[ What's this his brother is passing him? DiMA accepts the stick, and while he might not have specific experience using cat toys it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how this one works. Especially since the creature under the bed is coming forward with its single glowing eye focused on the dangling mouse.

And so, a broken-down old robot is kneeling on the floor of Nick's room, wiggling a stick to make the toy on the end dance for his pet. With a hint of a smile on his face, even. ]

Here. Would you like to come out?

[ He wants to meet the kitty! But will keep up the more important conversation as well, of course. ]

I did hear about the expedition, yes. Perhaps I'll meet him when he returns. The individual I was referring to sounded quite disparaging about any species -- or perhaps even group with that, all the names he used were unknown to me -- besides his own. Still, polite enough.