Collector

He'd been staring at it for twenty minutes, from far enough back to take it all in. She wandered over to introduce herself.

He didn't give her the opportunity. "How much?"

She repressed the urge to chuckle. "Well, they say if one has to ask, one—"

"How much?"

"Sixty thousand, not counting delivery costs, insurance, fees."

"He's dying, you know."

"…Sorry?"

"Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Two months, maybe three. When he goes, it'll double in value. I'm amazed you haven't adjusted your price."

She seethed silently, face frozen. Eventually, she said, "I apologize, I was incorrect; this painting is not for sale."

28 comments:

  1. He should have kept his mouth shut! It is a morbid truth that art increases in value after the artist's death. Why is that?

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    1. There's not going to be any more of it, and it's not going to devalue through their later work being bad, maybe? Interesting question.

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  2. Nice writing, just not sure why she got angry..

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    1. He only wants it to 'flip' it for a profit after the artist dies.

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  3. its so sad that the same art should become pricier after the artists death... i figure here the "he" is the artist himself... only guessing!

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  4. being a "know it all" will cost ya! Well done!

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  5. Good for her. Ugh. Mercenary man!

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  6. Emphatic and powerful writing; well done.

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  7. Great meeting of the prompt.

    I was not so lucky.

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  8. Such is the way for so many artists....

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  9. This story leaves you hopping for part 2.
    Will there be a part 2?


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    1. Nope, drabbles are self-contained stories :) There's lots of them on the site though! (nudge, nudge) ;-)

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  10. I kinda chuckled at the end. He was being a bit rude, and then questioned her not adjusting her price. Good for her. :)

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  11. Discretion is the better part of valour

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  12. Interesting take on the prompt..and it is true that the art becomes worth more when the artist is gone a sad reality in life.

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  13. Silly man - he blew it and he might have had a very pleasant dinner partner as well . . . :)

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