The switch flipped almost in an instant, don't touch me to curiosity. Melek stood in a rush that took him another pace or two away, head cocked, sizing up the stranger all over again. Calm. That wasn't usual. Did calm say confidence or pacifism? Either way, if he'd been perceived as a threat the posture would be different. Weight shifting away or for a weapon. There was something he was missing, but he didn't have the patience to chase those thoughts around in circles right now.

"I haven't eaten in a while," Melek said finally. No great manipulator, he; the sentence was artless and true, if lacking something important. His tongue tripped over his teeth with predictable gracelessness, distracted by the underlying siren song of the living.

Later, he'd consider being vaguely embarrassed.