a little light conversation

who: jason and ava
where: nighthawk’s diner
when: late afternoon

After spending a few hours at the Echo trying to dig up any information that might shed some light on what had happened at the gallery, Jason had come up blank. Not that he was entirely surprised but he had hoped to find something. Tired and frustrated, he decided to head home via Nighthawk’s and grab some dinner, maybe take some back for Thomas and Dodge. So that was where he found himself about a half hour later sitting at the counter with a large coffee and tucking into a club sandwich and fries. Stressful as the day had been what with seeing Dodge in a bad way and running into Eily, something he wasn’t entirely sure how he was feeling about, there was a lot to be said for the simple pleasure of a good meal.

Good as the food was however, it had no chance of holding his attention when a striking woman stepped through the diner doors and he watched her as she crossed the floor.

Ava did not come here often. A place called Nighthawk's didn't usually strike her fancy but she was out and about shopping today and had grown hungry. Her usual places seemed to hold no real draw for her tonight and so she ended up telling her driver to take her somewhere fabulous for lunch. And he'd brought her here.

The look of it outside was unimpressive but inside she could see plenty of hungry, happy people eating away at their dinners like this was the best place in the world. James, her driver, seemed to enjoy it so Ava was starting to wonder what she'd missed out on. Leaving her shopping bags in the car, she instructed James to wait for her, knowing that if he was hungry he would go inside, order something to go, and either eat it outside or away from her at the bar. James was help and there was no need for him to be anything other to her than her chauffeur.

So currently Ava was scoping out sections of the diner, making a quick decision to sit at the bar. It would openly invite anyone else to talk to her. This way it was much easier for her to size up the kind of people at this place and determine if anyone was worth anything to her here. As the waitress came over, she ordered a cup of coffee, a hint of her Russian accent in her voice, and began to peruse the menu.

Smiling as the woman took a seat not far from him, his interest only increased on hearing the trace of an accent. After she ordered her drink he spoke up, flashing her his trademark easy smile. “Can I get that for you Miss? It’s not often I get the privilege of such lovely company while eating and I’d like to thank you in advance.”

Ava turned her attention to the man nearby, taking one look at his smile and knowing she wanted to speak to him. He'd had the courage to speak up to her here and that gave him some points in her book. Today, Ava had forgone her usual red or brunette wig in favor of her own blond hair so she reached for the blond strands in an attempt to sweep them over to the other side of her neck as she watched him. "You can buy the entire meal if you like." He wasn't bad to look at and getting a free meal out of it while chatting up a nice looking man was exactly up Ava's alley. "But only if you give me your name first."

Jason’s smile only grew wider at her statement and let out a small chuckle. “What kind of man would I be if I turned down a beautiful woman like yourself,” he replied and sliding off his seat, he moved over to the blonde and gave a small bow though his eyes didn’t leave hers. “Jason Finn, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Not one I've ever encountered, Ava thought as she smiled a little more. He moved closer and she was already intrigued by the way he handled himself. To Ava, men had levels. The first level of man was one who was too scared to talk to her and thus not important enough to warrant a glance their way or even be considered a man, really. The second level involved a man who would fidget just to catch a glimpse of her. But this Jason Finn had already risen off the two levels that she despised most onto a level where the man was confident enough to speak and smile at her. A man like Jason Finn deserved whatever attention Ava decided to give him. "Ava Novikov," She answered. "Tell me, Jason Finn, do you often frequent this place? It is my first time here."

He nodded, and pivoted slightly so he could move his plate and coffee over and take the seat next to hers. “Oh I’ve been coming here for years,” he replied, taking hold of his cane and propping it next to him. “Ever since I was a boy.” Which was true in and off a fashion; back in the day, he would sometimes run errands for the cooks in exchange for a meal. He smiled and took another bite of his sandwich, chewing it thoughtfully before adding. “And you’re in for a treat Ava. Forget the Drake and all those places, the best food in Eidolon City is right here.”

"Am I? Then tell me, Jason Finn, what you're eating? If this is the best place to eat, then what is the best food at the best place to eat?" Ava asked as she looked down at his cane. She gave a quick glance to his legs and wondered what was wrong with him that he would need the cane. Straightening up, she tilted her head a little at him. "Is that cane for show or actually practical?"

“Well I’m having possible the best club sandwich to come from human hands which is my favourite,” he replied, indicating to his plate. “However, that’s just my opinion.” He just had time to notice Ava’s gaze before she asked her question and his eyebrow rose a little in surprise. It was unusual for someone to be so direct about asking but he appreciated her forthrightness, it reminded him a little of Eily. “Stylish as it is, I regret to inform you that it I carry it for completely practical reasons,” he said, picking up the cane and offering it to her to look at - it was a lovely thing, a dark glossy wood with a solid handle and had been one of his first purchases after the big con and they had money to spend on luxuries.

His cane was interesting. Stylish, certainly, and made out of a high quality wood that triggered something in her. She wanted one. She wanted a stylish accessory like this. He said his was practical, but she simply wanted one. "Where did you get it?" She asked, looking back at him and adding, "And why do you need it?" Perhaps it was forward of her, but it was enough to hopefully keep him talking about himself. She needed to know as much about this cane as possible.

The rapid questions didn’t bother Jason, even if they struck him as a little odd but then most of the women he met that look liked Ava tended to be more...aloof. “I bought it at a small shop in Little Haven, the man who owns it, he’s a real artist with wood. As for the why...”He paused to take a sip of his coffee before dropping his eyes to his leg. “I got on the wrong side of some very, let’s say opinionated people who objected to something I’d done.” Interesting as the blonde might be, he had no intention of being more specific with the details.

"I may have to go there," She said absently, as if she was simply considering it and not already planning to scope out the wood artist's shop in Little Haven. "As for your leg, women love men with a few battle scars." Looking back up at him, she glanced down at the menu as the waitress came back. "Order for me," She said, unwilling to even look at the menu. She didn't have a set decision on what she'd wanted to eat but since Jason Finn knew this restaurant well, she'd let him decide for her. "And make it something devilishly delicious," She said as she leaned in towards him.

He smiled at her comment and looked back up at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I like to think so but it’s always nice to have it confirmed by someone as lovely as yourself,” he replied. At her request that he order, he span the menu towards himself and gave it a brief once over, glancing back at Ava as if confirming something, before settling. “Eggs Benedict for the lady please,” he said, flashing the waitress a grin as he handed her back the menu before turning back to Ava. “You have to decide for yourself if it’s devilishly delicious but it certainly is decadent as far as diner food goes.”

Giving the waitress a little nod before the woman left, Ava turned back to Jason and tilted her head a little. "Decadent is perfect. I settle for nothing less than decadent." Ava pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear and continued. "Tell me, Jason Finn, why haven't I seen you around? Where have you been hiding?”

There was something about the way she kept using his full name that Jason found oddly charming and he found himself chuckling at her question. “I could ask the same of you Miss Novikov, I don’t doubt that I would remember if I’d crossed paths with you before,” he pointed out before draining the rest of his coffee. “And I wouldn’t say I’d been hiding, I just imagine we run in slightly different circles. Don’t let the nice suit and the smooth talking fool you, I’m just a city boy who scrubs up nicely.”

"You would remember," She said with a grin hinting at the corner of her lips. She looked him up and down and considered that. A city boy with a cane who just happened to 'scrub up nicely'. Was it worth her time? If she was only in it for one thing and not after him for any sort of wealth, then perhaps. But it depended on if he was any good at that one thing. "And does your charm come in that package deal? You must have something more than lucky and a good soap to have you looking the way you do now."

“Oh I’m sure.” He finished off the last of his meal as Ava gave him the once-over, a part of him enjoying the role-reversal - normally he was the one giving someone the critical eye though he was never so blatant about it. Her question had him smiling again and he shook his head a little before replying. “Now now, a gentleman can’t reveal all his secrets, especially not on a first meeting,” he gently chiding, his eyes playful. “But let’s just say I had the fortune to come by some excellent company.”

"As you are in now," Ava said clearly and gave him a little smile. For now, she was content to flirt with him, to see where she might be able to take this should she want to. She'd already gotten some good information from him and that was better than nothing.