(1942-07-27) Suit Up!
Suit Up!
Summary: Clifton delivers the new prints to Matilda Barnes and receives payment, Lillie fixes a culinary error that might make even a werewolf puke.
Date: 1942-07-27
Related: The results of Shooting Tilda
Players:
clifton..lucietta..

Butler and Cherokee, Higsi (Chateau Tilda!)
Thur Jul 27, 1942

The businesses along Butler Street are clearly meant for the upper-class citizen. A fine furniture store, a high-end clothing store and a radio electronics shop are just a few of the offerings on each side of the sidewalk-lined street. Butler Street ends at Cherokee Road, across from the Butler family estate.
The Butler Estate is a testimony to wealth and Depression-era survival. Surrounded by six-foot stone masonry walls, entrance to the estate is only granted through a stone archway that frames a wrought-iron gate. Through the gate, one can see the spacious, wooded yard and portions of the magnificent red-brick, Civil-War-era architecture of the main house, augmented with huge, dark pine beams and a clay-shingled roof.

On the North side of the Butler Estate, Cherokee Road ends and a turn to the east begins Cotton Street. Across from the Butler Estate, on both Cherokee Road and Cotton Street, giant houses loom on wooded lots with long driveways, announcing their owners' wealth and prominence to all who pass.

Weather:
It is summer. The weather is hot and fair.


It was mid-morning in Higsi.  The sun was shining and the rain had finally stopped a few days ago.  This meant Clifton could finally make his delivery to Tilda!  Of course this also meant he had to wear the suit again.

Rather than get ready at home and risk the taunting, he had headed to Lillie's earlier and gotten ready there.  Which also meant she could help tame his wild Walker hair.  Once ready, they would make their way to Tilda's house.  Clif had finished her photos!

His satchel was slung over his shoulder as usual, but the contents of it today were different.  He held it closer to him with a bit more protectiveness as they walk.  Not only was this project going to bring good money for the family, but it also meant a lot to the older woman.

"Thanks for coming with me, Lillie" he says over to his friend as the approach the house now.  Sure she was fond of the woman, but there were probably better things she could be doing with her day.  Truthfully, Clifton just didn't want to go back in that house by himself.  Maybe it was nerves.  He just felt out of place in all that luxury.

As they walk up the sidewalk, a nervous gaze is cast down at the satchel.  What if the woman hated the results?  

What a wonderful errand for so wonderful a day. A sunny day! Lillie has finally pulled herself from her anxiety regarding what happened with the boars; the sunshine has a way of doing that. She was in the middle of her morning coffee, fruit and toast when Clifton came waltzing up onto her porch with suit, satchel and 'The Project' in tow. Immediately the Empath knew what was afoot; her sense could root it out before her eyes even finished glancing Clif over from head-to-toe.

And on this sunny morning, the kind young lady availed her house to Clifton so he could get ready in peace, without taunting or risking a 'mistake' in his toilette. If he needed to get cleaned up that, too, was offered to him with all the time and privacy needed. When it came time to suit up, Lillie will have helped him there too with all of her fine manners and sensibilities, resulting in a suit that is perfectly fitted and symmetrical, not a button undone or collar to be had that is crooked! The final challenge: Walker hair. After dealing with Clyde, Clifton's isn't quite so terrifying. A bit of pomade found in the bathroom — it's old but still good — fixed things rather quickly and the final result is a mighty-fine Clifton Walker.

Fast-forward to the Empath preparing herself for a walk to Tilda's, and through most of the walk itself, and we have the pair ambling along the sidewalk with the precious cargo in hand. Lillie is done up precisely in the way Tilda prefers: hair teased up and back with careful bobby pins and a black sprig of faux flowers, pert little frame clad snugly in a lovely checkered sun dress with slender straps and a ruffle along the collar, the barest whisper of silken white gloves (barely passing her wrist) to simply accent the getup. Lillie looks every bit the society lady, providing a compliment to the suited-up Walker. People who see them approach Tilda's home may very well understand, as the old woman's eccentricity is well-known.

Turning to Clif, as she yet feels his anxiety, Lillie reaches over to give his elbow a squeeze. "Think nothing of it, I need to look in on her anyway. Two birds with one stone." She chimes, accent bright and lyrical. She knows why Clifton wanted her along and she wouldn't leave him hanging. "She will be thrilled.. I called ahead so she's expecting us. Probably not quite so fancy… it's much easier on a regular day, Clif. Not like the day of the shoot, I promise." She tries to reassure him as they climb the stairs leading up to the sprawling porch.

"Your work is brilliant.. I don't lie. I'm an artist and I don't believe in lying to another artist about their work, it's foul etiquette. There are a few that had my heart in my throat with how wonderfully you captured her." Lillie concurs, making to ring the doorbell.

Clifton looks over to Lillie, an obvious relief in his smile as she reassures him and he lets out a breath.  "Thanks.  If she likes them half as much as you did, I'll consider it a good day."  

When the empath rings the doorbell, the Walker falls quiet, adjusting his posture to stand a bit more upright and pulling his shoulders back.  

The Walker's relief is earnest; Lillie knows this too. She smiles sideward to him as she waits for the door to be answered, hair brownish-red in the stark sunlight. "She will. Soon as she sees you, just you watch, she will be ecstatic—" About to say something else, Lillie silences as the door opens up. Tilda may be a kept woman but she still insists on answering her own door. One might expect her to have a butler or something quite as oldschool, but that is part of why this octogenarian is so spry… she still does what she can for herself.

But as Lillie promised, she is nowhere NEAR as 'done up' as she had been that day. Oh, Tilda hastened to put on a little bit of rouge and tame the hair that spun like cotton fluff over the collar of her charming house robe… but she looks more… approachable? Still obviously moneyed and well-cared-for, but not as hoity toity on this sunny morning. Her eyes alight upon Lillie and Clifton, a mere second or two of confusion spiriting through her before her powdered face pulls into a brilliant smile. Lillie's own smile remains in place, despite the deeply buried twinge of concern that was aroused in her guts at the hit of confusion that she detected in Tilda.

"Lucietta! Clifton!" She warbles, stepping over the threshold to collect the Empath into a delicate hug, kissing both of her cheekbones lightly. She then reaches forward to collect one of Clifton's hands, giving them a squeeze. The bones in the old lady's hands are fine, delicate… flimsy. She hasn't worked a day of hard manual labor in her life. "Are you here to show me your work? Oh, I've been so excited~" She chirps on in her sweet, flighty Southern way. 

Keeping his upright stance, Clifton does grin a bit at the woman greeting Lillie.  When his own hand is taken, he offers a quick nod with a further tilt forward to make it a half bow towards the woman.  "Yes, Ma'am.  I have the prints all ready for you."

Her excitement helps him relax further, still trying to keep that posture but standing a bit looser in it now.

"Oh dear, oh dear… how wonderful! I made coffee!" Tilda chimes, abruptly. If one looks upon Lillie, one might just catch the horrified expression that pierces her lovely features the moment Tilda looks away from her. The old girl positively vibrates with excitement; it can't even be chalked up to age. Her mind may be a bit fuzzy but Tilda is rather sound-of-body for her age. "Come in, come in.. oh do, come in." She near-begs, pulling Clifton into the vaguely-familiar foyer. Lillie smiles ruefully and follows along.
"We will go upstairs, to where the shoot happened. How suitable, right?" Tilda asks, looking raptly up into Clifton's face. One can just see the flirt that she once was, back in the day, and she is a sucker for a handsome man… Walker or not. She looks to Lillie next, "Lucietta honey, could you get the coffee and bring it up? I made a tray too, of finger foods—-"

Lillie's next wince of horror is, mercifully, wholly restrained. "Of course dearheart. I will be up shortly."  The Empath concedes, and upon removing her footwear is off knowingly toward the kitchen to fix the mess that she knows is waiting.

Clifton is AGAIN left with Matilda Barnes. Her small arm hooks through one of his as she moves toward the stairs. "Now then, let's go dear." She bids… yes, help her up the stairs. Help an old lady out who negotiated these stairs PERFECTLY FINE about five minutes ago.

Clifton was planning to be a gentleman and let Lillie go first, but he finds himself being tugged into the house by Tilda.  Catching his steps easy enough though, he moves forward with the older woman "Coffee sounds wonderful.  Thank you, Ma'am."

Poor clueless Walker.  He has no idea about the horror of foods in the kitchen that Lillie would save him from having to eat.  Just like the first batch of 'mimosas' from their last visit.  Clif also had no idea about the flirt Tilda used to be or her keenness for a suit.  When they go up the stairs he thinks nothing of her arm hooking through his.

Together, they ascend.

'Coffee' ended up being some sort of sludge that was passed through a French press that looks scandalized; praying for death. 'Finger foods' happen to be a smattering of cheeses — a good start — with crackers and… spam. Yes. SPAM. They're in this rich lady's house and she cranked out a tin of war meat to cube up for placement atop lacy-edged crackers, some sort of expensive spicy cheese… SPAM. Lillie stares at this travesty, not being judgmental about the 'meat' that is typically used in dire straits… but just…. Tilda's choice. Oh God.

Carefully dealing with the pinkish monstrosity that has been carved up awkwardly, Lillie digs into the icebox for the deli meats that she brought over LAST time, just after the boar incident. Ah yes, Tilda forgot about these… washing her hands, Lillie goes about assembling things properly upon a tray. Meanwhile, Clif is being led along…!

Climbing slowly, Tilda gives his arm a little hug with a trilling little chuckle that is almost girlish. "I've been waiting, I know all good things take time, dear. But I had a feeling you would be here today!" She declares, leading the Walker into the upstairs parlor where the shoot happened. The curtains have been tied back with lovely decorative tasseled ropes, admitting a glorious spill of sunlight into the warm, fragrant room. Tilda ambles over toward the loveseat and lowers herself carefully with a grunt that she HOPES Clif didn't catch!

Clifton remains unaware of the horrors Lillie is rescuing them from.  As he and Tilda make it to the top of the stairs he offers the woman a smile "Well thank you for being understanding.  Like I promised though, they were the top of my list.  I hope you like them."

Helping her over to the love seat, if Clif hears a grunt he doesn't let on.  Once she's seated and situated, he would find a seat for himself in a nearby chair.  "Would you like to wait for Lillie to come up before seeing the finished product?  Or do you want me to go ahead and show you?"  He removes his satchel from his shoulder, resting it in his lap.

"Oh, do go ahead and show them to me. I bet you had shown them to my girl already, hadn't you?" Tilda asks mischievously, eyes twinkling. "I positively cannot wait.. please, show them to me." She insists, fingers fluttering in her lap as she smoothes her robe. "I'm so glad to see Lucietta looking well again.. she had her death of a flu about a week ago. I was out there, wouldn't you know, with that Josephine Ellis and I tell you, we had to nurse her back to health!" She exclaims, telling the harrowing tale.

"Has she seemed okay with you? There was a day where I thought we were going to have to being her into the clinic." Tilda confides, cheekbones blushing as she looks at the satchel that Clifton bears. "She seems okay to me but she never likes to let on."

Clifton will have perhaps found Lillie to be right-as-rain, her usual self. Tilda just worries too much.

"Alright, Ma'am.  I'll go ahead then" Clifton says with a chuckle, moving to open his satchel.  The news about Lillie being sick gets a lofted brow from the Walker.  

"With all the weather I guess it isn't surprising for her to come down with something, but I don't think you need to worry.  She is back to her usual healthy energetic self."

Finding the envelope with the prints inside, Clifton pulls it out and hands it over to the woman.  "There they are.  Have a look through them and be honest with me about what you think of them."  He keeps the bag in his lap and whatever else is in it tilted towards himself as she looks through the prints.  He wanted Lillie to be here for the last part of his delivery.

"Good, thank goodness. I am so very, VERY happy that this weather has taken a turn. I was worried my house would up and float away, but the work done on the foundation about fifteen years ago really held tight. Not a leak! We had a good man working on our house, Albert and I.. a pity he died so young." Tilda rambles on, skating between topics effortlessly. "Have you and yours been okay in the floods? Everybody okay?" She asks at random, either not caring or not catching on that she's asking about the wellbeing of Walkers as she would any family up the street.

As Clifton moves to pull out the envelope, Tilda leans forward like an excited child… it really is sweet to see. Perhaps this is why Lillie came to love the reformed gossip so well. Taking up the prints delicately the old girl pulls them out and starts sifting through that which Clifton deemed 'perfect enough' to develop. His judgement was spot on: Tilda is quiet. This is GOOD. Her eyes begin to moisten and glitter as her rouged mouth pulls into a quavering smile. "Oh my.. oh my…"

"I never would have thought I would see a picture of myself and be just as pleased, nowadays… as I had been in my better years. But these are splendid…!" Tilda says gently, before her tone heightens into true excitement. "Look at this—" As if Clif hadn't already before; she turns one print over to reveal one shot of her seated, head tilted just so, smiling without trying too hard. She looks elegant, matronly, poised.. as if the framework of her mind is not beginning to unravel. "I LOVE them!" She cries.

"I will pay you in whole for these.. name your price." Holy SHIT.

"Yes, Ma'am.  My family fared well with the storm.  Thank you for asking."  Sure the house had sprung a couple leaks, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle.  They were Walkers!

Clifton falls silent then, watching nervously as Tilda looks through the photos.  She was quiet.  Was that good?  He didn't know!  For a rich old society woman like her it could go either way!  Then, the expression as she smiles.  That look in her eyes.

The Walker's form relaxes completely as his head actually lowers in relief for a moment.  Then, she's calling his attention to one of the photos he had taken.  He grins, looking to Tilda.  "I'm glad you love them, Ma'am.  Really and truly glad."  This seemed to be just the boost his photographer confidence needed!  So they both benefited!

As for the price?  Shit.  Clifton had been trying to think all week of one to give her.  Aside from the feed store though this was his first real 'gig'.  He needed to learn how to ask for a wage!  The feed store had given him $30 for the photo book, but he also didn't feel right spreading around what others paid.

"Honestly, Ma'am?  I don't know if Lillie told you or not…but I'm still new to this.  I have no idea what price to ask from you.  From here to New York, it all changes.  Depending on experience and how good the photographs are…people can charge anywhere from $30 a week to $100 a week even.  So how about this…"

Clifton looks from the photos in her hand back to her, offering a warm smile "I'm thrilled you like them and I trust you to decide what a fair price is for them."

The old girl has run the circuit a few times, of portrait photography; she has been charged a variety of fees over the years: for the hour, per print, for a week. The time taken from Clifton actually taking the pictures right up until development. She sifts through them again with a look of strong pleasure to her features, taking care not to handle the prints too copiously. "New to photography, or new to selling yourself?" Tilda counters, her voice a gentle caw as she sets the photos down into her lap and glows. She looks up at Clifton with a glimmer in her eyes. "How about…"

A pause, Lillie returns! The smell of strong, beautifully prepared coffee precedes her; the tray bearing mugs, fixings, and the small plate of crackers, meat and cheese (NO SPAM) balanced expertly along one lithe arm. The other hand? A fancy pot of coffee…. she may no longer be a waitress but the poise and efficiency remains. She quietly makes her way in at the precise moment Clifton admits to his newness to it all, and tells Tilda to name her amount.

Tilda watches the Empath for a few seconds, considering further.

"It really is beautiful, this work. How does fifty sound, plus five for a tip?" Tilda suggests, looking back to Clifton.

If Clif looks to Lillie, the young woman will gesture quickly with a glance upwards with her expressive eyes, and lifting a finger.. all unseen by Tilda. 'More, more, you deserve more!' Her hands lift, ten dainty fingers splay. Bump it up ten more dollars!

Watching the woman as she runs the internal calculations, Clifton glances to Lillie and offers a grin as she joins them.  Then, his attention snaps back to Tilda when she names her price.  He manages to keep his eyes from bugging out of his head, but his expression does spread into a wide grin.

Clif does notice Lillie trying to get his attention, but either he didn't agree or he was actually fond of Tilda.  Either way, he looks back to the older woman with a smile "Ma'am.  I think fifty sounds fair and I appreciate the tip.  Thank you."

His hand reaches into his bag then.  "I also wanted to give you this.  It's not part of my job for you.  It's something I wanted to do extra…and I hope you don't mind."  With that he extends a book out to her.  A photo book.  Not large, but not small either.  Perfectly sized for a coffee table.

"You had seemed so excited about the idea of a book.  So I wanted to make you one.  As a way of saying thank you for being such an enjoyable client."  Inside the book were smaller versions of the photos he had given her, as well as a few others.  Ones that hadn't made the cut for being put on display, but were beautiful all the same.  Then, in the back of the book on the last page, was the picture of her and Lillie.

Though the Empath gestures for Clif to up his price a bit more, because he IS great at what he does, she does not push. Ultimately this is between Tilda and Clif and the latter seems content with the payment of fifty-plus-tip! But then Clif goes to deliver something altogether unexpected… Lillie's mouth forms an 'O' of surprise as she had actually forgotten about the Walker's 'extra' bit for Tilda. Her lips curl upwards knowingly as she feels Tilda's shock wash over her, only to dissolve into a sort of glee that boils and bubbles, like sugar on a steady boil. Somehow she knows that this will be a clincher…

"Oh.." Tilda starts, clearly bowled over. Is it a copy of the Farm and Fleet order catalogue..? What could she do with this? The question glows in her face even as she receives the book smilingly from Clif and makes to open it.

Then… silence. Clif describes what the gift actually is and Tilda is stunned, quiet… the only one who can surmise that the old girl is feeling is Lillie. The Empath pads gracefully over toward a window to hide her expression as her sense force-feeds everything to her. She smiles tremulously into the sunlight, controls herself, and is only managing to wrestle back control of her emotions by the time she returns to Tilda's side and sees the last photo. Lillie's eyes widen, but not out of displeasure… she, like her charge is stunned by the sweet gesture. Tilda begins to yammer and tear up with joy; Lillie's reaction is a heartfelt smile and a softening of her gaze.

"Well isn't that beautiful… isn't that a wonderful surprise, Tilda?" The Irish woman asks softly, moving to pour the coffee but not without another meaningful, grateful glance in Clif's direction.

A watery little sniffle from Tilda, and then. "Eighty. I will give you eighty."

Lillie freezes. 

When the woman starts looking through the book, Clifton again watches her with a soft smile.  Gauging her reactions.  Then, as she starts to get more emotional, he shifts his gaze over to the pot of coffee out of respect.  Not wanting to come off as gawking at her while she's crying.

However, at the increased price offer his eyes widen in complete shock.  Not able to hide it this time!  Clifton looks back to Tilda and quickly shakes his head "Ma'am, no.  That's…I mean I appreciate the offer, but that's not why I made the book.  I made it so…"  He shrugs "So that you could have something extra.  Because I wanted you to have it.  You deserve it."

It doesn't last long, the little weepy spell. Tilda composes herself and closes the book gently in her lap, looking up firstly at the Empath who returns to her efforts of dressing coffees, and once more back to the stunned Walker. She leans back into the seat some, the sunlight continuing to envelop the room through perfectly-placed windows. Tilda sets the book down upon the coffee table —- it sure looks good there — alongside the prints, keeping them safely there once Lillie hands her a mug of coffee.

"I'm the patron here Mister Walker, and what I say goes." The elderly woman says pointedly, but kindly. "That is one of the nicest things someone has ever done for me, and I like to repay kindness." She admits, sipping the brew. "Mn… I sure make lovely coffee, don't I.. haven't lost my touch…"

Silence then. Lillie watches her, feels the fog swirl and lift again. Tilda picks up her thought again rather neatly. "Eighty dollars, Clifton." She says again, looking sweetly to Lillie. "Lucietta, could you go grab my handbag?"

Well how do you argue with that?  Besides, it would help the family.  A lot.  So Clifton just nods and accepts defeat in the monetary battle.  "Yes, Ma'am.  Eighty sounds perfect.  Thank you and I am glad you like your book."  

The sense of pride swells in the Walker.  Not only had Tilda loved his work, but he was providing for the family too.  Yep.  It felt great!  Looking over to Lillie he grins before realizing she's working with all the food and drinks.  "Want some help?" he offers as he starts to stand.  

Best not argue, Clif! The look that Lillie is giving him up until he accepts the final sum says that, well-and-wholly. He agrees to Tilda's offer and Lillie sighs softly in relief, the smile settling upon her face into something sweet and appreciative. "It sure belongs here." She pipes up in her lilting way, looking at the closed book upon the antique table. "We can go into town this weekend, Tilda, to find frames. How does that sound? For your prints?" She suggests, in response to which the old girl brightens again.

"That would be delightful." Tilda chimes, watching the younger woman move gracefully from the room to collect the handbag from downstairs. She indicates the small spread,

"No need to help. Lucietta is efficient, it's all ready. You're welcome to the coffee." Tilda insists with a pleased smile. "Just you see, my card girls will be here next week and they will see all of this. They'll be so envious…" She trails off giddily. That can only mean one thing: might Clif end up with MORE business?!

"Whatever shall you do with your payment? Is there something you have your eye on?" She asks.

Clifton sits back down, watching Lillie move to get the handbag.  Right.  Straight back home after this!  "Ma'am?"  He looks back over to Tilda with the question.  "Oh.  To be honest I don't know.  There are a few things I have in mind.  But rest assured it will definitely be put to good use" he offers with a smile.  He wasn't about to tell about all the Walker's troubles and how much this would help them.  No need for her to know all of that and his pride wouldn't allow it anyways.

Walking in again on the tail end of things, Lillie sets the handbag down beside Tilda and moves to take up her own cup of coffee. She sips watchfully and carefully, looking away as the society woman pops open the clasp and begins pulling open a wallet. Bills are sorted and drawn from a considerable wad of cash, and an even eighty clams is set down before Clifton on the coffee table. No fanfare, no strings… payment in exchange for a very important service. Tilda's pale eyes glitter with mirth as she picks up her cup. "Maybe I can have you back sometime to photograph my husband and I, though it's like dragging a cranky old mule in a direction it wishes not to go in, when it comes to Albert and portraits…"

Lillie smiles indulgently, and resumes plans with Tilda. "I will be off on my way with Mister Walker, Tilda.. I have to get some postage sent off. It's for what you think it is." She chimes, blushing prettily.

"Oh, is it! The letter you received while ill? So you're going to accept it..?" Tilda sits upright, watching Lillie happily. The Empath nods to her, still blushing. "Don't be all shy now, dear girl.. you'll do just fine." The old woman says again, patting the Irish woman's hand softly. "But go on, I will be having a rest soon I think.. the excitement has worn me off. That was I can be fresh when I show these to Albert and he can see that he's still married to a fox~"

Lillie chokes on her coffee. The companionable snacking shall go on for a short bit yet, before the Empath gracefully and graciously bows herself and Clifton out.
Clifton who is now 80 dollars richer… with his work now in circulation!

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