Clemente
At least she takes his cheek in stride, though something in Clem warms at her ill-concealed amusement. It had been a losing battle, but one that he had endeavored to fight, to try and get his drugged up mother to smile during her withdrawals. Clem had always known he'd never make her as happy as the Ether did, but he had tried so hard. Rexanna isn't his mother, but it's rewarding all the same to see that she doesn't intend to push him away. Her imposed boundaries are easily enough accepted with an eyeroll and a concealed smile. "Fine, I won't hunt down the monsters as soon as I step outside." Not that monsters were something that particularly intrigued Clemente. He quite liked living, thanks. Especially with how hard he'd fought to keep himself that way.
He's not sure what the Underground is. At first he thinks she's just being blunt and saying he'd like what's under the ground. Like, yeah, duh? That's what he just said? But he can kinda sense the 'capital U Underground' in her tone. Maybe it's a place? But tunnels definitely seem interesting, maybe he can get her to take him there. Or at least give him some directions.
At least she finally deigns to give him a task, which is all he really needs to get started on paying her back. No matter what she claims about not needing to, he can't feel comfortable in this house until he at least tries. When she mentions him staying elsewhere, Clemente stiffens and his shoulders hike up defensively. "Can't we just stay here together?" he asks gruffly, if only to conceal the way his voice shakes with intimidation at the idea of going to a manor full of fancy people he doesn't know.
i stopped being a kid the day
you sent me down here to die
