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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 1, 2007 20:52:17 GMT 7
Christian ran his hand against the curve of his neck, shaking his head and frowning when she mentioned the Sears Tower. Having grown up in Chicago, he often disregarded a few of the incredible sights that pretty traveled primarily to see. Although he appreciated them, he cared more about the little things. Then again, most people wouldn't vacation to Chicago just for the little things.
Leaning back once more in his chair, Christian tried to mentally go through a list of places that might be fun to see. "Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute, the Goodman Theatre, the House of Blues," Christian stopped at the last one. "If you like music, I'd highly recommend seeing a concert at the House. It's fantastic."
With a smile, he added, "If you go near the end of June, you would definitely want to go to the Taste of Chicago, the food festival. You can find just about any dish you could ever desire, and there's live music." His lips curved in a smile at the memory. "You'll also want to get a Chicago hot dog, no matter when you go," he said with a nod in her direction. "Though you can't put ketchup on it." With that, he shook his head and frowned, his expression serious. No ketchup.
"Ah," he said in realization when she told him where she was from. He had never found too many people from Virginia to have a strong accent. Of course, he had never visited the state himself, so perhaps there were exceptions.
She teased him, making him smile and raise a shoulder in a small shrug. Although I probably just got lucky guessing yours. I had several hints," he said with a nod and narrow eyes.
He idly wrapped his fingers around the base of the mug, holding his smile for a moment before looking out the window at the rain still pounding the streets. "It doesn't appear to be easing up, does it?" he queried in a more distant tone, as though the question was for himself but he wanted her opinion. With a chuckle to himself, he added in a clearer tone, "I hope you didn't have any outdoor plans."
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 1, 2007 22:20:15 GMT 7
Listening to Christian's description of the sights that she should see, Lexi's eyes brightened a little at the mention of music. She liked live music a lot, sometimes there was nothing like being in a small place, and hearing good music. And the food festival sounded like a good time, and it had music too. She couldn't help but laugh when he told her to have a hot dog, but without ketchup on it. In a way, he could be really funny, without trying too hard. But you had to pay attention, or you might miss it. Nodding ever so slightly, she smiled, as she said, "I'll keep that in mind, no ketchup on hot dogs. Are mustard and relish allowed?" There was a hint of laughter still in her eyes, as she said it, and his serious expression was making her laugh inside even more.
When Christian smiled from her teasing, Lexi grinned back at him, nodding to agree with what he had said. "You did pretty well, people can't tell where I'm from most of the time. It's not like I say 'y'all' or 'dad gum' a lot. Y'all." She laughs a little at herself, and then follows his gaze toward the window. She frowns a little, and shakes her head, as he comments on the rain. "No, it doesn't. And no, I didn't have any real plans. I was shopping, but more to pass the time, than for anything else."
Turning back to him, Lexi smiles again, and looks at Christian's mug as she takes another sip of her latte. "You going to play with your mug, or you going to get yourself another cup of coffee? Unless you have to be somewhere... " She was hoping a little that he would stay, and talk with her some more. She was enjoying it, and she really didn't have anything better to do.
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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 1, 2007 22:30:24 GMT 7
"Oh yeah!" he said, a little too enthusiastically at the mention of mustard and relish. "Mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish, tomato, a dill pickle... the works," he finished with a grin that barely showed his teeth. One could be a naturally picky eater, but if you grew up in Chicago, you learned to love the hot dogs. Christian would not eat Vienna beef unless it was a Chicago-style hot dog.
He cringed a little at the thought of southern slang. Coming from a distinctly proper family, he had grown to shun most all shang, particularly that from the southern regions. Christian did not fancy southern accents, not in the slighest. The majority he had heard on films or over the radio, and the extremity made him frown every time. Twang obviously did not suit his fancy.
Looking down at his empty mug, Christian twisted his lips thoughtfully. He had nowhere to be, and another cup did sound tempting. Once he made his decision, he looked up at her with just enough curve in his lip to suggest a smile, and said, "I think I might get another cup. Would you anything? A refill?" He raised his eyebrow at her as he stood up, waiting for a response, mug in hand.
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 1, 2007 22:48:52 GMT 7
Christian's enthusiasm about hot dogs caught Lexi by surprise. Lifting her eyebrows, and barely holding back her laughter, she shakes her head slowly, and blinks her eyes. "Now that we know what you really like to talk about..." Smirking at him, as she teased him again, she could appreciate that he did miss being back in Chicago. It was probably like what she experienced when she missed her home. Thinking for a moment, she says, "How long has it been since you went back to Chicago? It sounds like you miss the hot dogs, at least."
But Lexi could see that her little demonstration on southern slang didn't go over very well with Christian. She made a mental note not to bring it up again. And that was part of the reason her mother had sent her to those classes, to get her to act and speak more properly. Which she managed to do most of the time.
As he stood up, and offered to get her a refill, she can tell her cup is getting low. Handing her cup to him, she smiles, and says, "Sure, that sounds great! It's a non-fat vanilla latte. Let me get you some money." She had just met the guy, and she didn't think she should impose on him to pay for her refill. Reaching for her purse, she opens it, and starts looking for a dollar that she could give him toward the refill. It wouldn't cost that much, but he could leave the rest for a tip.
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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 2, 2007 3:04:16 GMT 7
"Three weeks," he responded with a sad smile. "I try and go back once a month, but it hasn't been happening lately." Life at the paper had been ridiculously busy for the past few months. It seemed as though the news was simply jumping in their laps quicker than they could write it down. As a last thought, he added, "And you haven't had a real hot dog unless you've had it Chicago-style." He grinned at her. "Do you go back to Virginia often?" he countered.
When she began to dig for money in her purse, he shook his head. Reaching down to take her cup, he said, "I've got it." Having been raised around women, Christian knew they would protest unless he just left. So, following custom, he took her cup and started off before she could even open her mouth.
Christian made his way to the bar, to a surprisingly short and quick line. He requested two refills of non-fat vanilla lattes and brought them back to the table. Setting down two blue ceramic cups, he smiled a little and repeated, "It always tastes better in a mug."
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 2, 2007 3:39:27 GMT 7
Finding out that it had been a while, and seeing how sad it made Christian, caused Lexi to feel some sympathy for him. It was like what she had thought, he did miss it, and tried to go back as often as he could. And then he was talking about hot dogs again, and she laughed a little, his grin was infectious. "So, a New York-style hot dog doesn't compare at all? Or is it just an inferior product?" This was going to be a fun subject for them, if they decided to keep talking about it.
As Christian asked about her going back to Virginia, she sighs a little, and shakes her head. "No, not really, I mean I go back on holidays, of course, and during semester breaks. But going back on a weekend is a short trip, it's a six to seven hour drive each way. And with some of my activities, I usually have something to do on the weekends. Especially during soccer season." And there was really no reason to go back on the weekends, except to see her brother if he wasn't busy. And it gave her parents another opportunity to grill her over her major.
As Lexi is pulling the dollar out of her purse, Christian is already walking off, and she says after him, "Here it is!" There were some guys who took the gentleman thing way too far, it was nice every once in a while. But if they did it all the time it made her feel a little helpless. She knew that she was supposed to let him do things for her if he wanted to, that was the proper way. But she did have a little bit of an independent spirit. And she didn't want to lose their seats by getting up and going after him. So she put the dollar away, resolving to do something for him if she ever had a chance.
When he came back, and set the mugs down on the table, Lexi was very surprised, and pleased. Smiling up at him, she shakes her head a little in disbelief. "Thank you so much. I thought I was going to be angry with you, for not letting me pay for mine. But since you brought it back in a mug, then you're forgiven. This time." She was teasing him again, not trying to make a big issue out of it. She takes one of the mugs, and picks it up, blowing on the steaming coffee inside the cup to help cool it a little before she drank some of it.
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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 2, 2007 3:59:04 GMT 7
Christian shook his head, an expression of 'yeah right' painting across his face. "Definitely inferior," he said with an arched eyebrow and tiny smirk. New York-style hot dogs had nothing on the ones made in Chicago. Nothing.
"Soccer?" Christian nodded slowly, as though he was letting the information sink in. "Have you been playing long?" he inquired. Christian and his sisters had never been too involved with athletics, each choosing rather to spend time in the arts. It was what their parents encouraged, and had been all the children knew until it was too late to turn back.
He looked at her in mild disbelief when she thought she would be angry with him. Although he knew the tactic very well, thanks to his sisters and mother, Christian still managed to appear surprised at the thought of someone being mad at him for being kind. "So the mug makes amends? I will have to remember that." With a smile, he lifted his coffee to his lips and took a warm drink.
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 2, 2007 4:29:52 GMT 7
Grinning and laughing at his reaction to her comment about New York-style hot dogs, Lexi knew that he was going to react that way. That was going to be a fun topic, and a way for her to needle him a little about something that he loved.
And Christian then seemed interested in her soccer background. Did he enjoy watching soccer, or was it just something new for him? Not really knowing, she furrows her brows in thought, trying to think how long she had actually been playing soccer. "It's been... eight years, I think. I'm on the JV team at the university. I won't be eligible to be on the varsity team until next year. And my coach tells me I can be a little too aggressive sometimes, I have to watch how into the game I get." Looking at him a little curiously, because he didn't strike her as someone who followed soccer, she said, "Are you a fan? Do you follow the sport at all?"
As Christian looked at her in mild disbelief, she lifts her eyebrows, and smiles slightly, giving him a little innocent look. Nodding her head, as she smells the warm coffee in front of her nose, she takes a small sip. "Oh yes, it does. And this is wonderful, so much better than that paper cup." Holding the mug in both hands, and taking another whiff of the steaming liquid inside, she sighs contentedly. "I love the vanilla lattes, it's just the right blend of flavor. Not too bitter, not too sweet, and I could drink them all day long." Smirking slightly, she looks at his eyes, and shrugs her shoulders. "I should have warned you that I have a Starbucks habit. It's a guilty pleasure of mine."
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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 2, 2007 4:39:25 GMT 7
"Wow," he said genuinely when she said eight years. That was a lot of time, he thought, to play something that strenuous. He had been writing since he was in high school, and playing music since he was a toddler. When he put that into comparison, eight years playing soccer probably wasn't as shocking as he reacted to it.
He smiled when she mentioned how aggressive she could be. "I wouldn't have guessed that," he said with a small, thoughtful nod. Her question made him chuckle a little. "No, not really. I'm not very athletic," he said with hint of a smile. Christian could only imagine running down a field, towering over the other players and attempting to keep himself coordinated enough to kick the ball in the right direction. It was an amusing thought.
Christian leaned back in his seat, inhaling with a tight smile when she mentioned being a bit of a Starbucks addict. He knew the feeling well. He spent more money in the coffee shop than he probably did on his meals at home. It was unfortunate, almost, and kind of pathetic, but it was life. "Your secret is safe with the journalist," he said, a tinge of humour in his deep voice. "It's unhuman how often I am here, too." With a bit of a smile, he added, "It can't possibly be healthy."
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 2, 2007 5:12:16 GMT 7
Lexi gives Christian a small look, and wonders if he is teasing her now, about her being aggressive. That would be a good sign, she thought, it would mean that he was starting to like her a little too. She then grins when he begins to chuckle, and she seems a little sad when he says that he is not very athletic. That is where there was a difference between the two of them, it seemed. He was more artistic, and creative, and she was more athletic. But that didn't mean they couldn't get along. "You should go to a game, and have someone explain how it works. Then you can get a better feel for whether you would like it or not."
As Christian promises to keep her secret, she rolls her eyes a little, shaking her head. "It may be too late for that, I think I'm too well known here. They were a little too busy to recognize me today, though. You know you have a Starbucks habit when the barista knows you by your favorite drink." As he talks about it not being healthy, she is in the middle of taking another sip, and she sets the mug down, nodding vigorously. "You got that right. By the time you order something healthy for you, it's non-fat, sugar-free, and what's the point? That's not what Starbucks is about, though, it's about the 'emotional' experience. That's why people keep coming back. I know that's why I keep coming back. Good drink, hanging out with friends, and you remember how much of a good time you have. That is how they get you to come back."
Suddenly very interested in her drink, Lexi glances around, wondering if she had just made a fool of herself. Seeing that no one was looking at them, she looks back at Christian, and she meekly says, "Sorry! That was my mini-rant for the day, I'm glad I got it out of my system now." Smirking lightly, she takes another sip of her coffee.
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Post by Christian Patrick Elliot on Apr 2, 2007 5:29:21 GMT 7
Christian nodded at her suggestion. He had only seen one game while he was in high school, but his mind had been in other places. It had been his senior year, and his concentration was primarily on whether or not the new writer for the school paper was doing his job on the field. The position for sports columnist had always been a fragile one, it seemed. Despite having a wonderful program and excellent sports teams, writers dropped like flies from that spot.
"I might do that," he said with a small smile. He might look into attending a game at Rutherford. Perhaps one of his old friends could explain how it worked. Christian, for certain, would have no clue. Then again, a good part of the decision would depend on how busy he was at work. Thankfully the past two days had been relaxing, but most Fridays at work were.
"That extravagant, hm?" Christian crossed his legs and adjusted his weight once more to suit his fancy. He had never made a point to get personally acquainted with the staff. It simply wasn't in his personality to do something like that. It probably didn't help that he ordered a variety of different drinks each time he game. The guessing game could last all day, if it was ever attempted.
He chuckled and took periodic sips of his drink while she went on about the emotional experience. He could attest to that - he often found himself in here, whether it be alone or with a friend, and the environment was something to compliment. Peaceful, alternative choices were also coming out of the speakers and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee floated through the air. Plus, the environment was artistic, which only stepped it up a notch in Christian's book.
When she appeared embarassed, he couldn't help but grin at her. For that brief moment, she reminded him of Bianca. She, too, would often grow chattery and defensive about something, only to realize how loud or vibrant she was being and flush from embarassment. "Don't apologize, I understand. I'd probably still come here, even if I didn't drink coffee like a maniac."
Considering her comment about the environment of Starbucks, a question popped into his mind. Most young people in New York, and even Huntley, enjoyed music. She had not spoken out about his mention of the House of Blues, although she hadn't seemed overly-joyed with the prospect, either. Even so, he felt the urge to reciprocate with inquiries.
"Have you ever been to the Wreck Room? Down in the city?" Realizing the question might seem off-topic, he cleared his throat and added, "I only ask because the enivornment there draws similar comments. You don't necessarily have to enjoy the music to have a good time." There, justified.
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Post by Alexia DeMarco on Apr 2, 2007 6:11:56 GMT 7
Lexi smiled slightly at Christian, when he said he might go to one of the soccer games. Maybe she was on the verge of converting him into a fan. Or maybe it would be a one time thing, and then, he would move on to something else. She wouldn't be devastated if he wasn't very interested, but it could have been something they could do together. Which made her realize that she wanted to be friends with him, he was so different from any other guy she had hung out with. She just wanted to find out more about him.
When he thought it was extravagant that people knew her favorite drink in Starbucks, Lexi laughed a little, shaking her head. "Not in the least. It's just a cool thing that they do well here, and it makes you feel good about coming back. Plain and simple." She took another sip of her coffee, as she looked at him, a smile playing across her lips. She was having a good time, passing the afternoon talking to him. She wondered a little on how much longer it would last.
And then Christian was grinning at her, and he was supportive, as Lexi felt embarrassed over her outburst. That was sweet of him to say that, and she did appreciate what he said to her. "Thanks, I just didn't want to cause a scene, and make you feel uncomfortable around me. I am my own worst enemy sometimes, and it's very kind of you to be so understanding." But wanting to get back to the slight teasing she had done before, she looks at his drink, and tilts her head to the side. "But if you weren't drinking coffee, what would you be drinking? Tea? or lemonade?" She smiles a little, she could find out a little more about him this way.
When he mentions the club in the city, she thinks a little, and then thinks she might know it. "Isn't that the place where the musicians can play whatever they want? Like an open mic night, or something like that? I would love to go sometime, I really like live music. And I've heard some of the musicians are really good. And if it has a good atmosphere, then that makes it more enjoyable." She then wants to know more about how often he goes. Maybe she would see him there sometime, if she started going. Deciding to be direct, she says, "How often do you go? Is it one of those kind of places, you could go every night? Not that you go every night. Or do you?" Her eyes have that laughing glint to them, and she thinks that maybe he does go on a regular basis. And it was a way for her to tease him again.
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