And just for the pure hell of it - and because he practiced recently in Eric's Louisiana, and it's good to keep his hand in - he responds exactly in kind, with a cultured New Orleans tone as if he's lived here...maybe not his whole life, but perhaps since starting at Tulane, for example.

'Just fine, thank you. I've got no complaints about the heat, out there or in here.'

Cultured with a side of flirt, obviously. He can't help it.

Well. Doesn't want to help it.

'We'll take three Sazeracs, and you have whatever you want on me.'