Eloise Harkness stood at the nose of the ship in a dark grey dress, her long, dark brown hair flowed down her back, her chocolate brown eyes looked toward the clear sky. The sun felt warm against her face, she felt the splash of the sea causing her to smile. She could see London fast approaching. The smile upon her face grew wider. London, her new home. Her dress billowing in wind as hope engulfed her.
She walked off the ship with her luggage that she carried through the town as she found her new place of residence. The building she arrived at looked tall, dark, and foreboding but, she had seen worse. She walked in and looked around. The inside was also dark and foreboding but, she still went forward to greet the man at the counter.
"Good morning, Sir. I am Eloise Harkness. I am the one who is renting your room you have available."
"Ah, yes, Miss Harkness. The rent is due at the first of the month. Here are your keys." The man said.
He handed her the keys, which she took with a nod and a quiet, "Thank you."
She was about to turn to go upstairs to her room when his voice stopped her.
"There actually has been an increase in the rent now than when we last discussed it."
"Oh? How much?" Eloise asked, looking into her purse for her money.
"£20." He stated, looking smug.
She looked up at him. Looked him square in the eye until all his focus was on her.
"I will not be paying that extra £20. You will take £20 off for the next three months of my rent. The remaining months of my lease, I will pay what we discussed. Should you try to swindle people for more money, may you find lots of rats within your home." She spoke slowly and evenly.
She picked up her bags and began walking up the stairs.
"Have a nice day." She said.
"Ah, yes. You too, Miss."
"Jerk." She muttered as she made her way to her room.
She unlocked her door, went in, and closed it behind her. The room was small with a kitchen on the right side of the room. A bed, dresser, closet, and bathroom on the left. She began unpacking, though it didn't take too long, as she didn't have much stuff. Once she finished, she felt like exploring. She grabbed her black cloak and her purse before locking her door. She walked out the building, pointedly looking away from the man at the desk.
She wandered around London, looking in awe at the tall buildings. She found a few shops of interest and made a few purchases, including some groceries that she used her teleportation power to send them to her home when no one was looking as she ducked into a dark alleyway.
As she made her way through another dark and gloomy area, she came to an interesting building. It had a purple sign lined in gold with a skull in the center and the words UNDERTAKER. She went inside. It was slightly dark but, her eyes adjusted quickly. There were coffins everywhere, huge vases that scattered the room, jars filled with liquid and various organs. A soft, eerie laughter filled the air. A Grim Reaper stepped forward through the dark. He had a pale, grey face with stitches going across a quarter of his face, white hair peaking out from under the black top hat he wore, he also wore a black rope with dark grey beads around his neck.
"Why, hello there. I don't think I've ever seen you before." He spoke, still chuckling.
"Who are you?" She countered back.
He chuckled, "As the sign says, darling."
She smiled, "Undertaker."
He nodded, still chuckling.
"I'm Eloise. I just moved from New York to here." She said, still smiling.
"And what can I do for such a fearless lady?"
"I would like a quart of ashes, please." She said.
"Now that, I can do." He said, smiling at her.
"How much?" She asked, about to start looking through her purse.
"No money, darling."
His response made her stop and look up at him with a head tilt as she was confused. He took a step towards her.
"What I require, is pure laughter." He said, with another chuckle.
Eloise smiled and beckoned him closer. He did so until she was able to lean her lips into his ear. She whispered a few words and poked his side. His laughter rang out loud and proud.
"You little sneaky, you! Cheating my using hands! But, you did use words so…" he went to the back.
Eloise waited long moments. She could hear him humming and giggling and talking to himself as he got what she asked for. He came back with a blue jar. He handed it to her. She took it and opened it up. There were a few pieces of bones mixed in with the ashes. She looked at him confused.
"I threw in some bones because of your nice manners and patience. People have always rushed me." He explained, smiling at her.
She smiled back.
"Thank you, Undertaker. Have a nice day."
"You as well." He waited until she left, "Frances."
Eloise went back home. She sent to work putting her groceries and purchases away. After making and eating dinner, she set to work on her oils and potions.
The following day, she went downtown and found the perfect little shop. There were shelves along the wall, a counter in front of the shelves, a little bit of debris on the floor. She smiled and nodded.
"I'll take it." She told the owner.
After paying the owner and him leaving, Eloise set to work. She cleaned the store top to bottom. She went to a furniture store and bought a long table to make oils and potions on hand if needed. She added it to the right side of the counter. Once she was satisfied with how everything looked, she started adding her oils and potions by what they were to be used for. Then she put her oil and potion making equipment to the long table. Underneath the counter, she had small sample oils and potions. She nodded happily, making a few more oils and potions before locking up for the night.
The next day, she opened her shop at seven in the morning. She stood outside the shop, smiling and greeting people as they passed by. Suddenly, she heard someone coughing violently. She looked through the throngs of people and saw an elderly woman leaning on her stick, coughing violently. She ran over to her.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"Oh, yes, dear. I'm fine." She said, still coughing.
"Is it asthma or just a cough?"
"A… cough."
"Alright, here."
She placed her hand in her pocket before she summoned a simple blue oil from her shop. She pulled out the oil.
"This is oil. Any time your cough is this bad, just rub a little bit on your chest."
She opened the bottle for her, took the woman's hand, and poured a dab on her finger.
"Now, rub it on your chest." Eloise instructed, closing the bottle.
The woman did so, still coughing. As she rubbed it onto her chest her coughing slowly subsided.
"Oh, sweet girl! Thank you! I thought I would be coughing forever!" the woman laughed.
Eloise smiled. She handed her the bottle. The woman shook her head,
"Oh no, sweet girl! I can't take this." The woman said.
"Of course you can! I'm giving it to you." Eloise smiled, handing the woman the bottle, "Just a little bit if your cough gets too bad, alright?"
"Alright. Thank you, sweet girl."
"You're welcome. Have a great day!"
"You too!"
Eloise giggled slightly before going back to the door of her shop. She gave out her samples of oils and potions to those that needed it throughout the day. A few days later, her business began booming.
