He faintly blushed at her words.  It was quite strange, to be told that someone actually wanted him around.  Granted, he'd been a tad friendlier than the doctors would have been, that was a fact, but still.  It wasn't something that he was told... well, ever?  That sounded about right, really.  Still, he shook his head as she degraded herself in the manner that the others had- she was closer to human than a number of others in the institute that he had seen from a distance.  Certainly, they had no need compare her to them.<br/><br/>Arik smiled to Relina as she wove a chain of clovers and flowers together, and he was quite surprised when she managed to loop it all together into a necklace.  "You are quite skilled." he signed to the winged girl, though he couldn't help but to look at her fox-like ears for a second when she thanked him for treating her like she was more than some simple animal.  He just nodded again to her, and then smiled once more, a little more warmly this time.  "Follow me, then." he signed to her, and then offered her a hand.  If she took it, he would guide her back into the building and to her room.  If she didn't, he would still at least follow her back this time- to see if she knew where her room was, and to make sure that she didn't get the chance to run off, either.<br/><br/>He'd made that mistake before and he had gotten away with it.  He wasn't going to do that again if he could help it.  Still, he couldn't help but to want to either walk alongside or behind her- either way made it easier to watch Relina.