Secret Agent Man

Marten walked down the central stairwell, trying to get used to the feeling of the compact pistol strapped to the side of his chest as he did so. He tugged lightly on the lower edge of his suit jacket as he reached the bottom step.

He gave the blonde a slight bow and straightened. “Good evening, Miss Chambers. How was work today? I know you just got back but I was wondering if you would be interested in accompanying me for dinner.”

“Honestly, I could go for something casual. You could probably say ‘relaxed’ is a good word. Maybe it’s something about the architecture the Slaters favor, but I could go for something less...” he paused and sucked at his lip, struggling to find the way to describe it in English. “Less... Sterile? Wood counters, slightly tacky decor... You could say I was possibly wanting bar food or something. Point is I could honestly go for a hamburger or something like that.”

He clicked his tongue against his teeth and grinned slightly. “While the idea of fish and chips is appealing, that seems more like a midday food.”

Marten ordered the veal sandwich as well, and a pint of a strong but not-overpowering beer. He looked around the place and smiled slightly, finding the place's atmosphere perfect. He had removed his jacket and undid the top button of his shirt, not having bothered to undress since the plain had landed. "Well Antoinette you have excellent taste. I hadn't sat down in somewhere like this in a long time. If we didn't have to drive then I could probably be talked into staying right here and drinking more than I used to." he said, turning back towards her and smiling. An eyebrow raised to match the expression. "Wouldn't want to show up to my first day on the job with a hangover now would I?"

This place was perfect. Instead of the nearly sterile nature of the offices and even the apartments he had set up in, this place felt like it was actually lived in. Not only in the clientele but the place itself. There seemed to be a pulse to the place where he hadn't really felt one for the last couple of days. Rather than wearing his hair shaggy like he normally did it was instead slicked back and combed, making himself look a lot nicer than he had in the last couple days. "It's a little relieving to be someplace that doesn't feel like it stepped out of some kind of sci-fi story."

Marten held his glass and took a long drink of his beverage. It was a local brew he had read about before and one that he found himself quite fond of. It wasn't as bitter as you would expect from a dark beer nor quite as earthy either. All told it was surprisingly pleasant.

"Isn't that awfully forward for a first night out?' he asked and raised an eyebrow. After a moment he chuckled and nodded in agreement. "I am not going to object at all, however; so I accept your proposal." It had been a while since he had actually had any close female company. His last relationship had not ended well and he had chosen to remain to himself for a while, enjoying the uncommitted lifestyle for a few months before eventually getting bored.

Marten himself was not the type to often eat seafood, finding red meats to be more common in his diet. "Chinese food is best served from buffets, if you ask me. What is actually found in sit down restaurants is nice but I don't often find it enough to wait on if dining solo." He was actually something of a heavy eater even though he was mostly muscle.