The Story Thus Far...
This is Gaia.
This is a place where magical creatures are more abundant than the mundane; this is a place where children are born of books and candy and leaves and whatever else you can think of. This is a place where cats speak and dogs see into the future; this is a place where something as tiny as a dime and grow into a powerful, beautiful beast of the imagination. This is a place where clay figures are given life merely by impression, and a place where the number of intelligent races is probably higher than you'd have the patience to count. This is a place of such diversity and inhabitance that it could be said that the whole of the universe's strange and unusual creatures and creations have all visited at least once. There rarely seems to be an unheard of concept, something too farfetched for the citizens to accept. Even invaders from another planet hardly caused anyone to really blink an eye, despite the national news; after all, aren't there always hundreds of otherworldly visitors within a ten mile radius at any given time on Gaia?
It isn't hard to imagine, then, that this shop doesn't even attempt to impress anyone on the outside.
The shop isn't run down; it isn't small or dusty or battered. It is quite well kept up, actually, resembling perhaps a tea house or some antique shop; it appears to be a converted Tudor-style house, rather small for the original purpose but quite spacious for the intended purpose. Perhaps it might not be obvious that it is a shop at all, except for the old tavern-esque sign that swings freely, poking out and hanging over the sidewalk, jammed in between massive buildings and old, dusty holes-in-the-wall. It looks rather inviting, if not a bit out of place - at least the owners have managed to secure some space around it, however, as there are tiny strips of trees and gardens between the surrounding locations.
So what does the sign read, that would allow someone to know this simply isn't someone's home stuck in the middle of all these interesting businesses? Veni Vidi Slimi - Your Local Semi-Exotic Pet Store.
Semi-exotic hardly sounds... exotic - yet in this sea of strange and unusual pets, the sign has honestly caught more attention than one might imagine. If one does deign to climb the three steps up the stairs and the two into the shop, many are put off by what they find immediately inside. The whole of the bottom floor is what appears to be an open, studio-like main room, enough to make many people wonder if they have come into a shop or not. Yet there is a counter, and there are various small items stacked neatly on the shelves lining the walls of the place. It is certainly a store, but what a strange one - though the reason for the couches and tables is plain, as there are often folk settled and conversing in this welcome place, who will gladly speak and chat with anyone who walks into the place.
There is even an expresso machine and hot water and bags of tea set out for those who would want them, though tips are gladly appreciated.
But pet store, pet store! Those that hang around will undoubtably ask, and they will undoubtably be pointed to the plain sign hanging near the stairs if they do not notice themselves. It reads simply showroom, and gives no more or less information. What could be shown off in this place? What do they sell?! It is a very good hook, to be honest - there is no blatant advertising, simply little hints to whet the appetite. And when one finally does go up to the showroom, they are often shocked, though with wonder or disgust can vary, as with anything.
The shop sells slugs - but not just any slugs. Oh no, this is Gaia, and that simply would not do. This shop sells slugs of every imaginable colour and pattern; more than that, they sell strange molluscs, slugs with wings and beaks and legs and manes and who knows what else! Slugs as small as a pinky and as large as your hand; slugs that can make noise, slugs that are as loyal and intelligent as a puppy or a kitten, though perhaps a bit slimier. And it is then that, looking among these pets, one will realise something, no matter how much they like or dislike the creatures offered here.
The term semi-exotic is fitting here in this world of strange and exotic - these slugs are certainly some of the most unique pets around Gaia.
...more to come...
