Call it high standards. A man offering to show me his snake isn't that special.

[A wink! She must tease him.

To Aak's benefit, he's not (yet) coming across as desperate. Or Marina is wearing some rosy shades, colored by her own swig of wine. His offer to pay for a date is a good start,]

I paid for this date so you should pay for the next one. That's only fair.