"Probably. Please don't worry about them, though, no one who can do anything about it is going to be pushy, there's no one around who can make you."

"I don't think they could make me, I'm - just worried about - ugh, this is going to sound so stupid if I say it out loud. Do you want me to say it out loud?"

"Okay, well. I'm worried about accidentally becoming an - I don't know, accidental stain on your honor due to rumors and my reprogramming due to horrible unethical magic."

"See, it sounds stupid when I say it out loud. Okay then, as long as I'm not making any horrific cultural missteps that personally cause you trouble, then it's fine. Had to be sure."

"You're fine," she assures him.

"Good. Let me know if I'm ever not. I'm kind of being obsessively careful, and all."

"I'll tell you, I promise I'll tell you."

He laughs. "Thanks, I realize I keep asking the same thing of you over and over - it's important, is all. Sorry."

"No harm done."

"I'll stop extracting the same promise from you over and over. I'll choose different wordings of the same one, instead," he jokes.

"If that's what it takes to make you feel comfortable."

"You're welcome."

"You're looking at me funny."

"I'm not complaining, I just don't know what it means."

"I'm not sure how to even begin to explain that one, sorry. Suffice to say, I like your company."

"Oh, good."

"You're doing it again," laughs Shara.

"Pff, sorry, didn't even realize it that time."

"You don't have to be sorry, I'm just super curious. It looks sort of like you're considering painting me."