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Varian glanced, shoving something that was trying to fall out of the closet, back onto the shelf. "Oh." He looked at the rag, then gently took it.. He went over to wipe the table clean, and then dealt with the small box full of metal parts and the goggles Alunma had picked up.

Just as he turned around and walked off, Alunma pointed out the curtains. He stopped, not speaking for a few seconds. "It's not a pantry." He said a bit quietly, then turned to face her, then noticed she had her hands on the curtain. He quickly set the box down and then put his hand on the curtain to keep her from opening it. "It's not a pantry." He repeated, furrowing his brow. "It's...something, but it's not a pantry." Varian said... But then he accidentally slid his hand down too roughly and the pins that held the curtain popped off and bounced across the room and dropping the curtain.

It...was some kind of...shrine?

There was flowers, some of them wilted; but Varian had a chemical compound to fix that with. There was also unlit candles surrounding the platform along with the flowers. On the small platform was a picture frame of a woman with black hair, a red shirt with a brown tunic over it, and the most angry glare she could manage without looking like she wanted to stab you... There was a golden heart locket placed near the picture too, it probably had another picture of her. There was also a small knife hanging up in the back of the display, along with a few pieces of a torn, blue Lady-in-Waiting veil.

Varian didn't even move, he just stood there...
If someone were to look closely, they could see that...he was...sad?

Alunma backed away from the shrine with reflexes akin to a cat as she then looked at the shrine before tilting her head. She wasn't too familiar with shrines, but in her homeland, they were usually used for prayer or a homage to a lost loved one. Either way, it was obvious that whoever this was, she must've been very close to Varian.

Alunma didn't have or want to ask if this lady was still alive. It was clear by the expression of the other that she wasn't just a friend, but maybe someone closer. She wanted to ask who she was, but her words got caught in her throat as Varian's subtle sad glare was strong enough to make Alunma start feeling a bit down, she gently gathered the curtain that fell before quietly approaching Varian and put a small hand on the others gloved on. She would ask later when he wasn't so sad.

It was obvious he needed help though, and Alunma decided right then and there that she could ask for help in finding her parents later. She had to help Varian first.

"Varian," she started before gently tugging on his gloved hand. "Why don't you sit down somewhere and I'll... make your hot chocolate?" She offered, tilting her head as her look was sincere. She did this multiple times, not with Varian of course but with her father when he needed to be reminded that even the leader of an illegal fighting rink needs sleep and food and to take breaks from trying to find her other parent.

Alunma was only 7, yet she was very good at caring for others since she was surrounded by people that were very good at caring for her.

"How about we get to know each other too? I can tell you the stories my pa used to tell me if you'd like. I can show you how to plant seeds from a tomato too if you want." She offered, trying to distract the other as she lead him to a place where he could sit as she was offering to provide him the care that Varian was starving of. "And I and Ruddiger can clean while you settle down and relax." She said with a sweet smile, turning to her new furry friend reassuringly.

"Where's the real pantry and stove, Varian? I'll make you something and tell you a story to make you feel better."

Varian looked at Alunma when she grabbed his hand, he had almost pulled away but he just...didn't.

"I...No, I can do it myself, really, you don't have to." Varian shook his head and gently pulled his hand away from Alunma's hand. Varian went to walk off but Alunma added something to what she had said so he stopped. He sighed carefully and turned around. "You know what? Sure, that...sounds like fun." Varian said, it was awkwardly said, but it had mixed emotion. The emotions were too mixed together to understand which emotions were what, but damn if Varian wasn't having emotions right now.

Ruddiger looked at Alunma, then at Varian, and chattered. Varian smiled at Ruddiger, it was small however. "The pantry, stove...pantry and stove, in the kitchen, I'll...show you." Varian beckoned her and Ruddiger, going out of his laboratory to head down the small hallway to get to the kitchen.

He opened one of the doors, there wasn't much, but it was enough for Varian to get by. There was a canister of hot chocolate mix sitting inside it too. "Stove is over there, be careful though, it's dangerous for kids as young as you." Varian said, pointing at it. "As for me, I'm...heading back in my laboratory. Ruddiger, make sure Alunma doesn't burn herself, okay?" He said, walking. Ruddiger chattered and crawled onto Alunma's shoulder and curled his tail gently around the back of her neck happily.

Varian headed back to the shrine. He stood there quietly, looking at the picture, then he reached into his apron pocket, grabbed a box of matches, struck one and began lighting the candles. He waved the matchsticks flame away once he was done and put the used match aside. Then put the box back in his apron pocket, then he knelt down and just sat there on his knees with this sad look in his eyes. Varian reached a hand out towards the photo and touched it, his eyes prickling with tears...

...Varian was crying.