That does, however, get a flinch. Because that isn't a question that she can really answer. There's things she answers to (girl, a variety of insults), but...

Not a name. She understands the concept, knows other people have them, but she's never had one.

Would you like one?

...I don't know. I- How do you get one?

You can just pick one - people do that sometimes even when they already have a name, if they don't like it or want a change or whatever; I picked mine. She considers. You can name yourself after something - mine means dusk in the Sith language, daisies are a type of flower - or just something that sounds nice to you, or Daisy can pick up a book of names if you want suggestions.

...I wouldn't even know where to start? she admits, looking at her hands. I- Suggestions...might be helpful? There's also an impression that she thinks their names are...right. That they suit. (That they're pretty.) But she isn't entirely sure that's something you're supposed to compliment people on.

That's fine. You can take your time; it's more important to have something you like than to have something quickly, I think.

...You don't...mind me not having a name? I- People like having things to call things. Even if it is just- she cuts off with a shrug, trying not to follow that thought through to the inevitable snarls and insults she often heard directed at her. They like being able to identify things?

Of course I mind; that should never have happened to you. But you having something you like for your name is more important than whether it bugs me in the meantime.

And there's that small warm glow again. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. (Unless it's Pradnakt's certainty that she didn't deserve how Ma'am had treated her?)

Thank you. I'll...try to figure something out quickly. Because she doesn't want Pradnakt to be bugged. That isn't a good thing.

You can pick something temporary, if you like. But it's fine if you don't want to.

It doesn't help that she doesn't know how. I wouldn't know what to pick. I- She stops, trying to organise thoughts, trying to work this out. Until Pradnakt and Daisy, apart from Ma'am, she hadn't known names, could barely pick them out of sentences. (Somewhere, in the back of her brain, is a half-formed thought about art, and sculptures, and the fact that they just have to exist.)

It's fine not to, really, but it's almost impossible to do it wrong. Especially for something temporary. It can be whatever you want.

I don't think I can come up with one immediately, she decides eventually, with a tiny flinch that is more an ingrained reaction than real fear. There is almost a desire for Pradnakt to just decide a name, because she is not used to this much choice.

That's fine.

I can pick one if you want me to. For something temporary.

That would be...good? If you...didn't mind?

I don't mind. But I don't want you to be afraid of changing it when you find something you like better.

...I...don't think I will be? She's not going to promise she won't be, but... They're very determined to make her- let her? let her make choices.

Yeah, we are.

Okay, hm. Red is a pretty unusual skin color for humans, and Red is a pretty common nickname - usually for hair, but that doesn't matter. It seems a little too - direct, though, and kind of rude pointing out something that odd like that, maybe go with something else that's red, that has a pretty name? There are some nice red gemstones, or flowers... Ruby, Pyra, Rhoda - like that one - Jasper, Zirca; Rose, Poppy, Tulip, Peony - enh, not that. She thinks for another few seconds. Yeah, that's all that comes to mind at the moment, if you hate all of those I can check my books for more; what do you think of Rhoda?

She turns the name over in her head a few times. And then smiles. I think I like it?

Okay. That one's a gemstone, it's a kind of purpley-red, I probably have one someplace if you'd like to see. She sends an impression of the color along, too.

She thinks she likes the colour as well. If you happen to find it? She doesn't want Pradnakt to go out of her way to find it (she's caused enough disruption turning up here), but she would like to see the colour properly.

Sure. I have a good guess, anyway. She drops the meditation to retrieve a flat box from the cabinet, opening it to reveal a collection of red gems in various shades and shapes and sizes, and goes through it; the stone she floats over is tiny, pinky-fingernail sized. "Rhodolite."

She takes it out of the air, turning it over in her hands, carefully, like she's worried it's fragile and she might break it, repeating the word aloud quietly. It is pretty. You...like pretty things? A lot? She gestures around the room, slightly scared at her own audacity to ask the question.

Yeah. These are from my old work, though; gems are an important part of lightsabers and I used to design new kinds. She sends an impression of a basic lightsaber schematic.

And that's fascinating. And really clever and impressive. Especially given what she saw of Pradknakt's lightsaber when they first met. Those things could do a lot of damage. And Pradnakt created new designs? That's incredible, ma'am, she says. I...could you maybe- I. Sorry. Never mind. That would be too much of an imposition, and the answer will almost definitely be 'No'.