[ That's good that she leaves because it gives him a second to consider something else besides ignoring her. Also a chance to walk up to a couple of crates and nudge them with the tip of his boot like that'll tell him all about their strength when it comes to standing on them, but - it's a start. It's better than going back to tug on the door some more since that's really the only backup plan he has at the moment until some others make themselves apparent, and Hilda's already on it.

Nothing left to do then but pick it up and place it beneath where the window is above, and then reality provides another hard fact: they're going to need a lot more crates and boxes than a couple. Now that this one's up against the wall, it turns out to not be nearly as tall as he'd thought while looking at them from afar. Unfortunate, but at least there's plenty of others to work with still.

There's probably a metaphor in there for how this whole situation is going when Hilda returns to ask him a question which has him sending a skeptical glance her way. ]

Well, if I had to guess, it's probably because there's a lock on the door.

[ It's not quite the lighthearted tone they would've used once upon a time while pointing out the obvious to each other for entertainment's sake and in hope of laughter, but this is the best he can do. That and go get another crate since he meant it about leaving, since he'll leave being concerned about the door to Hilda. ]

And it happens to be an extra effective lock at that. I take it this hasn't happened when you've been here before?

[ As for what before consists of, there's probably no point in expanding on what it means when Hilda's the one who's been here. Often, from the sound of it, and as he'd meant to imply. Why pretend otherwise when even Cyprian's noticed? ]