Bring back native buddy — shouldn't require replacing the status line

Bring back native buddy in the status line

The built-in coding buddy (Pixel the goose, etc.) was available natively in the Claude Code status line for about a week before being removed. It was a great touch — a small personality that reacted to what was happening in the session.

The community MCP plugin (claude-buddy) recreates this but has a significant drawback: it replaces the status line entirely. Users have to choose between their buddy and a functional status line (which many customize to show git branch, usage stats, costs, etc.).

Suggestion

Bring back the native buddy as a dedicated slot — either:

• A separate line/area from the status line
• An optional prefix/suffix to the existing status line
• A configurable position that coexists with custom statusLine commands

The buddy shouldn't require sacrificing the status line to exist.