"Who's to say I'm not serious?" There's a wry smile on Strange's face as he continues talking. This is half him being serious, half him teasing Shura because he can. One thing is obviously clear: Strange is proud as hell that he made Shura choke on her drink. "You're quite attractive, a damn good fighter, a wonderful conversationalist, and kinder than you let on. I could think of worse people to spend the rest of my life with than you."

But she's not Arabella, a voice in the back of Strange's head reminds him. But, then again, he's never going to see Arabella again, isn't he. Everybody who's been revived was revived from the battlefields. She died in her bed. The sooner he accepts that, the better.

Strange's smile falters a moment, but he quickly tries to hide it by taking a drink himself.