[IC] Twin Blaze's Pet Shop

[tsubasa]

story

You are a citizen of the city of Blood Stone. You sit at home and turn on the TV. On is a commercial you have never seen before. You turn up the volume and watch as a beautiful building is shown on the screen. Then two male voices comes on and brings you into deep thought.
“Hello, are you fascinated with those other worldly creatures? The shape shifters? Need someone to talk to? Or just want to show up those snotty neighbors? Come on down to Twin Blaze’s Companion Shop! And we will find you the pet of your dreams!”

You click off the TV and grab your keys. You have a pet or two to buy…

Taiga woke earlier than the two owners for the shop most mornings. These mornings that she did she ventured down into the shop and looked over all the cages. The cages were mainly just for the night, a place for them all to sleep. During the day, all the shifters were allowed out of their cages, however, it was required that they remain as animals, so long as there were buyers in the shop. The only shifters allowed to remain as human were Mav and Shik's own pets, as Taiga often helped out during the day. Taiga hated the thought of selling off any of these people but she knew that this way she at least was able to ensure that they ended up is good homes.

She flicked on the light to the main room of the shop and looked over all the shifters, "Morning," She said quietly.

She went immediately to little Opal's cage and opened it. The little cheetah jumped up into her arms with amazing speed. She sighed and wrapped her arms around her. Taiga had a soft spot of the little ones...

She carried the girl around as she opened the rest of the cages. She looked over them all, "Breakfast is in the back room," She told them all, "You choose how you eat."

Shifters all had different preferences as to how they ate, as humans or animals, so Mav and Shik had gave the option for either. She looked over her shoulder at the sign on the door and flipped it to open before she took a seat with Opal behind the counter. She placed Opal on her lap and allowed for the young girl to shift and lean against her. She ran her hand over her hair and smiled, "How are you doing, Opal?"

I don't like nighttime," Opal replied quietly.

"I know... I used to not like nighttime either... but it grows on you. Now, go get some food," Taiga patted the little girl's leg before she hopped off her lap and headed into the back room to eat.

[BlackCat]

Vara slowly opened her eyes, her white hair falling over her face. She slowly crawled out of her cage. She stood up and began to walk around, looking for food. She walked into the back room, looking for bacon. She found a pack and opened it, getting out a frying pan and beginning to cook the bacon.

[Skepic]

A dark grey SUV followed by a police car pulled into the lot in front of the "Twin Blaze’s Companion Shop". The morning was still hazy with a slight chill hanging in the air from the night before. A young woman exited the SUV with a slight shiver and sighed, closing the door and walking around to the trunk where the officer greeted her. "Well here we are ma'am, The Twin's place.... Not exactly a mornin person are ya?" he said with a grin as the woman gave a long yawn before opening the trunk.

"Being back in the States like this has got its privileges deputy, like soft beds and secure households." she lazily responded as the trunk door opened. It revealed a case and a black bullet proof vest with the label "UCCU INSPECTOR" on the back of it in dark yellow. She put on the body armor and opened the case, revealing a semi automatic pistol. The officer cocked his head in confusion as the woman casually loaded and holstered the weapon.

"Erm... Miss... Hanna?... I know the board is all nervous about giving our pet distributors the one two look over but.... Is that really needed? The guys who run this place ain't exactly the shotgun behind the counter types..." As if in even bigger defiance, Hanna opened up a somewhat larger case revealing a compact SMG. She loaded it then placed it back in the car before closing the trunk.

"Deputy, its the face that these guys don't have said shotgun that puts me on edge. You don't know how many times I show up at some innocent pet shop only for it to be a fucking station in the underground railroad or some shit. Come on, lets get this over with..." Grabbing her clipboard, she now walked over towards the store.

[tsubasa]

Opal sighed as she walked into the back room to get herself some food. When she got back there, she found Vara already making herself some bacon. The smell wafted around the room, filling her nostrils. The carnivore in her reared its head as she licked her lips a little before she went to the cupboard and pulled out a box of cereal. She looked at Vara before she hugged the box to her chest and approached the girl. She bit her lower lip as she looked up at girl, who was three years her senior, before she smiled, "Do you think I could have some?" She asked quietly before she pointed up at the pan, "I'll give you some of my cereal," She said as she held it out the other girl, as though it weren't for everyone anyways.

~

Taiga sat behind the desk still, she wasn't hungry most morning and normally preferred to wait until Mav and Shik came down before she ventured into the back to grab herself some food. So, she was merely tapped a pen against the glass counter when a heavily armed woman walked into the shop. Her eyes widened before she quickly stood. Not only did Taiga not particularly appreciate the woman walking in with a gun, which endangered everyone in the shop now, but she didn't exactly appreciate the yellow lettering on her vest either. She walked around the counter, trying to keep a calm demeanor. The best thing and maybe one of the only good things about being a shapeshifter in this society was it was like a constant security system. At least for those with more aggressive animals, like Taiga's tiger.

She looked them both over before she rested her hand on the front of the desk and smiled at them all, "I'm sorry. Guns aren't allowed on the premises as they make some of the shifters uncomfortable which can cause issues if any of the react. If you leave it in your car, I will be more than willing to help you and show you around the store."

[BlackCat]

Vara looked down at Opal.
"Yeah," she responded, smiling. She got out a plate and put a paper towel over it. She then began to put the already cooked bacon on the plate, the paper towel would absorb the grease. And that made it so much nicer to eat. Once done cooking all the bacon Vara grabbed the plate of bacon and put it on the table. This way both Opal and Vara could easily get themselves bacon.
"Done," she told Opal, looking back over her shoulder at her.

[Skepic]

Hanna and the Deputy entered the store. Hanna glanced around the room, taking in the scenery before a young woman approached the pair. "I'm sorry. Guns aren't allowed on the premises as they make some of the shifters uncomfortable which can cause issues if any of the react. If you leave it in your car, I will be more than willing to help you and show you around the store." she said to them, eyeing the pistol holster on Hanna's leg.

"Ma'am, you misunderstand. I am Hanna Helfier, designated UCCU Inspector of Blood Stone, sanctioned and supported by the city council in my operations. UCCU is a governmental endorsed organisation that specializes in the regulation and enforcement of shifter sale operations. I am here not as a customer, but a regulator. This store has been chosen in a random search and inspection for any potential violations of the law regarding shifters. The way I conduct said inspection is entirely up to how I see fit. If you have any problems with it, please let Deputy Walkins here know as he will be supervising the inspection." Hanna recited somewhat mundanely. It was a line she has said many.. many times before. With that, Hanna motioned to the Deputy behind her. He gave a small nod and smiled.

"No need to worry miss, this all checks out. Just let Miss Helfier here do her job and we'll be out of your hair shortly." said the deputy.

[tsubasa]

Opal grinned when Vara agreed to allow her to eat some of the bacon. Opal would have made her own, were she tall enough and knew how to make bacon. Clinging the box to her chest she followed Vara to the table and placed the cereal box on it before retrieving to bowls from the cupboard with the help of a step stool. She placed the two bowls on the table and carried the large jug of milk over before she hopped up into her sit.

She smiled at Vara, "Thank you," she gestured to the things she had gather, "Cereal?"

As she was making up her own bowl of cereal, she heard voices coming from the front room. She looked at Vara and asked warily, "Do you think that's a customer?"

~

Taiga looked between the two of them before she rested her eyes back on the woman, Hanna, "Government or not, guns are still not allowed with in the store. Some of our shifters have had very traumatic experiences with humans and previous owners due to gun or weapons of the sort. I will not put any of these shifters in a position in which they feel uncomfortable or threatened as it could endanger everyone in the store if they were to react."

She crossed her arms, "I am more than willing to allow you to search the store as you please but you will have to leave your gun in the car... There are children here, if not for the shifters well being, at least don't traumatize them."

Taiga stood her ground, she wasn't very fond of UCCU and all that they did keeping shifters as slaves. However, she knew that Mav and Shik would be unhappy if she didn't play. Although, she knew they would be just unhappy if she allowed for someone to even step near on of the shifters while armed. She smiled at them both, "I will be more than cooperative any weapons are off the premises.

[Skepic]

"I will be more than cooperative any weapons are off the premises."

Hanna gave a large sigh as Deputy Walkins stepped forward towards the employee. "Ma'am, Inspector Helfier here is permitted by the Blood Stone City Council to operate however she may ple-" Hanna tapped on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle this." Hanna looked at the woman, sizing her up. After a somewhat awkward period of time staring at her, Hanna's face suddenly broke into a smile. "Ahhh, I see.... Well miss, I'm gonna have to ask you to go find your... master, as I would like to discuss the matters of the review wit the actual owners, not their...merchandise..."