"Please. No good man would set to plowing sailors ten years his junior," Alex muttered, somewhat redfaced at the subject. "It's not my fault he makes miserable decisions. I won't pretend to approve of them for the sake of our relationship."

At her last line, his eyes drew up to her face, sharp. "Says the woman who runs about with that redheaded Tuatha traitor."

"His name is Neely, and for that information, we are all traitors here. Every last one of us, yes, even you. You sail with an enemy of the crown after all." Gioia's smile faded for a moment, then reappeared, slightly worse for wear.

"And he has more knowledge of being enslaved to demons than you and me combined. I just hope you will realize that there are people out ther that can help you if you need it, and not be all gallant manly teenager and try to handle it on your own. Regardles, Giles do love you. I don't want to see you hurt."

"I'm not enslaved, and I've no intention of becoming enslaved anytime soon," Alex informed Gioia, with a little frown. "She's a potential ally. I see no reason not to explore her capabilities, and accept her assistance or leave it as I see fit."

"Capabilities? Saints, that was the nicest name for a set of tits I've ever heard." Gioia giggled a bit, looking down at her own set.

"And that's now how it works. It never is." She gave the youth a thoughtful look. "But I guess I shouldn't lecture you? You already know what the world is about, right?"

"I'm not sleeping with her," Alex said, looking irked. "I've more sense than that. What do you take me for, anyway? Unlike my brothers, I'm not ruled by baser instinct." He folded his arms across his chest.

"...yet." She smiled a little, looking at him. "No, I'm sorry. I should not doubt you, but you know? It's hard to believe that out of the mouth of a teenage boy. I've known teenage boys, and saints knows that's usually what they think about. And most men stay teenage boys for most their lives."

She turned a corner, trying to remember where she and Giles had gone to get to the river. "But then again, I suppose it is the virgin in you talking."

Alex went ruddy. "So what? Better a virgin than a whore." He stared forward, embarrassed. "She's an ace in my sleeve, nothing more than that."

"I think she'd rather be an ace in your pocket, no offense. But that tends to make most men stop thinking, and obviously you think too much. Oh Saints, unruffle!" She added that quickly, shooting him an easy smile. "I don't think you think too much. But she probably does. And demons do get obsessed by virgins."

She was silent for a moment as she found her way, then had to ask. "What would you need such an ace for anyway?"

Alex shrugged. "Seeing as we're in the middle of a war, I'm considering her for emergency use only."

He gave Gioia a look, as if daring her to challenge the wisdom of this plan. "I'm not going to lose another brother. If she can protect him, or me, or anyone really, she's worth keeping around to some degree."

"True. If she can protect anyone. I hope you do know that Giles would gladly risk his own life just to keep you safe? Don't go playing with demons on account of him. He'd be too nice to say it, so I'd whip your ass on his accord." She gave Ale a stern look.

But a moemnt later she sighed, admitting "He worries me."