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Michiko first spots it when some of the survivors and hunters gather around in the courtyard to just talk and spend time. Mary had been spent from all her matches of the day so the former queen was still resting up in her room.
Michiko was having a pleasant chat with Emily Dyer when she saw a group of hunters gathered around something, cooing and exclaiming in wonder. Curious, the Geisha had approached closer to make out what it was.
“What is happening?” She asked the person nearest to her, who happened to be the Ripper.
“It seems the survivors have a new series of pets. Specifically, those that resemble miniature versions of hunters.”
Now Michiko's interest was perked up. As politely as she could, she pushed her way through the crowd and found what everyone was fawning over.
Her heart melted .
There was a mini Mary!
It was funny how the miniature version of her lover was the first one she spotted. And the little one was so utterly adorable too. With her tiny glass shard and her tiny mirror, with her tiny hands fixing her tiny locks of hair. Michiko wanted to grab her and kiss her all over. But she knew she shouldn't. This was a survivor pet so she surely already belonged to someone. Oh but she was so adorable. How unfair that she couldn't have a mini Mary of her own!
The second pet she spotted, ironically, happened to be her own self, playing around with her mini fan and mimicking Michiko's dance as well. Michiko was very impressed, her moves were quite accurate. She watched as the pet took a deep bow after its performance ended. It was very fascinating.
There was also a mini Yidhra, mini Hastur, mini Joseph, mini Bane, mini Robbie and others! They were all too adorable, too much for one's heart. The hunters were equal parts delighted at seeing cute miniature versions of themselves but also disappointed that they themselves could not have them. Moreover they couldn't see them in matches either!
Michiko took another look at Mini Mary who now seemed to be watching her. The little one titled its head curiously at Michiko, and unable to help herself, Michiko tilted her head to the side with it too. The pet was delighted. It giggled and approached Michiko, stopping to grace her with a bow. Michiko couldn’t take it. It was simply too adorable. She bent down and patted mini Mary on her head, “Who do you belong to, little one?”
“She’s mine, well to be specific, she was assigned to me.” She heard a voice say and looked up to see the perfumer standing in front of her, watching the pet with an amused look, “She doesn’t get along with people this easily though. I suspect she finds you special.”
“Oh my,” Michiko said with a giggle as she toyed with Mini Mary’s hair, “How adorable.” She cooed.
She didn’t think it was possible but the pet blushed and turned away sheepishly on hearing her. Michiko blinked and looked at Vera, “She understands me?”
Vera bent down to take a closer look at the pet as well, “Seems like it. I don’t talk much to her. Just watching her play around in her own world is fun.”
“I suppose each gets only one of them?” Michiko asked as she let the little doll grab her finger and nuzzle against her hand.
Vera nodded, “We just get randomly assigned to be their caretaker which is fair, I think, Miss Nightingale only gives them to those she knows will look after them well.”
The geisha watched as the doll made a grabby hands motion at her. Vera chuckled, “I think she wants you to pick her up.”
“Oh,” Michiko was very flattered. Slowly, she put out both her hands and let Mini Mary climb onto her palms. She brought the little one close to her face to have a better look when to her surprise, the doll took a step forward and kissed her on her nose.
Thud.
“Miss Michiko?!” Vera was alarmed as she hurried to Michiko’s side. The geisha had just fallen backward suddenly and Vera was half worried she might have passed out.
“Too much….” Michiko murmured.
“Huh?” Vera peered down at the woman lying on her back.
“This is too much for my heart to handle.” Michiko murmured as she felt Mini Mary worriedly fussing over her with her tiny hands.
*****
The very same day, at night, Mary had the fortune of witnessing these little creatures in the common room where both survivors and hunters gathered to spend time.
It started off as such. Mary had walked into the common room, yawning after her long nap when she heard Margaretha speaking to Tracy,
“Tracy, have you seen my Michiko? She was just around here a moment ago.”
Mary was taken aback, she knew Margaretha and Michiko were good friends given their shared love of dancing but why was the female dancer referring to Michiko as hers ?
“Excusez-moi, mademoiselle Zelle, what do you mean by yours? That is my Michiko you are talking about.” Mary had said with arms crossed on her chest. Margaretha looked at her with confusion before it morphed into realization and then amusement. Tracy looked just as entertained too, “Miss Mary, don’t you know?” The young mechanic giggled.
Mary blinked, “Don’t know what?” She asked.
“Oh here she is. Look, I’ll show you.” The female dancer giggled as she reached behind Mary to pick something up and hold it up to the bloody queen.
It took Mary a moment to register what she was looking at. She reached up to rub her eyes and look at it again. It was……Michiko….more specifically, a doll that looked just like her, which was very much sentient and blinking back at Mary.
“This is….” Mary was captivated, this little one that looked just like her darling Michiko….how cute!!!
“A new survivor pet,” Tracy helpfully survived, “Some of us were assigned with new pets that are a miniature version of the hunters. This is Mini Michiko.”
“Oh,” Mary’s voice dropped as she reached out to hold her. Margaretha did not seem to mind, easily handing off her Mini Michiko to Mary.
“...She,” Mary sniffled, admiring the little doll now resting in the palm of her hands, “She is perfect!” She declared as she carefully sat on a nearby armchair while still admiring Mini Michiko.
The little one was covering her face with her fan, peeking over the edge of it to look at Mary every now and then, it reminded her so much of her own Michiko. Mary sniffled again, “Survivor pet, you say?” She asked sadly. Oh how she would love to have a mini Michiko of her own, she would surely spoil her rotten everyday.
Tracy nodded, “You won’t be able to see them in matches, sadly.”
“In all honesty, if I could, I would probably end up wasting the whole match just admiring her and spoiling her.” Mary admitted.
Tracy laughed, “Easy win for us- oh here’s Vera. Vera! Quick, bring your little one over here!”
The perfumer approached the mechanic and spotted the bloody queen sitting nearby with a mini geisha on her lap. Understanding why Tracy had called her over, Vera stepped to the side to let Mary have a better view of the pet that had been following her.
“Oh mon dieu!” Mary exclaimed on noticing the mini bloody queen, “That is me, yes?”
Vera nodded, “Very much so. Look, she even has a mini mirror.”
Mary could barely contain her excitement, “Come over here, little one.” She called out.
But the doll spared her a glance from head to toe and simply turned her head away, crossing her arms on her chest. Mary was offended, “Why, this little one has got quite the attitude!” she remarked unhappily.
Vera shrugged, “She rarely gets along with people at first glance. It takes her time to warm up to others.”
Mary pouted, “So much sass in such a tiny body! No matter, I will stay here and shower all my love on dear Mini Michiko. She is much more adorable and very appreciative of me too.” Saying so, Mary turned her attention back to the doll on her lap and continued to pat and coo over her. The little one was enjoying her attention, giggling softly and bowing at Mary.
The mini bloody queen however, seemed very much unsatisfied and offended by this gesture. With a swift motion, she jumped up onto Mary’s lap and forcefully pushed the bigger bloody queen’s hand away from Mini Michiko and wrapped her arms around the mini geisha in a possessive, but incredibly adorable, side hug.
Mary was speechless. The audacity!
Tracy, Vera and Margaretha however, found the spectacle very amusing. They watched with the enthusiasm of an audience watching a performance as Mini Mary puffed out her little doll cheeks and stopped Mary from touching Mini Michiko again, who seemed very much confused by the whole situation.
Mary glared at her miniature self, who glared back at her with the same intensity.
“This is more entertaining than cinema,” Tracy remarked as she watched the two locked in an intense glaring competition.
“Who do you think will give in first?” Vera asked without taking her eyes off the scenario in front of her.
“Neither I believe,” Margaeratha mused, “They’re both quite stubborn.”
Fortunately, but disappointingly for the three survivors, the spectacle came to an end when a pair of arms wrapped around Mary behind her and Michiko’s soft voice sounded,
“Did you have a good rest, Mary?”
Mary immediately looked up to meet her lover’s eyes, “Michiko darling!” She exclaimed happily, “Indeed I did. I feel all better and refreshed now.”
Michiko nodded with a smile. Her eyes drifted to the little dolls on Mary’s lap and she laughed, “I see you have encountered them too. They are quite adorable, aren’t they?”
Mary huffed, “Indeed they are, but this little one that is supposed to be mini me is so full of herself. She refused my extension of friendship, can you believe that? How rude!”
“Oh?” Michiko looked at the dolls again. Mini Mary was kissing the back of Mini Michiko’s hand in a very formal and loving show, which made the other doll blush and cover her face with a fan, which in turn made Michiko blush and resist the urge to cover her face with her fan.
She chuckled, “Mini Mary was very nice to me,” She said as she continued to watch the two dolls be lovey-dovey with each other.
“Well of course, darling. Who could ever not be. You are the sweetest, loveliest person ever,” Mary said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Michiko giggled, “She even gave me a little kiss.”
“She WHAT?!”
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