bakerstreet | Lights, camera, romance!

Lights, camera, romance!

The Love Like the Movies Meme

The fun thing about movies is that there are so many options, nearly something for everyone. Action, adventure, comedy, tragedy, whatever your taste, you'll probably find something at the cinema. One of the most popular genres, of course, is romance. But don't think it's just chick flicks: a lot of movies have love in them, and those relationships presented can be as varied as the films themselves.

In this meme, you'll get a chance to play out some of the scenarios made popular in films. Some are directly inspired by certain movies, others by common tropes. So grab your popcorn and your chocolate and getting ready for some lovin', Hollywood style!

HOW TO PLAY
- Comment with your character and preferences.
- Others will comment to you, rolling the RNG to determine the prompt.
- Comment to others doing the same.

1. Childhood Friends (Just Friends, etc): You were friends as kids, but you never noticed how much this person means to you until you're grown up. That, or they got really, really hot.

2. Beauty & the Beast (what do you think?): One of you has a charmed life and is beautiful, and the other is ugly- physically or otherwise- or has something else about them (a tragic past, a curse, etc) that society deems you as "broken" for.

3. Beauty & the Geek (The Breakfast Club, every John Hughes movie ever, etc): Maybe this is a high school AU, or maybe it's not. Whatever the case may be, one of you is hot, popular, and athletic, and the other is...not so much. Still, there's something here. Will both of you be willing to look outside your clique and bear the ridicule in order to be together?

4. The Tearjerker (Love Story, a ton of Nicholas Spark movies): The two of you are falling in love, and your relationship is perfect. Or it is until one of you finds out you're dying, whether it be of illness or other causes! Or maybe not dying, just leaving forever. Who knows, whatever the reason, the two of you won't be able to be together forever. What will you do? Break up to ease the pain, or continue on until the last moments?

5. I was Enchanted to Meet You/Fairy Tale Love (Enchanted, etc): Though it may be awkward at first, your relationship is straight out of a fairy tale! Sugary sweet with lots of slow realizations and cute scenarios; singing animals are optional. This kind of love (and the right princess, of course) can even make the most stoic of men melt. How does she know you love her?

6. It Was Just Sex (No Strings Attached, Zack & Miri Make a Porno, etc): You both agreed it was supposed to be just sex. Friends with benefits, that's it. Well, about that. One of you wants to be more than just friends. That won't mess things up, will it?

7. The Hookup Gone Wrong (Knocked Up, etc): You got somebody pregnant, they accidentally imprinted on you, you went through a mating-for-life ritual without noticing it, whatever you crazy kids do these days. Now you're stuck with someone, may as well learn to tolerate them. If you're lucky, tolerance can grow into fondness, and then...

8. As You Wish/The Princess and her Stable Boy (Princess Bride, etc): This person may be beneath you, but whatever the case, you've always taken them for granted. Will you see their love before it's too late...like something bad happening?

10. A Little Species Difference (Twilight, Underworld, etc): Love is love...even if you two don't have the luxury of being the same species. But who cares if you're a vamp and she's a human, or you're a demon and he's an angel? Okay, maybe the rest of your kind or society cares, and that may cause a few problems, but it all works out in the end, right?

11. For Richer or Poorer (Titanic, etc): The poor boy sees the rich girl and falls in love at first sight. Maybe this doesn't describe your relationship exactly, but there differences in your social classes. Will the people around you and their obsession with money drive you apart, or can you show them that blue collar and black tie can be as one?

12. This is Very Unprofessional (The Bodyguard, etc): For some reason, you're supposed to protect this person. For the benefit of this missions, it's better to keep emotions out of it- oops, you've fallen in love with your charge! Or perhaps, even worse, you've fallen in love with someone who should be your enemy or you were supposed to eliminate!

13. The Wedding Crasher (Romcoms, romcoms): The person you love is with someone else- maybe even about to take the plunge into marriage. But they should totally be with you, and you're about to show the world! Er, even if that means crashing their special day.

14. The Enemies turned Lovers (Romeo + Juliet, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, etc): Perhaps the oldest story in the book, people from warring factions overcoming hate to give into their love for each other. Need I say more?

15. I Want You to Want Me (10 Things I Hate About You, etc): Ahh, hate growing to love. A staple of teen movies and romantic comedies for many years. That's because it works! There's just something about the chemistry you feel with someone you can't stand changing into a desire to actually be close to this person. After all, they say there's a thin line between love and hate.

16. The Comedic Misunderstanding (The Proposal, every romcom ever, etc): Oh no! You just heard the guy you love call you ugly to his friend! You saw the girl of your dreams with another man! Surely this means you're doomed and hated and you'll be forever alone! Oooor maybe it was just a misunderstanding- NOPE. DOOMED AND HATED AND FOREVER ALONE.

17. This Isn't A Love Story (500 Days of Summer, etc): Not all love ends with happily ever after. Sometimes there are just plain endings- very, very messy ones with lots of hate. So whoo keeps the dog, the apartment, and the IKEA furniture, you mad hipsters exes? Well, deciding that's part of the fun!

18. Find Something Better (Yet another romance cliche): You've broken up with somebody and totally sworn off of relationships for good! Nope, nobody is going to make you love agai- darn it! That free spirit made you love again! Shoot. Well, you don't have to let the- damn it, you let them into your heart, didn't you?

19. It All Worked Out in the End (almost every movie): You've been through lots of disasters and trials, maybe even years worth of separation, so now you've earned your life as a happy couple. Enjoy it!

20. Love at First Sight (many a movie): The obligatory love at first sight, which seems to dominate a lot of movies. You see this person and you know they're the one! Now you just have to win them over.

21. Mistaken Identities (I'm pretty sure a Mary Kate and Ashley movie was like this): You've fallen in love with someone, but while they love you, it's not the real you they love. They think you're someone else because of a misunderstanding, your own designs, or something along those lines. Can you risk telling them the truth and get them to love you for you, or will you live a lie?

22. Good Girl/Bad Boy (Grease, etc): I got chiiiills, they're multiplyin'! One of you is a goody-goody (at least in some capacity), while the other is from the wrong side of the tracks (what tracks?). It's dangerous, but there's something thrilling about danger. Still, are you sure this isn't just summer lovin'? If you really care for this person, maybe you can make it work.23. WILDCARD

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(Open to everything but 13.)

[Up for a slightly AU Draco? Was thinking either; 1, 11, 14, 19 or 22?]

(Totally! All those sound pretty interesting, so do you have any particular preference between them?)

[Mainly drawn to 1 or 14 or both sort of, since 14 kinda tie in to Draco's head-canon and we could set it after Deathly Hallows.]

(I'd be up for a combination of both set after DH. Maybe for incorporating 1 they actually ended up becoming friends early first year/pre-sorting, but things grew strained as they got older/house politics and real politics came into play? Then your AU stuff happens and that more or less leads to 14?)

[That sounds good to me. The AU stuff is basically Draco joining the Order after Dumbledore's offer in Half-Blood Prince, helping the Golden Trio in their mission - mainly getting into his Aunt's vault - and slowly becoming their friend in the process.]

(Awesome, I noticed in your journal you usually play him at 19 and living in Grimmauld Place so we can set things then if you'd like? Or while they're doing their last year of Hogwarts if you think they'd get their act together sooner)

[Them retaking their final year's good, having spent the time traveling and working together to slowly get their act together maybe? I'm guessing with not so many Slytherins returning and the Malfoy name in tatters, that's changed how people see Draco at Hogwarts too so he could use all the new friends he can get.]

(Yeah, Harry would have been suspicious and slow to warm back up to Draco, working off the idea that they'd gone from friends to enemies, but I imagine deep down she'd have wanted him to prove her wrong so they could be friends again.

I think that covers most of the bases, so unless you can think of anything else we need to sort out first do you want to start or should I?)

Edited 2015-09-22 09:43 (UTC)

[Yep, I think that covers everything too.

Can I be cheeky and ask you to start, I've never been good at thinking up openings for this place. Thanks.]

[It had been harder than Harry thought it would be, coming back to Hogwarts after everything that had happened. It wasn't that she loved the castle any less, Hogwarts would always be her first true home, but after everything they'd done it felt surreal to be back sitting in classes. It was a comfort at least that all four of them were here together.

The rest of the school didn't seem to understand why the "Golden Trio" (she always had to keep from rolling her eyes at that moniker) had more or less adopted a snake, but she'd always been of the opinion that there were some things you couldn't live through with people without ending up friends. She couldn't entirely blame them for their confusion though given the very public falling out she and Draco had had previously. When Draco had first joined the order she'd been wary. Hadn't she tried to justify her friendship with him to Ron and Hermione for years only for it all to blow up in her face? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice...

Well, in this case Harry was just happy she'd been wrong.

The lake seemed peaceful where they were, off the beaten path but easy enough to find for anyone who knew where to look. A good place to avoid the stares that seemed to constantly follow her, and, she suspected, Draco as well. Harry tried skipping a stone across the surface of the water, glancing at Draco out of the corner of her eye.]

Do you ever miss the camping out?

[She did, some nights. Not the constant threat of attack or the inability to go anywhere else, but the...the what? She wasn't sure she even knew what it was exactly that she missed. The solitude maybe? She really wasn't sure. She just knew that some nights she woke up anxious and restless, wanting to check to make sure everyone was still alright and close at hand and... Oh. She glanced at Draco again. So that was what she missed. Harry tried not to flush.]

[Returning to Hogwarts had been something Draco was dreading, even though he had switched sides and been helpful in bringing You-Know-Who down there was still everyone's opinion of his family and himself. The blond always caught himself subconsciously tugging down the sleeve of whatever he was wearing when he was around anyone that wasn't his new found friends.

His friends. That was another thing that the younger students couldn't seem to understand, that Harry and her little band of misfits had willingly made friends with him and not out of pity like some of the rumors were saying. Honestly, Draco didn't care as he knew he had earned the right to stand by the Golden Trio.

He sighed as he looked out over the Great Lake, the presence of the witch standing next to him calming the stresses of the day as he turned slightly to look at Harry properly.]

Never thought I'd admit to enjoying something so mundane or muggle like but yeah, I sort of do.

[Sure there was an important reason for the four of them to be there but the freedom and independence they had was an amazing feeling that Draco had never had before due to who and what his Father wanted him to become.

There of course was another very good - in his mind anyway - reason to remember and yearn to relive those days again, Harry herself. The close quarters and joint focus had brought them together once more, at the end it was like their huge fight and fall out had never happened in first year and that was something he was going to treasure and protect from now on.]

[She couldn't help smiling at his response even though previously such wording would have had her bristling. Draco, she'd come to realize, sometimes just needed some slight translation to get at what he really meant.]

Your secret's safe with me.

[It was a warm, teasing jab, and Harry wondered at their managing to get here. Harry reveled in these moments they could steal away from everyone else, even Ron and Hermione. She was happy they'd finally pulled their heads out of their arses and gotten together but when Draco wasn't around she always felt like she was two steps away from turning into a third wheel. Somewhat selfishly she wondered if she might be able to convince McGonagal to let Draco stay with the rest of them in the tower. If, that was, Draco was even open to the idea.

It did remind her of another idea she'd been toying with though, and after a long moment she decided now was a good a time as any to bring it up. Running her fingers through her bangs as if trying to flatten them (a nervous habit she'd never really noticed she had) Harry stared out over the lake.]

I've been wondering, where are you planning on going after this, Hogwarts I mean. The ministry took the manor from you, didn't they?

Er... thanks.

[He said that slightly bashfully while rubbing the back of his neck.]

Though you don't have to, it's not like I have much of a reputation to protect.

[Harry's next question surprised Draco a little, his silver eyes following the hand trying to flatten some of her unruly ebony strands. He hadn't liked to think about just how far he had fallen because of his so-called father, but it wasn't as if he would be completely out on the streets since he had been watching over his recovering Godfather, Severus Snape before returning to the castle.]

Yes, they did but I was lucky that they didn't take what was in my personal vault too. I guess I'll live off what's in there once Severus is better until my training's finished and I get a job, if anyone will hire me that is.

Someone will hire you; they'd be mad to pass you up just because of your dad-- you're too good at potions.

[Lightly kicking a pebble into the water, Harry chewed on her lip considering how to phrase her offer.]

I only ask because, well, I've been thinking, if you didn't already have other plans... you could come to stay at Grimmauld place?

[The somewhat hesitant offer was quickly followed by her much more hurriedly delivered reasoning. She didn't want it to come across as if she was asking out of pity, it wasn't that at all.]

I mean, it's so much more space than I'll ever need, and your mum was a Black before she married Lucious-- She's welcome to come too, of course. I know Sirius had his issues with his family but I think he'd have reconciled with them if he could, and I--

[She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she admitted the main reason she'd been thinking on it so much.]

Well I wouldn't mind the company.

Not as good as Hermione, though.

[Draco begrudgingly muttered as his cheeks colored pink ever so slightly at her compliment.

He couldn't stop himself from blinking in surprise at her offer, wondering if he had heard right as Harry stumbled through her reasons and explanation.]

Mother is currently taking care of Severus at Spinner's End and has mentioned that she will be moving in with her sister once he is well enough to look after himself once more and to help raise little Teddy, though I am sure she will be grateful of the invitation to stay within the Noble House of Black once more.

[That was probably said a little more formerly than Draco had meant to.]

Well, I can't have you going insane due to lack of company, I wouldn't like to imagine what sort of trouble you'd get yourself into without someone rational there to stop you. Though that does mean you'll lose the one Slytherin dumb enough to spy on their former Head of House for information about their time at Hogwarts. Are you willing to make that sacrifice?

[Hermione was better at almost everything academic than just about everyone; at this point it was a simple fact of life and nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, she was pretty sure Hermione planned to go into politics so they'd hardly be in competition for the same jobs.

Harry wasn't sure if the formality was a good sign or a bad one, she'd noticed he seemed to fall back on it when he was feeling off kilter, but his reaction could go either way from there. If nothing else she was glad to hear that after everything Andy had lost to the war she was at least getting her sister back. She deserved that much at least.

She felt herself relaxing as his tone shifted to the teasing, mock condescension she'd more or less come to expect from him in their banter.]

How very humanitarian of you, saving me from myself for the good of the wizarding public.

[She licked her lips, trying to sooth where she'd bit them harder than she'd meant to earlier.]

You make it sound like he's going to start refusing to see you once he finds out we're housemates. I mean he must know we're friends by now. Unless of course... Draco am I your dirty little secret?

[She tried to make her eyes go wide, like she was about to cry but she was fairly sure she just looked a bit silly, especially as she was fighting a smile all the while. Her feelings towards Snape were still mixed after viewing his memories, but she'd come to realize she wanted to clear the air between them and start over. He'd been one of her mother's closest friends once, and he was important to Draco, who was important to her. Now if she could just get the stubborn old bat to go along with it things would be just peachy. Harry grinned at Draco impishly.]

Did you ever consider I might be planning on using you as bait?

Well someone's gotta be dumb enough to take up the position since Hermione and Weasley are too busy trying to suck each other's faces off.

[Draco would never describe himself as brave, that was a Gryffindor trait and something a true Slytherin would never willingly say about themselves out loud.

His eyes couldn't help but follow Harry's tongue as she licked her lips, it was something so innocent but at the same time something that he wanted to do for her, sooth away any pain she had. His concentration was broken quickly by the witch's next words, ones that suddenly made him fluster.]

No, no. I mean; of course he knows, it would've gotten back to him at some point anyway but I told him since it's extremely hard to keep anything from Severus Snape when he wants to know something and it's not like you can hide secrets for long at Hogwarts either.

[Of course he knew about the fact that The Sorting Hat could've placed Harry into his house - it was something that had come up during their time in the tent - and so being sneaky like she was suggesting didn't come as much as a surprise as it probably should have.]

What makes you think he'd take it?

[She grimaced slightly at the mental image that brought up. If she ever had to see them making out again it would be too soon, but as it was she'd probably catch them at it before the week was out. Harry wasn't sure if she should blame hormones or how many near death experiences they'd all survived for their eagerness. She couldn't help herself from eyeing Draco a bit as she contemplated the seize the day mentality so many of their peers had adopted since the final hours of the war. She wondered where her Gryffindor bravery was now.]

Draco I'm teasing. [Harry couldn't help giggling at how suddenly out of sorts he was, whether from the implication that her friendship wasn't important to him or her choice of phrase she wasn't sure, but either way it was cute. It still surprised her sometimes, how adorable he was when flustered, she thought, reaching forward to pat him on the arm, letting her hand linger there.] I know you're not ashamed of us.

[Us, as in all three of them she'd meant, suddenly a little flustered herself as her mind supplied her with the other way those words could be interpreted. She'd been less surprised than perhaps she should have been when she realized her feelings for Draco had moved to encompass more than just friendship. She supposed it was only natural, thinking of how she'd spent sixth year practically stalking him; whatever direction they took her feelings for Draco Malfoy were always intense. She decided it might be better to turn back to the conversation at hand, rather than let her thoughts longer there though.]

I've no idea if he would, but I like your company regardless so either way I can't really lose. Plan B is seeing if I can't get your mother to bully him into coming over for tea.

[Harry, to her own surprise, quite liked Narcissa Malfoy. She supposed it shouldn't be too hard to believe. Harry was quite fond of Draco after all, and besides that it was hard not to be endeared to a woman who would choose her son over everything. A mother's love, it had occurred to her later after the battle was done and she was far from playing dead on a forest floor, had once more been Tom Riddle's downfall.]

I dunno, sometimes I'm ashamed of Weasley. [He chuckled while running a hand through his platinum locks, though it was true that he was proud to call the three of them his true friends. Not that that was a hard achievement to get since the friends that Draco had before and during his first six school years all seemed to abandon him rather quickly.]

Mother would probably be your better bet, especially now that she is his primary care at the moment or until his private healers declare him completely fit once more.

Only when he's eating.

[Its was a teasing jab, fond and secure in her pseudo-siblingship with Ron. Plus Draco was their friend now, she could say things like that to him; teasing like that was only acceptable as long as it stayed in the "family."]

I'll send her an owl then. Though it feels rather unsporting to ambush him before he's recovered.

[It was certainly the more Slytherin method, and while she'd come to appreciate it overall she was still a Gryffindor at the end of the day. Harry decided to sit herself at the bade of a rather large tree, and stare out over the lake. Something about the seeming remoteness of this place made her feel nostalgic and rather honest.]

I'm glad we ended up here. Friends I mean. [Even if she wanted more. Even if she didn't know how to go about asking for more.] Even if we took a bit of a detour there for a while. [She smiled, softly and a bit wistful.] I missed you after our fight, even if I didn't want to admit it to myself most of the time.

[Shed ended up convincing herself that the Draco she missed wasn't real. That the person she'd thought Draco was didn't exist, and that even trying to mend fences with him would have been pointless because she couldn't get back what was never really there. It had been the easiest way to cope with losing one of her first friends.]