[ Some of it's a logical thing: clearly used to human company, so somebody's pet, and thus surely in possession of a name. Most of it, though, is just that dumb, space-filling prattle that people do sometimes just to block out their own thoughts. Jim is loathe to admit to his loneliness even to himself - maybe it'll be better with Scotty here, and Kathryn who he's just met, feeling less alone in the midst of dozens of people from dozens of worlds. On the surface, humans, Earth, English, they all seem to be similar, but Jim's still felt like an outsider, unable to understand the fixation on (for lack of a better summary) capitalist pessimism.
Whatever, though, he's picking through parts, his attention on the wolf somewhere between idle acceptance of companionship and being wary of a sudden turn. She may still be a wild animal, despite the apparent friendliness. And even domesticated animals can be a danger.
And then: whatever's going on with that. It takes Jim a minute to wander over and look, and the expressions that cycle over his face are--
Interesting.
The silence he maintains while she's at work is a stark contrast to his previous ramblings. When she's done-- ]
no subject
Whatever, though, he's picking through parts, his attention on the wolf somewhere between idle acceptance of companionship and being wary of a sudden turn. She may still be a wild animal, despite the apparent friendliness. And even domesticated animals can be a danger.
And then: whatever's going on with that. It takes Jim a minute to wander over and look, and the expressions that cycle over his face are--
Interesting.
The silence he maintains while she's at work is a stark contrast to his previous ramblings. When she's done-- ]
I must sound like a real asshole.