"Maybe we should try and bottle him."

"I think it's probably enough to just have him around saying smart things."

"I suppose so. God, I remember when he was little. His family shipwrecked on my home."

"Oh. Is that how you met? Was his family alright?"

"His mothers were fine. They basically went through what you've been dealing with the last two days. Except without three years of maturation and social experience."

"Well they're still on their world. Couldn't you have flied them back to their home?"

"I was busy. I think Maurice's time was a bit less fraught than yours, if you don't mind me saying. And the other four hated him. Well, other three. Hannah was a little too interested."

"Less what?"

"He enjoyed himself more."

"Oh. I think I'm bad at enjoying myself."

She makes the "a bit" gesture. "He was a lot younger, remember."

He shrugs. "I was better at enjoying myself three years ago but I don't think it's just 'cause I was younger."

"I'm sorry about that. Although I feel like an eight year old would have a harder time dealing with my son's pet on the best of days."

"I have powers. My powers saved me from Behemoth. If that tiger decided to do something it wouldn't be able to."

"Let me put it this way, sometimes not questioning things can be an emotional advantage. Just occasionally. Not saying you shouldn't question things, or God forbid, deliberately try avoiding it."

"That's probably part of why I'm bad at enjoying myself."

"It can be worked through."

He shrugs.

She smiles. "Maurice manages it."

"I wanna be like him," he repeats.

"Time and observation."

"Yeah."

"Just be glad Moira isn't sending birds after new people anymore."

He shudders.

"I'm amazed Maurice stuck around after that. Or after Stan tried his whole mad science thing on him. Or when Evan fed him a mutagenic compound sourced mainly from my drinks cabinet. To be fair, that might've been his idea."