The man held his hands up in surrender. It had already become well-known around headquarters that Mark was fairly easy going and had a rather long fuse, but those times when someone had made him reach the end of that fuse? They had been memorable.
"Sorry, just joking around. Let me try again. Mister Slate, who is your charming companion?"
"Not much of an improvement, but I suppose it's the best you can manage. April? This git is Paul Adams. Adams? This is April Dancer. Keep a civil tone when you speak to my partner in the future."