"Um... I'm not really hungry," Myri replied, recoiling slightly from the meat.<br/><br/>Alabaster's expression turned calculating.  "I think you should try it, Myri," he said speculatively.<br/><br/>"But they're so<span style="font-style: italic">ugly</span>!" she protested.<br/><br/>"So?" Alabaster demanded.  "When someone hands you a sword, you don't stop to comment on the shape.  You swing it.  Besides," he added as an afterthought, you couldn't be ugly if you tried."  He seemed to suddedly realize what he had said.  "Now don't take that the wrong way-" he said quickly, but Myri was already reaching for him and without further delay she enfolded him in a hug.<br/><br/>"I knew you were really a softie, Alabaster," she cooed.<br/><br/>"I am never going to get used to this," Alabaster muttered.