Felix starts folding the sparkly jacket back into his shopping bag, still watching Mikey for a verdict. Gi turns toward a rack of donated clothes near the counter.
Gi pulls out a distinctive deep-purple vest threaded with gold and teal, its unusual colors echoing the jacket without matching it exactly. A handwritten note protrudes from one pocket.
Gi William
Well, this is interesting. Someone donated it with a note asking the next wearer to make it their own.
Gi unfolds the note carefully. Its handwriting invites the wearer to alter, decorate, or reinterpret the vest instead of treating it as finished. Felix leans closer, intrigued.
Felix
That is absolutely a design challenge. The colors are weird together, but maybe weird in a good way. Mikey, your artistic eye decides.
Mikey's Mom
He can give an opinion, as long as we finish the choice here and then go home as agreed.
Felix holds the vest against the sparkly jacket, turning toward the warm shop lights. Purple, gold, teal, and glitter now wait for Mikey’s judgment before the outfit is chosen.
✓ Quest Accepted
Achieve independence from Mom
“I encourage Mom to look at a specific sparkly outfit, then while she is distracted I sneak out of the store and head to Cara-Mia Amore's luxury penthouse apartment.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Mikey
Mom, look at the sparkly jacket with the purple vest. The colors work together, and Felix should try that combination.
Mikey’s Mom turns toward the jacket, comparing its glittering fabric with the deep-purple vest. Felix lifts both pieces, eager to demonstrate the outfit, and Gi watches the sudden styling discussion.
While their attention stays on the clothes, Mikey slips through the open shop door and hurries down the sidewalk. His shoe catches on a cracked paving edge, scraping his knee, but he keeps moving.
He reaches Cara-Mia Amore’s luxury penthouse apartment with his knee stinging and dusty from the stumble. The elevator doors close behind him before anyone from the flower shop can catch up.
The penthouse door opens, and Cara-Mia Amore finds Mikey alone in the hallway, visibly winded and sporting a fresh scrape. Her expression shifts from surprise to immediate concern.
Cara-Mia Amore
Mikey? Come inside, but tell me first whether your mother knows you came here. Then I’m cleaning that knee.
Cara steps aside to let him enter, keeping the doorway in view. The penthouse is quiet behind her, while the scrape on Mikey’s knee makes the successful escape impossible to ignore.