As the Dark Rizzards began to fiddle and play around with the remote control, Clive was zipping and unzipping his puffer jackets in a valiant attempt to stall them out.
His aim, to Hugo's chagrin, was to 'last as long as possible' whilst Sally made her getaway with the crucial physical prototypes of the EVP Technology…
After they realised that Clive was still 'standing up' to the challenge, Itvashim realised that things needed to change.
And of course, by things, he meant the DRSABCDs of course, and by change, he meant that literally - and that they should start wearing all the puffer jackets in stock and on the racks.
As a result, Clive would eventually run out of puffer jackets, and be unable to cope!!!…
But not right away.
Looking at Itvasme, he nodded.
The first step was to crank up the temperature.
Slowly but surely, they were now sweating, and Clive was now reduced to breathing heavily in just his naked skin and wearing one pair of thermal underwear…
At this unsightly sight, In the crowd of esteemed readers, Ino Sainté's lovely eyes widened.
"Ooh…"
"…"
___
Meanwhile, Itvashim gave the order.
"Now!!!"
"Yes sir!!!" Immediately, the DRSABCDs ran up to the clothing racks and began donning thermal underwear and puffer jackets, quickly depleting Clive's stock, whilst Itvashim began lowering the temperature again.
This time… Clive grasped for another jacket, but his hands grasped air. He was now unable to adjust. H-he was starting to feel cold!!!!
___
… Even so. Clive knew that this… this was his time. This was his moment.
Suddenly, a little montage flashback began to play.
Clive was just a kid. He was shivering in his blanket, sneezing and looking sad. Aww.
Then it flashed to him on a nice summer's day, healthy and comfortable, smiling as he enjoyed the 'just right' temperature and the perfect conditions…
…
…And that was it.
Author had put in a good effort, but Clive's backstory was simply too sh**.
Oh well.
Nevertheless, Clive's eyes still glowed with a glint of predictable determination as he took in the universal power of the flashback. Back then, when the chips and temperatures were down… He had experienced it… the warmth that permeated his being, overcoming that feeling of being cold, allowing him to recover from his flu, and those feelings of being upset…
Would he succumb now?
"Hhhnngghhhhjhyyahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"
Clive let out an incensed cry...
He began to push himself beyond his limits, taking down one puffer jacket clad Dark Rizzard after another… burning calories using the mechanism of strenuous exercise in order to stave off the cold… but gradually, despite his efforts, it was he who was starting to get puffed out… and his body was growing colder and colder…
The needles on his syringes began to lose penetrating power, the Dark Rizzards sneering as his jabs failed to pierce through the padding of their purloined puffer jackets.
Another Dark Rizzard strode forward and pulled the plug of the screen that was playing the sh*tty montage of Clive shivering sneezing and crying and then smiling laughing and happy on loop.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sally's Coldn'Hot MV was better..." the cutting comment carried out into the Clothing convenience store and into Clive's ear canals.
Yes… In other words… he heard it.
Clive's cold hands grew increasingly clunky…
…W-was this how it would all end?!?!