The moment her name escapes his mouth, Ran spins in her seat, clearly startled by his entrance. The pen skids across the page with a sound that brings to mind the shriek of a bow mislaid upon a violin, as if the words are protesting the interruption.

"K-Kudo!"

There's a significant pause as she takes in his appearance, her complexion paling even further until her skin is almost parchment-white. The bandages of a tomb colonist are immediately identifiable to anyone from the 'Neath — and the memory of what can lie beneath them is still far too fresh and raw in her mind.

And personal. Very personal.

Her stool scrapes backwards, nearly toppling over with how quickly Ran stands, and then she stops, not daring to draw closer. She isn't sure she can stand to see the death-blows that will be hidden beneath those bandages. Not on him.

"You— When did you—"