for Stefan

[talesuntold]

Maggie spends the first part of the evening on her laptop, liveblogging in one chat window and using the other half of the screen to monitor threads on her section of the After the End Times forum. Maggie's good with people. She never minds a turn on forum duty, and as a beta on the site, she pays her dues just like everyone else who isn't a department head. It's a refreshing change, actually, to have an entirely merit-based system where her last name doesn't mean a thing.

As the first movie winds down, Maggie sets aside the computer, standing up and stretching. She did look around enough to take stock of the room. Almost everyone here is a regular. She knows all of their food and drink preferences, and she fully expects a couple to stay for half the week.

So of course it's the newcomer who caught her attention. He seemed amused by the movie, and she agreed with him on this one. Funny how a horror movies aren't scary at all when the world has turned into one.

Whoever invited him probably pointed her out to Stefan. Maggie got his name from the security scans at the door, but she isn't especially worried about strangers in her house either way. She tosses the remote to another Fictional, letting him take over and set up the next movie.

Stefan's the only one who needs to tell her what he wants, which makes him the logical choice for help fetching it. Maggie makes her way across the room, leans over one arm of the couch, and and introduces herself, probably unnecessarily. "I'm Maggie. Help me carry snacks from the kitchen?"

Comments

[talesuntold]

She unfolds herself off the couch and goes to answer the door with a smile.

Glancing back over her shoulder, she tells him, "Good. There are few things better than a well-written poem or book. In case my career choice wasn't enough indication, I like reading."

Which could have more meanings than one, considering the content of some of the writing Maggie makes a living with.

[stefanged]

"I'd sure hope you do," he teases, rising up and surveying the food as it's brought over. It looks even yummier in person, and for a moment, he wishes he were human again so that he could really savor the flavors.

(Instead, he supposes, he'll have to make do with the chilled "smoothies" he had left behind in his hotel room.)

"But seriously, you've got pretty good taste."

[talesuntold]

Maggie grins and leans in for another quick kiss before she settles back onto the couch, plate in her lap. "You realize you could be complimenting yourself with that one." Her taste in romantic partners clearly encompasses Stefan.

She takes a bite of her chicken, which is every bit as good as anticipated. "Mmm."

[stefanged]

He blinks back genuine surprise as he takes a moment to realize that he sure had accidentally given himself a compliment. (At least she'd taken it well!) Stefan opens his mouth, then decides better against it as he helps himself to his order.

"I hadn't," he admits in-between bites. "My mind was solely on the food."

[talesuntold]

"I know it was," Maggie assures Stefan with a very light nudge to his shoulder, still amused. "The food is good too. Feel free to try a bite of mine."

Note the 'too' there. Maggie is entirely too careful with her words to slip that in by accident. She's quite satisfied with her taste in date, thank you.

[stefanged]

"Thanks, but I'm plenty satisfied." He holds up his plate, unable to fight the grin tugging across his lips. Even if Stefan's less careful than Maggie in this moment, the inference wasn't lost on him.

"I promise, you'll know when I want a little more."

[talesuntold]

A slow, suggestive smile spreads across Maggie's face, then she takes another bite and licks her lips. "Is that a promise?"

Flirting back is very much appreciated.

[stefanged]

"One I'll take to my grave," he promises, reaching for a fork and digging in with great gusto.

Let it be known, here and now: there really is no date like one with Maggie Garcia.