This was a sensible suggestion for dealing with the buttons, and after observing the human at the task, Ax managed to put them all through the correct holes. He also removed the head covering and wrung as much water out of it as he could before replacing it.

"I am called Ax," he said, which had the advantages of being true, not distractingly difficult to pronounce with a human mouth, and, unlike his full name, not blatantly Andalite. "I arrived here..." He was forced to pause, because he was not certain of the exact passage of time, an ability he had not lost before in human morph. It was disconcerting. He put the thought aside, and continued, "Approximately, prox-ih-mit-lee, two of your hours ago. And I come from a place where we do not follow strange rituals with clothing-ing."

It appeared to be part of this particular ritual to exit the room as quickly as possible, so Ax nodded at the human to indicate he intended to complete their conversation. He had long since become very good at that gesture. "You have been helpful. What is your name?"