[Ajax pauses, before circling around to face her, the flower still in his hand. She's not fine, it's easy to tell, deflection or not. His head tilts to the side, looking at the scarf around her neck, and how she fiddles with it.]

Was it really?

[Because he doesn't believe her. Gingerly, he reaches out to pull the scarf down with his finger, revealing part of the bandages on her neck. He breathes out sharply, eyes narrowing. The bastards tried to cut her throat, but maybe they hadn't killed her because they needed her alive. That's the only reason he can think of.]

In my line of work, it's never "not that bad." Lumine...

[Apologizing to her doesn't make this better. Protecting her does. He's got a few ideas, but will she agree to it?]

Okay. Listen. Windblume is supposed to be a joyous occasion, so while you're here, please have a good time and leave your protection to me. I know you probably don't want to live your life cooped up in a cage, so....

[He sighs. He wants the blood of the people who'd attacked her, but he still needs to calm himself.]

When we return to Fontaine, would you be opposed if I gave you more tools to deal with things of this nature just in case?