"Most things in life aren't strictly necessary," Erskine replies immediately, straight-faced. "Just useful. Like pants."

And then he immediately drops the subject of Raine's new nickname, leaving that little gem of wisdom hanging in the air and most assuredly determined to use the nickname anyway.

"No, unfortunately. No wings. For all their big talk we were still in the middle of a war. We were lucky they didn't have to hold the ceremony while we were knee-deep in some muddy trench, honestly--but that's not the point. The point...." Erskine's voice trails off as he tries, valiantly, to remember just what his point had been. "The point...."

"The point," he repeats, as they approach the food stands, "is that you deserve a lovely wedding, and I'm going to buy you lunch."