[ it is nice. so much that karen can almost forget where they are, or the circumstances that have brought her here. so much that if she really wanted to, they could easily be in a corner diner somewhere in manhattan. except for the fact the place is empty.

or, rather, less empty now. he says hell's kitchen with just enough familiarity that she brightens, just as she has every time someone recognizes new york. ]

New Yorkers gotta stick together. [ she holds out her fork like a kind of cheers, assuming he'll... what? cross forks with her? god, now she can't take it back. even as her smile falters a little in confusion. ] Sorry- alternate-what?

[ and then she's going to have another bite before standing, wiping her hands on her apron and walking around the bar to get them both a drink. ] Um... there were some, some aliens too, a few years back. Wait- [ she pauses, tilting her head at him. ] Were you in the city during the battle? The Chitauri invasion?