Dumas smiled when Samuel responded to his greeting.  It had been a long time since he’d heard that particular accent.  “I served with one of your countrymen,” Dumas admitted, indulging in a rare reminiscence.  “He was a competitive son of a bitch.  We always said it would be easy to kill Gorman -- just jump into a five foot hole, and he’ll find one that’s fifty feet deep to fall down.”  Shaking his head, Dumas silently scolded himself for getting sentimental.  If he didn’t watch out, he’d end up spending his days on a bar stool, telling rambling war stories to innocent bystanders.   “Good soldier, though.  Damn good soldier.”<br/><br/>They passed through the club’s small restaurant without incident.  However, upon reaching the bar, Dumas immediately spotted Mari going through her nightly routine.  A slight blush colored his cheeks when she complimented his appearance.  Even now, she could effortlessly reduce the hardened soldier to a lovestruck schoolboy.  Dumas’s first instinct was to give her a quick kiss, or maybe even a friendly pat on the ass.  But he’d never been comfortable with public displays of affection, especially not in front of a new hire.  And anyway, she was darting around so rapidly that any attempt to catch her would be like trying to grab hold of a hummingbird.<br/><br/>“Samuel, this is--”<br/><br/>But before Dumas could complete the introduction, Mari had taken over for him.  Another smile spread across his face as he listened to her bubbly welcome.  Then she was off again, without giving Samuel much chance to respond.  Chuckling softly, Dumas tossed a sympathetic look at his new underling.  “It’s not you,” he assured.  “She just gets excited.  Really loves her job.”