They follow the attendant, who first shows them to a rack of plain stud earrings and explains that they need to use their own instead of something the client brings in for sanitary purposes, and she'll need to keep them in for a couple months before she can change them out. There are a number of options, from simple titanium studs to more expensive ones with gems in. Rinku looks over the selection and hums. The basic ones are a lot cheaper, but she can put enchantments on a jewel, and some are more expensive than others...]
So I gotta pick one of these, huh... What do you think, Neechan?
[Rinku points out a set on the higher end, star sapphire studs that would look more at home with Evangeline. But maybe, like the fish, that's the point.]
[Rinku smiles innocently, an entire sparkle aura surrounding her. She nods and selects those ones, getting them added to her bill -- hey, she's got the money.
Now it's just to go to the chair. Rinku sits down, gently tugging Evangeline along with her and sitting down to listen to the explanation and go through the consent form.]
I guess it probably can't hurt that much, huh?
[The attendant nods and marks Rinku's lobes. Rinku looks over to Evangeline and takes a deep breath.]
[The attendant hastily reminds her to please not Happy Around in the chair when she's about to get stabbed with needles. Rinku freezes and sheepishly complies.
The actual process goes fairly quickly from there. Just checking the placement in the mirror, sterilizing, and then a few seconds of pain where Rinku squeezes her sister's hand as the needle goes in each lobe. The earrings go in right after the needle comes out, and the attendant wipes off the area again and walks her through the aftercare pamphlet.
Rinku thanks them, gets up, and lets go of Evangeline enough to go up to the front and pay. Taking the little bag with pamphlet and cleaning solution in one hand, she hugs Evangeline tightly and rubs her face on her.]
I think all the stuff I told you about. I was worrying since... basically August. But I think things are a lot better, and now even if there's still problems, I'm okay.
[Even if she's still not as strong as others, Rinku can hold on. A lot of things have been plaguing her. Trying to prove herself, being treated like she's still too weak. The mind control she couldn't deflect. The blood and mess and pain of the Faemoose trial, worse than she'd ever seen, knowing she would've died being tossed by those things without the Nine Lives.
"So, how powerful do you want to be?"
"Maybe that's not the right question."
Evangeline. Her precious sister whom she doesn't want to lose. Who wanted desperately to stay, went to find a way to make it happen, and came back agreeing to leave. But...
"But I promise, it's not because I don't love you, or because I don't want to be with you anymore."
She's still here. And everyone's still trying for her sake.
"I'll try my best, so that you don't have to worry."
And all the other problems, Rinku's going to get through.
"I'll keep changing here the way I have been, and I'll always keep getting better than I am now."]
[Rinku... well, she doesn't shift her ears, they're still sore and going to need a couple months to heal. So it's just the ossicones and tail that come out, and she nudges into the head scritches.]
You're the best, Neechan. [Her eyes water, and she smiles brightly.] I'm gonna do everything I can.
Even in a nice world, there are probably still going to be some jobs people don't like but someone has to do anyway, right? Like, I don't know anybody who's emotionally fulfilled by working at a fast food place.
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