>What is the social etiquette for petting youkai in animal forms similar to how one would for the actual animal. Is it considered diminutive or patronizing, or considerably more intimate than it would be with an ordinary animal?
>Basically, it depends on the youkai. In times gone past, that sort of thing used to cause some social consternation, as did a large number of things when it came to human-youkai interaction. Nowadays, however, people are much more progressive on both sides of the racial line. The common stance is, any youkai who is comfortable enough to laze about in their animal form, as Rin is now, is not opposed to such activities as petting, or fetching a stick in the case of canines, or other such behavior. Though when dealing with a strange youkai, it's considered common courtesy to ask first. In Rin's case, you know that this is not necessary.
>Yes.
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And you're sure you don't want me to take the night off work, stay with you in case you do go up there?