Black Sparrows

Well, immediately after hearing that, it's safe to say a load was heaved off our backs, only for a new one to be effortlessly thrust on to us.
That is, a solution to our problem effectively eliminated the problem, but also introduced itself as its own headache.
How could this girl, born hours ago, a monster, emerged from a fleshy carapace rather than a womb, coated in scarlet and teeth sharper than any vampire I had seen, especially the one in the mirror (figuratively, of course, or when my Rabbit Hole is in effect, or my connection to Char is shaky), have a family?
Well, you would have to have a pretty rigid notion of family to think like that.
Rather, aren't those kinds of people too obstinate about definitions?
A denotation is good and all, but getting the point across needs more than a couple words of stiff explanation.
My point is, Sorrow's bewilderment betrayed that kind of stuck-up, law-abiding nature of his.
Either that, or his view of monsters hadn't changed all that much after working here for so long, meeting me and watching out little farce unfold in my apartment coated in tangerine sunbeams.
Something else was rigidly fixed in place inside that straight-man head of his.
An altogether too serious view of the world meant it was difficult to shake anything loose.
If you screw in the armour plates too hard, how is your models ever going to adapt to any changes that come its way?
"Your family, is it? We can work out something that may appease you and, possibly, your family, considering your young nature and dainty figure, I assume they were reluctant to let you slip from their fingers."
"...a family? But what could that possibly mean? Please, I'm not trying to be harsh here, miss, but what exactly do you mean by family?"
"Huh? What else do I mean apart from family? My family. The people that I have blood relations to. I've never met some of them, of course, but the same red liquid runs beneath our skin?"
I suppose Sorrow isn't the only one with a rigid sense of family.
Rather, for her to think of family as nothing but blood relatives means two things to me currently.
One, that her mind works in a very different way from the rest of us.
Sure, it can be put up to individual, Sorrow-esque quirks, but more so, her attitude and ways of thinking, therefore her actions and behaviour, all seemed inhuman.
Two, that she has some kind of fixation on blood that extends beyond hunger or thirst, to the point that consciously or unconsciously, her perceptions are wrapped around concepts of blood intrinsically.
Neither of them are really any more than personality traits, I suppose, so it's not like there's anything to worry about.
"They're in the country, you know, a shoreline past the mountains. Should be able to show off your abs and chest huh?"
With an incredibly offhanded and rude comment like that, she had effectively soured all our impressions at once.
Such a contrast between face and tongue.
Venom spurting out from a porcelain angel.
It's like some foul tasting, beautifully arranged, gourmet coffee jelly.
Sure, you're entranced by its looks, but all the while, some sour taste is secretly hiding out underneath.
...well, some pink-haired individuals would probably take that risk anyway, even if it was certain death to the taste buds.
While Char flung her almond hair back in an obvious display of animal-like showmanship, Sorrow placed his mug on the table, resting his smooth-shaven chin against his hands in a way that almost made me believe he was about to ask us to get inside an Eva, and the both of them continued deliberations over little details that seemed more out of enjoyment than anything necessary.
For example, they had already begun to work their way through the most effective train line to take, but were rooting themselves on frivolities like nutritious bento lunches, best seating to arrange, and what kinds of toiletries to take along. These are all important, of course, but taking the time to work through all these so seriously gives the impression that they truly take joy in this kind of concentrated planning.
Well, it's not like I don't understand.
Taking most of the game to customise your equipment before heading out is definitely something I can relate to.
By now, I had sat next to the girl, taking care not to interrupt either of the two planning freaks beside me.
"So, what kind of family is this, anyway? Brothers? Sisters?"
"Uh huh, something like that. I mean, what else could family be."
"Mhm, I guess so. By the way, what should we call you?"
"Mika"
"You just stole that from the fashion store, didn't you? After what happened in its employee room, I would've thought you would steer clear from it."
"Well, everything is stolen in one way or another, isn't it? All books are inspired by other books, and movies, and videogames, and..."
Uh huh, it was a pain to get along with this girl.
Beastly beneath the beauty.
Maybe that's a little too harsh.
Honestly, her personality is pretty difficult for people like Sorrow to get along with, but using my sixth sense for quipping, I feel like there's some pretty good material to be had here.
Is this what a comedian feels like when he's watching some bizarre interaction unfold?
Is this what they feel when they find a chain store with complicated cup sizes, and feel like they've hit upon a gold mine of social commentary?
"What are you dazing off into the distance for huh?"
"Cup sizes... Well, it's not important. So, really, do you have any name you prefer? Or were you somehow born with one, like a moniker from your god or something"
"What a pervert."
And with that, she clutched at her sides with crossed over arms, and snuggled up to Char, who was sprawled backwards over the couch, unconsciously grabbing the girl's head like a toy doll and rummaging her fingers through her hair.
I felt a little jealous, considering that was usually my position.
But anyway, I figure we could get some name out of her, or bestow some name upon her, further down the line.