She answers the door. Only polite to do so.

There's someone on the other side, of course. He's dressed fairly casually, but looks somewhat familiar.

"Hello!" he says, cheerfully. "I'm Maes Hughes. I was looking for the Curtis's, and heard on the grapevine they were staying here."

"Hello. You have found them, so it seems the rumors were accurate."

"Excellent! Can I come in, or at least speak to your mom or Major Tucker?"

"Yes, please come in." She opens the door all the way and steps aside. "Watch out for the dog."

"Oh, I don't mind dogs," he says, chuckling and stepping in -

And promptly getting barrelled into by Alexander.

The man stumbles, barely catching himself with his new face full of excited dog.

She did warn him.

"What a lovely dog," he says, sounding a bit strained as he pushes the dog off and shuts the door behind him.

"So... I'd like to talk to your mom, mostly, but you and your sister are welcome to hang around, and I'll probably say hi to Major Tucker while I'm here."

"I'll go see if I can find them."

"Thanks! I'll hang out here."

She trots off to find the adults.

Akira: is findable! Tucker appears to have locked himself into his study. Akira's pouring through thick medical textbooks, one hand on her head as she takes notes. She looks up when El enters.

"A man named Maes Hughes is here. He wants to talk to you."

"I'm not sure I've met him. Still, I'll come on down."

"He's in the front hall. With the dog."

"I better rescue him, then. Want to come along?"

"Sure."

She heads down - Bellona and September have apparently found Maes Hughes in the mean time, and September's playing with Alexander while Bellona and Maes chat.

"Hello," Akira says. "You wanted me?"

"Yeah! You must be Akira Curtis, then. Heard on the grapevine there was a medical alchemist applying this year, not from East City. Figured I'd swing by, be a friendly face, possibly get you updated on all the gossip. Welcome to the neighborhood and all that."

El goes over to lean against Bellona.

Bellona is very good for leaning on! She even won't dump her sister on the floor.

"Thanks for the welcome, though I'm a bit surprised the news is getting around this fast."

He laughs. "Gossip's arguably my job. Intelligence and all that. Speaking of - may we sit?"

"There's lots of space on the floor. Or the sitting room is through there."

"I might try for a chair - don't think I want my face in dog tongue range."

He heads into the sitting room.