Sina stretched into him. "I'd only thought through strikes for losing," she retorted. She had hoped he'd win but expected he'd lose; she'd thought through several insults about the latter that had been designed to raise Ozymandias' spirit. (There were one or two about penis size which she had thought would make him smirk.)

"You've never worked a day in your life," Sina said; another lazy parry, and one she'd used on him before they'd understood each other, back when they were forming an antagonistic acquaintance. She smirked, knowing he could feel the smile on his face where their skin touched. In a playful tone, this time: "However will you be at the Ministry on time every day?"