[@Xaltwind]

Honestly, that veneer of 'friendly and polite' is probably sufficient for Salem, who prefers surface-level relationships because Salem has Hedgehog's Dilemma in spades. Salem does feel a sense of camaraderie with the other NPCs, seeing them as fellow 'lost things' and monsters. Relationships are like playing 'House' for Salem; they're willing to pretend to be, and act the part of the 'little brother' if Ashara is willing to pretend to be, and act the part of the 'older sister'. Even if the relationship is not real (and even mildly uncomfortable for both parties), Salem is satisfied as long as someone indulges the farcical fantasy. It's like eating cotton, it has no nutritional value, but at least it staves off the hunger and feeling of emptiness, which ironically fits because there's a lot of stuffed animals in the City of Lost Things.

On that note, Salem probably sees Graft like an uncle, Mamoru, Chuunithulu, Kath, and Light as older sisters, and Kaldorna as an aunt.