For all that he's lampshaded her perfectly healthy ego, she still feels warm that he possesses such a vivid and vivacious impression of her.

She glances at him at that tease, smiling half bashful and half smug. For a moment she stares at him once more, weighing up the likelihood that his original self might remember what transpired between them.

But where's the fun in cowardice? She takes the risk of honesty.

"Did you regret not working out what to do with me?" She keeps her voice low, for others are walking down the stairs past them as they wind up and up. "I spent many a night back home regretting that I had overburdened you with my personality enough that you were frozen by me. Phrynos wasn't half as comfortable as you were to curl around, nor was he mammal enough to find me attractive."

Looking away again she laughs at herself. "It's been two years since I've been around people who don't find my flat and bald face completely offputting! Even had I not found your personality so charming I would have carried a fondness for you just for being the last person to admire me!"