"Really not thinking this is much of an improvement, Topher." Just because you can't see a mouth doesn't mean that's not where those tentacles might lead. Echo was about to move forward to find out just what the vine business entailed when she overheard Victor, and she looked back, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

"Far as I can tell, this place doesn't want to hurt us." Granted, the projected feelings of maternal warmth was hardly convincing to Echo. Considering all the programming Topher did to insert just such feelings into the Dolls, she was a little dubious on the possible sincerity of it. Still, she was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, for the moment, and she moved back to slide an arm around Sierra.

"It's a little unusual," she admitted, her eyes moving around the room again. "But it'll all be okay, as long as we stick together."