Friday at Blahco. Marian and Robin are in their office, both working. Marian has been somewhat nervous today. Robin can tell because she keeps checking the clock for some reason. If he didn't know better, he would think she is anxious about Robin's date with Aurora tonight. But Robin hasn't given Marian that information yet, so it can't be about his date.

Robin looks at the clock. He wants to plan it perfectly so he has enough time to get from here to the date location. He doesn't want to get caught in traffic and have Aurora waiting for him. What type of message would that send to her about him? Robin takes off his headphones. He is going to leave five minutes early today just to be sure. He quietly starts logging off his computer. He doesn't want Marian to notice because then she will want to talk about the date. He is feeling too nervous about the date and would rather not talk to Marian while he is feeling anxious. He isn't the nicest person when he is anxious.

Robin is almost successful in sneaking out, but his jacket was caught on the back of his chair and the chair made a loud noise when he tried to pull the jacket off. Robin flinches. He knows that Marian heard that. Marian looks over at Robin. Then she looks at the time and realizes that Robin is leaving early. He never leaves early. Marian asks, "Do you have a doctor's appointment? You normally don't leave before me." Robin starts to feel nervous. He doesn't want Marian to know about Aurora just yet.  Robin decides to answer in short syllables so that Marian doesn't take up so much time with her pestering. Robin, "Nope." Marian starts to get a little suspicious. She can smell a date when it's this close. Robin wore different clothes than he normally does and did his hair. That alone should have clued her in, but Marian has had other things on her mind today. She has been distracted.

Marian, "Are you going somewhere?" She crosses her arms as she asks. She is sad that he didn't tell her about the date. But then it's Robin, he always keeps things to himself. Robin responds again, "Yes." Marian's eyebrows start to furrow. She knows why he is leaving, but not where. "Somewhere that closes early?" Robin replies again, "yes." Marian rolls her eyes and is frustrated. "Robin! Why are you giving me one-word answers?" Robin doesn't respond. Instead, he stands up and starts making his way over to the door to leave. Marian gets up to intercept him. She points at him, "Do you have something to hide?" Then she gets all excited and grabs him by his shoulders and shakes him, "Are you going on a date with Aurora?!!!!" Robin's turn to roll his eyes. Marian always overreacts to everything.

Robin clears his throat, "it's not a date." Marian starts doing a happy dance. "Robin is going on a date!! Let's GO!!!" She says this in a sing-song voice. Her happy dance includes shaking her hands in the air and a little swirl. Robin tries to get outside their office now that she has taken her hands off him. But Marian leans an arm across the doorway and stops him from leaving. Robin looks annoyed. Is she going to do this while he trying to leave? He folds his arms and looks at her with disdain. "I don't know what the big deal is. I have been on a date before. Marian points at him and corrects him, "Yeah, but one person who you knew for years. Before you leave, I should give you some love guru advice. This is the perfect time for it. Since you haven't gone out in a long time." Robin takes a step back into their office and closes the door. "First, stop calling yourself that. Second, this isn't a date. Just say whatever you want to say, but don't take too long. I need to be there in 25 minutes."

Marian looks so happy at the fact that she kept Robin here. She was completely unprepared for the fact that Robin was going out tonight so she didn't have advice ready to go. She tries to get more from Robin so her advice can be specific, "Where exactly are you taking her?" Robin looks at Marian, "Aurora planned it. I am not telling you where we are going." Marian looks down her nose at Robin. "Good idea having Aurora plan the date, she probably has more experience dating." Robin banters back, "I didn't do that on purpose, she just already had somewhere in mind when we talked about hanging out." Marian looks at Robin again, "are you going to give me nothing about where you are going or what you are doing?" Robin sneers at Marian, "No way. You would totally stalk us." Marian looks appalled, "I would.....feel really bad while I did it though." Robin shakes his head no. He isn't budging. Marian folds her arms and accepts her fate, "Fine, you villain. I guess I will have to stick to the most basic advice."

Marian starts, "First, offer to split the bills." Robin looks confused, "Why, I can afford it?" Marian looks at Robin, he sees the world in a very specific way. Marian explains, "That's not what it is about. It's about power. If you pay for something Aurora might feel obligated to stay on the date or do other things just because you paid for her to be there." Robin looks confused, "obligated? To do what exactly? I don't think she will mind." Marian looks at Robin and shakes her head. "If you feel super strongly about paying, at least ask her if it's okay. It's mostly about communication about what she is comfortable with. Women are not one size fits all."

Marian continues, "Are you writing this down?" Robin looks annoyed, "I think I can remember it." Marian goes on, "On the note of communication. You need to ask before you do anything." Robin puts his hand up, "I understand consent." Marian smirks, "understanding it and getting it are two different things" Robin starts snapping his hands, "I am on a time limit here." Marian looks like she feels bad for keeping him late, but she is going to finish her thought before he goes, "Fine, the final thing I want to share is this. Since Aurora is the one planning the date, she is going to be unsure about how you feel. Especially since you can't even call it a date. So if you want Aurora to be happy with things you need to give her something that makes your intentions clear." Robin looks confused, "But I told her my intentions just the other day." Marian smiles at Robin, "Saying something is different than actions. I want you to DO something that shows her what your intentions are." 

Robin puts his hands to his head. He is genuinely thinking about this one. Marian is excited. She doesn't want Robin to end up in the friend zone. Robin gets an idea, "show her...So you mean like I should hold her hand?" Marian starts laughing. Oh sweet innocent Robin. "Of course, you would think that was what I was talking about." She laughs more and Robin gets annoyed. Marian clarifies what she was thinking, "Maybe you could kiss her? Or go back to your place after the date." Robin looks shocked, "I am not trying to sleep with her!" Marian gives Robin a look, "I am not talking about sleeping with her. There are many steps between what I am suggesting and what you are suggesting." Robin looks embarrassed, "Aurora told me she is a lady." Marian smiles at this, "That means she wants you to ask before you do anything." Robin smiles, "I don't think Aurora is expecting much more than me to open the doors for her and walk her to her door." Marian stops laughing and she sighs. Clearly, the advice is only good if someone is going to follow it. Robin cannot be serious about this chivalry nonsense. Who raised him? Why is he such an old soul? Robin likes to do things the way he has always done. Marian finally speaks, "Has my advice been wrong yet? Just try it my way, please." 

Robin doesn't commit to anything. He gives Marian a look and then looks at the clock. He immediately freaks out. If he doesn't leave now he is going to be late. And if there is traffic he will be late. Robin looks at Marian and tersely says, "I am running late, I have to go." Marian corrects him, "You mean you are on time and not 10 minutes early?" Robin side eyes her, but Marian does move out of their doorway finally. Robin defends himself, "If the traffic is bad, I won't be able to make my way to.." He stops himself. Marian leans in and whispers, "To where?!" Robin smiles at Marian as he scurries out the door. "Bye, Marian." Marian calls after him as he walks down the hallway at work, "Still nothing?! You are horrible."

Robin is gone. Marian is about to walk back in her door when she realizes that someone is waiting for her at the door. She sees Graham's bulking body taking up the hallway. She assumes he is here for Robin. Marian looks at Graham and says, "Robin just left," and she points in the direction that Robin just ran off towards. Graham smiles, "I am not here for Robin, I am here for you." Graham gets this big smile on his face that tells everyone that he is up to no good. Marian is intrigued. She invites Graham to follow her back into her office. Graham starts to look around nervously. He has never been in the office with just Marian. He has been in the office with just Robin plenty of times, but this feels like he is about to betray his best friend. But, Graham feels like Marian should know this information.

"I was at the cafeteria the other day, eating lunch. When Aurora came in and sat with Robin. I may have overheard their conversation. Robin is going out with Aurora." Graham starts to get all excited as he gets to the last part. Marian looks at Graham who thinks he has a juicy secret. Marian bursts his bubble quickly. "I already knew this. You are days late." Graham starts to look sadly at Marian. "Awww, I thought I had exciting news." Marian smirks because she realizes something, "You were spying on Robin in the Cafeteria?" Graham looks nervously down, "Well I just was already there and so I just listened. It's not like they were speaking quietly. Anyone could have heard. I mean, I did move to the seat behind them so I could overhear them. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that." Marian gets the best look on her face. She found out another thing about Graham that she likes. She likes knowing that Graham has questionable morals when it comes to Robin's privacy. They clearly have that in common. He will be a good ally for her as they try to convince Robin to change.

 She is just about to speak to him more when Marian gets a text on her phone. Marian grabs it immediately and looks at the screen and her cheeks turn bright red. She turns back to Graham. He gets this excited look on his face, "ooooooOOoo, what type of text gets that kinda reaction from you?" Marian looks at Graham and says, "it's none of your business. Please respect my privacy." And with that she shoos Graham out of her office.