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***skinstealer*** · (This post was last modified: 02-01-2024, 08:50 PM by skinstealer.)

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5/22/316- DESMOND

[image description: a tiny image of desmond, a horn type TCP with a dragon's spade-tipped tail. his horns are a lighter brown, and his body is a deep-reddish brown with horizontal stripes.]

Desmond moves his claws carefully, ever so carefully, fully aware of how delicate the work he’s doing is. He hadn’t been able to handle making the hole for the cord himself, his hands far too big to manipulate a drill, but he insists on trying this part himself. He desperately wants to learn how to make his own jewelry, to take on craftsmanship just like the people who hire him-

A knock on the door startles him, the horn type nearly banging his head on his desk lamp and toppling it. He sighs and rights the light fixture before it falls over, setting the skull he was handling on his desk with just as much care as before. Later, then. He calls out to the person at the door as he walks over, grabbing a light shawl on his way.

DESMOND: Carver, I told you to stop coming early!
DESMOND: I have things I’m doing.

He opens the door, leaning on the entryway as he looks down at the geode type standing there.

DESMOND: Important things.

[image description: a tiny image of Carver, a geode type with a white rocky outside and a black and gray gemstone inside.]

The geode type shuffles, a bag slung over her shoulder.

CARVER: S-sorry, Desmond…
CARVER: I keep forgetting...I always figure a head start is the way to go-
DESMOND: No matter, I can’t fault you for wanting to be punctual.
DESMOND: Did you bring all of the equipment needed for today’s session?

Carver perks up, patting her bag. It seems far too large for her, but that’s what happens when you buy a new camera from bougie Monte body types. They always go the extra mile.

CARVER: Of course, boss!
DESMOND: No need for the nicknames, Carver.
DESMOND: Come inside. You’ll catch cold out there.
CARVER: I can’t catch a cold, sir-
DESMOND: It’s a figure of speech. Just come in.

She hurries inside, the horn type closing the door after her.

DESMOND: Since you’re early, I’m not quite ready for our shoot yet.
DESMOND: I have to talk to Maverick about our new deal, we set a time- right about now, actually.

Desmond settles onto a hammock, reaching for a tablet resting on a side table. Carver looks around nervously before taking a seat on one of the floor cushions, setting her bag to the side.

CARVER: A deal?
CARVER: Are you ordering a new set of charms?
DESMOND: Modeling, actually.
CARVER: Modeling?!

She sounds legitimately surprised, and Desmond can’t blame her.

CARVER: It wants someone to model for it?
CARVER: I thought its whole aesthetic was kind of...simple, mystical, that sort of thing?
CARVER: Placed on mannequin hands with rocks and stuff around it?
DESMOND: That’s what I thought as well, but it looks like it’s interested in trying a more aesthetically oriented approach for its new set.
DESMOND: See if it can draw in people based on the look of the charm as well as the function.
CARVER: Well...I know you believe in the whole magic aspect of the charms-
DESMOND: Of course I do.

His tone is curt.

DESMOND: I wouldn’t buy them if I didn’t. That’s the whole point.
CARVER: Y-yeah...

He turns to his tablet, irritated.

[CHARMED_LIFE]: Desmond?
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: I’m here. Sorry to keep you waiting.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: No wait, I just got here myself.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Are you ready to talk things over?
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: Of course
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: I’m excited to model for you, I have to say I wasn’t expecting the chance to do something like this
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Well, it’s a big jump for me too!
[CHARMED_LIFE]: My store focuses on the practical element of my charms, but online sales have been slowing down…
[CHARMED_LIFE]: I’m planning on bumping things up with my tutorials, but I think I’m going to have to resort to bringing people in based on how they look as well.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: It kind of sucks to think of people ignoring the magical effects and just buying them because they look nice, but I’ll be honest, there’s probably people who do that anyway.
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: It’s sad to think about. Your charms are the best
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: I haven’t had any negative energy enter my home since I’ve picked up your protection charm
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: What scrap did you put in it again?
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Was that the one with the teardrop shape, and the cloth tag?
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: Yes, and the beads.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: A mother’s hug on a sick day. One of my strongest!

If he could have smiled, he would have. Maverick is always looking out for him…

CARVER: Isn’t Maverick a little...too mysterious, sometimes?

Desmond looks up from his tablet, glaring the geode type down. The crystalline TCP shrinks a little, intimidated by the dragon-like body type’s look.

CARVER: I-I mean...you don’t even know its typing.
DESMOND: Lots of TCPs on Felid Factor don’t reveal their typings.
DESMOND: It’s a personal choice, and often for safety.
DESMOND: I only reveal mine because it’s of no danger to myself.
CARVER: Right, but aren’t you two on a proper name basis?
CARVER: No, like...usernames, or however it goes.
CARVER: I’d kind of expect you to know its type by now…
DESMOND: Its type does not have any bearing on our friendship, or the fact that we share a professional relationship as well.
DESMOND: It could be any typing at all and it wouldn’t change a thing to me.
DESMOND: Such shallow things don’t phase me.
CARVER: I guess that’s a fair point…
DESMOND: Besides, I figure that it has its reasons.
DESMOND: If I had to guess, it wants to keep its identity a mystery to maintain its status as an almost phantasmic wizard.
DESMOND: I’m fine with that.
DESMOND: And frankly, I don’t care if you are, one way or another.

He returned to his tablet, not waiting for Carver’s response.

[CHARMED_LIFE]: I’ll try to have exact details on the job for you soon, I was kind of rushed this morning with a new job- sorry.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: I hope you don’t mind that I’m still charging you for the charms you’ll be modeling, I know that you usually get this kind of stuff for free from your sponsors…
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Desmond?
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: Sorry, Carver’s over
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: That’s fine, I know money’s tight for you right now
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Oh, no problem!
[CHARMED_LIFE]: And thanks for understanding.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: I really appreciate it.
[UNSUBSTANTIATED_CLAIMS]: As for details, it’s okay if you don’t have specifics now, I just need to know how many charms we’re talking about modeling and when they’re due to arrive for now.
[CHARMED_LIFE]: Five, and I should have them sent out by the end of the week…

They talk for a little while longer, with Carver shifting nervously in her seat the entire time. When Desmond finally wraps up and sets the tablet to the side, she unzips her bag and gets her camera up.

CARVER: Are you ready to go?
DESMOND: Yes, I’m ready.
DESMOND: We have one job for a jeweler in Luxson, a complex who just started a TCP branch in their shop, and one artisan who runs a local stall in the next settlement over from us.
CARVER: Wow, in Bramble?
CARVER: I didn’t know they had any artisans left out there...
DESMOND: Don’t be crass, of course they do. Art can exist anywhere.
DESMOND: Bramble’s grown stronger as of late, and they’ve gotten better at fortifying their town. Business is flourishing. It gives artists more time to grow and create, and this one wants a model to help promote their work.
CARVER: ...you’re doing this one pro bono, aren’t you.
CARVER: Desmond, you can’t keep taking charity cases-
DESMOND: You aren’t the one selecting the jobs, you don’t get to judge my picks.
DESMOND: Let’s just take the pictures.

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