"Uh. Yeah?" How does he even answer that question? Whatever. But when they make the few strides down to House Six, it's pretty obvious it's not just about dogs. There's a little croc-dog sitting on the stoop waiting for Frank to come home while a lynx paces and takes a peek into all the windows. There's a groffle and a zalpaca grazing in a pen in the backyard as well, and he opens the door with his free hand. Usually he'd make the menagerie wait for him, but he lets them go on ahead so they don't trip Clara up or separate his hand from her arm. Then he's guiding her inside with a hand touching at her opposite shoulder briefly.

The inside of the house is bright and neat, but lived in. And there's a bowl of water on the floor Aloe and the croc-dog immediately start fighting over while Aretha stretches out on the couch and the cat runs upstairs.

"You want some tea?"