(Untitled)

[notfaking_it]

Whether or not the island was actually sentient was a thing Lily generally didn't consider very often

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[1000_cranes]

"You should have seen some of the stuff that it tried to give me when I was pregnant. It wasn't even decent."

Somehow, it never gets old watching people argue with the clothesbox. Four years, and it's still true. On Charlie's hip, Cadi is chubby and smiling, kicking her legs, wearing a onesie after her bath.

"I mean, my husband wasn't complaining, but still."

[notfaking_it]

Lily laughed and looked up at the woman, holding out the sequined bra as an offering. "See if he likes this one," she suggested with a grin, letting it spin once around her finger, the little jewels catching the light and flashing.

"You dance at one casino night and suddenly it thinks you're a Vegas Showgirl," she added, rolling her eyes down at the pile she'd collected.

[1000_cranes]

"I think I've got one like that," says Charlie, shifting Cadi's weight and grinning. "And I know exactly how you feel, honey. I once spent a memorable weekend dressed like Jessica Rabbit."

[notfaking_it]

"But, come on, Jessica Rabbit is one sexy lady," Lily answered, grinning. "And I'm sure you could pull it off. I'd much rather have a great costume like that than enough feathers to create an entire flock." She didn't mind the feathers, in all honesty, especially not when she needed a costume, but it was a little much for day to day wear.

"I'm Lily, by the way," she added. "I guess people usually introduce themselves before offering someone a sequined bra."

[1000_cranes]

"I've found it's easier if you don't think about what people usually do," says Charlie, leaning down to offer her hand.

"Charlie Jones. Nice ot meet you, honey. And this is Cadi."

[notfaking_it]

"True enough," Lily answered, shaking the offered hand with a smile for both of them. She'd never imagined herself with children and doubted that would ever change, but she liked them despite that. Maybe she liked them more because she knew she'd never have one of her own.

"She's sweet," she said, grinning at the little girl.

[1000_cranes]

"She is, isn't she?" says Charlie, giving her daughter a mock-critical glance. "And she knows it. I think she gets it from her daddy. For sure."

[notfaking_it]

"Yeah, couldn't possibly be from you," Lily answered dryly, but she was smiling. Most people on the island were varying degrees of completely gorgeous, which she was sure most of them were aware of on some level. "How old is she?"

[1000_cranes]

"Coming up to seven months," says Charlie, smoothing one hand over Cadi's coppery curls. "I've been here for five years in December. Married for two."

[notfaking_it]

"Jesus," Lily breathed, shaking her head a little. Although she knew there were people on the island who'd been around for a long time, it never stopped surprising her. There was a part of her -- a small part, usually one she didn't acknowledge -- that assumed she'd be returned home before too long. "Five years. It's only been a few months for me. Four or five."

[1000_cranes]

"You're brand shiny new," says Charlie, but her eyes are sympathetic - she knows how it must feel. "It's weird, you know? It's easier to settle in when you know you don't have much of anything worse going back to?"

[notfaking_it]

Lily had found settling in relatively easy, despite her assumption she'd eventually be going back to New York. A change of scenery had always been easy for her and she welcomed it, welcomed the adventure it might bring. "I like it here," she said, smiling. "The evil box aside."

[1000_cranes]

"The box, the bookshelf," says Charlie, with a roll of her eyes. "Just wait until you wake up somebody else for the first time."

[notfaking_it]

"You know, that might actually be kind of fun," Lily said, considering it. There were all sorts of things she'd never get to try in New York and being in a completely different body would certainly be one of those things.