[ His ears are red now too, and while he still don't know what he means for them, it's... something quite telling and he's not sure how to really take it.

He turns around, then, looking at him firmly. ]

I can protect myself just fine. Do you think these spudlings have anything over me?

[ But it's not said with much bite either. Rather... he isn't rejecting it, looking into his eyes. ]

You're absolutely impossible, Leona Kingscholar.