His own expression quirked as she asked if there were fewer this time.

"I fear I wouldn't know if it was more or less than usual. The last platform day I was a lost little lamb to be shepherded aboard." Not that he needed much shepherding. It occurred to him that she was absent last platform day as well and he couldn't stop the faint evanescent smile from passing across his face.

"You speak as if what happened had the chance to harm everyone here." Again: gentle, without judgement, patient.