Rebecca Swan wandered amongst the various stalls and tables that made up New York’s haphazard open-air market. She wasn’t looking to buy anything, really – as the only daughter of Edward Swan, an incredibly wealthy merchant with connections in the lucrative spice trade, Rebecca was very spoiled. Her father could have the most fashionable clothes and jewelry in the world ordered for her from the most popular European shops. The cap Rebecca was wearing right now, embroidered with satin ribbons and lace, had recently been ordered from a well-known Parisian boutique frequented by many members of the upper class.
No, Rebecca did not go to the open-air market to buy things, but to look. As long as one could stomach the smell of raw fish that permeated the air near the city’s harbor, there were all sorts of weird and wonderful things people had on display. Describing these items to her friends was something Rebecca enjoyed immensely, and ensured that she would be the center of attention at any social gathering.
Just then, a man bumped into Rebecca, causing the girl to lose her footing and very nearly topple over. “Terribly sorry, miss,” the man said, grabbing hold of Rebecca’s arm and helping to right her. “I do hope you’re alright.” He offered her an apologetic little bow.
The man was dressed in a rather plain waistcoat and breeches, and was very clearly of a lower class, so Rebecca was prepared to thank him briefly for his assistance and move on. But then, she caught a glimpse of something clutched tightly in the man’s hand, something that caught the afternoon light and shimmered enticingly. Rebecca was instantly curious. No one ever sold anything extremely valuable at the market; it would have been an easy target for theft. What was this man doing with jewelry on him at a place like this?
“It’s fine. Thank you for your help,” Rebecca said. A little politeness went a long way in getting what one wanted, she’d learned over the years. “Sir, if I may be so bold as to inquire, what is that you’re holding there?”
“Oh…this?” The man looked Rebecca up and down quickly, as if sizing her up. Nodding to himself, he opened his hand and revealed the most beautiful thing Rebecca had ever seen in her life.
It was a piece of glass – or maybe crystal, Rebecca wasn’t too sure – that had been shaped into a flawless replica of a human skull. Clearly it was the work of a master craftsman, as every single detail down to the teeth looked flawless. The beautiful workmanship had turned what would have otherwise been morbid and horrible into a work of art. The skull’s empty eye sockets glittered up at her, and Rebecca knew that she had to have it. She’d never wanted anything in her life as much as she wanted the skull this man currently had. “Where…where did you get this?” She breathed.
“That’s neither here nor there, miss,” the man said, suddenly all business. “If you’re interested, I’m selling it for five hundred pounds. No more, no less.”
Normally, Rebecca would have been suspicious of a man who had something of such obvious value as that skull, when he clearly couldn’t have afforded it. But at the moment, Rebecca didn’t care. She wanted that skull in her possession, and she wanted it now. Who cared if the man had stolen it? She would be its’ owner soon enough.
“What’s your name, sir?” Rebecca asked.
“Carter, miss. Tom Carter.”
“Well, Mr. Carter, I don’t suppose you could bring that skull to the address of 78 Broad Street this evening, perhaps a little after six? My father, Edward Swan, should be home around then. He can pay you for it.”
Tom Carter’s eyes widened. “Edward Swan? You mean the merchant, Edward Swan, right? The rich one?”
“The one and only,” Rebecca said loftily. It was really quite handy, the way her father’s name could open so many doors and possibilities. “I’m his daughter, Rebecca.”
“Of…of course, miss! I’ll be there at a quarter after sharp!” Tom’s eyes were practically bulging out of his skull with shock. He probably couldn’t believe the stroke of good fortune he’d just come into, Rebecca thought. She watched him practically skip out of the market with a small smile on her face. He’d obviously gotten what he wanted today.
Rebecca headed back towards the direction of home herself. Now she just had to convince her father to buy the skull when Tom showed up. Five hundred pounds was not a cheap sum by any stretch of the imagination, but Rebecca was sure that a little wheedling and pouting would work. It always had before, after all. Then, that lovely little skull would be hers. Oh, wouldn’t Rebecca’s friends all be terribly jealous when they saw it!
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I plan on cleaning this up and posting it on FF.net after I've finished it here on the meme. When that time comes, I'll post a link to it in this thread. The unfinished HTML in the earlier part annoys me, I wish I could go back and fix it here. >< Ah well.
Re: Fill: Body Swap Part 4b/?
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Rebecca Swan wandered amongst the various stalls and tables that made up New York’s haphazard open-air market. She wasn’t looking to buy anything, really – as the only daughter of Edward Swan, an incredibly wealthy merchant with connections in the lucrative spice trade, Rebecca was very spoiled. Her father could have the most fashionable clothes and jewelry in the world ordered for her from the most popular European shops. The cap Rebecca was wearing right now, embroidered with satin ribbons and lace, had recently been ordered from a well-known Parisian boutique frequented by many members of the upper class.
No, Rebecca did not go to the open-air market to buy things, but to look. As long as one could stomach the smell of raw fish that permeated the air near the city’s harbor, there were all sorts of weird and wonderful things people had on display. Describing these items to her friends was something Rebecca enjoyed immensely, and ensured that she would be the center of attention at any social gathering.
Just then, a man bumped into Rebecca, causing the girl to lose her footing and very nearly topple over. “Terribly sorry, miss,” the man said, grabbing hold of Rebecca’s arm and helping to right her. “I do hope you’re alright.” He offered her an apologetic little bow.
The man was dressed in a rather plain waistcoat and breeches, and was very clearly of a lower class, so Rebecca was prepared to thank him briefly for his assistance and move on. But then, she caught a glimpse of something clutched tightly in the man’s hand, something that caught the afternoon light and shimmered enticingly. Rebecca was instantly curious. No one ever sold anything extremely valuable at the market; it would have been an easy target for theft. What was this man doing with jewelry on him at a place like this?
“It’s fine. Thank you for your help,” Rebecca said. A little politeness went a long way in getting what one wanted, she’d learned over the years. “Sir, if I may be so bold as to inquire, what is that you’re holding there?”
“Oh…this?” The man looked Rebecca up and down quickly, as if sizing her up. Nodding to himself, he opened his hand and revealed the most beautiful thing Rebecca had ever seen in her life.
It was a piece of glass – or maybe crystal, Rebecca wasn’t too sure – that had been shaped into a flawless replica of a human skull. Clearly it was the work of a master craftsman, as every single detail down to the teeth looked flawless. The beautiful workmanship had turned what would have otherwise been morbid and horrible into a work of art. The skull’s empty eye sockets glittered up at her, and Rebecca knew that she had to have it. She’d never wanted anything in her life as much as she wanted the skull this man currently had. “Where…where did you get this?” She breathed.
“That’s neither here nor there, miss,” the man said, suddenly all business. “If you’re interested, I’m selling it for five hundred pounds. No more, no less.”
Normally, Rebecca would have been suspicious of a man who had something of such obvious value as that skull, when he clearly couldn’t have afforded it. But at the moment, Rebecca didn’t care. She wanted that skull in her possession, and she wanted it now. Who cared if the man had stolen it? She would be its’ owner soon enough.
“What’s your name, sir?” Rebecca asked.
“Carter, miss. Tom Carter.”
“Well, Mr. Carter, I don’t suppose you could bring that skull to the address of 78 Broad Street this evening, perhaps a little after six? My father, Edward Swan, should be home around then. He can pay you for it.”
Tom Carter’s eyes widened. “Edward Swan? You mean the merchant, Edward Swan, right? The rich one?”
“The one and only,” Rebecca said loftily. It was really quite handy, the way her father’s name could open so many doors and possibilities. “I’m his daughter, Rebecca.”
“Of…of course, miss! I’ll be there at a quarter after sharp!” Tom’s eyes were practically bulging out of his skull with shock. He probably couldn’t believe the stroke of good fortune he’d just come into, Rebecca thought. She watched him practically skip out of the market with a small smile on her face. He’d obviously gotten what he wanted today.
Rebecca headed back towards the direction of home herself. Now she just had to convince her father to buy the skull when Tom showed up. Five hundred pounds was not a cheap sum by any stretch of the imagination, but Rebecca was sure that a little wheedling and pouting would work. It always had before, after all. Then, that lovely little skull would be hers. Oh, wouldn’t Rebecca’s friends all be terribly jealous when they saw it!
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I plan on cleaning this up and posting it on FF.net after I've finished it here on the meme. When that time comes, I'll post a link to it in this thread. The unfinished HTML in the earlier part annoys me, I wish I could go back and fix it here. >< Ah well.