"Yeah..."

Ava squeezes Sable softly, then pops up from bed with a grin. "I'm going to go take a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, wanna come?"

Sable bounces up with a grin just as wide, stretching. "Hell yes," she agrees, following Ava.

Ava goes into the master bathroom and flicks on the lights. 

A familiar-looking woman looks back through the glass. 

Golden joy fills her up and brings a broad smile to her lips. It's not how she looks in her head, but as a body for Earth... It looks wonderful. 

No, that's not quite right —

She looks wonderful. 

She feels something go click, deep inaide her, an old longing only ever splutteringly fulfilled. 

She feels beautiful. 

"Wow..."

Sable is captivated by what she sees in the mirror. The changes to her face are all subtle, but together they make her look unmistakably feminine. There's no shadow of stubborn facial hair, her adam's apple is smaller, her jaw is different, it's all there. She just stares and stares, taking it in.

"Whoa," she breathes.

She's pretty.

Ava touches her lips. 

"... wow," she says again, quieter. "... This is going to change a lot, isn't it?"

She nods, a bit stunned. "We... just unarguably pass now. Voice, face, figure, without question. So many things are going to subtly change. Or radically. Who knows."

She runs her fingertips along her cheek.

"A little scary, but also SO COOL HOLY SHIT." Ava breaks out into giggles and hugs her Sable.

Sable twists in place and turns the hug into a catch-and-twirl, giggling happily.

Ava bounces back down onto her feet and stoops slightly to kiss Sable. "Yeah," she says. "I might still get some looks because of my height, but..." She shakes her head. "I couldn't have asked for better."

"I think it is time to spend a little of the fun budget. I know things are tight, but if we can't get takeout about this, what can we get takeout for?"

"Agreed." She grins. "D'you feel like Indian or sushi tonight?"

"Indian, I think. You know the usual order, right?"

"Lamb tandoori, chicken curry, naan, alu ghobi, samosas? You go start the rice while I call it in?"

"Sounds good to me! Let me go get some clothes on and I'll get the rice."

Dinner is delicious, and the girls end up with an extra order of samosas in their delivery, for free.

That sets the tone for the days to come. Sable gets compliments on doing better on girlvoice in a team meeting, and the users she supports stop misgendering her altogether. She gets more interesting callers, as well, and has a better time on her shifts overall.

Ava feels confident enough in her new body to go out clothes shopping in person, and on their impromptu thrifting trip they manage to snag a lovely blouse that goes excellently with her favourite purple skirt. On the way back home they stop in at the grocery store deli for lunch and end up with a four-pack of her favorite local root beer that happens to be on sale for half off.

It's not all perfect. The girls get catcalled more often, and randomly hit on in stores sometimes — feels weird to get gender euphoria from it, but it's validating in a way.

... And all the extra sex is definitely helping, too. With both her and the Pirates' flaky libidios well on the mend and a whole new body to learn, she finds herself in the Pirates' arms each night more often than not. 

And it certainly didn't hurt that a new queer-friendly sex shop's opened up, only a ten minute bus ride away.