Clemente
It feels strange to put his trust in someone again, after so many years with only the barest connections of alliance to the other orphans and homeless. 'Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' was about the extent of his trust abilities from then. It would take quite a while for her to win him over fully, but she had already done so much for him. Calming and educating him, taking him into her home, offering to keep him safe during a dangerous stretch of time in this land. It's more than anyone else has done for him, except perhaps Dante. The thought of his best friend makes him ache in a way his body can no longer feel, but which still hurts all over. Instead he focuses on a different name, one that makes him crinkle his brows and think hard about their past conversations. He had learned so much in the short time they'd had together. Had Bastien been mentioned? Either way he can at least tell that he's precious to her, with the way she smiles and speaks so fondly of him. "Is he your husband?" he clarifies, trying to make the connection. He's not particularly enthused about meeting the man. Or any man really, with all he's had to endure at their hands. But if Rexanna is married to him, maybe he can't be that terrible.
Though Clem doubts that they'll love him - doubts that Rexanna is even tolerating him more than necessary to ease the burden of her need to help any kind of child - he smiles crookedly at the woman and nods a little. "If you don't get sicka me by then," he grins, flaunting his white teeth to hide the shadow of fear in his eyes. His own mother hadn't wanted him, why would she?
i stopped being a kid the day
you sent me down here to die
