Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.
Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Feel free to back out if need be.
Author's Note: I actually have a pair of sea turtle earrings with abalone shell for their shells. They're silver, tho', not gold. They were a gift from my son.
Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); RAVEN (2023); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); In a Flash; Setting Sail; Lunar Era
Ministry Challenges: FSF [Day 16] (Alice/Marlene)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [65](First Meeting); Items [83](Necklace); Colors [41](Daffodil)
Other Challenges: Zee Monthly [Day 25](Matter)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (n/a)[SpMic1 (Jeweler)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death; Race Bend);Fire [x3](Beauty); Hang [Phrase 4] (n/a); Soup [D](Desi); Swap [Counters (Gold Chain)]
Representation(s): Desi Marlene McKinnon/Alice Longbottom; Jewelry Shop AU
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Suddenly Audrey
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: Share (Ameliorate); AC (Mistletoe); SS (Schooner; Seduce)
Word Count: 741 words
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The Jewelry Shop
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Alice stepped into the jewelry shop, intent on completing her mission and returning home as quickly as possible. The weather was relatively nice for a day in the middle of December, but everywhere was busy with other last minute shoppers. She normally would not have left such an important gift so late, but no matter where she looked, she just hadn't managed to find anything for her mother. A friend had recommended this shop, and Alice was hopeful that she'd finally find something to give her mother for the holiday.
Her gaze was immediately draw to the counter display of necklaces and pendants. In particular, she noticed a delicate-looking gold chain with a beautiful sea turtle pendant with an abalone shell. It was almost perfect, despite being so plain. Maybe the simplicity wouldn't matter. Alice was debating if it would be acceptable on its own or if she should consider trying to find earrings to match when the jeweler stepped out from the backroom.
"Welcome, my lady," the woman greeted, giving a small half-bow. She gave Alice a warm smile that made her dark eyes sparkle like a night sky. Her hair was gathered beneath a headscarf of dark amber. She was wearing what appeared to be a simple tunic of daffodil yellow and loose-fitting slacks of saffron yellow. The yellows looked very nice against the warm brown of her skin. "What can I do for you today?"
Alice hesitated, unsure of herself and her request. She had an idea of what to choose, but this woman's beauty seemed to have stolen the words needed to express it. Alice struggled to gather her scattered thoughts before she managed to blurt out, "I'm looking for a necklace for my mother. Something special."
The jeweler's eyes lit up.
"Ah, for a special woman! I think I can help you with that." She gestured for Alice to come closer, right up to the far corner of the little shop and the very counter with the sea turtle necklace. The jeweler took out several necklaces from the display case. Each one was more beautiful than the last. One was a delicate gold chain with a single pearl; another was a silver locket with a blue stone inlaid in the center. Then finally, she pulled out the sea turtle necklace and held it up.
"This is a special piece. It was crafted in France." She ran her fingers across the surface, her expression gentle and full of admiration. Alice found herself mesmerized by this woman—and by the delicate and intricate details of the necklace she held. She hardly noticed when the jeweler removed the necklace from its velvet display box and placed it in her hand.
"This is the perfect gift," she said softly. "She will love it. And should you wish, there are matching earrings."
Alice smiled. She could feel the warmth of the metal against her skin, and the weight of it in her palm. It was beautiful, and she knew her mother would cherish it. She looked up at the jeweler and found her gaze fixed on her. Her eyes were twinkling again, and Alice felt like she had been transported to a different world. She nodded.
"I was just thinking that earrings would make a nice complement to it."
"Then it's settled." She took the necklace and put it back in its case. Then she put in a pair of sea turtle earrings that looked like their shells had been cut from the shell as the pendant. Finally, she closed the lid and wrapped a silk ribbon around the whole thing. The purchase went off without any issue, not that Alice expected any. The jeweler bit her bottom lip before continuing in a rush (as if she was about to lose her nerve), "And while I'm at it, would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
Alice couldn't believe her ears. She nodded, and the jeweler handed her the box.
"It was a pleasure to serve you, my lady," she said with a smile. "My name is Marlene, and I get off at half six. We can meet here."
"That would be perfect," Alice agreed. Her smile felt like it was splitting her face in two. She exited the shop in a daze, feeling lighter than air. She had found the perfect gift for her mother, and the unexpected dinner invitation from the charming jeweler had made her heart flutter.