>> Chinatsu belongs to @gemstoneleviathan and @stitchesandgears

- - - - -

The costume explained the pay.

Ravina stood in front of the changing-room mirror,  turned sideways and then turned back.

The Pavilion's interpretation of a shrine maiden had clearly been developed by someone with considerably more interest in aesthetics than historical accuracy.

White and pink, short skirt, detached sleeves, a fitted waist, Soft pink fox ears attached to a headband and behind her… Ravina turned, watching the fluffy pink tail sway behind her.

She reached back to check the attachment and gave a small snort. “Honestly, I half expected you to secure this with a plug.”

Chinatsu appeared behind her in the mirror, utterly deadpan. “If you would prefer, darling, that can be arranged.”

“No!” The answer came much too quickly.

Chinatsu’s ears twitched, before Ravina cleared her throat. “I mean—no. This is fine.”

“Of course.” Chinatsu replied, adjusting Ravina’s collar as the smaller girl stared at herself in the mirror.

It probably would stay in place better.

She immediately stopped that thought as Chinatsu’s eyes met hers in the reflection.

“…What?”

“Nothing at all, dear.” Somehow that was worse as Chinatsu’s looked the smaller girl over as she stepped closer and adjusted the fold of Ravina's collar with maternal precision.

“Too tight?”

“No.”

“Skirt comfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Shoes?”

Ravina shifted her feet. She had yet to switch to the shoes provided for the costume. “Fine.”

Chinatsu immediately looked down and Ravina regretted answering.

The kitsune's eyes narrowed slightly. “Those are not your work shoes.”

“No.”

“They are, however, the shoes you walked into Violet wearing.”

“…Yes.”

“Those poor things.”

“They're fine.”

Ravina looked at Chinatsu, somehow, despite being more then several inches shorter than Nostus, Chinatsu had reproduced exactly the same sensation of having said something foolish to her mother.

“They're fine,” Ravina repeated with less confidence.

“Mhm.” Chinatsu let it go.

For now, that was somehow worse as she adjusted one of Ravina's fake ears. “There.”

Ravina looked at herself again. The girl in the mirror looked like she had taken a wrong turn somewhere between a shrine and a costume party.

She liked it, and that was unfortunate because Chinatsu noticed.

“Cute, isn't it?”

Ravina touched one ear. “…Maybe.”

“Terrible liar.”

- - - - -

The first shift was easier than Ravina expected, for the most part. The Pavilion's early evening crowd was tame.

Travellers, local couples, a group of older women celebrating somebody's birthday, Two salarymen quietly drinking sake in a corner, a pair of young trainers who became so flustered when Ravina knelt beside their table to take an order that she had to ask twice.

The work itself was straightforward. Carry drinks, remember table numbers, smile, talk when guests want to have a conversation, leave when they don't. 

Chinatsu corrected her once for holding a sake bottle incorrectly and twice for forgetting the phrasing used when presenting one of the Pavilion's elaborate desserts.

Nobody yelled, nobody grabbed her, nobody propositioned her beyond one guest asking with obvious embarrassment whether temporary attendants ever accepted private bookings.

Ravina gave the answer Chinatsu had taught her. “Temporary maiden.”

The man immediately nodded. “Ah. Sorry.”

And that was that, apparently the phrase actually worked.

Somewhere near nine, Ravina caught sight of Chinatsu crossing the lounge with her pipe in one hand and a cup in the other. A handsome middle-aged traveller walking beside her said something Ravina couldn't hear. Chinatsu laughed, then touched his arm and they disappeared behind a screen leading deeper into the Pavilion.

Ravina looked toward the service counter and the senior attendant there noticed her questioning look “Owner's prerogative.”

Ravina blinked. “Oh?”

“Ninetales is covering.”

Ravina looked toward the doorway, and spotted Ninetales sitting there, watching everything.

“…You're serious?”

The attendant stared at her. “Of course.”

Ninetales' tails moved once and Ravina decided not to question the organisational structure of the Mist Pavilion.

- - - - -

Her feet hurt by closing, but not badly. Just enough that she noticed the moment she stopped moving.

Ravina leaned against the staff counter and flexed one ankle while Chinatsu had returned sometime earlier, looking exactly as immaculate as when she had left.

Now she appeared beside Ravina with supernatural timing. “Shoes.”

Ravina looked down, she had swapped back to her normal shoes now that her shift was at an end, but she still wore most of the costume, sans her fake ears. 

“What about them?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow what?”

“We inspect those atrocities.”

“They're not atrocities.”

Chinatsu drew from her pipe. “Darling.”

Ravina sighed. “Fine.”

“Good girl.”

Ravina's ears warmed and Chinatsu smiled like she had won something.

“I hate how that seems to work...”

“I have grandchildren older than some buildings. I have had practice.”

Ravina's head snapped around. “How old…”

Chinatsu's smile became radiant and Ravina stopped. “…Never mind.”

“Excellent manners.”

One day, One day she was going to find out.

- - - - -

The Pokémon Center's short-term care wing was quieter when Ravina returned. Cinder was awake, of course he was.

He sat beside the gate leading out of the recreation room, watching every person who passed, the moment he saw Ravina, he was on his feet and Ravina barely managed to crouch before he collided with her.

“Oof.”

Cinder climbed immediately into her arms. “Yes, hello.”

He sniffed her collar, then the fake ears were still tucked into her bag. then her and then the bag again.

Ravina scratched his back. “I had to wear fox ears.”

Cinder pulled away enough to stare at her. “Don't.”

His mouth opened.

“No….”

And a sound suspiciously close to laughter escaped him.

Ravina narrowed her eyes. “You would have looked adorable too.”

Cinder stopped. “Thought so.”

Owlbert was delivered considerably more calmly as the attendant handed over a small report card and Ravina read it.

Meal consumed: 100%.

Rest period: 47 minutes.

Enrichment: observation perch preferred.

Notes: repeatedly vocalised at exact hour intervals.

Ravina looked at Owlbert. “You terrorised them with time.”

Owlbert hooted and the attendant laughed. “He was actually very well behaved.”

“Don't encourage him.”

- - - - -

Outside, Violet had gone quiet. Lanterns glowed beneath the eaves. The streets were thinner now, the day's traffic reduced to restaurant patrons, late workers and the occasional trainer returning toward the Center.

Ravina carried Cinder for the first few blocks. He was warm against her, Heavier too, Definitely heavier. Owlbert flew silently overhead from roof to roof. 

When they reached an intersection, Ravina stopped, Sprout Tower stood ahead of them. At night it looked entirely different, the windows glowed faintly gold and its upper levels disappeared into darkness and somewhere inside, the enormous central pillar groaned.

Cinder lifted his head and Ravina looked at him, then at the Tower.

“Not tonight.”

Cinder chirped.

“Tomorrow.”

Owlbert landed on a nearby sign as he also stared toward the Tower.

Ravina adjusted Cinder in her arms. She had work now, a room. enough money coming in that she didn't need to panic about every meal. a Gym challenge waiting whenever she decided she was ready. And between her and it stood an old wooden tower full of people whose entire job seemed to be telling inexperienced trainers what they were doing wrong.

Ravina smiled. “Sounds fun.”

Cinder made a doubtful noise. “Oh, come on.”

She started walking again. “One tower.”

Then she glanced up toward its highest illuminated window. “One Gym.”

That was still the agreement. But for some reason, it sounded a little less convincing every time she said it.