thechurbymusebox | It's For Your Own Good

It's For Your Own Good

Blind Date Meme

Let's face it, sometimes it's difficult finding someone to share your time, and your heart (or maybe just your body), with. Luckily for you, you have well meaning friends. Unfortunately for you, you have well meaning friends who didn't tell you this was coming. That's right. They have taken it upon themselves (and no doubt friends of friends or family members or someone else who clearly doesn't know you) to arrange a date. Without telling you.

That's right. The dreaded blind date. Which means now you've got to get through at least a reasonable amount of time with a total stranger (or maybe not a stranger if you're particularly, well, we can't say if it's lucky or not) before you can reasonably escape. Maybe it will go well. Maybe this will be the start of the rest of your lives. Maybe you'll get laid. Maybe you'll have a horror story for the ages.

No matter what plays out, though, you're here. Might as well see just how your luck is going to play out.

How to Play
1. Post your character and canon below along with any preferences. Then go back and edit your comment with the next number in order (i.e. first TL is 1, second is 2, etc)
2. Tag other TLs. If a character isn't in normal preferences, ask if they might want a date that goes poorly instead!
3. Optionally, get yourself a truly blind experience by going here and randomly generating a number. Then find the matching TL (numbered back in step one) and enjoy your blind date.
4. For more fun, use the list in the first comment for randomized date locations!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mark smiles. This guy knew art, to make a comment like that. In fact, he was making Mark feel pretty good right now.]

What about you? What do you do?

I’m afraid my answer’s not nearly as impressive or interesting.

[ Or normal. Darn it... For someone who felt rather average compared to the people he was used to dealing with, he really wasn’t most people’s definition of the word. ]

I guess you could say I’m still figuring out what my interests are, and as for work, I’ve done a little of everything. Managed a casino for a little while. I’m kind of between jobs right now.

[ God, that made him sound vague, flippant and unstable, didn’t it? Ugh, not good to admit on a date. Still better than the truth, probably… ]

Waiting on a call from an agency that might take me on, though.

[That was very vague, but it probably meant the guy didn't trust Mark yet, and that was perfectly okay and understandable.]

That sounds great. It can be nice to seek something new over time. Nothing wrong with that. I wish you so much luck.

Thanks, that’s kind of you. I think it could be good to make a change, a little scary to try, but good.

[ Sigma would at least appreciate the understanding; and it was partly the truth… and a little that he wasn’t sure it wouldn’t send the guy running at this point. ]

I’ve seen what a little extra luck can do for some people… So maybe with that extra luck from you, it’ll become a trend that leads to something I connect with.

[ He added with a small attempt at a smile. ]

Changes are terrifying, so I get it. I really do.

[As he says that he's clearly fighting down a bit of a blush. The guy was charming with that other line and the smile, and Mark smiles down at his drink.]

I'm usually not the greatest luck for the people around me, so if it does go well for you, that's probably a turn around for me as well.

[ Sigma tilted his head slightly, observing Mark’s not quite blush with curious eyes. The man felt a little pleased with himself for putting it there, usually it was other people saying things to get reactions out of him… So it actually was kind of nice to be on the other side, and for a positive note instead of an annoyed one.

Then Mark continued, and Sigma took a moment to consider that thoughtfully. ]

Hm… You know what they say about pennies, right? Not always lucky just because you find them, they have to be heads up. So maybe for me you’ll be lucky. If not… Well, I’d say that was more my luck than yours based on my own track record over the years.

[ Seems silly, but he’d heard it while working at the casino from a superstitious patron. ]

Uh... A penny saved is a penny earned?

[He mumbles that to himself, trying to guess what was said about pennies, only to chuckle at himself for getting it so very wrong.]

Sounds like we're both in need of a serious change of luck these days. Guess that isn't shocking. The world just seems more and more hostile, and that hostility is the thing that gets us down. So we sort of have to meet it with positivity and hope.

[ A soft, clumsy little laugh escaped at himself for the differences he hadn’t anticipated as a possibility when he asked. ]

They do say that too, don’t they? I suppose pennies are a popular focus of different phrases.

[ He’d keep that one in mind, though, if he ever tried to use the example again in the future. But as Mark continued, his expression shifted to something more wistful as he spun the glass lightly in his hand. Meeting things with positivity and hope was a new thing for him, but he wanted to try after seeing that there were people out there different from those he’d kept falling in the hands of. Sure, he had his ‘customer service’ facade that could feign it, but trying it genuinely was taking practice. ]

No, it’s not. There’s a pattern that seems to hold true regardless of where you are in the world or where you go… But you’re right, I’ve seen there is kindness in some people... Even in unexpected places. So at least trying to find the positive and allow for hopeful feelings is better.

[Mark smiles and then pauses. Because when he lifts his cup to his lips to sip he finds it empty. Guess it's a decision point for the night.]

Okay, so for sake of transparency here? I'm really enjoying myself. And I've got a personal rule these days of no more than one drink a night. College party days and all that. You won't be offended if I order something non-alcoholic and maybe some bar food to share? This isn't a ploy to force you to stay longer or anything. Bar food was not part of the earlier agreement. It's just... an added bonus?

[ Sigma noticed as the man paused, and he realized the other’s glass was now empty. It brought the earlier agreement to mind, and he found himself wondering if Mark would call it a night now. Oddly, he realized that he kind of hoped the guy didn’t. So, it was hard not to smile when Mark admitted to enjoying himself as well. ]

I wouldn’t be offended by that at all. In fact, I’ll feel a little less awkward about switching to soda myself once I finish my own.

[ Frankly, Sigma appreciated knowing the guy wasn’t going to just get drunk. He was never fond of dealing with people who had gone past their limits. ]

And if we’re both going to be honest? I’m enjoying this too, so I’d like to stick around a little longer if you would. Let’s adjust our earlier agreement to include food, what would you like to split?

[It feels like a hurdle has been found and easily vaulted, and they've got a clear stretch in front of them. That makes Mark smile quite a bit. He's happy with this part, with the implication that this could go a bit longer, that they could get to know each other a tiny bit more.]

Alright then. I hear they have really good loaded potato skins here.

[ Mark had a nice smile, and Sigma finds he likes to see it… And was a little glad maybe he played a part in putting it there. Setting his own glass aside, he grinned lightly at the suggestion. ]

Potato skins sound good to me. [ Despite his flashy appearance, Sigma isn’t really fussy about food. He had things he liked, of course, but he didn’t need a fancy dinner to enjoy. Though desserts were a plus. ] And since I’ve never been here before, I’ll take your word for it.

[Oh good. Mark was worried the guy would not really be into it. Though desserts weren't exactly likely here. They'd have to go elsewhere for that.]

Awesome. I've only been here once, with some old friends.

[He reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone and pulls up an app to punch in an order.]

Apparently they get so busy with serving the bar that it's just easier to order food via the app. I don't want to bother the bartender more than I have ot.

[ Sigma wouldn’t mind if there weren’t any, he could find a convenience store and grab a box of cookies later on if he wanted something. But he also wouldn’t say no to the company if Mark decided that he wanted to walk a bit after they ate. ]

So only once more than me, then. Sports bars are not your usual scene, or just not this one?

[ He observed the app and smiled a bit. ]

I’m sure they appreciate that. The bartender at the casino bar would have at least. I had to step in on a few occasions to help when people were getting a bit pushy and impatient.

[ Well… He didn’t have to. But he never did like standing by while an employee was dealing with a scene, both because he wanted to be useful and because it just seemed wrong to leave them to deal with it alone. At least people tended to more easily to ‘the manager.’ ]

[There was also a fro-yo place down the street. For later. Maybe. If things went well.]

I'm more of an arts than a sports sort of person. I can recognize the appeal, but I never got so involved in it that I wanted to go out of my way to watch them with strangers.

[Still, he smiles at Sigma's observation.]

That's super nice of you. Retail work can really blow, and it can be hard to just deal with people making scenes.

[ Mark did strike him that way, but it was nice to learn it from him. ]

It seems a fairly popular past-time if the crowd is anything to go by, but I admit I haven’t seen the appeal either.

[ He smiled a little, a bit uncertain if he was actually nice or just practical… But it was nice to be complimented sometimes, and it felt like it was genuine from Mark. At least, he hoped it was. Sigma liked to think he could read people well enough by now, but pretty words and kindness had always been a good way to get him to let down his guard. ]

People can be difficult, especially if there’s something they want... But I did enjoy it, difficult patrons aside, it’s interesting to meet all kinds of people and to learn about them.

Yeah, learning about people used to be something I liked too. It got to a point where trusting them was hard enough to not make it worthwhile for me.

[Trust had been so very, very hard to achieve lately.]

Sometimes it’s too easy to trust the wrong people, I think… Masters of manipulation know how to make you let your guard down, and it’s not a fun lesson to learn from my experience.

[ He admitted with a sad little dip in his tone. ]

So, no hard feelings if you decide you don’t trust me for now. I actually would hope you wouldn’t given we only just met.

[ He added in a quieter voice, getting the slight feeling that Mark must have had some experiences himself to have said that. They could see how the night went and go from there.

Hell… It would probably take him a while to get there himself after the last mess. Coming here tonight was a rather… unexpected step. But he had found he liked taking the chance so far, to meet someone like Mark. ]

[None of the people he knew were truly masters of manipulation. Except by powers. But Damien had been another experience altogether.]

So far you're really making me comfortable, so don't worry about it, okay? I'm enjoying myself.

[ There is just a touch of relief on his face, even if he still hoped Mark wouldn’t push himself to trust before he was ready. Sigma was happy to earn it properly. ]

I’m glad to hear that I am, but I felt it important to say.

[ And he had, so that was enough for now. Finishing his drink, he ordered a soda to replace it as mentioned before. ]

And I’m enjoying myself too, so you know. This dibs’ed blind date has been nice.

[ He might have to thank the person who set this up after all, which he hadn’t thought would be the outcome at all. ]

[It was important to say. Important to hear. And it made Mark smile right back to see that soda get ordered. More than that, their snack was being delivered too. So, you know, multiple points of 'staying for a bit longer']

Yeah, I feel like I should have them more often. Though, I suppose if things go well, I could just dibs a second date. Might be too early to be hoping for that of course.

[ Sigma offered a small thank you when the soda and food arrives, before catching the smile from Mark. He couldn’t help but observe that it was a nice one, it felt genuine… So the comments a soft hum, and a small grin in return, as though considering it. ]

Hmm… True that it might be too early to tell, though the odds may be in your favour should you decide later.

[ He offered lightly, picking a potato skin from the basket. He was enjoying this, and he definitely wanted to see how the rest of the date went… But Sigma finds he doesn’t mind the idea of meeting Mark again already. ]

[Okay, that soft smile has gotten absolutely soft and slightly excited because this was something he was really hoping for.]

I like things being in my favor, as rare as that is. Okay, so let's do more ice breakers? Is that okay? Like... what's your heart's desire right now.

Sure, that sounds like a good idea.

[ To learn more about Mark would be nice, and these kinds of questions could be fun. The man does tilt his head slightly as Mark starts with a question; considering his answer briefly. It’s not a hard question to answer, really. ]

My heart’s desire, hm? Well… It probably sounds a bit mundane to most people, but a quiet place to call home.

How quiet? I mean, quiet is nice, but I thrive in cities, so I guess truly quiet isn't my thing.

[But he loves people around him. He loves the buildings. The motion, the joy of it.]

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I really love Mark, he's great ;w;

He is a genuine guy with geniune problems. not shocking given he's one of mine

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