It certainly wasn't what she had expected to walk in to, already flustered from the days set backs and issues. Typically, the time before the Ark's doors opened was quiet and peaceful, the calm before the storm that actually relaxed her but not today it would seemed. Her luck had simply run out. Between her first experience with the dark-haired man and the few times he had come up in her conversations with Raven she knew to tread carefully, which was second nature for the woman. Experience had taught her she never knew what a man might do. She greeted him fondly enough, and despite how his smile dropped suddenly from his features she felt he was at least not displeased at her appearance. The thought crossed her mind that he might have been here because of her but that didn't matter now, what mattered is what happened next

His question was straightforward, but something told her a straightforward answer wouldn't get her anywhere and so she chose something much less serious. Things she did want from life but that he might not have expected to hear. It seemed to give him pause, if only for a moment before the huffed and attempted to rectify her mis-naming of him. To this she simply nodded seriously, "Tobi, yes of course." Where she had come from in another life everyone was a dear or a honey or a sweetheart, these pet names given to anyone from literal strangers to family and often came out unconsciously for the girl especially when she was in less than comfortable situations. It was the cadence of the southerner.

It was his offer to tell her a secret that naturally captured the majority of her interest, however she knew better than to ask outright. Raven had mentioned that many things were a sort of game to the leopard and it seemed better to offer him a trade, something that might make it worth his while. Leaning against the bar she offered the trade, to tell him a secret if he would divulge his. She wasn't sure what he had to tell her, or what she would end up telling him in return, but it seemed the best possible choice now. Her brows furrowed slightly at the two words that he spoke, his tone as if they would clear up everything and yet she wasn't sure exactly what he knew so she waited. His scowl was not encouraging but at least her silence seemed to prompt him to continue on.

She shouldn't have been surprised at all that this apparently centered around the cookies Tetradore had asked her to hide from the dark haired boy lounging on the counter not long ago. It seemed to be a constant struggle between the pair, one she didn't quite understand. Surely they could afford more cookies. Yet her green eyed boss had insisted the white bag of cookies had to be hidden from his second in command. It put her in a bit of an awkward spot for obvious reasons. She was working to build trust with Tobias but she could not risk losing ground with Tetradore. Even on so seemingly harmless a front as cookies. He finally asked her plainly where she hid them at which she merely rolled her shoulders. "He did, but I agreed to tell you a secret, Tobias, not a specific one of your choosing." she drawled slowly, letting it sink in and preparing for any displeasure he had at the notion.

Considering her next move for a moment however she leaned toward him slightly in a conspiratory fashion. "I'm terrified of thunder." She met his eyes behind the shag of black hair that seemed determined to hide their dark depths. Perhaps not the most earth shattering of secrets, but still one only a handful of people might know. Leaning back a little she sighed lightly, "and I do know where Raven keeps a safety stash just for such occasions." She slid down the bar a few feet, reaching in the back of a cabinet that housed mainly cleaning supplies and paper towels for a bag lodged in the furthest, darkest corner. Pulling it out she was moving back to her previous spot when he voiced his enjoyed her words, or her voice she guessed he meant but it was all the same. The rest of it didn't make sense to her, who this other was that he did not like, but perhaps she should be glad that maybe the accent wasn't the reason he disliked him.

Why her words were like that was a different matter entirely. "I grew up in the southern states long ago, and because everyone talked like this there it is how I came to speak as well." She shrugged once more, unsure of how better to explain it and not really eager to think long on the life she had run from. "I guess some things just never change no matter how long you're gone for." She placed the sealed bag of assorted cookies on the bar between them, hoping that they might suffice.