You looked at your pouch of fragments and handed them over to the half woman half bird, known as Miss. Nightingale.
"They're all yours" she said and handed you the small golden cage covered in a red curtain.
"Thank you again Miss. Nightingale!" you quickly left the shop and rushed to your room. There you placed the golden cage on your bed and slowly lifted the curtain. Inside sat a small version of Wu chang. Mini Xie yawned and rubbed his eyes but greeted you with a small bow.
"Hello there, I'm ___" You weren't sure what to do now, you hadn't really planned on actually buying a pet. You had the fragments and there wasn't anything you really wanted so you just went for it. Pets didn't need to eat or drink but they needed lots of entertainment and attention, "I guess I should get you guys a bed huh? Or would you rather sleep on mine?" You asked, Xie merely looked at you and smiled,"maybe I should ask the others" Emma had a pet chomper while Vera had a pet cat. You really should have done your research more, buying a random pet just cause you had the frags wasn't the best i-
The sound of a bell ringing pulled you from your thoughts
"Huh? What's the matter, Fan?" The black guard rang his bell again.
Maybe he wanted to go explore? Setting him on the floor he closely followed behind you.
'Gosh he's cute' he had the chubbiest little face you just wanted to kiss all over! But seeing as it was Fan and you'd just got them, being overly affectionate probably wasn't the best idea. But they were just so cute!!! You just wanted to squeeze them to death!!!
Closing the door behind yourself , you and your pet made your way to the kitchen.
"Mike! Look!" The acrobat looked up from his sandwich.
"Hm?!" You scooped up your mini wu chang and held up so everyone could see.
"Isn't he the cutest!?"
He nodded, it was rude to talk with a mouth full after all.
"I'm going to go show Tracy! See you later"
"Mmhmh!" He waved goodbye to you, it seems you were really excited about your new pet!
Walking up the steps you waited for Wu to try and catch up, in maps they were really fast but they seemed to have trouble climbing stairs.
"Little Fan,do you want some help?" You offered, the pet merely shook his head 'no'. He was very adamant on being able to do it himself, "Ah, are you sure you don't want help?
Vera walked past and giggled at the sight of you trying to help the pet up the steps. After about 4 minutes of waiting for mini Fan to get up the first part of the stairs your mind began to wonder. Pets didn't have skin like survivors or hunters, so they were stuck with the same old outfits...unless-
"OH MY GOD" you stood up in a blink of brilliance! YOU COULD MAKE WU CHANG SOME TINY CLOTHES! Why didn't you think of that sooner!? Scooping Mini Fan up you rushed back to your room and placed him on your bed.
"?" He tilted his head,confused at your sudden burst of energy.
"Just a moment, Fan" You dug out your sewing kit and tape measure, "Can you hold your hands out for me please?" You asked, he did and within a few minutes you had mini Wu changs size down ready to go! "Thank you darling!" Out of sheer excitement you leaned down and kissed his head.
"?!?" He backed up, embarrassed and completely taken off guard before ringing his bell loudly and stomping his feet before running off to hide somewhere in your room.
"Cute! Now then,what should I make? OH!" You had another brilliant idea! With all the extra fabric lying around you could make at least ten different costumes! You'd never made something from a Chinese culture before! You knew the 'dress' they usually wore was called a 'Hanfu' so you wanted to make one similar to their Far east wind outfit or maybe their broken blossom one!
You didn't have much to go off of so you tried your best to mimic what the pet wore. You were at it for hours, tweaking and changing the seam lines all while Wu Chang played with one of the toys Annie had made for you. You worked in a quiet blaze of inspiration for most of the day until someone came to knock on your door. Completely engulfed in your craft you didn't hear the person knock,it was only when Wu Chang tugged on your sleeve did you hear the knocking.
"Oh sorry!! I'm coming!" You scrambled to your feet and tripped over a long spool of fabric. The giant sketch pad you had on your desk fell and slid under your foot causing you to stumble face first into the wood, "Ow! Ow ow ow ow!" You rubbed your face and opened the door, squinting at the bright light, "Yes? Sorry I took so long"
"Ah are you ok,___? You’re bleeding!" Tracy dug for a handkerchief and handed it to you, cringing at the sight.
"Sorry, I just tripped is all!, what can I help you with? I'm rather busy at the moment" You dabbed at your nose and rubbed your head,you could already feel a headache coming.
"Its nothing, I just wanted to hear from you! Haven't seen you all day! What have you been up too?" She could tell by the many pencils in your hair that you'd been very busy.
"Its a surprise, I'll let you know when I'm done," You were almost done! Just a few more hours and your small clothing line would be complete!
"Oh! I love surprises! Wait- it's not like Mike's fake spider prank is it?" Last time someone surprised her, i.e: Mike, a giant fake spider had been dropped onto her hand.
"Ew not at all! It's something for my pet!"
"Oh you finally got one? Who'd you pick? Mary? Jack?" She smiled nervously as you gave an evil laugh.” Did I guess wrong or-" Another evil laugh from your part.
"You'll see~"
"That's a bit worrying, I won't lie."
"It's going to be really cute so don't worry!" You had a few more touch ups to do and then you could give your fingers a rest! Mini Xie seemed to really like his outfits so you couldn't wait to show them off to everyone else!
"Well I guess I'll see you when you're done!" She waved goodbye and you closed the door.
"Back to the grinding stone, now where is my thread? Ah! There it is!" It didn't take long to finish mini Wu Chang’s Broken Blossoms replica skin, "Awwww Wu Wu! You look so handsome! What do you think?” Mini Xie examined himself in your mirror and smiled at you, taking your finger and gently shaking it before swapping to mini Fan. He was less impressed but still thanked you, in his own mini Fan way. He puffed out his chest and flaunted his outfit, he even let his hair out of its long braid.
"I'm glad you like it so much! Let's go show the others!" Mini Fan let your carry him outside your room before jumping from your arms and sashaying around. He knew he looked good and he was ready to flaunt it!
"Oh! Before you go showing off Fan, I want to take some pictures of you!" You hoped Joseph was in a good enough mood to take a few photos. Considering your offer Fan swapped places with mini Xie and let you carry them off to the photographers room.
The aristocratic was on a higher floor so it took you a little bit longer to reach his room. Knocking on the door it only took a few moments before the dead man opened his door.
"Ah, Mademoiselle ____," he gave you a polite bow of the head that you and mini Xie mimicked.
"Afternoon Joseph! I was wondering if you wouldn't mind a little photoshoot of them? I made some really cute mimic skins and I'd love it if you'd take a photograph!” This was a bit bold of you to ask. You and Joseph weren't friends, you were hardly acquaintances but he seemed friendly enough so the worst he could do was say no.
"Oh, how cute, you did a very impressive job," he leaned down at mini Xie’s level and stared at your finest work, "I'd love too, I just so happen to have some extra film"
"Thank you!!"
"However, I would like something similar in return, could you do one for me?" He was impressed at how well you'd managed to copy almost all the details on mini wu changs outfit. He wouldn't mind having his own mini version wearing Apollo or Moonlight Gentlemen,
"It's really quite adorable."
Even though he couldn't see pets during matches he could still see them running across the manor.
"I'd love to! I can make him a little hat and everything!"
"Then shall we begin?" He dug for his personal Camera resting against the wall, this one seemed to be more cared for, unlike the ones seen on maps that had been knocked over,electrocuted, burned and even thrown!
"I'll follow you, Mr.Photographer."
He smiled, he was glad you saw how talented he was with his photos, not many took the time to look at them.
"This way then," he picked up his trifold and brought you and your pet out to the garden,"I find most of my best photos are taken here," He would always get a good shot here.
Snapping his fingers a marble podium from his Apollo outfit rose from the ground, "Have a seat pet," He set up his trifold and prepared to take a photo.
Mini Fan gave the camera a fierce threat emote and you just about cried at how cute he was. The two swapped back and forth as Joseph used the rest of his film.
"This is the last one, Mademoiselle, Do make it count.”
"If it's the last one then...Oh Joseph! We should take a picture too!" You placed mini Fan onto the ground and off the podium.
"Did you not just purchase him today? How do you know if he is smart enough to work my cameras? OW!" Fan had chucked his mini umbrella at Joseph's head, clearly offended at his intelligence being questioned.
"Fan! Be nice!" You scolded, “Are you ok Joseph? Do I need to get you an ice bag?"
"No I'm fine,clearly the fault is mine for thinking lesser of your pet, my apologies" Fan huffed and swapped places with Mini Xie,"It seems my apology hasn't been accepted"
"I'm sorry Joseph," You hadn't expected him to act so violently, "We can take a picture later!"
"Au revoir, Mademoiselle ____,prends soin"
"That means 'take care' right?"
He smiled at you,"Oui, smart girl." The aristocrat was touched at how kind you were to him. Many survs tended to avoid him. You treated him as if he was still human, still normal and It had made him happy.
"Sorry about your head again, I'll take them to go calm down somewhere else."
"It's alright, au revoir my dear," and with that he took his trifold and left to go nurse his head.
"Fan you really need to control your anger, that wasn't very nice!" He rattled from inside the umbrella,"I’m not sure what you just said to me but I'm sure it's nothing pleasant! So Xie thank you for not being mean! Here" you pulled a cookie out of a small bag in your pocket, "They're a little crushed but they're still good, Melly gave them to me last night" Xie looked at the sweet treat offered to him and took it gratefully and began nibbling on it. His face lit up! You'd never seen a pet so happy! In under a second he devoured the cookie whole.
"!" He held his hands out for another one,bouncing in place as he did so.
"You’re lucky, I have just one more in my- Mph!" Mini Xie had quite literally jumped onto your face and nuzzled it, a sign of thankfulness and affection for the treat you were about to give him,"Hmhmhmhm!" You started to stumble, As cute as Mini Xie was it was extremely hard to see and breathe with him attached to your face.
You tried prying Mini Xie off your face but he was determined to show how happy he was and was currently placing kisses on your forehead and face. You really didn't want to hurt his feelings but your balance wasn't all that great when your eyes were covered by Xie, not to mention you were still near the stairs. You had no idea how close you were to them! And it would be awful if you fell!
"XIE! “ You yelled, gently tugging at his tiny body,he wouldn't budge. That's when you bumped into someone,"Sorry!" You yelled, and held onto the strangers arm for balance.
Wait-
No survivor's arm is that long. It must have been Antonio or-
"Uh, is that you? Wu chang?" Long fingers brushed against your cheeks as Mini Xie was removed from your face, pawing to cling back onto your face, you sucked in a breath of air.
"Better?" A voice asked.
"Th-thank you Wu," you gasped, Mini Xie was still wiggling to get your cookie...and face.
"You've acquired our pet,___" Xie looked at his mini self in a mild awe, "You've dressed him up?" Since when did they start selling clothing for pets?
"Does it look well? I don't know much about traditional Chinese clothing so I hope it doesn't look too bad."
"___, you made this?" Xie looked at the replica, there were some big and minor flaws everywhere but overall,it looked great! With more studying and practicing on the designs, you’d be perfect at making them! "It's very well made...Fan agrees."
"I was scared you wouldn't like it," you sighed in relief.
"I hate to change the subject but why is this one trying to eat your face?" He held his umbrella in one hand and Mini Xie sat quietly in his palm, eating the cookie you'd given him.
"Ah it seems Little Xie has a very strong sweet tooth, is the same true for you?" Mini Xie was suddenly tossed into your arms as the original swapped bodies.
"Oh I can tell you all kinds of stories about Xie and that damn sweet tooth of his," Fan laughed," When we were kids he was given a small cookie and couldn't sit still for about four hours after eating it!" Fan laughed again at the memory, "He gets the biggest sugar high and the worst sugar crash...no? Don't spill embarrassing stories about you? No no dear brother, I think I will~"
As aggressive as Fan was during matches he was surprisingly easy to talk to, well after he'd warmed up to you after. He loved embarrassing his sworn brother over old tales of their childish adventures, he'd even told you one where he and Xie had to protect this merchant and his traveling band from looters! He could still be a bit mean though, but you had thick skin and a hard bite. There wasn't much he could do to scare you off!
"Now it makes sense why you were acting so crazy all of a sudden," you held mini Xie by his underarms before Fan grabbed the pet by his head.
"So this is what Xie was looking at....change." now holding mini Fan, Fan grinned and started messing with him, "Look at you, I could easily stomp you into the ground with my heel"
"Please don't stomp my mini Fan!" You weren't sure if he'd actually do it or not.
"Look at his head...so kick-able....so punt-able" he started squeezing mini Fan's head until the pet had enough brutality and smacked Fan's finger away with his bell, clearly mad. Mini Fan started hitting the original's hand, hard with his bell,"You little shit!" Fan grabbed the pet by the head and was just about to chuck him out the window when you latched onto his arm.
"Please don't! I love him too much!"
"Then get a new one-"
"Fan please- don't throw my mini Fan, he just ate two whole cookies!"
"I should bake it into a cookie for hitting me...no Xie I don't want to switch! HEY-"
"I'm sorry for my brother's attitude, is your pet alright?"
Fan seemed a little green sitting in your arms, it made sense since he'd just about had his brain shaken out of his body. That's when he threw up all over your chest. You took a deep breath and sighed, "Come on, let's get you some clean clothes. Oh and Xie! You and I will have to bake something together! Since you like sweets so much!"
"Hah yes," you couldn't see it but mentally Xie was beating the black off Fan,in a loving way of course.
'This is why you don't have any friends!’
'We have the same body! You don't have any either!'
"Xie?" He must have zoned out while arguing with Fan again.
"Ah, apologies! But we would love to come bake with you, We won't hold you up any longer, apologies once again for causing....that,'' he gestured to the pet puke on your shirt.
"Oh it's fine, I used to work with kids I'm used to getting thrown up on! Come on Xie, let's get you into some pajamas,” You placed the pet over your shoulder, much like you would a baby and carried them back to your room.
Putting him on the sink counter you stripped him of his broken blossom replica and placed him in the sink of warm water.
"Is this ok?" You knew vaguely about how wu chang hated water but as long as it was shallow and controlled the pet didn't seem to mind. You asked while digging for a small nightgown you'd made earlier in a trial and error. They sank down in the water and played in the bubbles, blowing them at you,"Cute," he really was sweet. Leaving the bathroom you dug around for a towel and your own pajamas.
"All done?" You asked, He had climb out of the skin,"Arms up!" He lifted them and you wrapped him up snugly in the massive towel,"There, clean as a whistle!" You slipped his nightgown over his head and carried him to your bed,"I'll be quick!"
True to your word you took a quick and through showers and slipped on your lavender colored nightgown, it felt cold and stuck to your skin but once you dove under the covers and blankets you'd warmed right back up! Lifting the blankets up, mini Wu chang squinted at you and moved off your pillow so you could lay down. You yawned, ready for sleep to take you. He mimicked your yawned and climbed onto your face and fell asleep, it was like wearing an eye mask.
"Good night Wu Wu"