Conversely, Hickey's responses only helps to endear him to Prior who has never been the kind of person to attach himself in any manner to what is considered true and proper. It brings a more genuine bend to his grin, which is accented with a tilt of his head in the barest form of agreement.

"Or," he rebuffs, gently, "why call it anything at all? Why, if none of the rules matter, does one still follow the ghostly path it's left behind?" Convention, for all its worth, is specifically relating to moral, dictated, collective behavior, after all. And Prior wonders, not for the first time, if they shouldn't avoid all that if they really want to prove they're something else altogether.

As they walk, Prior gestures to Hickey's left hand, the glinting band that he's been so proud to show off. Prior would like to look at it more closely, but knows better than to go grabbing at hand of a newly married man. "Nevertheless, congratulations are in order, Mr. Hickey. Considering the circumstances, your nuptials are an uncommon and welcome surprise."