video

[scrubscrub]

Ah, hello! I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything; please, don't mind me if I'm troubling you!

[Koala's familiar, unnatural smile has appeared! She seems to be in her black jumpsuit and white tank -- though she's taken to Han Solo's advice and bought a blue dress for herself, which appears to be hanging up in her closet next to her yellow dress. And it appears there is a clown-fish shaped child's mug on her dresser, and a strangely ice-sculpted flower in a pot behind her (thanks, phantom person). It's not much, but it's still a far cry from her plain room from her first few weeks. And not only that, but a new revelation! She has a pillow with a cat on the pillowcase! GRANTED IT'S A VERY ODD CHOICE FOR AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD... but hey, progress! 

Still clean as hell, though. She's clearly just gotten finished with her chores, wiping her bangs out of her face. They've been growing out a little, getting in her eyes.]

I - I wasn't sure if I should say, before, but... That is, I wasn't sure if I would be punished for it, when I arrived here! But now I am trying to listen to Mr. Zuko and the others, and... and try not to think like a slave! So I will not stay quiet when I have questions! Forgive me if that is very straightforward of me. 

I was wondering, um. If you have a burn, and it is not... If it's healed, but it itches badly sometimes, what... should you do?

S--sometimes it is when I am working, but it can also be when I sleep; some nights it itches so fiercely, I have trouble falling asleep!

The first time it happened, I was not allowed to say anything, but... But now, I think I can.

... I'm allowed to, right?

It's okay to ask for help for such a thing, right?

Comments

[scrubscrub]

Do you think so? I thought it was so cute! and so funny. Cats don't usually dress up, after all. They have fur for that! But isn't it such a cute idea? I — I like dogs very much, too, of course...

[Maybe she could buy a matching dog one.]

[theshabbiestofmen]

We'll have to find you a cat to play with, next planet.

[scrubscrub]

... Actually... I did find a cat!

She's very sweet... She visits me, sometimes, and I feed her treats!

She's my — my friend!

[She's never had someone she thought as a friend before. Adults are adults, and she doesn't know very many kids around here, and the cat's always been so nice!]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Where is she from? Does she have a name?

[scrubscrub]

She was on the station, all by herself in the park!

... I - I haven't named her. I was worried she wouldn't like whatever I picked.

[theshabbiestofmen]

I'm sure she would. You could always pick out a few, and see if she takes to some?

[scrubscrub]

I suppose... yes! That would be a good idea.

Do cats really think so carefully about their names? Will she know the best one?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Oh, she'll know. Just as you know your name is Koala-- it feels right to you, doesn't it?

[scrubscrub]

I suppose so... I never thought of it that way.

Have you ever named someone before, Mr. Lupin?

[theshabbiestofmen]

You can just call me Remus. And, ah, I helped my friend name his dog, once.

[scrubscrub]

Oh! I do so love dogs, too! Animals are usually so lovely, aren't they?

[She beams.]

What did you name his dog?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Padfoot. Cos, you know, he's got those . . . pads on his feet, and-- we were, you know, thirteen. So.

[scrubscrub]

... Aaaah, I see! That's very cute, I think. Because the pads on dog and kitten feet are very cute. I suppose because they're cute little toes, aren't they?

[theshabbiestofmen]

They are. And Padfoot was an absolutely adorable puppy. Less so as an adult-- he rather leaps on you if he's excited, and when you're a big dog that's a bit much-- but the name still holds.

[scrubscrub]

Oh, that sounds wonderful... I would love to meet a puppy next!

[One that wasn't a pampered, weird noble dog, anyway, which she wasn't permitted to even be around, much less pet.]

They sound so full of energy.