Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Pet Shop of Horror only belongs to me in my
dreams.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR CHRIS!!!" sung, screamed, or whispered the animals of Count D's Pet Shop. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!" Ignoring the added, "and many more on channel 4" and "Scooby Doo on channel 2...hey Count, who's Scooby Doo?" Pon threw her arms around Chris's neck, grinning.
"Surprise!! Happy birthday, Chris! How was the ride with Detective Orcot?"
Chris grinned. Wow! A surprise party, just for me! Thanks, everyone! Um, yeah, the car ride. He blushed. Well, the mechanic said that Leon could pick his police cruiser up from the garage in about four months.
Tetsu laughed. "Hah hah! You totaled that thing- good going! Oh, yeah," he added after Pon elbowed him, "happy birthday."
Count D smiled and clapped his hands together. "Alright, everyone, time for Chris to open up his presents!" The creatures all crowed around the pile of clumsily, brightly-wrapped presents and Chris and all clamored for the boy to open theirs first.
After about ten minutes, and halfway through the presents, a girl pulled open the screen and stuck her head in. "Um, Count sir, there's a customer and they're asking for you..." Her voice trailed off, and her mouth hung open. Chris gaped, as well, and the animals were silent. Even Pon-chan just peeked out over his shoulder, struck shy. The girl wore a short-sleeved, silk, red cheongsam with a black dragon embroidered on the front and back, long black gloves, and dark sunglasses. She had auburn hair that was pulled back in a messy bun and set in place with two ebony chopsticks. Why was she staring at him? His friends were strange-looking, of course, but they weren't that creepy.
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Beryl stared, the sight before her a strange one. Sitting on the floor was a young man with golden blonde hair, who had apparently been opening presents. Animals of all kinds surrounded him. The raccoon and the strange sheep-creature, whose names she had just discovered were Pon-chan and Tetsu, or T-chan, sat closest to him, the raccoon on his shoulder. The boy stared at her in return. She felt her face starting to warm up. It was probably because of the clothes. At the Count's request she wore the cheongsam, to more fit in with the theme of the shop. She felt more comfortable in her baggy, long-sleeved sweatshirts and pants, but they compromised on her wearing the dress and him letting her wear gloves and her sunglasses.
Count D finally broke the silence, smiling. "Why, Beryl, you seem to have dropped in at a convenient time. Chris, this is Beryl, my new assistant. Beryl, this is Chris." Beryl's cheeks finally cooled, and she bowed to him, without a smile. She was determined stay away from every male she met, the Count being the only exception. "You can tell the customer that I will be right there. Would you like some tea?"
A glimmer of a smile appeared on Beryl's face. "No thank you, Count sir, I need to finish sweeping the shop. Your customer seems to be looking into horses, judging by the smell and mud they brought with them." She didn't say it disdainfully, but more in a matter-of-factly way. "Oh, and she said for me to tell you that Thousand Eyes' baby was a colt." D smiled.
"Oh yes, I have been expecting her for quite some time. Well, if you ever want a break, you are welcome to the tea."
Beryl bowed to D, then bowed to Chris, and left, closing the door behind her. She walked back over to the main shop and smiled shyly at the woman. "The Count said he'd be here shortly." Turning, she grabbed the broom and began to sweep the room, thinking about that strange boy, surrounded by what seemed to be presents of bright feathers, bells, and doggie treats. She laughed to herself at how funny that sight would have been if she hadn't been so shocked.
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"Hey D, who was she?" Pon demanded, frowning.
D smiled sweetly and poured himself more tea. "She is my new assistant."
Assistant? Chris was confused. But you never needed an assistant before. He smiled at the phoenix-girl and thanked her for her gift of beautiful, fiery-red feathers.
"Well, she was very adamant about it. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a little help cleaning up the shop." D didn't include the fact that he sensed the girl was, well, a little abnormal.
Tetsu rubbed his head and grinned, baring sharp teeth. "Hey, I think she was kinda cute." Chris and Pon sighed in frustration.
"Don't you go and eat her," D warned him.
"Damn! Alright, fine, I won't'." He sat on the arm of the couch and a thoughtful look crossed his face. "She's weird though- I mean, who wears sunglasses inside? And there was something weird about her..."
Pon snorted. "Yeah, it's not everyday you see a girl wearing a cheongsam with sunglasses and long gloves."
D smiled. "Just continue the party. I will return soon." He walked through the screen door, leaving a strangely thoughtful Tetsu and Chris being swamped by even more animals begging him to open their gifts.
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It was starting to get dark when Chris stuffed his presents into one big bag, said goodbye for the night to his friends, and started out. Walking out of the shop, he bumped into the girl from earlier that day. She had discarded her cheongsam and gloves for a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, although she still wore sunglasses, even though it was close to night. She had a broom in her hand, which she had dropped at the shock of bumping into someone.
Turning her face towards him, she remained silent, as if she was studying him. Then she went back to sweeping. Chris stared at her, puzzled, before walking out of the shop.
What's her problem? Honestly. I've met a lot of strange people, but she's gotta be the weirdest one yet.
D walked up to Beryl and smiled. "Beryl, I think it's time you go home. Thank you for your work here."
She looked up at him and started to talk hurriedly. "Please, Count, just a little longer. I, ah, haven't finished sweeping yet, and I haven't cleaned all the bird's cages, and the dogs need to be fed, and-"
D held up a hand and looked closer at her. He could see the outline of her eyes, and they were wide and fearful. Her hands clenched the broom so hard her knuckles were white, and she was shaking slightly. He sighed. "It's time you go home," he repeated quietly, and took the broom out of her hands. "I can finish cleaning up."
She smiled faintly. "Alright then." Shoving her hands in her pockets, she put on a baseball cap, pulled it low over her face, and walked out of the shop.
A little ways away from the shop she stopped, leaning against a wall. Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back. If there was one thing she had learned during her life, it was that crying makes things worse. She didn't want to go home, because he would still be awake. All of the sudden she heard boys laughing and a cat yowling. Looking down the alley she saw three boys beating a cat.
She scowled. Animals were her friends, and these boys were hurting one of her friends. Walking into the alley, she stopped behind one and tapped on his shoulder. He turned around and sneered.
"Hey, kid, what're you doing out so late? Why don't you go home to your mom- "
She punched him in the nose, hard. "Why don't you find someone your own species to pick on?" she snarled.
One of the other boys advanced. "Hey, he's a chick!" He leered at her. "You should've listened to my friend here, sweetheart, because now we're gonna have a little fun with you." He was about to grab her shoulder when he yelled out loud, cursing. "What the f-"
The cat hung from his arm, sharp teeth embedded into his skin. The boy snarled and slammed the cat into the wall. The cat let go and fell to the floor, motionless. While the boys snickered, however, Beryl had a look of hatred on her face. "Hey boys," she said charmingly, and they looked her way. She whipped off her sunglasses, and in the soft light of the streetlight they froze.
Her eyes were black, so black. No white, no pupil, just black, an onyx abyss that pulled you in and trapped you in its depths. Around her eyes were bruises, but they paid no attention to those. She frowned. "You will leave this place," she commanded. "You will forget our meeting. But for every blow you induct on another living creature, you will feel it. You will feel the pain in a way you've never felt it before." She grabbed the cat, still keeping eye contact with the boys, put her sunglasses back on, turned, and walked down the street, silence echoing through the alley.
Beryl frowned. She had only done that once before, and she didn't know if it would work again. She sat down on a bench and laid the cat onto it. "Poor baby," she murmured. Opening one eye, the cat hissed at her but it couldn't move because of its injuries. She shushed it and stroked it between the eyes and behind the ears, cooing softly. "Poor baby, good baby. You're hurt so bad, sweetie. Dad won't let me keep you in the apartment, though." She thought for a moment, then took off her jacket and wrapped the cat in it securely. "I'll take you to Count D. He'll know what to do."
AN- hope you liked this! Sorry that it took so long for me to write it.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR CHRIS!!!" sung, screamed, or whispered the animals of Count D's Pet Shop. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!" Ignoring the added, "and many more on channel 4" and "Scooby Doo on channel 2...hey Count, who's Scooby Doo?" Pon threw her arms around Chris's neck, grinning.
"Surprise!! Happy birthday, Chris! How was the ride with Detective Orcot?"
Chris grinned. Wow! A surprise party, just for me! Thanks, everyone! Um, yeah, the car ride. He blushed. Well, the mechanic said that Leon could pick his police cruiser up from the garage in about four months.
Tetsu laughed. "Hah hah! You totaled that thing- good going! Oh, yeah," he added after Pon elbowed him, "happy birthday."
Count D smiled and clapped his hands together. "Alright, everyone, time for Chris to open up his presents!" The creatures all crowed around the pile of clumsily, brightly-wrapped presents and Chris and all clamored for the boy to open theirs first.
After about ten minutes, and halfway through the presents, a girl pulled open the screen and stuck her head in. "Um, Count sir, there's a customer and they're asking for you..." Her voice trailed off, and her mouth hung open. Chris gaped, as well, and the animals were silent. Even Pon-chan just peeked out over his shoulder, struck shy. The girl wore a short-sleeved, silk, red cheongsam with a black dragon embroidered on the front and back, long black gloves, and dark sunglasses. She had auburn hair that was pulled back in a messy bun and set in place with two ebony chopsticks. Why was she staring at him? His friends were strange-looking, of course, but they weren't that creepy.
-------------------------------------- -----
Beryl stared, the sight before her a strange one. Sitting on the floor was a young man with golden blonde hair, who had apparently been opening presents. Animals of all kinds surrounded him. The raccoon and the strange sheep-creature, whose names she had just discovered were Pon-chan and Tetsu, or T-chan, sat closest to him, the raccoon on his shoulder. The boy stared at her in return. She felt her face starting to warm up. It was probably because of the clothes. At the Count's request she wore the cheongsam, to more fit in with the theme of the shop. She felt more comfortable in her baggy, long-sleeved sweatshirts and pants, but they compromised on her wearing the dress and him letting her wear gloves and her sunglasses.
Count D finally broke the silence, smiling. "Why, Beryl, you seem to have dropped in at a convenient time. Chris, this is Beryl, my new assistant. Beryl, this is Chris." Beryl's cheeks finally cooled, and she bowed to him, without a smile. She was determined stay away from every male she met, the Count being the only exception. "You can tell the customer that I will be right there. Would you like some tea?"
A glimmer of a smile appeared on Beryl's face. "No thank you, Count sir, I need to finish sweeping the shop. Your customer seems to be looking into horses, judging by the smell and mud they brought with them." She didn't say it disdainfully, but more in a matter-of-factly way. "Oh, and she said for me to tell you that Thousand Eyes' baby was a colt." D smiled.
"Oh yes, I have been expecting her for quite some time. Well, if you ever want a break, you are welcome to the tea."
Beryl bowed to D, then bowed to Chris, and left, closing the door behind her. She walked back over to the main shop and smiled shyly at the woman. "The Count said he'd be here shortly." Turning, she grabbed the broom and began to sweep the room, thinking about that strange boy, surrounded by what seemed to be presents of bright feathers, bells, and doggie treats. She laughed to herself at how funny that sight would have been if she hadn't been so shocked.
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"Hey D, who was she?" Pon demanded, frowning.
D smiled sweetly and poured himself more tea. "She is my new assistant."
Assistant? Chris was confused. But you never needed an assistant before. He smiled at the phoenix-girl and thanked her for her gift of beautiful, fiery-red feathers.
"Well, she was very adamant about it. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a little help cleaning up the shop." D didn't include the fact that he sensed the girl was, well, a little abnormal.
Tetsu rubbed his head and grinned, baring sharp teeth. "Hey, I think she was kinda cute." Chris and Pon sighed in frustration.
"Don't you go and eat her," D warned him.
"Damn! Alright, fine, I won't'." He sat on the arm of the couch and a thoughtful look crossed his face. "She's weird though- I mean, who wears sunglasses inside? And there was something weird about her..."
Pon snorted. "Yeah, it's not everyday you see a girl wearing a cheongsam with sunglasses and long gloves."
D smiled. "Just continue the party. I will return soon." He walked through the screen door, leaving a strangely thoughtful Tetsu and Chris being swamped by even more animals begging him to open their gifts.
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It was starting to get dark when Chris stuffed his presents into one big bag, said goodbye for the night to his friends, and started out. Walking out of the shop, he bumped into the girl from earlier that day. She had discarded her cheongsam and gloves for a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, although she still wore sunglasses, even though it was close to night. She had a broom in her hand, which she had dropped at the shock of bumping into someone.
Turning her face towards him, she remained silent, as if she was studying him. Then she went back to sweeping. Chris stared at her, puzzled, before walking out of the shop.
What's her problem? Honestly. I've met a lot of strange people, but she's gotta be the weirdest one yet.
D walked up to Beryl and smiled. "Beryl, I think it's time you go home. Thank you for your work here."
She looked up at him and started to talk hurriedly. "Please, Count, just a little longer. I, ah, haven't finished sweeping yet, and I haven't cleaned all the bird's cages, and the dogs need to be fed, and-"
D held up a hand and looked closer at her. He could see the outline of her eyes, and they were wide and fearful. Her hands clenched the broom so hard her knuckles were white, and she was shaking slightly. He sighed. "It's time you go home," he repeated quietly, and took the broom out of her hands. "I can finish cleaning up."
She smiled faintly. "Alright then." Shoving her hands in her pockets, she put on a baseball cap, pulled it low over her face, and walked out of the shop.
A little ways away from the shop she stopped, leaning against a wall. Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back. If there was one thing she had learned during her life, it was that crying makes things worse. She didn't want to go home, because he would still be awake. All of the sudden she heard boys laughing and a cat yowling. Looking down the alley she saw three boys beating a cat.
She scowled. Animals were her friends, and these boys were hurting one of her friends. Walking into the alley, she stopped behind one and tapped on his shoulder. He turned around and sneered.
"Hey, kid, what're you doing out so late? Why don't you go home to your mom- "
She punched him in the nose, hard. "Why don't you find someone your own species to pick on?" she snarled.
One of the other boys advanced. "Hey, he's a chick!" He leered at her. "You should've listened to my friend here, sweetheart, because now we're gonna have a little fun with you." He was about to grab her shoulder when he yelled out loud, cursing. "What the f-"
The cat hung from his arm, sharp teeth embedded into his skin. The boy snarled and slammed the cat into the wall. The cat let go and fell to the floor, motionless. While the boys snickered, however, Beryl had a look of hatred on her face. "Hey boys," she said charmingly, and they looked her way. She whipped off her sunglasses, and in the soft light of the streetlight they froze.
Her eyes were black, so black. No white, no pupil, just black, an onyx abyss that pulled you in and trapped you in its depths. Around her eyes were bruises, but they paid no attention to those. She frowned. "You will leave this place," she commanded. "You will forget our meeting. But for every blow you induct on another living creature, you will feel it. You will feel the pain in a way you've never felt it before." She grabbed the cat, still keeping eye contact with the boys, put her sunglasses back on, turned, and walked down the street, silence echoing through the alley.
Beryl frowned. She had only done that once before, and she didn't know if it would work again. She sat down on a bench and laid the cat onto it. "Poor baby," she murmured. Opening one eye, the cat hissed at her but it couldn't move because of its injuries. She shushed it and stroked it between the eyes and behind the ears, cooing softly. "Poor baby, good baby. You're hurt so bad, sweetie. Dad won't let me keep you in the apartment, though." She thought for a moment, then took off her jacket and wrapped the cat in it securely. "I'll take you to Count D. He'll know what to do."
AN- hope you liked this! Sorry that it took so long for me to write it.