bakerstreet | the stars are so bright tonight. the moon looks so nice. hold my hand.

the affectionate physical contact meme

you love spending time with your significant other. but sometimes, just "spending time" with him/her isn't enough. you need to have your hands on each other every now and then. ➝ post your character below, with your character's name and series in the subject.

➝ tag other people, using an rng with range 1-8 to roll a scenario.

➝ roll as many times as you want, play out whatever you want!

one; hugging. you just want to give your loved one a warm embrace. be it out of happiness, to comfort them while they're down, or just to give them something warm to latch onto, you just want to wrap your arms around them.

two; kissing. whether it's a peck on the cheek or a deep kiss, a kiss good-bye or a romantic kiss, you find yourself compelled to kiss the other person! be as tender or as passionate as you so choose.

three; holding hands. it's a simple gesture, really -- to reach out and take someone's hand. but that one simple gesture can convey any number of sentiments. what the sentiment is, is up to you, but you find yourself reaching out to take your significant other's hand.

four; carrying. is your loved one hurt and needs a lift? do they want a piggyback ride? or do you just want to spare them the effort of walking? whatever the reason, you're now itching to pick up your partner and carry them to their destination.

five; i love you. you've said it before or maybe you haven't but now you have to say it again or for the first time.

six; dancing. kick up the music, because it's time to dance! but no lone dancing allowed -- you need to have a partner! you can do whatever dance strikes your fancy. personally, i recommend the slow dance, but you can do whatever you want!

seven; massaging. did your significant other have a rough day? did they get hurt? or do you just feel like doing something really nice for them? whatever it is, you're giving them a nice massage now. they'll feel wonderful in no time!

eight; flirting. the easiest way to break the ice or maybe you're just an overly flirty person.

nine; cuddling. sometimes there's just no better feeling than curling up next to each other on a warm sofa. hold each other, lie next to each other, fall asleep on each other -- it's all good here.

ten; wild card! reroll, pick an option, or come up with something else!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh! No, it's all right."

He's already drawing back his hand before the other man's begun his apology. He can't help the hint of the flush on his cheeks-- and that's before he gets a look at the other man.

Damn. He's cute.

"You've got good taste-- go ahead, I was just taking a look. I really shouldn't buy myself another copy."

After a week on this side of the Atlantic, Horatio notices the accent first. It's comfortable and almost reassuring--very much like a step in the right direction.

"Oh-- no."

Both their hands are, apparently, dropping away. Maybe that's for the best. Maybe that means someone else who's never read the work will find it here and enjoy the adventure.

"You can never have too many copies. Please, you saw it first."

This time, he properly hears the accent. Thankfully, the excitement of the fact has him starting to smile rather than let the embarrassment linger.

"No, I insist-- I really ought to be looking for some of the other books on my list rather than rereading the same things over and over."

Not that he's leaving. Instead, he's asking:

"Heading back over the Pond, too?"

Horatio Hornblower is not at all renowned for the amount of attention he pays to the people around him on the average day. In most circumstances, he would have offered another faintly embarrassed twitch like a smile and extracted himself inelegantly.

But there is something almost nostalgic in hearing a pleasantly familiar accent. And there is something a bit intriguing about having bumped into apparently the only other person in the airport searching for ancient literature among all the romance novels and thrillers constantly crowding shops like this.

That's what has Horatio actually looking at the other man with quiet curiosity. That's what, unfortunately, leads Horatio to the realization that the other man is actually quite pleasant to look at.

"I-- am." Apparently pleasant enough to look at to also cause stuttering. "Back to-- reality, hm?"

The stuttering doesn’t seem to make Archie lose interest. If anything, the other man finds it almost endearing.

“Pretty much. Though this was part business, part pleasure, so I guess there’s a bit of already being in reality. Be much more so, though.”

"Nothing quite like being home."

And nothing quite like hearing a little bit of home, apparently. That has Horatio lingering at least as much as the book still sitting on the self.

"It's-- funny, isn't it, what you wind up missing."

“It really is,” he agrees with another easy smile, “‘ve almost been missing the rain.”

Almost.

“What’s— one thing that surprised you?”

Horatio isn't a man who laughs much. He doesn't actually laugh now, but there's a soft little noise like a hum that escapes his lips now. If William or Barbara had been there, they would have been shocked at the overt display of amusement.

"The, ah-- eye contact." His shoulder lift just slightly, almost as a means of protection against his own apparent desire to be candid with this stranger. "Americans make-- very aggressive eye contact, don't you think?"

And there was rarely any tea to hide his own attention in. Lots of problems.

Archie is a man who laughs. There’s definitely a warm chuckle escaping his lips, now.

“I have noticed that, yes. Takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?”

"Not sure I properly am."

And he's definitely not used to that laugh. That laugh is worth a little soft eye contact, although it's not lingering.

"Suppose I'll have to try again next time."

“Do you travel this way often, then?”

It’s easy to ask with a curious smile.

Maybe it's the familiar accent. Maybe it's the charming smile. Maybe it's that visiting Henry makes him overly sentimental.

Horatio isn't sure what it is, but he can't bring himself to want to pull away from the conversation.

"When I can. One of my cadets is at Annapolis." Which is a normal sentence, surely. "You?"

“Hopefully,” he answers with a grin, “I just had an audition, so if I’m lucky I’ll get to come back.”

But enough about him.

“You said cadet, though— Are you in the army?”

It's an odd thing. On the one hand, Horatio would much rather ask the other man to keep talking. He'd rather listen to that lovely voice and almost imperceptible brogue than talk about himself. Then again, on the other hand, Horatio isn't at all certain he actually knows what to make of 'audition' beyond some faint understanding that both theatres and films required them.

Time, then, to clear his throat lightly, spine coming just a little straighter as he settles into answering the question.

"Royal Navy, actually."

“Oh!”

Well, doesn’t he look incredibly attractive when he looks so assured of himself like that.

“That must be nice. I much prefer the sea, myself.”

"It's what I know."

The words, perhaps, aren't much. The soft pride in his voice, however, is infinitely affectionate.

It's what he loves, after all.

It’s clear he loves it. It’s something that makes Archie smile to hear how much he loves it.

“You enjoy it, though?”

It’s partially a question. It’s partially to head him wax poetic.

Waxing poetic isn't particularly in Horaito's wheelhouse. Still, if there's anything to inspire it, it's the sea.

If nothing else, it inspires a bit of a proper little smile dancing across Horatio's lips.

"I-- do. There's nothing quite as... reassuring, at the end of a long day, as being able to look out over the sea. And there's nothing like the stars in the middle of the ocean."

It's enough to earn a contented sigh on Archie's lips, a soft smile on his face.

"That sounds wonderful."

"It really is."

The continued attention--particularly with that soft, handsome smile--is keeping a soft flush in Horatio's cheeks, but the joy in his eyes is irrepressible and not to be replaced with nerves.

"They're so-- bright and present."

the stars are so bright tonight. the moon looks so nice. hold my hand.

change it ALL

...no c:

rude <3

/pugonaskateboard.forever

/pupperkisses.gif

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no subject

I forgot about this thread it's so cute???

it’s a good one :>

they're silly and I love them

They really are

bless every iteration of them

tru. Also I’m sure we decided on reasons Archie was there but I can’t remember if this was it

let Archie be make a big break on Broadway :')

the good son :’>

let him live

a long & happ life

with a cute guy he likes? c:

absolutely

yiiy C: