I’ll have to crack down on him for that when I see him again, then. He’s my replacement in the event anything happens. [A dry smile.] I can’t have him be too obvious in a fight.

[Because he’s already decided on that, in his head. Faustino can be just about anything he cares to be; it’s impossible to deny his skill both in quality and range. Ciro is a clever fight, but it’s not something he really has an aptitude. Lancia would feel more guilty about it if the boy hadn’t said so himself, years ago, a child who knew his limits even back then. That’s a sharp mind better for going through the technical details of keeping a Family running. It’s intelligent minds like Ciro’s that keep a Family funded and secure, not the vicious strength of someone like Lancia.]

[And that leaves Al. There’s a lot of potential in him. Even unaided by his channels, he’s good at just about anything physical. With those, however, he becomes an army knife of ability, and the only thing that really is a problem is getting him to be as protective of other people as he is those he’s personally invested in. Lancia isn’t naive when it comes to this dark underworld he’s made his home in. He won’t make promises he can’t keep about surviving every encounter. Someone needs to be there if he’s gone, and he thinks Al fits the bill perfectly, once he's polished up his fighting skills.]

Anyway, since you’re so eager for a challenge, I guess there’s no helping it, huh?