"Don't know where any dogs are. So it is difficult to fix. But also the idea of it makes me a bit nervous." She knows dogs are meant to be friendly, but she always gets the sense they'll detect something off about her. That they have some innate ability to tell when somebody is rotten inside.

"There's no flattery intended," Ava reassures. "I don't understand why either. It's just. Something about you. The way you speak. Move. The things you say. Like I'm not allowed to ignore you, even if I want to. That I have to respond. You don't make it easy."

A tight frown. "Then why did you leave it? If not to mock me."