You met him the second day here, and you asked him for directions. He seemed a mess with you asking him anything, and you worried maybe you had made the wrong choice. He was quick to apologize for being standoffish and eagerly showed you around. Harold made you laugh the entire time, showing you places that others probably had never seen before. He made you feel so light and happy. So for this reason alone, you didn’t want to leave Ogunquit just yet.

This blooming friendship caught fire and it erupted in a flame completely. The first week you were here, you knew you were into Harold. You two hung out in dive bars, listening to punk and grunge bands play, and the liquor gave him courage. Then one night, he kissed you. You didn’t pull away. 

It didn’t take long for you to truly fall for him either. He read poetry to you(sometimes his own), you two walked barefoot in the warm sand at night after sunset, and he made you feel like a loved and desired human being. On his side of things, Harold never felt anything quite like this.

Fran Goldsmith who?

He was head over heels for you. You had made yourself very clear from the get go, reminding him you weren’t meant to stay in this town. But the more you stayed, the more you made excuses as to why your stay was extended. Eventually, people caught on when they saw you with Harold. They found it sweet that he had found someone to get along with.

You two had shared his bed often, and you were just staying the night in Harold’s one bedroom apartment more often than you were staying in the little inn by the sea. So he just suggested you stay with him, and that sure made things easier. Harold became your true lover, and you knew you couldn’t leave Ogunquit even if you tried.

One day, you and Harold drive down the coastline to find somewhere just to be yourselves. Alone and private. A cooler sits in the backseat of your jeep. There’s soft indie music playing on your tape player in the car. Harold has a book of intimate poetry with him. And you find the perfect little piece of beach to be alone on.

It’s a beautiful day, and it feels like you two are the only two on earth. Harold blushes when you strip down completely nude, but he follows suit. The water feels heavenly on your bodies as you swim out. 

He holds you in his arms, keeping you close. The way the sun shines on your face makes you look like an angel, and Harold is so sure that you are indeed an angel. The way you always make him feel loved has him convinced you are not of this earth.

The two of you swim for some time before climbing onto the blanket that has been warmed by the sun that lies on the sand. He feeds you grapes and chilled wine while he reads poetry all about sex and love. You listen attentively, loving the way his voice takes on a deeper tone whenever he’s talking about this subject matter.

It doesn’t take long for your lips to meet, and even less long for you two to begin making out. The breeze makes the air on your body stand on end, or was that Harold’s sweet caresses? You couldn’t quite tell. It feels like you were always meant to be in his embrace.

You push him down and straddle him. His cheeks burn when he realizes what this means. It’s not like he doesn’t want to do it, but he does wonder if anyone will come by this way and see the two of you.

“We’re really going to fuck here?” his voice cracks. “What if someone sees us?”

You tenderly caress his cheeks. “It’s okay. We’re alone.”

He loves the way you always seem to quiet his insecurities and his troubles. Your lips feel so good on his, and your pussy is already so wet and hot. Harold can easily slide two of his fingers into you, wanting nothing more than to prep for his cock. He brings you to orgasm with ease, knowing all the spots to stimulate.

And then he flips you over, bringing your legs to rest on his hips. He slides into you, moaning your name as your walls flutter around him so perfectly. If he could pick a moment to stay in forever, this would be the one he would choose. The way you look up at him with those eyes so full of love, so full of desire.

Harold grunts as he begins to rock his hips. All fear of being caught has gone with the summer breeze. All that matters right now is you and him, and you’re both in this moment together. His lips find yours as he begins to fuck you a bit harder, and you moan his name so perfectly. 

The pace he’s set has you both on edge so fast. You cling to him, rocking your hips to match his movements. The way you keep mewling his name has him nearly coming undone. He’s controlling his pace, but it’s difficult. He reaches between you both, rubbing your swollen clit in firm circles.

“Let go for me, beautiful.”

Your eyes screw shut and you cry out his name to the ocean and the air. Your body is suspended in pure euphoria, and nothing could ever compare to this. Harold finishes soon after, painting your insides white. He holds onto you, grunting and gasping as the pleasure takes hold of him completely.

And then the two of you come down from the most blissful high you’ve ever had. He kisses you sweetly, cupping your cheeks. He’s on an entirely different level of love and affection and he’s never had this before.

“You have my heart, sweetheart. You have it.”

You smile and kiss him. “I won’t break it. I promise.”

Harold smiles, and it’s a genuine smile. He presses kisses all over your face, staying buried inside of you. He doesn’t want this moment to end too soon.

“I’m staying, Harold. I want to stay in Ogunquit. Can I stay with you?” Your heart is pounding in your chest.

He captures your lips in a sweet kiss. “You can always stay with me.”

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Harold is so very affectionate, but sometimes it can come out awkwardly and like he doesn’t know what he’s doing or saying. It may come out stiffly, like pats on the shoulder or a nudge of the elbow. But when he becomes more comfortable with showing affection, it’ll be more soft and smooth. More hugs, more hand holding and kisses too!

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

He’s awkward, funny and cynical. He likes to yap and talk about any special interests. He might be a little off-putting at first because he doesn’t have much experience with being friends with anyone, but if you give him a chance, he’ll be very loyal and very sweet. The friendship would probably start if you approached him. You’d have to make the first move, otherwise he won’t come to you.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Harold loves cuddling. Being close to you, holding you, you holding him…it all makes him feel so safe. The way your body seems to just mold into his, fitting perfectly, it makes him feel so happy. For once, something good is happening in his life and he can just shut off his brain and relax. He enjoys being the little spoon a lot too, so if you were the one to hold him, he’d probably cry a bit.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

He definitely wants to settle down and have a domestic life. That’s the dream for Harold Lauder. Someone to come home to, someone to have in bed with him at the end of the day. I think he’s pretty good with cooking and cleaning, though I believe his bedroom might end up being the messiest part of his home. He probably had to do the most chores in his childhood home as his parents favored his sister.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

It’s messy, it’s jealousy, it’s disgusting. He would hate himself for the way things ended, but he would cut you off completely. He would call you names. He would make you feel bad about it all. He can’t help it, because the voice in his mind is saying I told you that they didn’t love you and he fully believes that voice in his mind. And then he would avoid you forever, never talking to you again.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

He definitely loves the idea of full commitment. He wants you to be his forever and ever. The idea of marriage pops up a little too quickly with Harold, but he learns to reel it in and keep it inside his mind instead of just blurting it out in the open. It just makes him feel all soft inside whenever he thinks about you as his partner for life.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Harold is gentle most of the time. Sometimes he doesn’t understand how to approach certain things with a softness or a cautiousness that might be required. He is awkward after all, and you are most definitely his first partner ever. He doesn’t like to get violent or rough with you(unless you request it) so he does like to approach things with a certain amount of gentleness physically. When it comes to emotions, he might not be the best at it right away but he’ll learn overtime. He may hurt your feelings sometimes due to the way he speaks, but he learns quickly how to remedy his tone of voice.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He LOVES hugs! Please hug him, please! He wants to feel you pressed up against his body, he wants to hold you so tightly. The first few hugs might be a bit stiff as he cannot believe this is happening to him, but the more you two hug, the more he begins to melt into it. His hugs are warm, and a bit tight at times. He likes to squeeze you, just to show you just how much he’s in love with you.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

This happens way too fast. The more you spend time with him and show him that he can be loved, the more it gets dangerously close to just slipping out. And then the moment he blurts it out, it’s probably when he’s losing his virginity to you. Or a moment such as that, where the emotional tension is at its highest. And he will be so embarrassed about saying it so soon, but if you say it back, he might not even believe you. You’ll have to coax him into being loved and hearing it come from your lips.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Harold Emery Lauder is the definition of jealousy. Seriously, go check the world Jealous in the dictionary, and you’ll see a photo of him! He can’t help it. He feels like the whole world is against him and that he just can’t win. He works on it so hard for you though. He will try his best not to jump to nasty conclusions. He will try to talk things out with you. But at the beginning of your relationship, he will probably either give you the silent treatment when he’s jealous or he might say “you know what you did” and not elaborate. He blows things out of proportion too.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

His kisses start off as sloppy and awkward, but soon turn into something smoother. Sometimes, they are hungry and passionate. Other times they are slow and sweet, like he’s trying to burn the memory into his mind for all eternity. Harold loves being kissed on the lips, the forehead, the lower abdomen and some other naughty spots. He loves to kiss your lips, your cheeks, your neck and some other naughty spots as well. He loves kisses, and he enjoys making out a lot.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

He’s a bit awkward and stiff with them at first, but when they realize they can play with him, he opens up a bit more. Harold can be a little like the “fun uncle/older brother” type when it comes to being around kids. He likes to show them cool stuff like bugs under a rock, or a constellation in the sky. He would absolutely love being a father and having his own baby and raising them. He’d be very protective with them as well, but so in awe of how fast they learn.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

In a non-virus AU, mornings with Harold are spent cuddling and him probably trying to calm his morning wood. It’s not an every morning thing, but it is something that happens often. He’s also very much into having breakfast with you, cooking together, and just enjoying the morning as a couple.

In Boulder, things aren’t that much different, except now he has responsibilities and he has to be at work with the other men on the burial crew. Harold wakes up earlier now, and if you were to make him breakfast, he’d be so happy and realize just how lucky he is.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nighttimes with Harold are all about relaxing, enjoying a good meal together and maybe watching something on TV. Sometimes he likes to go out and look at the stars, and he absolutely loves having you rest on his chest while he points out the constellations to you. He’s also very much into taking a warm bath together, or even taking a shower together. And then snuggling with you under crisp sheets and talking about all sorts of things until you both fall asleep.

O = Open  (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say  everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

It would take a while for Harold to open up to you. He doesn’t really trust anyone, and he enjoys keeping things private(e.g. The Ledger) and he doesn’t know if he can trust you at first. But eventually, he’ll open up and share little details about himself. If you truly listen and take in the information he shares with you, he will begin to trust you. Eventually, he’ll be an open book with you.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

A little too easily is he angered. It’s not his fault, it’s his defense mechanism. And at times, he will say things he doesn’t mean. He will feel extremely terrible about it afterward and not really know how to apologize. The longer you are with him, the more he learns how to calm this anger and he learns how to be patient. Don’t give up on him, because he needs someone to show him that he can be patient and loved.

Q = Quizzes  (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little  detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He remembers a lot about you! He will spend hours thinking about the little things you do together. He scrutinizes every moment too. It’s just something he enjoys doing, and at times, it just drives him crazy because he wonders about you a lot. He thinks about you pretty much constantly. And so, he will remember all kinds of little details. He doesn’t forget about things often either. He’s especially keen on remembering the little things that most people don’t pay attention to.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

His favorite moment of your relationship would be the first time you kissed him. He remembers how his heart was pounding in his chest and you kept looking at his lips. It made him excited but he was also ready to dash away if things got too weird. And when you finally did kiss him, he remembers how it felt like fireworks were going off. It was exactly like all the romance books he had read, and it left a permanent impression on him. All kisses feel this sacred to Harold.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

He’s extremely protective. He will put his life on the line for you. He adores you and wants to keep you safe. In any situation, this might mean for him to get self-defense training or to have a gun with him to keep you safe. But he’s also going to defend you in an emotional way too, and if anyone speaks ill of you, he will shut that down so fast. As for him, he doesn’t know if he enjoys you putting yourself in danger for him, but he knows that you do it because you love him. If you were to defend him, he would absolutely melt and maybe cry about it.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

He puts a lot of effort into these types of things! He loves planning dates, he has your anniversary in his calendar and it’s circled. If you aren’t feeling well, he will take up the bulk of everyday chores and tasks, even if he’s gone to work that day. Harold knows that relationships require effort, and he enjoys putting in the time for you. You mean that much to him. Every date is planned with your likes and interests in mind, but he will be so surprised if you do the same for him and he will be so flattered.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He can’t contain his perverted ways sometimes. And his jealousy is very much a nasty habit. He tries to keep it all buried deep inside of him, but it comes bursting out a lot of the time. He will often be pawing at you, even in a semi-public setting. It’s just something that overtakes him at times, especially if you’re wearing something that he deems to be very attractive.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Harold is very much concerned with his looks, and that goes even further whenever he’s trying to woo you. He will wear odd and unique outfits, in an attempt to sort of “peacock” around you. And he will always make sure his face is clean and not smeared with chocolate(he loves his Payday bars!). He spends a long time in front of the mirror, and it’s not always just to practice his smile.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

He’d feel very much incomplete without you. You’re his voice of reason, his shoulder to cry on, the person who loves him dearly. He would find himself wondering where he went wrong if he lost you. He would try his best to work on these things, but it would all come crashing down and hurt him terribly. He really doesn’t want you to leave him, as this would mean he’d pretty much have nothing else to live for.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Harold likes music, and he actually very much loves dancing. He will spin you around and hold you in his arms, dancing with you whenever the moment strikes him. He’s not afraid to do this with you because he knows you love it too. And if you want to listen to his favourite music with him, it would make him so happy. Also, he’d enjoy it if you were wanting to wear matching outfits with him. It would show everyone that you and him belong together.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Harold isn’t a fan of being the butt of a joke. He can take some teasing, but this is all mood depending, and he understands that sometimes jokes can go too far. But he absolutely despises if people continue to poke fun at him. He’s very sensitive and he wants people to respect him. If his partner teased him too much, he might snap at them. He doesn’t want to feel pathetic.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)