HB followed Penny as they went downstairs. Although their relationship had now gotten on the right path, something still felt off. Was it the mention of that shadowy creature that set this emotion loose? Or was it something he couldn't even comprehend? Perhaps, more logically, it was just the uncertainty of the future ahead? Whatever its source, the tenseness faded as his feet thumped onto the main floor. His ears perked up as he watched Penny stop and turn around. "This is the foyer, if you want to be formal," she said with a professional tone. "I personally just call it the entrance."

"Aren't 'foyer' and 'entrance' synonyms?"

Penny's smile fell. "I... don't remember," she admitted, her hand rubbing the back of her neck. "I thought 'foyer' just meant a room with a coat hanger or a staircase right as you come in."

HB tilted his head, but stayed quiet. He thumped his foot rapidly for a minute or two. "My database has a lack of foyer references,' he concluded, stopping his attack on the floor. "Do you have any books I could read?"

"Sure, in my library," Penny answered with a shrug. "But first, I have to show you the rest of the house." She turned back around and walked to a smaller, but more filled area. "This is my living room," she introduced, gesturing to her couch and cabinet-surrounded television. "I don't know if Octavia had a similar setup in her house, but I'm sure it'll still be spacious for you."

HB ducked under the doorframe and stopped. He stood with eyes narrowed and head moving slowly. "Yes," he said, snapping out of his scanning routine. "This room's size is definitely sufficient for me. One thing I've noticed, however, is that you only have a disc-playing system. Not one for playing games, are you? At least, of the digital kind."

Penny gulped. "Well, I do have a console," she explained. "But I hardly have any time to play on it. I'm a journalist, which means most of my time is spent either typing away on a computer or going out on personal research trips."

HB faintly hummed as if thoughtful, but said nothing about her response. Instead, his ears shot up before drooping down. "My apologies," he winced, putting a hand on his lower jaw. "I don't mean to interrupt your tour with all of these… observations."

"Considering what your old 'roommate' told me, all these questions feel like an improvement," Penny sniggered. "But you're right. We're not getting very far, house-wise." She quickly walked from one part of the area to another. "Thankfully, my kitchen is right next to the living room," she continued, her hand slapping the granite counter as she spoke. "That's a perk of having an open-concept: You don't have to miss anything going on next 'door'."

HB walked past his guide and surveyed the equipment. The refrigerator was standard size with a chrome handle and no electronics. The back countertop contained a coffee machine, a toaster, and a sink. As for any other amenities, there was a dishwasher with a similar chrome handle. 'A few years behind' would be the best way a typical person would describe it. But, obviously, HB was neither typical nor a person. "Fascinating," his voice box faintly sounded out. "I've never seen the older versions of these machines before."

"Well, that's because Octavia can probably afford the higher-end stuff," Penny reasoned, trying to refrain from going off on another rabbit trail. She promptly left the kitchen through an open door next to the fridge. "In here is the dining room, where I host more formal events," she explained, stepping behind the nearest chair. "Yes, that means this area is rarely used," she admitted sheepishly as she noticed the dust lightly covering the furniture.

HB entered the room and circled the table. There were eight chairs in total, three on both sides and one on either end. All of these pieces were wood, much like the cabinets in the other two rooms. While he did take note of the furniture, he didn't stop and inspect anything. "Is this it for the west half?" he asked. "There's no other way out except the way we came in."

"Yeah, that's it for this part of the house," Penny answered before leading the rabbit back into the large foyer. "As for the 'east' part, it has a couple of smaller rooms. It's much more… casual, I guess."

"As in, personal relaxation?"

"More like rest for any guest," Penny replied, completely oblivious to her rhyme as she stopped before the hallway door. "I actually sleep in my office most of the time. Efficiency is priority for me."

HB gave a hum as he peered from behind his guide. His ear faced the narrow, rectangular expanse. He strained to see the exact proportions, but the darkness blurred his sensors. "Are you sure 'efficiency' is the main reason," he suggested, "or is it a fear of the dark? I can see this being a good place for proper monsters to lurk."

Penny shivered at this latest idea, but kept her composure. "Actually, there is a light in here," she admitted before flicking a switch. The walls were quickly exposed with a warm glow, though this glow's source was seemingly nowhere to be found. An unfazed Penny stepped into the hallway and strolled to a door on the right. "This is the guest bedroom," she introduced, turning the knob and pushing the door in with her shoulder. "It's not much, but it's something."

HB peered beyond the door. The room itself was small and dark. Its only furniture was a modest bed and a nightstand. The two sources of light were a standard light and a shuddered window. HB shook his head, letting his ears flop to one side to the other. "It's so… cavelike in here," he purred with a smitten grin. "It almost feels like home to me."

"Do you… want to sle—recharge— in here?" Penny asked, genuinely curious.

"As long as there's an outlet and another bedroom for your guests to sleep in, yes."

Penny tapped her fingers on the door frame. "I'll think about it," she answered. "But first, I have to show you the other rooms." She left the bedroom and walked further down the hall. "This is the bathroom, which I'm guessing wouldn't be that interesting to you," she said while gesturing to a room on the left side. "Thankfully, this is all that's on this side. Well… Unless you find a closet at the end of the hall interesting."

"I've had my fair share of closets for one morning," HB admitted cooly. "Let's see what's on the upper floor."

Penny walked back to the light switch. She flicked it again, causing the hall to be plunged back into darkness. HB readjusted his vision, then joined her on the staircase. Since both were well acquainted with the stairs, neither spoke a word on it. The same was for the office, aside from HB muttering measurements to himself in case he ever had to "attack" in there again. When he was finished, both left the office and resumed their tour.

Further down this much more open hallway was a simple wooden door. Penny's eyes lit up. "Remember when I promised that I'd show you my library?" she asked, her voice gaining warmth and excitement.

HB's ear perked up. "Yes," he replied, as if an old memory entered his processor. "Is this it?"

Penny turned the brass knob and pulled the door towards herself. She tilted her head towards the room before them. Her eyes followed her surprised companion as he hurried inside. The thumping footfall quickly stopped. A low gasp emitted from his voice box and echoed into the hallway.

For a small library nestled in a two-story house, it still had a sense of old-fashioned charm to it. The back wall was lined with bookshelves filled with literature from Penny's collection. The left wall contained a pre-weathered armchair and a small table next to it. The right wall, due to the room's location, had an electric fireplace encased in brick rather than the real thing. HB dashed to the books and skimmed through the titles. "Dictionary…" he murmured to himself. "Dictionary…"

Penny smiled at this scene, her mind wandering to a time when she also felt that same joy of reading. Unfortunately, the front doorbell ordered her to return to reality. "I think that might be the mailman with the morning delivery," she said, turning away. "Do you mind if I leave you alone with the books?"

"Oh, go right ahead," HB ushered, waving his hand like a Victorian fan. "I'm sure you need to get your day properly started by now. Make some breakfast, let your boss know what's happened, and then come back and see me. Meanwhile, I'll be here trying to find the definition for 'foyer'."

Penny giggled at the inside joke already forming, then left the rabbit to his deep-digging. As she walked down the stairs, a thought came to her: it was Saturday. Which meant she had no work. "At least we have a chance to get used to each other before Monday," she thought to herself. "But… what could we do for the entire weekend?"