I'll sail back to you

[boughtstockinsocks]

ALWAYS COME BACK They may be a rambler, a gambler, always on the run, a wanted criminal, someone with a higher calling, or just not the type to spend time with you (which may be fine by you), yet somehow, they'll always find their way back to your door. And they'll, again and again, find themselves wanting you, for support, for healing, for feeling alive, for venting frustration and anger, for anything and everything at all. You'll welcome them with open arms. Comment: prefs, info, preferred role, etc. Reply: to others. Thread: with them.

Comments

[hotspurs]

Forcing yourself to walk helps. Seasickness is your stomach actually pitching around, and landsickness is your mind not understanding why it isn't.

Brunch might help too. I've never tried it.

[barderalready]

Interesting! Good thing we'll get the chance to walk around, then.

And we'll see if brunch helps, too. :)

[hotspurs]

I'd put money on your actual smile helping too.

If that's not too forward to say.

[barderalready]

Not too forward at all.

I'm glad to hear you think it'll be helpful.

[hotspurs]

Maybe some hand-holding?

[barderalready]

Quite a bit, even. If you like.

[hotspurs]

I would really, really like that, Archie.

[barderalready]

Let's make that the plan, then.

[hotspurs]

It's shaping up to the quite the adventure.

[barderalready]

I hope you're thinking that's a good thing.

[hotspurs]

It's the best thing.

[barderalready]

Great.

It's the best for him, too.

[hotspurs]

Right. Good. He can control himself. He can make it the rest of the night without bothering Archie.

It's just he probably won't be able to stop from nearly crushing the other young man with a hug the next morning.

[barderalready]

That's more than acceptable. That's absolutely got Archie hugging him back with a bright grin.

"'s good to see you."

[hotspurs]

"Amazing to see you."

Not amazing to think about letting Archie go. Maybe they can linger here a minute and pretend that it's very normal.

"Thanks for making time."

[barderalready]

"Me? Thank you."

Horatio only gets so much time on shore, after all. It's incredible to think he wants to spend any of it with him.

[hotspurs]

They've danced around the issue, but they haven't quite said it. There have been moments when Horatio was almost certain they had simply slipped into it, but there's something lacking for not actually acknowledging it properly.

Maybe it's better not to put a name on it. Maybe it's selfish to ask someone to be your actual proper boyfriend if you'll vanish back into the sea at the end of the weekend.

But he can't seem to let go of Archie.

"Hm." Forcing himself to shift only works well enough to let him press a glancing kiss against Archie's forehead. "I-- hm."

[barderalready]

"Hm?"

He's starting to learn the differences in Horatio's hums. Clearly the other young man wants to say something.

His grin is a little cheeky as he hums back in query to encourage actual words.

[hotspurs]

That sends a flush rushing through his ears. It also gets the edge of a pleased, crooked grin tugging up the corners of his lips.

"I wish it... weren't a thing that surprised you. That I'd make time for this."

[barderalready]

Well. He can't help the fond smile, for that.

"It's a pleasant surprise," he makes sure to inform him, "I suppose I'm just-- glad you keep picking me to spend your time with."

[hotspurs]

"Would you rather-- expect it?"

Does that scan? Horatio isn't entirely sure. It's just the best articulation of what he wants.

He wants it to be a given that he'll see Archie, if Archie isn't swamped. He just also hasn't asked anyone to 'actually date' in some number of years.

Or, looking back, possibly ever.

[barderalready]

Well. That sounds almost like an offer. That has Archie grinning.

"Y'know, I do believe I-- would. If you would, anyways."

[hotspurs]

Archie's grinning. Archie's not pulling away or tsking or looking ill at ease. That's enough to hope on, even before the words that follow.

"--I would."

To be painfully clear. As if his heart can't be heard hammering in his chest.

"I'd-- I'd really like us to-- be something. With a-- proper word to it. If you'd like that too."

[barderalready]

"Yeah?"

A bright grin.

"I'd like that a lot."

[hotspurs]

Oh. Oh, that's wonderful.

It's impossible not to press a light kiss to Archie's nose while he tries to find his words.

"--cool."