[At that, Ace nodded. He snuffed out his flames, then set his free hand on his hip as the other propped up Asami's crate.

Just the same, he noticed the tone of Asmai's voice when she mentioned her father. It was one thing he could say they had in common--a total lack of pride in the paternal end of their family.]

'Eventually'? [He smiled, anyway.]

If you think about learnin' too long, it'll be too late. Come up on deck in a bit and I'll get ya' started.