DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"Tramp suggested it." Ashton told her. "And will he be okay here on his own?"

"He'll be fine," Maralyn said dismissively.  "Come on!  I want to get there before the rush."

"Oh, uh, okay." Ashton said, still worrying a little about Tramp. "Lead the way."

"You mean you don't know where it is?" she asked in amusement as she led the way.  "Okay, kiddo, always take the lead.  A girl likes when the guy takes the lead and acts the man."

"Oh." Ashton said. "Should I have known or found out where ahead of time?"

"Now you're getting it," she smirked.  "You need to find out how to get there and probably have a better way than walking.  Most girls wear heels."

"But I like walking." Ashton said with a frown.

"Walking is nice when it's a moonlit night to the park, not when a girl is hungry and it's on concrete sidewalks through the city.  It's not about you, it's all about her," she replied.  "At least it is if you expect to get anywhere."

"Why?" Ashton asked. "Shouldn't a good relationship be both people are treated equally? Why does the girl deserve more attention than the guy?"

"Because if you want in her pants, then she needs to feel like a queen," she told him.  "And if you're looking for something more long term, treat her like a queen, and if she's a good girl, she'll turn around and treat you like a king, and that's how it's equal."

"Why not treat both like that from the start?" Ashton protested. "I mean, the guy puts in a lot of effort for a maybe? That doesn't seem fair at all."

Maralyn rolled her eyes. "You aren't going to go very far in this game."

"Wait, now it's a game?" Ashton asked, confused now. "I thought this was more of a relationship thing."

"Dating is always and always has been a game of give and take," Maralyn said with a shrug.  "It takes time and effort."

Ashton frowned as he thought that over.

She pointed to a sign.  "There's the Grey Gull."

Ashton looked up. "Huh." He almost forgot to open the door for Maralyn as they walked up, evident in his hasty scramble at the last second to get it for her.

Maralyn smirked but said nothing as she walked inside.  "Looks like we can seat ourselves anywhere.  Where do you want?"

Ashton looked around and chose a table off to the side, not too far from any exits. Old habits died hard. He pointed out the table and led the way over to it.

"The correct move there would be to chose a table, but first ask the girl if she has a preference," Maralyn instructed.  "In charge, but still sensitive to her wants.  But otherwise it's a good choice."

Ashton nodded and sat down, shifting awkwardly. This wasn't his kind of scene. He felt cagey and out of place.

Maralyn let out an exasperated sigh.  "Can you at least Try to pretend you're relaxed and into me?  You look like a caged monkey or something."

"I'm sorry!" Ashton fretted. "I barely know you and have claustrophobia..."

Maralyn sighed and leaned on her hand.  "Just focus on me.  The whole point of a date is to relax, have fun, and get to know each other.  Try asking me some questions."

Ashton nodded and thought. "Are you in the same line of work as Tramp?" He asked, not realizing how offensive asking a girl that could be, honestly just curious.