He blinked, as if clearing his vision might somehow aid his hearing. "I'm sorry, Pippi, what was that?" He could hear the prickles in her voice, a pleasant, quiet sound. He leaned up toward her, his elbows resting on his knees as he cast a long look over her. For a moment his smile had faltered, but now it merely shifted, taking on some darker, sharper, more feral little edge. A girl she might be, and young besides, but the gauntlet had been thrown and he was well and truly obliged to pick it up. She was stacked, after all; for all his mockery, some part of Samuel was legitimately curious to see if she could best him. Suddenly he found himself stupidly pleased he had hung around for her not-so-grand entrance. "I don't know what boys you played with before, but I don't pull punches. So we can test your theory if you want, but don't expect an apology from me later."