Location: The Grotto
Status: CLOSED ( @arielnystrom )
Song: Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish
Kate had been at The Grotto for exactly eleven minutes. Which was enough time to conclude three things:
One: Arielâs antique shop operated on rules that did not apply to normal retail.
Two: every object in here looked like it either granted wishes or ruined lives.
And three: Ariel absolutely enabled her.
Kate wandered between crowded shelves with her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, pausing every few feet to pick something up and immediately invent a backstory for it. She held up a tiny silver opera binocular, âThis belonged to a woman in 1912 who attended exactly one performance and spent the entire time gossiping instead.â
She set it down and then picked up an ornate letter opener. âThis was used for dramatic correspondence only.â Set that down too. Eventually, she found herself near the counter where a collection of tiny brass trinkets sat arranged with suspicious intention.
Kate picked one up. Turned it over. Pressed something and a tiny compartment popped open. She gasped then immediately looked around for Ariel. âAriel.â She held it up, her expression was completely serious. ââŚWhy do I feel like every object in here has side quests?â
She walked over and leaned against the counter. Her brown eyes drifted around the store again. Warm lights. Too many beautiful things. A place that felt exactly like Ariel somehow.
Kate smiled faintly. Then looked back at her friend. âYou know whatâs funny?â She turned the little object over in her hands. âI always think Iâm gonna come in here for like ten minutes.â
âAnd then somehow I lose an hour and leave knowing the life story of a Victorian hairbrush.â She tilted her head as another smile drew over her lips. âYouâve ruined normal stores for me.â
Then she set the trinket down and pointed across the room. âAlso.â Her tone turned serious. âYou have to tell me the weirdest thing someone has ever tried to buy."
"âŚAnd if the answer is me, Iâm leaving.â