bakerstreet | the room you can't leave until...

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the room you can't leave until...

The Room You Can't Leave Until You [x]

A strange trope from the corners of Twitter and Pixiv that relies on the fact that sometimes the most in-character way to get what you want from characters... is to force it.

Two characters are stuck in a room- usually a completely featureless room- with a sign that steadfastly declares the door to the room will not open unless they complete a task. The task can range from something harmless and embarrassing to something full out R-18. Some people enjoy playing up the sadistic captivity of whoever would arrange such a thing while others just enjoy the premise as an excuse.
There's a lot of flexibility so be clear about anything you do/don't want to play out!

Level 1: Nothing but Talk.
1. Tell a Secret
2. Reveal Your Dark Past
3. Compliment the Other Person
4. Confess Your Love

Level 2: Let's get Physical.
1. Hug
2. Kiss
3. Princess Carry
4. Wall-pin (kabedon)

Level 3: We're Getting Spicy!
1. Make-out
2. Fondle a chest
3. Admit Your Kinks
4. Read-aloud a Bad Porn Script

Level 4: Flat-out Explicit!
1. Mutual masturbation
2. Give head
3. Try a new Kink
4. Have sex

Obviously these aren't the only options out there. Feel free to make up your own and label for sexual/violent content!

Got a canon-specific one? Put it in your toplevel! Really got something you want to play out? Put it in your toplevel! Only looking for the general levels, nothing remotely sexual? Put it in your toplevel! See someone not playing what you like? Mind your business and make your own toplevel!

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I've kinda always known, I guess. Never really thought about dating, I mean, even with this stupid crush I have I don't want to date him. He's ridiculous!

[But he likes that about Reki, and he's sorta fantasized about a date, holding Reki's hand... but he's smart enough to know it won't happen.]

But things are better now for people like us than they were ten years ago. I'm assuming you're about ten years older than Reki and Langa.

[A little smirk plays across his lips.] Old enough to have a kid, anyway.

[Mostly he gets away with pretending to be Joe's son because he hasn't quite hit his growth spurt and has a baby face.]

Let's be perfectly clear. I will never be old enough for a kid.

[He lets the glare linger for a moment or two, but he has to drop it and go back into charm mode as their drinks are delivered.]

You're right, though. The world is constantly changing... we can only hope that most of those changes will be for the better.

[The glare is ignored.]

Too late for that. I've convinced some girls Joe was flirting with you were my mother and he was my dad.

[He turns on the charm for the waitress too, transforming from bratty teenager to sweet kid.]

Probably for the best. There's still some awfulness, but I think it'll be even better by the time I'm old enough to have kids.

Looking to have children, are you? I suppose you should tell Reki up front, just so you’ll be on the same page.

[If Miya can ignore Kaoru being very, very clear that he is no one’s mother, Kaoru can just as easily ignore Miya saying that he’s not actually looking to pursue anyone.]

[Miya makes a face at Cherry before taking a drink.]

This isn't so bad.

[He then cuts his eyes to Cherry, before letting out a little sigh.]

I don't know if I want kids. I haven't thought about it. Mostly I'm just focused on my career as a pro skater and gamer. Dating can come when boys my age are actually, you know, interesting.

[By that he means... mature he guesses? He's mending relationship with Taka aside, he's still pretty burnt by his friends turning their backs out of jealousy. He supposes more mature people wouldn't be so quick to turn on others.]

So... Any advice I can use when I start dating?

At least you're not getting ahead of yourself.

[Yeah, Miya is definitely wiser and better-adjusted than Kaoru was at his age. But no one needs to know about that. He's carefully cultivated a persona that reveals nothing of who he was ate age 12 for a very, very good reason.

He takes a long drink of his own tea, just as much stalling for time as he is trying to find some inner peace in the bracing flavour.]

I am the last person you should be asking for advice about that. [Wait--he furrows his brow for a second.] All right, maybe not the last. But fairly low on the list.

I try not to. But winning gold at the Olympics would def be a great opener on a dating app.

[He's joking, mostly. He's not sure how'd he go about dating at all. And as much as he doesn't want to now, he wants to eventually.]

So basically, you're saying ask Joe. But you're the only one like me I know that isn't Reki or Langa, and they're dumb.

And Adam, I guess, but something tells me he's the last person on that list you're talking about.

I am definitely not saying to ask Joe, unless you're interested in learning how to become an overgrown playboy idiot.

[Interesting that Reki and Langa are being classified as "dumb," but not the biggest moron Kaoru knows. As for the other part...]

Adam is... not exactly what he seems. [He presses his lips together, choosing his words carefully.] But I suppose I wouldn't know if he'd have anything helpful to say on the matter, these days.

[Well, Reki and Langa are closer to his age, and Miya's sort of attached himself to Joe, seeing the older man as a big brother figure that he likes to tease, so his respect for him is higher than his respect for Langa and Reki.

Miya hums, considering this, raising an eyebrow at how Cherry defends Adam]

Joe would say get more muscular, but I'd rather have a body like yours; aerodynamic.

So basically, you're saying that every adult in our circle of friends is useless. [He pauses] When it comes to boy advice, anyway.

That's right. All that extra bulk isn't worth it when speed and flexibility are crucial. And I can take him down anyway, so I hardly see the point.

[It's a good thing Miya has the sense to know this. The last thing any of them needs is another musclebound dimwit running around as soon as Miya hits a growth spurt.

He bristles just a little at useless. But Kaoru's track record speaks for itself, so it's not like he can argue. In this one particular area.]

Adam is probably your best bet, if you had to choose. That's grim, isn't it? You'll just have to find your own way, like the rest of us.

I want to see that—the two of you going up against each other.

[Screwing up his face, Miya takes another drink of his lavender tea.]

Yeah, I guess. [Another drink] Maybe I'll have the best luck then.

You will, I'm sure.

[He finds himself watching Miya's face, wondering how on earth a middle school kid manages to be so open and self-aware about any of this. He has half a mind to ask, but it's not like it would do him any good at this point anyway. That ship has sailed.]

You can hardly have the worst luck, at least. The competition is far too heavy for that.

[If asked, he'd give the same answer as before; times have changed, even in the short amount of time between Cherry's adolescence and now, people are a little bit more accepting.]

Don't tempt fate like that! [He pouts, but it's mostly for show. The real world doesn't really want to prove you wrong.

Right?]

Anyway, it'll be a few years, so you have time to practice your shovel talk.

Edited 2021-11-23 11:49 (UTC)

[He shrugs. He doesn't especially feel like being dramatic about it, but he feels fairly sure that no one is going to steal his spot for "worst track record with men" any time soon. Especially not Miya, who is already making better choices.]

Why should I have to practice anything of the sort? You don't have someone else lined up to issue threats for you?

Reki and Langa would suck at it. Can you imagine?

[Look, he has a crush on Reki and likes Langa a lot as a friend, but he's not blind to their faults.]

And Joe's too friendly.

[He has half a mind to ask about Miya's family... but he wouldn't much enjoy being asked that question himself, so he skips it.]

I suppose if there's no one else, I wouldn't mind issuing a polite threat or two.

I can do the same for you!

[He really likes this idea.]

Everyone's scared of the kid's opinion.

Ha. Funny.

[As if there's anyone who cares enough to need to be warned like that. He stares into his cup of tea, suddenly wishing he had something to spike it with.]

I think you'll have plenty of time to practice as well.

A guy like you? I'm sure you'll find someone!

[He has his own opinions on who Cherry should date. He wondered if he could play matchmaker on the sly as he's sure Cherry wouldn't appreciate his meddling.]

Don't take too much time. I can only keep the babyface for so long.

I suppose I'll just have to hope you're equally convincing once you've lost your boyish charm.

[Which is to say, he isn't in any hurry. Or at least, he's done an admirable job of convincing himself he's not. Loneliness is part of the human condition, but that's what Carla is there for.]

I'll still have charm. It'll just be a different charm.

[He wants to stay cute, but he knows puberty will hit him and make him an adult. He's hoping he'll be pretty like Cherry.]

That confidence alone will get you part of the way there.

[This whole conversation feels a little… weird, but it’s not actually that bad. Miya isn’t that bad, as kids go. Kaoru finds himself wondering what it might have been like if he’d had an adult to talk to like this when he was younger.

Not that he feels particularly suited to be on this side of the conversation, either. Surely there’s someone else who would be better at this… he decides to go ahead and ask the uncomfortable question while they still have their tea to hide behind.]

Do your parents know?

Good.

[When Cherry asks the parents question he fidgets]

I don't know. I think mom might suspect, and if she suspects, she probably told dad. I think they're mostly waiting for me to either tell them, or they hope it's a phase or something. I don't know.

You're the first person I've told. Reki and Langa know, probably, I haven't felt like I had to hide it with them, but I haven't said anything either.

I see.

[He visibly relaxes. So, his parents are in the picture. And they talk to each other. They might even know, and Miya still doesn't seem particularly scared. Those are all good signs. He smiles softly in spite of himself. Maybe he's getting too emotionally involved here, but he's genuinely happy for the kid.]

I doubt it'll make much of a difference to either of them. Or most people at S, for that matter. One of the founding principles was to create a world where anyone can come as they are.

[Whether Cherry admits it or not, they're friends. Miya decided this long ago, and Cherry can't change his mind.]

I'm pretty sure Adam would have removed anyone who had a problem with it. He's not exactly subtle where his tastes lie.

[He looks up at Cherry.] With you and him, I kinda figured S started as a skateboarding club where most of the members weren't straight. Joe being the possible token straight guy.

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kanzan - 2021-12-01 20:43 (UTC) - Expand

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