The Sweet Shop Next Door
pass the broccollini
Summary: A young animal rights activist meets Count D.
Author's Note: I don't own Pet Shop of Horrors.
Chapter One:
Count D had left the shop in the care of Q-Chan for a few minutes. It wasn't as if he would miss important business. Due to a certain pesky detective's fanatical rantings about how all the murders and crimes committed were the Pet Shop's fault, business had decreased. There were still the regulars. The little children who wanted birds, the awkward outcasts who wanted companions, the power-hungry mafia heads, etc. D was thinking about relocating because his store was starting to attract too much press. But he stillhad to reunite Chris with normal society, and there were many humans still awaiting punishment.
Then he saw it. Right next door to his pet shop, the absolutely most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.
SWEETIE'S SWEETLAND OF SWEETS : GRAND OPENING! FREE SAMPLES!
Granted, the name was horrible, but judging by the beautiful pastries and fruit tarts in the window, this was going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Fruit tarts with kiwis and strawberries, cheesecake, chocolate mousse, tea cakes, tea cookies, chocolate cookies, and more were all displayed on the shelf to attract customers. And they did. Rushing with a speed usually reserved for preventing dectectives from messing up plans, hezoomed intothe shop. The door closed behind him, causing the bell attached to the door to ring. There were four or five other people in the store, pointing to various confections in admiration.
Eagerly, the Count searched for the "free samples". A young girl of about twenty-two years of age was carrying a platter with miniature versions of the shop's most famous delicacies. There were only two or three left. Count D knew that these tastiesshould belong tohim. They were free! Besides,he was doing a service to theshop. Every concotion needed a quality test.Time to work the old charm. Human women seemed to not be able to resist attractive men in kimonos.
He sauntered up to the girl and gave a broad, friendly smile. A few strands of black hair shifted forward and then back as he gave a small nodding bow of the head.
"Hello, miss. I am pleased to meet you. I hope that we will be good neighbors in the future. My shop is next door."
The smile remained on his face, as he awaited her adoring response (he had that effect on ladies of all species). However, it did not come.
"You're the owner of Count D's Pet Shop?"
"Why, yes! May I try one of those deli—"
He reached for the pastries, when the serving girl immediately yanked the tray from the reach of Count D's delicate fingertips. He was puzzled. Had he done something wrong? Was she a relative of a customer?
"The nerve of you to come in here! Can't you read the sign?"
Count D noticed, for the first time, a sign that read "Animal Friendly: No Glucose or Glutin Products; All-Natural and Organic Ingredients".
"Animal friendly, Mr. Count D."
The man in the elegant traditional attire, which Leon Orcot called "the man dress", was still confused, bordering on angry, as two old men beside him snatched up two of the samples. Only one was left.
"I am confused at your implication, miss. I am very friendly to animals. I dorun a pet shop, after all."
"You enslave animals at your shop and then have the nerve to come into an animal-friendly store?"
The irony of a human accusing him, the protector of animals, with enslavement was almost too much. Impish, obnoxious human! But he told himself to stay calm. Having a sweet shop next door was something too good to pass up on an incorrect first impression.
"Miss, I believe you are mistaken. My shop sells love, hope, dreams, and happiness."
"Then why are the animals in cages, huh? Think they're happy being auctioned off to the highest bidder?"
"Yes. They like their homes. Now may I please have a—"
She snatched it off the tray and stuffed it into her mouth, leaving the once plentiful tray bare and empty. A look of pure horror crossed Count D's face.
"You!"
She gave a small smirk and briskly walked to the cash register, humming a chipper tune. That would teach animal enslavers to mess with activists. She had heard some of the talk. Tigers, jaguars, exotic lizards. Exotic animals came from exotic places, which meant that the shop was supporting the illegal rainforest animal trade. Absolutely disgusting.
"People who harm animals for profit make me abso-lu-tely sick. I've heard about some of the stuff that goes on in your "happiness" store. Come back when you don't support poaching."
Q-Chan flew by the window and tapped on the glass to get D's attention. The smelly detective is here! D whipped around, his attention now diverted to the flying bunny-bat. He would deal with the not-so sweet sweet lady later.
"You've just refused an excellent customer. Come to my shop sometime. I have just the pet for you."
Count D rushed back to the store and saw Leon fighting with, what he referred to as "that d---n goat". Calling the pet off, he sat down for some tea and crackers.
"So, Count, sold any weird pets lately?"
"No, actually not."
"Oh. Well, have you checked out the sweet store next door? It's amazing!"
Count D's eyes narrowed. He would begin the war against the shop tomorrow. No one refused Count D's business when it came to the purchase of anything sweet. As Leon gargled tea, the chinese man planned his revenge.
Hate it? Like it? Review!
I was trying to go for more of the chibi-ish side of Count D (like when he's around sweets) than the dark, human-hater we normally see. Thought a change would be interesting. I'm not sure if I got the character right. Advice, please! Reviews are appreciated!