**REUPLOADED Bc I wanted you to be able to pick multiple!! Sorry sorry sorry
Be sure to read the lore to know more about each option! Or go based on looks, either are fine :))
STANDARD
A standard tail implies either great care as a child or lack of physical labor as an adult. It can also be a sign of good luck, and is seen as most professional by places of work. Standard tails can be adorned most easily and fit with every outfit; it is most unlikely to clash with what you wear or detract from other traits you may have to offer.
SINGLE NICK
Very versatile option, it can say a lot to have a singular nick in your tail, and is common to ask about. It might say something about your childhood, such as a playground accident, an accident with scissors, or sometimes best friends or lovers nick their tails at the same time as a form of bonding. It can also be evidence of a less cushy work environment, more of a desk job or seated/stationary indoors work.
BEAT UP
Beat-up implies some level of fighting when younger, or- much more strongly than with a singular nick- implies a hands-on, physically taxing job as an adult. It can also be an indicator of living in poor conditions, that would allow your tail to corrode. This would not usually be professionally considered a result of self-harm, typically due to the uneven nature of the tail chunks missing, as self-harm marks on the tail & body tend to be evenly spaced.
FORKED
Forked in this way implies intentional body modification. Similar to getting piercings and tattoos, or with precision fur-dying, this is a form of self-expression and often seen as alternative. While it used to carry heavier connotations of deviancy, it is becoming more common and less stigmatized, and no longer seen as completely unprofessional.
SHORT SMOOTHED
This implies a complication when younger that required surgical removal of the end, removal of the end of the tail to help perform a job better, or an accident/fight that shredded the end of the tail, and then a doctor smoothed it for a more appealing look. This can be from something like a birth defect to a wild animal attack, and then implies the rat who had it smoothed both wanted the more professional look & could afford to have it smoothed.