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 Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:33 am
"Get back here you little scamp~!" Nikel hissed, trying to catch himself from falling face-first on the floor! Running around the shop in his knee-high boots with the four inch heels was beginning to seem like a bad idea.
The fuzz-ball of a puppy turned around, purple tongue lolling out of his mouth. The chow pup smacked his front paws on the ground, but kept his rump and tail high in the air. Nikel knew the canine sign of a play-bow anyday~! "I will not play with you today! Do you really think this is fun? Do you really think this is a good game?!"
Frustrated beyond belief, the assistant-store manager was out of strings. He'd pulled the puppy out of the cage for one reason and one reason a lone. Shanuh would be coming in to the store later that night, and Nikel (strangely enough) wanted to do something nice for his kin.
So, he'd decided that filet chow-chow sounded appetizing. Human's once feasted on the guard-dogs in other worlds, so why not give it a try here? But, Nikel had underestimated the pups enthusiasm to play. The dog had gotten free and was now running amok throughout the store.
If Nikel had to keep chasing him, the meal would never get prepared! "I shouldn't have to run!" Nikel whined, painted lips curving into quite the pout.
"Now come here!" Stamping one of his boots, he tried to entice the pup over. Was Shanuh really worth this. . . ?
No.
But even if he didn't decide to "do in" the pup, the dog still needed to be returned to his cage. Walking back to the front register, Nikel snagged a handful of treats. Crouching down despite the dangerous hike in his leather skirt, the man extended an arm. "Come on, pup. Come on!"
The dog took a step closer, before bolting away, running full speed around the front of the store.
Nikel drooped his head and sighed. It was going to be a long day.
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:52 pm
He supposed he should've expected things to turn out like this. When he'd caught wind of strange occurrences originating from a certain pet shop in the middle of an otherwise comparably normal side of town and realized that Jan had neither heard about nor... actually, it was mostly that she hadn't heard about it and thusly he had the opportunity to be impishly interfering. Which he rather enjoyed, for multiple reasons.
This wasn't quite what he'd envisioned, however. To stumble over a wildly yapping dog and a pouting cross-dresser, at least. Typical, bloody typical. 'Strange occurrences' indeed - try 'alternate lifestyle' and 'incompetent clerks'. The latter idea drawn from the fact that this little situation with the canine didn't appear the least bit planned. Oh yes, this was going to be the most fun he'd had in decades.
Ambrose Fellowes paused at the open door after retrieving his foot from the path of the small, manic steam-engine of a puppy, frowning delicately at the situation in such a way that the expression could easily and quickly turn into the epitome of dry sarcasm.
He'd taken especial care to appear almost entirely normal today, as every day spent in public, having indulged in the blood rites to restore flesh the previous night and looking for all the world as if he were merely tired. He appeared to be a tall man nearing the end of his twenties with light brown hair cropped short, a wide gold hoop in his left ear and glazed, white-blue eyes, dressed in a casual, slightly large suit with no tie. If he was lucky his jaw would stay on without stitches for the entire day.
"Is this a bad time?" he called cooly from his position at the door, unwilling to relinquish his fortifications just yet.
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:38 pm
Nikel threw his hands up in the air, thoroughly exasperated by the days commotion. Forget about the pup, he'd seek it out later. Turning to face the customer, Nikel forced an amicable smile.
He was usually so cheery and bright, but today this stranger was right - it was a bad time.
Oh well. No use fretting over a hyperactive Chow. "Oh, of course not!" He (partially) lied. "He," the man jerked his chin in the direction of the dog, "has decided that it's much more fun outside of his cage than in it." A little grin as he walked closer to the patron, "And I can't say I'd blame him!! Cages aren't really my thing either," he added as an aside, bony shoulders shrugging. "But handcuffs, on the other hand. . ."
Painted lips curved into a smile that could almost be considered feral. There would be no need to finish the statement. Anxieties forgotten in lue of a new customer, the shop-keep promptly recalled his manners. "Welcome to the Birdcage - may I help you with anything?"
His friendly nature was purely genuine. There was nothing "fake" about Nikel except for his nails! Which, of course, he took time to quickly investigate after greeting the man.
Did he look all right? Was he presentable? You never knew when a hottie was going to enter, or someone at least deserving of his time and attention.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:11 pm
((Sorry for being MIA >> Had friends over o_o))
"Mm," Ambrose responded blandly, all too familiar with the trails of customer service. A petshop was doubtless miles different from the sort of establishment he ran himself, but the basic principles had a great deal in common. For example, damage control. The zombie made a mental note never, ever to invest in guard dogs. Flighty creatures.
Not that this particular retail clerk seemed anything other than a 'flighty creature' either. Chatting about fetishes to the random passerby and/or customer? That really was the odd thing about this shop in the neighbor's eyes, he'd warrant. Nothing to do with 'strange and/or supernatural happenings' - you could never trust the public to see through their instinctive denial. Why he'd thought there might be some merit in investigating a rumor that sprouted out of suburbia or something like it...
Lips curling into a vague smile, he finally deigned to nod cordially in a manner that was polite, though not particularly high-up cultured or refined. An easy-going brand of etiquette. "I suppose I'm looking for a bird, then," voice full and rich, the utmost deception as it maintained that tamber even in his worst states of decay - given that the vocal chords hadn't fallen out or anything.
He was here. There was nothing to do about it but to keep on looking, until it was proven beyond a doubt that there was nothing to find. One didn't catch a glimpse of the unknown by pretending it wasn't there.
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:48 am
((No worries Jan~! :3 RL is always the priority. Hope you had a good time with them. ))
Nikel eyed the newcomer, his mind diverging two ways. The first thought (and most important thought) was if there was any potential way to get him in bed. There was something unusual about him, but Nikel didn't have the patience to place it. He surely wasn't normal . . . was he? There was something that was out of place - maybe it was his accent? Or the way he walked? Or the way he talked? Whatever the case, he felt exotically foreign . . . and Nikel was always drawn to the exotic.
The second thought that nipped on the heals of the first, was the potential that this stranger had. Like everyone who entered the shop, they were all treated as equals when it came to attracting one of the Birds. Nikel didn't often get an oppurtunity to witness such things - that tended to be Shanuh's specialty, but . . . since Shanuh wasn't here, and Nikel was. . .
His lips curved into a broad smile as Ambrose asked about birds. "Oh, how wonderful~!" Clapping his hands, Nikel completely forgot about the chow, who had taken up residence in the dog-food aisle. "We have quite the selection of feathered friends - were you looking for a type of parrot or tropical bird? Or perhaps you'd like to see some of our special collection? We keep them uncaged and handfed, though they're not nearly as tropical as the parrots. . . "
It was true. Sort of. They were never put in cages, and they were always being given seed and mice and rats and other various tidbits. The Birds were spoiled rotten when they came acalling to the shop, and Nikel KNEW each and every one of them knew it.
Hell, sometimes the eccentric shop keep couldn't help but feel a smidge jealous. Still, at least Nikel had thumbs, and looked damn fine in skirts, boots and corsets. If he were an avian, he really wouldn't be able to pull off the look.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:33 pm
Oh the surprises that lay ahead any individual who might wish to coax sex out of Ambrose. Given the simple facts of his relative and strange state of being, we needn't elaborate. Not to mention that, seeing as the desire for intercourse had departed in the company of all instinct for either procreation or physical pleasure in general, getting Ambrose to agree before the act would be difficult enough in itself, considering the benefit to him was, effectively, none at all.
Not to say he couldn't appreciate the efforts people went through to be attractive. And for his type, the shopkeep had done well in terms of aesthetics. Not that this was really on Ambrose's mind either - a mere observation, catalogued and put aside in the face of more pressing issues.
Like how he really wasn't interested in a parrot.
"This special collection," he said quickly, quashing all possibility of interest in the glamour-whores of the avian kingdom in one fell syllabic swoop. "They're uncaged, you say? I don't suppose they're house-broken," wry humor that by no intention detracted from interest in the alternative. A slow but charming smile edged over Ambrose's lips, lending him a cast of the laidback though undoubtedly suave. "Those sound like my type of... exotic."
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:25 pm
Nikel's eyes glowed with delight at the response. Forget about parrots, he had something spectacular to show to the man. Oh, Shanuh would be so pleased if one of the others recieved another home! The more the merrier, and there was quite the flock looking for their perfect partner.
The man's thoughts drifted to Darzavien and Siahndi - the kite and the cardinal, both wretched fools of the lost. Humanity had its way with them, devoured their souls and broke one beyond repair, and the other shattered into a million fragile pieces. Thankfully, Nikel's thoughts didn't allow him to linger on such tragadies, that was Shanuh's job! Nikel, unlike his pessimistic employer, was the optimistic one of the group.
"Uncaged and, considering their species, are incredibly docile," Nikel chatted eagerly about the Birds, gesturing for Ambrose to follow. "I can't say we've managed to house break them yet, but given time. . . " His shoulders shrugged nonchalantly as he turned to lead the customer to the back. "I suppose with age they could learn, if you taught them," he mused, winding his way to the back of the store.
A glance over his shoulder and a delicate quirk of a brow. "On days such as this, though, they much prefer our rooftop to anywhere else."
The wild chow pup, poked his head out from one of the various aisles. He held a bone in his mouth, and his bright eyes sparkled with mischief. Nikel gave a little pout and glower. "And no, you don't get to come!" A stamp of his heeled foot and that was that.
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:29 pm
Two thoughts now. First, that the shopkeep at least had an idea of how to handle subordinates, though it was the displayed attitude to that which was conventionally considered the small, cute and defenseless that likely aided the shop's reputation for being queer, pun entirely intended. Second, that certain species of bird might prove to be an issue as a pet in his home. Take, for example, the carrion-eaters. Like crows.
...Ah. How odd. Such a thought implied he was... actually interested in getting a pet - a bird, rather - than simply investigating what was turning out to be a merely quirky establishment.
It couldn't do him any bad, surely. To have something to pay attention to, to provide some modicum of companionship - more the latter than the former, as those he'd called friends in recent days had either been more like business partners or actually just frequently met acquaintances. Though... he didn't necessarily feel affection for anything anymore. It was part of the whole dead thing. Or maybe he simply hadn't found anything about which to be affectionate, or something about which a dead man could be affectionate.
A pet... was an interesting concept, at the very least. Especially an oddity that wasn't too visually full of itself. Some villains kept the big hunter cats, heroes had their wolf companions. A bird would suit well the man on the sidelines, especially something fairly unremarkable.
"Where do you procure them from?" he asked upon following, now genuinely curious as to the aspects of the business. "How can you presume to sell them if they're as wild as you suggest?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:04 pm
A glance at Ambrose, painted lips curving into a delicate smile. "We procure them naturally, of course. Nature only gives us the finest of the flock." His words weren't lies, but they sure weren't entirely truthful. Yes, the Birds had all been "born" naturally. They lived as birds did, hunting, flying, singing, preening, the whole nine yards!
But.
That was merely one facet of their lives. Nikel merely opted not to further complicate such matters.
"They're wild, but they have a strange fondness for people. It's really quite strange, but instead of you picking out the Bird, it is the Bird that picks out you."
Nikel lead Ambrose to the back of the shop, pausing in front of the stairwell entrance. Opening the door, Nikel held it long enough for Ambrose to grab it, if he so chose. The shopkeep usually held the door open for his guests to allow them to enter first, but a trend of fear had caused many of the hopefuls to turn away. They had some strange notion that the transgendered man might do something.
As if Nikel would steep so low to push someone off the rooftop. PLEASE. Did Nikel murder? All. the. time. But that didn't mean he committed such crimes without class!
"Watch your step," he called down to Ambrose, heels clattering up the thirteen stairs. Everything echoed in the dark stairwell, but it wouldn't stay dark for long. Reaching the top, Nikel shoved open the door to the roof, allowing the sunshine from outside to reach its way in. "There we go!"
((Assuming Ambrose follows, I'm adding the description of the scene so he can have something to respond to in his next post. ;P Since it's no fun writing about ambling up a flight of stairs!))
The roof top was disgustingly normal. The roofs flat uniformity was broken up in a few places by small puddles; puddles that only helped prove an earlier rain shower had passed through and that the sun was slacking on his job.
Perhaps the only thing different about the rooftop was the Birds.
A few sat in the puddles, shaking out their feathers and enjoying their baths.
A few more sat on the ledge, singing, while others sulked down at the streets. There had to be at least twenty of all various sizes and shapes. Hawks, falcons, sparrows, thrushes, geese and eagles - there were none that were 'more powerful' or 'dominant' than the next.
A strange sight to see. Some were feasting and picking at leftovers - leftovers that couldn't be entirely recognized. (No one had to know about John, now 36 hours missing. . . no one at all!) Overall, the scene could almost be described as fake and unreal . . .if, of course, it wasn't for the fact that it very much was.
None of the avians spared Ambrose or Nikel a second look. They weren't important. . .
Yet.
((Sorry for the rushed post! Wanted to get that out before class began!))
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:35 am
It was odd to hear the barker's advertisements applied to an entity. Nature provided for the best? Interesting. He'd been under the impression that Nature provided at random whim. Nothing particularly intriguing to the claim - what good was a shopkeep who failed to advertise his wares in the most exotic and must-need way possible? Tupperware never sounded so fantastic as when one heard its many virtues praised from the mouth of a Dionysian prophet. Great for keeping Maenad leftovers, apparently.
Ambrose followed without any particular anxiety, except for a strange, numerological moment of deja vu upon counting thirteen stairs. He'd never invested much thought in the rhyme and ritual of symbology - not until dying, at least. And recent readings brought his attention straight to the count of steps to the open air. Thirteen levels from the mundane to...
Departing the mundane. Disgustingly normal indeed.
The birds themselves weren't so remarkable. Except in respect to their variety and proximity. Even avian breeds he'd understood to be more territorial shared the limited space with no apparent need to chase the others from their selected area of influence. Beyond te birds, however there was... mmm, he could smell it. The blood. Even senses so steeped in the scent as to be almost muddled to the perfumes of anything else could pick it out. Or perhaps... others were not so attuned to the stench - as the shopkeep seemed to pay it no mind. Hm.
"Interesting," the remark was bland, though a spark in the back of curiously glazed eyes spoke differently. Something was very 'off' about this place. Perhaps still not in the strange and unnatural way he'd hoped, but this gathering of creatures was if anything... counter to Nature's typical modus operandi. He moved then forward, glancing about the conglomeration of feathered fiends in curiosity that was visibly mild but invisibly a little more piqued. "How long have they been coming here?" he called back to his host, pausing to observe the pecking feast.
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:46 pm
Nikel studied the scene, stepping out of the stairwel land inhaling deeply. Ahh - the smell of fresh air polluted by a dying city. A glorious smell, really, if one could only overlook the pollution.
The overall ambience of the rooftop paradise was calm. None of the Birds seemed particularly upset, there was no fighting for space, no bickering over territory. The scene was entirely placid, which meant they all were in a good mood. And if his wards were happy, than Nikel was happy, and the cross dress couldn't ask for more.
As Ambrose stepped closer to the scene, one or two pairs of beady eyes turned to him. As he suspected something to be "off" about him, the Birds recognized something "off" about Ambrose. He wasn't at all like the other offerings given to them - there was something . . . . . strange about his presence.
Something that the Birds knew and didn't know all at once. Now this was cause for some sort of investigation. Who was he and what did he want? Was he important to any of them? Was he worth their time?
A barred-owl gave a small "hoot", eyes turning to rest on Ambrose, studying him like a cell under the microscope.
At his question, Nikel gave a shrug of his shoulders. "They've been visiting ever since we took residence of the shop. We leave feed for them," he gestured at the last of the bloodied meat they were picking at, as well as an open container of seed and berries. "and they even accompany us throughout the city. They're very friendly creatures, the lot of them. Very friendly indeed."
The cross dresser leaned back against the edge of the roof, smiling as more and more Birds took to investigating Ambrose.
A grey and white shrike zipped past Ambrose only to wheel and start circling. A brown sparrow innocently hopped upon one of his shoes, picking at the seams of his pant leg.
Other birds, a sea gull, a titmouse, a mockingbird, all paused from their 'feast', beady eyes scrutinizing their visitor.
In but a moment, every animal on the roof was staring at Ambrose, silently judging his worth.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:18 am
A little bit of deja vu, not in the situation itself but in the variety he could define it by. The sort of ridiculous with undertones of... elsewise... that he'd so frequently run into on his old job. The feeling of 'this really can't be happening to me' heavily draped over a concealed consideration that the silliness is a distraction from foreboding. Something like the effect of a circus clown.
It was innocent enough, birds at inter-species play, the wet dream of... avian socialists, he supposed. Now hopping, now - that little thing had better not s**t on his shoes, he wasn't sure how he'd react and he had the growing feeling hostility would not be tolerated.
Wait, by what? Who was making the rules here? ...Certainly not that shopkeep. That much he could say for certain without even having to think twice about it - the feeling of foreboding was centered on, emanating from the birds themselves. Not just the bloody mess they were making such a clean job of - for though that peaked his interest it wasn't of much concern - nor...
The birds. There was a movie about that, wasn't there? This rooftop was enough to give someone nightmares (if someone slept, granted), especially as now...
they were all...
staring...
at him...
Ambrose stared back, forgetting to blink. 'the hell?
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:44 pm
Nikel allowed Ambrose to interract with the feathered avians, his attention slowly falling away from the customer to admire his nails. They were so pretty~! In dire need of a new paint-job, which meant he'd have to go out and get some new polish. He was tired of the old, dull colours; the shopkeep wanted something that sparkled~!
Maybe Pierre, down at the mall? The queer man was a blessing when it came to offering all sorts of fun nail supplies. A little bit too chatty, and he wore just a smidge too much cologne, but he WAS knowledable about human nails and proper care. Maybe he'd stop by later this afternoon, once Shanuh returned. Maybe he'd also -
His thoughts were interrupted as a silence settled over the rooftop. Usually the Birds made noises: clucking, hissing, tweeting, ruffling their feathers, flapping their wings, feet pattering along the bare roof as they flitted around and about. Hell, Nikel could even hear what the Birds talked about, their silly conversations, their sarcastic comments.
But now, at this moment, everything was eerily silent. Looking up, he noticed that the flock had put everything on hold in their investigation of "the new guy". Quirking a eyebrow at the scene, Nikel gave a quiet snort. Well wasn't that strange.
"Well isn't that cute. You've absolutely fascinted them!" Nikel's voice broke through the silence, lips twisting into a grin. Oh, what would happen next? Would they eat him peck-by-peck? Or would they swarm him or suffocate him or just mosey closer to cuddle? Unusual that they were so curious about Ambrose - maybe they thought he was as cute as Nikel imagined.
The Birds, on the other hand, weren't entirely sure what to do with the man. He was different and the same all at once. He was living but not, dead but alive. There was no breathing, no heart, not a whole lot of anything.
Hmmm. So what did they do with one such as he?
Eat him?
Possibly. There were more than a few who enjoyed the taste of carrion, and this man seemed to be a walking feast.
An obnoxious screech overhead, and a black vulture slowly circled over head. Lower and lower to the rooftop, closer and closer to Ambrose. Before long, the Bird's had made an unusual circle around the man, their expressions a mixture of judgement and damnation.
Did they keep one like him?
Or did they try to send him to a place that wasn't between the living and the dead.
Half-people like him shouldn't be around.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:48 pm
Oh lovely, Ambrose's sarcasm shrieked. Brilliant idea, that had been - walking into the middle of a hoard of animals. Animals far more attuned to the difference between natural and unnatural, animals so much more acutely aware of the reality of things than stupid human counterparts. Yes, this was the absolute most bestest thing he'd ever done in his entire life.
Ambrose chided his sarcasm and reminded it that they'd seen worse. Though that vulture wasn't inviting, to say the least. Bugger on the bird. He wouldn't put it past the creature to make an attempt on his limbs but hell if the beast would get anything out of it.
"Fascinated," he echoed dryly, maintaining composure to stare back evenly at the... admittedly now quite disturbing birds at large. They'd formed a circle of their own free will?
All right. He gave. Something more than cross-dressing was going on here. Only he was less pleased than he thought he'd be to discover it.
...No, who was he kidding? This was the moment! Things were finally more interesting than management and a desk job - in a creepy way that made him recount the value he placed on life and li--all right, maybe just limb - but being threatened was so much more gratifying than a paycheck.
The zombie's hands slipped into his pockets as he turned his head slowly in either direction. It wasn't so surprising for animals to react differently to him. It was strange for them to act in the same way in large numbers. Especially in this... council-esque format. Like a parliament of ravens, as if he were about to be torn apart...
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:55 am
Things could have gotten very bad for Ambrose. Certainly, he could try to defend himself but ultimately, there was a good chance the avians could win. If Ambrose chose to fight instead of run, there would be but one victorious - the Birds, if only for the simple rule that death would never find itself on any of the Birds at this shop. To be a figment of death meant they all had a "Please Pass Go, Please Collect $200" card from Death himself. Fate turned the other cheak, Life pretended not to notice, and the Guardians of the Birdcage were given free reign of world. If Ambrose intended to fight, the outlook would be grim.
Thankfully, for all the growing hostilities, one small animal saved the day (whether or not Ambrose was really in need of saving)
Peter peter~! Peter peter! The little voice whisteled.
The vulture, still circling dangerously close to Ambrose's hair, suddenly peeled off. It flopped on the ground, gave the zombie-man a sullen glare, and sulked to the corner of the shop.
One, then two pair of eyes blinked curiuosly at Ambrose, before turning away. One by one, the little voice of the black-crested titmouse caused the entire flock to disengage their attack.
Did the group of avians look happy about it? Not at all. But there was nothing they could do, really. Not if he was important to someone.
Sure enough, as one by the ones the avians returned to heartily ignoring Ambrose and Nikel, one little bird stayed in place. Sitting in front of him, the bird gave Ambrose a hard look.
Well, he was it, strangely enough. The one she was looking for, the one that she wanted. He was about as different and strange as she was going to find, but whatever. He was good enough~!
With a flutter of wings, the bird landed lightly on Ambrose's arm. Beady black eyes looked up at him, the hostility fading from their ebony depths. "Peter peter peter", she sung, demanding Ambrose to get them off the rooftop and back someplace more comfortable.
She wanted to go home, and her new Companion sure as hell better not dawdle.
Nikel watched the flock scatter back to their own devices. His expression was one of disappointment. It would figure. No maulings today on the roof, no living feast for the Birds. What a pity, really, but there was nothing to be done about that. Out of disappointment came joy, and at least the little Titmouse found a friend.
"Well, looks like you're part of the group then. Such a sweet girl, isn't she?" He chattered, heading cheerfully back towards the stairwell, completely unphased by current events. The show was over, there was nothing to be seen, Ambrose had "passed" (so to speak), and that was that. Life could now be returned to focusing on nail polish and the cute asses of customers.
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