bakerstreet | Tunnel of love

THE TUNNEL OF LOVE MEME

Surely you've seen this sort of ride before, if not in person, on TV or in cartoons. The tunnel of love has become a staple, almost a trope in itself, of both comedy and romance. Most traditional versions lend themselves very well to that kind of awkward entertainment: the tiny, often swan-shaped, boats for two, the smelly and questionable water, and the garish colors and music that accompany the ride. Yes, there's a certain appeal to them.

Well, you'll see that soon enough. The Tunnel of Love you've found yourself on now has all this and more, including a fence that separates the two waiting lines. That means there's no way to know who you'll end up riding with. It might be a complete stranger or someone you know very well. Hopefully, whoever you get, the two of you will have a nice little ride together.

That is, if you can ignore some of the more...odd effects.

HOW TO PLAY
1. Leave a comment with your character. As per usual, you will probably want to list the character's name, canon, and any preferences in the subject line. You can either leave the comment blank or come up with a scenario.
2. Other people will comment. Congratulations, your characters are now stuck, willingly or unwillingly, on the ride together.
3. One of you rolls to determine what spell/effect/general ~magic~ will shape the scene.

4. Play!

OPTIONS
1. LOVE: The most obvious. No matter if they're complete strangers or otherwise, the two people in the boat together are now in love. It's not just a simple, understated love, either. Your feelings are of the intense, let's-elope-screw-everyone-else variety. NO ONE CAN STOP YOU AS LONG AS YOU'RE TOGETHER!~

2. LUST: Rather than being struck with the love bug, you suddenly want to bone this other person. God, they're everything you've ever wanted and you have to have them right here, right now. Who cares if you're on a carnival ride and in a tiny boat? You've gotta get your fix.

3. HATE: Uh oh. Something's gone horribly wrong, and instead of feeling positive emotions for your companion, you hate their guts. Nothing in this world disgusts you more than them. In fact, you might be so enraged by their presence that you take advantage of the dark atmosphere to hurt them.

4. FRIENDSHIP: Hey, it could be worse. At least the person you're stuck with is cool. The two of you have really gotten on, and there's a camaraderie here that's welcome. Maybe you'll pass the time making fun of how corny the ride is? That's a time honored tradition.

5. BAD LUCK: Remember that one episode of [INSERT 90s SHOW HERE] where the couple got their date sabotaged? That's happening to you guys. Your boat is sinking, or the water is spraying up in your faces. Or worst possible scenario, the ride stops in the most obnoxious part of the tunnel. You have to watch flashing cupids for a good hour before someone rescues you.

6. FREE SPACE/WILDCARD/YOU CHOOSE

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ M/M for shipping, OTA for all else ]

( pref for shenanigans over shipping! )

[ m/m ]

[ open to crosscanon! ]

[ A first date at an amusement park might seem cliché, but it seemed perfect for them. ... with some pretty heavy emphasis on "seemed", because Tsumugi's still got a lot to learn about his new boyfriend.

So he's feeling a little nervous as he settles in the swan boat next to Blade. He's aware of how close they have to sit - how their knees knock together, and thighs practically touch - but that's not what's making his heart pound the most.

It's the question he's about to ask, as he offers Blade his hand to hold. ] Are you having fun, Blade-kun?

[ With it being Blade's first time at an amusement park, he can't help but be excited like a little kid. Sweet fried goodies? Pictures with cute mascots? Winning cute prizes at the little carnival games? Not to mention, the RIDES. Who would've thought there are people that go on rides faster than any car or carriage just to scream from the top of their lungs and have fun with it? It's a lot for Blade to take in, but he loves every moment of it. It really puts the "amuse" in amusement park.

It's a very good thing that this Tunnel of Love appears to be a much slower, low-key kind of ride, allowing Blade to scale back his high energy excitement a little and to just enjoy this moment.

He's happy to share these first experiences with Tsumugi, who had been more patient than Blade could never know to his ever growing curiosity. He'd been trying to scale it back since becoming an idol, coming off more as the ideal "cool prince" that the crowd seems to like so much. With Tsumugi though, it's somehow easier for him to find that balance.

Every little touch doesn't go unnoticed by Blade and when the other reaches for his hand, he happily takes it in his. Warm and cozy, much like the man he's sitting with. ]

Yes, lots of fun! I've only read about theme parks in books so I'm glad to be here with you! ♡ [ With a name like "Tunnel of Love" too. . . ] I didn't know about this kind of place. It's...romantic, right? Heheh! I like it!

[ He lets out a breath, shoulders sagging visibly with relief. ] I'm glad! I wanted our first date to be a memorable one. [ Thus, the deliberate choice of a date spot where Blade would get to experience a lot of firsts. As much as he tries to tamper his excitement over, well, a lot of things, Tsumugi's always been good at reading people. (... or droids, he supposes, in this instance.) And that insatiable curiosity and wonder's just one of the many things he finds so charming about Blade.

As the boat begins drifting forward, Tsumugi squeezes his hand gently. ] It's been a while since I've been to a theme park myself. [ The last time was, of course, relating to theater. Thus, he admits with a smile, ] ... And it's my first time here on a date. So, I'm also really glad to be here with you.

There's no way I'd forget any moment we spend together~! [ The e-droid means that literally, but the intention to reassure Tsumugi that this night will be unforgettable is there. Blade smiles, booping their noses like how he's seen other couples do. It's not quite a kiss, but still a gesture that is just as cute. This should be a relaxing ride, so he continues to watch the moving props and neon lights. A lot of hearts, of course. Some of these are already giving him ideas as to how to set up the stage for their next performance.

Blade glances around curiously, realizing that the hearts aren't drawn the same way human hearts actually are. Tsumugi, being the good boyfriend and just overall good person that he is, has been helpful with Blade's ever growing curiosity about what it means to be human. Even if this ride may be meant for low key relaxation, there's just so much input!! ]

Hey hey, TsuTsu. Why are hearts drawn like that? Is it because they're cuter? [ It obviously isn't his first time seeing the shape. He knows what it means, and often uses them in his letters. Hand still holding Tsumugi's, Blade uses his other one to point at some of the glowing ones on the ceiling as they float by on their boat. ] Are these the same as the ones here, that go thump-thump? [ And then with that same free hand he puts it exactly over where Tsumugi's heart is. ]

[ With that hand against his chest, Blade might be able to feel the very same thump-thump that he speaks of. He's not nervous - aware of his touch, yes, because he hasn't been around many people or e-droids that touch so easily - but happy. ]

Yes! They are quite cute, aren't they? [ "not as cute as you, though" he might say if he were naturally smooth enough. alas. ] Though I'm not quite sure where the shape came from... if you'd like, we can look into it together later. [ Because Tsumugi might not have the answer to all of Blade's questions, but he's more than happy to indulge that curiosity. It's good! If he didn't like helping others understand things and learn, he wouldn't be a tutor! ]