Xmas gift - Beast Wars/Petshop of Horrors
It was, by far, the most difficult pet Count D has ever sheltered. There was a strange matter of jurisdiction, given that the creature in question was not born on Earth, but had resided on the planet so long that it was practically native. A… naturalized citizen, as it were.
This was still one of the more foolish things he had done, however.
“Now there’s no need for such-!” Count D protested, trying to save some more precious (and delicate) valuables from destruction as his newest charge woke from a long, long slumber with a mechanized snarl, lashing his tail everywhere. It was obviously confused and angry with its surroundings. The incense apparently had no effect on the metal creature. Still, D would try to make it comfortable, and perhaps one day it would make a good pet for someone.
A dangerous pet, of course, but when had that stopped him before? For that matter, when had that stopped humans before?
It was hard to image any human wanting this. When the creature injured one of the many animals trying to help Count D restrain it, enough was enough. The atmosphere dimmed; a wind seemed to rush from nowhere and everywhere, and Count D’s voice boomed unnaturally, echoing with the screeches, squawks, and roars of pained animals, living and dead.
“Stop.”
Miraculously, it worked. The storm of violence stopped abruptly, and the mechanical creature stilled, its eyes whirring like camera lenses to focus on him. Count D could feel it sizing him up. The winds stilled; the Count settled into a graceful, if wary, bow.
“Welcome to Count D’s petshop,” he murmured, eyes at least as sharp as his… guest’s. “May I inquire as to your name?”
The creature seemed to consider while it stood there, poised to attack, still as death. Finally, with a great deal of whirring and clicking, it straightened up and replied in a gruff voice filled with static, worn from disuse.
“My name,” it growled, “is Dinobot.”