"Really? Well now I'm tempted to gossip, I probably should resist that temptation."

"I haven't gone on to strike up conversations with any others, so I don't know their opinions on being gossiped about. Maybe better to refrain."

"I will magnanimously tolerate being gossiped about later, if you ultimately treat hearing my ranting as a positive experience that you were blessed to witness."

"It certainly was that."

"Also that I'm charming and pretty. Don't forget those."

"Of course."

"Good," she says, preening a little.

"Charming, pretty, and strikingly reasonable. And hilarious."

"You're very good at compliments. Thank you."

"I try! It's good to know I succeed!"

Smile.

"Have you had dinner yet?"

"I have not."

"I haven't either. For all the restaurant drama, I wasn't actually there to eat. Want to go have dinner?"

"I would be delighted. Anywhere in particular you recommend?"

"Not the place I just inspected. Otherwise I'm not really picky."

"Then I guess it'll be an adventure."

He stands up.

She does, too.

"I guess so!"

"Well, I did suggest you date adventurous men," he says, starting down the path at a pace she can easily keep up with. (This is something of a concern because he is very tall, and at his natural stride she might have to scamper undignifiedly in his wake.)

"You did! Look at me, following your advice near immediately and everything!"

Gosh he's tall. She's pretty tall for a woman, so maybe she could avoid undignified scampering, but - yes, she's glad he's at a slower pace.

"I'm very impressed!"

She smiles at him, then hooks her arm through his. That seems like the thing to do.

Aww. He beams delightedly.

A few turns out of the park, he pauses at a restaurant. It looks like the sort of place she probably couldn't afford to eat at. "Thoughts?"

"... Probably a bit too expensive if I'm paying for anything?" she admits. "Professional rich person or no, I wasn't going to expect you to buy me everything."

"Honestly if I felt like it I could buy you the restaurant," he says cheerfully, "but if you'd rather buy your own dinner we can go somewhere more within your budget, I don't mind."

"I - you - .... Okay, sure, buy me dinner. Not the whole restaurant, though, that. Seems excessive."