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charisstoma
Title: The Things One Can Find in the Market
Andy & Simon stories
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 818
“Alright, whose kittens are these?”
No one raised a hand or a paw. Andy looked around ready to spit. Irresponsible parents and the kittens, considering context, had to be familiar in nature. “Just look at those cute little bitty blue eyes,” he found himself cooing.
There was a muffled snicker which brought Andy’s head around to glare at Simon. “What?!”
“Baby snake familiars are cuter.”
“Snake familiars aren’t furry until they’re old enough to be a public menace to innocent humans and then only in certain places on them.”
“Andy!” Simon said mockingly. “There are children presen… Scales!”
“What?” Andy turned thinking there was something endangering the kittens and he’d kill it whatever it was and gasped.
The kittens were still blue eyed but their little bodies had reshaped themselves into long serpentine shapes.
“What…”
“Snake-feline familiar littles and yes, the parent or parents need to be beaten for negligence. Leaving them out like this.”
There was a bellowed hiss with worry heavy in it. Through the market a large man walked, a brightly decorative knit holdall in hand , hissing as he searched.
“Ah, one parent is present,” Simon opinioned.
“You sure? He could be a kitten… um snakelet… um whatever napper.”
“We’ll see but I’m betting on parent.”
“Want to bet on that,” Andy stuck his chin out, anger radiating towards the nearing man.
“I win then you get a tattoo on your ass saying insert snake here.”
Andy growled though whether at him or the man who was almost upon them.
“Here,” Simon called.
“Oh, thank scales!” He put the holdall down and glared down at the kittens. “You lot, did I not say stay in the holdall while I bought the mice for dinner? I know you wanted a furry cave and I said we’d see.“
“They’re gone. Simon they’ve disappeared!”
“No they haven’t,” the man reached down and tipped the furred cave so small furry snakes emptied into the holdall. “They take up less space when they’re in serpent form and they know they’re in trouble. Anything could have happened to them,” the man’s voice took on a ragged hissing. “They’re so damned cute, anyone could have taken them.”
A squeak came from the holdall, “Poppa said a bad word.” Which set up an echoing repetition from the other kitten-snakes.
“Hush and don’t go tattling to your Daddy or I will forget to buy ice cream next time we come shopping.”
There were mews of protest but somewhere in there were, “yes, Poppa”’s.
“They’re kittens again?” Andy craned his neck to see.
With a proud yet sheepish look, “They’re still trying to figure out what they are, serpent or feline.”
“So they’ll be stuck in one form when they’re older?” Andy persisted.
“No, no more than your,” Simon raised his hand with the wedding ring on it for the man to see, “husband stays human. They’ll have a favorite form they stay in most of the time but can switch back and forth at will; serpent, feline, or human.”
“Can I pet them?”
“Better not; one, they grow on you and you’ll be pregnant before you know it and two, If Hector smells anyone else’s scent on them I won’t be getting any for a week.”
“At least,” a second man came up carrying a cardboard box with breathing holes in it with the logo of the pet supply cart in his hand. “You found them? Are they okay?”
“They’re fine love. They were trying out a furry cave thingy.”
An exchange of containers occurred and the second man looked inside with a severe look on his face. He tipped the holdall so the kittens could see Simon. “Do you see this man? He’s a snake familiar and he might have eaten you if he was hungry enough and unprincipled.”
“Hey!”
“Hush, I’m making a point here. Just wait until you have some.” His attention returned to his children, “How do you think your Poppa and I would feel if someone ate you?”
“Sorry”s came from the holdall. “Sorry Daddy. Sorry Poppa.”
“Good. Now say sorry to the snake who might have eaten you.”
“I wouldn’t have eaten them!” Simon gritted out.
“Simon, I can’t do it. Snakelings have to be smaller than kitten snakelings. How would I keep track of them?!”
There were giggles from the holdall, which their parents thought were funny.
“Don’t worry, you’ll adapt. You’d be surprised. I’m Hector and this is Clyde. If you have questions you call us and it won’t be too long before you might need that help.” Hector grinned. He turned to Simon, “Congratulations.”
“Simon?”
Hector handed over his card. “Call us.”
“Simon!”
“Anytime,” was said with amusement. “Birthing snakes should be a snap. Not like kittens. Unless you’re the egg laying variety…”
“Live birth.”
“Like I said a snap then.” The holdall started squirming. “Oops, gotta go. Hungry little ones and all.”
“Simon……….”
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no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 02:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 02:56 pm (UTC)and furry snakelets :D:D
no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 08:01 pm (UTC)Would think their fur might get rubbed off on their bellies at least if they stayed in serpent form for very long.
*grins* Puts a whole new take on wearing a Boa around the neck doesn't it?
no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 11:26 pm (UTC)So you want this or the other one and Frogs posted fic. *runs away*
no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 11:32 pm (UTC)You typed 'or' where clearly the sentence called for an 'and'.
Never mind. I knew what you meant. And thank you. I shall look forward to the new fics. *grin*
and Frog-fic :D nice to have her back. Ooo not sure if commented to say so, must stop trying to comment from phone..
no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 11:52 pm (UTC)an incorrigible optimist.
Especially the last example. That's you.
no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 11:58 pm (UTC)impervious to constraints aye? That could be a story prompt ;);)
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Date: 2016-07-07 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-07-07 11:58 pm (UTC)