Chicago's never been a quiet city, since it became a city at all, and today is no exception. Things are happening, people are doing things.
Steve is in the Coffee Shop. He just got out of a meeting with a loan officer and a guy with a building to lease out. They're both supernatural folks themselves, so they're a bit more appreciative of the
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"Hey," he says, trotting over to Dusty with a big grin, gesturing vaguely to the fliers. "Thanks for the, uh, support. Speaking purely as a, well, you know, I gotta say when people stick up for us, it... Feels kinda good."
Hey, if she's going to all this effort, it's only nice to make sure she knows that she's appreciated.
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"Well, it would sorta be silly for me not to," she admits as she lets her wings out. They're... kinda obvious. "I can't do anything cool like give speeches, like my girlfriend does, 'cause the muggles can't see me."
Beat.
"Oh, um, that's what I call the normal people. Like from Harry Potter!"
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Things like the riot kinda make Marshall a bit twitchy and, well, he knows how big, public speeches can go.
If it's at all possible, Marshall's face brightens more. Fellow dorks, unite! "Yes! Big fan of Harry Potter. We only had up to the, um, fourth book where I came from, so it was really exciting to just wander into a bookstore and SURPRISE! The last three." He bobbles his head a bit. "There are some perks to being a wanderer, I think."
Marshall is a really simple sort of person, really. And adorably so.
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"Oh, and, yeah, Children's Angel. Only since last December. I grew up in Woodbridge?" Just in case he knows his Chicago suburbs. "But I live in the Conrad now 'cause the people back home can't see me."
She's not dwelling on that, though. NEW FRIEND. NEW FRIEND TO GEEK WITH.
New friend who could totally teach her to hack computers. That would be fun.
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And when that's coming from the Queen of Cute herself, that's saying something. "It's okay. Yeah, it's one of the suburbs. About a 45 minute bus ride."
Oh. God. The new movie. Dusty makes sadface. "I haven't, it sucks, I just don't really have the money to go out and do much? And I sort of blew all my extra cash on my girlfriend a couple weeks ago, 'cause I didn't know if she'd rather have chocolate or flowers or balloons for a 'congratulations, we're dating' present? So I sorta got her all of them."
Their cute will END THE WORLD.
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"Oh, say no more," he says, grinning. "I have, of course, been guilty of the same exact crime of enthusiastic love. When I was a teenager, I was so happy to get a date to the prom that I filled her yard with balloon animals."
Marshall did not wind up going to his prom. This much he will not mention, because he is okay with that now.
He scratches the back of his head with his free hand. "Well, if you're completely opposed to seeing a movie with a total stranger, 'cause I realize this is really creepy of me and I promise I am not a creeper." He pauses. "Not that saying as much proves anything, but I'm pretty sure you could beat me up if I was, so it's, uh, all good." He offers her a hand, completely cutting himself off, before he's actually made the offer, because his sudden, inexplicable creepy threw him off. "I'm Marshall, by the way."
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Dusty giggles at him as he goes on, because... dude. Marshall rambles are adorable. "I'm Dusty," she says, shaking his hand firmly. "And since movie theaters are, y'know, full of people? I think it would totally be cool." She pauses for a moment. "Um, if you were inviting me. Which I think you were, but you never actually said it, so I sort of just assumed, and if I assumed wrong, that is totally okay and you don't have to take me just because I thought that's what you were saying."
...yep. A girl after Marshall's own heart, indeed.
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"That's exactly what I'm saying!" He responds, once she's finished, nodding exuberantly. "I mean, my boss is always telling me I should take some time off and I'm... Pretty sure no one else is as into this stuff as I am, so, you know, it's nice to go with other people who appreciate it."
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It totally makes sense.
"Ohohoh, important question!" Dusty flails her free hand a bit. "Star Wars or Star Trek?"
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He flails a bit. "I have to pick? Um... Wow, I have always been a huge fan of Star Trek and it does have the benefit of being purely optimistic sci-fi... You know, before it turned into every generic sci-fi show out there... Not that I don't love generic sci-fi. I mean, I even enjoyed Enterprise... Kinda. In a vague way. But... But Star Wars. It's a classic... Not that Star Trek isn't, but... Well, you know." He shrugs, sheepishly. "Plus Death Vader is just one of the best villains in anything, even if the whole redemption thing struck me as a kiiinda hokey." Note that he has still not answered the question. YOU CAN'T MAKE A GEEK CHOOSE. Marshall loves everything.
"I will admit that my intense feelings for Captain Picard do rival my feelings for Captain Kirk, but, uh, well, Picard. Gotta love a guy who uses his brain ( ... )
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Okay, next important question. "How about the prequels?"
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He pauses. "I do, however, totally approve of Yoda getting to kick major butt. Little green muppets taking names? Oh yeah."
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...Yes, she was too young to appreciate this stuff when they first came out - she was only six when Episode One opened - but she got to see them all a few years ago.
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He suddenly remembers the point of this conversation and clears his throat. "So, uh. Tomorrow night, then? You, me, and Harry Potter? You said you were staying at the Conrad, right?"
He's very excited. He's always kinda wanted a sibling. Marshall, while not explicitly a social person, does sort of do better when around people. He's the sort of person who should have had a huge family with lots of siblings, as opposed to just two explicitly agnostic, overprotective parents.
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