"It's a celebration, but it is a weekday," Anzu says, gently; his expression is serious. But as well as reassuring Dimitri, he is fishing a little, despite himself. "Shunt not aside the wish to talk of grave matters on mine account, darling. Now, if thou wish'st not to dwell on gloomy thoughts, that's something else entirely."

"But ah, all that aside, before we get into talk of ships and wild beasts, what do I call thee? If I ask not now, I fear I shall forget entirely."