10 [AUDIO]

[likeonacompass]

[The voice that comes over the comm will still register as being very much NOT North to anyone familiar with him, but the deep, rich tone has the same slight edge of anxiety he usually speaks with.]

Just a question, for anyone who's changed. Or...anyone who feels like answering who remembers who they are.

[He clears his throat.]If you could

Comments

[lilyground]

[There's a long pause before she answers.]

I think I actually like this better.

[likeonacompass]

So does Shilo. And Herz. And Thom, and...I think his name was Oleg?

[He sounds a little depressed by this.]

Why do you like this better?

[lilyground]

I like not being so hyperactive, you know? And I like knowing things, and I like being able to hold a conversation without being distracted by something shiny.

[Pause.]

And my dad's ring fits my ring finger, now.

[likeonacompass]

[Pauses for a second, thinking about that.]

I guess those are good reasons. The last one especially.

[Sighs.]

It makes me feel bad for hoping things go back to normal.

[lilyground]

Maybe some of us can go back to normal, some of us don't? Because I really, really like this. A lot.

[likeonacompass]

I guess...people could ask the captain. I haven't heard anything from him about all this yet.

[lilyground]

I think I'll ask next time I hear from him. Because this is really nice.

[likeonacompass]

...This is Lily, right?

[He recognizes her ID. No clue if she recognizes his, though; does she know who she's talking to? XD]

How much did you grow?

[lilyground]

Yeah.

[Lily's been spending all of her time in front of the mirror, sometimes with clothes, sometimes without, turning and posing and-her favorite-applying lipstick over and over and over again.

She's doing that now, actually.]

I look like I'm about 18 or 19 or 20. Somewhere in that range.

[likeonacompass]

I think I'm ahead about ten years. Closer to twel--well. Twenty-something. Late twenty-something.

[You can hear the smile in his voice.]

Do you think you grew up nice?

[lilyground]

Yeah, actually, I do. I look nice, anyway.

[Very nice!]

[likeonacompass]

Good for you. If it makes you that happy, I hope you get to stay that way.

[lilyground]

Yeah. Why don't you like being older?

[likeonacompass]

It's just a...Pet thing, I guess. I was already too big, this is ridiculous--and I'd really hoped I was done growing.