Chéri nodded and was ready to get up, but Sonia made a request to the maid instead. Chéri waited to be handed the magic potion. It was beautiful “Did you buy this?” They asked, with a secondary meaning that needed first an answer. Chéri smiled and said “It smells like this in Provence, near the coast. The people there make perfumes out of the flowers. They have been doing that since before my grandfather.” Which, in Chéri’s own unique language, meant “for centuries.”

Sonia looked at them and Chéri looked back. They knew not to put anything in their eyes when looking at her. Sonia was his peer and and such they were sure she could read them as much as they could read her. Chéri smiled and shook their head “I don’t remember what it is like to feel home. I am not even sure what it should feel like anymore. But so far, I am happy enough here.”