How About Arden Shopping

[Ram]

Not many places catered to men of Ram’s size. Even fewer to men of Ram’s size behind the Mask. However, the Ogre had looked up some stuff and found a few spots in pretty close proximity near the intersection of Arden Way and Howe Ave. A Goodwill, Men’s Warehouse and DXL Big + Tall all within easy walking distance. Not to mention all the rest of the shopping center in case all those things fell through.

Ram got off the bus, ducking to make sure his horns didn’t dent the door frame and looked around trying to orient himself before setting off in what he was pretty sure was the direction of the Goodwill. He wasn’t made of money after all. Might as well start with the cheapest option (that also was the least likely to have anything useful). Maybe he'd get lucky.

[James Turner]

James didn’t hide where he did most of his shopping, he was a broke social worker so most of his wardrobe came from Goodwill, especially if he could find good band tee’s while perusing their wares. It had been where he got most of his furniture from as well, their record selection was usually to be desired but you’d occasionally find gems like the soundtrack to the first muppet movie. Who didn’t like that?

He had to do a double take as Ram walked in, a small nod given to the large ogre was about as overt as James got as his hands moved through the line of hung tee shirts hoping to find a gem in them.

[Titania]

When the short, bald man had approached her during her daily jog with an offer she couldn't refuse, her first reaction had been to shout and shoo him away.
She wasn't born yesterday, she knew how this kind of thing panned out, especially in Cali.
However the man was relentless in his pursuit, and after a couple hours of convincing, where he surprisingly managed to outrun her and a fro-yo later, she realized his offer was genuine, a legit business man and a chivalrous gentleman at that.
Beware of strangers bearing gifts, but don't immediately shut them down, something she had learned.

So, there she was, a freshly minted luxury sports-cars saleswoman for Diamond Autosport.
There weren't many professions - legal and respectable at least - that somebody in her position could consider, especially not until she had her degree.

Mafia surgeon? The Stuff of Movies
Model?
Actress?
Social Media Marketer?
PR for an Art Gallery?
Creative Dictator Director of Funderland?
Writer?

All professions whose financial gain wasn't immediate, and she was hard-pressed for cash right now, after all, that property wasn't going to be on the market forever... and God only knew how expensive caring for her wisps was.
And so, once the offer was laid bare, with giant Pound signs dangling in front of her eyes, all she could do was articulate a very timid opposition.
She knew next to nothing about cars, right, she could barely drive.
But Mr. Mueller had told her that she was a natural saleswoman, all she needed to do was be herself, her talents would suffice. Selling was just a form of art, and besides she had the perfect image for the job, the perfect fit and match for his company. That's everything that mattered in the market.
"Selling is like acting, recite a script. Improvise and learn what you don't know, Ms. Tessier... Ellie."
He was right. He also knew how to appeal to her vanity.

And truth be told, although she would have appreciated a more respectable and prestigious position. After all, car salesmanship was on the dark side of the gray-scale as far as morality was concerned. Beggars can't be choosers.
She convinced herself by thinking of it as an exercise. Both acting wise, it would help her in her duties as the Creative Director (Self appointed) of Funderland, and for her future medical practice. Doctor needed people skills, and hers were seriously lacking. Plus, she got to meet a lot of interesting guys to boot.
Big Plus, the money was good.
She accepted, Mueller didn't even check her id twice.

And here she was, another hard day of work had gone by. She greets her colleagues, who're still dumbfounded about the posh new girl in the elegant blue dress (are they filming a new ad, they must have wondered) and leaves the office of Diamond Autosport, heading toward the bus stop at the intersection of Arden and Howe, dismissing the offers of a ride.
It had been a productive day. And to be frank, she doesn't even know how she managed to remember the engine info of the car. Though the buyer didn't seem to care. Indeed, he signed the check, seemingly distracted by something. Alas, the deal earned her a lot of Fanfare and Mr. Mueller's praise.
Car salespeople might be one step below lawyers in the top 10 of the most hated professions, but who knew it could be so much fun?

[Ram]

Ram did a double take of his own when he recognized the Whisperwisp. And then another double take when the first also brought Titania to his attention. He found himself in the odd position of being social stuck on the store’s threshold.

James didn’t actually say hello though. Maybe he was doing the Winter thing and didn’t want brought that they knew each other? The Ogre wasn’t sure, so he just gave a small wave in return of the nod.

Titiania though didn’t seem to notice, so the Render decided he would greet her. From across a parking lot or too she can hear her name “Hey, Eleanor! Hi!,” And probably notice a very large man waving a calloused hand at her.

[James Turner]

Plans were likely diverting seeing who Ram was waving to. He raised an eyebrow wondering what she was doing in an area like this, it didn’t seem that upscale and she seemed awfully out of place to James. He looked around, taking in his surroundings still dumbfounded at what she would be doing here. He waited, hovered as he watched from a distance for a second. Letting his search end as he slowly approached the door, silent footsteps on dirty tile slowly slipping up a few steps behind Ram before speaking.

“Definitely not who I expected to run into here.” Making sure to follow up Ram's wave with a small dip of his head that started at the shoulders offered once Ram inevitably got her attention.

[Titania]

"Oh", there he was, "Oh", the hulking giant of a man and bulging biceps waving his way at her and shouting her name. Now way she could have ignored him "Andrew Sarcasious Somethingorother", she says, closing the gap between them,"Fancy seeing you here. How are you?".
Neither she misses James, indeed she smiles at him. "How was your day?"

[Ram]

“Doing alright,” he answered Titania first. He didn’t correct the name. It was supposed to be his now after all. Might as well own it. “Was going to be doing some clothes shopping,” he explained.

Though he sensed… a little hesitation? He wasn’t sure. “Sorry, were you looking to catch a bus?” She had been near a bus stop, but it was a bit hard to imagine her and her gorgeous blue dress on a bus. “It’s a thrift store was even if they have my size, it’s going to take a bit. Don’t let me keep you.”

Even with the Fairest as a distraction, the Darkling never seemed to move. Yet, suddenly he was within a couple paces. “Really, not expecting to run into me ?” he asked with good humored incredulousness “Not sure if that means I’ve been dressing too up or down recently.” His normal (and current) outfit didn’t exactly scream ‘not homeless’. “You uh,” he hesitated a bit, not wanting to put the Winter on the spot “Shopping too?”

[James Turner]

Andrew not Ram in public, good to know. He noted to himself as he took a second and mentally took a picture of the scene, noting a few details. His position at the door, Titania in front of them, the look of the light bouncing and colliding with her own, and the sounds of traffic. Taking the moment so he could remember this snippet of time, filed away in his mind palace for future recollection. Titania was as breath taking as always, she was the kind of girl who could turn heads with here mere presence and stop a heart with a smile.

James couldn’t help his footfalls, it was a matter of habit. He was smaller in stature and visibility, especially when compared to The Bright One. Which still sent his skin crawling, he was still working on separating her from his Keeper but the more time they spent together the easier it got as her personality shown through.

“Early, but I have to get up at normal hours to do errands. I hate it.” He answered honestly as the oppressive rays of the sun was like an irritant on his flesh. Like an itch that could never quite be scratched no matter how hard you tried. “Yours?” A smirk playing at his lips at Ram’s self-deprecating jab. “Gotta live within our means, yea? Yea, hoping to get lucky and find some old band tee’s and decent records. Definitely need a few more pair of pants while I’m here.”

[Titania]

Just two of the people she wanted to meet right now. She just wished they had met on her own terms rather than in a serendipitous circumstance. Nevertheless, here they are.
"HI", she says with a smile that reaches so high that it almost contends with the twinkle in her eyes.
ALRIGHT is the word Americans employ when they want to say that nothing is alright, but at the same time battle with their self respect in order to not appear too clingy.
Clingy as a word doesn't belong to this Fairest's vocabulary, and indeed, she gets dangerously close to invading their personal space..
"I was hoping to catch the bus. I work for Diamond Autosports nearby", it's as if she felt the need to justify her presence in the less posh area of town. To be fair, it was a crowded business district, something that naturally fit the nature of her employer. Alas, it's still strange to be caught in an area without at least a couple of luxury fashion retailers.
"Thrift store?", she repeats. Except that when they mean cheap, she really thinks Vintage. She could help them, if only payday hadn't come and gone and she ended up buying that keychain off the internet.
Though, she sold a Lamborghini today, the sun would rise again in a couple of weeks.
"Really? Shopping?", there was nothing more endearing than spending your hard earned cash. Plus, the prospect of seeing her future motley mates parade for her in the outfits she was going to pick for them. _{And Sarcasious looked like a Spartan warrior.}

[Ram]

Ram shrugged when John talked about living within means. It was true, he supposed. Having gotten money and place to stay there were still other factors at play. There were so many elegantly dressed people at Freehold meeting… it brought uncomfortable feelings that he was doing something wrong by showing up with his utilitarian jeans and jackets.

“They still have records to sell?” he asked with a grin. That brought back memories. “Haven’t seen a player in… forever.” Not since getting back at least. It felt good to know the things of his hazy mortal memories hadn’t completely disappeared. That they were still in the world. Still belonged.

Titania seemed a bit... embarrassed? No that wasn’t quite right but between her accent and practiced lovely poise, he wasn’t sure what else to call it.

“Thrift store,” Ram repeated with a gentle smile “It’s like a yard sale but bigger. People drop off their old and used stuff and places like this resell it.” Did they have yard sales on England? He wasn’t sure.

“So it’s kind of a mixed bag. But I also plan to stop by a couple other spots nearby if I can’t find anything here,” he mentioned, just in case being a thrift store was what was making Titania uncomfortable. “Shall we go in and see what they have?” he asked to both of them, with an eye to make sure they (or more likely him with his broad shoulders) weren’t blocking the entrance.