... Mhm. [glances up from reading.]

You looked so peaceful.

[well nobody has ever accused her of good ideas.]

Ah, no. I knew Skulduggery was elsewhere.

[poorly hides a giggle behind the book.]

Right. Because I enjoy dangerous things. So I'd probably try to help, and just get in the way of your important magic rituals. And then everything would explode, or whatever magic does when it goes wrong. That would be very unfortunate.

Just to spend time with you. [a small sigh, putting the book back.]

You're right. I shouldn't have invaded your space. I'm sorry.

I know... I meant to be by sooner. To check in. [a small poke to Catduggery, she might have kept him past her allotted week.] But I hadn't been feeling well.

[quiet for a moment.] Did you watch. Any of it?

I tried to make it fun.

[it was, for a brief moment. and then it very much wasn't.] But no, of all the excursions. 1/10.

No. And I wouldn't recommend the seafood either. [strained joke.]

So I was talking to Max. The tall fleshy one that turns into a dog now. So I was like, that is weird, all these people becoming animals these days. Dogs and cats and rabbits and birds... and that angry looking pig...

Right? And he was all, well I like weird strangers petting me and chasing balls. [no that's not quite how he said it, that's just what Ava hears.]

Then I told him. That's gross, I wouldn't want to be something people felt they just had the right to put their hands all over. I wanted to be something cool and mysterious. Like an octopus. [SIGH!]

[nods solemnly as if she's learned her lesson.]

But I can do some neat tricks? Like get out of a jar. [which she could do anyway. by phasing.] And blend into my surroundings. [which she can do anyway. with invisibility.] And slip through cracks. [you get the idea.]

[wants to question if there are non-bipedal humanoids but...] Why so?

[has her suspicions but not going to poke.] Well the bird was cute.

So did that not... happen on the previous voyages? They didn't get weird things?