Chéri was more comfortable than they had been in a while. Plus, they were eating and everything else seemed to matter way less when there was food they could have.

Not realising how bothersome their stare was, Chéri kept looking. Even if they did realise their stare was bothersome, maybe they wouldn’t have stopped, it was part of them, to look at others as if they were meant to uncover a deeper truth.

Chéri this time nodded and said nothing. No need for “thank you”, they repeated to themselves.

Chéri was quickly halfway through the soup and their focus was not diverted from it until Malachi asked the question.

Chéri stopped for a moment and looked in front of themselves “I will look for a job. There is a lot I can do and I am not afraid to work. Also, I am not stupid.” They said, probably used to be underestimated because of their feminine qualities, their frilly clothes and their less than refined speech. But why they felt the need to let Malachi specifically know was unclear, possibly even to them.