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Yin Cang was for once taking a leisurely stroll on the school grounds. Or so it seemed. With the knowledge that hunting was allowed on school grounds he was quietly searching for prime hunting locations for future references, just in case times got bad of course. Being eligible for free/reduced lunch didn't help that much in the long run.

He was mostly enjoying the day when he noticed a slight figure crouched next to several packages shaking out her arms. Drawing closer he was surprised to realize that he knew this ghoul. Or at least, knew who she was. With that knowledge he really could not just leave her alone while she was struggling.

"Miss Xiu-Ying," he called out in greeting as he neared. "Do you require assistance?" Without actually waiting for an answer he reached down and scooped up the bags, two in each abnormally large hand. It was one thing to be required to carry bags, and quite another to offer the service willingly he decided. "Where shall I take these?

Yin debated her request. It was true that he was no longer required to carry bags, but the ghoul was tiny, and fairly nice, and actually bothered to call him by his real name. In fact, she was probably the only one who remembered it. And they were not too heavy, not for him. But she seemed distressed and she was reaching out toward him.

So he compromised her compromise. Trying not to touch her he put one for the bags from his left hand into her right, and then, carrying remaining three, turned toward the direction that she had indicated. "It would not be troublesome just to carry these to the demon dorms," he informed her as he began walking. "May I be so bold as to ask what you have bought?" The question was half curiosity, half trying to ensure that she talked about a rather safe subject.

She thanked me. She thanked me. He had handed her back a bag and she was thanking him. Thanks were not completely unheard of from females to males, but they were rare. After all, who thanked the broom for sweeping? He went from doing the favor to be nice to actually enjoying it, feeling somewhat welcome. Xiu-Ying was a fairly nice ghoul, and while he'd be in the next building if she attempted to make a move on him, she seemed to be fairly safe.

At the mention of food he began to pay closer attention. She cooked? But then she began to mention vegetables. It was hard to keep the grimace of distaste off of his face, the memory of the carrot he had been forced to eat surfacing. Fruits were barely better, but still nothing to like. Meat? Meat was good. But if it was the last thing that she had mentioned it may have been an after thought.

"You cook for yourself?" He asked, somewhat curious that she would do such a mundane task for herself. But perhaps she cooked as an art form, there were some that were quite passionate about cooking. "Is cooking a hobby of yours?"

He nodded as she talked. Females often had hobbies, things that they did not need to do but enjoyed. He had been one of the lucky males that was training to do what he loved, but hobbies were almost a silly idea for a boil. At least Miss Xiu-Ying had a useful hobby.

"Vegetables do not really agree with my kind," was his answer. It was true, while technically he could eat a vegetable, if he ate a significant quantity it was a very real possibility that he would be somewhat ill for a time. "I believe some plants are used for seasoning, but any large pieces are removed prior to serving." He gave her an apologetic look. "I fear that I have little knowledge of the art of cooking. However, I can hunt, so if nothing else I can generally find my own food. Lately most of my nutrition has come from the rats that permeate the Monster Dorms."

Everyone seemed to think that rats were a bad food source for some reason. Well, everyone but Alexander, who had also bitten a chunk out of the giant JOYful rat. "I have found some problems in finding a way to cook them," he admitted. "I do not prefer to eat them raw, but in the case of an emergency raw is acceptable." There was no way to cook them in his room, and very few options left to him, considering that he did not own any cooking utensils. If you skinned and ate them quickly enough they were still warm at least.

By that point they had reached the familiar doors to the demon dorms. He was fully prepared to take the bags as far as she needed him to, so he was slightly surprised when she halted. "You are welcome," he responded. But then she went on to offer him an invitation.

He tried not to panic at the offer. Carrying something to her room was not a big deal. Being in her room was quite another. He had presumed she was safe, but what if she was not? She seemed so small and nice but he should know better than anyone not to underestimate a ghoul. Some of the most docile ones in appearance could be the hardest to please.

He probably would have shoved the bags at her right and fled right then and there if she had not added that magical word. Friend. Here was another female trying to befriend him. Something must be different about demon ghouls, he mused as he tried to think of a polite way to refuse. "Surely the ingredients needed are worth far more than what you should give to the likes of me Miss Xiu-Ying. I will gladly take the bags to where you cook, but there is truly no need to repay me."

The weremantis knew that other dorms were larger than his own single room, having seen both Miss Danny and one reaper boil's room, but the idea that he could have a kitchen was slightly amusing. "There is no place for a fire in my room, though I do have a sink," he explained.

Though he had been trying to remind himself that ghouls were not the same outside of the Clan, having one tell him that he was her equal caused him to stumble, barely managing to salvage himself before he fell. Head reeling he barely managed to hear the next thing that she said. Demon or monster? Did that mean...the factions were not on equal ground?

This was the first that he had ever heard of such. Of course he had known about other species and the five factions growing up, the Clan traded at the borders, and so they were taught about other, inferior clans and races growing up. But the way that she said it...were demons higher by right than monsters? Where were monsters ranked at? Was he lower than Alexander in social rank, was it out of pity that the boil bothered to talk to him? Was he naturally inferior to Mitzi and the reaper boil because of his faction? Probably. The reaper and demon dorms looked much nicer than the monster ones.

He was spiraling into a state of devastation when the ghoul spoke up again. "Miss Xiu-Ying, there is no reason for you to speak so highly of me." His cheeks burned, and his stomach twisted. If she was willing to speak so highly to him what might be her next step? He realized he had no idea if she had chosen a boil or not. This whole idea of helping her out was stupid. What on earth was he doing? Desperate to get the attention off of himself he tried to turn the tables a bit. "Is being a demon very different than being a monster?"

"I eat in the cafeteria almost daily," he assured her. "The school has provided me with a voucher for one basic meal a day." It was really rather generous of them, and rather crucial to his survival as well. With a grand total of one pumpkin seed to his name (he had found it on the ground), he really was not in any condition to purchase anything.

He was once again put at ease as she dropped the "Mr." from his name, and he tried to listen to her attentively. So maybe it was not that big of a deal. He relaxed a bit, concern still there but no longer on the forefront of his mind as he followed her up the stairs.

A couple of steps up he realized what was coming next, and all but scrambled to reach the top first so he could get the door for her, holding it open when the hand that was carrying only one bag. "You are most kind Miss Xiu-Ying," he said with a slight dip of his head. Now she was finally voicing how she truly felt, giving him a polite way to refuse her offer.

And for some reason he found himself blurting out, "if you do not mind I may join you for lunch. I am curious to see what type of dishes you prepare." It took him a moment to realize what he had just said, and even longer for him to try to work out why he had said it. One thing stuck out at him. He was just being contrary.