So! This is rather (read: extremely) belated, but now is better than never. This is a general note to anyone threading with the animals of the Pet Shop! The information here has mostly been implied, but never outright stated, so the cast is fixing that. (read as: I like to type a lot) Part of this is me speculating, so feel free to leave questions or comments.

Anyone who's threaded with the PSoH cast in camp may have noticed that the animals have multiple forms that they appear in. First, each one has their original form, ie their animal form. For Ten-chan (canbedeceiving), it's that of a nine-tailed fox. For Tetsu (cuisinealavore), it's a totetsu, which is a mythological goat-thing that eats people. And for Honlon (beastriality), it's a gigantic three-headed dragon. Second, each one has an anthropomorphic form. Each of these forms is not quite enough to pass for a human -- but they are pretty close. Tetsu and Ten-chan both roughly appear as teenagers, and Honlon looks like a little girl, about five or six. The things that would tip someone off as to them being not human would be things like Ten-chan's pointy ears, or Tetsu's horns, or Honlon's big black eyes of deathly cuteness.

Now, in the manga, whenever a customer first meets a potential pet, virtually every single time, the customer meets them in their anthropomorphic form. This is why Count D gets accused of slave trading sometimes, because the animals look so close to human that the average person can't imagine they'd be anything else, and the Count is offering these "people" as pets. Now, the reason why they're able to appear like this to humans is because Count D has a special incense that is lit in the shop. From what we're able to gather, this incense is able to blur the senses of humans who inhale it, so that they're more susceptible to seeing illusions. Eventually, this wears off as the customer takes the pet with them to the outside world. The point when the pets returns from their anthropomorphic form to their animal form is very frequently near the end of a chapter/segment, when the moral of the story begins to unfold. (Pet Shop of Horrors, is, at it's core, a series of morality tales) This is not to say that their anthropomorphic forms are illusions, but that they're not the kind of form frequently seen by human-kind.

Note that the incense works very badly on Leon Orcot, because Leon is a special snowflake. :|b

ANYWAY. Despite Count D's pet shop and his incense not being in camp, the pets are able to move between their forms. Why? Partially because of the amount of magic present, which works as a makeshift incense. Tetsu and Honlon are two of the more powerful animals that Count D possesses, so it's very likely that they have magic imbued into the very core of their being. I speculate that Ten-chan is slightly more powerful than the average animal as well, but since his ability is centered entirely ON illusion, it makes sense that he'd be able to switch back and forth between forms at will. But the magic in camp is not entirely stable, and as a result, the animals of the Pet Shop occasionally switch forms. Sometimes they will do it at will, and sometimes it is random. This is why we will switch from anthropomorphic icons to animal icons in a thread (for multiple expressions and the like) without making note of a transformation -- their appearance has "shifted" to another form, so to speak.

Depending on the characters' perception and awareness, they may not notice these subtle changes. Sometimes it'll be blatantly obvious that the animal has changed shape, and sometimes it'll only happen in the blink of an eye. I tend to think that it happens like bad television reception, where images will flicker back and forth. It could happen so fast that the character won't know what just happened. Or they might not be looking at all. It's up to y'all whether you want your character(s) to notice these things. The pets are aware it happens, but at this point, I think they don't pay much attention to it. Ten-chan differs slightly because he is a shapeshifter, but any form OTHER than his first two -- the punk teen and the fox -- will be mentioned as a physical change.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING GUYS? DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? o_oa

Once upon a time, there was a candle. It was a short, red candle that was passed on for many years through many different households. It spent a long time in the back of cupboards, on tables and windowsills, used over and over again. There was nothing remarkable about it, except for the wick. The wick was a long, thin stem that many thought was too small and would not hold a flame. Once lit, however, the wick would burn and burn for hours and no wax would drip from the candle. It would stay lit for days and weeks and even months, and no wind, no water, no soil could extinguish it. The short red candle lived a hundred lifetimes longer than it's brethren because of the wick it held, and never grew an inch shorter. It saw many things, was held by many people, and watched as the younger, fresher candles outlived their usefulness and melted away.

As the years came and went, the red candle grew old. Though it never shortened, it became dirty, scratched, and oily from the many hands and fingers it had touched. Like an elderly man, it became painful for it whenever it was moved, and it could feel the paraffin holding it together creak with age. The wick, however, never felt exhaustion nor the sting of time. One day, the candle asked the wick,

"Wick, why did you choose me to hold you? I am old and battered, and I have lived for so long. Please tell me why."

The wick replied simply, "It is because you were chosen."

"But why? I have never asked for this fate. I have never asked for anything."

"That is not so."

The candle was confused. "Why do you say this?"

"You, like all beings that man and earth create, are born with a single desire. Man opens his eyes and feels the harshness of the world, thus he inspires in himself the urge to live, and to prove that his life was worth the pain. A fish will spawn from the mother's egg, tiny and defenseless, and will feel nothing but fear; it must gather courage to fight for it's life, and if it is strong enough, will grow into an awesome shark, one who devours the weak. You, candle, what are you?"

The question took the red candle by surprise. "... I am a candle, of course."

"That is right. You cannot move like humans or animals, nor do you eat or reproduce. You exist only to hold me, is this not so?"

The candle did not say anything. It felt begrudged by the wick's words, and resented it. Finally, the candle replied,

"It is so."

"Are you angered by this?"

It hesitated. "... yes, I am."

"What is it, then, that you wish to do?"

"I wish... I wish to have a purpose. I wish to help. I wish to be more than a simple red candle."

The wick responded, "That is why I have chosen you. You must learn to prove yourself as a part of the universe; everything that exists must have this opportunity. You want to become something, now. A candle is of no use to anyone if it will not hold a flame."

It was then that the candle realized what it's purpose was. Throughout the many years it had lived, the candle had been held by cold and shivering hands in winter, had lit rooms during dark evenings, and had warmed all those who had touched it. It had achieved so much more than the younger candles before it, and the ones that came after. The story of the endless candle flame would be told to many people, and held by many families. The red candle felt glory and happiness.

"I understand now. I was created as an object to melt and fade away, and I desire to serve my purpose so that I may rise above my hardships. Thank you, wick, for choosing me."

"You are welcome, red candle. Do you wish, now, to melt and fade away? You have realized your purpose and achieved your potential, yet you are still aged. What is your decision?"

The red candle thought for a long, long time. Eventually, it came to an answer.

"I will melt... after winter has passed. I want to warm a few more hands before I die."

"Very well."

The days came slowly, but the candle felt at peace. Finally, when there was almost no more candle left to burn, the flame extinguished. Left with only a few trickles of wax and no more wick to burn, the red candle settled into a dream and passed on.

~Fin.

Raphael:
Spanking nuns! | More nuns and not molesting Rabi. | Stupid Axel and his stupid breasts. | Boggarts. | Noah support group? | angelfuck angelfuck it's awwwwright | Tentacle porn. | Post (semi-run): Michaelmas. | Axel's tophat.

Eugénie:
Axel and Saku. | Halloween maze. | Post: Bodyswitched with Quatre. | Can has mouse and Mokona. | Discussion with Peppo.

Ten-chan:
Anonymous confessions! 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Bubbles. | Post: S'mores. | Poking the emo kid.

Gale:
Boggarts. | Radu and Lancia. | Saying goodbye to The Doctor.

Delita:
There is nothing redeemable about this thread. | Bubbles. | Boggarts with Agrias. | Princess ping.

Vaan:
Something wicked this way comes. | ASHE!!11 | Am ttly serious pirate. | Getting myself couched. | Topped by basically everything ever. | Post: PILLOW FORT! Notable subthreads: Devit Penelo.

~*~Special thread~*~
The first and only time I will playercest with my whole team.

Raphael:
DO NOT WANT | Ruh roh raggy. | death knell: noun. 1 - an omen of death or destruction. Post: Possibly I may need a medic. | Oh, cry me a river. | Origami. | Adding insult to injury. | Yay! Psychopaths! | Dere-ing at Roxas. | Fortunes. | Meeting Esther. | Raped by crazy angel and Shigure. Also asdfgbfndjer9drut.

Eugénie:
Pizza and Nodame. | Serious poll. | Fujisaki the Disney princess. | A little night music.

Ten-chan:
Sera-chan~ | Ban and Ginji. | If the castle's a rockin... | Post: YOUR FAAAAaaace | Om nom nom and Zexy~.

Gale:
In journal: Dreams. | Being disturbingly domestic. | Vandalism. | Conflict resolution. | Decisions, decisions.

Delita:
Fustiluggs. | I choose... this healthy looking girl! | Tigers. | Home. | Drunken shinigami.

Vaan:
Intro thread! | Greedling. | Shounen retards get! and Penelo love me, love meeeeeeeeee. | Meeting Spitfire. | DOING MANLY THINGS | Post: Intro! Need mechanics plz.

Raphael:
Relationship problems? Me? | Happy birthday, Rabi. | V. illegal. | Post (semi-run, mostly I just tagged in a lot of places): Kittens and a bunny. | More tsunbunny. | My new bffl. | Saraaaaaaaaaa love meeeeeeeee | Bunny loev Pell. | The dweam wiffin a dweam...

Jizabel:
Drop post: You are impossible, delilah~ the princess of denial.

Eugénie:
Blast from the past. | Talking with Yuki. | ping ping ping | Post: Albert's birthday. | LISTEN TO MY SONG

Ten-chan:
Popsicles. | Breaking the first rule of fight club. | Love counselor. | De-aged Tsuyu-chan.

Gale:
Shan-ti, Shan-ti. | When an Awkward Situation Turns Into a Bonding Experience. and telling dirty lies about Heat. | I DO TOO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR | Dammit, Cielo.

Delita:
idk my bff square. | Visiting Alexandria. | sochivalrous iyaan | POST: Treading thin ice there, Delita. | Ryoutou is ttly smrt | Not crazy, I swear.

Raphael:
Helping Roxas. | Snarking with Petrellis. | Mistletoe! and mistletoe continuation. | Happy birthday, Hatori. | Reading. | Don't get raped, Rabi. | Can has Jasdevi. | Fuck, marry, kill. | Boredom. | Itty bitty Rabi. | Look Axel, it's a midget.

Jizabel:
Mistletoe! and mistletoe. And mistletoe continuation. | POST: Epic lulz. | Therapy with Oz. | Fuck, marry, and kill.

Eugénie:
Happy birthday, Fujisaki and talking to Tohma. | Pinged by rainbows. | Sparkle sparkle.

Ten-chan:
Ahh, politicians. Gotta love em. | In journal: molesting Tsuyu-chan. | Eggbaby! | Morning chats and insomniacs. | Totes great parents. | Let's bugging tengu. | o hi | Post: Fireworks!

Gale:
Interference. | Chatting with Argilla. | Mistletoe! and mistletoe continuation. | Tea. | Here's a dalek, there's a dalek. | And another little Dalek. | In Journal: Aftermath with The Doctor. | Body count. | OMG SERA and d'awww isn't Heat so cute. | Asserting our manliness.

Delita:
Meeting Toph again. | I am such a dickwad. | Intro post! Poetry and honor.

pie: WRITE
pie: write fluffy gen
Christi: but i am le tired
Christi: XD
pie: or sap
pie: or wafff
Christi: GIVE ME A PROMPT
pie: CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

( TEN-CHAN/TETSU, UNREPENTANT FLUFF. 678 words. )

Going to start organizing these things again.

Raphael:
Bow chika bow wow. | Sexual harassment angel. | Not a stalker, really. | S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E. | In Journal: Am really bad at this whole 'love' thing. | POST (w/Axel): Pity party! | Tsun tsun dere dere. | Lobster... thing. | Baaaaby trio. | Making damage and damage control. | Talk of forgiveness. | SHAAAAAAARKS and Roxas. | House call! | Has gained +1 Petrelli bitch.

Jizabel:
Dress-up! | POST: Embarrassing Eugénie. | Poking the sociopath. | A romantic date. | ZETTAI UNMEI MOKUSHIROKU | Story time with Elphaba! | POST: Drugging the community. | Making my husband verrrry unhappy.

Eugénie:
Lovely weather for rape and can has issuez. | POST: Being embarrassed by Dr. Allen. | Anonymous confessions. | Pillow fight! | Food fight! and father's day emo. | SLUMBER PARTYYYY | Creative writing.

Ten-chan:
Touching Watanuki and Devit and fuzzy MS and Shigure. | Poking the invalid and the spaztastic. | Mingling! | Blessings for the happy couple. | Socute. | Helping Oz.

Gale:
Staring at The Doctor's hooters. | Shouta + cats + cannibal = profit??? | I liek shouta and shouta's bitch. | De-aged Cielo. | Ball pit! and more Doctor. | Stay sober, Roland. | Can has psychotic hermaphrodite girlfriend.

canbedeceiving: You know, I've always wondered why D calls him Ten-chan.
canbedeceiving: What does Ten-chan mean?
cuisinealavore: Ten = 天
cuisinealavore: sky
canbedeceiving: ... kay. WHAT RELEVANCY DOES THAT HAVE.
cuisinealavore: ....
cuisinealavore: THE SKY
cuisinealavore: IS
cuisinealavore: ...EVERCHANGING
canbedeceiving: ... BLUE
cuisinealavore: ....
cuisinealavore: AND
cuisinealavore: ....ALSO
cuisinealavore: TENCHAN
cuisinealavore: IS...
canbedeceiving: .....
cuisinealavore: ....
cuisinealavore: HOLY
cuisinealavore: PRIEST THINGS
cuisinealavore: AND SEND THNGS
cuisinealavore: ...UP
cuisinealavore: TO THE SKY
cuisinealavore: .....
canbedeceiving: [CRACKING UP]
cuisinealavore: ALSO
cuisinealavore: THE SKY.
cuisinealavore: IS.
cuisinealavore: HOLY.
cuisinealavore: SO.
cuisinealavore: ....
cuisinealavore: IT IS ONE WITH THE GODS
cuisinealavore: ....beats me
canbedeceiving: s-stop making me laugh it's almost 4 am
cuisinealavore: ilu 8D

In conclusion, I love pie. <3

Go here, pick five quotes which best suit your character, etc. etc. I love doing this meme, can you tell.

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
--Herm Albright

"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words."
--Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."
--Frank Lloyd Wright

"The most difficult character in comedy is that of a fool, and he must be no simpleton who plays the part."
--Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote

"No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."
--Fran Lebowitz