[This earns a tilt of the head and a chuckle from Reeve.]

My cat? No poetic license involved, just lots of parts! I thought I'd build an animal companion.
He can't cook either, but then I couldn't have taught him to-- I can't, myself.

City-dweller that I am, I'm more used to buying my food-- most of the food available here still needs cooking. Will you be able to manage without your "mouse's" efforts?
[This is said winkingly-- it looks to Reeve as if Fiorel could handle pretty much anything just fine.]