"Has to be." Jaden replied.

"We shouldn't have to hide who we are." he told her.

"But I'm going to search for a place." he then said.

"I'll let you know what I find." he said further.

"Anyway, want something to eat or drink?" he then asked her.

"Or are you good for now?"

Jaden just sighed.

"Yeah." he said.

"I survived." he said further.

"...but only thanks to you." he went on.

"If it hadn't been for you, they would have killed me." he continued, biting his lip some.

"Guess it was lucky for me you were nearby, or hear me, or whatever." he then said further.

"Honing in on my head?" Jaden asked.

"....ah! Right. Draydins are telepaths." he remembered, snapping his fingers.

"...also, yeah. I suppose that's correct." he then said.

"I'm the roof over your head, and I'm what keeps the Triad away." he said further, his tone a little more deadpan.

"Well, congrats. You still have said roof, and the Triad will still keep away from you." he told her.

"Guessing they've been on your ass because of the... fights... you get into." he then guessed.

"....shouldn't even exist?" Jaden asked.

"Yeah... I know that feeling." he lamented.

"But... what do you mean by that?" he asked her. "Is it because you're bound to a human form?" he asked further, before pausing.

"Or... hm... how do I put this...?" he then mumbled, thinking for a moment.

"Does it have to do with the fact that... when I smell your blood... I'm... somehow reminded of, like... the sea?"

"....wow." Jaden muttered.

"Half lantha." he said.

"I... well, I'll be honest, I never would have guessed that." he admitted.

"Guess it... DOES explain a lotta things." he then muttered.

"But... well... yeah. Hm." he mumbled, scratching the back of his head.

"Anyway, I should get to searching for a place to move to." he went on.

"You fine with moving outta the country, if it ends up the best option is out there?" he asked.

"Any by that, I mean, like, just crossing the border." he then clarified.

"No. No tropics." Jaden replied.

"I hate the tropics." he said.

"Too much sun. Too hot. I burn too easily." he mumbled.

"And not just because I'm a dhampir." he went on.

"It's... well... I'm quite pale even for a dhampir, really." he continued.

"The SPF I need on sunscreen is... insane."

Jaden just shrugged.

"Can't say I have." he responded. "Kinda hard to find quality natural options around here." he admitted. "Most places that advertise their stuff as 'natural' or 'organic' are either flat-out lying, or are using weird chemicals that are hard to pick up with conventional testing." he went on.

"...or they just tell you to smear some aloe on your pits and eat locally grown vegetable until you hopefully forget about your problems." he then mumbled.

"If you could cook something up to protect my skin, that'd be awesome." he admitted.

"So they say." Jaden responded.

"But yeah, sure, see if you can't make something up." he told her.

"I'M gonna start searching for a new place for us to move to." he said.

".....hm." he then mumbled, as he started to move forward.

"Just need a place that fits the criteria, is all."

"Well, it DOES help that I'm not super picky." Jaden responded.

"And... er... well, price isn't... really an option." he muttered.

"Don't ask why." he told her.

"Just... don't." he repeated.

"Oh, and on the off chance I find a place that's situated right near a forest, do you have a preference as to whether or not there are animals in it?" he asked.

"Just because some forests have been designated as miniature 'preserve zones' for certain mythic critters and such."

"Fine, fine, that's fine." Jaden replied.

"And I know about Draydins and animals. I've just not seen you interact with any, as there's not very many around her, and for all I knew, you could be an exception to the rule." he reasoned.

"I'd rather ask a potentially stupid question, than assume the answer and be made a complete idiot." he told her.

"Regardless, good to know." he said.

"I'll start searching. Feel free to start... well... doing whatever."