Prologue: A lively affair

"Yeah, she's pretty great." Aimee stared off dreamily for a bare moment before snapping back. "Ahem, yeah, how bout that local sports team and or college? Or, I guess in this context, umm, musical group or theater production. Not to stereotype." She grinned up at Nils.

Nils grinned. "You two are going to be the cutest couple." He informed her matter of factly, looking very pleased by the idea.
"No, stereotype away. I'm fairly stereotypical, it's true. I suppose we both are, to a degree. I'm the flamboyant gay man and you're the rock and roll dyke." He laughed at the idea. "Whoever said stereotypes had no basis in reality?"
By this point the Drafthouse was in view, and they could see that it was fairly busy, tonight being a Friday night.

After several minutes of waiting, they seemed hardly closer to the ticket booth, the crowd jostling impatiently. No less so was Aimee, clearly frustrated. "Augh, I hate lines. This is why amusement parks sucked until the invention of the fastpass." She sighed resignedly. "I'm debating whether its a beer or wine kind of night, but I know if I ask you, you'll be biased. Still, what kind of wine does one drink with a nice juicy children's movie?"

Nils nodded. "Yeah, but the movie should be worth it, just like the roller coasters were always worth it."
At Aimee's question, he laughed. "Well, that really depends on whether or not you're getting food, and if so, what kind. If not, then I'd say a sweet white wine. I wonder how good their wine list is here. Do you know?"

"Pretty solid, as I recall. I know their beer offering is insane. They've got some pretty good food, too. Hmm, what's too messy? Should probably avoid the wings. They'll cause...issues. Maybe a good old fashioned burger. I'm a simple gal at heart." At last, they made it to the ticket window, Aimee pulling her wallet out of her jacket. "Two for Nightmare Before Christmas, please."

Nils smiled. "Wonderful. Tell you what, Aimee. Let me pick the wine for both of us. I promise you will not be disappointed."
He forgot what he was saying when Aimee casually stepped in to buy his ticket. "I can pay for myself, Aimee, don't worry about it."

"Nah, Nils, its cool. I've got this. I know how the starving college student thing goes, and I'm happy to let my luck be my friends good fortune. Trickle down economics, if you will. Though that always sounded vaguely gross to me." She took the tickets and put her arm through his. "Besides, it'll be an interesting change of pace for the both of us. Let a pretty lady take you out to a movie, though I think I can categorically say neither of us is getting laid tonight." She grinned, letting go to hold the door open for him.

Nils raised an eyebrow. "Your luck? I didn't realize you'd had any special luck lately."

"Oh, um, not lately, exactly. Well, within the last few months. I doubt you remember, but a few months ago, there was that story in the Eagle about one of the biggest lottery payouts ever." Aimee flicked both thumbs towards her, smiling an over-large, goofy smile. "This gal." She coughed, somewhat awkward.

"So, uh, yeah. I don't mind paying at all. And, you know, don't tell Constance. Really, anybody."

Nils whistled, impressed. "Yes, I can see how movie tickets wouldn't be a problem." He replied after a moment of stunned silence.
He shook his head, as if to clear it. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. It's not like it matters so horribly much. It just makes your life a little bit easier." He shrugged. "So don't worry about it."

"That's actually a huge relief. You're, ah, you're the first person I've told outside the band. And I kind of had to come clean with them, what with buying new instruments and all."

"So, relating to something I said just a second ago, I have to ask, and sorry if its insensitive. So have you? Ever dated girls, I mean. Or did you always know you liked guys? I'm just curious. You got to live outside of Texas. I was wondering if you think that made a difference."

Nils laughed. "Not insensitive, no. And no. I always kind of expected I'd find a girl that I'd want to date, but it just never happened. So I dated men. I was lucky, my family was always cool about that sort of thing." And other things, he thought but didn't say. She'd trusted him with her big secret, and he was sort of tempted to open up, but he knew better than to be tempted by a confiding mood. "What about you, Aimee?

Aimee chuckled at the question, answering, "Yeah, my parents kind of knew early on. After a while, they figured out I always asked for Barbies, but never a Ken." She grinned. "Though I found out those G.I. Joe outfits can be repurposed rather well. Oddly enough, we never talked about it until I left for college. I just sat down and told them, and, essentially, my mom said, 'Yes, and?'." My dad, we're really close, so I think he took it a little harder. I'm pretty sure he was wondering why I didn't tell him sooner. Maybe I should have, but my parents had enough to deal with."

Nils nodded. "Yeah, it took me a bit to come out. My sister, Mary, knew about as soon as I did. But I didn't... I knew my parents wouldn't care, but a lot of the military types that lived on the bases with us were less understanding. I didn't want to cause Mum and Dad problems. They had enough of their own as well." Like two supernaturally gifted children, he thought but didn't say.

"Eek, military types. I didn't even think about that. Back home, we just have garden variety rednecks, though they're bad enough. I guess that's why my sister moved to Boston. Well, and because, like you, she's a wuss about the weather."

Nils laughed and shook his head. "I maintain that you would be just as much of a wuss about the winters I grew up with. You're a Texas girl, you don't know what cold weather feels like."
By that point, they had reached the actual theater, and Nils paused at the top of the stairs. "Where would you like to sit?"

"In the middle, of course. Best acoustics, and it is a musical."

Aimee bounced up the steps two at a time, dropping into a seat as close to the center of the theater as possible. She picked up a menu and began perusing it.

"Red-haired warrior needs food badly. I'm hungry and petulant, and I have a feeling solving the first will cure the second."

Nils smiled. "That's true. Good point."
He followed her with only a touch less enthusiasm, settling into the seat next to her before opening the menu. "I have to admit, I'm quite hungry myself." He glanced over the wine list with a mental sigh before turning toward the food. He was impressed with the selection on both counts. "So, you've been here before. What's good?"

"The burgers are good. Nice big salads, too. Don't bother with the falafel; its kind of gritty, unless they've changed it lately. Good hummus though." Aimee jotted down her order as she talked, a burger with fries and a large chocolate milkshake.

"You know, its actually been forever since I've been to the movies. I've been kind of anti-social lately. Well, for me, anyway. I don't like going by myself."

Nils nodded and jotted down his order for hummus, a salad, and a soda. "That's a shame. I love movies, but I haven't had a whole lot of people to go with either."
He flashed Aimee a winning smile. "The obvious solution here is that you should start going to see movies with me. Or, y'know, go ask Constance out and take HER to see the movies. Either way you win."