Hailey sits down across from her with a slightly stunned smile.

"Bloody hell, I met Dr. King."

She nods gently. 

"It's always a little... dazzling meeting someone you know only by reputation, especially when they have the extra separation of history or mythology." 

She nods. "Glad I could save him. Hopefully that takes things for a brighter turn."

Then she laughs a bit. "And don't think I didn't notice the lightshow you lot pulled me out with. Aiming to give Dr. King a particular impression of who I work for?"

She sighs wryly. 

"Something like that." 

She leans back, a smile dancing in her eyes.

"It wasn't any trouble to, and there's no reason not to help along his convictions, given that you were already intervening fairly blatantly." 

She grins wryly and nods. "Cute, and probably helps make things stick. Works for me."

"Bloody hell," she sighs, leaning her head back. "I just saved a life, and probably changed countless more indirectly. What even is my life?"

"A better one, I'd hope." 

She laughs. "Yeah, it is that. By one hell of a stretch. Any questions or feedback or advice for me?"

"You tunneled a little aggressively on the 'bodyguard' angle. If the position of the shooter was a little different, then you might not have had the cue to raise your shield. I think you would have been better served by sweeping for weapons more often, and perhaps setting up shielding earlier - I understand that might not have served well in a wizard's fight, but I think it's reasonably likely it would have worked well here." 

"Good point. Could've gone for palings and done more sweeps. Bloody good point."

"Beyond that, I'd just generally caution you about tunnel visioning onto a particular solution - with a general magic system, there's almost always another comparably plausible solution available, and often another approach worth mining ideas from, if not undertaking fully." 

She taps her lips together, and hums softly. 

"How are you feeling, incidentally?" 

"A bit gobsmacked that I actually just did all that, a bit hacked off at the FBI, other shite I can't name yet. Mostly gobsmacked."

A little rueful sound slips past her lips with a breathy sigh. 

"Take all the time I need. First blood is always a bracing experience, even when it's as clean and bright as this." 

"I've had a fight or two before, drawn blood even. S'mostly the... importance, of today, rather than the violence."

"The mission does change things a good deal - makes it a lot more of a... 'streamlined' experience, for me, I've found." 

She nods. "Easier, smoother, but weightier."

She nods firmly. 

She takes a slow breath, relaxing into the moment. "Glad you lot found me. This feels a sight better than what I used to do."

She smiles gently. 

"I'm glad it's working out so well for you already." 

She grins suddenly, gesturing down at herself. "I mean look at me, I'm gorgeous."

"I did a lovely job on you, it's true." 

She blushes and grins. "At some point I should take some time out to enjoy a proper test-drive. Probably not just yet, though."

Her eyes twinkle with amusement. 

"Still, I'd recommend taking at least your tastebuds for one - missions are often rather hungry work, and the body optimizations can make dishes feel a good deal finer." 

"Ooh, good idea. You've probably got quite the caf here, with so many universes of cuisine to choose from."

She nods along with an acknowledging hum. 

"Replicator food is lovely, but it's hardly a complete replacement for a comprehensive culinary experience." 

She nods. "Fancy sommat spicy, I think. Maybe Indian or Korean or something reminiscent. Got a recommendation?"

"I've gotten a bit too used to immortal foods to have too many recommendations, but I'm a little fond of the ghee rice and most of the curry options." 

"Cheers. See you in a few, then. Got walking directions or should I just wait for a port?"

"I'll teleport you now." 

She taps at her keyboard quickly, and then she's gone in a blink. 

This food court is marble-white, with a vast domed ceiling with softly diffusing sunlight streaming down into the space. All across the walls are countless stalls bristling with signs and activity behind the counters, machines churning and produce proudly laid out in racks, laid out in stacked streets on the outskirts of the atrium. Inside the walls, there's a vibrant green garden and rows of granite-clad tables, each with a small console set in the center, with neon-blue lines set in the floor around each table stall, filling out the airy space. 

Well this looks lovely. She takes a stroll past the stalls on the edges, just browsing for the moment.

There's rows and rows of fragrant rices kept warm in one stall, while the other has posterboards and a more industrial look, the kitchen peeking through past the solid wall of signs. A handful of people mill about in and out of line. There's a orcish paladin in half-dull metal armor staring in thought at the wares, an elvish sorceress standing back and waiting, and a two cute fox boys flirting with each other at the front of the line.