Due, in part, to Julia's physical comfort, she fell asleep quickly. I waited, monitoring her brain, waiting for the first REM cycle to begin. Once her rest deepened, I began my task of searching her memory. Here, I will limit my record to what is necessary for this accounting.

My new host grew up as an only child. She began acting at a young age, and enjoyed it immensely. The Sharing recruited her because of her moderate fame, offering both the chance to give back, and to increase her chance of greater success in the acting world. When asked to become a full member, Julia readily agreed.

The events occurring immediately before her infestation was as unlike Felicity's as possible. While the Controllers infesting Felicity used veiled language, handcuffs, and ultimately force on a crying ten year old child, Julia received all of the facts of what infestation would entail from a voluntary Controller. She was told a bit about me, in particular, and why Yeerks needed hosts overall.

Sometime between the two years during which I was Felicity's host, it must have become an unofficial policy, or at least an option, to present the Yeerk Empire in a far more benevolent light than even the most devoted to the Empire would profess. They present our species as caught up in a defensive war against the militant and interfering Andalites. Humans generally like to support the "underdog," as it were. Offering your body to help a race of intelligent slugs retrieve their home world from the aggressive Andalites has earned many a Yeerk a loyal host, and even after the war, there is a determined hatred for the Andalite princes and warriors and war princea among those few.

Of course, Julia was also intelligent enough to recognize that saying no was not really an option, but she was hopeful enough to believe that if she was compliant, it would go well for her. When she was infested, as I could see from her perspective, it was not painful past the first few moments, but far from pleasant. Thankful, she'd been warned beforehand, and did not, to use a term of Felicity's and her friends, "freal out." I saw her tentatively accepted my presence in her mind, then believed that we could establish some sort of inter species friendship. I was certainly on board with this idea.

In sleep, I felt Julia's skills enter my own mind. Not all, as a mere nap does not provide nearly enough time for that. The rest would follow when she slept that evening. Still, while I would need to rely on access to her memory and communication for a great deal today, I would not be at a total loss.

Slowly, her consciousness returned. I opened her eyes, and before I could release control, she tried to move. When she couldn't immediately, fear seized her.

I was prepared for this. *Julia, it's all right* I soothed, the way I did when Felicity had a nightmare. *I live in your head now, Julia, but I can release control.*

As I spoke, I did so. *Right. Sorry.* Shame filled her, and she lowered her eyes. *I forgot that you were in my head.*

I smiled-mentally, of course. *There's no need to apologize* I assured her. *I have only been in your head for a handful of hours, half of which you can been asleep." She laughed. Encouraged, I continued, *Besides, based on my experience and stories I have heard, it takes humans some time to adjust fully.*

Julia smiled, then straightened up. *Um. Do you mind if I adjust my laces?*

Go right ahead.*

She managed as easily as before, sighing with relief as the gap closed and the pressure increased to a steady hug. *Mmm. Much better.*

If you dislike having your corset loosened, you must be miserable when it's off?* I teased, gently.

She gave a mental snort. *I actually don't mind that. It's nice to be able to move around freely. I guess it's more when the corset is looser than I would like. Sometimes, I only sleep an inch looser. Or used to. But it's probably healthier to have it two inches looser.*

I pondered this for a moment. *Your experience demonstrates you would know far better than I would* I allowed.

Despite spending hours a week watching movies featuring women-including Julia-dress in such a manner, it was rather strange to be living inside one.

Perhaps I, too, would need to adjust.

Julia rose from the couch. "What time is it?" she wondered, reverting to speaking out loud. Checking her watch, her eyes widened. "Wow, I slept for over three hours. It's almost time for dinner."

I'm not at all surprised* I answered, softly. *You've had quite the eventful morning and afternoon.*

"Yeah." She folded the blankets, then tucked them over the couch. "Want to help me learn my lines after we eat? They sent the script for the first episode yesterday, and we're supposed to be off book when filming begins. Which gives me two weeks to memorize over a hundred lines."

Certainly. It can't be much harder than studying for a test* I noted.

Julia laughed. "Tests. That's something I sure don't miss about school."

I allowed her to retain control during dinner, noting that she ate her meal more slowly than Felicity. Then again, as I'd observed from her memories, when you eat wearing a corset, even a comfortable one, you ought to eat more carefully and deliberately than you would, had you only had fabric against your skin. You ate less, of course, because there was less room in your stomach, but you also became fuller faster. Julia could still eat three average sized meals each day, but she couldn't scarf them down without feeling queasy afterwards. After dinner, though, she still had room for dessert, and indulged in two chocolate chip cookies.

My former host's mother used to buy that kind* I spoke up, observing the package.

"What were her favorite flavors?" Julia asked, after having swallowed a bite.

Mint Milano, same as her mother.* A wave of sadness filled me. Yeerks weren't supposed to miss their former hosts, but I did miss Felicity, at least a bit. More than that, I hoped that she was managing all right under her new Yeerk. Was the Yeerk treating her well? Did Felicity find her to be a good mental companion? I could only hope that I would see her Yeerk during my next feeding, and could gather such information...

"They are good," Julia agreed, "but I like the traditional chocolate chip ones the most." She took another small bite, taking a moment to savor the taste, then spoke again, even though I could hear the question in her mind. "Your old host-was she an only child, too?"

Not precisely. Her brother was eight when she was born* I said, *and due to the age gap, they were never very close. He went to college in another state.*

"And her parents? Are they-what's the word-Controllers?" Julia went on, as she swallowed the rest of the cookie.

I gave a mental shake of my head. *No. They expressed no interest in joining The Sharing, and we prefer voluntary hosts.*

"That's what I am, right?" Julie began on her second cookie.

Yes. You're also known as a voluntary Controller. Those who do not want us in their heads are called "involuntary Controllers." You'll likely encounter some of them when I go to feed* I explained, slowly.

Despite having searched my host's mind, I was not entirely sure how she would react towards this information. One can only be as much as 99% certain of a host's reactions at any given moment, because even the host does not know themself as well as that.

Felicity, of course, had been involuntary for two cycles. After the first one, I'd discovered she'd yelled enough to make my voice hoarse. Many Yeerks would have disciplined their hosts for this, but I had felt only sadness for her. After the second time, she hadn't yelled, simply spent the time staring out of the shared cage, thinking. Reasoning that I had been decent to her, and perhaps, it was better to cooperate before my patience with her evaporated entirely.

"Well...that makes sense," Julia reasoned. "You can't know for sure who will say yes, and if you let everyone go who says no, at least some will alert the press. Or the cops. And if there are enough of them, the public will start to realize something's going on."

I gave her a mental nod. *Exactly. There are so many humans, we really don't need everyone all at once* I allowed, *but even using caution, we can hardly select only those who would agree to share their bodies with a Yeerk.*

Julia laughed. "Is that the real reason it's called The Sharing?"

I gave her another mental smile. *I expect it's what humans would call an "inside joke."*

She went quiet, taking small bites of the second cookie, making it last. A thought went through Julia's mind that she could have a third or fourth without damage to her waist or diet, but she immediately dismissed this.

"How does it work? How did I end up with you, of all Yeerks?" Julia stood from the table. "Have you had human...hosts...before me?"

I made a mental nod. *Felicity. You remember I mentioned her? I infested the human child for two years before I was assigned to you.*

"You mean...you could be assigned to someone else at any time?" Julia wondered, her heart beat beginning to flutter at this.

I took control--only of her heart. Slowing it down. *Julia* I soothed, *it is highly unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future. By Yeerk empire standards, you are a higher level host than my former one. You are older, of course, but you're also famous. Few other humans who can be recruited of your fame exist, so I very much doubt I will be promoted anytime soon. If at all. You are, rather, stuck with me for the foreseeable future* I concluded, dryly, yet playfully.

Julia rolled her eyes, but she relaxed visibly. Had she been able to slump forward in relief (a trait of Felicity's), I had little doubt that she would have. "I'm not THAT famous, Miliss. Sure, I guess I could move into a bigger house..." She gestured around her. From her memories, it was as large as Felicity's family home, if perhaps a bit more, to borrow a human term, "dated." "Movie stars live in mansions in Hollywood. They have second and third homes in Europe. Not that I am complaining. I have it way better than a lot of actors who aren't living on their gigs. I mean, I've never needed a day job, nor have I touched what I made as a kid." Her memories told me that it was all invested, was currently nearly seven figures, and she received monthly statements from the investment company. "I don't think the paparazzi know who I am, which means I can get groceries and go to work without being hounded. Still. I'm never likely to win an Oscar or an Emmy."

She spoke bluntly, not feeling sorry for herself. My host wasn't resigned, and despite her speech, she did believe that better roles were still ahead of her. However, Julia was practical. In fact, everything she did was practical--down to training her waist to eighteen inches over her corset. That wasn't to say she didn't enjoy wearing one, now, but initially, she'd sought to lessen her discomfort while filming.

This practicality, I saw, lead her to accept my presence in her head, and prepare Julia for the possibility of spending most of her days not having control of her body. She was a Controller now, likely for the rest of her life, and accepting this and cooperating meant--she knew instinctively--better treatment as a result.

It had taken Felicity over a week to come to this conclusion and decision, and after experiencing patience, kindness, and a level of control far beyond what most involuntary hosts could have expected. But she had been a scared child, and I believed that with time and patience, Felicity had grown to accept my presence. I had been correct. Julia seemed to be accepting me far more easily, but, then, she was thirteen years older.

I thought carefully before replying. *I can't truthfully promise you will never be reassigned, but your status as a voluntary Controller will almost certainly ensure you similar kind treatment. I will not hurt you, Julia, and in many ways, your life will be the same as before.*

"I believe that you won't hurt me, Miliss. But...another Yeerk could," Julia said, shakily.

I couldn't deny this possibility, however remote. While voluntary hosts, particularly humams, were treated with great care and assigned to nonviolent Yeerks, mistakes still occurred. Usually, though, a new voluntary human, or one who had been reassigned, would be "interviewed" by the sub-Visser on pool duty. They were trained to look for any indicators of coercion through host abuse. Such humans would promptly be reassigned to a more suitable Yeerk.

Host abuse was hardly tolerated under involuntary hosts, much less voluntary ones. Yeerks were given strict rules for what constitutes appropriate discipline, and unless your Yeerk was a Visser or high-ranking sub-Visser, the risk of being caught was too high. Besides, from what I had heard, the rules were enough to make resistant hosts compliant.

I would not tell Julia all of this now. *Anything is possible. But let's not worry about that. After all, I just received you as a host today, and I was with Felicity for two years!* I laughed, and so did she. *Now, I can see you're tired, so would you like to go to bed early?* I suggested, admittedly using the same tone I had with Felicity under similar circumstances.

"Sure. You'll let me keep control, Miliss?"

I will.*

Preparing for bed, as I had seen from Julia's memories, was a longer process for my new host. With Felicity, it had consisted of changing into pajamas or a nightgown, brushing her teeth, and, a recent development, washing her face with a product her mother had given her to help prevent acne. We might run a brush over her hair, but after all was completed, it was less than ten minutes between we began undressing and we were under the covers.

Julia took a shower each morning and washed her hair, just as my former host, but she also took a bath for the sake of relaxation at night.

"I better wash my hair again," she murmured. "Because of that tank and the sludge all over my face. No offense."

I assured her I took no offense. My host unlaced completely, then stretched thoroughly. The lack of pressure around her frame--because it wasn't just her waist--felt freeing, but she also missed it. Even laced to eighteen inches, Julia could breathe freely, easily, including deep breaths. I watched as she hung the corset, with care, over a spare towel rack. After removing her chemise, to be laundered the following day with other similar undergarments, she approached the large bathrub and began to fill it with hot water.

While we waited, she brushed and flossed her teeth, then gargled for a full minute with mouthwash. This did not burn, but it left a rather unpleasant taste behind. By the time her bath was over, she would be able to drink a glass of water without inhibiting the benefits of such a product.

Then, she immersed herself in the water, sighing happily. The relaxation spread to me. A hot bath was a far cry from swimming in the Yeerk pool, but there were similarities.

My host, indeed, became so relaxed that I feared she might fall asleep. Gently, I nudged at her mind.

Can you...?* she asked, sleepily, eyes closed.

Flattered at this display of trust--or, perhaps, it was simply exhaustion from the long day--I gave a mental nod. *Very well.*

Julia's hair was far longer than Felicity's, but the process was the same. Careful to avoid her upper forehead, because suds could fall into my host's eyes and burn, I worked the shampoo into the mane, taking care to massage it in carefully. I keep my control loose enough that my host could feel what I was doing. She gave small, happy murmurs within her mind. The same occurred after I applied the conditioner. Once finished, I returned control. A final rinse, and Julia was ready to comb out her tresses and dress for bed.

The former was complete within minutes. Julia always braided her hair before bed. Then, she donned a soft nightgown, and began the process of lacing herself in for the nighttime hours.

Throughout all of this, I was an observer. I "sat" far enough away in her mind to be able to feel my host's senses, and to take control if necessary, but I allowed Julia full control over her body. I watched as she quickly put on a long, white nightgown, not terribly different than those she occasionally wore during filming. Then, she placed a separate corset around her frame, this one measuring twenty inches when laced as tightly as possible. Julia fastened the clasps in the front, deftly, almost mindlessly. Then, using her full-length mirror as an aid, she pulled on the back laces until they closed around her body.

She let out a happy sigh, then "turned" to give me a mental smile. "Twenty inches is definitely larger than eighteen, but I'm definitely small either way."

I gave a mental nod, still observing. I had never measured Felicity's waist, had never even thought to, but I imagined it would be at least two inches larger. She was neither terribly thin nor overweight, simply a typical twelve-year old. My new host, though, had taken great pains (though not physical ones) to diminish her waist over the past five years.

I expect* I answered, with a mental smile of my own, *that I am the only Yeerk with a host who regularly wears corsets.*

Julia laughed aloud. "For now, maybe."

She focused her attention away from me, then, and back towards her bedtime routine. This mostly consisted of applying face and hand creams, then donning a simple, cotton bathrobe over her nightgown and corset. To prevent the risk of the clasps snagging again the sheets, I saw.

By the time Julia was finished, she was very tired. She walked the few steps from the bathroom to her bedroom, then crossed the space to her bed. After turning off the light and settling herself under the covers, Julia's mind was already half asleep.

I wondered if the light pressure around her body now aided her in sleeping. Certainly, my host found it entirely comfortable, even relaxing, and it did not hinder her mobility.

Sweet dreams, Julia* I murmured.

You too, Miliss* she replied.