Who CiCi and Malachi Where Used bookstore in Knockturn Alley What interactions and violent teddy bears Rating tbd- but probs safer in the pg-13 range
The chime above the door sounded, but she didn't look up from her hand of cards. No, CiCi chewed on her lower lip as she studied the cards. What did Gloomy have in his hand? The cheating bear was probably holding five aces or something ridiculous. When she had created the bear all those years ago she hadn't thought it would develop a need to win at poker. She knew her father would be frowning at the fact she was playing cards at work, but he also frowned at the fact she worked in such a questionable place.
"Three of a kind," she breathed out as she slapped her hand down on the counter towards the pink teddy bear. Gloomy seemed to be thinking before it used its clawed paws to slap down a full house. CiCi blinked faintly and let out the tiniest of swear words. "Cheater," she said affectionately before pushing the promised jar of glitter over. Gloomy couldn't eat anything, but he did enjoy making a mess. Soon enough her counter would be sparkling in an annoying manner and she was fine with that.
This place was so depressing.
She looked up in time to see a skinny person slid a book inside their coat. Without a word, she tapped Gloomy on the paw so both of them could watch the person start to slink out of the store. Perhaps word had not gotten around that stealing from this store was a bad idea or perhaps this person thought they could get away with it. Whatever the case, they were about to learn the error of their ways. CiCi waited until they were part way through the door before she lunged over the counter, her scuffed combat boots hitting the ground. A slight pause on her part, while she yanked her throwing daggers free, was the only head start the poor man received. She sent a dagger flying so the coat sleeve became secured to the doorframe. Father said no more maiming anyone. No more killing.
Liam and Shelly wouldn't like her anymore if she lost control.
Gloomy Bear launched himself at the thief, claws digging into a thigh. CiCi's facial expression of boredom didn't change at the screams of agony. Instead, she walked up to the idiot and reached into his coat. Ugh, the man was sweaty and needed a shower. Her nose wrinkled and yanked free, her hands on the expensive used book.
"Merci," she said softly to Gloomy. "Chase him out of the alley." With a smile fit for a sweet child, she reached up to yank her dagger free. The man took off running and she merely watched as her bear took after him. The coldness of the blade was soothing against her cheek and the smile turned more amused. CiCi went to turn so she could go back inside when she spotted someone watching. Her fingers tightened on the handle of the dagger before she jammed the thing back into the waistband of her shorts. Somewhere down the alley there was screaming and she knew Gloomy would come home with blood on his claws.
She gave the man who had been watching one last look before she went back inside the store. CiCi jumped up on the counter to sit just about the time the chime went off again. She knocked her heels against the front of the counter and let her fingers grip the edge of the wood to make sure she didn't fall off.
"If you try to steal from me," she said with a sigh. "I will not be as kind. You saw what happens as the first warning." She didn't realize who she was talking to, but even if she had known? She wouldn't have exactly cared.