The woman's momentary words saw the creature scowl once more, as if given to contemplate the nature of what was posed before him, eyes narrowed slightly as his mind attempts to puzzle out her own interjection in regards to whom is the provider in this relationship. His own knowledge upon such a topic is perhaps limited entirely to that which nature intends, the feline seeming entirely assured of his own desires in this regard, unsure as to why the woman had seen fit to question his earlier response though indeed perhaps it is merely the wording that has resulted in this momentary discrepancy. It is not within his nature to explain, not truly, the how and the why of the world very rarely given to take hold within his mind- much less any desire to offer an explanation as to why he believes something is or is not true, so much of him guided by instinct alone that such things are merely unquestioned- it is not within the nature of an animal to question why and yet it would seem, for Birdie he is willing to try, his exhausted mind struggling to gleam one final effort by way of attempting to appease her.

"Tetra says....women do what....we want and when they do we....give protection and kindness. This is job of....boys to...hunt and protect and...be nice and girls do....what we say. I will...look after Birdie and Birdie will....do what I say."

The grin that alights his features clearly displays his belief of rightness he believes in this and perhaps, primitive though it is- the boy is hardly wrong, content to offer protection and kindness to the girl in return for her meeting his own needs- though what those are perhaps remain to be seen, any more...intimate needs the boy simply refuses to entertain, having permitted Birdie to sleep beside him, to kiss him, to touch him on occasion and yet refuses to allow anything more, anything deeper for fear of his panther companions disapproval once more, oblivious perhaps- to just how difficult such things will surely become without such needs being met. The feline moves to easily pull away from the woman now, hurriedly climbing into his new hammock as Birdie moves to attempt to fix his tossed dresser, Tobias content to ignore her efforts to clean, the chaos of his room seeming to hold no sway upon him as he suddenly reaches out to seize her shirt, pulling her into him with a yelp of surprise parted from her lips before bringing his own to her. Such moments of affection are rare between the pair, Tobias' fear of Tetradore's reprisal along with his own...wariness in regards to touch resulting in precious few moments of true intimacy, Birdie perhaps given to be much the same and yet the moments in which both allow themselves to...explore are hardly less then special, stolen and quiet as they are.

The soft giggle that emits from her lips as he rolls away sees the boy snicker in imitation as he rolls back onto his back and within the netted hammock, her comment in regards to spiderman seeming to spike his interest once more.

"I watch the...spiderman with Tetra....and the batman and....Thor. I....do not like the Ironman- we do not watch....him."

That his like and dislike of superheros is evidently of high importance is surely clear from the serious tone to his voice in which he dictates their appropriate order before summoning his companion to join him, waiting for her to climb into the hammock beside him and shift to the side he has deemed is her own, leaving the side closest to the door for himself- a position he has long commanded as his head nods.

"Yes. Hammock...is good."

It is simple praise and yet honest as all things he says, form twisting to curl about her own in a manner entirely cat-like.

"Is time to...sleep now Birdie. I am...tired."

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push