avatrice AU concept proposal
lmk if this is anything lol i was struck with an idea for an avatrice museum curator/time travel AU based on my job working as a curator for a historic home
Concept Summary:
2024 -- Ava, a classical archaeologist with a unique supernatural gift, is offered a position as a museum curator at a historic country estate in England for the summer touring season. She is hesitant to accept as it's not really her field, but her research money has dried up, and she takes the job.
1874 -- Beatrice, the daughter of a wealthy baron, reckons with a gnawing suspicion that there is more to her family's livelihood than meets the eye. She becomes distracted from her investigation by strange happenings in her home.
Scene: Camilla, the daycamp director for the museum, is helping Ava to clean her office and go through old records.
Dialogue sneak peek (based on a conversation with my coworker):
Ava squints at the budget ledger.
“I’m not usually in charge of this stuff.” She flips a page. “I don’t think Jillian would want to leave me in charge of the finances if she saw how I was funding my research.”
Camila laughs, leaning over the desk to help Ava find the right numbers.
“Here.” She points at a column. “This was our account for last season, and the camps got by. You can propose the same amount this year and I’ll survive.” She shrugs.
Ava sighs and closes the ledger. “Thanks.” She knits her brows together and studies Camilla’s face for a second.
“You know, I’m really glad you’re here, I don’t know if I’d survive the season if it was just Lilith.”
Camilla laughs again, brighter. “Lilith is just...” She ponders. “You know those conservator types. They don’t want just anyone touching their artifacts.”
Ava smirks. “I don’t know, maybe if she let someone get all up in her artifacts she could loosen up a little.”
“I’m getting the distinct feeling someone wouldn’t mind sorting through her filing cabinet—”
Camilla turns red and covers her ears. “Stop it! Right now—”
“What was it that you said? ‘Sure Lilith, I can help you move the textiles to acid-free boxes, actually, I’m kind of a box expert myself—'”
“I will leave you down here to peel the dead mice off the floor on your own.” Camilla threatens, stepping toward the door.
“Alright, I’m done, I’m done. Please don’t go.” Ava begs for her to come back into the office. They both look around at the mess.
“I can’t believe the pests have wrecked this place so much since our last tours.” Camilla says.
Ava swipes a finger through dust on a shelf. She wrinkles her nose at the mouse droppings on the windowsill and bends over to look at the dried mouse carcass underneath the couch.
“You’re telling me. I might have to burn most of this paper.” Ava stands to gesture at a stack of disorganized records. She pulls a latex glove over her hand. “Can’t keep it if it's contaminated.”
“Yuck. Well, I’d rather deal with the mice and the kids than the ghosts any day.” Camilla casually picks up a dustpan and crouches to poke at the mouse.
Ava freezes. “...the what?”
Camilla looks up at her. “Haven’t you heard all of the stories?”
Ava throws up her hands. “No! Jillian told me this place wasn’t haunted.”
“Oh.” Camilla clears her throat. “Just kidding then.”
lmk if you would read more i guess bc i have such a great idea cooking up idk if it's lame or not
