"They say parenting comes with its own difficulties," Cyrus parried, not at all offended at the obvious tease. He'd taken the circumstances he'd been handed, after all -- but unlike with Esther, he had enough control over his disobedient tongue to keep from mentioning that the chicks had attempted to adopt him. Then he really would be the butt of a joke. "Not every day can include giant armored ice-women bearing down on the trade routes."
He offered a fleeting, apologetic smile to the waitress (as always, looking to smooth feathers ruffled by accidental bluntness) before adding, "I haven't been here long, but it's... interesting. Still noisy and crowded, but not completely without merits." As a point in the city's favor, he pointed out, "I've had better luck with good sparring partners here; there's so many people in the guildhalls I think I'll never learn all their names."