Originally Posted by Zayir
Pet : "a word of endearment". He is calling Tav "pet" even before the ascension. I am not from the UK, but I read, that "pet" is or was common there somewhere (maybe someone from this region knows better). I also saw a character calling a woman "pet" in a positive or playful way in a late 19th century setting in England.

From a quote: "pet" is short for French "petit" from which they get the English word petty (adj. late 14c). And "Pet" is a term of endearment because a beloved, especially a child, is thought of as small.

Yes, it can mean that. In this context though, I read it differently. Tav is given the option to object to it, because "It doesn't sound like a joke, it sounds like you mean it". If it was just supposed to be a sweet term of endearment, I think it would have been set up differently.