Post by Alex Vipond on Oct 1, 2015 23:34:15 GMT -8
Alex Vipond: The rental car cruised the highway with ease. It wasn't anything high speed, or overly luxurious, it was a simple, black town car. Elegant, without being flashy. As they came up on Old Mill Road, Alex slowed down, looking for house which he really wasn't going to see from the road. Or much of any houses for that matter. Neighbors here were spread wide, which actually suited him just fine. When they finally did come upon the drive, it was so unremarkable that he almost drove right past it. The low stone wall running alongside the road simply opened up, with no marker in sight, yet according to the GPS, this was it. Alex slowed the car even further and made the turn into the drive, a sort of hushed awe coming over him as they were swallowed by the tree lined drive.
Wrinkled Black: With her hand over Alex's thigh (no hand holding whil he was trying to figure out where they were going), Adrienne was admiring the scenery around them. The leaves were just starting to turn, so they weren't surrounded by a blaze of color, but the transition was definitely in the air. "I really like how secluded these lots are. Makes for a nice change." Not to mention some serious privacy. She could easily shift and run about with plenty of room on one property.
Alex Vipond: "It's gorgeous. There's no two ways about it." As they rolled up the drive, the realtor was there, waiting for them, with a welcoming smile. Alex looked at Adrienne as he shut the car off, his hand moving to pat hers on his thigh. "Let's check this mother out." he leaned over and dropped a kiss to her lips, and then popped his door open. Sliding out, he rounded the car and opened her door, his hand held out to her as the realtor slowly approached, getting close without pouncing, if you will.
Wrinkled Black: There was likely to be pouncing at some point. They always pounced. But for now Adrienne's attention was on the house before them. Until she was distracted by Alex's kiss, that is. It was returned with a grin, and when he offered his hand she took it and hauled herself out of the seat, her free hand moving over her back to make sure her denim jacket was in place. The weather had cooled, so the sundresses had been replaced with skinny jeans, boots, and layers of belly-friendly shirts under the jacket. She smiled politely to the realtor, but was really trying not to look to anxious.
Alex Vipond: Casual indifference; that was the key. Pretend you had somewhere else to be and weren't salivating like Pavlov's dogs already. With the greetings and the idle chit chat out of the way, yes the realtor had to comment with the "Oh, you're pregnant, you'll love the house, it's just Perfect for a family," routine. If it weren't, they wouldn't be looking at it, so the sentiment was a little redundant, and more than slightly disingenuous. She lost points for that, but the house more than made up for it. As they were lead in through the front door, Alex's hand on Adrienne's gave a gentle, yet excited squeeze. It was all he could do not to blurt out SOLD!
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne still played off the glowing mom-to-be in need of a good home for her children bit, hand on her belly when the woman pointed it out. Answered when she was due, they were having a boy. No, no name yet. The usual questions she was asked on a nearly daily basis. It really took everything she had not to swoon when they stepped inside the house, but that squeeze to her hand was definitely returned. "Oh, Alex.." The whisper couldn't be helped.
Alex Vipond: Stunning didn't do the place justice, and as they went deeper, room to room, Alex fell in love with the place. The library, with his high, vaulted ceiling, leaded glass and walk in hearth had him more than sold. He was ready to sign papers now and he was sure the realtor knew it, despite his efforts. He did manage to ask a few appropriate questions, such as the length of time it had been in the market, both this time and the time before the current owners had bought it. Alex you see, had done his research and knew for a fact the place had been listed for years before being purchased, the price dropping from 36 mil down to 29. Alex leaned to Adrienne as he spoke low. "Edward would love this place."
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne wasn't much better, gasping every now and then as they walked into a room. The pictures they'd seen online just didn't do the house justice! For Adrienne it was the exquisite details of the craftsmanship. In almost every room they walked through, her fingers ran along the wooden panels or carved details. Chuckling quietly, she nodded in agreement with him. "I'm honestly surprised he passed along the listing to you." Rather than horde it to himself and make an offer.
Alex Vipond: "I think his tastes are running more to the modern of late." Alex chuckled as they were shown through the entire house and then... it was off to explore the grounds, from the lawn chess board with it's two foot plus high pieces, to the maze, and tennis courts. The stables held him rapt and the owners pet donkeys had him grinning. "Look, baby!" Yep, he was gone. Full on kid in candy store mode and the guest house, and the greenhouse the gazebo, pool and yes, their own fucking pond. A POND! "Is this thing stocked?" Fish fry anyone?
Wrinkled Black: Donkeys had him grinning and had Adrienne groaning. But no, she was grinning too, though it was more for Alex's enthusiasm than anything else. So much for playing the casual indifference card. "If not, I'm sure it easily could be." Never mind they were in seafood country. For a moment Adrienne was almost breathless as they walked about the grounds, her hand slipping into his once more. "God, babe, could you just imagine entertaining here?" Ava could do some serious party planning here.
Alex Vipond: Other than the orchard, the rest of the place was pretty much wild grown forest. It was the perfect place to run, ride and just generally get lost for a day or two. They could go camping and never leave their property. Alex stopped and looked at her, his smile growing. "Wedding venue? Have it in the fall when the leaves are turning, and have that explosion of color as a back drop...."
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne gasped and she threw her hand over her mouth in hopes that the realtor didn't hear her. She hadn't even thought of having the wedding here, but now that he mentioned it... "Oh, Alex, it would be so perfect.." She had to bite her bottom lip, trying not to look like she was pleading too much, but the look was clear. Can we can we can we?!
Alex Vipond: Alex grinned at her and looked over at the realtor. "It's my understanding that the owners paid 29 for it, and put some work into it. I'm willing to meet them half way between purchase and asking and go 30 and a quarter. My accountant can have the bank draft cut as soon as the owner agrees. Alex pulled his wallet and pulled Ash's card, offering it out to the woman. When she asked how much he was looking to put down, Alex shook his head. "You misunderstand. My accountant will cut a check for the full amount of the offer."
Wrinkled Black: It was always amusing to watch people fail to grasp the concept of just how much money Alex had. And after centuries of accumulation, it really only scratched the surface. But that wasn't why Adrienne was grinning into his shoulder, squeezing his hand tight. Happy wasn't even close to what she was feeling right now. He wasn't just buying an awesome house, they were planning their future! "It's a wonder Ash hasn't suggested therapy." For his addiction. The tease couldn't be helped, muttered behind his shoulder while the realtor gawked.
Alex Vipond: Alex cracked up as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "Who says she hasn't?" The woman was always on him over his spending, but it wasn't like he didn't make it back and then some. And his money wasn't all in the US. He had it scattered worldwide. Some of it wasn't even cash. Some of it was art, some of it was literally tableware - a throwback to the days when you displayed your wealth in possessions of silver and gold. On paper his net worth was in the billions, in actual wealth.... it was a good deal higher. The castle in Italy held much of that accumulated wealth. Alex slipped his arm around Adrienne, and then offered his hand out to the realtor. "If you don't mind, we're just going to gawk a bit, get our bearings and a feel for the place. If we can expedite the close of the sale; that would be great."
Wrinkled Black: She shook the woman's hand as well, smiling warmly. "Thank you so much." When she turned to walk away and leave them to it, Adrienne slipped from Alex's arm, taking both of his hands in hers and leading him in the opposite direction. Not really anywhere in particular, but just away from the agent so she could pull him into a hug, smiling up at him. "I can't think of any places better than here and Broadmoor to raise our children." Those last three words may have had her grinning like an idiot.
Alex Vipond: His arms slipped around her, and Alex grinned back. "And here, Ki won't have to bunk in the garage to keep his morning wood under wraps." Alex still thought that was fucking hilarious. "It probably won't be until tomorrow before she has the paperwork ready, and we should have someone come out and inspect. In the meantime...." he grinned at her. "Let's head back to the stables and check them out a bit more...." he waggled his brows at her.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne laughed, tipping her head back. "Oh my God, he would love that, but also hate you for bringing it up!" Snickering, she pulled him in for a kiss, then shook her head for his suggestion. "You're incorrigible, you know that?" Nevertheless, her hands were taking his again and leading him to the barn as suggested. "Though...if the current owners don't take their asses with them, we're finding them new homes." Just sayin'.
Alex Vipond: "Yes, we are." Alex nodded as he walked with her fingers lacing with her own. "God, I love this place." Alex looked around as they stepped back into the stable, "When I was a kid, I was fascinated by them: Learned to ride, almost before I could walk. I had to learn how to balance in the saddle to accommodate a weapon, to guide my mount by the pressure of my legs alone, for those times when my hands needed to be busy elsewhere. My father couldn't seem to understand my desire to ride just for the sheer pleasure of it." He looked back at Adrienne and shrugged. "It was a different time."
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne's smile warmed as she listened, stepping to a stall to very gently approach the mare watching them, fingers stroking the soft muzzle lightly. "We'll definitely have to make it a habit to visit here and Somerset more often. I wish we could go for a ride now..." Hunt would have her hide for it, no doubt about it. Still stroking the horse's nose, she smiled over to Alex. "I envy you. Even though they were still very common when I was a child, we never had any need for them in the city. We would only ever get to ride when we visited the farm."
Alex Vipond: "Christmas here, oh my god...." he smiled at her and moved to stand with her, his hand lifting to rub the horse's neck. "It was a necessity. One didn't travel unless on horseback, by coach, or walk, and trust me, the carriages of the day were far from comfortable. Imagine a lumber wagon, with an enclosed, breezeless box and the only escape from the stench of your fellow travelers was to open the curtain over the window and let the choking road dust in." Alex paused, "You have to remember, back then; bathing was a luxury at best seen to on a less than quarterly schedule. And then it was in a bath that who knows how many had been in before. My cousin thought me strange for spending so much time down at the creek." He shook his head. "Of course, bathing wasn't my only interest..." He smiled and stroked the mare's neck once more. "We'll have to get a horse or two of our own."
Wrinkled Black: "Okay, I don't envy you that." She chuckled, shaking her head, but then she scrunched her nose at the idea of rarely bathing. "Ugh. I can't even imagine." She even shuddered a little for it before grinning to him. "Thank you so much for bathing more than once in a week." A wink was tossed his way before she was nodding, her attention on the horse once more. "At least two. As much as I love the idea of riding off into the sunset on your steed, hugging your waist tightly, I would like to do some riding on my own." Snicker.
Alex Vipond: "And I would love to have you wrapped in my arms, and I'm sure we'll ride double, but yes, it's good to ride side by side, too. And that way I don't choke on your hair." He chuckled and then leaned in and dropped a kiss to the horse's muzzle. "And we have to get them one of those big balls so they can play. At least one."