"I'm taking note, don't worry. And I promise not to fuss when you decide to do the same to me in the future." That was perfectly acceptable and he'd deal with that when it came up. This was a special occasion and he wanted it to go a certain way.

The guy behind the counter seemed to get it and he rang everything up without much in the way of comments on what they had bought beyond an impressed "well, aren't you two creative" that got silenced when Eli gave him a sharp glare. Everything was placed in a bag and the price was given to Eli, which he didn't bat an eye at. It was on the higher end of the scale, but not ridiculously so and Eli paid it without issue. Grabbing the bag, he nudged Shannon and led him out the door.