Proper introductions

Once Sally had gone home, James rejoined Aurora in his bedroom. She'd finished the next couple of videos, and turned and raised her hand. By the thumbnail of the video, she was probably trying to wave. It looked more like she was trying to claw at the air, though. He chuckled and sat on the edge of his bed.

"So...I wonder how much you can understand."

She cocked her head for a moment, and James decided to join her at the desk. He found a video meant for foreigners, to teach them how to introduce themselves along with several others on more adult topics like work, hobbies, and how to pronounce different letters. After nearly an hour of watching them with her, he decided to try to give her some practice.

"Alright, let's try this for real now. Hi. I'm James.", He smiled and stuck his hand out. She pressed her palm on his and jiggled her hand... Okay, badly animated cartoons aren't the best teachers but the concept is there.

She took her time forming her words before replying, "I am C.. Ahrworwa."

"I am an engineer."

She cocked her head. Right. Small words...then again, there are better options. He searched up images of engineers at work, and she quickly understood, and let out a gentle series of trills and clicks before attempting to copy him. "En..jshean..air."

"...Close enough. Good.", he smiled, and his smile broadened when she shimmered blue for a moment. "I'm an engineer. You?"

He should have anticipated the chittering that she responded with. When he pursed his lips and didn't answer back, she looked around his desk and grabbed a pen and paper. In moments, a rough sketch of a strange shape was drawn out. He furrowed his eyebrows and glanced between her and the paper.

She huffed and continued sketching. After some time, he recognized it as the ship the aliens had crashed in from the news coverage two years ago. She drew up what could only be an extremely complicated circuit and a strange contraption in the side, and some lines showing where they were inside the ship. That was still confusing, and he remembered the cards before flashing the white one several times.

She stood quickly, rummaging through his drawers until she found an old laptop, and then took the bottom and back apart before reconnecting several places and removing the memory sticks. He was just as confused. Her spots flickered a gentle orange and she shoved it aside.

"Let's...move on. What do you do for fun?"

She blinked twice and said back, "Fffhun."

"Yeah, fun. Play."

She perked up and smiled, "Ha! Plllay. Fhun...I..." Her smile faded, dull blue working its way up her spine and head. "I...no fhun. No pllay."

James couldn't sit still as tears started to form in her large eyes. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her into a hug. He saw a brief flash of red, before green took it's place and she hesitantly returned the gesture.

After several minutes of staying like that, he tugged her into the living room and put on another oceanic documentary. She shimmered blue and wedged herself into the corner of the sofa. Eventually, she fell asleep, and he carried her to the tub. He didn't bother undressing her, thinking she'd probably not be alright with someone she hardly knew stripping what little clothing she did now have off of her, and went to bed.