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Mayumi climbed down from a step stool after reaching for something from a top shelf. It was obvious it’d been made for Faunus’ height.

“Because,” Mayumi said, glancing back at her, “that one bites.”

That made Emerie stiffen.

With another bawk, the little Duskwalker opened their gaping maw on a yawn. Their purple tongue swiped across their entire face, and it oddly reminded her of a gecko licking its eye.

“We’ve taken to naming them what they’re like,” Faunus stated from his bag chair. His tail tapped and curled against the ground lazily, even when he moved to stroke his hand down the one lying on his sternum. “That one’s Bitey, this one is Sleepy.”

Her features crinkled into a frown. “You’re not going to give them proper names?”

Faunus shrugged as he let out the weirdest, snapping meow, and Bitey squealed as they bolted for him. They were surprisingly spritely and speedy.

“I was called Kitty for a long time until Mayumi gave me a new name. I was called something else by my mother, but I don’t remember it, and I don’t care to. They will also forget, so what’s the point when I would rather meet them and learn their proper names after they have found them?”

Emerie guessed that was one way to look at it.

Her gaze drifted to Ingram sitting on the floor by her, and he was staring at the babies across the room with dark-yellow orbs of curiosity. He’d tried to figure out a way to sit comfortably on the chair at the dining table but had been unsuccessful due to the thick, wide base of his tail.

Apparently, it was also the reason they hadn’t shoved a pair of pants at him, since it would just get in the way.

Once he turned his curious gaze to Emerie, she averted her eyes as quickly as possible.Don’t get any ideas, Duskwalker.To avoid him, she chose to look at Reia, who was just staring at the table with a heart-wrenching, despondent gaze.

She seemed lost, which was so different to the overconfident woman she’d met yesterday. By the dark and noticeable smudges under her eyes in comparison to her general paleness, it didn’t seem like she’d slept well.

She’s really upset that Orpheus didn’t return last night.

She’d stayed at Delora and Magnar’s home in order to give Orpheus space. She’d come here this morning, since Emerie and Ingram were already imposing on Mayumi and Faunus.

“I know I said it when you waltzed in here, but I’ll say it again.” Mayumi regarded her morose friend shrewdly as she laid down a berry porridge in front of each of them. “You look like shit, Reia. Go home.”

“I can’t do that,” Reia said while shaking her head. She reached for her spoon to play with her food, rather than eat it.

“I’m sure Orpheus would prefer you near,” Mayumi rebutted while climbing onto the big chair that was obviously made for Faunus. “Out of all the Duskwalkers, he’s the most... clingy.”

“I know,” she mumbled, plopping porridge into her bowl. “Which is why, if he wanted me with him right now, he would have collected me from Delora’s. Ireallymiss him, but I’m worried if I go home, he’ll just want more space and go off by himself into the Veil. I don’t want him to endanger himself.”

Emerie’s eyes crinkled in sympathy for her, yet she found Reia’s care for Orpheus sweet. She was willing to put herself through a tough situation and be away from him, just to make sure he remained safe.

Mayumi’s lips tightened, but she didn’t argue back.

Like he didn’t care for the conversation, Ingram reached up to steal Emerie’s bowl before she could dig into it. He pressed the tip of his claw into her food and stole a piece of fruit with the very point.

“What is this called?” he asked, eyeing the red berry he’d taken. He sniffed at the freshly cut open half.

Emerie took her bowl back and then placed it as far from him as she could. Porridge was one of her favourite breakfasts, and she’d be damned if she let this Duskwalker play with it.

“It’s a strawberry,” Reia muttered, as if she was used to having to answer random questions.

“A strawberry. I see...” He placed his other hand over his beak in thought, before gesturing it towards Emerie. “This smells like you, along with something else, but I am not sure what. A flower of some kind. It is nice to have a name for it.”

“I smell like strawberries and a flower?”

“Delora has a bunch of flowers at her place,” Mayumi said around a mouthful of food, chewing obnoxiously. “Maybe go through her garden and see if you can find it.”

Emerie just looked at her, bewildered, unsure of why she was encouraging this weird conversation. Noticing this, Mayumi’s eyes crinkled with humour.

Faunus lifted his head to look at them. “I don’t smell strawberries from her, but I do smell a hint of primrose.” He plopped his head back down. “Mayumi smells better. Like pumpkin and sleep.”