"Perhaps it might, but wouldn't that be rather rude?" he pointed out, paying no mind to the fact that he was defending a sentient empath of a ship. "She hasn't invaded our minds, per se--she's simply speaking to us without seeking entry. Or to me, at any rate..." He glanced up again with a quick frown.

It had been unnerving, to be announced to like that despite his strong and habitual empathic barriers, but it had in fact been only an announcement, and no trace of probing through it. Though it might have used the same linked base as he had with the TARDIS (he could feel her, somewhere distant and distorted, but even his perception of her was slippery), he somehow didn't feel threatened by it. To the contrary, it comforted him, to a small degree.

"Did she attempt to glean anything from yours, then?" he finally asked, pulling his hand back in an almost guilty fashion.