the cat

[instar]

Comments

[morphbox]

<Ah,> says Ax, though he continues to seem puzzled.

[pandion]

"Little squeaky things like mice, Ax," clarifies Andi.

[morphbox]

<Do humans not approve of the mouse named Mickey?>

[pandion]

"Turns out," says Andi, aiming her remark at Trouble, "it is kind of hard to do just an overview of human culture for an alien."

[aeskhyne]

Trouble laughs silently.

<I think most people don't even think of Mickey Mouse and actual mice as the same kind of thing,> he says.

[pandion]

"Yeah, but would it have occurred to you to say so when you were explaining what Disney is?" Andi asks, burying her hands in his fur.

[morphbox]

<Disney makes fictional movies out of drawings displayed at high framerate,> says Ax helpfully.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble purrs and wriggles, snuggling into Andi's arms.

<Maybe you should've included pictures,> he says. <Mickey Mouse - actual mouse.>

The one is bipedal, two-dimensional, with the iconic round-eared silhouette and white-gloved hands; the other is tiny, furry, and white. There isn't much of a resemblance. Sending the images takes some concentration, but they come through clearly.

[pandion]

Snuggly fuzzy kitty. Yay!

"I didn't have any pictures. How did you do that?"

[aeskhyne]

<I dunno, I just did. It was harder than I thought.>

[morphbox]

<Image thoughtspeak is more difficult to master, yes. Andalites vary in how good we are at it; I don't know about humans.>

[aeskhyne]

<Seems like it could come in really handy, though.>

[morphbox]

<It can, yes.>

[aeskhyne]

Purrrrrrrrr.

<You can pet me too if you want.>

[morphbox]

Ax hesitates, but when Andi lifts up kitty-Trouble in his direction, a many-fingered hand tentatively joins hers.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble is very soft, very fluffy, and very purring.

[morphbox]

<Why are you vibrating?>

[aeskhyne]

<Some species of cat do that when they're happy,> he says. <Makes that sound. It's called purring.>

Purrrrrrrr.

[morphbox]

<A peculiar adaptation,> remarks Ax.

[pandion]

"An adorable adaptation."

[aeskhyne]

<Yep,> says Trouble, purring some more.