And Metaari is all too happy oblige in the belly rubs, making sure to get in a few good scratches while he's at it before he goes back to what he was doing. A small part of him wonders if maybe he should look into getting himself a pet of some sort.

And then he remembers that taking care of Merrick consumes most of his nurturing and abandons the thought.

For now.

He smiles a touch and nods as he seasons the meat, rubbing a mixture of spices over it. "It must be... refreshing. To think of your own skills in a new light."