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You figure that helping the delivery pengu could be beneficial in keeping the full brunt of the heat off of you. Plus, it gives you a better cover.

"Yeah, I know where that is. I'm actually going to visit her now. We know each other."

They do a little joyful hop.

"Wonderful! Oh thank you, thank you."

You chuckle a bit to yourself at seeing the little guy do their thing. It's been some time since you've had friendly interactions with people outside of the Bites. Most just avoid eye contact or talking to you entirely. Not that you've minded, or noticed, until now.

Feeling generous, you gesture. "How about I give you a ride up there? Just so you aren't running next to me."

They look at you with big sparkling eyes, "Really?"

You answer by crouching down to throw an arm around them then lifting them straight up. It's like picking up a package.

"Heheh it looks different up here. Onward!"

"Have you never been here before?"

"Eh, well, one other time. I work in the kitchen, but our usual guy's out sick."

You navigate to the elevator this time (now the delivery wolf of the delivery penguin), and when you stop on the 3rd floor, you know you're at the right place. The suspect's scent is faint outside of the apartment, since Eiko's scent masks it in waves that echo from her apartment door. Imperceptibly, your cheeks heat up as well.

The delivery pengu points to the wrong door. "Is that the one?"

For a moment, you wonder if they can read, and give them a pat before going straight to Eiko's apartment, 313. You take a deep breath before knocking.

The delivery pengu says something but you don't really process it, more concentrated on the door as you strain to hear her footsteps.. Your heart starting to beat in anticipation..



A click. The turn of the knob. Slowly, the door opens a few inches...

... You have no idea who you're looking at.

The person's eyes go downward first then up over your form in surprise, landing on the delivery pengu tucked under your arm, then back up to your face. You look back at her in confusion, the scent undeniable, but if this is..

Eiko's current form is so... small. Usually, she would tower about a foot over you.

When you make eye contact, you can see her eyes are bloodshot, tired, nearly vacant-- only briefly shifting to a mixture of suspicion. As subtly as you can manage, you sniff, her friendliness towards you tasting just as closed off as she appears, at 25%.

There's a slight creak to her voice, likely from dryness, her ears pulling backward, "..... Violet?"

The voice is unmistakable.

Your mind briefly goes blank, not having expected her to remember your name either, ".. Hie-Hi! Hey, Eiko."

Mercifully, the delivery pengu cheers, "Eiko! Delivery for you, hatchaha!"



When they start to wiggle, you move to set them down, your eyes still on Eiko as she turns her attention to them. They move to unzip their delivery bag, the smell of chinese food now tantalizingly filling the hallway.

"One chow mein! Two fried rice! One orange chicken! One broccoli beef! One honey walnut shrimp!"

Eiko watches them count off the food. Slowly, she seems to relax, almost giggle.

"Thanks, dude."

By pure association, she opens up just a bit more towards you, her friendliness increasing from 25% to 35%. You mentally sigh in relief at your successful maneuver.

As the delivery pengu sets the food down, you politely move to pick back up some of the cartons while Eiko pays in cash. For a moment, you want to tell the delivery pengu to stay and help lighten the mood...

Alas, their job is done, and they give a salute before waddling off.

Eiko looks back at you and picks up the rest of the food, her gaze moving down to her food in your hands.

Her tone this time is flat. "What do you want?"

You gesture sheepishly, about to say the cover story you thought of, but with the new knowledge you've learned you decide to keep it a little more vague.

"I was in the area and I came by to check in.. and that's when I ran into that little guy."

Her eyes narrow, and you can already sense the sharper words building on her tongue.



Abruptly, a door opens. A smell akin to mold and 5-day-old piss hits you hard enough to make your eyes water. You try to cover your nose with your claw as the nausea hits you right after, the acrid smell burrowing into your senses. It's moments like these that having a good sense of smell suddenly bites you in the ass.

Eiko wrinkles her nose before covering it too, a flash of annoyance clear on her face before she opens the door wider for you to come in, "Fuck, that's my neighbor Yuri. Just come in before he starts trying to talk to us."

You nod quickly, practically bolting inside, the door shutting behind you not even a second later. You barely have time to process the apartment as Eiko snatches all the food from your hands and heads to the living room.

Your head reels. With the door out of the way, you try to take in Eiko's form fully. She's... Small. Her wolf features more subdued. A towel hangs around her shoulders and there's a dampness to her hair.

You're not sure why, but you weren't expecting Eiko to be the type of wolfkin that had a human form. Nowadays, it's much more rare in this area, unless you're being changed. You don't know anyone personally that can shift. And neither can you. You've only heard stories of peoples' grandparents or great-great grandparents that could switch between.

Your eyes then trace the naked skin of her legs. Along her hands then wrists then arms. Faint traces of fur seem to dot certain areas. The rounded skin of her cheeks flushed from blood. Even along her neck, where her hair doesn't cover, it's exposed.

All that smooth skin... Your jaw instinctively opens half an inch, then closes, as you resist the urge to bite.

"How did you know where I live?" Eiko's back faces you as she asks.

>Hmm, 35% isn't great. If she's stronger than you, you're gonna have to build up to asking questions rather than come out with it and risk a confrontation.