[Dorothea is a little caught off-guard by that escalation herself, truth be told. But it feels a little odd to finally put it into words. Kind of relieving?]

I suppose that’s true.

[A little laugh, and a shake of her head.]

I have to admit, part of the allure in coming here was getting a break from it all. [A beat, her tone reclaiming more of that prior chipperness.] Going out on little excursions like this… it’s nice, isn’t it?