*The door to the shop is pushed open by a new faceless humanoid in fashionable attire, trailing behind her being a familiar heartsona, both stopping and petting Poff and Honey in greetings* Hello again! Sorry to bother the shop again but my sister- *Dotchi gestures to the other heartsona with sparkles* -is here for a Cherry Coral! She's absolutely captivated by them and when I asked her what bitty she wanted for her first one, she immediately said a Cherry Coral to love and spoil!
*Honey and Poff wiggle happily, enjoying the pets. The two skelepuppers are always happy to see a familiar face. They dash off, racing to see who can fetch Miss Vex for you the fastest. It’s a tie, since of neither of them really wants the other to lose. Vex greets you warmly and leads you to the shop’s Cherry Coral, warning you that it may take some convincing to get him to agree to an adoption.
*You and your sister can only see a pair of nervous red eyelights glowing from the blanket bundle nest. You talk to the hiding Cherry Coral in soft tones, trying to coax him out, but he thinks this can’t be genuine. He starts to come out, then zips back into his nest. He does this several times, but you and your sister don’t leave. The Cherry Coral starts to wonder if perhaps you might actually... want... to meet him? He’s not sure why... but... he edges out of the nest and gets a little bit closer... and a little bit closer...
*You and your sister are patient with him. You switch from gentle reassurances to some praise. He blushes, but it seems that he doesn’t believe such words to be true. Once again he darts away and hides, but it takes him less time to re-emerge now. Small steps are being made! He’s suspicious, but his desire for that precious love and attention is strong. He sneaks in, rubs the top of his skull against your hand, then retreats to a safe distance to watch your reaction. You aren’t disgusted... you actually seem pleased?
*The Cherry Coral repeats the maneuver a few more times. You don’t try to harm him or move away. Finally he stops fleeing and allows you to ever-so-lightly pet him as long as you aren’t making eye contact or focusing too hard on him. Eventually, you let the conversation move to the topic of adoption. Once again the Coral flip-flops, crossing his arms and yelling no then peering at you from the corner of his sockets with a “please?’ written clearly all over his blushing face.
*Your sister carefully picks him up. He allows it, but he’s trembling a bit. He’s so scared to trust that you might actually adopt him, but he wants it so badly. Every time he says no, you and your sister carry him back to his nest. Each time he changes his mind, you carry him towards the front desk, getting a little bit closer each time. The poor Cherry Coral is shaking and clinging as the paperwork slides across the desk. He marvels at it as your sister fills it out. She... she did it...! She actually... did it! His little mouth hangs open in shock, but his shaking subsides. As you both leave the shop, he is tucked securely against your sister’s body, hiding from everyone except her.
(Artwork by redkammy)














