"Well, the components of that are--Emily has a sword, and I have a staff. And my staff does some shielding against other peoples' mind stuff."

"Just for you, or...?"

"For anyone touching it."

"Seems potentially difficult to finagle in a combat situation but I'll keep it in mind."

"Uh huh."

"Thanks."

"I want you to be okay."

"I love you."

Nn why can't she just say it back--"I'm starting to get awfully fond of you," she says, because it's the best she can do as of yet.

"I'm glad."

"I wish you had had the opportunity to evaluate me objectively before any of this happened."

"I can form opinions about how I'd feel about a situation that was exactly like ours except for not having us in it. Nothing really worrying so far."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"I--wish you could've gotten to know me, though. First."

"Yeah. Me too."

"I don't wish you had been caused to fall in magical love with me at all," she hastens to clarify, "but, you know, given that you did. Or even absent it."

"I know what you mean," Annie says. "And I wish you could have met me when I wasn't made of ninety-five percent emotional blackmail! But here we are."

She giggles. "What a pair we."

"Yep."

"We'll work something out."

"I hope so."

"The alternative is unacceptable. So it will not happen."

"...okay. Good."

"Don't be such a drama queen, Edie," Emily chides.