On top of how awful it was, of course, there was the fact that most of the times she'd had it thrown at her, it had been done in the most condescending way. (Then again, ninety percent of the time whatever she was called, she was called it condescendingly. One of the many downsides of her coworkers.) "Thank you, I think," she chuckled. "It's what I'm used to."

She wasn't herself a particularly sociable person, keeping most at arm's length out of worry for their well-being, so this was a welcome difference. Perhaps she felt a bit more at ease with Marie knowing she could handle herself, or perhaps it was just lucky timing.