THE HOOKER AU MEME

[puppetmeme]

THE HOOKER AU MEME

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Abigail Clemmons / OC

[rebutle]

(Prefer to be the whore, and not on the street.)

2 house - 1 curiosity / AU, totally winging this.

[notoneline]

River Song had never been the most respectable of women. Raised in an orphanage in the outskirts of London, she'd made a hobby of pickpocketing and begging, lying and stealing, from an early stage. She'd learned to smile just right, bat her eyelashes, and cheat you out of a purse of pounds before you even knew what had hit you. A governess position out of the orphanage hadn't changed that. If anything, it'd taught her new rules-the rules of language, manners, wealth. And it had taught her how to break those rules just as well. She'd worked her way slowly up through the system. Her first husband had died abroad. The second? Well, nobody was quite sure what had happened to him

You don't mind lavender prose, right?

[rebutle]

River is met by the sight of a whore holding a candlestick menacingly. Tall, pale, and blessed with eyes like drops of blue wax in water, she seems distinctly unhappy at having someone climbing in the window. After all, her last...guest...for the night had already left, and she was getting ready for bed.

So there she is, in her nightie, long black hair loose around her like a thick veil. "The door is below, madame. I entreat you to make use of it, should you wish to enter this establishment." There's threat in her voice, but also the barest hint of humor, the crisp crust to a thick, doughy bread.

love reading it, can't guarantee I can write it

[notoneline]

"And why would I do that when I've already entered by other means?" River entreats, holding her skirts up delicately as if they aren't stained and crumpled beyond repair as is. She had always been a fan of faking dignity, straight-backed and supported by a lion's mane of hair like a halo, no matter the circumstances.

[rebutle]

"The window's still open," Abigail coos innocently, taking a small step forward. "It would be a terrible shame if you fell trying to climb inside, don't you think?"

It wouldn't be hard to make it look like an accident, and a nice loud struggle would only draw attention she was sure the other woman didn't want. If it bruised her, it might even lead to a few nights of not serving the clients who were so obsessed with her wan complexion. Yes, she had the power at this moment, or so she thought.

[notoneline]

Touché, madame, touché.

River smiles, calculating a second before speaking. "That would certainly upset my night. It would, however, make the night of the constable and detective the next street over. A murder and a whore house in one evening, my, my, they'd be ecstatic. Although perhaps your madame would not?" River can't be the only one who doesn't want any attention brought to her.

[rebutle]

The madame pays off the police force at great expense, and would certainly not be pleased at the justification for further extortion. It's Abigail's turn to think before she speaks, the silver candlestick still tight in her hand at the ready.

"I could always simply call her up here. I'm sure she could find something to do with you. I know our rougher clients would love to grab at that swallow's-nest on your head."

[notoneline]

River slides away from the window. Not toward the other woman-not while she's brandishing a potential weapon-but around the side and decidedly out of view of the street. She's grasping at straws here, but can't let that show. She hadn't necessarily expected to run into this much trouble. Oh, it was thrilling. Bothersome, but thrilling.

River draws out from her bosome a purse of coins. "And what if I'm a client myself?"

[rebutle]

"Then you should really go downstairs and talk to the madame. Properly." But that's a should and not a must, and the way her eyes light up doesn't have much to do with the money.

Thrilling, yes, that was an excellent word for the situation. For the little game of cat and mouse they had here. She wondered if the other woman was as spirited in other pursuits.

[notoneline]

"And waste my time?" A step closer now, testing the waters. She definitely doesn't shift her hold on the purse so that it jangles pleasantly in the quiet. Oh, no, certainly not.

[rebutle]

"As you're wasting my precious few hours of sleep?" There's a careful lack of response to the money--she's well-trained to pretend that she does this out of something nobler than greed. And in a way, she does. People fascinate her, and this occupation puts her in contact with all sorts. She's even written a few short stories inspired by her experiences.

Tonight feels like it could be spun into another without any editing.

[notoneline]

Fascinating. This was turning out to be a better night than River had anticipated, and while usually River was pretty good at reading people, this woman was turning out to be a challenge. River shifts gears slightly, then, tilting her head to the side. "I'll pay you to sleep, tonight, my dear. Maybe that gets me off. This whole purse for a night in your bed and your silence on the matter."

Not that she didn't intend to nick the whole purse back come morning and slip right back out that window.

[rebutle]

"That seems reasonable." She nods, setting the candlestick back on the desk, and then finding a hand-dipped candle scented with lavender to put in it and light. "Shall I undress you for bed, my lady?"

[notoneline]

"If you don't mind."

Might as well get what she was paying for. River sets the purse down and undoes the top few laces on her corset.

[rebutle]

Abigail moves to take over the task, fingers nimble and gentle. She hums softly as she works, some popular tavern tune that had wafted in her window on a late summer night (not utterly unlike River).

[notoneline]

River relaxes, closing her eyes and letting Abigail work around her, the lavender and music together soothing her running mind. The weight off her mind to know that she'd have at least one night of safe sleep was tremendous. There was always the slight fear in circumstances such as these that she'd get ratted out in her sleep, but River had the feeling, for whatever reason, that wouldn't be the case tonight. "Thank you, madame," she opens her eyes and smiles at Abigail, and it's the first genuine statement she's made all night.