"Oh." Devero sits back and considers that for a moment, then leans forward to address the cat directly. "I hope you'll bear with me if I stumble over that sometimes," he says. "We don't have anything like you in my world. Our other sapient species pretty much keep to themselves. But I'll try to remember!"

He sits back again, resting his hands in his lap and wiggling his fingers. Sir Beepers drifts down and lands in the bowl of his hands. It's warm and smooth and heavy enough to be a tangible weight, and he cups the drone gently.

"I think she's going to be a wonderful companion for you," he says, leaning to bump his shoulder against Koumyou's.