Market Day (tag: Open)
Verity hated hiding her remarkable beauty, but it was a necessity that could not be avoided. After enough time had passed that she felt comfortable in her little hut in the woods, she had taken to allowing herself the luxury of enjoying her looks around home. As long as she didn't stray too far and could hurry inside should someone approach. When out and about in the woods, she could not take such risks. Even more-so when she needed to head into town. People might recognize her, and that was something that she had to avoid at all costs.
Some day. Some day she would get her revenge, and Snow's kingdom would be hers once again.
In the meantime, Verity was downright sick of wearing rags and living in little more than a hovel. It was time to get a few things to make her life at home a little more bearable. To that end a trip to the market place was in order. She had to be careful, though. Even with enough coin in her pocket from the things she herself sold from time to time, others might get suspicious of a woman of her supposed low means purchasing higher end products like fine cloth and eye-pleasing novelties. She would just have to be careful to spread her purchases out so no one noticed what all she had. A few vegetables on top would hide her new items as she approached other shops.
"Oh, it is lovely. But so dear!" Verity pretended the price of the fabric was too exorbitant to even consider. Her purposefully gnarled hands stroked the cloth. Even with the magically produced calluses between her and the fabric, Verity could appreciate the quality of the material. It would make a fine garment. Some haggling back and forth with the merchant, and the former queen appeared to give in to the impulse she really couldn't afford.
She took her time, browsing here and there, until she spotted the carpenter's shop. Oh, what she wouldn't give for some decent furniture! But she had to be practical. There was no way she could carry anything that size back to the hut, and to have someone deliver it to her home was out of the question. Her place was well protected, but letting anyone know there was a residence that deep in the woods only begged for trouble. Not to mention if someone would stumble upon the little hut, fine furnishings would certainly raise an eyebrow in such a lowly home.
With a sigh, Verity turned her gaze away from the shopkeeper's window, wondering where to go next. It was then her eye caught the sight of the castle in the distance. Her eyes narrowed in anger for a moment. She couldn't even get a decent chair or a comfortable bed, and Snow-White was up there, living in the lap of luxury that should be hers! Remembering herself, she quickly recovered her pleasant expression, but that burning coal of hatred in the pit of her stomach continued to smolder.