Rapunzel <J. Valeska>

3.1

"Are you sure that you want to try this? I know it seems like the only chance you'll ever have, but if it doesn't work, or even if it does, you could wind up with a serious infection in your throat," Lee points out. "I'm not trying to talk you out of it, but I want you to have all the facts before you make your decision. While he's doing the procedure, there's a good chance he could mess up and damage something else in your throat."

"I also don't want you to put all your hope on this. Dr. Emerson is pretty confident that this will work, but he also said he's never done anything like this before. I know it seems like there's nothing to lose, but if this doesn't work I don't want you to feel devastated. We can figure something out if it doesn't work out, but I want you to understand that that's a possibility," Lee cautions.

Daisy nods in acknowledgement, but she's already made up her mind. She has nothing and no one left, and any voice is better than none, regardless of the consequences.

"You still want to do it?" The woman asks.

The blonde nods more firmly this time, smiling slightly in reassurance. Daisy doesn't want Lee to have any concern over how much she wants this. Sure, she understands the risks and what they could mean for her later, but they don't in the least deter her.

"Alrighty then," Lee smiles. "Let's go check out and make an appointment for this thing."

With that, the kind doctor leads her out to the lobby, where again Lee speaks with the receptionist. Daisy watches the two women interact, hears the words falling from their lips. Maybe soon I'll be able to do that...

Just talk to someone, and it'll be casual, and I won't think anything of it.

Deep down Daisy knows that should this work, she'll never take the privilege of speaking and communication so lightly. Not that she blames people who are born with that ability for doing so, but the girl knows that she will always be grateful for the chance to actually speak.

"Okay, you have an appointment for surgery at 3:30. It's recommended that you only drink water for the remaining time until your appointment, and not consume anything else. We've got some time to kill though," Lee notes as she comes back to Daisy, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

Daisy tilts her head in question, not sure what Lee has in mind.

"I saw the look you had in the car. You haven't seen any of the good parts of Gotham. We're gonna try and change that in the time before your procedure," the doctor explains. "Come on, let me be your ride, show you what you've been missing out on your whole life."

Lee reaches out a hand to Daisy, and after a beat, the girl smiles and takes it. Uncaring that they're still in the lobby, Lee laughs wildly and guides Daisy down to the car. They both climb in, grinning like mad, and the doctor turns on the ignition.

"You know where we have to go first, right?" Lee questions the girl. When Daisy shakes her head, the woman beams. "Shopping!"

It's not until they're actually in a store that Daisy understands what Lee is dragging her into. The pair hurry through multiple stores in Gotham's shopping district, giggling madly like children as Lee pulls the girl about to find outfits that suit her. Daisy loses count of the number of times clothing was shoved into her hands without any further explanation than, "Go try this on!"

After a while, Daisy ends up looping Lee into it as well, each of them giving the other ridiculous outfits to go try on and model. The blonde is honestly surprised none of the snooty workers have kicked them out.

Despite all the playing and goofing around, Daisy does end up leaving several stores with nice, functional outfit choices. Lee is a very practical shopper when she isn't trying to be funny, and makes sure Daisy has all of the basic clothing items she could need, including different shirts and pants that can be layered.

And the shoes. Oh my word there are so many different types of shoes to choose from. Daisy never really understood the stereotype that girls love shoes until she saw so many of them in one place. There are just so many different cute styles and color patterns of shoes, each one completing their own unique outfit aesthetic. In the end Daisy settles for one pair of tennis shoes and a baby pink pair of high tops that she thinks to herself can (like all shoes seemingly can) go with any outfit.

Their last shopping stop is a place called Sephora, and that is a transient experience in itself. While some of the workers and makeup artists seem uppity and arrogant, Lee pays them no mind and uses her own experience to get Daisy the best of the best.

The girl feels much like some kind of doll, being dragged around and modeling outfits, and then allowing the doctor to hold different swatches and palettes of assorted makeup to her face. Each sample means holding still while Lee holds the color to her face, squints, tilts her head, and then ultimately decides to get it, or not. By the end of the impromptu shopping spree, Daisy feels guilty and awfully worried for the state of Lee's credit card.

I'll pay you back for all this, the girl tries to say, but the good doctor just shakes her head fondly.

"No, this was as much for me as it was you. I haven't had a good friend, especially a girl friend, to hang out with in I can't tell you how long. I could definitely never do something like this with Jim," the woman giggles, and Daisy smiles widely, picturing the grumpy Detective treated the same way she was.

"And besides," Lee continues. "You deserve this. You've been dealt a bad hand, I'm just evening the odds a bit."

Daisy flushes at the doctor's kindness and generosity. Gotham needs more people like her and Jim.

What about Daddy? A forgotten corner of her mind chimes in. Don't you need him? Do you think he'd like all the clothes and makeup you bought? Wouldn't he be so happy if you got all dolled up, just for him?

Daisy feels ashamed that she entertains the thought for the moment that she does, before tamping it down wildly. He's not Daddy, he's Jerome. A murderer, that lied to me and tricked me. He could've killed Pepper and maybe I was next. It doesn't matter what he likes about me or wants from me.

Trying desperately to drive thoughts of her feelings for Jerome from her head, Daisy turns her mind to the upcoming surgery. Lee is taking the pair of them back to the doctor's office, and in thirty minutes she's due to be put under and operated on. By the end of today, I could have functional vocal chords.

But her thoughts will not be silenced. I wonder what Daddy will think when he hears you speak for the first time?

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A/N
I think I'm gonna move my updates to Sunday's. With delays due to all my coursework, that seems to be my de facto update day anyway. So from now on, just expect updates by the end of the weekend. I can't promise any more structure than that, unfortunately. I'm kind of in a bad place right now. I have a friend, who I've not even known two weeks, who is just starting to seem really toxic, and I don't know what to do. We're not speaking right now, and I think it's better it stays that way until they figure out their shit and reach out. Anyway, enough of my drama. I hope you guys enjoyed this, even though Jerome's been absent for a while. Don't worry, you'll see him soon. Vote and comment down below if you're excited for Daisy's surgery and Jerome's reaction to finding her gone (though that is still a few chapters away as it's only been a day in their time). Catch you guys later! Love you all bunches!
Gingy