bakerstreet | ✨ you only get one chance...

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✨ you only get one chance...

THE FIRST IMPRESSION MEME

You only get once chance to put your best foot forward. Screw that up, and you'll be forever seared in someone's mind as the person who had spinach in their teeth, or worse!

✨HOW TO PLAY

1. Drop a top-level!

2. If you have previous CR with someone, you'll have to let them know what your first-impression of them was.

If this is your first time meeting, you'll be compelled to share what kind of vibe they give off. It's okay to be honest! Are they gross? Do they seem approachable? Do you find them incredibly hot?

3. Find out if your first impression was correct! Maybe that strange loner actually has a heart of gold? You'll never know unless you talk to them!

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[Then help he shall get! Marik might be even willing to spare some of his kohl to use on Swede to make his eyes stand out. You can't go wrong with guyliner.

The twirling will make him smile. I-It's not like helping people feels nice or something, okay?!]

Ignore them if they do. You know what you want and that's all that matters.

[ Swede's eyes definitely have a very strange shape, tiny and close together but also wide for some reason and he has very light eyelashes and eyebrows b-but maybe Marik can do something with it. ]

Ja... what I want matters...? [ Does it? It does now? He has no idea! But- but he is getting a pretty dress... he is so excited! ]

[He'll... do his best.

Gods, he shouldn't be troubling himself with all of this but a challenge is a challenge!]

Right. Remember that, okay?

[Who knows, maybe Marik's teaching and semi-pampering will make the Swede's crew take him a little more seriously.

He's trying not to expect much though.]

[ That is almost an impossible task, almost as impossible as putting make-up on him... but... he will probably feel more confident in nicer, clean clothes. This pink, burlap tunic and big pants outfit is not... not very flattering on anyone. ]

Okej... I will try...

[It's not flattering at all.

... He might throw in some fancy pirate clothes into their shopping trip as well. Should Swede want to switch between masculine and feminine when he feels like it.]

Good. I'm glad to hear it.

Now let's go get you that dress.

[ He made his own suspenders with pieces of rope... because his pants kept falling down... it is not very stylish. ]

...I am shy... are the people in the shop going to know I have never been to a shop before?

[At least he's creative. That's a plus.

Marik tilts his head.]

Ah... Hmm.

[He rubs his chin in thought. Yes, keeping up appearances is important. The Swede raises a very good point.]

Yes. They will.

... I tell you what, I'll grab you some more mundane looking clothes that you can wear into the store itself. This way you'll just blend in with the other customers.

O... okay... I never wore clothes other... these are my only clothes I ever had... [ He got these when he was fifteen or so, they were even bigger then. Before that he wore a nightshirt the entire day. He is not ready for new clothes! But- but it is time... ]

[Good Gods, this poor man. Sure, he's had his fair share of a shit life but the Swede's is a whole different beast.]

Don't worry. I'll grab you something that'll make you look handsome.

[... Ish.

Then, despite thinking it's probably best to burn the clothes, he'll opt for just getting them professionally cleaned instead.

Why? Because he has money.]

Ohh me? [ He twirls his hair shyly, blushing. ] I don't think... it is possible...

Do you think... I will find a boyfriend... [ Not this again. But nice smelling clothes may help! ]

Edited 2022-10-20 17:56 (UTC)

You never know.

[The man is strangely endearing. How he got mixed up with a band of pirates and remains so... light hearted is a mystery.]

... Eh?

[Marik looks surprised.]

You... might? Relationships aren't exactly my... area of expertise so I can't help you there.

[He's only a teenager himself. World domination got in the way of thinking about dating so. Yeah. Absolutely clueless, this one.

Better think of something quick though. Don't want to break Swede's heart.]

... I'm sure the new clothes and confidence will attract someone.

Oh ja... I hope so! It is okej... when I was your age I only play with my sisters' dollies... but... [ He shyly tugs at his shirt. ] I am big now... and most of my crewmates have someone... when it is my turn to find loff?

[ This dress was a mistake. ]

[As mildly uncomfortable as the topic is just because it's uncharted territories, Marik still can't exactly fault him. He knows what he wants in life. That's more than most can claim.

... He'll need to give the Swede a full makeover. He'd personally rather not think of this man that way but there's plenty of men out there that like the naive, innocent, feminine blonde type. Spruce him up and he'll have... his pick, the teen guesses?]

I'm guessing you want something more then just a ... uh... "booty call?"

[His face turns red. Ugh. Why did he think using that term was a good idea. What is 90s slang. Why is he discussing this.]

I don't know... what this means? [ Marik is right about that, the Swede won't even want to hold hands before marriage. He is very innocent yes but- but dumb and naive and eager to please doesn't mean he has interest in- in that... he is listening to his Mama and waiting with everything. That and he just... no clue about anything sexual, maybe no interest even. He just wants a boyfriend. Don't worry Marik, Swede is all about rugged looking men! He is a pirate after all. ]

Booty call? [ ...with that voice, it's hilarious. ]

[He will be relieved when/if he ever figures that out or the other tells him.

Marik snorts because as embarrassing as this discussion is, hearing Swede say that is kind of funny. ~~Also thinking of J. Todd Ross uttering "BOOTY CALL" in all of his deliberate Marik cadence is pretty funny.~~ He holds up his hands and waves them dismissively.

Right. He needs to be blunt with the man. No witty quips or analogies unless they're as plain as day.]

... A lover. You're wanting something with more substance, yes?

[Hmm. If that is the case, he'll need to teach Swede how to read people. Obviously he knows nothing about flirting but he knows how to manipulate. Flirting is a form of manipulation so...

If the Swede doesn't learn, he'll have his heart broken very easily Marik suspects.]

Oh... ja...

I want to get marry... [ It is his dream to get married and not have to swab anymore. Even just talking about these things makes him blush so badly. These are all his secret thoughts. Some of his crewmates are gay and did hook up so it's not like being gay is not accepted on the ship it's more like... the Swede being the Swede having romantic thoughts would be seen as odd. People assume he is too simple to have those thoughts. ]

Please don't tease me... I never told my crewmates...

[The Swede is bizarrely wholesome. A wonderful juxtaposition to the stereotypical pirate. People with a certain light to them, a certain purity intrigue Marik greatly.

He shakes his head, offering a reassuring smile.]

I wouldn't tease you about that. I only asked because if we're giving you a makeover, there may be men who... only want you for your body. Not your heart. Does that make sense?

W... why... why do they want that? [ Probably because his body looks like this and if his face even gets halfway passable he will end up in a brothel. Poor thing is like an extreme butterface and he must never learn. ]

Are they going to want to eat it, like the cannibals? Or sell my organs? [ He doesn't like this. ]

[He is going to have to teach him the birds and the bees. Gods, no. Why. Why is he doing this to himself.

Because of the challenge. Damn his pride.]

No, Swede. They're not going to want to eat you.

[Not in that sense.

Marik clears his throat.]

... They'll want you for sex.

[ People have sex on the ship, people go to brothels but whenever they do, Swede always stays on the ship. He just... he is kept out of all of that for everyone's sake. But he should learn, at least about consent. ]

...ja... what is that?

[Marik steeples his fingers and bites his lip. A sixteen year old should not be explaining this to a... he's not exactly sure how old the Swede is.

But he doubts anyone else will explain it. Better he do it and save the guy from learning about it from someone unsavory. Also consent. Consent is important, even to a sheltered, repressed, evil teen like him.

He takes a deep breath and slowly exhales.]

When you see a really handsome guy, how does it make you feel?

[ Probably like... 35-40ish?? Who knows. Too old to not know this. But- but- he should learn.... ja? It is better someone at least tells him before he talks to men who might be interested in him. ]

Shy...

[Nothing like trying to describe arousal to a cinnamon roll. Banish him to the Shadow Realm now please.]

And warm? Kind of tingly?

...no... just shy... and... blushing... [ He probably doesn't experience that, Marik. ]

[Probably a good thing.]

Hmm...

[... Oh. His shipmates!]

Have you seen when your shipmates start kissing and doing other strange things to other people?

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✨ you only get one chance...

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