Post by Katie Hester on Nov 6, 2013 15:32:56 GMT -8
((This is a joint post between Lee tpo Michael Fabsits and myself with my new character Charlotte Sterling. It will be edited as I have time and can read through it again fresh. Enjoy.))
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Michael Fabsits should be arriving any moment. With only a few minutes to finish reviewing my notes, I want to ensure everything is in place. Elizabeth, my ghoul, had picked Michael out as one of the prospective artists for Sterling Media and Advertising to sponsor. Michael had shown that he could do well for himself, which means that he can do well for my company.
Right on time, my phone rings on the desk, “Mr. Fabsits has arrived for your meeting.” “Please escort him in.” I close out the files and place the contract I hope to have him sign on the desktop in a folder. As the door opens, I stand and smooth my skirt. “Thank you Elizabeth, you may leave. Mr. Fabsits, would you care for a seat?” I wave him to a one of the black leather chairs as I walk to the bar at the side of the room and poured myself a glass. “Care for something to drink? I give you my word that it is not adulterated in any fashion.”
I enter, dressed in business attire, a suit tailored perfectly for my large frame, an embroidered silk shirt of royal purple and a thick black tie. My long black hair is worn loose, pushed back out of my pale face on one side, but hanging free on the other.
My boots make muffled thuds as I walk purposefully into the room. My shoulders are tense and my jaw is set, my hands are balled but not tightly in fists. I take the seat offered, but don’t relax fully. “Really, no adulterated? No booze?”
“If you’d prefer alcohol, I can offer that as well. Anything specific?” My hand hesitated over a collection of bottles as I turned to Michael.
“Whisky or whisky infused vitae, please then.” I relaxed
I smile politely and reach for a large glass decanter of dark liquid. “Of course.” I turn back to the desk, handing Michael the glass of Whiskey, obviously top shelf, as I take seat on the same side of the desk as Michael and crossing my legs at the ankle. “I’m so glad that you agreed to meet with me. Is there anything else that you need before we get down to business?”
“um… no… I am ready to get down to business. Your people contacted me, said you had a an offer I might be interested in. I like the idea of working with an organization with someone who can understand my special needs running things. I want to make music. I want to make money. I am happy giving up some of my money for someone to handle all the ordinary bullshit that isn’t the music. I don’t want any bullshit. I just want to make music, and money, and sometimes blow things up.” I take a sip with each sentence, seeming slightly nervous and a bit out of depth.
“Lovely. Yes, we contacted you. We select only artists who show potential to last for many years to come and seeing that you are of our society, it seemed even more fitting that you merit the offer.”
“We are prepared to assign a member of the company to scheduling all of your shows, with input from yourself if you have any preferences on travel destinations. We will schedule flights and accommodations in all the cities that you stay in to ensure your safety while still being immersed in luxury. We can take care of the advertising preceding your performances. You won’t have to worry about a single detail, aside from your music.”
“There will be a cost, of course, but seeing your potential, you are not likely to even notice the difference in income. We will take our cut of the profits before forwarding you the rest and should you need anything else in addition to what you have received, you can simply let us know.”
“I will personally be handling any arrangements needed for New York and my door will remain open for the duration of any visit you make to the city, no appointment need. I like to ensure my client are well taken care of are having all of their needs met.”
“Do you have any questions about how this arrangement will work or any requests that need to be put into the contract before we sign it?”
“Yeah that all sounds great, really great but, I need an animal trainer, someone of the blood. I have a candidate in mind, but more importantly. I need a tiger. To… um… protect my guitar.”
I raise a single eyebrow at his request. “An animal trainer and a tiger. We can make that happen.” I stand, walk to the desk and lean over it to grab the phone. “Elizabeth, please type up an addition to the contract stating that we will ensure Mr. Fabsists will receive an animal trainer and a tiger. Yes, immediately. Thank you.”
I return to the seat I was in and cross my ankles again. “Elizabeth will be here in a moment with those additions to the contract. She will also collect the name of the trainer you have in mind. If we are unable to make an agreement with them, I will find someone else who will work.”
I delicately sip from my glass and within seconds, a petite looking woman knocks and enters the room holding a manila file and looking flushed. I stand to take the file from her and lean in to whisper against her neck, “I’ll feed you later, thank you.”
I walk to the opposite side of the desk and open up the file turning it to Michael to sign. If there is nothing else, here’s the contract for you to review and sign. Once it is signed, Elizabeth will get that name and we can begin the arrangements. If you’d like, we could start with moving you into better accommodations for the remainder of your stay.”
I take the contract, mind focusing onto something that felt comfortable to me and enjoying the process of evaluating the clauses. I read the contract twice in full before speaking again.
“It is a well written contract, almost completely mundane in its design, no special catches or creative binds. It allows me to retain full control over doing what I do best, and ensures that your company will be paid handsomely for the services you provide. The contract reminds me less of modern conventions in the industry and more of a classical patronage arrangement, I did notice that you get 90% of the proceeds from endorsements, and that you are allowed to dictate how the music is marketed commercially. I agree to this and I am ready to sign.”
I pick up the pen and go to begin to sign the document before stopping, lifting the pen and putting it back in the well.
“Well there is one more thing, given that this contract is going to last for a good long while, given that we are both functionally immortal. Before I sign, I want to exchange blood. If I am going to be working for you, I have to be able to trust you, and you have to be able to trust me, sadly trust isn’t a very common thing with our kind. Thus, I need your blood.”
“Unfortunately, a blood bond is a forced element of trust. I would like for you to trust me and mine based on our actions rather than based on a forced relationship based on the blood. If you would like, we can make an addendum to the contract stating that it will be revisited in a year. If you feel you have been abused or mistreated in any fashion, you can leave the contract. If you feel you have been well treated, we can cement the contract for the long future with an exchange of blood.”
“I agree to this, thank you for your consideration, time and faith. May the coming years give us both what we are seeking.” I pick up the pen again, signing my name across the line.
I collect the contract and add my name on the line indicated. “Let me walk you out to Elizabeth. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything at all.”
___________________________________________________________________
I will be going through and editing it as I have time. But I wanted to get it up for everyone.
_______________________________________________________________________________-
Michael Fabsits should be arriving any moment. With only a few minutes to finish reviewing my notes, I want to ensure everything is in place. Elizabeth, my ghoul, had picked Michael out as one of the prospective artists for Sterling Media and Advertising to sponsor. Michael had shown that he could do well for himself, which means that he can do well for my company.
Right on time, my phone rings on the desk, “Mr. Fabsits has arrived for your meeting.” “Please escort him in.” I close out the files and place the contract I hope to have him sign on the desktop in a folder. As the door opens, I stand and smooth my skirt. “Thank you Elizabeth, you may leave. Mr. Fabsits, would you care for a seat?” I wave him to a one of the black leather chairs as I walk to the bar at the side of the room and poured myself a glass. “Care for something to drink? I give you my word that it is not adulterated in any fashion.”
I enter, dressed in business attire, a suit tailored perfectly for my large frame, an embroidered silk shirt of royal purple and a thick black tie. My long black hair is worn loose, pushed back out of my pale face on one side, but hanging free on the other.
My boots make muffled thuds as I walk purposefully into the room. My shoulders are tense and my jaw is set, my hands are balled but not tightly in fists. I take the seat offered, but don’t relax fully. “Really, no adulterated? No booze?”
“If you’d prefer alcohol, I can offer that as well. Anything specific?” My hand hesitated over a collection of bottles as I turned to Michael.
“Whisky or whisky infused vitae, please then.” I relaxed
I smile politely and reach for a large glass decanter of dark liquid. “Of course.” I turn back to the desk, handing Michael the glass of Whiskey, obviously top shelf, as I take seat on the same side of the desk as Michael and crossing my legs at the ankle. “I’m so glad that you agreed to meet with me. Is there anything else that you need before we get down to business?”
“um… no… I am ready to get down to business. Your people contacted me, said you had a an offer I might be interested in. I like the idea of working with an organization with someone who can understand my special needs running things. I want to make music. I want to make money. I am happy giving up some of my money for someone to handle all the ordinary bullshit that isn’t the music. I don’t want any bullshit. I just want to make music, and money, and sometimes blow things up.” I take a sip with each sentence, seeming slightly nervous and a bit out of depth.
“Lovely. Yes, we contacted you. We select only artists who show potential to last for many years to come and seeing that you are of our society, it seemed even more fitting that you merit the offer.”
“We are prepared to assign a member of the company to scheduling all of your shows, with input from yourself if you have any preferences on travel destinations. We will schedule flights and accommodations in all the cities that you stay in to ensure your safety while still being immersed in luxury. We can take care of the advertising preceding your performances. You won’t have to worry about a single detail, aside from your music.”
“There will be a cost, of course, but seeing your potential, you are not likely to even notice the difference in income. We will take our cut of the profits before forwarding you the rest and should you need anything else in addition to what you have received, you can simply let us know.”
“I will personally be handling any arrangements needed for New York and my door will remain open for the duration of any visit you make to the city, no appointment need. I like to ensure my client are well taken care of are having all of their needs met.”
“Do you have any questions about how this arrangement will work or any requests that need to be put into the contract before we sign it?”
“Yeah that all sounds great, really great but, I need an animal trainer, someone of the blood. I have a candidate in mind, but more importantly. I need a tiger. To… um… protect my guitar.”
I raise a single eyebrow at his request. “An animal trainer and a tiger. We can make that happen.” I stand, walk to the desk and lean over it to grab the phone. “Elizabeth, please type up an addition to the contract stating that we will ensure Mr. Fabsists will receive an animal trainer and a tiger. Yes, immediately. Thank you.”
I return to the seat I was in and cross my ankles again. “Elizabeth will be here in a moment with those additions to the contract. She will also collect the name of the trainer you have in mind. If we are unable to make an agreement with them, I will find someone else who will work.”
I delicately sip from my glass and within seconds, a petite looking woman knocks and enters the room holding a manila file and looking flushed. I stand to take the file from her and lean in to whisper against her neck, “I’ll feed you later, thank you.”
I walk to the opposite side of the desk and open up the file turning it to Michael to sign. If there is nothing else, here’s the contract for you to review and sign. Once it is signed, Elizabeth will get that name and we can begin the arrangements. If you’d like, we could start with moving you into better accommodations for the remainder of your stay.”
I take the contract, mind focusing onto something that felt comfortable to me and enjoying the process of evaluating the clauses. I read the contract twice in full before speaking again.
“It is a well written contract, almost completely mundane in its design, no special catches or creative binds. It allows me to retain full control over doing what I do best, and ensures that your company will be paid handsomely for the services you provide. The contract reminds me less of modern conventions in the industry and more of a classical patronage arrangement, I did notice that you get 90% of the proceeds from endorsements, and that you are allowed to dictate how the music is marketed commercially. I agree to this and I am ready to sign.”
I pick up the pen and go to begin to sign the document before stopping, lifting the pen and putting it back in the well.
“Well there is one more thing, given that this contract is going to last for a good long while, given that we are both functionally immortal. Before I sign, I want to exchange blood. If I am going to be working for you, I have to be able to trust you, and you have to be able to trust me, sadly trust isn’t a very common thing with our kind. Thus, I need your blood.”
“Unfortunately, a blood bond is a forced element of trust. I would like for you to trust me and mine based on our actions rather than based on a forced relationship based on the blood. If you would like, we can make an addendum to the contract stating that it will be revisited in a year. If you feel you have been abused or mistreated in any fashion, you can leave the contract. If you feel you have been well treated, we can cement the contract for the long future with an exchange of blood.”
“I agree to this, thank you for your consideration, time and faith. May the coming years give us both what we are seeking.” I pick up the pen again, signing my name across the line.
I collect the contract and add my name on the line indicated. “Let me walk you out to Elizabeth. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything at all.”
___________________________________________________________________
I will be going through and editing it as I have time. But I wanted to get it up for everyone.
