103rd ♫ | i need somebody to love me, to make me feel warm and fuzzy

[superorbit]

touchstarved physical contact meme

an EXTREMELY self indulgent meme for touchstarved muses and the delicious vibes of them getting some affectionate physical contact in a dog's age. basically just drop your character below, indicate whether or not they're Touchstarved and Yearning and GO HOGWILD.

POTENTIALLY HANDY PROMPTS:

Shippy & Platonic Fluffy Scenarios Meme | Shameless Shipping Meme | Affectionate Physical Contact

Comments

[missleadingquestions]

Maybe trouble was the goal all along.

[Maya gives Obi a mischievous look over the cup she pours next, then returns to sealing the thermos and rearranging everything in the basket.]

Besides, isn't it cooler when someone can call their pet from across the way and they'll just come running? It's like an an invisible leash!

[kninja]

True enough. Can't imagine putting up with a collar, anyway.

[Never mind how often he refers in canon to the prince holding his leash, that is not applicable in this AU. Bodyguard Obi's a free Obird!]

What would you do to make sure I came when you called, though?

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya leans closer, just to enhance the mischievousness of her grin.]

You mean you wouldn't already?

[kninja]

Hmmm.

[He takes a lonnnnnnng sip of his tea before returning her mischief with a wink.]

If I say no, will you feed me more treats?

[missleadingquestions]

I dunno, aren't you supposed to reward good behavior?

[Maya wags her finger side to side, happily deciding—]

If you won't do the trick, you don't get the treat!

[kninja]

Awww, I thought you'd give in to secure my loyalty. Boo hiss!

[He puffs out his cheeks and then laughs.]

Don'tcha worry, Princess. At least as long as we're together, I'll come running when you need me. You can count on that.

[missleadingquestions]

Mmm, then at least as long as we're together, you can count on me to take care of you.

[And with that, she pulls something sweet— an anko-filled wagashi confection, previously hidden beneath cloth— and raises it to Obi's mouth.

In demonstration, she opens her own and prompts—]

Ahhhh.

1/2

[kninja]

[Oh. He blinks a few times, obviously surprised--]

2/2

[kninja]

[Before he chuckles, at least partially at himself, and opens his mouth obediently.]

Ahhh. [No, wait.] Rawwwr. Haha.

[Okay no he's done goofing, he'll let her feed him. Good boy.]

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya goes from open mouthed to grinning, absolutely delighted Obi's playing along. It's by the virtue of that delight that she doesn't shove the treat messily into his mouth but feeds him rather properly instead. Besides, once that treat is in Obi's mouth, she needs her hand back to cover her own giggling.]

Aw. I'm gonna miss you when this -whole trip is over though.

[She has no shame in saying so. It's not like the other guards are competing for her favor, or that anyone else would give her grief for it, after all.]

But, that is what they say about wild pets. You can only keep them around for so long...

[Of course, wild animals go back to their natural habitats. In theory, Maya could make enough of a fit to hire Obi for longer...]

[kninja]

[He holds the wagashi on his tongue for a moment, watching her, before chewing and swallowing. He's not the type to do anything for a treat, of course, but the flavor isn't the only thing sweet about this moment. He wants to savor it.]

That's not all they say, though. There are all kinds of migratory animals, right? I hear that when they travel, some of them remember the places they found food before and come back to visit.

[He washes the sweetness down with more hot tea.]

You never know. I might pop back up if I ever need to get out of the rain.

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya might be blocking her face sipping her tea, but it's hard to miss the way her smile meets her eyes.]

So in the end, feeding wild animals is the right choice.

[No, that's absolutely not the lesson here...

But she knows that, and she knows Obi knows, too.]

I'll just hope for wetter weather.

[kninja]

[He smiles a little and bobs his head towards the view.]

Sky's about to open up now. Watch.

[They'll stay safe and dry where they are on the veranda, at least until the storm starts in earnest. For now, though, the gathered sunset-jewel storm clouds only release a droplet. Two. Slowly, a pitter-patter hits the roof and courtyard above and around them, the opening strains of some master's great work in the dimmed but still not-fully-extinguished light.]

[missleadingquestions]

Ah!

There it goes...

[Maya leans forward, just off the veranda, holding one hand out to catch droplets in her hand. She contents herself with that for a few moments, wiggling her fingers in the steadily-growing downpour.

And then she smiles a little wider, looks Obi's way like she's had an idea. With little (but luckily, not no) regard for the cups set on the veranda beside them, Maya kicks off her sandals and stands up, spinning to face Obi with a grin.

She grasps his wrists and tugs, hoping to take him right out into that rain, eyes sparkling like a child's.]

Come on! Up we go!

[kninja]

Eh? Ah--

[Both bemused and amused, Obi allows her to pull him up--or, well, comes up when she pulls, since he's a fair bit larger than her and made of all the muscle she isn't--and follows her into the wet, laughing.]

Hahaha, ah, is this how you give your pet a bath? That's cold, Princess.

[Literally. Though he doesn't actually seem to mind. Instead, he drops his hands to her waist, lifts her up, and gives her a spin through the rain.]

And maybe a bit unwise! You haven't tamed me yet, you know! Rawwwwrrrrrawrarrr!

[missleadingquestions]

[It's funny Obi should play dangerous when he lifts so quickly despite his strength compared to hers. It's that willingness that proves he's quite tame after all, considering he could easily stay fast and resist. But he plays along just as Maya expects him to— and perhaps even more than she's expecting him to, as she yelps in surprise when he lifts her up.

The yelp quickly turns into giggling, though, and she wraps her arms tight around his shoulders as though afraid he might drop her— though, really, she's not scared at all.]

After I've even given you a snack? You're the worst pet, after all!

[She accuses through a bubbly grin, giving him a squeeze. She wiggles her feet for leverage to catch the ground, but at her height? No dice.]

[kninja]

[A last soft, startled breath of laughter coasts across the top of Maya's head as she clings to him. That's. Whew, um. Gosh.]

I did warn you.

[He holds her aloft a beat longer before setting her back down on her feet. It's still early enough in the downpour for the rain to catch as pearls in both their dark hair.]

But I'm flattered you'd wanna try, all the same.

[missleadingquestions]

[It's a moment when it would probably make sense for Maya to let go of Obi, but she doesn't. She stands in front of him, held close, grinning, her eyes on those pearly raindrops starting to weigh down the tufts of Obi's hair. They're still so few that she can lift one arm to brush a few off and away from his temple— and then look at his eyes again a with the unmistakable surprise of someone who had gotten lost in their distraction for a moment.]

Mm, it helps that you're pretty adorable. Anyone would want to try.

[kninja]

[For an instant, his expression mirrors hers: the unmistakable surprise of someone experiencing the utterly unexpected, someone who has no natural response to it at hand. The eyes Maya meets are wide, his mouth just slightly open, shoulders slack.

All she did was touch his hair. Casually, even, just a flick of her fingers above his eyeline.

A raindrop splashes against the back of his neck and he laughs again, loud and full. He takes one of his hands back to ball in front of his face, but the other remains on Maya's arm, warm in contrast to the rain.]

Me, adorable? Now that's a new one, hahahaha!

[He grins at her and wipes his palm over the crown of her head, slicking off water.]

Especially coming from a cute little thing like you.

[missleadingquestions]

[It's not like she doesn't notice— but the combination of surprise and warmth that comes from Obi just all collect in one treasured little swell in Maya's heart as she watches him, still standing close with her eyes on him like there's nothing else in the world. It sure is a very good thing no one traveling with them is watching and getting a certain idea of anything that could be going on right now, if there was.

She isn't bashful at his compliment, instead sticking out her tongue just a little, proudly declaring—]

Someone as cute as me has to know cute when she sees it. It's a valuable skill, you know.

Takes years of training.

[kninja]

[His hand finally leaves her arm so he can put his fists on his hips.]

Ahh, and here I am with only natural talent to my name. Guess I gotta defer to your expert cute opinion.

[At a glance, they're once more within the bounds of propriety. Still, she's standing in the rain in her bare feet, and he, her guard, remains more than close enough to touch. He makes no move to herd her back to the dull, dry comfort of the veranda.]

Can I ask what it is that makes me so adorable, though? I'm real curious.

[missleadingquestions]

Oh, that's easy. The hair adds to it, but not on its own.

It's definitely the hair-personality combo that works. A real jerk-type couldn't get away with it.

And...

[Ever the one to re-ruin those bounds of propriety, Maya reaches out, fingers at either side of Obi's cheeks to tug on that smile.]

This! This is the cutest part!

[kninja]

Wh--pffft!

[Where Obi succeeds is in not spluttering in Maya's direction. Where he fails is in stopping himself from laughing even more brightly, face turned aside and hand only half-covering his mouth. That's fine, since it's probably what she was going for anyway.

He's quick to return the full force of that smile right back at her.]

Haha, got it! The cutest part about me is how many chestnuts I can fit in my mouth at once.

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya can't really answer immediately, struck for a moment by the reward of getting exactly what she wanted out of Obi. That smile, the gleaming brightness on his face like the warmth of summer, makes it hard to even register the rain, let alone the passing of time. Her own smile seems, just for a moment, dazed, as her eyes linger on him— and then just as quick, she laughs into her own hand with an expression that seems so.... strangely bashful, for someone like her. The recovery comes with the nod of her head as she replies—]

It's a really endearing quality, you know! Even if it makes you my fierce chestnut-cheek competition.

[Maya you just like shoving food in your mouth, let alone chestnuts...]

[kninja]

[Once again, they’re just The Same. Gib Obi all the snacc.

He starts swiping water off his shoulders and sleeves, even though it’s pointless when they’re still standing directly under the rain.]

You may have me beat in cuteness, but I’ll have you know the chestnut challenge is one I’m gonna win.