I was influenced. terribly.

How quick were they to close the gap between what could’ve easily been each other’s own assigned space? Once they entered their hotel room and properly registered the two separate tiny beds, who was even the first to suggest pushing them together? Or, God, was it just an idea they had agreed to do without having to properly discuss it? Did they just know they’d both find any way to be as physically close as possible after spending so much time in front of others having to pretend they didn’t care about being apart? While they booked a room with twin beds out of fear for their safety and privacy as two closeted gay guys, was it still a given that they’d immediately push the beds together as soon as they felt it was okay to do so?

At the time this was happening, the world outside their own viewed them as just two flat mates, two collaborative business partners, two very close best friends… but to Dan & Phil, there was a whole other part of their relationship that was solely, entirely theirs — to cherish and treasure every moment of behind the comfort of closed doors, sometimes decorated with a flimsy but protective ‘do not disturb’ sign. Even the most decrepit hotel/motel room they stayed in during their travels couldn’t stop them from finding a way to make it their own cosy haven. Despite the fear they had during the booking process, two things were clear — with Phil, Dan could finally feel safe in a way he didn’t think was even a possibility a few years prior to meeting him and in turn, Phil felt cared for — more and more so as he spent each following year with Dan. As sarcastic as Dan claims to have been during one of the first weeks they spent together back in October 2009, maybe now they could both admit whatever it was they had together was indeed turning out to be ‘the most fun’ they’d ever had, even during the quieter moments spent together.

How did they go about actually moving the hotel beds anyway? Did Dan playfully encourage Phil to do it even when, in return, he was met with Phil’s ‘stinky baby’ claims about being too ‘weak’ to move it by himself? Was it more of an opportunity to jokingly flirt about how ‘strong’ the other was for pushing an entire bed frame by himself? Or much like many things they had curated together, was it a joint effort filled with banter, bickering laughter and silliness? Yeah, it might’ve also been a bit of a faff to move the beds, especially after a long night of performing a live show as elaborate as TATINOF... but it was still worth it, wasn’t it? It was worth finding any kind of way to be physically close when they weren’t yet ready to even process the thought of being affectionate in public. They were more than ready for this. Plus, they had made it this far side by side, hand in hand - why even bother spending nights apart? Being together just made the most sense.