[Well – if she’s actively shoving him, that means she’s not sticking her hands into the fire, so even though Koby lets out an ”oof” and has to hastily fling his weight back towards the stranger to keep from tumbling into the embers himself, it’s worth it. The sparks get close enough that he feels them on his face, freckles of heat that singe and pop and make him wince a little, but he hurriedly scoots out of the line of fire, out of breath, hair sticking out everywhere, a fluffy pink chaotic mess.]

S-Sorry, I – [He cuts off the explanation, too busy grabbing a stick and deftly hooking the gleaming circlet of gold on the tip, lifting the ring back out of the fire and letting out a sigh of relief.] There. See, just – here’s this. [Free hand raking back his hair, Koby manages a weak smile, holding out the ring on the end of the stick, the diamond refracting, catching the light. The part of him that’ll always be a pirate’s cabin boy is thinking about how valuable it is, how easily it’d fit into a hoard, but – clearly it means something to the teary-eyed, snarling girl.

So, still expecting to be shoved, he stretches his arm out like trying to feed a hissing snake, offering her the abandoned ring.] I didn’t want you to hurt yourself. That’s all. I’m sorry I scared you.