The Ruby Encrusted Bracelet of Horrible Shopping Decisions
I usually write strange pulp-ish adventure tales, but every now and then I'll challenge myself to try something different. I think I really gave myself a push with this one, and you'll see the theme right away. Any and all comments welcome, but please let me know if anything could be taken as offensive since that is not my intention.
This is only roughly 1/2 of a 5000 word short story (2300 wds). I cut it at the most logical half-way point.
The Ruby Encrusted Bracelet of Horrible Shopping Decisions
A fountain of powder-scented, cultured pearls decorated the center of Queen Draggz's jewel garden. The layout was divided in to quadrants of rings, necklaces, bracelets and gems--only a handful ready to harvest. In a delicate sweep, the queen brushed back a shock of her wig's crimson curls from her forehead, then she smiled down at how her handiwork gleamed in the moonlight.
She needed something special for what she had planned. Just moments ago her Glorious Wall Oracle informed her that Lady Lypstyk was presently the vampest of them all. Draggz was not pleased. After all, the Drag Mother of all Drag Mothers had a reputation to hold.
She started to pluck one of the diamond rings from the small selection of ripe jewels, but it wasn't quite ready yet--too rough and not enough glow. Two necklaces were ready to pick, but she wanted to keep those for herself. Then she saw the perfect choice--a ruby encrusted bracelet that should do the job she had in mind just fine. She snapped the bracelet free from its silk stalk using only her nails, then wrapped it in a linen cloth. She had to be careful not to add the tiniest smudge before enchanting it; even the smallest imperfection could weaken her geas.
She strolled back to her spartan chambers and sat upon her lamb fur throne. To concentrate better, she dimmed the glow on two matching floor lamps that stood on either side of her seat. The red-tinted overhead lights above her mini bar enticed her to take the short walk for a drink as well.
She began the enchantment between sips of a cranberry martini, making sure to keep the bracelet lying clean and dry upon its cloth. Now was one of those times when she was glad she listened to her grandmother's thaumaturgy teaching so many years ago. Draggz was never interested in learning such witchery, preferring to develop beauty secrets to create her magic, but her grandmother was persistent. Because of Granny, Draggz had become a fairly decent dark witch. But no one knew.
It took less than ten minutes to complete her incantations. She'd privately call her new creation "The Bracelet of Horrible Shopping Decisions." It was so gorgeous there was no way Lady Lypstyk would turn down the offer as a gift. It was still early enough in the evening for one of her drag daughters to take a trip to Elsbya to deliver the ruse.
She called for Miss Karla, the soft-spoken, newest member of her daughters, to carry out the delivery. The task would serve a double duty to show Karla she was both welcome and trusted. The queen was always good to her minions this way, and they served her without question.
Draggz could smell Miss Karla's Eau de Lubin even before she entered the royal chambers. The queen had an affection for this sweet, pixie-faced girl the moment Karla pleaded to be a daughter. So ingenue, to the point the queen wondered about its genuineness.
Karla stepped up the queen's throne bowed. She wore a cherry wig in a short, 30s cabaret style. Heavy pink eyeliner added color to her face along with dark rose lipstick--almost black. "You called for me, Mother?"
Draggz had to strain to hear her. "Miss Karla, I have your first official task and it's no trivial matter. Do you feel that you're ready?" Karla shied away from eye contact; Draggz wished she would get beyond the intimidation. It was almost a shame to send the pretty, timid thing on such a devious errand.
"Yes, my queen, I'll do whatever you ask to the best of my abilities."
"I need you to deliver this bracelet to Lady Lypstyk. Tell her its a token of friendship from me, and I need you to be sure she wears it before you return. You may take the royal cab to Elsbya. Oh, and you'll need this writ with my official seal." She handed the writ to Karla. "Do you need time to prepare for the trip? It's a forty-five minute ride."
"Just enough to change and freshen up, Mother, then I will leave immediately afterward."
"Off with you then," The queen dismissed Karla with a brush of her hands, overdoing her purposely cliched moment. She loved such drama.
#
Karla stepped out of the royal cab and gasped. It had been over a year since she last visited Elsbya and she'd forgotten how beautifully the city shined at night. The ocean metropolis was surrounded by rippling water that reflected lights from the cubic homes. Every building sat upon its own mini island--some with a yard or garden--and all with a boat or two parked in front.
Karla hailed a water taxi parked in front of one of several docks; she showed the driver her writ and stated her purpose. The boatwoman took the writ without expression, then made a call to the Lady to see if she was willing to accept a guest at this hour.
"Please step in," the driver said after hanging up. "The lady will see you.
Within about six minutes Karla arrived at the Lady's multistory home which sat on an island far larger than any other in the city. A porter lead her inside to a sunken circular room where a couch curved around the entire area except for a space left available for the stairway leading down. Guests lounged upon pillows with flowered designs of magentas and pinks lining the couch. Karla stepped around a glass table where the cortege reached back and forth for drinks that sat in various stages of consumption.
Eight or nine standing guest chatted between sips of wine, and the lady excused herself in mid conversation to greet Karla. The lady's low cut, satiny dress fit her body like a slinky film. She wore several gold bracelets, but none as lovely as the queen's gift. An almost palpable sensuality preceded her movement as she approached. Simply elegant. The Lady didn't smile, but she was not unwelcoming.
"The driver said you have a gift from Queen Draggz?"
Karla even loved the lady's voice--smooth and deep. "Yes," she answered. "My queen thought this bracelet would be perfect for you. She picked it fresh from her garden just hours ago." Karla passed the felt-wrapped gift to the Lady. She took it and opened it in one liquid movement. "She said it's a gesture of friendship."
"I must admit I'm a bit wary. Draggz is known for her bitchiness and this seems a little out of character. I'm wondering if she has some other motive? Or perhaps she has a conscience after all. Still, the bracelet is absolutely lovely, so I'll accept it."
"She wanted me to be sure it fit," Karla said, avoiding the lady's direct gaze. "Would you mind trying it on?"
The Lady slip the jewelry on and it fit fine. "Oh, this truly is gorgeous." Lady Lypstyk finally smiled. "Now I have to buy some new outfits to match. What's you name child?"
"Miss Karla, milady"
"It's getting late, Miss Karla, so you're welcome to stay the evening. If you'd like, you can go shopping with me tomorrow. You could see first hand how my new outfits match this lovely bracelet and report back. Would you like some wine?"
"Yes, that would be nice. And it would be an honor to accompany you."
The Lady motioned for one of her servants to bring a glass for Karla. She took the wine then sat quietly in the farthest spot she could find in such a confined area, not caring to mingle. No one was rude, but neither did they make an effort to involve her in a conversation, which was fine with her.
to be cont....
I usually write strange pulp-ish adventure tales, but every now and then I'll challenge myself to try something different. I think I really gave myself a push with this one, and you'll see the theme right away. Any and all comments welcome, but please let me know if anything could be taken as offensive since that is not my intention.
This is only roughly 1/2 of a 5000 word short story (2300 wds). I cut it at the most logical half-way point.
The Ruby Encrusted Bracelet of Horrible Shopping Decisions
A fountain of powder-scented, cultured pearls decorated the center of Queen Draggz's jewel garden. The layout was divided in to quadrants of rings, necklaces, bracelets and gems--only a handful ready to harvest. In a delicate sweep, the queen brushed back a shock of her wig's crimson curls from her forehead, then she smiled down at how her handiwork gleamed in the moonlight.
She needed something special for what she had planned. Just moments ago her Glorious Wall Oracle informed her that Lady Lypstyk was presently the vampest of them all. Draggz was not pleased. After all, the Drag Mother of all Drag Mothers had a reputation to hold.
She started to pluck one of the diamond rings from the small selection of ripe jewels, but it wasn't quite ready yet--too rough and not enough glow. Two necklaces were ready to pick, but she wanted to keep those for herself. Then she saw the perfect choice--a ruby encrusted bracelet that should do the job she had in mind just fine. She snapped the bracelet free from its silk stalk using only her nails, then wrapped it in a linen cloth. She had to be careful not to add the tiniest smudge before enchanting it; even the smallest imperfection could weaken her geas.
She strolled back to her spartan chambers and sat upon her lamb fur throne. To concentrate better, she dimmed the glow on two matching floor lamps that stood on either side of her seat. The red-tinted overhead lights above her mini bar enticed her to take the short walk for a drink as well.
She began the enchantment between sips of a cranberry martini, making sure to keep the bracelet lying clean and dry upon its cloth. Now was one of those times when she was glad she listened to her grandmother's thaumaturgy teaching so many years ago. Draggz was never interested in learning such witchery, preferring to develop beauty secrets to create her magic, but her grandmother was persistent. Because of Granny, Draggz had become a fairly decent dark witch. But no one knew.
It took less than ten minutes to complete her incantations. She'd privately call her new creation "The Bracelet of Horrible Shopping Decisions." It was so gorgeous there was no way Lady Lypstyk would turn down the offer as a gift. It was still early enough in the evening for one of her drag daughters to take a trip to Elsbya to deliver the ruse.
She called for Miss Karla, the soft-spoken, newest member of her daughters, to carry out the delivery. The task would serve a double duty to show Karla she was both welcome and trusted. The queen was always good to her minions this way, and they served her without question.
Draggz could smell Miss Karla's Eau de Lubin even before she entered the royal chambers. The queen had an affection for this sweet, pixie-faced girl the moment Karla pleaded to be a daughter. So ingenue, to the point the queen wondered about its genuineness.
Karla stepped up the queen's throne bowed. She wore a cherry wig in a short, 30s cabaret style. Heavy pink eyeliner added color to her face along with dark rose lipstick--almost black. "You called for me, Mother?"
Draggz had to strain to hear her. "Miss Karla, I have your first official task and it's no trivial matter. Do you feel that you're ready?" Karla shied away from eye contact; Draggz wished she would get beyond the intimidation. It was almost a shame to send the pretty, timid thing on such a devious errand.
"Yes, my queen, I'll do whatever you ask to the best of my abilities."
"I need you to deliver this bracelet to Lady Lypstyk. Tell her its a token of friendship from me, and I need you to be sure she wears it before you return. You may take the royal cab to Elsbya. Oh, and you'll need this writ with my official seal." She handed the writ to Karla. "Do you need time to prepare for the trip? It's a forty-five minute ride."
"Just enough to change and freshen up, Mother, then I will leave immediately afterward."
"Off with you then," The queen dismissed Karla with a brush of her hands, overdoing her purposely cliched moment. She loved such drama.
#
Karla stepped out of the royal cab and gasped. It had been over a year since she last visited Elsbya and she'd forgotten how beautifully the city shined at night. The ocean metropolis was surrounded by rippling water that reflected lights from the cubic homes. Every building sat upon its own mini island--some with a yard or garden--and all with a boat or two parked in front.
Karla hailed a water taxi parked in front of one of several docks; she showed the driver her writ and stated her purpose. The boatwoman took the writ without expression, then made a call to the Lady to see if she was willing to accept a guest at this hour.
"Please step in," the driver said after hanging up. "The lady will see you.
Within about six minutes Karla arrived at the Lady's multistory home which sat on an island far larger than any other in the city. A porter lead her inside to a sunken circular room where a couch curved around the entire area except for a space left available for the stairway leading down. Guests lounged upon pillows with flowered designs of magentas and pinks lining the couch. Karla stepped around a glass table where the cortege reached back and forth for drinks that sat in various stages of consumption.
Eight or nine standing guest chatted between sips of wine, and the lady excused herself in mid conversation to greet Karla. The lady's low cut, satiny dress fit her body like a slinky film. She wore several gold bracelets, but none as lovely as the queen's gift. An almost palpable sensuality preceded her movement as she approached. Simply elegant. The Lady didn't smile, but she was not unwelcoming.
"The driver said you have a gift from Queen Draggz?"
Karla even loved the lady's voice--smooth and deep. "Yes," she answered. "My queen thought this bracelet would be perfect for you. She picked it fresh from her garden just hours ago." Karla passed the felt-wrapped gift to the Lady. She took it and opened it in one liquid movement. "She said it's a gesture of friendship."
"I must admit I'm a bit wary. Draggz is known for her bitchiness and this seems a little out of character. I'm wondering if she has some other motive? Or perhaps she has a conscience after all. Still, the bracelet is absolutely lovely, so I'll accept it."
"She wanted me to be sure it fit," Karla said, avoiding the lady's direct gaze. "Would you mind trying it on?"
The Lady slip the jewelry on and it fit fine. "Oh, this truly is gorgeous." Lady Lypstyk finally smiled. "Now I have to buy some new outfits to match. What's you name child?"
"Miss Karla, milady"
"It's getting late, Miss Karla, so you're welcome to stay the evening. If you'd like, you can go shopping with me tomorrow. You could see first hand how my new outfits match this lovely bracelet and report back. Would you like some wine?"
"Yes, that would be nice. And it would be an honor to accompany you."
The Lady motioned for one of her servants to bring a glass for Karla. She took the wine then sat quietly in the farthest spot she could find in such a confined area, not caring to mingle. No one was rude, but neither did they make an effort to involve her in a conversation, which was fine with her.
to be cont....
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