Mystery Sign Theater 3000, Sunday

[amitragic]

Another request had come in, but this one hadn't been sent from an obvious throwaway burner email, but rather from an actual NPC patron. Apparently at least one person missed the old timey stuff even in Bucky's absence?

So that was what they were getting this Sunday, as the marquee now proudly proclaimed:

NOW SHOWING
Human Comedy

Ulysses - slumped in the box office, as usual - was not expecting any big crowds today, no.

Comments

Box Office [07/03]

[amitragic]

Uly is doing his best to look alive, honest.

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had an errand to run so he and Llewellyn agreed to meet at the theater rather than come over together. After much debate, and trying things on, Steven had decided to wear his slate grey suit with a white shirt underneath it. His tie was a dark green color with diagonal blue stripes going down it. Though the clothing was all his size, it did give off the impression of being just a touch too big for him, which was entirely due to posture. He was also holding the result of his errand, which was a single white rose.

Steven got there well over 45 minutes earlier than when they'd agreed to meet. He repeatedly checked his phone and any other visible clock while he waited.

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[pocketpretzels]

Watts was also early, albeit closer to the fifteen-minute mark than 45. He smiled as soon as he spotted Steven, pace quickening and smile only getting wider as he got closer.

Watts's own choice of wardrobe, by the way? His dark grey pinstripe paired with an emerald-green waistcoat and navy tie.

"Good evening," he greeted, giving Steven an appreciative once-over. It was then that he noticed the rose. "Is that- ?" For me? No, it was for the young man manning the box office, clearly.

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled when he saw Llewellyn both because he was happy to see him, and because he'd picked this tie specifically because he knew Llewellyn liked the colors in his own clothes. "Yeah, it is. I thought about getting a dozen then I realized you'd have no where to put them until you got home. So I thought this might be all right? You could put it in your lapel?"

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[pocketpretzels]

"It's more than all right," Watts said, clearly charmed. The gesture may have been a bit too bold for an outing back home but they weren't in 1909 Toronto, this was 2022 Fandom. As he'd spent most of the day reminding himself.

"A boutonniere, hm? I like that."

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[hasaknightjob]

Steven would have automatically moved to put it into Llewellyn's lapel himself, but he was aware that might be too public a gesture for him. So instead he asked, "Would you like me to? Or you could, obviously."

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[pocketpretzels]

"Please," was all he said, leaning forward so he was slightly more in Steven's space.

See above re: psyching himself up for the public nature of this outing.

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had planned for this from the start, so the stem was short enough to not be cumbersome but long enough it could stay in a buttonhole without a pin. He placed it carefully... and then left his hand holding Llewellyn's coat just a little bit longer. "There. It means new beginnings. As more than friends."

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[pocketpretzels]

It took Watts a moment to make the connection to their earlier conversation, but when he did, he smiled, soft and fond.

"Flower language. You did look it up then, did you?"

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. "I wanted to get it right. It's not easy. Different shade of white means entirely the wrong thing. Had to be sure I wasn't chasing you away."

Re: Box Office [07/03]

[pocketpretzels]

"Hm. You'd have to work very hard to accomplish that," Watts told him, one hand going up to tug at one of Steven's lapels.

"Seems I was right," he said, smugly.

Lobby/Concessions [07/03]

[amitragic]

Get your snacks and drinks and wait around, if you like.

NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[amitragic]

The son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[pocketpretzels]

Watts wouldn't have minded letting the kiss go on for longer either, but for the familiar anxiety in the pit of his stomach over being seen, being reported (were he thinking clearly, rationally, he'd remember that he was the police authority on this island, so who would anyone even be reporting him to, but there was nothing rational about that ingrained fear.)

He didn't quite know what he'd done to deserve someone with Steven's level of patience and understanding, but he reveled in it. That Steven didn't want to hide, but at the same time would not look at him in disappointment if he pulled away? Amazing.

Also amazing (though in a much less positive way) were the prices on the concessions board. Watts had thought after a few months he'd finally started to become accustomed to modern prices but seven dollars for popcorn? Steven hadn't so much as blinked when he'd paid for their drinks and snacks, though, so Watts tamped down on his outrage.

"Well, would you look at that," he murmured as they made their way into the empty theatre. While there were still a few minutes before the show was scheduled to start, it appeared as if they were the only patrons so far.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[hasaknightjob]

"It's a holiday weekend for the Americans," Steven pointed out. Sadly he didn't know offhand it was also a holiday weekend for Canadians or he would've said something to Watts on the appropriate day. "Might be a lot of people are out of town. Now we can sit where you like but I will say it's not like live performances where front row is an advantage. You'll want to be far enough back you can see the screen."

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[pocketpretzels]

Holidays weren't really the type of thing Watts paid much mind to, anyway. Forced cheer was never really something he was capable of, and holidays had a tendency to be full of that sort of thing. Easier to work the day and let those who cared about it have the day off.

"No orchestra, either," he observed. Though that made sense; Steven had mentioned modern films had sound, so the live musical accompaniment wouldn't be necessary.

"Somewhere in the middle?" he suggested.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[hasaknightjob]

"Yeah, not unless it's somewhere doing it as a deliberate - er - homage to how it was done in the early days?" Steven was trying to make a habit of anticipating when a phrase might throw Llewellyn and rewording it. "And middle's fine. Some consider those the best seats. Only thing to do is hope anyone comes in after isn't tall and sits in front of us."

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[pocketpretzels]

Unless there were a great many last minute arrivals, they were likely safe in that regard, so Watts led the way, counting seats under his breath until he was certain they’d reached the middle of the middle row, at which point he turned back around to sit in the seat he’d just passed.

“Do you know anything of this show?” he asked as he waited for Steven to settle in one of the seats next to him.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[hasaknightjob]

It didn't matter that the space was wide open. Steven was sitting directly beside Llwellyn regardless. "Not this one, no. James Stewart though, hard to go wrong there. Could do his entire filmography and set you up a treat. Got a bit of everything in it, comedy, drama, romance."

Sadly not the kind of romance that would've been directly applicable to their situation, but Steven mentioned it in case Llewellyn enjoyed those kinds of stories all the same.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[pocketpretzels]

Watts was a fan of stories that made sense, mostly. "Hm. Talented fellow, then, I take it?" he asked, sotto voce out of habit and leaning in to Steven's space just a bit despite there being no-one else to disturb.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[hasaknightjob]

As though Steven was going to complain about Llewellyn being in his space. He leaned in, lowering his voice as well. Only polite, after all. "Famously so, yeah. Worked with very good directors as well. There's this one, Capra. Stewart did a lot with him. More... upbeat? Optimistic in nature? The movies, I mean. Have no idea what the man himself was like. Then there's Hitchcock. More suspense type movies there."

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[pocketpretzels]

"I do like a good thriller," Watts admitted. Shocking, certainly, given his line of work. Absent-mindedly he reached up with one hand and plucked his hat off his head, discarding it on the empty seat on his other side.

Re: NOW SHOWING: Human Comedy

[hasaknightjob]

"We'll move Hitchcock higher on the list then. British director so can't go wrong there, clearly." Steven's gaze flicked up to Llewellyn's hair. He was sorely tempted to reach out and fix any misplaced curls, for whatever infinitesimal factor of "misplaced" applied. But, even though they were alone, Steven didn't want to assume Llewellyn would be comfortable with such an intimate gesture. So instead Steven waited until Llewellyn faced him again before cheekily stealing a piece of his popcorn.

Yes, Steven had his own popcorn. What was your point?

OOC [MST3000 07/03]

[amitragic]

Re: OOC [MST3000 07/03]

[knife_bender]

I loveeeeee this movie.