[Call it progress. Vrenille smiles with an acquiescing dip of his head at the request. He's happy to show Ash around, especially if it gives the guy some assurance that he won't be harassed or troubled in the sunshine of the Up. They can start here, he reckons, and make their way to the Down later.]

My pleasure. [It's casual and congenial the way he says it, just the way he seems to be with everything, and he stands as the train pulls into the next station, making an 'after you' sort of gesture when the doors open. He's got no expectation that Ash walk a step behind him or anything so contrived, and if anybody looks askance at them for it, he seems simply not to care.]

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn't walk around up here or some crap. [That's the advice he begins with once they're stood on the platform together and the train is pulling away.]

You can come 'n go as you please, Up or Down. Anyone asks you any questions, you tell 'em you're courting with a Dominant. They shouldn't though. You can't buy anything without permission, and that'll rankle. And you can't live up here 'less you're contracted. But otherwise?

Their goal isn't to keep us separate; it's to make all of you dependent on all of us.