[Her response to what had been his best attempt at managing a self-deprecating sort of remark does earn a crooked smile from him in turn, just enough to ease a bit of the tension that's been mounting within him for days now, if only for a moment.

He does give a bit of a twitch at her form of address, however.]

You'll forgive me for not being certain. Pirates don't often make a habit of keeping many friends around.

[That, he knows, has little to do with his profession and everything to do with him, but there's no need to unpack all of that just now.]

I'm quite selective, you know.

[She may well have hit the nail square on the head with that last bit, though he can't say he's comfortable admitting as much.]

Now, must you with that awful nickname? I was hoping you'd tire of it.