"You know, I think this building could've been a little better designed," Cotton Fluff remarked as she trotted up the stairs alongside Dessic, coming close to where the stairs levelled out to a circular floor with railing that went around nearly the entire inner circumference of the building.

"What do you mean?" Dessic asked. "Don't you think it looks pretty snazzy?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm talking about function over form," Cotton replied. "We had to go down all those roads to get here, and then we've had to taken a tonne of steps up just to get to the observatory, and then even more inside. That just seems like poor planning."

"I guess..."

"And, from what I saw, there are plenty of buildings here that have multiple entrances with the roads on different levels where they intersect. So what's up with this one?"

"Oh, I know this," Later chimed in. The green mare was trotting right behind the pair, and had seemed uninterested in the conversation until then. "The building is super old—designated as having 'historical significance' by the Bureau—so they can't make any changes to the structure."

"Oh, huh. But it looks so... new." Cotton looked around at the polished surface of the walls, which reflected her awestruck expression back at her.

"I don't think it stops them from keeping it nice-looking," Dessic said. "They polish the floors and all that, so it doesn't look scuffed up."

As they reached the landing, Later looked right to see a small side hall, buzzing fluorescent light hanging from above, bearing a black sign with a distinctive white icon. "Hey, is it alright if I use the little filly's room?" she asked, gesturing towards the hall.

"Sure thing!" Dessic cheerfully replied. "We'll even wait here for ya 'til you get out."

Later blinked. "Erm, I don't think that will be necessary... I think I can just catch up with you further on."

Cotton looked confused for a moment, before a flash of realisation crossed her eyes and she nodded. "Yeah, I wanna see the exhibits," she pleaded, nudging Dessic's side.

Although he looked hesitant, the white stallion started to slowly nod. "Yeah, okay, that should be fine. We'll just be down this other hall to the left here, okay? It looks like they have an exhibit about the..." He leaned forward, squinting. "...The way they manufacture the telescope's lenses? Huh, interesting."

"I'm so excited!" Cotton lied. While Dessic wasn't looking, she mouthed something to Later, and though Later couldn't read her lips, she could get the gist of what Cotton was saying—that she would try to buy Later some time. Nodding a thank you, Later bid them farewell as she trotted down the hall. Once she had reached the restroom door, before she pushed it open, Later paused. She turned and watched Dessic and Cotton trot off into the hall where a few glass containers were just in view.

Then, she slid into the restroom. Yes, she had a mission to attend to—but that didn't mean what she said to Dessic had been a lie, either.