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The smarmy smile was back, combined with the words, "Darling, I look ******** spectacular in the hat." While giving her yet another sidelong look. "But that was years ago, and a different life." One that he, admittedly, missed from time to time. It was a happier life, one from when his dad had still been alive, and his world hadn't yet been shattered, or his view on the world skewed.

He attempted to just shrug off the more serious moment of their convo, wondering if maybe it was a mistake to make such a bold statement of protection to somebody that he just met. But that was what he was supposed to do, right? Besides, she was a woman. What kind of man would he be if he let something so fragile become harmed in the line of duty?

< You are delusional if you think she is fragile, Finn. Look at those scars! She is a survivor. > Trynt almost sounded envious despite his growly tone, and though Finn felt he ought to agree, there was a part of him that couldn't do it.

"Every princess needs a hero." Wait, had he said that out loud? That was meant to stay in his head. God damnit! He was so bad at this conversing with weapons silently thing still. He tried to cover it up the words with a cough into his fist, moving on to lighter topics.

"Who's staring? I'm simply admiring...with perhaps a lingering gaze." Same thing, Finn, same thing. He took the shove in the arm with an amicable chuckle, knowing full well that he deserved it and not faulting her for the small retaliation, standing his ground against it and only stumbling slightly in his step.

With her story, Finn's gaze narrowed, his lips pressing together as he listened. A lot of it was startling, enough that he had to wonder at the similarity to his own upbringing...at least in one aspect. "I was adopted as well. Given over to child services directly after I was born and with a new family shortly afterwards. I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Babies with a clean bill of health get taken in to good homes rather quickly, and rarely stay with a foster family for long." This conversation had taken on a far more serious turn, and Finn began to chew on the inside of his lip in thought, before speaking again.

"Grew up outside of Calgary, Alberta. Canada, since a lot of you American's seem to have trouble locating things on a map." He teased with another cold eyed smile.

"Things happened." He repeated her words, finding himself actually fairly unwilling to press her further, knowing that his own "things happened" to himself as well that he'd rather not talk about. "And now I'm here make sure those questionable and insane things don't end up getting you killed, I guess. Lucky you~"

He paused for a moment to actually take a look around, scanning the horizon.

"Look, there." He pointed, to a place where ripples widened far off from shore and something broke the surface before slipping below once more. "That's far enough away not to worry about, right?" He asked, squinting out into the distance.

"Maybe. And maybe I'll let you have your very own private viewing. Just the hat, and nothing else, that's what you wanted, right?" She just made it too easy, the banter between them so smooth it was like they had known each other for much longer then just the minutes that had stretched out between meeting and now. "I'm sure afterwards that you will agree, I'm just a pretty ******** spectacular guy all around." Oh yes, he was hinting at more then just hat wearing now, but it was impossible to tell just how serious he was, especially given that he began to laugh again.

Oh, Vashi, he was very full of himself. And he didn't try to hide it, either.

Mock disappointment at the coat adjustment, followed by yet another grin. She was a live wire, and he liked that, quite a bit. She wasn't getting angry with him for his teasing or flirting, and gave as good as she took. She reminded him of...someone. Someone he hadn't thought about in a long time.

That thought was almost enough to wipe the smile off of his face, but he held it steady, pushing past feelings to the side. "Darling, I would love to have any part of me be admired by you." Another chuckle followed this, before he regained a more serious composure.

"I only remember my adoptive family." And that was...pretty much that. He was just a baby when they took him. He knew as soon as he was capable of understanding that he was adopted as they never tried to hide it from him. He'd grown up happy, or at least for the most part.

Until his dad died. Until that shadow took his life away. That moment was something Finn would never forget.

"Yes. Canadian former cowboy." Though let's face it. He still had a collection of boots, and he was wearing a pair now. .....Wait a second. "A hick???" He turned slightly shocked yet amused features towards her. She had just...called him a hick?

"Well look at it this way. If I really enjoy looking at it so much, it'll probably be in my interests for you to live, so I can just keep on looking. Though an American...hm, I might have some trouble there. Ignorant enough to think you're invincible, I bet. Will probably get myself killed trying to keep you out of harms way."

He nodded at her affirmation that what he saw had been far enough away for the moment not to be a worry, and continued on, keeping a bit closer eye on the horizon now. It was actually surprising to him to see just how far they had already gone, and he had to wonder how much time had past.

"Not sick of me yet, sunshine? Most others would probably have stormed off in a huff by now." Sunshine...he liked that one for her. He'd have to use it more often.

"Don't worry, darling, you won't be disappointed, I promise you that." He was all but purring now, while inwardly chastising himself for letting this continue on for so long. He hadn't touched a single woman since he'd gotten here, hadn't even flirted with one to this extent. Usually his predatory smile was enough to turn many off or send them on their way, though Abbi hadn't seemed put off by it at all either.

Maybe he was just losing his edge.

Anyways, the point was he was pretty sure this was going too far, and into dangerous territory that he wasn't sure he wanted to be treading in. Yes she was gorgeous, and the physical attraction was definitely there. Maybe even more then just that, but who could say for sure at such an early stage.

He was snapped back to attention when she mentioned something about him seeing her in less gear. "Sounds like you're already making plans for the third date when we haven't even gotten through the first." He replied smoothly with a quirked up smile and a raised eyebrow. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, sunshine. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to it."

It was nice enough to leave the more serious topics behind as he kept a steady stride behind her and continued to listen while she spoke, while also keeping an eye out on things. Once, he glanced behind back towards where one creature had broken the surface, but nothing new emerged from the scene, and he let his gaze drift back their present location.

"Ah yes, princess, but I wouldn't want you to break a nail now would I?" He very blatantly chose not to call them claws.

Back to scanning, back to pretending to be working when he was really just waiting for her next line now, expectantly. Her answer to his question had him smirking, because she called him sweetheart, and then scoffing because seriously?

"Really? You're going to try that one on me sunshine?" He came to a halt in the sand, then turned towards her, digging into his pocket for a second before pulling out his phone and holding it out towards her.

"Well as you obviously have it worse for me then I imagined, I think getting your phone number is now in order, wouldn't you say?" Smirking, cold eyed, and yet there was a hint of something hopeful in his tone, something that slipped by through his careful filters.

< Finn do you even know what you're doing anymore? You like her, don't you? > Trynt's snarling voice came seemingly out of nowhere, accusatory, after a long period of quiet growling rumbles. Finn had to catch himself before he could shake his head, again almost forgetting that he could keep his conversations with the wyvern completely silent and therefore private.

No. No I think she's hot, and there is a huge difference, you overgrown lizard-dragon wannabe.

Maybe not his best insult, but it did the trick to silence his weapon once more.

This time he let her speak without giving any quick retorts or replies, letting his amusement show in the only way he ever did, or really knew how, with the same almost disconcerting smile that he always wore. It wasn't really his fault that he didn't emote very well. It was like a defense mechanism, learned....well, he couldn't even remember when. It was just something he had done for so long that it came as second nature.

Fini would have her work cut out for her if she thought she might be able to get a genuine smile out of him, when what he genuinely felt on the inside didn't always show on the outside. She could still try though.

Holding out his phone, he waited, fairly confident that she would comply with his request. She had been flirting and teasing back and forth with him this entire time, though it was still difficult to tell how serious she was about any of it. As for himself.....there was, strangely, almost a pull to continue with this little game, for better or for worse. She intrigued him enough for him to keep it going, even though he still felt it was dangerous ground that he tread.

"Yes, that's what I think, sugarlips." If she was going to pull out the more awful pet names, he could do the same. He had a whole armada of them stored, though he still felt sunshine worked best.

For a split second he thought she might actually refuse, an action that might have puzzled him briefly, but then likely would have just intrigued him more, and kept him persisting until he got what he wanted.

And then she took the phone from his grasp, and he had to stifle a laugh before she gave it back. Before turning it off and pocketing it again for safe keeping, he checked the time, and was surprised to see just how much had passed. They had actually walked quite a distance on their patrol, despite all of the verbal hijinks, and it was nearing time to head back to let another take over.

A shame, really. He would have actually enjoyed spending more time with her.

"Time to go back, sunshine. We can take another look at the area we had a sighting at. Seems fairly quiet today for whatever reason." Either that or he hadn't been paying much attention, which was a distinct possibility.