Shy Hands (M4F) (PTA)

TITLE: Shy Hands (M4F)(PTA)

WRITTEN BY: u/POVscribe. For performance on Reddit only. All rights reserved.

TAGS (pls amend as appropriate, depending on your take): [M4F] "Shy Hands" [Craving touch] [Cuddles] [Hair brushing] [Back rub] [Scalp massage] [Small talk] [Friends to more]? [Sweet] [L-bombs as friends]

PREMISE: This script is adapted from an improvisation  by the author, fulfilling a request from a reader for the touch-starved.

TONE: This takes place at 5:30am so hushed tones, lots of pauses, small talky, with quiet chuckling and low laughs. I imagine this to be a (mostly) platonic scene between long-time friends. If you want to make a sexier version, please feel free improvise your own ending. I do think the audio is better as "vanilla" (whether no touching at all, or some sexy times), but that is completely up to the performer's discretion. Have fun!

And I offer 2 anecdotes discussing the importance of touch (from line 93). Please feel free to swap in your own anecdote(s) here.


"SHY HANDS" (M4F)(PTA)


Babe, are you OK? You were shouting in your sleep. I could hear you from the guest room.

Oh, you had a nightmare? (concerned tone) Oh, I'm sorry... you need anything? Some water?

You want me to keep you company? Uh, OK. Should I just get under the covers with you? ... Not like we haven't done that dozens of time when we were in school together.

Okay... (sfx: sliding under blanket). Good thing I'm wearing PJs, for once (chuckle). I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

Anyway, I wasn’t really sleeping that deeply. Yeah, those crickets are pretty loud. (low laugh)

You’re so nice to let me stay with you, while I’m in town.

(whisper) It’s only 5:30 though, let's try to go back to sleep, ok?

Um, yeah… it happens sometimes that I can't sleep… when I’m traveling, and in a strange place. Well, your place isn’t strange, but I haven’t been here in a while. It’s not my bed… you know.

Plus, I’m a little jet-lagged… different time zone and all that.

But, it’s nice just to be cozy in the dark. (quiet chuckle)

(soft sigh) Brings back memories, though. Small talk in the wee hours, like we used to do.

I love it that we’re such old friends, that we’re comfortable doing that. And I know you wouldn’t be weird about it… you know? It's a nice feeling.

[Pause]

Mmmm… what do you mean? (loving chuckle) Oh yeah? It’s been a while since you had a warm body in the bed…?

(sigh) Do you… do you want me to brush your hair for you? I know how much you love that. Here, hand me that brush on your nightstand.

(low chuckle) Yeah, I remember how you used to ask me to do that for you all the time.

(purr) Aw… that feels good, right? I remember you told me that was your favorite thing, getting your hair fussed over at the hairdresser's.

(chuckle) What am I, my mom, the hairdresser… you know what I mean, the salon.

I have to laugh sometimes, the way I talk. (self-deprecating low laugh)

Mmm…. Yeah… (still brushing her hair) that feels good, yeah…?

Have you ever gone to a Japanese hair salon? No? They're really into the scalp massage thing.

You should try it. It’s great.

They always do the shampoo and everything, and then… they give you a scalp massage… then they give you a hot towel, for your nape… it’s awesome! (chuckle)

(purr) There, how was that? … Keep going?? You want me to just keep doing this ‘til the sun rises? (chuckle)

[Pause – she’s telling you something]

(sadness in voice) Aww, you haven’t been touched in a while…? Aw, that makes me sad, babe.

Everyone should have hands on them. What about getting a massage, or something?

Oh, it’s not the same? (low chuckle) Do you mean, like, you want to be touched by someone you know, who cares about you? Not someone you’re paying?

Ooh, that sounded creepy, but you know what I mean. (sheepish laugh)

Mmm… well, if you want to turn onto your belly, I can rub your back? Stroke your back if you’d like. You can lift your tank top up, maybe.

Mmm-hmm, yeah. No, I don’t mind. Of course not, silly. Yeah, roll over, go on. (sound of shifting in bed)

(optional sfx: sounds of palm rubbing on skin) How’s that? (silence for a bit as you’re stroking/rubbing her back)

[Pause]

Mmm? Do I feel weird doing this? No.

You’re one of my oldest friends. I mean, it is a little bit different, I guess.

I don’t think we’ve ever had so much physical contact. Or I should say, prolonged contact. Well, prolonged… I’ve only been doing this for a minute, but you know what I mean.

I’m glad it makes you feel good. (sigh out softly or exhale softly – you’re relaxing with her)

How’s that? Do you want more pressure… do you want lighter…?

Just like that? OK. (soft chuckle of agreement)

Yeah… you know, it’s natural to crave the human touch… That stems from infancy... I read somewhere … that newborns crave touch.

That’s why it’s really better for the Mom to room in with their baby after birth.

Back in the day, remember, if you watch movies from the 50s or whatever? They always showed the baby in the nursery, and the Mom in their room.

But nowadays, in most hospitals, they encourage the baby to room in with the Mom… so you know, the Mom is always putting her hands on the baby… or it could be the Dad, too, but you know, usually it’s the Mom because she just gave birth and all. But yeah, it could be the Dad. Like if you’re adopting… or if Mom is sick or something and Dad needs to take care of baby…

Anyway, it’s all about the touch. It’s a very early imprint.

And… I can’t really cite the source, but… I believe there have been studies about babies not thriving because of lack of human touch, right?

Or vice versa, say, slightly premature babies thriving… flourishing, really… because of the attention they receive, from touch.

Anyway, I don’t even know how I got on that tangent (chuckle). Just to say, that it’s natural to want the human touch, you know?

[Pause]

Oh, here’s another tidbit. You know I’m the king of trivia, right? (small laugh)

So, my sister told me that when you’re rubbing somebody’s belly, especially children… like, for my niece or nephew, and they complain of belly discomfort… always rub in a clockwise direction, because that is the direction of digestion. (low laugh)

Yeah… ask me anything (chuckle). If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make it up.

No! I’m kidding. If I don’t know, I’ll look it up. But this, I’m pretty sure of it.

[Pause]

You wanna return the favor? You wanna rub my back?

Sure! I’m not ever going to say no to a back rub, are you kidding??

Ooh, sorrry. My belly’s rumbling a little bit. I guess I’m ready for breakfast soon… not now, though.

OK, let me lie down on my front. (sound of shifting)

(contented sigh) Aw, that’s nice, hon. Mmm-hmm…

[Pause – enjoying the back rub]

Oh yeah, you can rub my scalp, I like that.

Oh yes, that feels good when you have thick hair… because the hair weighs down on the scalp a little. So that’s nice… (sigh)

You know what feels really good, too, is if you grab a small handful of hair and gently tug. Mmm, yeah, that feels really good…

(chuckle) Mmm, that’s amazing.

[Pause]

Yeah, go back to rubbing my back, please. That was really nice.

You can maybe… um… run your fingers down the muscles flanking my spine. Mmm, yes, that’s so good.

Oh, you like that? (hint of flirt in voice) You like that indent, where my spine dips in between the muscles?

Yeah, I’ve always had a pronounced… um… I don’t know how you call that… sort of a trough (laugh) between the muscles flanking my spine, I guess.

Oh yeah, sexy on guys? (teasing voice) Are you coming on to me, young lady? (chuckle)

Mmm… that feels good, babe. (sighs)… so good.

I might fall asleep, OK? Sleep a little more… I can make you breakfast when we wake up, okay… (voice trailing off) I love you…

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