"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't ask, what pronouns should I be using for you? From the pronouns you've used for your other shards I'm assuming she but I should really check."

"She/her all around, yeah." Sable nods. "What's transition care like here?"

"Excellent. Fifty-three point one percent of all individuals born with penises go on to undergo some form of elective feminizing care on Asteron, whether that's hormonal or includes surgeries of some form. I'm one of them."

"Oh wow. That sounds great. How do we sign up? And what options are there for making one's appearance more variable, to accommodate different shard appearances?"

"Hair dye and temporary tattoos, particularly henna, are popular, as well as of course variations in jewellery and clothing. Fracture bracelets in many designs are available, and at the higher end there's electronic fabrics that are capable of changing colors at the push of a button in the sleeve or at the hem. Zip-apart and quick-change fashions are also in style occasionally, though I don't particularly care for them myself."

Sable frowns. "Got any fancy dyes that can handle hair this black without bleaching to the point of fray first? Or bleaches that can retain some degree of softness and curl to the hair? And quickly changeable dyes? Really I should be asking what's the time-scale on the dye and tattoos."

"You would likely not believe some of the things our aestheticians can do. There's a lot to express, after all - pleat, polycule dynamic, one's keeper or kept if one has one, one's shards — truly a wealth of information to convey. We can go to an aesthetician as part of your orientation and we should be able to get together suitable styles for you all."

She hums and nods. "Okay. Lot to figure out." She follows Star further, paying attention to their surroundings on the way.

The hallways are fairly ordinary ones, though still lit by fairy-light LEDs at the top corners of the walls. Occasionally there are more metal doors, though Star passes them by. 

"Alright, just in here -" Star gestures through an open arch doorway, and Sable is ushered into a small courtyard garden, with a photo station set up against the wall. The plants are fern-heavy, and look well-tended and natural; there are a few other people sitting around in two and threes speaking with others in wicker chairs amid the ferns and bushes. 

"This is the reception area for new arrivals - just sit in the chair in the photo station and I'll take your photo, and then we can wait in the garden while we wait for the courier to come with your ID. Look straight ahead, glasses off, I know it's troublesome but it's for identification of the body and not the person - a secondary identification card with all your facets represented will take more time, and is entirely optional if you'd rather skip the hassle." 

She stretches and steps over to the camera. "Whenever you're ready." 

"Gonna wanna replace this photo when we make any transition progress at all. Hate looking like this. But let's do it."

She stands in front of the camera, takes off her glasses, and manages a slightly warmer than neutral expression. 

She takes the photo. Breaks her heart to do it, but needs must. Better than her charge going undocumented into the wide wide world. 

A moment's review, and then - 

"All done. It'll get here soon. Thank you, I know it hurts, I've been there." 

"Now then, the system will churn away in the background and we'll get to spend some time together while it does. You've already been subject to decontam on the way in, so now it's just a matter of getting you out there into the wide wide world." 

She goes over to a small set of lockers by the photo station, provides a six-digit code and her thumbprint, and returns with a wallet for Sable. "The identification cards will come in later, but here is a state account card, a state medical card, a temporary ID with your system name on it that was printed while we were on the way over, and some cash. You're registered in the system already, it's all automated, and are just waiting for the physical card now, which is only important for identification purposes if you're involved in an accident or similar. We went through your pack while you were out and have already located the appropriate equivalent medications for the ones you brought, if there wasn't anything more you forgot to bring. You'll want to schedule an appointment with an erogenist to discuss potentially getting on Cycloterine, likely, judging by the state of your endocrine system from thumbstick testing, but that can wait, you're an adult and a citizen and get to make your own decisions. Feminizing surgeries are covered by state healthcare so you may want to arrange for some of those as well."

"There are government-provided apartments in the complex that you can move into immediately, and you can move out as soon as you find a place that'll rent to you. You'll likely want to look into finding an extended clan to marry into, but that's kind of personal so I'm not going to push on that for the moment. For now, I can recommend some of the local attractions and you can tell me what feels like your speed? I'm not your minder, I'm your local guide, so if you want to dive right in and leave me behind that's alright too." 

Sable blinks for a moment, taking all that in as she accepts the wallet. "I don't mind doing the system member identification, that'll honestly feel better than this photo did. Some info on where and how to schedule appointments with the erogenist, aesthetician, transition care people, and so on would be helpful. There's a lot stuff y'all offer here, as far as actually becoming who we want to be, and I'd appreciate some guidance on figuring out how to get started with it all."

She looks down at her hands, frowning. "Couldn't really feel comfortable checking out local attractions looking like this," she mumbles.

"I completely understand. Aesthetician first, then, so we can get you styled for the member IDs, and then we can go on from there." 

She beckons. "This way and I'll get you booked in." 

She nods, puts her glasses back on, and follows Star.

A short jaunt down a hallway, and - 

They turn a corner into a little slice of madness.

It looks a bit like a high-quality costume shop crossed with a kinkwear store and a hair salon. There are whole sections for wigs, false breasts, elaborate masquerade masks, pierced and patterned animal ears, and apparel ranging from long sweeping maxi skirts to enveloping leather coats to halter tops to shapeless negligees. Elaborate boots sit in stacks, and a large section of hair products and dyes sits next to a salon chair and a whole vanity full of makeup. 

Behind the salon chair stands a woman who looks like she stepped right out of a baroque painting, bar some concessions to modern styles in her dress. She looks every inch as if she were nobility, down to the silvery tiara that rests across her forehead. 

"Ah, welcome! My Songbird, and another new arrival?" 

"Good to see you, Aria. This is Sable of the Inkstained Pirates, and she'd like to retain your services for her government facet ID." 

"A noble task. Alright, Sable, won't you come sit in my chair? And we can discuss your options." 

Sable looks around at the selection in wonder, taking it all in. "Wow," she breathes, slowly stepping closer to the chair. Finally she looks up at Aria. "Um. Hi. Yes, Let's."

She sits.

"There are a lot of options."