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:

jollyboat

They'll probably have to stop soon enough. They're probably pushing the limits of how long they can be away without arousing suspicion.

But this is incredibly nice. This is incredibly comfortable, and that's something that makes it all the more special.

Edited Date: 2018-09-19 09:26 pm (UTC)

From:

whisted

Hopefully Archie is paying attention to that, because Horatio is utterly distracted by the loveliness of their hips rocking together. He's also a bit distracted by the careful curiosity of exploring whether his fingers can skirt gently over any of Archie's skin while they're tangled together here.

From:

jollyboat

His fingers are allowed to touch the expanse of Archie's skin-- even the scars that speak to the more painful past he's endured. Archie's surprised, when he even notices, to find that the gentle brushing of fingers didn't spook him. He doesn't let the realization keep him from enjoying himself.

It's much more pleasant to keep moving his hips against Horatio's. Much more pleasant to let his own hands drift to touch, fingers dancing over the selkie's torso.

He'll worry about the time in a minute. They can have fun for now, surely.

From:

whisted

Swimming (even in a loch, even in a pond) feels like freedom. Somehow, having fingers trace Archie's skin while Archie's drift over his own feels a good deal like freedom as well.

The sound that escapes him isn't quite words in any language, but the request in the tone for more of this is hopefully clear.

From:

jollyboat

It's certainly an understandable sound. It's got Archie squirming just a little bit, probably accidentally breaking Horatio's touch. Hopefully the movement won't be too distressing when the selkie realizes it's just Archie wiggling out of his shirt to make it easier to touch.

It's definitely not safe to go beyond this, even here, but they certainly can linger here for a while.

From:

whisted

There's a moment of complete stillness, of freezing his hands where they are and catching his breath. But then Archie comes surging back properly, and Horatio's entire being melts back into the moment.

This is a gift. This is the sort of gift Horatio had never expected. And this is so much better now that it's interspersed with soft 'I love you's.

From:

jollyboat

The freezing does have Archie taking a beat to make sure Horatio's okay. The realization that he's pausing to be certain of his own comfort is what has Archie leaning back in instantly for another kiss.

He's not certain he'll ever get used to feeling this happy, but he's looking forward to finding out.

He's certainly laughing a little in between murmured 'I love you's.

From:

whisted

The slight ebb and flow is fine. The little moments of pausing, of checking, of breathing in certainty before rushing ahead aren't right for battle, but they're right for this.

Hopefully the light pleased nips Horatio visits on Archie's lower lip are right for this as well, because they're the best distraction from trying to strip Archie of any other articles of clothing.

From:

jollyboat

They're a very good distraction. It's likely the best strategy to go forward with, because even isolated like this, it's probably best to be more cautious than not.

That being said, Archie wouldn't be himself if he didn't, on occasion, throw caution to the wind.

His hands have drifted to Horatio's hips, the touches full of affection and barely held back excitement. He can't pull too far away from Horatio's lips when he does shift back slightly to murmur, "I w-want... I want t'touch you, 'ratio. C-can I?"

From:

whisted

Following Archie's lead in moments like this is usually the best way to go. The young man never pushes too fast or too far, and following his pace never lets Horatio wander too far into what's still murky and confused.

"--yeah."

It's so easy to trust Archie with this. It's so easy to know that this will be comfortable, happy; freeing.

From:

jollyboat

"Awesome."

So he's definitely going to press another kiss to the selkie's lips before he lets his hands squirm to free him. His touch is gentle as he starts to stroke, kissing Horatio once more.

"I love you."

What a gift, to feel able to murmur it in such an intimate moment.

From:

whisted

So much of their lives is about stealing intimacy. They cast around to find glances, words, the barest touches for quiet assurance that they're both truly there.

It makes moments like this--of unrestrained affection and its physical manifestation--utterly thrilling.

That's what has Horatio laughing softly, his own fingers scrambling for purchase on Archie's shoulder as he tries not to buck. "I-I love you..."

From:

jollyboat

"You're-- so beautiful, 'ratio."

It's whispered with absolute adoration as he does his best to stick to a gentle pace, for the moment. It's murmured against Horatio's skin as he dips his head to keep kissing him.

"I-- love you. I love looking at you, 'nd I love touching you..."

He loves every moment of this sweet intimacy they've been able to claim for themselves.

Edited Date: 2018-10-05 03:37 am (UTC)

From:

whisted

The slow movement is one thing. The soft purr of Archie's voice between kisses is entirely another. That's what has a shiver in Horatio's spine and a pleased gasp in his breath.

"Archie..."

From:

jollyboat

“You smell like the sea.”

He can’t help but sound all the more worshipful for it as he kisses against Horatio’s neck, now. His hand starts to shift to move a little quicker, encouraging the soft sounds out of Horatio.

“No matter how far we are from her, you always do. ‘s— really incredible, ‘ratio. You’re incredible.”

From:

whisted

Being loved in general is wonderful. Being loved for the things that make him so truly himself is downright thrilling.

His body squirms eagerly against Archie's fingers, his own digging carefully into the young man's shoulders to keep them pressed close.

"You... a-ah, smell like-- home, Archie..."

From:

jollyboat

Archie's other hand rests at the selkie's side, both steadying and affectionate all at once. Archie's lips keep pressing against every bit of skin they can reach as he continues to stroke Horatio lovingly.

"I want t'be home for you," he murmurs, "Like you are, for me."

From:

whisted

"You-- are."

For quite a long time, really. From quite an early point in knowing this young man. Mot exactly from the beginning, no, but quickly as the little bits and pieces of unknown became clear around the edges of the core.

"You're home, Archie."

From:

jollyboat

"God-- I love you. I love you-- more than anything, 'ratio."

It's a worshipful murmur. It's the only response he can manage to pull together, his nose nuzzling into the crook of the selkie's neck. His fingers squeeze briefly around Horatio, before they speed up just a little.

His own breath is somewhat shaky when he speaks the next words into Horatio's skin, his own desire obvious in the words, "C-can I-- taste you?"

From:

whisted

The sounds in his throat are practically a purr now, but they're chasing the 'I love you' he knows Archie can recognize now. This has always been good, but it's even better with that honesty bubbling out between them.

The question, as much as the shift in speed, brings a low moan briefly in place of the mewling.

"Y-Yeah, Archie..."

From:

jollyboat

That earns a purr out of Archie, too, though it's not one that means anything in particular. It's just an expression of the absolute pleasure the young man is feeling.

"Y'taste like the sea, too," he whispers as he kisses his way down Horatio's chest, "I love it. I love how-- y'feel in my mouth."

Loves taking him in hand and licking him a few times before wrapping his mouth properly around him.

From:

whisted

They aren't doing this with quiet recklessness on the ship. They aren't even doing this with the half-danger of thin walls at an inn.

It's an utter thrill as Horatio lets himself moan without caution, the sound pure and unadulterated by biting down on his lip or holding his teeth firm against his own hand. At some point he'll have to swallow the volume again, but for now, it's freeing to let himself enjoy Archie hearing exactly how he feels.

From:

jollyboat

God, that's a beautiful sound. That earns an enraptured moan of Archie's own as he works to let Horatio's shaft down his throat, fingers squeezing briefly and with affection at its base.

It's so wonderful, to feel free like this. To be so blessedly intimate and unafraid.

From:

whisted

This is a good day. This had been the unrestrained joy of swimming in deep water, of murmuring in two languages the truth of the landscape between them, of letting go in the sea of pleasure for showing one another physical affection.

There's a gleeful laugh gasped in among the moans, bubbling over Horatio's lips even as he squirms to stop himself from bucking against the young man's mouth.

From:

jollyboat

It really is wonderful, to hear exactly how happy the selkie is. Archie has to shift a little to pin the other young man's hips down carefully so that he can properly pick up the pace.

It's probable there's a laugh in Archie's throat, as well, but it's muffled (and eagerly) around Horatio's cock.