A restaurant

The elevator door slides open to reveal a modest sized foyer. Two ferns flank a hostess podium, behind which stands an attractive woman in a tailored tuxedo. Delicious food smells waft in, accompanied by a background chatter of voices and the quiet clatter of plates and glassware. The hostess smiles, “Good evening sir, ma’am. Perfect timing, your table is ready for you. This way please.”

You gesture for Diana to follow the hostess, which she does after giving you an enigmatic look. The hostess leads you into an open and airy restaurant full of people. Waiters bustle around busily but unhurried. Several diners look up as Diana passes.

The hostess – who is cute but nowhere near hot enough to divert your attention today – guides you to a small booth in the corner. Diana slides in on one side while you slide in the other, so the two of you are 90˚ from each other. The hostess hands you leather-bound menus and asks if she can get you anything to drink. You order a bottle of red wine and she disappears.

Diana has been scrutinizing your surroundings, a puzzled expression on her face. Suddenly a look of recognition blooms on her face, “I know this place!”

“I figured you’d recognize it eventually. Yeah it’s an old H.I.V.E. base that you cleared out last year. The new owners took over six months ago and decided to turn it into a restaurant-slash-speakeasy.”

That nets you a genuine smile. (And wow is her smile electric!) “Clever. On their part and on yours.”

“Well it’s not easy to try and find new and interesting date ideas for an immortal.”

“Did you just call me old?!” Dear god(s) she’s actually teasing you? That’s gotta be a good sign! “How on Earth did you hear about this?”

“The staff all park in my garage. The chef is a nice guy and he offered to hook me up. He’s from New Genesis if you can believe it, and moved here just to open a restaurant."

“I’ve had Genesian cuisine! We are in for a treat,” Diana says enthusiastically.

Your server arrives, a young man named Colin who walks you through the extensive menu; most of the dishes you’ve never heard of, but they all sound amazing. Your wine arrives and Colin goes through the ritual of opening it, letting you taste it and nod as if you know what you’re doing before pouring glasses for you & Diana. He withdraws and you raise your wineglass to your companion; she clinks it with hers, and you both sip. The vino is excellent!

The heroine gets a more serious look on her face. “I hope you won’t take offense but I feel I need to ask: are you sure you can afford this? I can’t imagine the garage pays you extravagantly.”

“Heh, yeah you’re not wrong. I couldn’t come here every Friday, but I can handle the occasional special occasion.”

She looks skeptical, “Well I am not accustomed to letting men pay for me, so at the risk of bruising your Fragile Male Ego…” her voice makes the capitalization obvious, but you’re pretty sure she’s teasing you again. “I insist on at least paying half.”

Your chivalrous brain wants to object, but your relieved financial brain shouts it down. “I mean I was going to offer to arm wrestle you for the check, but I suppose splitting it is fine.”

Diana gives another of those electric smiles.