"...Are you saying there is a sense in which we're cute in comparison to them?"

"... Yes?"

"That's unexpected."

"Very."

"It's like - they are comfortable with each other and have been since I met Isabella 'cause I only caught them after they were all couply. But you are just starting the relationship tango and it's like you are two adorable puppies trying to figure out how to play. And it's cute."

"Aaand now I feel sort of patronized."

"Sorry, not my intention, I suck at metaphors."

"That was a simile."

"Whatever. I'm not good at those, either."

Iobel snorts.

"But you get my point, right?"

"I suppose."

"We'll revel in our victory over the married set," says Edarial dryly. "Cuter in one specific way."

"That's the spirit!"

"The married set?"

"Mentally not considering us married until we want to be," answers Edarial. Pause. "... Means that if we want to we can do it again and get it right. With your parents in attendance and everything."

"Yes, I imagine there are worse wedding vows to be had, but - ugh!"

"They were pretty repellent. I was lying through my teeth."

"My part felt so patronizing, like you were a sack of flour instead of a person. 'Yes hello I would like to marry this sack of flour yes I will cherish it and also make pancakes.'"

Edarial giggles a little, too.

"Yes, of course, pancake-maker, marriage it is, and do you want blueberries with that?"

"I will protect the blueberries from getting squashed, and guide them into the rest of the pancake batter," he snorts.

"The pancakes promise to be nutritious."