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 Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:05 pm
For a long moment Antony stared down at the wad of bills his father had given him. Then he looked up at Shade. "So anything I want?"
"As long as it doesn't crap on the carpet regularly," Shade agreed, pushing him into the pet shop. "I'm going to go get lunch, so take your time, I'll be back in an hour or so."
"Shouldn't you be overseeing my first pet purchase?"
"For some reason pets don't much like me when they first meet me," Shade admitted. The bird in the window started squaking loudly as it caught sight of him. "Not a clue as to why."
"But I'm getting a pet."
"It'll get used to me," Shade said. "Now no running off while I'm gone, got it?"
"Of course I won't. You're far more likely than I am," Antony said as Shade walked away with a wave and a laugh. For a long time Antony stood there, then he squared his shoulders and walked inside.
The last thing he wanted was a bird. For some reason the things reminded him of Harper...
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:19 pm
Devakanya had been left alone in the mall. Again. It seemed with the impending holiday, Zack was leaving her alone more and more. Osha always opted to stay home, but the young girl enjoyed the mall so Zack would let her hang out while he did...whatever it was he did. She never saw him come back with any bags.
The unicorn was just about to head off towards her favorite store when she spotted someone familiar. Oh! It was Shade and Antony. Devi wasn't terribly fond of Shade after their meeting when she was a toddler, but she did like Antony. She would just wait for Shade to leave. The girl slunk over to the next store, standing in the door as she watched. When Shade left and Antony walked in, Devi followed...silently.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:50 pm
"Hey, kid! Where's your guardian?" the guy at the desk demanded loudly.
"I'm afraid father isn't very good around animals," Antony said, bringing out the wad of cash. "But he did give me this so I could buy one!"
"Oh... well that's different, then," the man said, eyeing the wad of cash for a moment. "What are you looking for?"
"I'd like to look around, first," Antony said, pocketing the money now that it had done its job and turning to look through the store. His eyes passed the bird cages in the front completely and he headed for the back, his hands in his pockets.
He didn't want a dog, either, even though he liked Iggy just fine, he thought as they started to yap at him.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:46 pm
Devakanya slipped in shortly after Antony, hanging near the door as he conversed with the salesman. She waited until he slipped down an aisle and then walked in herself, giving the guy at the desk a polite nod. Hopefully he wouldn't question her too. She had no idea how to mime an answer, especially where animals were involved. She glanced around the store, watching as the prince headed towards the back.
She followed quietly, hoping he wouldn't mind. She wouldn't interrupt him. The blue unicorn looked at the dogs, jumping a little as they yipped and barked and squirmed. How alarming. Antony didn't want one of those, did he?
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:53 pm
For a moment Antony stopped at the cats, watching them curiously. A cat would be an interesting companion. But the fur looked like it would be a pain to get off of clothing. He shook his head after a moment and walked on, stopping when he got to the lizards.
They were so ugly, he thought with amusement. Bug, bulging eyes, scaly skin, long, sticky looking tongues--
Wait... He turned, heading a little further down the aisle. A snake would be awesome! He could feed it small mice and pretend they were Harper.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:17 pm
Once Devakanya had gotten over the dogs, it was on to kitties. Devi loved cats; she was never allowed to own one, but she liked sneaking bread to the stray cats that roamed near her apartment. But Antony had quickly moved on, to the lizards...ew. Devi quickly hurried by those, only to walk right into the snake section. Oh...dear. Oh dear indeed. Devi's eyes grew wide and she quickly fled into the nearest aisle that didn't contain creepy crawlies. Those things were gross.
...surely Antony didn't want one?
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:22 pm
"Excuse me!" Antony said, motioning to a boy stacking dog food. "Can you help me for a moment?"
"Huh?" the kid asked, glancing up.
"I want that one, please," Antony said, pointing at a golden snake in one of the glass aquariums. "And the stuff it'll need to live in."
"Ah, oh, it's a corn snake, huh?" the kid asked. "Alright. You wanna hold her first?"
"Yes, please," Antony said. "Is she poisonous?"
"Nah, she's as safe as can be." The kid reached into the aquarium, pulling the snake out and handing it to him.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:32 pm
Clearly, Antony didn't understand just how bad snakes were. He was having that boy take the snake out so he could hold it. The unicorn couldn't let him do this! She hurried out of her aisle, somehow managing to emerge behind Antony. She grabbed his sleeve and tugged gently, shaking her head as she blushed. No no no! Snakes were so bad, didn't he know? And at the same time, little Devakanya was having a very hard tie believing she was actually doing this. Oh dear. How very rude of her.
...did that still count when creepy-crawlies were involved?
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:58 pm
Antony blinked, the snake already wrapped around his wrist. "Devi? Princess, I didn't realize you were in here! What's wrong?"
"Ah, might be the snake, kid, some girls don't like'em," the kid that worked there said.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:05 pm
Devi flushed deeper as Antony addressed her as 'princess', letting go and looking away shyly. She had forgotten just why she had liked him so much. He really knew how to treat a girl! She didn't look up until the worker spoke and nodded slowly, giving the snake on the prince's arm a wary look. She glanced back at Antony and pointed to the little snake again, shaking her head.
...she really had no idea how to express that snakes were dangerous. Icky, yes, but she could live with that. Dangerous was another thing entirely. Didn't Antony ever watch TV?
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:11 pm
"Oh, you mean Duchess?" Antony asked, lying through his teeth about the name. He had honestly planned on naming the snake Polk Salad Annie, or Polk Sally, from the Elvis song, but that sounded so crass. "She wouldn't hurt a fly. She's not poisonous, right, Mister?"
"Nah, she's not poisonous at all. She likes to live in corn fields, that's why she's called a corn snake." Obviously the kid knew not to tell a girl that snakes ate mice. Antony appreciated that in a man.
"And feel," Antony said, holding the snake out. "She's not even slimy."
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:58 pm
Duchess? That was a nice name. And she wasn't poisonous. And she wasn't big like those giant snakes that were on TV sometimes. Those were the ones that ate people. Devakanya was pretty sure Antony did not want to be eaten by a snake. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and shifted nervously. She shrugged, peering at Duchess carefully. Touch her?
Devi gave Antony a wary look. She trusted him...so...this better come out alright. She reached a shaking hand towards the little corn snake and touched her gingerly, ready to jump back if the snake made any move to attack. Huh. Antony was right. She wasn't slimy at all.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:20 pm
"She wont shed on the carpet, either," Antony said knowledgeably. "And I doubt she'll have problems with Father." And dammit, he wanted to watch her unhinge her jaws to swallow a mouse whole! How cool was that??
None of these macabre thoughts showed on his face as he waited for Devi to relax. "And she's golden colored," he added. "Don't you think she'll go well with my outfit?"
The kid helping them turned away, coughing to cover a laugh.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:27 pm
Devakanya agreed with the staff boy. She frowned and shook her head at Antony. Not that she didn't think the snake would look nice with his outfit, because in truth she would, but who on earth wore snakes like they were jewelry? Seriously? Egyptians, maybe, but didn't Antony ever notice how all those Egyptian princes were in tombs now? Yeah. Exactly.
Devi sighed, more relaxed by the silliness of the situation than anything else. Duchess might be a nice snake, but not a nice fashion accessory. Devi pointed to the tank the snake had come out of. Snakes belonged in their houses. She shook her head and pointed to Antony's outfit. Not with people's clothing.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:32 pm
"Hmmm," he said, looking at the aquarium, then back at her. "No, she looks much prettier with my clothes," he decided. "Maybe I'll get her a blue rock for her cage. Would you like to help me find one?" he asked. "Can you put her back for a moment while we go find the other things, mister?"
"Ah, oh, sure, kid," the kid said, taking the snake back and putting her in her aquarium.
"Shall we, princess?" Antony asked, mentally making note to find the mice while they were looking around.
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