Grand Staircase

Grand Staircase
ground floor of hogwarts

There are a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. Rowena Ravenclaw was the Hogwarts founder who invented the concept of moving stairs. Not her brightest moment.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly leans patiently against the wall as she waits for one of the staircases to move; she could always try her luck and just navigate them as she goes along but after six years in Hogwarts she has learned that it is much better to just try and memorize their patterns (or at least, seek help from the paintings when necessary). She has a small smile on her face and she holds her bullet journal to her chest. She is thrilled to be back in Hogwarts because as overworked as she is, at least she is no longer just sitting around at home. There is a lot of time to go before her scheduled meeting with Professor Pintinger, but she figured she would go early anyway so that the two of them can sit down and have a nice chat. Her fingers absentmindedly drift towards where her timeturner normally is to fiddle with it, before remembering that it is not yet there and getting it is the whole point of going to see her head of house.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

If he had understood the living arrangements he would be under, he would have pressed to not be sorted into Slytherin. His morning was miserable, having stirred too much the night prior and having slept far too little in comparison to the amount of time he spent laying down. Leighton has wasted too much time on this issue, writing a letter to Riddletross to request resorting and then struggling to find a means of giving it to her before settling on finding the Owlery. His sister had misdirected him, which burned him considering it felt awfully on purpose. After returning, he has navigated himself to the staircase that *should* bring him somewhere he can have some quiet silence to himself that isn't *wet*. His shoulders are slouched and hair is fallen in front of his face, feeling as if he can somehow hide within himself for a moment as he moves through the limited field of students. His attitude is grouchy and gloomy and spotting a familiar face only confuses those feelings of distress as his face falls in immediate horror. Leighton's brows furrow and he twists his head away, attempting to move past Molly without interference.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly looks up at the perfect time, seeing Leighton almost immediately. Her face breaks into a smile right away, before remembering their conversation on Witchagram the other day and hesitating before she approaches him. She rationalizes with herself rather quickly that maybe he just didn't want to hang out with Felton (she knows they do not have the closest relationship) and also that he *did* try to be nice to her towards the end. He called her talented! That counts for something. She decides she has enough time to spare before her meeting and approaches him. "Leighton!" she calls out. Molly personally hates being touched so she makes no move to tap him or anything to get his attention, instead catching up with him and walking at his side. "It is good to see you!" she starts, and her words are genuine. She has not seen him in a long time, and while she is much closer to Diana and Felton, he at least is nicer to her than Agatha is. It's a low bar, though. "Where are you headed?" she asks, "Do you need help getting around? I know the staircases can be a bit... much."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

It's impossible to ignore someone calling out your name when people know your hearing is fine, so he doesn't even attempt to. Leighton would never admit it, but a small part of him knows he would never want to actually flee up the stairs and leave Molly behind. It would be embarrassing. However, he is much better at telling himself that he wants to do the wrong thing and that he is making a conscious decision not to. Not because he cares, but because of obligation except... that isn't the case. His feet stop, brain reeling as he considers how to respond. "Molly," he says flatly before his mouth manages to curve into a small, extremely modest smile. Leighton stares at her, listening to the softness in her voice and wanting to suffocate. He's unsure why Molly pays him attention after all of this time. Surely she knows that he isn't in cahoots with his siblings or his mother that adores her so much. There's no obligation to engage with him, and yet he has conversed more with her than his own twin since summer started. "I was in the process of figuring that out for myself, but your mission has interfered with that." Leighton glances down at his phone before pocketing it and refocusing on her. "Aren't you too busy standing here to help me? *I* wouldn't want to interfere with what you are doing."

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly is very transparent and thus her smile falters a little when he mentions that she has interfered with what he is doing. She recovers rather quickly, though. "It might be a bit difficult to figure out on your own, I think. I know you're really smart – " All the Bishop children are and she assumes Leighton is no exception. "– but sometimes I see even the seventh years getting lost, and they've been going here since they were eleven." It would be a bit foolish to try and navigate Hogwarts by himself on his second day, she almost adds, but that would be rude and she is in no mood to accidentally set off a debater. "I'm not very busy at the moment." Shocker. "I actually just came from a meeting with one of clubs, and I'm meant to meet with my head of house but that isn't for another hour. So, I can help! I actually know my way around the castle pretty well." Taking nearly all the classes in the curriculum for two years does that to you, not to mention being a part of almost all the clubs in Hogwarts' roster. "It's nice of you, though, to not want to interfere. But you wouldn't be, really."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Her smile faltering alarms him, but only in the sense that he would hate to have to sit through another conversation about not being nice enough to her. To him, he is nice enough for someone who is exerting extra energy hounding him when he has spent none on her. A part of Leighton is worried that he *has* hurt her, but then she resumes and he gets irritated again, denying the budding compassion he was starting to feel for her. "Oh. Great." A small, miserable smile appears to match the sarcasm. Leighton glances over her before gesturing for her to move forward. He peers over her head to watch a batch of Slytherins passing them, eliciting a peeved expression before he turns down to her again with it still on her face. "Show me where you go when you want to be left alone, or where you *would* go. I should consider that you do not appear to ever want to be on your own." Or so he has heard, but he also considers her to be the sort of person who would cry in a closet. He's cried in closets too, but that isn't to say there isn't shame in it because there is. "Would you, please?"

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly frowns and makes no effort to change her expression back to her smile. She is a crier, yes, and she will probably wallow about this to her friends later when she gets back to her dormitory. However, he is being flat out *mean* and she does not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he has affected her. Besides, Molly only ever cries over people she likes. "That was rude." she says quietly, but firmly. She takes a deep breath. He is still her best friend's brother and even aside from that Molly does not believe in being impolite even to those she is not particularly fond of. It is how she survived being partners with Kian Macmillan for the latter part of the year in Defense. "But it's fine." she finishes, clutching her journal more tightly to her chest, trying to keep her voice level. "I understand it must be difficult adjusting." Her voice softens, feeling sorry for him. "I apologize for not picking up that you wanted to be alone earlier, but Hogwarts is difficult to navigate and I wanted to help." She sighs, before looking at him gets too difficult and her eyes dart to the ground. "It's probably a good idea to ask the paintings for help if you really don't want to talk to anyone." she advises, loudly enough to be understood. She mumbles this rather half-heartedly; she does *not* want to help him but her conscience won out.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Leighton stares at her, wondering if she is going to start crying. He said *please*. He was being polite. It's arrogant of him to pretend that that is what that was, but acknowledging he is being unfair to her is not something he has been able to achieve yet even if he knows somewhere within him that what he is doing is not fully right. Sometimes it is easier to shove away others than to struggle in the fight for their attention. Sometimes it is easier to pretend that's by choice and not because something is so fundamentally wrong with who he is that no one wants a thing to do with him. It's easy to push someone similar to Molly, who is here because of his brother who himself wants nothing to do with him. "Hm," comes from his mouth, not one to stutter over his letters or else he would be a stammering mess as he tries to come across the solution to this. Hurting someone's feelings is not a moment for rejoicing. Leighton is a good person at heart, who is unequipped for the life he was dealt and is handling it without much care. "I do not understand what has caused so much upset. Need I remind you that I had gestured forward and requested your assistance, something you had offered me? I had done what you wanted of me." His voice is sterner than he intended. It's distant from him at his core, feeling out of touch even to himself. Leighton is detached from this voice despite it being wholly his.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly considers this before realizing how she misunderstood and her eyes widen (as if she can get any more doe-eyed) as she looks up at him again abruptly. She feels bad, *but* reminds herself that he was still a lot more rude than he needed to be and that it was reasonable for her to misread his intentions. "Oh! I'm sorry, then. I misunderstood." she says. She is careful to emphasize that she is sorry for misunderstanding and not sorry for calling him rude, but chooses not to drive in this distinction any harder. It wouldn't be necessary and would only cause an argument. She bites her lip before continuing, debating whether or not she should get to the point and assist him or explain herself. She decides it might be wiser to go with the latter so that at least he knows what he did wrong and can avoid it in the future. She is beginning to understand why Felton and Diana aren't very keen on becoming closer with their brother, but it wouldn't be good for anyone involved if he keeps acting like this and drives them further away. "I was upset because I thought you were being sarcastic." she says, "I understand now that you weren't. You're right that you gesturing forward should have indicated that you wanted me to help you, but I was fixated on your tone. I'm sorry that I got defensive so quickly." She is doing everything she can to make her voice steady, mostly because he is communicating to her so stiffly that she feels that she has to match it to avoid looking pathetic. She frowns when she realizes something must be disturbing him, eyebrows scrunching. "Are you okay, though? I thought that you were annoyed with *me*, but if something else is bothering you... I know transferring here might be a lot to take in."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Leighton listens, but it's difficult for him to accept responsibility when he isn't sure he wants to be forgiven. What point is there in being forgiven when he isn't apologetic? What did he do wrong? Still he should be more bothered by how fragile she's being in this moment and a part of him is swelling with guilt, but it is a part of him that he was taught to lose sight of long ago. Leighton stares, face expressionless til she mentions him not being fine. Sometimes, Molly, you don't have to point out the obvious. His brows furrow before he forces his face to return to a kinder (though considerably *not* kind) expression, remembering that she is attempting to be of some use to him even if it is not genuine. It is nice to have someone care for a moment and Leighton is willing to suspend his despise and suspicions in order to continue the charade that she does, in fact, care. "The Slytherin dormitories are quite possibly the most uncomfortable place I have ever slept. Not that I can claim I slept in them," he confesses, shoulders raising as he straightens his posture. "Otherwise, I am fine. I would not wish to bore you with the ongoings of my life considering it is tedious and also none of your business." Leighton smiles slightly, but it's a little smug out of reflex.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

She listens to all this carefully as a staircase nearby changes directions and she gestures for him to follow up. As he is speaking, she reviews all the rooms in the castle in his mind and when he finishes, she grimaces at the mention of the Slytherin dorms. She almost says something about how at least the squid did not pass by the windows, – one of her exes had mentioned to her how the whole common room goes pitch black save for the candles – but she holds her tongue. It would not be wise to freak him out more. "I am so sorry to hear that." she says, genuinely. "I'm guessing you don't want to go to the dungeons then. That's where I normally go to be alone." she says sheepishly. No one really goes to the dungeons and for good reason. "The towers are also pretty bad. I'm in Ravenclaw and whenever a storm comes, it's terrible." She makes a face just remembering. "I am not sure if they will allow you to be transferred to a different house, but I think Hufflepuff would be the best option if you are given the choice." She pauses, trying to remember if she knows anyone who was able to successfully get reassigned to a different house. She comes up blank, so she says nothing more on the topic. "You would not be boring me if you want to share more, but I guess you're right that it's none of my business..." she adds, frowning a bit and sounding uneasy. She doesn't really make any attempt to sound cheerier partly because she wants him to know that it's a bit rude. "Anyway – how do you feel about mirrors? I know some people get freaked out, but I think I know a place on the third floor where you can be alone."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Leighton listens to her though he primarily focuses on the stairs to ensure he doesn't do something to slip and fall. It would be embarrassing, for starters, but also possibly life-threatening. Hearing about her own living accommodations creates an even larger (and ever-growing) disdain for Hogwarts and how it structures just about *everything*. Not one for the storms himself, he considers extending some sympathy to her, glancing over to catch the face she's pulling just in time to decide against it. Still Leighton frowns, but he maintains a low head position with his long blond hair falling down to shield his face. "Thank you," he says clearly, following by some noises coming from him clearing his throat. His fist falls from near his face and he glances over at her again. Leighton is following a short distance behind Molly, comfortable with admitting that he needs to follow her even if he doesn't necessarily want to. "Mirrors?" He scoffs, playing offended despite... actually having some body issues. It's the downside of not being one of those quidditch numbskulls. "Who *feels* anything about mirrors? They're fine objects." His overcompensating nature, now turned on again, switches him over the topic she mentioned just moments before. "Why would you ever willing spend time down there? Isn't it gross to you?"

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

"I'm not afraid of mirrors, but I know a lot of people who are. Some people find them creepy. I think that's valid." she says, feeling the need to speak in the defense. They reach the second floor and she stops near a ledge that anyone could easily just... fall off of seeing as the staircase they need has not connected there yet. "Also, the dungeons aren't that gross! And magic is a thing, so it's easy to clean if ever. Last year, I – " She is about to launch into the story of how she hid in a cupboard to avoid an ex, but she realizes very quickly that this isn't the type of story that she wants to share with Leighton of all people. She had never been fully convinced that auras were a legitimate thing until this conversation, mostly because she can practically feel him radiating judgment. "Never mind. Anyway, I guess it *is* a bit gross. Not really to me, but I suppose that works in my favor when I want to be alone." One of the fairies in a nearby painting notices the pair waiting for the staircase and flits over to tell Molly it will just be another few minutes, so she turns around to smile quickly in thanks before quickly refocusing on the conversation. "Was your old school very different from Hogwarts?"

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Magic might cleanse the grime, but it won't scrub the energy off of all of its cursed surfaces. Leighton never thought himself squeamish and so easily bothered before living down there. Hearing water drip is probably the most nauseating thing he can comprehend at this moment. With the two of them standing at the landing, he stares at her directly, intensifying when she cuts herself off and redirects the conversation. "If not disgusting, then at the very least uncomfortable. I am tired by the sight of stone and rubble." He pauses, moving his hands together and rolling his fist into the opposite palm as he considers this. It doesn't require much consideration, but he appreciates the time he gets to eye the portrait of the fairy cautiously. "Sognarry was more modern than this, and it was structured in a way that benefited the students far more than Hogwarts does- or to my knowledge, anyways." To him, he has rationalized that Sognarry gave him a better education than his siblings and sending him to the United States was a sign of loving him more than the rest of them. Even now, it is difficult to accept otherwise. "I have never sat for a woman lecturer before, nor have I had portraits of fairies... hm, chirping at me." His old school only had boys as students and men as lecturers. Most of which were of the conservative capitalist variety. It was focused on wizardry, but was nowhere near as magical as Hogwarts has proven to be. Classrooms didn't move. Staircases didn't move. No dungeons. No floating candles.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Molly almost lets her gaze drop to the floor just because he is looking at her so intensely, but she maintains eye contact to show that she is listening to him. "Hogwarts is a bit unusual, yes, *but* it's a really good school. The professors here are all amazing." Her hand almost reaches to her necklace to fiddle with her timeturner as she often does when she is feeling a bit nervous, only to remember it is not there. "I think you will come to like it eventually. And at least this way, you are closer to your family." She does not understand why Leighton was sent to study abroad while the other three remained here, but she doesn't comment on it. It's not her business. "Speaking of, maybe your siblings can show you around the more fascinating parts of the castle. Felton was a prefect last term, so he should know his way around well." Molly very firmly believes that the siblings are better off closer to each other as opposed to having this weird divide.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

With this interaction being one of the first times the two have been alone in *forever*, Leighton was given an opportunity to attempt to tolerate her better without his brother's presence to bother him *and* Molly. When his name is brought up, any shift in demeanor that would imply he was feeling better about the conversation ceases to exist. His shoulders square out again and his brows furrow as he squints at her. "Why would you suggest that?" he pushes. Molly *is* messing with him. A feeling of anger and fear rush into him, but he doesn't have to struggle to contain himself any more than he usually does, which is little but enough to not cause a blowup. "Agatha offered, but she has been busy," he explains, almost gritting his teeth together though he struggles to push his words out that way. Leighton turns and stares over the ledge. "But you are *allegedly* his best friend, so you know better. Why would you-" His soul fractures and the urge to start crying hits him suddenly, but he refuses. He can wait. He has suppressed this angst for longer periods of time. It doesn't feel great to have your family pinned against you, knowing you don't interact with them. It only strengthens his attachment to his father.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

Felton does not typically talk about his brother with her but this reaction has inspired her to maybe press for more information on her best friend's end. She cannot imagine Felton acting in such a way that would evoke such a reaction. When he cuts himself off, she averts her gaze because it feels invasive to continue to look. In stark contrast to Leighton, she is very much used to apologizing to the point that it is almost sad she has felt the need to say sorry so much. "I'm sorry. I didn't know – " Her voice is sincere and she is still not one hundred percent sure what she's done to set him off, but understands that sometimes an apology is in order even when you don't completely understand what you've done wrong. "I didn't mean to offend. I'm still sorry, though." Luckily, the staircase moves into place to save her from saying sorry too much. She is also focusing on the *allegedly* a bit more than she should, too, her unease making her doubt her place in Felton's life. She quickly shakes the thoughts from her head. Felton has given her no reason to believe he would leave her, and she should trust in that. She begins walking up the staircase, not looking back because she is too embarrassed to look at him. "We're almost there." she tells him. In an effort to change the topic, she continues, "I think you will like this area of the castle better. It isn't as dreary as the dungeons." She will probably die and start apologizing again if they continue in awkward silence, so she continues with, "What classes are you taking by the way?" She doesn't particularly like him, but she feels horrible and apparently she cannot rely on his siblings to show him around. So disappointing. "We might have some of the same ones, and I have 7AM Potions daily, so I would be in the dungeons anyway in case you need help finding where they are."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Inexperienced in terms of apologies, he isn't sure how he is meant to acknowledge it when he believes it, but he remains hesitant and uses that as an excuse to not accept it. Molly is being genuine, but it is difficult to reason with him and he isn't willing to accept that it is possible she didn't know. Leighton follows behind her, frowning and staring at her head when she offers him more assistance later on. It bothers him almost, stirring something foreign in his chest that he wants to be angry with, but he can't be. "It appears we will have Potions together." His voice has a little more inflection in it, but he doesn't necessarily seem chipper about it either. "Then Charms, Defense, History, and Transfiguration," he rattles off. He's in two electives, but doesn't mention them. Molly is not the sort of person he cares to puff his chest out to over that sort of thing. "My assumption is that we will be seeing a lot of each other." Leighton frowns more at this, filled with dread at the thought of having a thousand more interactions such as this one. His brows furrow, glaring at some of the portraits before they turn off into a corridor. A brief pause stirs his curiosity. "I heard the vast majority of the societies and organizations here consider you a prized member. Are you familiar with the debate team? My assumption is that you are not." Molly, in his opinion, would die in debate.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

It *is* very likely that the two of them will be seeing more of each other, especially with the amount of classes that Molly is taking, but she chooses not to comment on it. The idea was once exciting to her but it has not been every since he told her he has no intentions of 'purposefully arranging himself with her'. "Whoever you heard that from is exaggerating," she says, laughing it off quietly. Molly is the first to belittle herself in any situation. "I tried out for debate and got in but..." Well firstly, Imogen Atkinson does not like her but that is another long story that she does not feel the need to get into. "Practice coincided with chess club – " *And* Pink Magic Club, and she thought it was too risky to use the timeturner to have three of her going around the castle. " – and it was not really my thing. I only tried out because my boyfriend at the time asked me to anyway." She realizes, then, that Leighton is probably not interested in hearing about her, so she continues as they reach the third floor. "They are actually really good, though! I used to attend their practices and I watched one of their competitions." Of *course* he is a debater, she thinks, but she keeps that thought to herself. "I think you'll like it. You'd make a good addition."

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Molly's pathetic laughter draws in his gaze, lingering for a moment before facing forward. Why she would want him to believe she's not something amazing goes over him. Her laugh almost elicits an unimpressed huff, but he merely nods and stares on. "Thank you. I have no doubt in my abilities," he reassures her though that is an attitude that is quite obvious. Leighton does doubt things, but there's no point in telling other people that and opening himself up to failure or embarrassment. Even giving the impression that he has doubts is of concern to him. It hasn't occurred to him that it might paint him as *more* fragile. "I would have been interested in watching your performance in debate. It's terrible you chose *chess* over something far more intellectually stimulating, but to each their own." Leighton drones on, glancing down at her to gauge her reaction. Chess requires a far more thoughtful mind than the one he possesses and he is admittedly a bit jealous at people who understand it. "Are you a talented chess player then?"

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

"Chess is very intellectually stimulating." she says, frowning as the two walk in the corridor. Marisha, for example, is easily more intelligent than both Imogen and Sterling combined. She feels guilty for thinking it because it's rude, but it's *true*. "But yeah, to each their own, I guess." The pair pass by some of Molly's friends and she smiles and nods at them in greeting before focusing once again on her conversation with Leighton. "I don't think I can say anything about my own talent. I feel like that's something other people would have to be the judge of. They have not kicked me out of the club yet, so I'm definitely at least okay." Molly is being the furthest thing from boastful, but even so she sounds unsure, like she might be overestimating herself. The two enter the trophy corridor, which then leads to the armory gallery and she moves her gaze towards the floor before finding the knight with a bronze shoe. "We're here." She stops then turns up to face the suit of armor before doing a small curtsy, which causes the suit to turn its head with a loud creak, looking down at Leighton. "Umm... You need to bow." she says, "So that it'll move." There is a curtain behind the enchanted armor, with a door behind it.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

Her wariness pushes him against wanting to engage with her on the issue further despite previously being curious. His curiosity is driven if not solely by the fact that his mother loves and adores her so much and there must be something there. Hearing it from her mouth would be more impressive than what it's coming from his mother, who he is not sure has ever discussed him so highly. It's possible! Leighton doesn't have ears everywhere. "This is ridiculous," he grumbles, staring at the knight before glancing around them to ensure no one would see something so embarrassing. Watching Molly do it made him cringe. Leighton bows, dipping his arm and tossing the other one out as he barely moves his head. When he turns, his face is filled with a weird, childish anticipation as he awaits approval from the statue though he soon buries it away.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

It takes everything in Molly to not giggle at his little bow; she does not want to upset him any more than she already has. Instead, she focuses on the statue and watches as it nods and steps to its right before freezing again. She steps forward and pushes aside the red curtain to reveal a wooden door. She turns the knob and pushes it open, entering to reveal a hall of unused mirrors. No one is inside and the room is surprisingly well-lit and clean, a far cry from the dungeons. Rows and rows of mirrors litter the room, reflections bouncing off each other. "This is the Room of Reflection." she says, stepping inside and waiting for him to follow as she surveys the room. "No one will bother you here. I am pretty sure the only person who frequents this place is Pringle, the caretaker, but from what I know, at the beginning of the term, he starts cleaning at the seventh floor and works his way downwards. You should be fine." She turns again to face him, clutching her journal to her chest. "Is this okay?" she asks, hoping she has not disappointed him.

Leighton Bishop

caulerpa, sixth year
ateleia

When the door opens, he is caught off guard by the handful of reflections of them that immediately come into view. Yes, Molly told him there were mirrors, but it scares him nonetheless and he reluctantly accepts this as an opportunity to get a proper glimpse of her face. It's the first time he has stared at her without glaring, but then he turns to face her and his brows furrow into the middle of his face again. "Room of Reflection. How on the nose," he comments, scoffing before a small smile appears. Leighton assumes it isn't used for much reflecting and the thought of what he assumes goes on here grosses him out, but in a fashion that often is accompanied by amusement. He peers over her head again, staring at their reflection in another one of the mirrors for a moment before refocusing his attention on her directly. "This will do fine. Thank you." His face goes flat again, but he's pleased. Crying in a room of mirrors will induce a specific sort of meltdown that is long over due for him, he thinks. "I appreciate your willingness to assist me in this matter," he adds.

Molly Mayberry

caulerpa, sixth year
paintedred

The way Leighton talks is very strange, Molly thinks, and not at all like the other students she interacts with, but it prompts her to reply in the same fashion nonetheless. "I'm glad I was able to assist you." she says. She opens her mouth to add that he can message her any time in case he is in need of more assistance, but the words do not come out probably because she is not looking forward to any more engagements of this sort. If he needs *her* help specifically, then he will ask her, and she will not decline. There is no need to go out of her way to offer it. "Goodbye, then." she says, turning towards the door once more and leaving him alone. She will have to tell Elouan about this encounter later.