Animals still existed on Earth, certainly, but seeing them as pets was rare, simply because the need to own animals for personal comfort had evaporated over the course of the wars and rapid decline of humanity. Zoos were a thing of the past entirely, so aside from birds and general wildlife, Declan had never seen anything like a little fluffy lapdog. There were a lot of responses a person could have, but the Guardian's was perhaps one of the best, with the way he lit up in surprise and smiled, quickly clutching his hands together behind his back so he wouldn't reach out reflexively.

"He speaks?"

"He's an inorganic intelligence, like me!" Ghost replied brightly, spinning his spines and floating down eye to eye with Ren. A blue light filtered over the Allmate, a quick scan, and Ghost was patient enough to wait in case Ren wished to do the same thing.

"So he's a replica of a dog, but with human intelligence?" Declan asked, chewing his bottom lip thoughtfully. He didn't want to say it, but he certainly wondered if that wasn't all a bit...degrading? But of course, he lived in a world where robotic humans had fought for and achieved racial independence and were just as alive and human as anyone born flesh and blood, by belief as much as law.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ren. I hope the two of you are comfortable in my home. It isn't much, but it's yours now, too."