"Oh?"

"Made a friend, and people bought our reason for looking for Vanessa. And got it established I'm a solitary emotion-eater. So, reasonable for me to hang around crowded areas without eating."

He nods.  "That does sound like a cover story that will serve you well.  - Is your, ah, contact, also a solitary emotion-eater, by any chance?"

" - Ah no. Though I'm adding 'human vat meat' to lists, apparently there're obligate cannibals who feel bad about it - "

"...of course there are, how could I not have guessed.  In your estimation, will you be in any danger from this person if they discover that you are a human?"

"Nah, he doesn't hunt. Felt pretty sincere about that. Worst thing he might do is rat me out, but I think if I was there I could talk him out of it."

He nods.  "It will probably be useful to have a contact in the demonic underworld.  - you can probably anticipate that I also think it's a better idea to have one who isn't a vampire."

"Probably, yeah. Vamps don't seem all too interested in flirty girls anyways."

If there's nothing else to discuss, he'll convey her to her family's motel room.

She'll be conveyed.

She's a bit clingy with Kaylee the next school day.

Side hugs and shoulder rubs.  "Did it go okay?"

Wibbly hand. "Got what we came in for. Just. Kind of upsetting, even the assholes aren't black and white..."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Just... There was this guy. Kind of nice. Pleasant to talk to. Obligate cannibal and felt kind of vaguely guilty about it in a way that makes me feel bad for not being vegetarian."

"Oh jeez... for what it's worth, I think there is probably a moral difference between eating animals and eating humans.  But."

"Yeah. Just. The attitude."

Squeeze.  "You said vaguely guilty...?"

"I know animals aren't like humans, but... He's probably thinking humans aren't like demons, you know? So, like, just, seeing something similar."

She nods.  "That makes sense.  He sounds like - a really tough person to have to talk to.  Did you wind up having to tell him you were a human?"

"No. He asked what I was, but I said an emotion-eating demon."

"...I don't even know if that's better or worse."

"Let me know if there's anything you need, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Kaylee."

"What are friends for."

"Apparently helping me feel better!"

Grin.