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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Aug 24, 2018 23:19:35 GMT
Continued from this thread.Having escaped the rising chaos of Sound Impact, the pair of vampires made the not-long journey from Electric City to Hanover Downs. Every other storefront was closed as they passed it by, making the brightly lit destination appear as a beacon by contrast. Melisse's manservant pulled the car up and opened the door for the car's passengers. Letters reading Loro Piana were in pace over the illuminated storefront and several smartly dressed associates approached the newly-arrived pair of vampires. "Welcome back, Miss Ghiberti," the leader of the pack said, his voice almost unbelievably chipper given the time of night, "It's so good to see you again."
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Post by Clyde Maddick on Aug 27, 2018 23:52:57 GMT
Clyde's life was so hectic and unorganized, pulled at the whims of his mind, that he had not realized he wore clothes that were over fifteen years old. These were clothes that looked like they had been through the ringer as well. They were covered in paint, torn in many places, and generally unsightly. It spoke to his talent that he ever sold any art at all, for his wardrobe did him no favors. He had never even considered trying to set up arrangements that would make his life easier. On some level he could just buy online, but it didn't have the same tactile or luxurious experience that buying clothes in person would permit.
"Jeez... I haven't been to one of these places in years. I look like a homeless mess..."
It was in moments like this where Clyde realized the toll of his madness. His waking moments were focused on making sure he stayed functional. No medication could help him, only his sheer power of will could reign in the voices. Most of the time he would just give in. He now realized the cost. Even basic human frivolities were lost to him. He hadn't spent this much time following his own impulse in ages. He was either at Daphne's whim or beholden to the peanut gallery shouting in his skull.
Immortality has it's price.
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Sept 5, 2018 1:48:44 GMT
"Oh, you're an artist," Melisse playfully reassured Clyde, "You can get away with it. But let's at least get you something new to let slowly rot away." Melisse's comment brought a chorus of rehearsed and desperately phony laughter from the associates. The reason for the store's lavish treatment of Melisse became apparent to Clyde once they were inside. Melisse apparently wasn't just shopping for the duo's planned caper, but was feverishly trying on everything that remotely appealed to her, and rejected only a few items. The associates' arms were constantly weighed down by the flood of garments and shoes they were holding or shuttling to the counter for Melisse. She was treating shopping at a store where the smallest price tags read in the mid-hundreds like a 50% sale at a clearance store.
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Post by Clyde Maddick on Sept 5, 2018 22:52:19 GMT
Clyde had heard that the Giovanni had stores of wealth beyond imagine. He figured this was only the tip of a very large and foreboding iceberg. He promised himself he would not allow Ms. Ghiberti to purchase anything for him. If, for some reason, she did, there would be no sense of charity or altruism behind it. Such a gift, even if left unsaid, would incur a debt. It would be good to make friends, with a mutually beneficial relationship. Being hundreds of dollars in debt to a venetian blood sucker would not be the way to start such a relationship.
He looked through the store for something simple, worthy of an artist of some reputation, yet still within his price range. The men's section was nowhere near as robust as the section for women's clothing. That being said, everything was of the highest quality. Subtle, intricate, plaid patterns colored with greys, whites and blacks, adorned a button up dress shirt that implied colors to the beholder based upon the lighting. It would go well with any tie, and was soft against Clyde's cold skin. It was three hundred dollars.
--oooooooh I want it--I want it too--can we get it clyde--can we get it--please--please-please-pleasepleasepleaseplea--
"Jesus Christ… anything here that doesn't have two zeroes at the end of it? Simple blacks?"
Clyde had not prepared to spend this much money tonight. He got out his phone and checked his checking account. Just over two hundred and fifty dollars were on his card. Anything else would require a transfer from his savings... which would require Daphne's permission.
"Gimme a sec. I need to make a call."
Clyde was obviously a young vampire, but this would date him considerably, outing him as a fledgling, if Melisse couldn't already tell. Perhaps this had been her way of testing him. A clever ploy to get more information out of him. Or perhaps she was simply a vain fashionista/slaver of the dead. Over Melisse's composed veneer, he couldn't tell.
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Sept 10, 2018 2:00:14 GMT
"Oh, certainly, take your time," Melisse responded to Clyde, as she picked up a cashmere jacket that cost in excess of ten thousand librae and assessed it with the nonchalant demeanor with which most people might assess a grocery store steak.
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Post by Clyde Maddick on Sept 10, 2018 19:55:30 GMT
Clyde got on his cell, and moved a good deal away from Melisse, calling Daphne on his phone. The phone rang a couple of times before Daphne picked it up. "What. I'm busy. I thought you would be out late. I read your texts." Shit, I caught her in a creative spat. Clyde thought as he rubbed his eyes with his hand. The odds that he would get anything from her when she was like this were low. He would need to be convincing enough to make it worth Daphne's while to stop what she was doing and give him money, something she was not inclined to do. One thing he didn't like about Daphne was her penchant for treating him like a teenager. Then again most of their resources were hers, so it wasn't entirely unreasonable that she was tight with her pocketbook. She hadn't gotten this wealthy by spending frivolously. Daphne suffered from OCD in regards to her art, and that precision transferred into other aspects of her life as well. Particularly the financial ones. Luckily Clyde didn't ask for money too often, so at least she wasn't inclined to deny him based on habit alone. "Hey, Sweetie, you sound busy. I'm out and about and I found this clothes store that has some really good formal apparel. I figured that if I'm gonna start fending for myself eventually, I should get some clothes that are a little more professional than these. Part of the pitch is your appearance you know? Do you mind sending me like... 500 dollars or so for me to put a good outfit together?" Clyde rolls manipulation + subterfuge to try and get Daphne to fund his burglary at difficulty 8 because she's focused on her art and not inclined to give away money needlessly. 9rsApIi0p_p_p_p_p_ "..." The line was quiet for a moment, deafening silence, with a hint of feedback over the line. "... O.K. you're right. An appearance change will be good for you. It's... good that you're thinking about... independence already. I'll wire you the money." Clyde's lie worked. His sound argument fell on deaf ears so hard they could still be heard. Moments later his bank account had far more zeroes in it than it used to. He would be able to purchase what he needed without problem ····
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Oct 7, 2018 0:56:08 GMT
Melisse emerged, as Clyde returned, from the fitting rooms for the umpteenth time since the duo had started shopping, this time wearing a gray sweater-dress.
"Everything alright?" Melisse asked.
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Post by Clyde Maddick on Oct 7, 2018 2:39:16 GMT
"Things are going swimmingly. I think I've found an outfit I like." Clyde said, smiling, holding the shirts in his hands and moving over to look at slacks. "I've got everything I need for our outing, and found some clothes I like for my professional life. One of my pieces sold well so I can splurge a bit"
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Post by Melisse Ghiberti on Oct 22, 2018 0:47:53 GMT
"Oh, lovely, cheers," Melisse replied, "I'll finish up then." When Melisse again emerged from the dressing room, she was wearing a charcoal turtleneck with dark jeans and black boots, while her hair was now tied back in a ponytail. A quick instruction of "put it on my account and send it to the usual place," from Melisse set the employees in a buzz packing up what looked to be a good eighth of the items in stock for her. He noticed they'd even wrapped up the dress Melisse had worn in to save her the inconvenience of having to carry an extra garment.
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Post by Clyde Maddick on Oct 25, 2018 23:38:48 GMT
"Fantastic." Clyde said, getting the clothes he looked at earlier, as well a picking out a black button up, and a pair of flexible black slacks. The mobility in the clothing was not ideal, but it would serve him well enough for the task at hand.
"To the museum?" Clyde inquired gesturing to the door.
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