"Oh, is that the difference?" Ruby said, grinning. "I suppose you would know more about courtly manners than I would. I guess I'm just simple enough to be pleased when people are deferential and polite to me." Words concerning her experience with various members of royalty that hadn't been at all courtly rose to the tip of her tongue, but she stopped herself before speaking them, as they made sense not at all. There'd never been any sort of royalty in Storybrooke, that she knew for certain, and to say anything to the contrary was pure crazy talk.

It was alarming to consider, though. Ruby had become increasingly aware of some sort of thin membrane that surrounded her thoughts and memories, and the truly frightening part was that she had no idea whether or not it was a simple defense mechanism, or a cage. It implied things she was not equipped to deal with, far too many things that she'd rather not face, so for the time being she simply pretended there was absolutely nothing wrong, and the occasional thought or image that entered her brain that she knew couldn't possibly have originated in her was pushed firmly aside.

"Well," she said, "Sif was your friend, Loki. I wouldn't do much less for your friends or your mother or brother, should they need help, than I would do for you." It was true that Ruby was a helpful sort by default and fond of befriending strangers, but it was undoubtedly her friendly fondness of Loki that had been the initial motivation to be as helpful as she was to Sif. The fact that Ruby actually found the other woman intelligent and interesting and entertaining after the fact was a decided bonus, and she did hope she had gained a new friend from it all. "Though if any other Asgardians suddenly find themselves switching genders, we may have to work something else out about the clothes. I'm not sure how Graham would feel about me using his closets to outfit a horde," she joked.