He laughed, hooking his arms under her legs, and straightened up. "No ladies, and clearly no gentlemen either," he quipped, taking a moment to catch his balance with her weight pulling back on him, and started on up the stairs. "Ah, well. Everyone who ever tried to teach me etiquette knows I'm a hopeless case. At least I can have fun being an ass." He lowered his voice, mock-conspiratorial. "Unlike certain other asses who shall remain nameless. Let's call them R."

Chuckling, he headed on up the stairs, bowed under her weight, and down a corridor to the left, finding his way with complete surety.