It was cold outside. Riley figured she shouldn’t be surprised and pulled her hoodie tighter around her body, hands in the pockets. She’d considered wearing something different, but this was her traditional garb for movie night. It was her own dumb fault if she’d conveniently forgotten that it was nearly November in lieu of carrying around more outerwear. She shook off the cold and let her mind wander back to movie night.

Mmmm movie night. It made Riley smile to think that in just a few short minutes she’d be settled into her seat, hugging a bag of popcorn, and thinking about nothing for the next few hours. It was a release, it was a sanctuary, it was…something she’d apparently decided to share with someone else.

The conversation had been great, a rare diamond in the rough of nonsense that usually went along with running into a guy in a dark theater. He’d actually wanted to talk about the movie. Riley congratulated herself on her good conversation seeking instincts and wondered what today’s movie would bring. She’d all but asked him to come back, and he’d all but accepted the invitation. It was Riley’s kind of interaction. Short, clean, interesting. She’d made a new friend. In the dark. In a movie theater. Hiding behind a hood for 99% of the conversation. Some might have called it romantic. Riley was a realist. It was a little creepy. She shrugged, creepy or not, one didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth when it ran out in front of you with its arms waving. Good conversation with a man in New York was about as close as a girl could get without seeing a mane, tail, and the bow on top of the gift. Maybe he hadn’t looked like a horse, not at all, but the metaphor still stood.

She bought her movie ticket, and made her way to the concession stand, hood staying in place as she waited in line and got her provisions. One simply couldn’t watch the Maltese Falcon without a bag of popcorn…and a giant soda. Riley passed on the licorice today after much consideration and made her way into the theater.

Some girls might have tried to find the exact same seat they’d sat in the time before, arranging themselves so it would be easy to see that they were indeed the same. Riley was not some girls. Instead, she found the most deserted area possible, away from people whose throats might need clearing or creepers who might decide to creep and flopped down, propping her sweater-booted feet on the back of the seat in front of her. It was a well-established practice here, not at all frowned upon due to the already shabby condition of the seats. If he showed up, he’d find her by virtue of the hood.

If not. She’d have an awesome night, all to herself. It wasn’t like she needed the company anyway. Still, she was curious what he’d think about this movie. It was so different from Casablanca…even if they did share one key element.

Bogart.

The lights dimmed. Time would tell.

Ashton liked detective movies. The harder it was, the better. He'd never been a fan of Holmes. Sam Spade, though? Philip Marlowe? He liked them. Rough around the edges, but gentle was nice. Psychotic drug-addicted crime enthusiast? Not so much... Ashton didn't like druggies. Holmes just had his head in the cloud too often. The only thing that was Elementary about him was how out of his mind he truly was.

Thankfully, this movie wasn't about Old Sherlock. It was about Sam Spade, a Maltese Falcon, and a classic convoluted plot.

Plus, he had a date. An unofficial date. He picked up a box of snacks on his way into the theater for this unofficial date, and found a seat. He caught sight of her as he entered. One brief glimpse, then the house lights went down. Ashton stalked down the row, and slid into her aisle to sit beside her. He glanced Hoodie-Girl's way, and offered the candy box.

"Raisinette?"

The lights dimmed and Riley simply resigned herself to the fact that she was going to be watching the movie alone. It was what she’d really expected anyway, after the silly spectacle she’d made the last time she’d been here. In fact, she’d have worried about any man who showed up after a girl dropped such a silly line on him.

"Raisinette?"

Oh, he’d shown up.

Riley didn’t hide the fact that she was pleased, she smiled from the recesses of her hood. ”Absolutely.” she said, and held out her hand. Politeness be darned, she’d only forgone the licorice because she already had the giant soda and popcorn. Speaking of which…she offered the bag.

”Popcorn?”

She let him take what he wanted, then turned to the movie for a moment before speaking, ”Ready for film noir, hard-nosed detective work with plenty of murder and deceit to spare?” she asked, voice low and campy in the dark.

Popcorn?

"Definitely."

He took a handful, to get started, then turned to the movie, balancing the popcorn in his upturned palm.

Was he ready for hard-nosed detective work with murder and deceit to spare? "Every day of my life," He smirked to himself, and popped a piece of popped corn into his mouth as the movie began.

It all started like the book had, a man, a woman, frantic nerves. A cameo from a man shortly slated to disappear from this world, into the next.

A telephone bell rang in darkness. Ashton reached for another handful of popped corn.

Miles Archer was dead.

Every day of his life. Riley snerked slightly at the comment from her companion and grinned as he took a handful of popcorn. If nothing else, he knew how to eat at the movie theater. Riley peered at him in the light of the projector, despite the fact that it was dim, and the movie was dark, she could almost make out his features. She had the advantage. It was good, she liked it that way.

The movie progressed, the partner was dead. Riley felt a little bad for the guy, no screen time whatsoever. The weepy lady wept, and lied, and changed her name. This was why she liked the romances, the female characters in these noir mysteries were often a little shallow for her tastes. She wanted to comment, but every movie couldn’t be perfect.

Instead, Riley decided she would settle for more popcorn and more chocolate covered raisins, they were delicious after all. Out went her hand, and out went the popcorn bag in return.

”Have you seen this one before?” Riley asked, genuine curiosity evident in her voice.

The exchange was made. Popcorn for chocolate-covered raisins, comment for comment. Had he seen this one before.

"Yup," Ashton replied confidently. "It's one of my favorite Noir films. Up there with The Big Sleep... which, funny enough, also stars Bogey." He chewed over the thought with a mouthful of popcorn, eyes returning to the big screen. Another important thing was happening. He watched.

A moment later, he returned the question."What about you?"

Riley had to admit, she loved a man who knew his classic films, and her film buddy sure seemed to know what he was talking about. He spoke about Noir films and how this was his favorite. Riley had to admit, that if she was going to pick a favorite noir film, this would be near the top. Truth was, she didn’t watch many noir films, but at least she’d seen this one. He mentioned The Big Sleep and Riley couldn’t comment, she hadn’t seen that one…even if it did have Bogey.

Riley offered the popcorn again and nodded her head when he turned her question back in her direction.

”I have…haven’t seen the Big Sleep though. Bogey was pretty versatile, he did all these Noir movies, but he also did the sweet ones like African Queen and Sabrina…so I’ve seen lots of his movies, just maybe not the same ones.”

She smiled in the dark. ”Have you seen either of those?” she asked, skeptically. He’d simply be too good to be true…or a big Bogart fanboy.

”By the way. I never caught your name.”

Offer, she did, and popcorn, Ashton took. The woman answered his question. Yes on one, no on another. But yes on so many other Bogart films. Ashton noted this. He also noted what he had to tell her.

But first, she asked him if he'd seen either film.

Actually. That fit in with what he'd wanted to tell her. Critical success? "Mhm," He hummed his reply. "Sabrina, just because you mentioned it last time." He'd gone out and found it. Not for her, mind you, or to score any points. He was a film buff, through and through.

Well, okay. Maybe to score points. But hell. The movie had been decent.

He'd already seen African Queen.

She asked his name. "Ashton," He replied. "What about you?"

Oh damn. There she was, impressed again. Riley squinted into the dark. Where was his third eye? There had to be something, Riley squinted towards his hand…the wedding ring. Where was the wedding ring? Riley knew it had to be there. No ring there…and in the dark she couldn’t tell if there was a tan line. It would figure…or maybe he was gay, looking for a girlfriend to shop and watch movies with. No, that didn’t make sense either…but there had to be something…

Riley realized her line of thinking and shook it off…it wasn’t like she was actually interested or anything. They were just watching silly movies in a crappy old theater. It was a good time, but nothing more.

He gave his name. ”Ashton.” she repeated, then reached up and pushed back her hood. ”I’m Riley.” she said, still impressed that he’d seen Sabrina.

”Did you actually like it?” she asked, curiously, ”It’s wildly different from most of the things that Bogart did…but he still fit the role so well. The awkward older workaholic...shouldering the responsibility so his brother could cavort. I never can decide which brother I like more.”

She paused for a moment and shrugged, ”I have to respect Sabrina though…” she said, and let the comment hang as the movie progressed and things that needed to be watched, needed watching. Besides, Riley had popcorn to eat, which she did with gusto. She’d given Ashton a great deal to think about, how would he reply?

"It was okay," Ashton smiled, answering modestly. "I liked it. I think I like other Bogart movies more, but I can see why you would enjoy it. It's something for me to suggest to another movie buff, when they come clawing."

"And I can definitely respect people," He commented to Riley.

Ashton turned back to the movie casually, eating his popcorn.

”Oh? You can see why I would enjoy it?” Riley said, with the feeling that were she standing she’d have firmly planted her hands on her hips and given her companion similar raised eyebrow look to the one he was getting now. Was he implying that she adored the movie because of its fluffy sentimentality? The left-field romance between wealthy business owner and chauffer’s daughter? The way that vibrant and flighty Sabrina was able to thaw Linus’ cold heart? It definitely wasn’t any of those things, and it wasn’t the way that Linus chased her back to France…to Paris…to prove he was the man for her.

Definitely not. Those were the things a hopeless romantic would have loved in a movie…and they’d well established that Riley was anything but that. Still…he said he’d recommend the movie to his movie buff friends…he couldn’t have thought it was too much of a chick flick of that was the case.

He said he could respect people and Riley wondered about that, she wondered about a lot of things.

”So why do you really come here?” she asked, knowing what her answer would be, but not sure she’d share it if asked. The popcorn left her hands, taking a place in the seat next to her as she moved her arms to rest her wrists on her knees. This was the part where he revealed that he was here to escape the rigorous life of a happily married father of four. This was the part where she could stop being nice…but he had to answer the question first.

>>”So why do you really come here?”

"Movie," Ashton said through a mouthful. He gestured towards the screen, her box of popcorn in his lap.

He'd caught the tone change, and the position change, through his peripheral vision. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Ashton knew why he was here, though. It was that simple.

Swallow, another statement. "And popcorn." He turned to smile at her. "Plus, you invited me."

He didn't need to answer for stating why she liked it. That wasn't his style. Apologies didn't accomplish anything. Rather than saying you're sorry, you're supposed to do something. That was his way.

"You have good tastes in movies," Ashton added, not purposefully trying to defuse any subtle changes in mood. He just stated the obvious.

But, shhh. Bogart was doing something impressive on-screen, again. He tuned his focus back to the big screen.

He…was there for the movie…no wife and kids to escape from, no homelessness to escape the cold from. Maybe he was a serial killer. Riley looked the guy up and down again, hadn’t she read in a book somewhere that serial killers were usually charismatic men in their 30’s who liked to be loners? Something about that didn’t fit with the conversations they’d had, but the dark haired woman reminded herself of American Psycho and Searching for Mr Goodbar, more movies to be applied to real life. Creepy movies.

Oh. That’s right. She had invited him. The likeliness of him being a serial killer lessened slightly. That still didn’t make up for the artful way he’d dodged her question about why he was at the movies. Nobody went to a movie simply to watch a movie, but as he complemented her taste, Riley found herself mollified….a task that was not completely very easily once she got her hackles up. He was telling the truth though, not flattering. ”I know.” she said, without a hint of arrogance, also stating a simple fact.

He’d taken the popcorn, but Riley didn’t know how to go about getting it back at the moment. It was a predicament…one that would have to be solved after Bogart stopped being amazing on the screen. The scene lulled and Riley took the opportunity to speak again.

”Wouldn’t it be a hoot if people were like this in real life?” she said, nodding towards the big screen, ”All hard boiled stuff. I guess that’s part of the appeal for things like this. Getting to escape the real world for a while, going to a totally different time and place and getting immersed.”

She paused and thought for a few moments, ”I think that’s part of what’s so great about this place. As shabby as it looks with the lights on…it’s almost easy to forget what it is once they dim.”

In real life?

"You mean they aren't?" Ashton's hand was poised by his mouth. Popcorn was stuck in his jaw, which had dropped, making it hard to chew. He was pretty sure she'd just caused his jaw to drop there, because he was certain they were. "Yeah..." He recovered, chewing through mild embarrassment. "If people were like this in real life, this wouldn't be much of an escape, huh?"

He wasn’t serious was he? Riley peered in the dark in Ashton’s direction. He was. She couldn’t help herself, she laughed…during a quiet part…and got a nasty glare from someone two rows forward. It was hard not to throw popcorn at the back of their head…she settled for a nasty glare, then got back down to the task at hand.

”I don’t know what kind of circles you run in…but I’ve never met people who actually act this way on a consistent basis. It would be exhausting to brood all the time.” Riley tilted her head, ”I have to admit, the trench coats and hats are nice…but seriously? You know people who act like this?”

Maybe she wasn't giving him enough credit...he'd gone on to say that this wouldn't have been much of an escape if people were like the movies all the time. She waited to see what he said before passing further judgement.