"And why do I," Ignis retorted, the low dry drawl overlaid with soft fondness, with maybe just the smallest twinge of some sort of sadness in there, "find myself surprised by that not at all? But don't forget. They were also quite stylish as well."

He leaned in for another kiss, a much lighter, softer one, though no less heartfelt than some of the previous ones that were all but bursting with their passion.

"And now," he said, "your turn. Tell me something about yourself, my darling," because while the Book of Ignis was sure to be but a slim, concise tome indeed, no doubt hers would require several hulking volumes, "while I take a moment to see if our mussels have opened yet."