Haha, Lu Xun's writing spirit is contagious I started the intro for a story I've had in my head for a while. This part just sets things up, but I'm going to write it as a short story (for now). Just felt like sharing Critiques welcome.
Vice
There was no greater time to live in Chicago than it was during the greatest industrial revolution the world has ever seen. Even after the Great Fire, the city did not sit and morn its loses. Nay, an even greater industry rose out of the scorched lumber. Now a decade later, you wouldn't believe such a misfortune ever occurred in this place.
As glorious the opportunities were, for every story of riches and success, there were five more of great misfortune. For this great city could not extinguish the vices of man, and no man would cut his own fortunes for the better of lesser men. Not in this city.
The hopeless and desperate would meander about through this city. What could they find to replenish the needs of their souls? Would they live off the streets, join in the cries of the unionized workers, or find a saloon to drown their sorrows?
Or perhaps they would seek their luck in a shop know as "Old Gold Antiques".
Funny place, that antique store. If one were to go past the largest department stores to the edges of the commercial district, they would find Old Gold Antiques, a two-story building built with the darkest of woods. In fact, no one could understand how it was that Old Gold Antiques were to be spared from the Great Fire while all the surrounding buildings were burned into nothing.
But the owner of this establishment was probably more peculiar if rumors were to be believed. Sure, he carries some of the most lavish and distinct antiques you can find in Chicago, and is as vigor a business man as his neighbors. That is only one of his services. Displayed in the front window, along with the most wonderful of his goods, in the corner there sat a small sign. It was this sign that made such a strong impression on those who whispered rumors behind closed doors and caused passersby to take a second look. On it it declared one could have a palm reading for 25 cents. "Know what lies in your future!" it boldly stated.
The owner of Old Gold Antiques is a fortune teller. Some may scoff at the small sign, but the ones who traded their stories and rumors day to day knew. They knew it was not a gimmick to bring in wallets to his shop. They could not tell you one story of a person whose fortune didn't come true. He was always right. Always. So much so that the most superstitious of people say he may not even be human.
This was the one the hopeless and desperate seeked. The fortune teller known as Vice.
Haha, Lu Xun's writing spirit is contagious
I started the intro for a story I've had in my head for a while. This part just sets things up, but I'm going to write it as a short story (for now). Just felt like sharing 
Critiques welcome.
Vice
There was no greater time to live in Chicago than it was during the greatest industrial revolution the world has ever seen. Even after the Great Fire, the city did not sit and morn its loses. Nay, an even greater industry rose out of the scorched lumber. Now a decade later, you wouldn't believe such a misfortune ever occurred in this place.
As glorious the opportunities were, for every story of riches and success, there were five more of great misfortune. For this great city could not extinguish the vices of man, and no man would cut his own fortunes for the better of lesser men. Not in this city.
The hopeless and desperate would meander about through this city. What could they find to replenish the needs of their souls? Would they live off the streets, join in the cries of the unionized workers, or find a saloon to drown their sorrows?
Or perhaps they would seek their luck in a shop know as "Old Gold Antiques".
Funny place, that antique store. If one were to go past the largest department stores to the edges of the commercial district, they would find Old Gold Antiques, a two-story building built with the darkest of woods. In fact, no one could understand how it was that Old Gold Antiques were to be spared from the Great Fire while all the surrounding buildings were burned into nothing.
But the owner of this establishment was probably more peculiar if rumors were to be believed. Sure, he carries some of the most lavish and distinct antiques you can find in Chicago, and is as vigor a business man as his neighbors. That is only one of his services. Displayed in the front window, along with the most wonderful of his goods, in the corner there sat a small sign. It was this sign that made such a strong impression on those who whispered rumors behind closed doors and caused passersby to take a second look. On it it declared one could have a palm reading for 25 cents. "Know what lies in your future!" it boldly stated.
The owner of Old Gold Antiques is a fortune teller. Some may scoff at the small sign, but the ones who traded their stories and rumors day to day knew. They knew it was not a gimmick to bring in wallets to his shop. They could not tell you one story of a person whose fortune didn't come true. He was always right. Always. So much so that the most superstitious of people say he may not even be human.
This was the one the hopeless and desperate seeked. The fortune teller known as Vice.