[Video]

[swansongs]

Hi everyone. [He offered a friendly wave.]

Okay, so, question. We're all crammed onto this train, right? And we don't have a lot of privacy, which, all right, I'm starting to get used to, but. What if we want to do something special for someone? Like...a date.

I've never done dates on a train before, I don't really know what to do. And before someone brings it up, I can't really...cook. I mean, I guess we could cook something together, but.

So, date ideas. Does anyone have them? I'd really appreciate it.

Comments

[springforth]

I think some people take over a quiet cabin, hang out. Maybe make then something nice in the kitchen? It's always open after all.

Or watch a movie? Though you'll probably have company for it.

[swansongs]

Quiet cabin's a good idea.

[Though it did require him to be interesting all of the time. Or a lot of kissing. He wouldn't be opposed to that.]

So's a movie. Theaters are always full of people, so that'd be nothing new.

Oooh, maybe a picnic kind of thing? In one of the grassy cars?

[He was going to tuck that idea away as a possibility, too.]

[springforth]

You could try! Any public car would involve people poking into your business.

I think we have board games in the car with the gaming things? I think. I'd have to go look to see if I'm remembering right. The games aren't a bad idea in general, if you're into that sort of thing.

[blue_ice]

Go for a walk? Our scenery leaves something to be desired. But it's an option. The rock garden's nice enough, if you can avoid hitting the toll booth.

Or if they're competitive, there's always a game. The gym and gaming car have options.

[swansongs]

A walk's always an option, yeah. [Not the most exciting thing, though. They did plenty of walking all the time to get from one end of the train to the other.] The toll booth...?

I dunno if they're competitive, actually, but that's also an idea. I'm not very good at games, but maybe that'd be an excuse for them to teach me. If they're good at 'em, at least.

[blue_ice]

Zetta. The red book. Watch out for him.

[ And that's the cryptic warning he'll get. ]

I'd suggest a board game or card game to start. Slow, plenty of time for banter. Casual touch, if you're into that.

{ Not that he's...done this often...]

voice

[blitzcheer]

[ Maybe he shouldn't answer this. But-- but he has an answer, and he's compelled. Maybe for some selfish reason, or maybe because he actually wants to help.

Regardless, he sticks to voice than video, voice slightly muted, though not lifeless. Fond (reminiscent) at times. ]

Play games. VR's got plenty for two players. You can teach 'em how to play or learn it together.

There's spaces up on the second floor game car people don't hang around either. All the bigger games--and there's cushions, but, [ jokingly, ] I won't tell you where the best are.

[ But he'll keep talking, without much of a pause. ] You can listen to the music. Find out what you both like, what else there is. You can talk about your band, [ since he knows that about Dyme, ] and just chat away. Things as simple as that are fun. Just chatting, hanging out. Getting to do stuff together.

[video]

[swansongs]

[He was literally taking notes because he didn't trust his brain to remember all of these things, forgive him for being distracted for a moment.]

These are all great ideas, thanks. I forgot about the VR stuff, and there's so much music I could introduce him to, I'm sure.

Oh! And speaking of music, I told him I'd teach him how to play guitar sometime.

[He was writing that down, too.]

[blitzcheer]

Then there's a date right there. I mean, unless you were thinking about one of those where you go to a movie or bar.

[ Well- ]

We have one of those?

video;

[irrationally]

[ Does Alice have date advice? Of course not. Absolutely not.

But she is most definitely nosy enough to reply all the same, like she doesn't consider the potential shame of someone maybe not wanting to talk about this across the ICPs. ]

You have someone here you want to do that with? [ 'FESS UP, DYME. ]

video;

[swansongs]

[Laughing a little, he nodded.]

Uh-huh. It's a, uh, recent development.

[As of their vacation with the hot springs, at least. Which was still recent enough to him.

After the last mission, he'd realized being stuck on a train didn't mean dates couldn't happen.]

[irrationally]

So it's someone you met here.

[ Unless someone from this place happens to come from Dyme's world, but she's pretty sure he would have mentioned as much if there was.. ]

You must like that person quite a bit to go for a transdimensional romance.

video

[loveandduty]

[The word date and Minako had been summoned.]

If you can tell me about the other person then I can always plan something or give ideas. After all it is my job as the self proclaimed love guru here to help.

video

[swansongs]

Hmmm.

[How much could he say without outing his partner. He didn't want to embarrass the guy in case he didn't want the whole train knowing. Actually, maybe Dyme should've asked him first, but then that would've ruined any kind of surprise.]

Well, he's a soldier, or he used to be, and he really likes cooking and baking. Um. We actually haven't talked much about things he likes.

video

[loveandduty]

Then how about a romantic meal made by the both of you? Start off by making it together and it makes it even more special then find a quiet spot and enjoy.

[thornsofmundus]

[There's a thoughtful expression on the pixie-shaped AI's face.]

Are we able to get to the tents with the train in motion?

[swansongs]

[He'd never actually thought about that before. He hadn't ever used any of the tents on board before, either. Or at any point during his life.]

You know. I have no idea. I dunno if anyone's ever tried.

[If they had, it hadn't come up in conversation with him.]

[thornsofmundus]

Oh. Because if you can find a tent, then you put it in one of the cars that has a place that will fit the tent and then you have sex in the tent.

[That's basically how her first date here went, only the tent was outside because they were on a mission.]

[fun_thementalist]

[ Friendly wave back ]

You might not want to discount how nice it is to simply spend time with someone, my friend. Depending on their interests, simply reading a book or - as you mentioned - cooking a meal together might be all they'd need.

It's giving you their undivided attention, that's the idea, I'd think no matter the activity or venue! [ Bright grin ]

[swansongs]

You've got a point. I just wanted to do something special, but maybe I don't have to try as hard as I thought I did.

[Maybe dating was easier than he thought. He'd only ever been on a few dates in his entire life, he'd thought, but maybe a lot of things he hadn't considered dates had been dates.]

Maybe just...cooking and eating and talking is special enough.

Too bad there isn't a way to get flowers here. Like a bouquet.

[fun_thementalist]

That's an admirable feeling, and I think worth voicing. You realize that there's just not a lot on this train, of course, so simply making an effort should be worthwhile.

Though, this is all said without knowing the person in question.

[ He tapped a finger against his chin. He had some, but he's unwilling to give them up. Gen doesn't let on. ]

Why not craft your own? I remember some people making paper flowers, they were quite lovely. Longer lasting, too.

[goingthroughaphase]

There's always the movie car. I'm sure you could find a spot for the two of you to sit away from other people.

[swansongs]

You've got a good point.

[With everyone's various replies, he was starting to realize that dinner and a movie, what he considered a traditional date, was more likely here than he'd originally thought. Sure, it'd have a certain train flare to it, but that would make it special, wouldn't it?]

The hardest part would probably be being able to pick something we wanted to watch.

[You know, without arguing with other people.]

video

[pleple]

Make the most of any privacy you can find. Quiet cars, listening to music. Finding a good moment in the rock garden.

[ Get you some dating advice from the kiddo? ]

...it's pretty crowded compared to when I first arrived though.

video

[swansongs]

All good ideas.

[And he was making sure this was all written down on his list.]

Yeah, I know what you mean. More and more people keep showing up, it's gonna be like a can of sardines eventually.