[In the end, that's the best possible option -- give Koby a moment to settle himself, pull off his shoes and tuck his (icy, even with the socks) feet under himself. The sealskin is draped around his shoulders, but as he calms, it slips down to puddle in his lap, like a living thing, all pink spots and plush fur. A corner of it slides to cover Zoro's leg beneath the blanket, seeming to radiate heat, much more than seems natural for a comparatively light fur.
But Koby is in control of himself again, picking bones out of his piece of fish -- which is almost exclusively bones, so it's a losing battle -- and huffing out a soft laugh.] I can bring enough for everyone. There's more in the river than I could catch in a hundred years, probably. [For all the faults of this nightmarish place, at least there's that, right? The fishing's good.] When you're better, you can help. Cats are good at fishing, aren't they?
[The question is probably rhetorical, but Koby still pauses over it, looks up at Zoro through blood-splattered lenses, expression serious.] I take care of myself. [Simple, firm. Zoro knows as well as Koby the way their Changeling minds work, the near-feral state it's easy to slip into without someone keeping you in check, the way lines blur between human and beast. Koby's a seal more often than he's a person, and seals aren't pack animals; they live alone, they swim and sun and fish and sleep by themselves. They're also prey for countless other aquatic creatures, but Koby isn't acknowledging that right now. Look at him, he's the picture of staunch independence. Please ignore how he almost burst into tears thirty seconds ago.]
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Date: 2024-03-14 12:58 am (UTC)But Koby is in control of himself again, picking bones out of his piece of fish -- which is almost exclusively bones, so it's a losing battle -- and huffing out a soft laugh.] I can bring enough for everyone. There's more in the river than I could catch in a hundred years, probably. [For all the faults of this nightmarish place, at least there's that, right? The fishing's good.] When you're better, you can help. Cats are good at fishing, aren't they?
[The question is probably rhetorical, but Koby still pauses over it, looks up at Zoro through blood-splattered lenses, expression serious.] I take care of myself. [Simple, firm. Zoro knows as well as Koby the way their Changeling minds work, the near-feral state it's easy to slip into without someone keeping you in check, the way lines blur between human and beast. Koby's a seal more often than he's a person, and seals aren't pack animals; they live alone, they swim and sun and fish and sleep by themselves. They're also prey for countless other aquatic creatures, but Koby isn't acknowledging that right now. Look at him, he's the picture of staunch independence. Please ignore how he almost burst into tears thirty seconds ago.]