Gloomy clouds covered the sky. Pouring rain drummed a solemn melody against the empty streets. Cold wind howled between the buildings. In such a lousy weather sensible souls had huddled inside, next to their stoves and hearths were it was dry and cozy. Several such people had gathered in the local library. They had even come up with a fitting way to pass time. Sitting in a circle with candles offering light and atmosphere, they shared stories. Funny events, fantastical tales and of course... Ghost stories. One storyteller had just finished enthralling the audience with the eeriest tale they had heard in ages, the legend of the drowned hag. It was a classic among some circles.

Meanwhile, the front door creaked ajar ever so slightly. A cold draft snuck inside, carrying shivers. People glanced towards the door, some nervously, others quizzically. Imagination was running wild. One person carefully inquired if there was someone there. Others invited the stranger to join them. Only deathly silence answered. Suddenly a violent gust of wind blew the door open. It whistled across the room, blowing out the candles. Darkness swallowed the room. Slowly people’s eyes adjusted. A grim silhouette of a woman stood in the doorway. Water dripped down the dark dress. Long, messy hair framed a deathly pale visage. She resembled a drowned corpse. Unblinking eyes stared at the crowd. Silent and eerily still, she wasn’t even breathing.

Approximately five seconds later an unified scream shook the whole building. People rushed to the backdoor and fled outside into the rain. Judging by how many windows lit up in their wake, the ruckus must’ve stirred half the town. Mary looked at the abandoned library with a mixture of bewilderment and panic. H-had she interrupted something? Intruded upon a private event perhaps? Sometimes the local customs were rather strange... They left before she could even say hello... But deep down she was kind of glad. Seeing all those people glaring had startled her. She had just frozen stiff, unable to even speak. Being all alone suited her fine.

The eerie woman picked up one of the candles. An abandoned tinderbox was kind enough to rekindle the flame. With a wavering light in her hand she stepped deeper into the library. Rickety floorboards whined beneath her movements. Her eyes scanned the towering shelves, not really searching for anything specific. She was just... browsing. It was nice to do it at her own pace, without getting in anyone’s way. However, when she stopped to inspect an interesting tome, an odd sound caught her attention. Was there someone else here...?

Mary stood as still as a statue, trying to focus on the odd sound. It sounded... kind of like... someone humming a delighted tune? Ah, she had always been fond of music, singing especially. Inspired and curious, she tried mimicking the hummed tune to see if she recognized the song. It went... something like... this... “...♫...♪...♬...” Soon, a series of horribly off-key notes trailed through the shadows like a twisted echo mocking the stranger’s humming. Like imaginary claws scratching at the edges of one’s hearing. It lasted just for a moment and soon only the silence responded. Well, in truth, the ghastly woman had gotten embarrassed. She didn’t want to seem rude by imitating someone... But she had enjoyed the shared moment of music.

In the dark any source of light reached far. Like a beckoning beacon it was glowing beyond the tall shelves. Carefully the eerie lady crept towards the shining source. Someone else was definitely here. Sloooowly she peeked from behind the corner of a shelf. As soon as she caught a glimpse of the stranger, she yanked herself back into hiding. The motion was a mere blur in the corner of one’s eye. Curiosity had drawn her closer, but anxiety was pulling her away. She hadn’t seen the details all that well, but she was kind of maybe sure...ish she had seen someone small and beautifully dressed. Regal even. She glanced down at her rain-soaked dress. By comparison she must’ve looked like a mess...

After a brief moment of hesitation, Mary snuck another peek at the stranger. Should she go and greet her or...? The sensation of being watched came creeping. Again she withdrew back into the shadows. D-did the person see her...? Was she being a bother? Yesnomaybe... Anxiety took hold. And it squeezed tightly. The old floorboards cried out again as the shy specter hurried further into the library. Rapid steps tapped against the floor. Her trailing hair vanished behind another set of shelves where she finally dared to stop. Leaning back, she clutched the candle with both hands. Deep breaths... were doing nothing! Her heart was hammering hopelessly. It felt deafening in her ears. She didn’t know to deal with this...

Teetering on the brink of panic attack, the nervous wreck glanced up at the shelf before her. Books... Yes, books were nice. They didn’t speak. Or judge. Her shaky hand reached for an interesting one, a midnight black tome with beautiful crimson lettering on the spine. However, it didn’t want to leave its comfortable spot. She tugged a little harder, but it barely budged. One more pull and it popped free all too quickly. She fumbled and failed the catch completely. A heavy thump shattered the uneasy silence. The shelf groaned ominously. Mary froze on her tracks. Oh dear... Several more books fell down with a chaotic cacophony of light and heavy thuds.

Stars... Tiny, twinkling dots twirled around Mary’s head. She was fairly sure they weren’t real, but they filled her vision nonetheless. It felt like someone was playing drums between her ears. The whole world was spinning at a dizzying pace. Which way was up again...? Upon rounding the corner, the worried stranger would find a grim and messy scene. The ghastly woman was slumped against a shelf, limp and lifeless. Drip... Drop... Stray droplets of blood ran down her brow and painted thin streaks across her pale cheek. Several books were scattered at her feet. Her hand clutched onto the burning candle stiffly. It was a small miracle she hadn’t dropped it in the chaos. Silver linings.

When the gentle soul voiced her worry, the ghastly mess twitched. Jolted back to reality. The imaginary stars left her alone. Her wide-eyed stare darted towards the voice. The whole motion seemed unnatural, more fitting for a broken marionette than a human. “I-I’m okay...” She lied softly. A little, white lie so the kind stranger wouldn’t worry... Or a big, fat one depending on the view, because she was most definitely not okay. One heavy encyclopedia had conked her pretty hard with its pointy corner. Luckily, the wound on her forehead wasn’t all that serious. Just... Messy.

The dazed wreck brushed the wetness on her cheek, looking puzzled at the crimson coloration clinging to her fingers. She shifted her hollow stare back onto the caring lady. Little by little the events from moments before started flowing back. Ah, yes, she had tried to stay out of sight, not wanting to bother this person. The earlier words echoed through her memories. One line in particular had left an impression, even if her anxiety had initially swallowed it. Judith of Fairy Tail... The line rang in her mind so clearly now. Awkwardly she pointed at herself with the bloodstained finger. “M-mary...” After a clumsy pause, she clarified. “Mary Wraith... of F-fairy Tail too... I think...” Truth to be told, she wasn’t quite sure if it worked like that. Her whole recruitment had been kind of... an accident.

Mary struggled to get back onto her feet. Her vision was still swaying. Every motion was hasty. Unsteady. “I’m sorry... for making a mess... So sorry...” Her head drooped as she apologized profusely. She felt awful in more ways than one. “I... I’ll clean up... right away...” Before she could try, however, her shaky legs suddenly buckled. If Judith wasn’t ready or willing to catch her, she would flop feebly onto the floor.

Fortunately for the ghoulish woman, the kind soul was there to catch her before she kissed the cold floor. Being told that she wasn’t okay sparked a small smile on her features. “Am I dying...?” For such a grim question, she sounded a little too... hopeful. However, when Judith assured her she would be okay, her tone and spirits promptly deflated. “...Oh. A pity.” Disappointment chimed clearly in her tone. Ah well, maybe next time then. She watched in daze as a plant of some kind fell from Judith. Seeing it grow into a large leaf resembling a chair got a puzzled blink. And another for good measure.

Was she still seeing things...?

Mary’s wordless pondering was soon answered. Following the gentle guildmate’s lead, she carefully took a seat. No, this wasn’t just imagination. Her hollow eyes followed the friend’s motions. As the tiny sunflower bloomed, a small gasp escaped her lips. “Ah, such beautiful magic...” Breathing life into the world was pretty much the exact opposite of the magic she wielded. While she would not trade her family traditions for the world, she could still appreciate the beauty of growing one’s own plants. Of course, she didn’t quite realize the small, glowing flower was doing much more than just sitting there looking pretty. Little by little the pain was fading away... Erm, the physical pain at least. As for the social agony...

When Judith mentioned sneaking around, the wounded ghoul flinched. She brought her hands close, nervously poking her fingers together. “S-sorry... I wasn’t... I d-didn’t mean to... I j-just...” Just what exactly? She wasn’t so sure herself. With each stammered word her vague mumbling got faster. “I-Ijust camehere toreadb-books... B-butpeoplescreamed... A-andthenyoucameandIgotscaredandand...” By the end of it she had to finally gasp for air. The creeping panic had her in its grip. She really didn’t know how to deal with any of this. Finally she managed to wheeze something sensible. “I just really like books...” Oh. Right. The books. Her eyes fell on the mess of tomes still on the floor. This was all her fault.

Aaand the panic intensified.

Turns out shallow breaths didn’t help either. If anything, they just made the panic worse. Between the hyperventilation and the internal screaming, it was a small miracle Judith’s soothing words pierced the veil. They carried a gentle, motherly warmth. ...Which felt a little odd, considering the immediately apparent height difference, buuut Mary wouldn’t complain. She didn’t even realize how much she had needed this until she actually received it. Little by little her frantic breathing slowed down. Her heartbeat fell quiet again, no longer the deafening drum in her ears. Even the shy shivers slowly faded away.

The ghastly woman listened closely as the new friend... erm... new acquaintance shared her experiences. It was the distraction she so desperately needed. Especially the mention of the son hiding for months and only coming out to fuel his passion felt oh so very familiar. Recognition gleamed in those hollow, spiral eyes. Before her mind could really register it, her lips were already moving. “Ah, so he’s a hopeless shut-in just like me.” Pause for effect and... Cue the internal screaming. Again. She could just stare blankly ahead, while the screeching filled her head. There were many things one did not tell a complete stranger within five minutes of meeting them. That had been one of them.

Fortunately, the motherly mage’s soothing presence was enough to keep further panic attacks away. For now at least. As Judith inquired how the nervous wreck was feeling, she received a weak mutter in response. “I feel like I died a little inside...” Mary finally blinked and lowered her gaze in quiet pondering. “It felt... kind of nice.” Chilling honesty chimed in her tone. Not quite the near-death sensation she had expected, but she would accept it. Death came in so many forms after all. Such a shame the sensation was already leaving her... Oh well.

Much like a neglected flower finally receiving some sunshine, the eerie woman dared to open up a little. Just a tiny bit. She forced herself to smile, but it came off as a stiff and creepy grin. Absurdly sharp teeth gleamed in the candlelight. “You were... like me... But now you’re not like me.” She was terrible at smalltalk, but she still tried her best. “You are so... alive. How... did you become so... like... that?” Of course there were so many other things she wanted to ask, but that one felt like the most important question.

It seemed fortune was smiling for once. Even as the inept mage stumbled her way through the conversation, the patient acquaintance took no offense. The calm comment silenced the internal screams. Having someone claim she wasn’t hopeless was something new. While the ghoulish woman didn’t quite understand why someone wouldn’t want to experience death, she definitely agreed with the sentiment. “Ah, yes... There is no need to fear the inevitable.” Honestly, she was just thankful to finally find someone who didn’t give her that weird, hurtful look when she brought up the topic... Was this what having a friend felt like? Hm. Another question for later.

Healing physical wounds was simple. It could be done even without magic. But mental ones? Those were tricky. Though Judith started her tale with the best of intentions no doubt, the answer got a frown from the gloomy lady. The last... fifty-seven? Was it fifty-seven now? Well, anyway, the last several times she had tried coming out of her shell she had been rejected harshly. It didn’t exactly inspire confidence... Anxiety had taken root deep inside her soul. But, out of pure politeness, she listened to the motherly woman’s tale quietly. Occasionally she nodded to show she was still paying attention. Staying silent suited her fine. She couldn’t trip over her words when she kept her mouth shut...

By the end of the shared story, Mary was left stupefied. Speechless. Staring blankly even. The echo of one word still bounced inside her head. Grandmother. Finally she blinked. Her quizzical stare swept the strange woman down and back up one more time. Not a single wrinkle or gray hair. It didn’t make any sense, unless... “...Are you sure you didn’t die that day thirty years ago? And become a ghost?” The weird questions were voiced with utter honesty. It would’ve explained so many things. Especially the youthful looks and the calming presence. “You see, a spirit’s appearance is forever suspended in the moment of their death. And you don’t look a day over thirty, so...” Her eyes twinkled with child-like excitement. She was getting her hopes up once again. ...For all the wrong reasons.

Mary’s hopes shattered in an instant. She could almost hear the shrill sound ringing in her ears. The excited spark was snuffed out. “Oh... I see...” Her head drooped. Doom and gloom hung over her like the dark clouds covering the sky. She had really thought... Hoped... No, it had just been another mistake. Still, she did take the motherly mage up on the offer to check. Just to be sure. Carefully she held the offered hand. Warm... As promised... By comparison, the ghastly woman’s grasp was frigid. Her skin had always been rather cold. Getting soaked in the icy rain certainly hadn’t helped.

Several seconds slipped by in silence, before the clingy ghoul finally released her icy grip. That had dashed what little hope she had been cultivating. Not a ghost then. Such a shame. Desperate to change the topic from her embarrassing mistake, she returned her stare to the books littering the floor. “I... should really clean up...” Weakly she rose from the leafy seat and squatted down. The candle was plopped down next to her. One by one, she started gathering the tomes. Thankfully the healing flower had worked wonders. Her head was no longer aching. She simply had to thank the kind soul somehow... Yet another thing to add onto the teetering pile of things she couldn’t quite put into words.

Between the slow, deliberate motions, Mary spoke softly. “Worry not, I won’t pry into the secret of your youth...” She was slowly arranging her scattered thoughts too. “Every family has secrets. Mine included.” Magic tended to be a highly secretive subject anyway. She paused briefly. “A-and... While I appreciate the sentiment, I don’t think your children would want to marry someone as... awkward as me... ha ha...” Her tone wavered, trying to remain light and jesting, but failing miserably. The laugh rang painfully hollow. It just hit too close to home. She paused again and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Right. No crying. There was cleaning to be done. That she could do.

Book by book, the floor started looking a little less messy. The eerie woman’s approach was to first gather them into a pile. She could then ponder where they should be on the shelf. Speaking of which... Her gaze shifted between the books and the empty space reserved for them. Alphabetical perhaps...? “Do you truly believe it would help...?” An idle thought voiced carelessly. She soon hurried to clarify. “M-meeting your children, I mean. W-would it help me be less like... this... and more like... you?” Well, clarify the best she could, which wasn’t much.

The Wraith family had many little... quirks. One in particular got all sorts of worried or puzzled reactions out of people. So the ghastly mage simply nodded when asked. “Yes... Death... is cold.” ...She meant that it ran in the family. Some suspected it had something to do with their brand of magic and attachment to darkness. Others shrugged it off as them having poor circulation. Either way, she was used to it.

Sometimes good intentions had unfortunate results. When Judith mentioned her family connecting in odd ways, Mary’s gaze twitched immediately towards the motherly mage. Her eyes shined with a predatory gleam. “So there’s a chance...” The breathy mutter carried something sinister, a kind of hunger humans shouldn’t feel. Beneath the creepy exterior, the lonely woman was quickly sinking deep into a lovely pink daydream. Rose petals drifted in the wind. The wedding bells chimed in the distance. Her knight in a shining armor spoke those sacred words before whisking her away on his winged horse... Ah, but she was getting ahead of herself. First she needed to clean up her mess. Then, she would go get a wedding dress first thing tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, back in reality...

The ghoulish woman was staring off into the distance. A rosy blush painted her cheeks. Lusty laughter trailed from between her grinning lips. “Hmhahah... haha... haa...” Better not to ask. She only snapped out of it when her new... friend? Yes, friend. ...Said something incredibly odd. That she was... wonderful? She blinked, puzzled and unsure if she had heard that correctly. “Oh, s-sorry... I spaced out for a moment...” Putting it mildly. After brief consideration, she bowed her head gently. “Thank you... It’s... very kind of you to say that...” Her polite words rang hollow. She didn’t really believe the motherly woman, at least not when it came to that opinion, but appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. Kindness felt scarce nowadays.

Mary shifted her focus back onto the pile of tomes. Her pace had slowed down to a complete stop during her little daydream. She lifted a small stack of them into her arms. As her eyes scanned the titles, suddenly a spark of recognition shot through her head. This was... “Um... You mentioned you were looking for a cookbook, yes...?” She showed the tome to the motherly mage. Stellan Cooking: 1000 and 1 traditional recipes, the title declared with decorated letters. “I... like to cook as well... But this seems a little too... advanced... for me.” Though this was coming from someone who wasn’t exactly good at it.

Handing the book to the motherly mage, the gloomy ghoul returned to arranging the other tomes. Initially she wondered why the odd person would want more books on the same topic... Or to know what she wished to make herself... But soon enough all her wordless questions were answered. She fumbled and nearly dropped a book out of sheer surprise. “T-truly? You would... teach me?” Hastily she shoved the unruly tome back into the shelf. There. Safe and secure. Soon it got more friends. With every addition, the shelf looked a little more like it had been previously.

At first, Mary wanted to accept the kind offer more than anything. She had never gotten actual cooking lessons. Unfortunately her anxiety came creeping... A grim shadow looming over her and whispering its toxic doubts into her ear. Whenever she cooked, the reception was... less than stellar. People had said some rather hurtful things... At least those who stayed conscious. Hesitantly she started forming a polite refusal. “I... do not wish to be a burden.” She was being truthful at least. “A-and we’ve only just met... I... I don’t even know where you live...” Excuses, excuses... They filled her head like ink, darkening every thought.

The specter fell silent. It would’ve been rude to interrupt someone’s line of thought. Apple pie and homemade bread both sounded lovely. She also took it as an opportunity to ponder further. Her neurotic mind was telling her no, but her soft heart was whispering yes. Maybe... If she learned to cook... Her luck in love would finally change. Placing the final book into its place, she stopped to check the results. Everything seemed to be in order... Except that the books were all backwards, with their spines facing the shelf. Oops.

Mary was too distracted by the standing offer to notice her mistake. Lost in thought, she turned to Judith. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage. “Um... I... I would love to know how to make a complete dinner...” Bread and dessert included, naturally. Her head drooped in shame. “I have no way to repay your kindness...” Twiddling her fingers together, she desperately searched for the right words. “B-but if you’ll have me, I would be forever grateful.” The Wraith family didn’t use the word forever lightly, as they knew exactly how far it reached. Sometimes the real meaning was lost on people though.

Hearing that the kind soul lived near the guild house was an immense relief for the nervous wreck. It manifested as a twisted smirk on her features. In that case, she wouldn’t get lost when returning home. Her own apartment was... erm... a bit further away. She was new to the city and hadn’t explored much yet. Anything she could learn from the older woman was much appreciated. First dinner... Then perhaps more complex things. Ah, her soul was getting all giddy at the mere thought.

However, when Judith politely declined even the eternal gratitude, Mary’s expression suddenly darkened. Her gaze dropped to the floor and her voice fell quiet. “I... am afraid I cannot agree to that...” The messy bangs cast a grim shadow over her features. “Everything has a price. I shall repay you, even from beyond the grave.” Beneath the ominous exterior, she was struggling to keep her embarrassment in check. She couldn’t even look at the motherly woman directly. To think there was such a noble and altruistic person... Yet she had insisted on repaying anyway. Gaaah, why did she even say that?! B-but repaying one’s debts was the Wraith way of doing things... And death didn’t clear debts.

Eager to escape the embarrassing topic, again, the ghoulish mage snatched the candle from the floor. “Thank you for your service... Rest now...” With a gentle mutter, she snuffed out the wavering flame. Couldn’t leave a fire hazard in a library. Twiddling her fingers together, she finally dared to face her new friend again. “P-please lead the way.” She was ready to leave wherever the motherly mage wanted to lead. Though it would’ve been quite the sight... Someone who represented radiated the warmth of life shadowed by a specter of death. Hopefully people didn’t look out the window or a whole new batch of unfortunate rumors would start spreading.

Mary’s heart skipped a beat when Judith spoke that rare and treasured word so casually. Friend... Small pearls glimmered in her eyes as she was moved to tears. Yes, they were friends now, weren’t they? Her very first real friend in this strange city... Bound by not only their guild, but by the very fate intertwined. Yes, this had to be destiny! ...Fortunately she didn’t spout any of her dramatic ideas out loud. Instead she nodded frantically and managed to mumble a muffled answer. “Y-yes... Such is... my magic...” More than few people had been weirded out by her word choices. Then again, the motherly mage seemed to take it all in stride. Perhaps there was some truth to the whole bit about destiny...

Much like a shadow, the grim specter trailed right behind the gentle guide. She watched in silent awe as the older woman summoned a huge leaf to keep them dry. The comment was met with an agreeing echo. “Yes... I.. love walks in the rain as well. Gives me... a sense of clarity...” It was one of the rare occasions she could be alone without her thoughts without spiraling into despair. The fact that most people stayed inside in this kind of weather was a huge bonus too.

When Judith mentioned her husband, Mary immediately stiffened. Her visage turned a little pale... er. If that was even possible. A weak squeak escaped her lips. “Eeep...” Doing the exact opposite of the advice, she was already nervous about meeting the man. Her imagination was running wild, imagining a hundred horrific scenarios. And plenty of embarrassing ones too. Carefully she reached out, wanting to grip the guide’s sleeve, like a child seeking any comfort within arm’s reach.

Fortunately, the mention of the flower garden provided some much needed distraction. The ghoulish woman voiced a careful question. “Ah... D-do you have any white lilies?” They had always been her favorite flower. She wasn’t sure if they could be counted as uncommon or slightly rare though...

Mary let out another squeak, sounding much like a surprised mouse. “Eep?” She hadn’t expected the handholding... But it felt... nice. Her cold fingers wrapped around the warm hand, holding a little tighter, afraid to let go. She was still stuck on the mental image of a rough and intimidating smith. “Well, yes, o-of course, but...” She promptly swallowed the rest of the sentence, deciding it was not polite to argue back. Especially not when discussing someone’s beloved husband.

Fortunately, the topic of flowers was a welcome distraction. The clingy woman’s smile widened when the motherly mage described her garden. Ah, she hadn’t even known there were so many different kinds! In her family gatherings, the decorative lilies were always white... The generous offer snapped her out of her thoughts. It was met with much hesitation and ultimately she shook her head. “Ah, thank you, but... I can’t possibly accept...” It pained her heart to admit it, but she couldn’t adhere to the only condition set by the flower mage. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “Everything I touch... dies...” There was no deeper meaning behind the ominous words. She was just an awful gardener.

Soon enough, the destination was in sight. The eerie mage was immediately enchanted by the numerous flowers decorating the garden. Her jaw dropped and eyes widened with wonder. “Your home is beautiful...” She breathed in, enjoying the scent of fresh nature stirred up by the rain. While she liked her own home, this place simply seemed... magical.

However, when they approached the front door, the ghastly mage suddenly stopped dead on her tracks. She released her grip and started twiddling her hands together. “Um...” Hastily she glanced around hesitantly, as if looking for something. “I-I’m sorry, but I just remembered that I... uh... forgot to... dust the skeletons in my closet...” She was a terrible liar too. In truth, the anxiety had finally caught up to her. The mere thought of meeting someone new twisted her stomach into a knot. Her legs trembled weakly, refusing to take another step. “S-so... M-maybe I should just... um...” Yet the promise of learning to cook still lingered in her mind. If she turned back now... Would she regret it forever?

A tiny change could make a huge difference. When the white lily was gently placed in Mary’s hair, it gave her grim appearance a much needed touch of life. White went well with any color. She touched the fragile flower tenderly. Forming tears glimmered in her eyes. Her friend... had memorized her favorite flower... With a weak sniffle, she nodded. “T-thank you...” The simple gesture meant the world to her. She would treasure it long after the flower wilted. A small, joyful smile warmed her pale features, nothing like the creepy grins she usually wore. “I shall remember that.” For a brief moment, she seemed... alive.

Unfortunately, the moment was fleeting...

The rain kept falling. Warmth faded from the ghastly woman’s features as her anxiety reared its head again. She took the advice, of course. Deep breaths... In... And out... She glanced around nervously. Not a soul in sight... Only the two of them. Her gaze was drawn towards the back of the house. A trail of smoke was climbing to the sky. There must’ve been the den of the frightening beast... She promptly shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought. No, that was rude. This was someone’s dear hubby she was thinking about. Still, the motherly mage’s generous offer sounded tempting. Much like the rain, she could just go away... And come back another day...

After a long moment of awkward silence and hesitation, the nervous wreck finally managed to gather her courage. She took one more deep breath and braced herself. “I... I would still like to do this... today... w-with you... here...” Wavering and stumbling, but it got the point across. This was not the time to run away. ...Not that she’d been able to run with how much her knees were shaking. She approached the front door, taking just a couple of steps closer, before turning to her friend with an expectant look. “M-may I come in?” Even if she had been invited this far, it was still polite to ask. ...Um, right? She was being polite and not weird, yes?