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Barney is both ticked off and not wearing a suit this morning. He's in a green shirt and pants, for reasons you'd have to ask him.

He is frowning and poking at a bowl of some multi-grain cereal. It doesn't make him an old person, just health conscious.

He'd love to grumble about Ted at someone.

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Juliet reaches out to shake his hand politely. "Juliet Burke. Nice to meet you."

"You seem a little... on edge," Barney says. "Let me buy you breakfast."

This is a truth that will not be less true three years later, after she's been stuck on an island under the dictatorship of a short man with a crush who also lacks the necessary skills to pick up chicks.

It is true now because divorce and poor treatment from one's ex does that to a woman.

Smiling, "I'd like that. I -- " haven't had pancakes in a while. Hmmm! " -- do you have any suggestions?"

"Anything, and I actually mean that," Barney says. "You can get whatever you want. From Belgian waffles to five egg omelettes. Whatever you're in the mood for."

After a moment of serious consideration, "I would like... a Belgian waffle, topped with strawberries and whipped cream."

Translation: comfort food plzthnx.

Barney flags down a waitrat and gives it the order. "Why don't you take a seat," he tells Juliet. "Be pretty crazy to eat that breakfast standing up."

"Oh -- " and she sits. "Thank you."

"How about," Barney says, tapping his chin. "You tell me about you. What you do, that sort of thing."

"I'm a fertility doctor. I do research, mostly."

"So it's your job to help women make babies," Barney says. "I usually try to avoid that, myself."

Um what.

" -- okay."

"That was a joke," Barney says, a little smile on his lips.

If Juliet were sardonic enough to golf clap, she'd do just that.

Oh, well. At least Barney gets a teeny tiny smirk from her. "Okay."

"There's got to be a lot of money in the whole fertility thing, though. Lots of desperate women looking to have themselves a bouncing baby?" Barney says.

Which causes her to avert her eyes -- "Yes."

Barney raises an eyebrow.

"I just hit a soft spot. Forget I said that."

To which Juliet responds with one of her "I'm an emotional wreck but I'm trying to keep it together" grins.

You see, one of those desperate women happen to be her sister.

"So, you a Sex and the City fan?" Barney says, trying to change topics.

First, she stares.

Then, she laughs. "No. I can't stand that show, actually."

"Thank god," Barney says. "I really didn't want to have to be called a Samantha for the millionth time."

"I wouldn't blame you; I wouldn't want to be judged based on a television character, either."

O THE IRONY OF THIS THREAD.

"It's like, why not, instead of watching a show about sex in NYC, you actually have some sex in the city?" Barney says.

"There's a market for people who like to live vicariously through their television sets."

"See, I prefer to actually live, don't you?" Barney says.

And lo, did the waitrat arrive with Juliet's breakfast.

LOADED WAFFLES! :DDD*

"I'm a little too busy for that."

* Not actually the expression on Juliet's face.