[ Raphael is very good at stroking egos, when he wants to be. Or when it amuses him. Either way. ]

Truly a marvel.

[ He steeples his fingers together as he listens, giving a nod of acknowledgment. She gets it, clearly. A lot of youngbloods and teachers around this place simply do not. ]

Extremely rude, in fact. We did not become teachers here to be taken as a charity. [ He scrunches his nose in distaste. ] Walked all over, no. But you know, I may well have been in the Gold Court myself, had I been turned as a younger man.

[ A pause, and then he shrugs.] Red is much more fun.