As Rico gave the explanation, Millicent's mouth just, hung open, for who knows how long. Her brow furrowed, and she then found herself questioning him, taking everything from the conversation, however, some bits and pieces rang out as most important at the moment. 'your...race?...' Her eyebrow lifted, questioning this, quickly scanning on a mental note to try to find any further information from him, however, he was a closed book.<br/><br/>Arella, had her mother's keen sense of hearing, and heard every word that Rico said, and immediately she chimed in, 'mommy NO! Nii not tooked away, we take care of her!' Millicent quickly turned to face her daughter and placed her forefinger against her lip, shushing Arie's loud tone, leaning to Arella and whispering against her cheek, 'Arie, number one, just because you hear what adults say, does not mean you interrupt, unless it's very important. And number two, I don't think we need to talk about this in front of Nii. Also, my butterbean, stop tugging her thumb from her mouth and making her upset, ok?' Mill's palm passed over Arella's features in a loving gesture, and Arella pursed her lips, poking at Millicent's hand, then continued, however in an overly exaggerated mouthed whisper. 'I KNOW her mommy is goned and I KNOW she dont need go away! Dat IS important, mommy and her IS my fwiend now!'<br/><br/>Mill sighs, now touching Arella's lips with the pad of her forefinger, reiterating to be quiet right now. Millicent looks at Nii, smiling as the little peanut is having quite the time with the fruit and whipped cream. Obviously, Rico is right about Nii, there is definately some developmental issues going on with her, but Mill notes to herself that Nii is a fast learner with Arella's help. And she knows, there is no way she could let this little girl just become some type of state property, with no hope for a future other than bouncing around in a system of what everyone else thinks is right and wrong.<br/><br/>As the waitress brings the breakfast plates, placing one in front of each girl, then Millicent, and finally Rico, Arella begins her teachings again to Nii. The plates each show off a pair of pancakes, one scrambled egg, one piece of toast cut in a fancy triangle, and two pieces of bacon.<br/><br/>Arella takes the syrup placed on the table and squooshes it all over her pancakes, smacking her little lips. 'otay Nii, do dat!' she hands Nii the syrup, and begins to go for her fork; this causes that wonderful maternal instinct in Mill to kick in, and she snags both girls' butter knives, placing them on the opposite side of Rico to keep them safe. Arella continues to help Nii, while Mill takes a moment to nudge her eggs from her plate onto a clean napkin, folding it up and pushing it away.<br/><br/>'I don't like eggs, somethin about an item that comes out of a chicken's rear goin in my mouth just...doesn't sit well with me, yknow?' Mill grins at Rico and pulls a slice of bacon to her mouth, pushing the entire piece in, chewing as she watches him and studies his features. The only difference she sees in him is really the shape of his ears, and his overall demeanor; too polite, too knowing, too....too calm. This is not typical of any human male, but...what is he?<br/><br/>She now pulls her cup of coffee to her lips, taking a heavy sip, peering over the rim at the girls, chuckling as they both manage to make a mess of syrup; happy at least Arella has someone to socialize with that is her age, and happy both will have very full bellies soon enough.<br/><br/>Her concerns she expresses now, directing her voice back to Rico, lips hidden by the coffee cup, 'I can't let them just take her like that, not after all she's been through, if that is the case. Children also tend to tell tales, you know?'