This just seems out of left field to me.
Not that their relationship, for obvious reasons, bothers me in any way.
But it just doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe that's poor development on Jeph's part in convincing Marten has any romantic interest whatsoever in Claire, or that there has been virtually no basis to back any of it up whereas with Tai and Dora, Marten and Dora, and Faye and Marten, there was always sexual tension under the service and you could just...tell that something would either happen, or it angst would continue to unfold until one got hitched to someone else.
I mean, Marten has always seemed rather parental or brotherly or platonic, and whatnot around Claire. The love that isn't romantic or sexual. And his reaction while drunk is just odd. No facial signs of his face to denote potential luvin or something. Just cool, collected calm. Maybe that's because Claire is most certainly inexperienced but...
Everything about this romantically just screams...harmless catering to what peeps want. First time I've ever said that.
Bah....but then I always have this issue, like with that nonsensical pairing of childhood when Rowling put Hermione with the soulless ginger.
Sometimes I'm super convinced, other times I just scratch my head and go.....I don't fucking get it, man.