He nodded slightly. "Well, no. But what are looks when you have less personality than an empty beer bottle?" he asked sincerely.

"Yeah, the bands are decent. Makes for a good atmosphere, really. A good way to unwind. Also helps me focus on my work when I'm doing the often-tedious research part of it. Investigating is more than just taking pictures and getting paid, after all." He smiled again. "So, what do you do?" he asked, wanting to know more about her, now that they seemed to be hitting it off.

Jason had a point. How many men had she turned away because they were stupid, or somehow didn’t like music? It didn’t matter what they had looked like. Sure, that was often what started Lee talking to people, but she wasn’t able to go by looks alone.

And Jason recognized how good music could affect the atmosphere of a bar, how it could help someone unwind. This talk of music was good, enjoyable, and Lee’s smile stayed on her face. ”There’s that much research that you need to bring it out with you?” Lee asked, curious. She had never actually met a private investigator, and he was telling her some of what he did, the behind the scenes work that wouldn’t be obvious to most.

But what did she do? Lee shrugged as she lifted her beer bottle. ”I’m normally on the other side of the bar,” she told him. ”A bartender. Nothing fancy, but it pays the bills.”

"Well...it depends on the job," he explained. "Tracking down and exposing a cheating partner--and let's face it, that's most of the workload--is more straightforward than finding someone who may not want to be found. Or in some cases, helping someone who doesn't want to be found, hide." He shrugged, not mentioning that he mostly hid young mutants. After all, being mutant was pretty controversial these days.

"True, though it sounds like I might want to change venues," he said, a little flirtatious inflation to his voice as he winked. "No offense to Herb over there." He gave a light chuckle, no longer that worried about being sent away.

Lee sipped on her beer as she listened to Jason explain what was involved in some of the kinds of cases he took on. And quickly emptied what was left in the bottle. Setting it down on the bar, Lee quirked an eyebrow. ”People actually ask for help hiding?” That was a new one, at least to her. Though it really hadn’t been that hard for her to disappear when she had ran away from home just before her 16th birthday. It had been easy to disappear into the streets of the largest city in Canada. She wasn’t even sure whether her parents had bothered looking for her.

But those were not thoughts for tonight. Instead, Lee tilted her head, smiling as Jason winked at her. ”I don’t know how I’d feel about that,” she said slowly, then bit her lower lip for a moment before continuing. ”Do you tip well?”

He leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper. "In today's world, there is a particular group that wants to hide. When the need arises, I try to help mutants blend into society." He was sure now he might be sent away, but this was what he did. And he preferred these cases above the rest.

At her next question, he smiled that charming grin again. "I'm a decent tipper, but for you..." he took his last swig of beer. "I'd make sure to tip well."

Lee saw, and felt, Jason getting closer to her. Even in the crowded bar, Jason was now so close that Lee could feel him through her siphoning separately from everyone else. And then she felt his breath on her ear, moving her hair, and Lee shivered slightly as she heard his words.

Lee blinked a couple of times before Jason leaned back once more. He helped mutants, helped them secretly integrate into society? That...Well, he wasn’t a mutant hating bigot. That was definitely a plus. Not that she was going to tell him that much about herself.

”Well, if that’s the case, I may just tell you where I work,” Lee told him with a grin of her own. ”Maybe. You’ll have to earn that information, though.”

Once again, Lee surprised him. The fact that they were still talking said that she at least tolerated his career choice. Or maybe she just figured that came with the job. Either way she wasn't about to know he was a mutant, especially not one who could turn into a bloodhound to help track people.

Her grin made his own widen as she spoke. "I'm sure that can be arranged..." he murmured, low enough for her to hear as he leaned in a little bit more, his accent really prominent now. "After all, gathering information pays my rent." He winked again, not leaning back this time.

Lee wasn’t sure if Jason’s accent was stronger now, or if it was just because of how quietly he was speaking as he leaned closer to her. Either way, damn… The way that the words were coming out of that mouth…

Lee bit her bottom lip slightly as she reached forward, her hand resting on Jason’s knee, leaning a bit closer to him. ”You must have all kinds of tricks, then,” Lee said, an eyebrow raised. Was she simply still talking about Jason’s job? Probably not…

He smirked feeling her hand on his knee as she leaned forward. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he took in the sights and scents of this for a moment. Honestly, he never would have imagined this, and yet here they were.

"Every trade has its tricks," he murmured, "but there are some things that just can't be taught..." With that, he leaned in and briefly closed the distance between them, holding the kiss no more than a few seconds before leaning back, arms folded across his chest.

Lee saw the look on Jason's eyes when she leaned forward and placed her hand on his knee. Not proud, not arrogant, not knowing, just mischievous.

But before Lee was able to say anything in response to Jason's comment about tricks, he was leaning closer, closing the distance between them. Smiling, Lee met him part way, and their lips met.

The kiss didn't last long, it was just a first, cursory kiss, and before long Jason pulled back. Leaning back slightly herself, but keeping her hand on Jason's knee, Lee glanced at the bar, and their empty bottles.

”Were you wanting another beer?” she asked, then squeezed his knee slightly with her last couple words. ”Or something?”

He couldn't help but smile at how well that had gone. And then she gave his knee a gentle squeeze and a chuckle escaped his lips. "Normally I'd have one more beer, but tonight that 'somethin' sounds better..." he murmured as he put enough on the counter for his beers and hers.

"If were on the same page, I'm ready when you are," he added, waiting for her next move. He looked at her as he lightly brushed a hand through his hair.

Lee smiled as Jason said that the something she had mentioned sounded better, and gave another gentle squeeze to his knee before she pulled her hand back.

Sure, she was leaving the bar earlier than she generally did. But then again, Lee generally didn't find someone so engaging so soon after arriving. If she had an early enough night, she may even be able to fall asleep before sunrise. Win-win.

Jason didn't waste any time paying for the drinks, them he said that he was ready when she was. Sliding off the bar stool, Lee grabbed her jacket and put it on. Jason said his place was close, but it was still January out there.

Smiling, he took her hand in his, zipping his jacket the rest of the way as he led her out of the bar. The walk to his apartment was roughly three blocks away, then a turn onto a side street for a couple more blocks. He was relatively quiet, but really he was in mild disbelief. Though that soft smile never faded.

Once they reached his building, he led her up too flights of stairs and then opened the door to his apartment. It was a large, open area, with a kitchen where they walked in, followed by sitting area right past that with a bookshelf and radio, and right across from that was a queen sized bed. On the far end of the room was a large desk by the window, and there was a closet on their side of the room and a restroom on the other side.

"Well, this is it. A little cozy, but you save on bills by working from home, he said with a slight shrug, hanging his jacket on the coat rack near the door before offering to take hers.

And it was decided. Not that it hadn't already been decided, but Jason took her hand and led her from the bar. It was a silent walk, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Though, Lee realized as she thought back, Jason had been turning away, expecting her to shoot him down right off the bat, so he may have been a little surprised to now be walking out of the bar with her.

It really didn't take long to get to Jason's apartment, her place was much further from the bar, and up the stairs they went. Then he held the door open for her, and Lee only hesitated for a moment before she walked through; New Yorkers didn't tend to do things like that, and Lee had been away from Canadian politeness long enough that it was almost surprising.

Walking in, Lee took a look around the apartment as she took her jacket off. And then Jason was speaking and offering to take her coat. Handing it over, Lee smiled up at him. ”It's a nice little place,” Lee said. And it was, or at least much nicer than her place. ”And if I had a chance to work a job from home, I would.”

He shut the door behind her as she spoke, and he gave a nod in agreement."It's really not a bad gig," he said with a shrug. "And everything's right where I need it.""

After a moment, he walked to the sitting area, kicking his shoes into the corner next to the bookshelf. "Well, make yourself at home," he said as he made his way to the radio, fiddling with the CD changer and finally settling on a light yet upbeat Rock song with a swinging bass line and a pretty laid back melody.