Information


Chichi has a minion!

Marvin the Vetan Turtle




Chichi
Legacy Name: Chichi


The Custom Nostalgic Lain
Owner: Faber

Age: 4 years, 10 months, 1 week

Born: May 20th, 2019

Adopted: 4 years, 9 months, 3 days ago

Adopted: June 25th, 2019

Statistics


  • Level: 4
     
  • Strength: 13
     
  • Defense: 10
     
  • Speed: 10
     
  • Health: 10
     
  • HP: 10/10
     
  • Intelligence: 62
     
  • Books Read: 56
  • Food Eaten: 0
  • Job: Candy Maker


Chichi woke in her bed just as the sun was peeking through the gaps in the silk curtains. She had been up late working the night before, entertaining the guests at the House of Songbirds until they had all either slipped off to spend the night with one of the girls there, or been escorted out the front door by the foreman Bill when they got too drunk or ran out of coin. She had taken a few of them to her bed too, though thankfully they had wives to return to before it got too late. She stretched her limbs out from under the bed sheet, grateful to be alone this morning.

The house was quiet during the morning. Better to nurse hangovers for those who had a bit too much the night before. Also that was when the house's owner and bawd, Madame Annabella, did the books and counted coin, and she liked quiet when she did so. Sometimes, if it had been an especially profitable night, and she was in a particularly good mood, she would hum softly to herself. Chichi's room was near enough to Annabella's office that she could hear it through the wall, but there was no humming this morning.

Chichi got up, did her necessaries, and got dressed in a light lavender dress for going about town. She wanted to get some treats from the old baker who reminded her of her papi back home, and maybe catch the eye of the musician who taught students violin at the school nearby. The musician fancied her, and, if she was being honest with herself, she fancied him. Every time he saw her he would blush and look away with precious modesty. It was a personal goal of hers to flirt with him from a distance until he gathered the courage to speak to her, but it had been months and so far he could do no more than nod his head awkwardly. It was endearing in its sincerity.

She had just grabbed her parasol to head out when there was a soft knock on the door. "Yes?" she said, making her way to the door to listen for whoever was on the other side.

"It's me, miss. Madame wants to see you," the young servant girl, Giselle, spoke through the door's keyhole.

"Tell her I'll be right there," Chichi replied. Drat. She wondered what Annabella needed now. She didn't usually call girls to her office unless something was amiss.

Chichi leaned the parasol back on its stand and checked herself in the mirror. She was always careful to only look her best when anyone saw her. Appearances in this profession were everything.

Once she was sure her makeup was just so, and her dress ruffles fluffed, she headed to the next door down in the hallway and knocked lightly two raps.

"Come in," Annabella said from the other side. Madame Annabella was seated at her desk, a book for numbers and a small coin purse set atop it. Standing beside one of the chairs arranged in front of Annabella's desk was a girl Chichi did not know, wearing a day dress much less fancy than Chichi's own. "This is Miss Priss, the newest girl to join the House of Songbirds. Take her shopping, will you? Buy her a proper day dress, and some evening wear. Nothing she has is suitable."

The girl Annabella had called Priss looked down with a flush of shame on her cheeks, but her lips pressed together in determination not to say anything. Good, Chichi thought, talking back when someone says something bad about you is a good way to get smacked. That was a lessen Chichi had learned young and often.

Annabella held out the coin purse to Chichi. "Anything this doesn't cover, you may put on my tab, but be mindful. I always get receipts."

"Yes, Madame," Chichi replied, taking the purse and slipping it into her bosom for safe keeping.

"That will be all," Annabella said dismissively. Chichi and Priss both curtsied and left the office.

"I'll grab my parasol," Chichi said to Priss once the door to Annabella's office was shut behind them, "Do you have one?"

"No, I don't," Priss replied. Her voice had a hint of creole accent.

"We'll get you one first, then, Madame doesn't like her girls to get tanned in the sun." Chichi paused by her room to grab her parasol and locked her room with a key. She was proud of that key, many of the girls weren't allowed to lock their rooms, but Chichi was.

They headed out into the morning New Orleans sun. The air had that morning coolness to it, but the sun was already hot on their skin. Chichi put her parasol up and did her best to shade the both of them as they walked.

"Mister Andrews sells parasols. He may also have the sort of day dress you're after. I got this one at his shop, special order," Chichi explained as she guided them up the road.

"Do you make good money at the house?" Priss asked.

"If you're pretty and flirt with the customers, yes," Chichi replied, glancing sideways at Priss. "You also need to be able to charm them in other ways. Make them know you're worth the coin."

Priss puffed her chest out, letting her cleavage on display with pride. "That won't be a problem," she said.

"You also need to stay on Madame's good side. Though I think she's already taken a shine to you. This coin purse is a little heavier than the last one. Priss, was it?"

A look Chichi couldn't read came across Priss's face. "It's Sarah, actually. But Madame insisted that my new name be Miss Priss."

Chichi nodded knowingly. "I was born Chicory, but now I'm Chichi. You have to trust Madame to know best. Girls would kill to be in our position, you know. The House of Songbirds is the most profitable house on Bourbon Street."

Priss nodded. "I am grateful. The first time I tried to get in Bill wouldn't let me past, and the second time he just laughed at me, but Madame heard him laughing and gave me a chance anyway."

Chichi laughed at that. "What? Bill laughed? No wonder Madame let you in, I've never even seen that man smile."

Priss grinned. "He did! Nearly fell off the stoop he was laughing so hard. Guess I was a sight to see. I was going for classy, but I must have missed the mark by so much he found it hysterical."

"Well, whatever you did, it made an impression. That's important. Keep doing that and you'll go far."

"Like you?" Priss asked, looking at her.

Chichi smiled and shrugged modestly. "I suppose so!"

Arm in arm, they walked into the first store, close as any school girls to do their shopping. Today was going to be even better than Chichi thought it.

---

overlay by CORE, profile/story by Faber, background from pexels.

Pet Treasure


Polished Crystal Bead

Mint Chocolate Chicken

Couatl Feather

Mint Lace-Accented Nightdress

Spool of Turquoise Thread

Blue Ballet Slippers

Tin of Peppermint Candies

Old Coins

Berry Minty Po

Moonstruck Mint Snack Mix

Sugar Coated Mint Star

Jeweled Polishing Brush

Moxie Mints

Angelica

Swirly Mint Umbrella

Minty Vintage Antlephore Plushie

Mint Wrapped Kitten Doll

Mint Divinity

Extravagant Borrowed Vase

Dried Mint

Toxic Love Potion

Green Tricolor Shoes

Pet Friends