Having lived on a professor's monkey for most of his life, Francœur had the opportunity to see and learn many things. American Sign Language was not one of them, however. At least he knew what the signs meant. The boy could not speak.

He said a chirp, which did not help, but he held his hand out as if motioning Joey to wait. He removed the crystal ring from his gloved finger and he held it delicately. While his own hands were large, his fingers were quite slim; the ring should fit the boy. Magic was not necessary to use it; after all, Francœur himself was no more magical than the average flea. He was just a mutant.

He moved a hand, pointing at the ring, then he held his palm out to the boy, and finally, he mimicked drawing the words on the air. He chirped with every gesture and ended with a happy, drawn out set of clicks.