Page 48 of The Toymaker
The sharp burning pain dulled after a few seconds, and it still hurt once the needle was through. Trig released his nipple and turned the needle.
“Not your thing?”
“No,” Kit said as Riju gripped his shoulder a little harder.
“I figured.” Trig kept turning the needle, and he pushed it in a little more. “Riju, get one of the bars. Dry it off. We have to be quick with this part.”
When he started pulling on the sharp end of the pin, Kit’s eyes watered a little bit at the sting. As soon as the dull end of the pin disappeared, Riju inserted the end of the silver bar, and he gently pushed it in to replace the pin once it was completely out.
“That one’s done,” said Trig. “See? It’s not the worst.”
Kit was tempted to rub his pained nipple and barely stopped himself. It wouldn't help. “I don’t think I want to get myself pierced later on.”
“If you can find a piercer with the ability to make parts numb too, it’d be a lot easier,” said Trig. “I don’t know of anyone around here who can do that.”
Once the process was repeated on Kit’s other nipple, Trig put the little magnetic balls on the end of the bar and cleaned each side with a rag dipped in vodka. The ends of the piercing were quite small and wouldn’t snag if Kit rolled around in his sleep. He thought they appeared okay, except his nipples were red andirritated which wasn’t a good look. The balm rubbed on them helped.
Trig pointed at the bottle of vodka. “I’ll put that in the hall privy, and you have to clean them every morning and night. Afterward, put on the balm. If you need more during the day, use it. When you clean them, turn the bars, okay? That’s your responsibility.”
“I will.”
“Obviously, we’ll keep an eye on you, but if they start hurting worse, or you notice any pus when you’re cleaning them, tell me right away,” said Trig. “The balm should help them heal in about a week since it's technically a very small wound.”
“Why can’t we just take him to a healer tomorrow and get it over with?” asked Riju.
Why hadn’t Kit thought of that either? It was the simplest and most logical course of action.
“Because this also teaches him responsibility and to take care of himself. It's a small task he can do on his own, and sometimes, responsibility also pleases a Master.”
Riju stared at him.
“I gave you small tasks to help you learn to care for yourself,” said Trig. “Like brushing your hair every day. Now you do it without being reminded.”
“Those were different, and those tasks also didn’t involve holes in my body.”
“Riju, just stop. He’s fine.”
Kit figured he’d go to his room once everything was cleaned up and put away since Trig said he was ready to turn in. Riju said he didn’t feel like going to bed yet, and he’d cut out cloth to make a dress if Kit wanted to sew it for his doll.
Kit agreed. After Trig went to his room, they settled on the floor in the sitting room. Riju told him he could relax.
He had cut out pink and lavender cloth in the proper shapes, and he threaded a needle. “You did the blanket, so this shouldn’t be difficult.”
“Your stitches are better, and I'm not sure how I'll do on small clothes. They need to be more precise. It’s not like a blanket where you simply lay it on top of you. Clothes have to fit.”
“I’ll help you.” Riju showed him how to line up the cloth and said to make the dress inside out. “You sew it like this so when you turn it right side out, the stitches will be invisible.”
He did the arms and torso area before he handed it to Kit to do one side of the skirt. He couldn’t go as fast as Riju while keeping them tiny and straight.
“It’s okay if you go slow,” said Riju. “I did too because it’s not easy at first. Now, I’m faster and still neat enough. I wouldn’t want to be a tailor for a living, but sewing is kind of relaxing. It’s the same action over and over again, and you get to see what you’re doing growing more and more completed. It’s satisfying.”
Kit wouldn’t say it was relaxing as he struggled to make each stitch as even as Riju’s, but he could see how it was satisfying. Even though he was no expert, progress was still made, and even though it was different from the blanket or a dropped hem, it wasn't as hard as he thought.
“Is the balm working?” asked Riju.
“Yeah.” Kit pulled the needle through. “It’s not bad now at all.”
“I still don’t like it. I’m tempted to tell you to take those out.”
