[ Ariane takes the hand without even thinking. It's probably for the best that she doesn't think, because then she'd become all self-conscious, and then her palms would start sweating, and the whole thing would be a horrific nightmare from which Ariane could not awake.

That doesn't happen. There are no horrific nightmares here. Ariane stands, and she likes to think her knees don't hurt as much when she does. ]

Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I bleed all the time.

[ And then she immediately bites her lip, because what the hell? Was that? Oh, she'll never live that down.

(Besides, if she focuses on how embarrassed she is, Ariane doesn't have to worry about what is surely impending bad news.) ]

My room's on the first floor, not far from here.

[ If that plan works for Elster, Ariane will lead her towards room 512, which is inexplicably on the first floor. Inside, the room is light and airy, with the curtains pulled open to brighten the place up. The bed is barely made, with pillows everywhere, and art supplies and paintings litter the floor. The trash can is halfway full with used bandages, some of them bloodier than others. Ariane takes a seat on the edge of her bed; there's a chair across from her, tucked into the desk. ]

Sorry about the mess, but please sit wherever you like.