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CHARACTERS: Archie & Delilah
WHAT: setting boundaries and discussing what they want. Or: complicating the friendship
WHEN: Thursday & Friday
WHERE: Archie's room
WARNINGS: the mildest of spice
WHAT: setting boundaries and discussing what they want. Or: complicating the friendship
WHEN: Thursday & Friday
WHERE: Archie's room
WARNINGS: the mildest of spice
"Wait, pause for a minute?" Mid-makeout is a potentially odd time to ask for a pause. Delilah is already in Archie's lap on his bed, one hand on his shoulder and the other curled in his hair. "This—" the word is punctuated with a soft kiss to his lips "—is great, it's not a complaint! I just thought maybe we should talk before this—" she lifts a hand from his shoulder to gesture at the space between them "—progresses further because it's already more than I anticipated. Again, not a complaint!"
This is a conversation that should have happened before they kissed again but, well. Delilah is only human; when a hot, sweet, thoughtful boy expresses interest, she can't say no.
Archie immediately pauses the kissing. He doesn't move. One hand on her back, the other resting on her thigh. He thinks maybe he has done something wrong, or she is having second thoughts. Is he getting too into it or pushing her to a place she doesn't like?
The kiss punctuation is reassuring. He nods his head. “Yes.” That makes sense, talking about this. “I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.” He gives her thigh a little comforting squeeze. “I want you to be comfortable.” They are friends kissing.
She smiles, fond, before she presses a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips. "You're a good egg, Archie Shepherd." This is part of the reason their kiss proved not to be a one off; she feels safe and respected with him, which means more than his curls and his lips and his abs. "I am comfortable." She pauses, considering how to phrase what she wants to say, and when she speaks again, her words come out slowly. "I don't want to sleep with you right now. And that's not about you, it's me. I— haven't, with anyone, not since I was unveiled. I'm not afraid to or anything like that, but I'm not eager to simply get off, I can do that on my own. I want to be able to take my time and not rush into anything. To be able to savor all the ways I can make someone feel good and vice versa and enjoy the build up, you know? When it happens, I want it to be good."
Perhaps she's read too many romance novels, but she's not interested in apologizing or compromising.
"This isn't me saying I don't want to with you, at some point, but I wanted to make myself clear before we ended up, like, too hot and heavy, I guess. Does that make sense?
Archie realizes he is holding his breath. He lets it out slowly. Archie looks at her blinking and not saying anything. He is still processing everything Delilah just said. “So, you would sleep with me.” Archie starts with a joke to lighten the moment. The pause has changed the vibe but not in a bad way.
“Kidding,” he smiles. “I get it, that makes sense. I obviously haven’t slept with anyone either, post veil if you were my first kiss. I’m not looking to rush things or race into the finale. So, this, what we are doing is nice. I might want to cuddle sometime after, if that’s cool.” Archie hopes he is saying the right thing.
It would be incorrect to say that Delilah had been nervous— of course Archie would be understanding and of course he isn't looking to rush into anything either— but it is nevertheless some kind of relief. "Good, so we're on the same page. And you can tell me too when you get to a point where you want to stop or pivot or pause or anything else. I want you to be comfortable too." She hasn't thought it through enough to know where to set the boundary for today, but together, they can figure it out. "But we can absolutely cuddle after. That sounds very nice."
“Yes, on the same page,” he nods. His hand on her back gives a reassuring rub, or what he hopes is a reassuring rub. “I’ll say if things progress where I don’t want and you do the same. Just yell pause again, and we stop, discuss.” Archie feels less nervous and is pleased that she thinks cuddling sounds nice, too.
“So, back to the kissing?” He gives a little smirk as he says it.
Delilah hums as she pretends to consider the question. She traces the shell of his ear and down along his jaw, her touch featherlight, before resting a hand against his chest. "Back to kissing," she agrees.
Archie lies back in the bed and creates a space for Delilah to fill. “Promise, no roaming hands.” The smirk on his face probably does not help him be taken seriously, but he can’t help it. “Just me, a big spoon to your little spoon.”
Delilah gives him her best stern look. "You better behave, mister." She points a finger at him for good measure but none of it is especially convincing. She curls up beside him and settles against him. This feels more intimate than anything they did earlier, even if she can't fully articulate why, and she's grateful he can't see the way her cheeks flush. "Is this okay?"
As Delilah settles with her back against him, he wraps an arm around her. Archie always likes to touch and be close to people he likes. He isn’t aware of the flush in Delilah’s cheeks. He nuzzles against her shoulder and settles into a spot where his face is not totally in her hair. “It’s good for me,” he replies quietly. “Is it okay for you?” The hand of the arm draping over her rests on her stomach, and he can feel her breathe.
"It's okay," she confirms. It's been so long since she has done this with anyone, and there are butterflies in her stomach but the sensation isn't entirely unpleasant. This is what she wanted, to feel everything the veil had numbed. She rests her arm against Archie's, her fingers brushing his. "Did you do this often veiled?"
Hearing that allows Archie to relax and settle in even more. Appreciating the weight of Delilah’s hand on his, and her body pressing against his. This was nice. Different from before but really nice. “Mhmm, I did,” he mumbles quietly. “It’s nice feeling it fully.”
"It is," Delilah agrees. "I know there's been a lot of talk about kissing—" talk that she, certainly, played a large part in thanks to her list "—but I missed this too. If miss is the right word for something you never could fully enjoy."
Archie understands what Delilah is saying. He has felt similarly. “I think the kissing booth brought it up, mainly.” He adds on quickly, “Not that it is a bad thing. But feeling things like this more fully is welcome.” The feeling of Delilah against him. Her breath and his, nearing the same rhythm. “I think miss is the right word. I missed this, but it feels so much better unveiled.”
"We can do this more often, if you want?" Delilah suggests. Part of her knows it will likely complicate their friendship more, but she can't bring herself to care too much right now. His breath against her skin, the weight of his arm, the warmth of his body pressed to hers— she doesn't want this to be a one time thing. "Maybe I'll even let your hands wander a little," she teases.
Archie nods, his chin rubbing against her shoulder. “I’d like that.” Archie isn’t the smartest boy, but he knows that doing more of this will complicate things. They set boundaries. Just friends, no complicated feelings. Yes, Archie can’t stop himself from wanting more of this. “I don’t even need that tease of wandering hands to want to do this again.” He squeezes her softly as he speaks.
"Ah, so I am an expert cuddler who drives you wild with my snuggling abilities," she jokes, giggling. "That is how I am interpreting that and I will not be convinced otherwise, thank you."
Archie laughs into her hair.”That’s exactly it. You won’t hear me saying any different.” He smiles to himself as she mentions not being convinced otherwise. “I won’t even try.”
"Good boy." She laughs again and she shifts closer to him, feeling bolder now. This is nice; there's no need to overthink it.
Archie tenses at being called a good boy. It stirs something in him he didn’t expect. Delilah's shift closer to him made him very aware of his body. He started naming football clubs to make sure he remained a good boy.
Delilah simply sighs contentedly as she lets her eyelids flutter closed, completely oblivious to what's going through Archie's mind.
There are things Delilah recalls about the rest of their evening, like more discussions of their veiled lives and chatter about Valentine's Day. Except when Delilah's eyes open, she has her face tucked against Archie's chest with an arm flung loosely over his waist— and she does not remember moving. "Did we fall asleep?" Her words are broken up by a yawn.
Archie’s eyes open when he hears Delilah’s voice. One arm wrapped around her, holding her to him. Her head on his chest. He takes a moment to appreciate it. It only takes him a moment to realize they had indeed fallen asleep, and that while repeating football club names did work before, they are not going to work now. “I think so,” he says, a little rasp to his voice. He’s really pleased that a blanket covers his lower half. He uses his free hand to adjust himself as casually as possible, hoping Delilah does not notice.
“What time is it? Did you spend all night here?” Not that Archie minds but he worries that Delilah will mind.
With some reluctance, Delilah lifts her head and turns to check the clock. "God," she exhales. "I did." It's only once she settles back down does she recall Archie has a roommate. Delilah has no idea if he's here and now she's afraid to look, but at least they're clothed? It's all relatively innocent. "It's 7:30," she adds, voice now dropped to a whisper. "We really were out. It's good to know I sleep well with you at least?"
Archie rubs the sleep from his eyes. “Oh,” he did not intend to fall asleep while cuddling. He also worried about Lesley. Did the man come in and just go to bed, or leave as soon as he saw them? Archie will apologize to him later.
“Yeah, nice to know it wasn’t a bad sleep.” Archie smiles at her. “You can snuggle me to sleep any time you want.”
His smile is returned. "I may take you up on that— pending approval from your roommate this time. I'm not trying to unexpectedly sexile someone." Especially if they didn't even have sex. "But I should go, as tempting as it is to stay with you longer."
Archie laughs as he moves to sit up. “Yeah, pending approval for sure. Or letting him know it is just sleep.” Archie stretches as he sits up. “Yeah, it is tempting to stay in bed with you, but-” he lets that thought trail off.
"Another time," Delilah pledges. She leans in to press a quick, chaste kiss to Archie's cheek before she stands. "I'll see you later?"
“Yeah, see you later,” Archie smiles and raises his hand to wave goodbye from his spot on the bed.
Once the door closes behind her, Archie flops back on the bed, his hands to his face. He really needs to apologise to Lesley.
This is a conversation that should have happened before they kissed again but, well. Delilah is only human; when a hot, sweet, thoughtful boy expresses interest, she can't say no.
Archie immediately pauses the kissing. He doesn't move. One hand on her back, the other resting on her thigh. He thinks maybe he has done something wrong, or she is having second thoughts. Is he getting too into it or pushing her to a place she doesn't like?
The kiss punctuation is reassuring. He nods his head. “Yes.” That makes sense, talking about this. “I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.” He gives her thigh a little comforting squeeze. “I want you to be comfortable.” They are friends kissing.
She smiles, fond, before she presses a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips. "You're a good egg, Archie Shepherd." This is part of the reason their kiss proved not to be a one off; she feels safe and respected with him, which means more than his curls and his lips and his abs. "I am comfortable." She pauses, considering how to phrase what she wants to say, and when she speaks again, her words come out slowly. "I don't want to sleep with you right now. And that's not about you, it's me. I— haven't, with anyone, not since I was unveiled. I'm not afraid to or anything like that, but I'm not eager to simply get off, I can do that on my own. I want to be able to take my time and not rush into anything. To be able to savor all the ways I can make someone feel good and vice versa and enjoy the build up, you know? When it happens, I want it to be good."
Perhaps she's read too many romance novels, but she's not interested in apologizing or compromising.
"This isn't me saying I don't want to with you, at some point, but I wanted to make myself clear before we ended up, like, too hot and heavy, I guess. Does that make sense?
Archie realizes he is holding his breath. He lets it out slowly. Archie looks at her blinking and not saying anything. He is still processing everything Delilah just said. “So, you would sleep with me.” Archie starts with a joke to lighten the moment. The pause has changed the vibe but not in a bad way.
“Kidding,” he smiles. “I get it, that makes sense. I obviously haven’t slept with anyone either, post veil if you were my first kiss. I’m not looking to rush things or race into the finale. So, this, what we are doing is nice. I might want to cuddle sometime after, if that’s cool.” Archie hopes he is saying the right thing.
It would be incorrect to say that Delilah had been nervous— of course Archie would be understanding and of course he isn't looking to rush into anything either— but it is nevertheless some kind of relief. "Good, so we're on the same page. And you can tell me too when you get to a point where you want to stop or pivot or pause or anything else. I want you to be comfortable too." She hasn't thought it through enough to know where to set the boundary for today, but together, they can figure it out. "But we can absolutely cuddle after. That sounds very nice."
“Yes, on the same page,” he nods. His hand on her back gives a reassuring rub, or what he hopes is a reassuring rub. “I’ll say if things progress where I don’t want and you do the same. Just yell pause again, and we stop, discuss.” Archie feels less nervous and is pleased that she thinks cuddling sounds nice, too.
“So, back to the kissing?” He gives a little smirk as he says it.
Delilah hums as she pretends to consider the question. She traces the shell of his ear and down along his jaw, her touch featherlight, before resting a hand against his chest. "Back to kissing," she agrees.
Archie lies back in the bed and creates a space for Delilah to fill. “Promise, no roaming hands.” The smirk on his face probably does not help him be taken seriously, but he can’t help it. “Just me, a big spoon to your little spoon.”
Delilah gives him her best stern look. "You better behave, mister." She points a finger at him for good measure but none of it is especially convincing. She curls up beside him and settles against him. This feels more intimate than anything they did earlier, even if she can't fully articulate why, and she's grateful he can't see the way her cheeks flush. "Is this okay?"
As Delilah settles with her back against him, he wraps an arm around her. Archie always likes to touch and be close to people he likes. He isn’t aware of the flush in Delilah’s cheeks. He nuzzles against her shoulder and settles into a spot where his face is not totally in her hair. “It’s good for me,” he replies quietly. “Is it okay for you?” The hand of the arm draping over her rests on her stomach, and he can feel her breathe.
"It's okay," she confirms. It's been so long since she has done this with anyone, and there are butterflies in her stomach but the sensation isn't entirely unpleasant. This is what she wanted, to feel everything the veil had numbed. She rests her arm against Archie's, her fingers brushing his. "Did you do this often veiled?"
Hearing that allows Archie to relax and settle in even more. Appreciating the weight of Delilah’s hand on his, and her body pressing against his. This was nice. Different from before but really nice. “Mhmm, I did,” he mumbles quietly. “It’s nice feeling it fully.”
"It is," Delilah agrees. "I know there's been a lot of talk about kissing—" talk that she, certainly, played a large part in thanks to her list "—but I missed this too. If miss is the right word for something you never could fully enjoy."
Archie understands what Delilah is saying. He has felt similarly. “I think the kissing booth brought it up, mainly.” He adds on quickly, “Not that it is a bad thing. But feeling things like this more fully is welcome.” The feeling of Delilah against him. Her breath and his, nearing the same rhythm. “I think miss is the right word. I missed this, but it feels so much better unveiled.”
"We can do this more often, if you want?" Delilah suggests. Part of her knows it will likely complicate their friendship more, but she can't bring herself to care too much right now. His breath against her skin, the weight of his arm, the warmth of his body pressed to hers— she doesn't want this to be a one time thing. "Maybe I'll even let your hands wander a little," she teases.
Archie nods, his chin rubbing against her shoulder. “I’d like that.” Archie isn’t the smartest boy, but he knows that doing more of this will complicate things. They set boundaries. Just friends, no complicated feelings. Yes, Archie can’t stop himself from wanting more of this. “I don’t even need that tease of wandering hands to want to do this again.” He squeezes her softly as he speaks.
"Ah, so I am an expert cuddler who drives you wild with my snuggling abilities," she jokes, giggling. "That is how I am interpreting that and I will not be convinced otherwise, thank you."
Archie laughs into her hair.”That’s exactly it. You won’t hear me saying any different.” He smiles to himself as she mentions not being convinced otherwise. “I won’t even try.”
"Good boy." She laughs again and she shifts closer to him, feeling bolder now. This is nice; there's no need to overthink it.
Archie tenses at being called a good boy. It stirs something in him he didn’t expect. Delilah's shift closer to him made him very aware of his body. He started naming football clubs to make sure he remained a good boy.
Delilah simply sighs contentedly as she lets her eyelids flutter closed, completely oblivious to what's going through Archie's mind.
There are things Delilah recalls about the rest of their evening, like more discussions of their veiled lives and chatter about Valentine's Day. Except when Delilah's eyes open, she has her face tucked against Archie's chest with an arm flung loosely over his waist— and she does not remember moving. "Did we fall asleep?" Her words are broken up by a yawn.
Archie’s eyes open when he hears Delilah’s voice. One arm wrapped around her, holding her to him. Her head on his chest. He takes a moment to appreciate it. It only takes him a moment to realize they had indeed fallen asleep, and that while repeating football club names did work before, they are not going to work now. “I think so,” he says, a little rasp to his voice. He’s really pleased that a blanket covers his lower half. He uses his free hand to adjust himself as casually as possible, hoping Delilah does not notice.
“What time is it? Did you spend all night here?” Not that Archie minds but he worries that Delilah will mind.
With some reluctance, Delilah lifts her head and turns to check the clock. "God," she exhales. "I did." It's only once she settles back down does she recall Archie has a roommate. Delilah has no idea if he's here and now she's afraid to look, but at least they're clothed? It's all relatively innocent. "It's 7:30," she adds, voice now dropped to a whisper. "We really were out. It's good to know I sleep well with you at least?"
Archie rubs the sleep from his eyes. “Oh,” he did not intend to fall asleep while cuddling. He also worried about Lesley. Did the man come in and just go to bed, or leave as soon as he saw them? Archie will apologize to him later.
“Yeah, nice to know it wasn’t a bad sleep.” Archie smiles at her. “You can snuggle me to sleep any time you want.”
His smile is returned. "I may take you up on that— pending approval from your roommate this time. I'm not trying to unexpectedly sexile someone." Especially if they didn't even have sex. "But I should go, as tempting as it is to stay with you longer."
Archie laughs as he moves to sit up. “Yeah, pending approval for sure. Or letting him know it is just sleep.” Archie stretches as he sits up. “Yeah, it is tempting to stay in bed with you, but-” he lets that thought trail off.
"Another time," Delilah pledges. She leans in to press a quick, chaste kiss to Archie's cheek before she stands. "I'll see you later?"
“Yeah, see you later,” Archie smiles and raises his hand to wave goodbye from his spot on the bed.
Once the door closes behind her, Archie flops back on the bed, his hands to his face. He really needs to apologise to Lesley.