"Can't make something into the likeness of another and not have it take on all those traits. Just like you can't ever really control something, no matter how sure you are that you've got a grip on it, or that you carved away all the sharp edges." She watches with approval as Maeve scratches Siffleur's head, clearly pleased by the sight. It's nice to see that the likeness she shares with humans involved some of their good traits. Or maybe this is something beyond human, something better. Hard to say. She flops on her side, rubbing her body on the fresh grass.

Siffleur squeaks a few times with pleasure as he gets the scratches he wants, and he goes up on his hind legs to grab onto her hand, trying to pull her down to sit so he can scramble into her lap. His little purrs are loud and happy, the sound of a child who has gotten everything he wants this golden afternoon.

"I am sorry that you suffered as well. I hope you always feel as safe and in control as I now feel." Her ear flicks a few times and she chuckles softly. "I've never once doubted how much he loved me. I worry sometimes though. He has so much love for me, and so little for himself... but he's learned to love others the way he loves me. That's good enough. He has people like you now, real friends and confidants. Truly incredible that what he needed most in life was to be trapped on a murder ship."