"...what is this about?"

<Eskillimi says you're going to want me to drape myself in soft you-shaped basketweave, have you got some?>

"I have a spare outfit..."

<I'd appreciate that.>

Isama goes back into the house to get her bag.

<I don't make other peoples' business mine and I think we shouldn't share a planet only because the one I came from is in the middle of a war which we are losing.>

<It's Eskillimi I'd expect you to object to.>

<I don't know what you want to hear, here. If no one's noticed anything at home then it's clearly only an impairment in terribly unfamiliar contexts.>

<No one's noticed anything at home because I am one hundred percent of the time within range of her and paying enough attention to help the instant she needs it unless we can be certain she's alone. We can't have friends. We can barely have hobbies. We are both sick to death of it.>

< - huh. Guess that's a pretty good reason to leave.>

<I think so too. The other four can all just hire people.>

Swish. <That's more efficient.>

<It sounds it, yes.>

Isama comes out with the spare outfit. Ismea morphs and accepts instruction on how to pants.

He watches with several eyes and doesn't say anything.

In Ismea goes. "Hi, everybody. I want to abandon my planet and commit high treason. Who wants to know how to make Andalite lightbulbs and whatever else I can reconstruct?"

"Sounds great."

He looks less persuaded of this but doesn't say anything.

"We'd probably be happy to have you too."

"Why is this high treason?"

"Andalites aren't supposed to share tech with other species. But Andalites are tiresome bigots so to hell with them."

"Long as they don't have any way to find us. Is the me coming?"

"Planning on trying to get your magical help with the war. I'd sooner this didn't take the form of getting me caught at all the high treason."

"I'm not totally clear on what that involves? If we have diplomatic relations with Andalites and they're clamoring to extradite you Aitim might have a hard time?"

"If she's on a different plane I don't see how anyone would be able to get her back, though it's putting people in an unfair position, telling them you want to emigrate specifically so you can do lots of crime."

"Well it's not, like, the bad kind of crime."