She also doesn't look like she'd accept a hug from a stranger, either. She's looking at him a bit more like a thing to be wary of than a source of comfort.

But she takes a breath and curtsies politely. "Welcome to Dunwall Tower," she says, with just enough polite expression to get the phrase away from the description of 'wooden,' but not quite into 'sincere.'

"- thanks," he says, recalculating all of his escape routes in case he has anything for leaving immediately, politely, and without alarming anyone. He does not.

She hovers for half a second to be sure that no further social interaction is required of her, and upon this confirmation, immediately and politely retreats to an out of the way corner of the library.

He goes back to looking out the window for about half a minute, but it's not the same anymore. He picks a book off a shelf at random and starts reading it.

Does he want to know about the different types of fish found in the Wrenhaven River? Because that's what this book is about!

He wants to read literally any book. This is a book. It qualifies.

It is! It is a book!

Very dry, this book about things that life in the river. Average length of fish, what season they tend to be active in, best fishing times for acquisition of fish, bait to use. It's very informative. He will learn so much.

If he ever needs to fish in the Wrenhaven he will be so prepared.

So prepared!

The girl occasionally ventures out from her corner to retrieve books. She does not look like she wants to change her mind about conversing with anyone.

Raniero's guard is not quite so observant as Raniero himself, and seems to take it upon himself to cheer her up.

"Got a project in mind for all those books, or are you starting a collection of your own back there?" he jokes.

She glances at him, too emotionally exhausted to frown. She does not look like she wants to explain herself.

Oh look at that he's done reading his book.

"Hey," he says, catching the guard's attention, "where do I find the best view in Dunwall Tower, and am I allowed to be there?"

"Oh? Ah - it depends a bit on the time of day, and what the weather's like. Bit up for debate. You're definitely not allowed in the Emperor's suite or the Lady Annaveth's chambers, but there's a balcony on the east side that, um. Is probably fine. Lady -?"

Lady? What Lady? There is no Lady, he must be mistaken.

(She took the opportunity to use one of Raniero's possible escape routes.)

"- Ah. Um." He blinks confusedly, clearly not sure if he should be worried about this or not.

"Guess she was feeling shy. So, balcony on the east side?"

"I was only supposed to take you to the library," he says, glancing around a bookshelf to see if the girl's hiding behind it. She is not. He frowns. "I don't know if I'm allowed to give you an abridged tour."

"I'm sure it'll be fine."

"I'd really rather know -" he looks behind another bookcase. "- do you know where she went?"

"...she stepped out while we were talking?" he says, blinking in an I-don't-see-what's-so-odd-about-that sort of way.