whisted | for jollyboat: anywhere you go

He doesn't quite fit.

Horatio had known, of course, that he wouldn't. Even if he had managed to make his way onto a ship years ago, everyone would have known he was odd. Perhaps it's for the best that he's clearly just a bit skittish, just a bit uncertain of himself unlike the other young men his age. Perhaps that would distract the human mind from looking to see just why, exactly, this one didn't seem to be quite entirely right.

It was, nonetheless, one thing to know and another thing to live. Being bundled in heavy unfamiliar fabric is surprisingly uncomfortable. The uniform is far more restrictive than the clothing he had forced himself to become accustomed to while hovering around the port. The sensation of being on a boat, despite the familiarity of the sea, is throwing his stomach through something of a loop. He can't shift and change direction. He can't twist along with the waves, comfortable and easy, or cut through below the discomfort of breakers tugging in the wrong direction. It's unnatural, here on a warped version of the surface. It's twisting something uncomfortable in his shoulders, almost dizzying as he tries to find his feet under him.

This is what he wanted, and it doesn't quite fit.

For the most part, feeling his skin in the sack slung over his shoulders is reassuring. His fingers can worry against the familiar softness with each odd rush of discomfort. This, after all, is the back-up plan. This is the fail-safe if everything falls completely to pieces and he needs to throw himself simply back into the sea. This is the piece of himself which will always fit properly, no matter where he is.

That's why it's resting at the top of his sack as he scrambles up properly into the ship. That's why, in the bluster of humanity, the young selkie doesn't notice that his skin has spilled out onto the deck.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

whisted

It's something Archie seems to circle back to. That means it's something Horatio has to blink and actually consider for a moment.

"...okay." The bump of his nose is light, almost serious. "I won't let you... ask too much."

But it's nearly impossible to imagine someone this gentle with him--even down to handing back his skin--would ever ask too much.

From:

jollyboat

"'s just..."

He feels the need to explain it. He knows it's something that he can't help but keep bringing up.

"'m not-- sure, entirely. Where the-- lines are."

What he's allowed. What's acceptable. What won't be too much for Horatio to handle.

"And I don't-- ever want t'be a-- a taker."

Like the other men the selkies had every right to fear. Like Simpson, even though he refuses to let even the man's name be something he lingers on.

"So I guess, just... Y'promise? You'll-- tell me?"

From:

whisted

It's such an odd thing for Archie to fear. It seems so utterly incongruous with everything Horatio has seen and known about the young man since the very first second they'd met, his own skin held innocently between them.

"I'll tell you."

From:

jollyboat

"All right."

He relaxes a little more at that, though he can't help but ask. It's confusing, after all, how little this seems to linger in Horatio's mind.

"'re you-- not as-- worried about it?"

He hadn't even taken a beat in response to the 'I love you.'

From:

whisted

"...no."

Both shoulders lift slightly. The gesture is one he's borrowed from Matthews, but it's beginning to feel more natural in this body.

"All you... do is... give me back, Archie. To... the sea. To myself. That's how you love."

Not the kind of love his elders had warned him of--the sort of love that clutched and held and refused to let go.

From:

jollyboat

"--Oh."

That clearly means a lot. That has him leaning in all the more to bump his nose lightly against Horatio's, full of affection.

"That's-- really good."

That's absolutely a relief.

From:

whisted

How can he doubt that this is the way Archie loves? How can he doubt that this love is going to keep on just like this?

Nudging their noses together is a lovely way to stay comfortable in the moment.

"It is. And... really real."

From:

jollyboat

"It is."

Another contented sigh. Another gentle brush of noses.

"I love you."

From:

whisted

"I love you, Archie Kennedy."

And, because it always makes things feel more real, the thought is echoed with a likely familiar little vocalization, soft and affectionate as their foreheads nudge together more firmly for a moment.

From:

jollyboat

Oh.

That’s a very familiar vocalization. That’s a familiar vocalization paired with relatively new words. That’s a connection he’s only just making, and is overwhelmedly glad to do so.

It suddenly feels very crucial to press his lips against Horatio’s again. He’s been trying hard to show affection, rather than gratitude.

From:

whisted

Well, that's a wonderful reaction. That turns the noise into a thrilled little laugh, fingers catching lightly for just a beat at Archie's shoulder to linger in the kiss.

They'll have this, someday. They'll fight their way through the service, and this will be their reward.

It's wonderful.

From:

jollyboat

He'll try to echo the sound back to Horatio, someday. It may even be soon.

First, though, he has to just keep kissing the selkie as much as they can safely get away with. That's far less easy to find time for than practicing how to speak in Horatio's native tongue.

From:

whisted

Hopefully Archie won't mind the kisses swallowing a good deal of pleased laughter. It's the closest human noise to what he means, falling happily over his lips and against Archie's without a care in the world.

This, after all, is how he wants Archie to feel. What better than to pour the emotion directly between them?

From:

jollyboat

Archie won't mind at all. Archie will absolutely be laughing back, as well, returning the kisses contentedly. He's also going to keep murmuring soft "I love you"s.

If he ever has to count his happiest moments in his life, this is definitely going to be one of them.

From:

whisted

It's important, in moments like this, to be careful not to push too far--for either of them. But it's difficult, in a lovely moment like this, not to tug Archie down into the sand with him, clinging happily tight.

From:

jollyboat

It's not too much. It's a nice progression of things, really. It's got a proper giggle escaping Archie's lips, even, as he follows Horatio down.

One hand's going to drift carefully to cup lightly at the back of the selkie's head, fingers tangling gently in Horatio's hair. The other is going to drift to rest against his side, thumb drawing tiny, affectionate circles.

From:

whisted

Well, that's lovely. Being held like this--and, what's more, being allowed to worm into it rather than dragged roughly--is still more than a bit thrilling.

They so rarely get the time for this. They almost never get it with the lovely freshness of the wind and the sand and the sun all around them. That, as much as anything, makes Horatio nip lightly into the kiss.

From:

jollyboat

Horatio will certainly feel the smile that crosses Archie's lips at the light nip. He'll certainly answer the gesture by catching lightly at Horatio's bottom lip with his own teeth.

The contented sound that escapes him doesn't mean much of anything, but surely captures the joy he's feeling.

From:

whisted

There's a happy little trill for that, Horatio's entire being melting closer. It's actually quite an easy thing to shift and tug Archie with him, rolling onto his own back so the sailor's warm weight rests over him, fingers tangling happily in the fabric of the human's shirt.

This is worth fighting for. This is true happiness.

From:

jollyboat

It's so nice, to be moving with Horatio. To feel warm and happy, bodies pressed against one another, still a little damp from the swim.

Archie's fairly certain the loch is inland, but somehow Horatio still tastes of the sea.

It's a taste Archie can't help but want to chase; his lips departing Horatio's so that he can nip lightly at Horatio's neck instead.

From:

whisted

Oh. Oh, that's nice. Horatio's laughter is interspersed with a few soft moments of practically purring, neck arching and fingers clinging a bit more tightly.

It isn't at all what he'd expected as a pup, but it's exactly what his heart wants.

From:

jollyboat

He didn’t think he’d get this. He didn’t think he’d get to want this.

He’s so glad he does. He’s so glad he gets to keep pressing kisses and light bites against Horatio’s skin. That he gets to hold and be held close and only feel a peaceful sort of joy.

It’s absolutely a blessing. It’s absolutely something he’ll never stop thanking his lucky stars for.

From:

whisted

It feels safe. It feels warm and wonderful and real and utterly, entirely safe.

There's still the slightest caution in the way Horatio's leg hooks around Archie's to hold their hips close. There's something hopeful in the movement--for the possibility that Archie feels safe here too.

From:

jollyboat

It helps to feel the caution in Horatio's movement. It helps, to know Horatio wants to be safe for him.

Archie can't help the happy little gasp as their hips shift together, teeth grazing lightly against Horatio's skin.

From:

whisted

That's a good noise. That's a wonderful noise. It might not mean anything in particular, but that little gasp feels like one of the best things anyone's ever said to him.

This probably isn't the right place to fool around. Secluded as it is, they probably ought to be careful. But it's so lovely to just feel wild and free with the man he loves.