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Riyo didn't say a word. She didn't look at him when he laughed, or when he shrunk back down to plump status. Instead, she simply plucked the cat off the ground, sat him on her lap, and curled her body up so less heat would escape. No, giving up got her nothing. Akubi, however, got everything.

Riyo couldn't particularly say she enjoyed his tone, but she was determined to be nonchalant. "No, my head just pierced a hole in this ice house and my tail was almost crushed under you, but I'm perfectly fine." The sarcasm in her voice was thick, and though she was trying to appear unmoved, her tail still thumped on the ground next to her.

"... What happened to your tail?" Upset or not, Riyo was still a curious creature.

Oh, that one got her goat. "No, and I don't appreciate even the slightest implication that I might be some kind of common whore." For that moment, her voice was as frigid as the wind leaking in from the hole in the roof. Even though Deacon had managed to fool her into believing he was just a common cat from around the block for months. That one wasn't her fault... Not that she'd stopped taking in strays.

But, Riyo started to calm as he regaled the story of his childhood. Foundling? What the hell did that mean? He was adopted? "I see." She'd never met a cat with a cropped tail before. Most likely why she'd asked.

... And then he had to go and ruin everything again. The feline seemed to tense again at such an awful question. "N-no! Of course I'm not. Why would I be?" She was, but more than that she was afraid of physical contact. Much less than she had been at the beginning, hence being fully aware of the cat boil and not absolutely flipping her s**t, but it was still there. Her eyes darted to the side, not that he could really make eye contact with her. "Afraid of boils. What an absurd question."

Well... He'd certainly called it on that one. Riyo's ears drooped at his words, because for the first time she'd been called on it. No, she didn't very much enjoy it when the boils actually shot back at her instead of leaving it be but one didn't like the medicine that made them better either.

Though she didn't appear ready to admit her fears. Not when people often exploited them for amusement. "There is nothing wrong with being uncomfortable over having someone I've just met sitting in my lap." even if she'd been much more than just uncomfortable.

Nice to know she'd won something tonight. It was a small victory in a series of losing battles, however. He wasn't letting her get away with anything. And honestly, a small part of her felt...

Grateful? Well, maybe. Everyone else was always so anxious to throw in the towel when she put her grump face on. He wasn't threatened by her, and while that made her both nervous and miffed, it was also slightly comforting... Which was strange and she had no intention of admitting such a thing.

The boil's purrs were met with an awkward growl that had not come from her mouth, but from her stomach. Hunger was setting in. Riyo made no attempt to apologize for or even acknowledge her body was causing a ruckus, but instead reached into her bag for one of the tuna cans.

It was probably a good thing he didnt poke her. Things were quiet now. No need to go back to the screeching. Whether she saw his grin or not, it didn't appear she'd be acknowledging such. "I suppose." The ghoul started peeling back the lid, a savory fish aroma filling the air. "These have to last me a week, though." Which was both strange and sad, considering she only had 5 cans.

Riyo reached into her pocket and pulled out one of those handy knives with all the different utensils, including a spork.

Riyo's expression grew serious when he asked about her friends, flicking out the spork quietly. "I could never ask them for food." She replied simply. "I already feel like them putting up with me is asking too much." She was hard to deal with. The feline was most certainly aware of that, but she didn't want to cross the line and become a burden as well.

She took the first bite of her small meal just as he made his offer, Her brows furrowing shortly after. "You barely even know me, and I imagine you've already noticed I'm not the most pleasant ghoul to be around. Why offer?" It was a sincere question.

Once again, it was her paranoia rather than the actual situation. "I never expected they'd actively try to make me feel like a burden..." They wouldn't. Well, Titus probably would, but whether she could consider him an actual friend was questionable. "Let me put it to you this way. I went from taking care of every aspect and need of my life to struggling just to take care of one. I've been alone since I was about 10 years old. It's easier to go hungry than become dependent on someone else."

His points on why he'd share were valid, however. And the fact that some reasons were selfish didn't preturb her. After all, Riyo was very selfish. She seemed to contemplate his offer for a long time, quietly nibbling on her shredded fish as she did so. "... Fine. But only until I can support myself again." Which might be awhile. She'd pissed off a looooot of people.

Then the ghoul thought about something else. She glanced down at the cat boil for mere moments before looking away on frustration and offering the can down to him. There was still half left.