and Louis' complaining. All the 'my life is so hard', was a little much."

She nodded, "sounds fair enough, and thank you." Smiling she set a kiss on Victor's cheek.

[thomas_kemp]

Thomas laughed and he had to agree with that. "It's true, but I found him terribly alluring. Jamie should be thankful I didn't name him Lestat."

Victor grinned and he kissed Kat's hand as they entered the cafe and took a seat. Someone came by to take their orders and the bustled away again.

"I was always much more into Stephen King," Victor started, "but my wife loved Anne Rice so I read them to give her someone to talk to about them." He liked exploring things the people he cared about were into. It was why he had tried gaming, and found he rather liked it.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She set her bag under the table after the kiss, "you should. I already get so much fun out of his name. Although I think he may have rebelled by now."

"I tried reading him. It went too slow so I gave up. Surprisingly I enjoy regular fiction more. Sci Fi I only enjoy in movies." She removed her coat once she was settled and set it beside her.

[thomas_kemp]

"He never would have forgiven me," Thomas grinned. "And it would have been fair enough."

"I like the suspense. You're right though, he does tend to drag his feet," Victor laughed. "His description is just so beautiful."

"I hear you're a detective," Thomas asked him. "That must be fast-paced."

"It is unless I have to write reports," Victor explained.

"Jamie said you suggested he work as a sketch artist. Thank you for that, I appreciate it."

Victor waved his hand around. "No worries, we could always use more. He's a great guy." Again, he avoided saying 'kid' just in time. "If he drops my name he'll be in no problem. They're very pleased with me at the moment." He turned to Kat and said, "when I walked back in, the uniformed officers stood and clapped. It was a little bit horrible."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

"It's the descriptions that throw me off. I don't mind the suspense but I am horrible with it too. I tend to skip ahead to find out who did it." She let the two talk and raised an eyebrow at Victor's comment. "Well they think you deserved it, which, you did. By the way." She nudged him.

She glanced to Thomas, "he made sure Miranda was fine when they got taken as hostage. That alone is enough for me to clap all day long." She'd let Victor tell Thomas about the gunshot wound if he wanted to.

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

Thomas' face crumpled at that. He remembered Jamie worrying about it and it had only been about five or six weeks ago. "I'm so sorry," he said with feeling.

Victor shook his head, trying to pass it off as nothing. "I did what I could. Ended up with a gunshot wound so I'll be playing desk jockey for a while when I go back to work, which I really won't mind."

"Well then. That makes the essays I am going home to sound like a vacation in France. Jesus. Glad you seem okay."

"Better than okay," Victor said, beaming at Kat.

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She gave Thomas a thankful smile. She knew he'd worried. "Thanks. She's doing okay. I mean, it's not easy. But our Mom's around so she's getting help there."

She returned the beaming smile and stole a kiss from him. "You're amazing." She set her hand over his and looked away before she'd make Thomas nauseous or something. She knew she was being sappy. "and don't let him trick you. He did something very amazing and I'm proud for it. Even though the whole getting shot thing was a mite terrifying."

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

Thomas didn't mind, he was used to watching his parents being sickeningly adorable. He appreciated seeing the people he cared for were happy. "I can't even imagine. The most high adrenaline thing I do at my job is deal with parents telling me I'm doing it wrong."

Victor kissed Kat's head and he smiled at her. "Getting shot was not my favourite extra-curricular activity. I've been shot at and pistol-whipped before but that was new." Then he realised how very messed up that sounded. "I'm...thinking about a change of profession in the future."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

She'd never push Victor one way or the other. He seemed to really love his job, potential danger and all. "Or at least a section where that happens less? You were talking about forensics for a while. I still say you should look into it."

She gave Thomas a sympathetic look then. "I feel for you. People always blame someone else. It's kind of ridiculous. If I don't do well on something that's my fault, not the teachers."

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

"It's true, you do get shot at less in a lab," he said with a grin.

"Always a plus! Yeah, I get some flak from parents, but it's all fine. Most of them appreciate things. And the students seem to like me which is more important anyway."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

"I think you would do very well. But you tend to do that no matter what." She smiled to Victor before digging into the food as it arrived.

She nodded to Thomas' words. "I will agree to that. All of my professors are pretty cool. My A.I. Track guy keeps making Skynet jokes. He says if one of us manages he better get the credit for it. Helps he's very approachable too."

[sciomachy.insanejournal.com]

"Being approachable is important," Thomas agreed. "It's what I always try to be. I hope if one of my students becomes a literary masterpiece writer, I get credit too!"

Victor took a sip of his coffee and he sighed happily at the aromatic taste. "Delicious. I hope when I study I get awesome professors."

[shades-of-fate.insanejournal.com]

Her coffee tended to become more sugar then anything, but when she sipped it she still smiled. "I'm sure you will. The both of you."