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[center][hider="At least I don't have scales..."]
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[h2][center]Reeves Mansion[/center][/h2]

Padding through Ben’s room, Skyler made it his business to look at the various photos of a woman displayed within the four walls. Was this his mother? Skyler couldn’t recall seeing her in any other picture located anywhere within the mansion’s confines. A soft rumbling echoed through his belly and with a gentle sigh, he turned to the food brought in for Mushroom last night. Some salted meat and other canned items laid neatly stacked on the bedside table, and with few options, Skyler approached the food skeptically. [color=f26522]“Well, you like this stuff, don’t you?”[/color] He spoke, turning to look at Mushroom who was in turn happily waving his fluffy tail from one side to the other while looking at his owner. A bark escaped the dog’s chops right before he pawed forward on the bed in an attempt to get the affection he so desired. 

Raising a hand to place it on the dog’s form, Skyler absentmindedly ran his fingers through Mushroom’s fur as he was reading the labels on the cans. [color=f26522]“I’ll just wait…”[/color] The boy accepted defeat, returning the cans to their original position. [color=f26522]“You need breakfast, though.”[/color] He continued, wrapping his thin fingers around the can opener and began working on the metal.[color=f26522] “Hey, Mushy’.”[/color] The boy spoke, turning to look at his companion after lowering himself to the bed. [color=f26522]“This is Ben’s room. Heh, I’ve talked a lot about him, haven’t I? You must be sick of it.”[/color] Mushroom tilted his head slightly at the words, the dog’s large, brown eyes looking up at Skyler before the smell of food caught his attention. Moving closer to the can, Mushroom nearly shoved his snout onto the metal before being stopped by a giggling Skyler. [color=f26522]“Mushroom, you’ll hurt yourself.”[/color] The boy chuckled, lifting his hands to get the sharp metal away from his dog. 

Finally opening the container, Skyler poured its contents into a bowl which had been provided and saw how Mushroom immediately pawed himself to the floor to eat breakfast. The sight was somewhat melancholy, bringing back memories of what had transpired when Skyler found his beloved companion malnourished and neglected. Clenching his needle-sharp teeth, the boy ascended to his feet before once more exploring the room, an escape from his thoughts. 

Placing his hands on a picture frame, he raised it carefully to get a better view. This woman was incredibly pretty, and there was an aura about her which was absent in every other picture Skyler had previously passed. They seemed somewhat stiff and lifeless whereas this woman appeared genuine and softhearted. Perhaps he was reading into it, but parental figures had become somewhat of an interest for Skyler. The people he grew up with couldn’t possibly be his biological parents, could they? Returning the picture to the bedside table, Skyler made his way towards the window and moved the curtains from place to gaze out across the backyard. It was quite lovely, something out of a storybook. 

Did Ben spend his life here? It felt a bit creepy to look around the way Skyler was doing, as if he was a stalker, but being locked up in this room left little else to do. 

If that wolf from before truly was Ben, the two of them had something in common, at least. They were both going through changes they had no control over, and they both struggled with the thought of hurting those around them. Skyler knew a thing or two about animals, and what the giant wolf he had met acted like, was a puppy. Ben was many things but playful wasn’t one of them. Given that simple truth, it was easy to draw the conclusion that something else changed, apart from his appearance, when he transformed. [color=f26522]“The closest I’ve ever been to you, and it required our worlds to be turned upside down…”[/color] The Efreet sighed, turning to look at Mushroom. At least the dog appeared without worry, that was always something. [color=f26522]“When he comes home, he’ll probably freak out about us being here, Mushroom…”[/color] Skyler continued, catching the canine’s attention at the mention of his name. A bark escaped the dog before he continued to eat. 

[color=f26522]“Have you ever had a crush on anyone before, ‘Shroomy?”[/color] Skyler asked halfway jokingly as he dropped down to bed, laying his head on the pillow. “[color=f26522]It sucks…” [/color]