Pet Shop of Horrors - Career Day

[braidstobows]

For a pet shop, it's oddly quiet. But the animals seem contented, many laying down or catching a nap with their fluffy tails curled around themselves. The awake ones lightly paw at their long ears or attentively watch passers-by. They all seem to be in good spirits.

They're also all the same breed, with soft and luxurious fur and cutely mischievous expressions. Swirled markings on their fur create a somewhat dramatic effect.

Amid the innumerable myriad cages is Homura, dressed in a uniform and apron that suggest she works here. She does not look particularly like the nurturing sort for her charges. Instead, she stands against the wall nearest the door, with her arms folded across her chest. Once or twice, she bangs on the bars of one of the cages with her hand.

(ooc: pictures of the cute animals)

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[reporteroftomorrow]

Well Clark's walking down the street, enjoying the sunny weather, and for some reason decides to poke his head into the pet shop. With a polite nod to the clerk, he removes his hat and starts poking around. The strange creatures catch his eye, like nothing he's ever seen before.

"Miss, what are these?"

[braidstobows]

Homura doesn't even hesitate with her answer. "They are troublesome creatures that are not worth keeping." No pets you'd actually want to take home here, move along.

Granted, she's being a bit petty. Things have gotten better. But taking care of this many of the blasted thing at once is far beyond what she feels she should have to do.

[reporteroftomorrow]

Clark looks up at a familiar voice, recognizing Homura from a dream. He blinks but turns back to the little creature. He's a reporter now though, and you've got him curious.

"Then why are you selling them? I've never seen anything like one. What're they called?"

[braidstobows]

"I needed the job." Her bland expression does not really reveal whether this is the entire truth, or whether it's just best that someone keeps an eye on the deceptive balls of fluff.

She reaches back towards the nearest cage, and knocks on one of the bars with a closed fist. "This is called Kyuubey."

A second voice speaks up, almost like a young boy's voice, but this one is entirely within Clark's mind. "I wish you wouldn't refer to me like some vermin, Homura." There's no one else in the shop, so it must be one of the animals. But not a single mouth moved.

[reporteroftomorrow]

"You needed a job, so you sell something you don't like?" Clark asks in a mild voice. She's definitely an odd one, and he's wondering if he's dreaming again, like last time.

"Kyuubey, huh? Sounds Japanese," he starts, and then stops when he hears the voice in his head. For a moment he's honestly surprised, enough so that he backs away from the cages and trips, falling over himself and losing his glasses. The trouble is, he knocks down one of the Kyuubey cages, and it drops, freeing one of the creatures. All an act, of course, but he's had a lot of practice.

"S-sorry!" he mumbles as he paws around for his glasses.

[braidstobows]

The Kyuubey darts out of the cage, but doesn't go far. He stays near Clark, using the clumsy man as a buffer between himself and Homura. "A Japanese name seemed like a good way to fit in, now that I'm in Japan," he explains cheerfully enough.

It's Homura who actually helps Clark to locate the glasses, and catch his balance. If she's upset by the commotion, it doesn't show. "Are you unhurt?" she asks him calmly.

[reporteroftomorrow]

Clark ignores the creature for a moment and fixes his glasses with a grateful nod to Homura. "I'm fine, thanks. He just...startled me."

[braidstobows]

"Please be careful for the rest of your time in this shop. It would be a problem if more animals were to get free." Clark may or may not be used to being mildly lectured by teenage girls.

Homura bends down to pick up Kyuubey, who lets her without too much fuss. But he cranes his head around to watch Clark.

[reporteroftomorrow]

"Of course. But, may I ask, why can I hear them?"

[braidstobows]

Kyuubey decides to answer that before Homura can. "It's nothing to be alarmed over! I'm simply transmitting your thoughts directly." He flicks his tail around himself. "This is more convenient, don't you think?"

Homura has her own answer. "That creature is capable of telepathy. You should be careful to guard your thoughts."

[reporteroftomorrow]

"I don't usually talk to strange little creatures, so this is pretty new," Clark says to the little creature, but his eyes never leave Homura.

"Miss, you have a history with these creatures, don't you?"

[braidstobows]

More truthfully, one of them accompanies her on her battles even now, and has actually started to perform a useful function. This is the main reason she tolerates them at all.

"You could say I used to keep one myself."

[reporteroftomorrow]

"Did you? If you don't like them, why bother?"

This is Clark, being an investigative journalist. Even in dreams.

[braidstobows]

"If there was someone you couldn't trust, but had no reason to harm at the present time, would you want them running free to cause havoc, or under your eyes to keep them in check?" Reasonable after all.

Not that she seems particularly pleased with the... solution.

[reporteroftomorrow]

"I wouldn't know anything about that, miss. I'm just a reporter," Clark replied with an awkward smile, fiddling with his glasses.

Of course if he were a super-hero he might agree, particularly where certain villains were concerned. That's what jail was for.

[braidstobows]

Jail, or barred cages with locking doors. Though she had the sneaking feeling Kyuubey could get free if he wanted. It was probably more advantageous to garner sympathy, though.

"It's the same for animals," she says simply. "It's better to have him in one place under my eyes, before he begins causing his mischief."

[reporteroftomorrow]

"And what sort of mischief does he cause, miss?"

[braidstobows]

Homura settles for embarrassing Kyuubey. "He makes a mess when he eats, and he refuses to be housebroken at all."

This is bound to cause Kyuubey to chime in eventually, but for now, he lets it go.

[reporteroftomorrow]

"Oh, I see," Clark takes out a pad and starts taking down notes. "You mind if I run a human interest piece on this little guy?"

[lamentoso]

It was after school. Sayaka had already made a routine trip to the music store, but today -- she had chosen an alternative route as she was homeward bound. She and Madoka had already separated, but she stopped short as she passed by a business she hadn't noticed before -- was that a pet shop?

Curiosity must have gotten the best of her, as she reached forward to push open the door, stepped inside, and began to look around.

[braidstobows]

There was nothing in the shop for Miki Sayaka to buy. Homura was quite sure of that, unless Sayaka a pet that was not Kyuubey to take care of. Then Homura had some food and collars and toys.

Her greeting was less than enthusiastic. "Welcome to this store. If you will hear good advice, I suggest that you look and then leave." Not buy.

[lamentoso]

Sayaka immediately stiffened hearing that voice. She certainly hadn't expected to see the transfer student, of all people, working in a place like this as a part time job.

As she stepped inside and the door clicked shut behind her, she lowered her gaze in Homura's direction. "What's that supposed to mean?" she took immediate defense. "You think I can't afford the animals that you keep in this shop? Is that it?"

[braidstobows]

There were times when Sayaka saw through her so very well, was perceptive enough to take her aback and make her wonder if she could really counter it to bring about her own objectives.

Far more often, there were times like this, when Sayaka was way off-base and all Homura could do was internally facepalm.

Before she could answer, Kyuubey perked up. "Homura's problem isn't with you, Sayaka. I'm afraid I'm the one she doesn't get along with."

"Enough," Homura interrupted. She turned to Sayaka. "He is correct. These animals will only cause you trouble. They are not housebroken, eat too much, and will break your belongings."

[lamentoso]

The girl huffed nonetheless. And turned to the nearest Kyuubey. "I doubt she gets along with anyone," she shot, eyes darting back at Homura once more as she strode further into the shop.

"That's not what Mami-san said," she corrected, head tilting to the side as she approached one of the cages. "In fact, her and Kyuubey seem to get along just fine. She says he's no trouble at all. So maybe... I should get one for myself."

[braidstobows]

"You have no need for a pet, Miki Sayaka," Homura pointed out, refusing to be baited into anger. "Your apartment does not allow it to begin with."

Whether this was a dig at the apartment itself, or its rules, was for Sayaka to decide. The main point was that Homura refused for Kyuubey to get a foothold in yet another place where he would encounter Madoka regularly.