[Voice]

[espigeonage]

Suil, network. Minor question, but I figure I know enough people who can answer it! [he's teasing. More seriously:] What are some of the things you start to notice, getting older?

[he's not telling people about his potential lifespan, there's a safer reason to share]

I looked at some selfies from a couple years ago and some today. My skin's changed, it's thinner now. Not as oily. So that might be it. But I think there's more of a hint of, um, lines around my eyes. [With laughing complaint] I'm twenty-five, this is way too early! And like half-Japanese, that's supposed to set them back more.

Comments

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

Maybe it's stress.

[ Is he serious? Maybe a little. ]

[espigeonage]

That seems pretty likely. Not like things have really been calm for a while. I've noticed these before, a little bit.

[gobybessie]

With everything going on it would not be surprising if our bodies started aging oddly.

Perhaps this is the way yours should be aging now. Who knows?

[espigeonage]

It is not. I'm in great health! And way too young to be worrying about that now. My skin's just... going weird. It is really thin and I can't sweat.

[gobybessie]

Might be a natural and healthy progression. Hard to tell, isn't it, hm?

[espigeonage]

Yeah. My knuckles are kind of swollen but they've been like that since my hands and feet changed... this is annoying...

[He's afraid of the changes and getting older too fast, but he'd rather sound like he isn't.]

[gobybessie]

Have you gotten looked at yet?

[espigeonage]

Gotten... looked at?

[gobybessie]

By a doctor.

[ Pause. ]

Or a veterinarian? Hard to know which would be best in this case. Perhaps both.

[espigeonage]

I don't need a vet. [He says that with uncharacteristic coldness.] And my doctor's back in Locke.

[gobybessie]

[ There's a resigned sigh. ]

Sorry.

You're in Germany, aren't you? Aren't they very friendly there? Surely you could find a doctor, if you'd rather not come back to Locke.

Or I'll offer my services.

[espigeonage]

[He grunts.]

Yeah, they're friendly. But the last time I got looked at by a new doctor he couldn't get over my temperature and kept insisting I take something to lower it. And he was even numbered, so...

[he really probably should go to a vet, but the thought is viscerally dismaying.]

[gobybessie]

[ Well, in that case. ]

How about I come to Germany, then? I promise I won't insist you take something to lower your temperature.

[espigeonage]

I... well, okay. If it's not too much of a bother.

[gobybessie]

With our new method of travel it isn't really, no. I will do so. When would you have time?

[espigeonage]

I'm basically free at any time. Sometimes I hang out with people or talk to the media here, or I head out somewhere interesting, but it's not really a crowded schedule.

[gobybessie]

Perhaps in a week's time? Exactly, that is. Sometime in the evening for you and early morning for me.

[espigeonage]

Ah - okay, sure. I'm staying at the hotel the Bonbrights bought out.

[gobybessie]

Which hotel is that?

[espigeonage]

Hotel Lilie, in Reutte. It's really nice!

[gobybessie]

I will see in a week's time.