Chapter Text
- Something, something, Tommy is a homeless thief who lives in this sort of dystopian/modern with magic/steampunk world and he goes to an awesome pawn shop place to sell stuff.
Scene START!
A minute later, Tommy is in front of the weird pawn shop. It looks like more of a library, or maybe book store, if he's honest, with big windows with piles of books set in the displays. It looks out of place in the alley, almost as if everything moved to make room for it, nothing at all touching the walls of the building. There's two flickering blue fire lanterns hanging from either corner of the front of the shop, and a windowed door with 'Pawn Shop' and a long word in front of it Tommy can't read.
There's scattered animal skulls and random rubbish sprinkled in the display as well, but no prices to be seen.
Tommy takes a deep breath and walks in, the door's bell ringing as he comes in. It's a cramped place, dressers full of knicknacks and random stacks everywhere. There's a big stuffed brown bear in the corner and a telescope with too many lenses on it. A ball of stars is on the tall counter of the cash register, and a brass clockwork owl is perched on a branch on a wall behind the counter.
Tommy rings the tiny bell on the counter, shuffling a bit. He clears his throat when the owl turns to stare at him, mechanics clicking. Tommy doesn't look at it, staring at the empty doorframe next to the bird. The thing spreads its wings and hops down to the counter, and Tommy almost has a heart attack right there.
"(gosh darn it)!" Tommy shouts in a very manly way, gripping his bundle tighter, "You (mean person)! You (rude individual)! You know I (gosh)- I (goshing) hate that!" The thing doesn't seem to care, and its mechanisms click as it shifts, its chameleon like eyes looking around in every direction. Its eyes are black, shining beads, staring past Tommy likes he's not even there.
"Child," it starts, speaking in a screech, "My creator is out. I am in charge while he is gone. Please show me-" it gives out a hiss of steam that makes Tommy flinch, "-Your wares. Thank you." It bobs its head in a facsimile of acknowledgement, its hard black eyes focusing completely on Tommy, this time really seeing him. Tommy gulps in discomfort, straightening and raising up on his toes to lay the bundle on top of the tall counter. He almost snaps at the thing, but its talons are sharp, and he's… He's scrappy, but he's (gosh)- he's only ten, and it can't die.
The owl swivels one eye to look at the jewellery that Tommy brought, its other still laser focused on Tommy's face. It clicks again, the eye focused on the jewellery rolling around like it's not really connected before swiveling its entire body, one piece at a time, towards Tommy's wares. It makes Tommy sick. The thing hisses again, swiveling its wings before settling. It gives a small screech of static, and Tommy shuts his eyes tight as it speaks again, shivering.
"One of these pieces, the jasper broach, created 2034, is compromised. Would you like me to correct this?" Tommy opens his eyes, confused. The (heck)'s a broach? The owl is staring at him, but it's gone back to not-really-looking, and its eyes swivel around the room, moving in little jerks.
Tommy takes a breath, puffing up, and says, "But I'm selling this to you, (rude individual)! Why'd you-" His voice falters a second, cracking, "Why're you offering?" He fidgets, huffing out his breath, and looking away from the black marbles of the owl, discomfort making a home in his stomach.
The owl clicks, then says, "Because my creator would like to have uncompromised items, I will fix the jasper broach for you." Tommy scoffs. What happened to it asking? He kicks at the counter, but the moment he does, the thing's eyes snap to Tommy and it says, with the click of gears, "Please do not kick the counter, TommyInnit." Tommy freezes, and then scoffs, but he doesn't kick the counter again. It then goes back to work, turning to the jewellery with a hiss of steam and a light thunk, delicately grabbing the jasper piece he couldn't identify, the one with the little pin attached to the back.
He looks on with a little curiosity. Guess that's a broach. He watches, captivated, as the owl delicately twists the clasp into place and it sets the jewellery down for a second, spreading its wings with a shh of metal and opening several of the little drawers in the counter. It then searches for a bit before finding what it needed (tiny silver screws, smaller than Tommy's pinky nail), and then grabbing a handful and eating them.
Or, well, it sticks the screws in its mouth, where they fall down its gaping gullet with a clatter. Tommy looks on with horrified fascination as it flutters back up to the counter and then sticks one of its brass talons down its throat. Tommy can't stop himself from asking, "Why'd you do that?" Instantly regretting it when the owl snaps one of its eyes to his face, still working on the broach.
It makes something that could be classified as a small scream, turning it into a warped hoot at the end, then answers, "I was created with an inner storage compartment, which I used just now to hold the silver six millimeter screws that I am using to fix your jasper broach, created 2034. It does not hurt me. I was built this way." It says with a quiet hiss of steam. It's screwed the screw in now, and puts the broach with Tommy's other things, turning back to him, clicking as its mechanisms shift.
Tommy swallows, huffing out a steadying breath, and asks, "So what'll you take for 'em?" He sends up a quick prayer to Prime, and pulls a grin onto his face, trying his best to ignore how the owl swivels its head in a 360° turn, then stares at the jewelry, picking it up with a claw.
He holds his breath, almost losing his smile, then it speaks with an almost hoot, "My creator would take 150 credits for your product," Wow, that's way more than he thought he'd get! Maybe he'll be able to finally get some blankets? Or, or maybe he could get a toy! Tommy's mind whirls in excitement, the possibilities endless.
The owl screeches at him, jolting him out of his thoughts. It stares at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. Tommy huffs in irritation and he says offhandedly, "Yeah, you (goshing) bird (I do not like you). I'll take it," Then he takes the offered credits, flinching when the thing's sharp talons brush against his wrist. The bird turns around, one clicking part at a time, the jewellery clutched in a talon, and it settles on its perch again, locking back up until it looks like any old art piece.
Tommy shudders, turning away from it. He clutches the precious credits in his hand, ready to head towards the door when the most beau-ti-ful, majestic, and amazing thing ever strikes his eye. It's on the top of a stack of books on the other side of the shop, many other, less amazing things in front of it. It's perfect. Tommy picks his way over to the little thing, knocking over a telescope set in his hurry, staring at the tiny thing in glee.
It's a mechanical brass cow, similar to the owl, with little tiny horns and a tiny little tail. Tommy must have it! He'll name it Henry, and it'll be his absolute best friend ever. It's just out of reach, on the top of—
- Tommy buys cow, cow has magic and can do tricks! It makes him magical or something similar because it likes him and SBI senses that there's a new magic user, coming to find Tommy. Tommy is awesome and uses his newfound magic and street smarts to evade them until they capture him and stick him in lessons. They're Magic lessons, however, and he gets a loving family out of it, so he guesses it's not too bad.