#17 Jar

"Ah, I wouldn't think a girl like you would be our next customer!" The shopkeeper gnawed on a raw lamb bone, as they welcomed Lucille in, pressing their bloodied hands on her shoulder.

They looked every bit like the evil witches you read in children's books, with a hooked nose, warts and all. "Well, look around, girl, see if there's anything that catches your eye! We sell everything you can imagine, even those you can't."

Lined along the shelves were jars and bottles of every size and shape, filled with your usual creepy crawlies, eyeballs, shrunken heads, and foetuses. But there was one jar in particular that still had something moving in it.

Though the jar was small, the shopkeeper had managed to fit a deep sea mermaid into it. She was rightfully angry, thrashing about in her prison, her tail incessantly changing into different shades of green, and her face perpetually twisted into one to scare off all that came near her.

"Ah, caught that feisty lil' thing on one of my fishing trips! And a dangerous one that is too, bit my finger off too when I was trying to make her more travel friendly." The shopkeeper grinned, showing off their very sharp canine like teeth.

"Um, what would anyone want to purchase a mermaid for?" Lucille asked, hoping that she was able to conceal her nervousness.

"Well, you don't usually find mermaids in these parts, let alone a deep sea mermaid, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first time you've seen one!" The shopkeeper laughed, sputtering bits of lamb and blood at Lucille.

"Mermaid flesh really brings out the flavour of the ocean. But as a potion ingredient, the tail improves the potency while the flesh itself, if used correctly, can even give you a few years extra."

The shopkeeper took the jar off the shelf and gave it a little shake.

"So what do you say, girl? Wanna take her home?"

*****
Expanded a lil on the inktober entry I did in 2018. Tbh I prefer the ink drawing more than today’s doodle but I’m on a time crunch so oh well 😅