He didn't need to elaborate; Maria knew how family names were a tricky thing. That was why she took so much pride in hers. It was proof that humans could live a normal life.

And here she would have deflected his compliment by wishing she had a handle, but after he'd so neatly made that kind of comment awkward, all she could do was smile and brush the loose strands of hair off her forehead. "Thanks... even if it did come because of my parents' handles."