Types of Kisses

Hello lovelies!

In honour of the week of Valentine's Day, I will be making posts all about love and romance! This is the first of the three, I hope you all love it!

Kisses in storytelling are often considered the 'seal of ship-sailing', sometimes even more so than actual confessions. They are what the reader looks most forward to; "When are they going to kiss?!"

Still, there are multiple types of kisses at your disposal, each free to use to your heart's content, like fine wines to be paired with your dinner. I will be listing them here, with some tips on how and when to use them, so you can happily choose which suits your pairing (or your ship) better!

Lips:

-Accidental kiss: Exactly as the name says, the accidental kiss is, well, an accident. Maybe someone trips, or they are in the middle of a moving crowd and pushed together, but the point is, neither person expects or plans it in any way. This can either act as an inciding incident for one of the characters; "maybe I like kissing this person", or an extremely embarrassing moment sworn to secrecy. It most likely won't lead anywhere, though, except maybe some confusing feelings, because the power of embarrasment is something not to be messed with.

-Angry kiss: Maybe the characters are having an argument, maybe one of them wants to do something incredibly stupid, or maybe the person kissing is angry at themselves for not confessing in some way. In any case, this is a kiss born out of frustration and impulsivity, either on one or both sides. Because of this, it will most likely end as soon as it started, with both characters left confused or muddled, due to the strange mix of emotions.

-Brushing kiss: This is similar to the accidental kiss, but more thought out and in the spirit of wanting to try and experimt, rather than a surprise on both parts. The emotions behind it are likely to be hesitating and fearful, unable to fully commit to a true kiss, possibly because of distrust of one's own feelings, or one's kissing abilities. Due to this, the brushing kiss can also act as an effective first kiss for someone who is shy or insecure.

-Cold kiss: As the name suggest, the cold kiss has no emotion behind it, no affection, and no real intention. So, why would someone still use this type of kiss? It's possible the couple has either no real intention of being together, or has long-since lost affection for each other, but still want to keep up appearances. The effect of this kiss can either work as a show-don't-tell tool to showcase what kind of relationship this is, but also a slight shock to the system if the other kisses between the couple do carry affection, but now something is wrong.

-Chaste kiss: This kiss is often quick and just barely presses the lips together. It's different from the brushing kiss, because there is a clear intention here, but it's also somewhat similar, since it still carries a hint of hesitation. This may because the couple is still very young and/or inexperienced, or the intention here is simply affectionate, with no intention of continuing anything physical.

-Desperate kiss:

Similar to the angry kiss, the desperate kiss also comes from a place of impulse, but rather than frustration, it's more akin to an anxious survival instinct. The person is most likely panicking, and may be convinced in the back of their mind that if they don't kiss this other person, they will never be able to again, or they will forever dissappear from their life. It's a kiss often accompanied by clinging, biting and a deep reluctance to let go.

-Hard kiss:

This kiss has to do more with the way the kiss is executed, rather than the intention itself. However, the emotions behind it can still be gleamed from it. Apart from this type of kiss being at least somewhat painful, considering there will probably be some teeth-clashing, the emotions behind this kiss will be overwhelming, passionate, violent, impulsive, or frustrating for both parties. After all, if they could control themselves in some way, they wouldn't knock into each other's faces.

-Hesitating kiss: This kiss also describes the technique more than anything else, and is best suited for emotions of shyness and insecurity, spiced with some overthinking as well. If the intention of a kiss is clear for both parties, there is no need for hesitation. However, if the characters are either unsure of themselves, or the situation is still confusing to them, it would make sense for them to hesitate in the kiss.

-Passionate kiss: A pretty straight-forward one, I would say. The passionate kiss is a mutual culmination of strong, almost overwhelming emotions, accompanied by deep, physical attraction as well. It's the type of kiss that is not given so casually, but rather in select settings, such as intimate, high-stakes, or highly emotional scenarios. Because of this, it's also not the kind of kiss that ends quickly, since the characters will want to soak up every moment of it.

-Playful kiss:

This is the type of kiss that often occurs in between flirting or teasing, when the couple is already established in some way. Because of its casual nature, this kiss doesn't go that deep, and is typically followed by laughter or giggling. Sometimes the one being kissed is embarrassed about the attention, but that is optional. It's a tool in a flirting game meant to be a happy, little moment.

-Romantic kiss: Much like the passionate kiss, the romantic kiss is pretty straightforward, but strangely more difficult to execute. I think this is because, since it seems so obvious, it's hard to put into words. This kiss is similar to the passionate kiss, in that it culminates from deep emtions. However, unlike the passionate kiss, the physical attaction is less important, and maybe even non-existence. The focus is on the emotion, the softness, and the happiness the characters are feeling. It's less about the kiss, and more about what the kiss means. It's an outlet for the love the two characters are feeling.

-Sloppy kiss: Most of everyone's first kisses were probably something like this, an uncordinated, messy, unskilled affair. It's a kiss that comes from enthusiasm and eagerness, but executed horribly. This can be used for first or unexperienced kisses, but also impulsive, spontaneous moments, where the method of kissing isn't the priority at the moment. The characters may not have seen each other for a long time, or they may simply have a moment of weakness and be overwhelmed by emotions.

-Soft kiss: The technique of this kiss, in contrast to the hard kiss, comes from a much calmer, yet still emotional place, similarily to the difference between the passionate and the romantic kiss. It's more calculated and controlled, more about savouring the moment, rather than being taken over by one's feelings. The stakes in the settings are typically a lot lower, since the characters actually have the time to give into the softness of the moment, and is meant to show a sweeter, more affectionate side to the relationship.

Non-lips:

-Cheek kiss: This kiss is one of the most casual between couples, on the same level as a hug. It's a quick, sweet gesture to reaffirm affection, but can also be used as a hello-goodbye. On the other hand, a kiss on the cheek can be a cold gesture, where the people are unable or unwilling to show real affection to each other, but still feel like they have to, and this is the quickest, less painful option.

-Ear kiss: Much like the neck, the ear is one of the most sensitive spots on the body to be kissed. So, it lends itself easily to playful teasing, or, when continued, it can lead to more passionate moments. However, on both ends of the spectrum, the person being kissed will have some sort of electric reaction, because of the sensitivity of the place, and the person kissing them will most likely be aware of what this action can do.

-Forehead kiss: This is often considered a sweet, romantic gesture. It shows affection in a quick, simple way, often with both participants closing their eyes to soak in the moment. Other times, though, it can also be a moment of dissapointment. Maybe the person being kissed wants to be kissed on the lips, but the one kissing is still unwilling to go that far, and chooses to keep it to the forehead instead.

-Head kiss:

Kissing someone on their head can be done as a gesture of comfort, much like being stroked over one's hair during a hug. This comfort can be emphasized by the person being kissed being pulled into the other person's arms and calming words. On the other hand, it's also a kiss partners often give each other as a hello-goodbye, for example when one of them goes to work. Different from the 'comfort kiss', though, this will be a quick kiss.

-Neck kiss:

This is the type of kiss which can range from romantic to erotic, depending on the setting and how long it lasts. The more casual and quick the kiss, the more it steps into romantic territory, the more prolonged and tense in context, the more it can be considered erotic. The neck is one of the most sensitive places on our body, and will therefore elicit a bigger reaction than being kissed on other places around the face. The person being kissed will at least feel a shiver go down their spine, and the person kissing will be aware of what being kissed on the neck can do to someone.

-Nose kiss: This one is best used as a playful, teasing kiss. The nose is sitting just above the lips, so the one about to be kissed may think they are about to kissed there, only to find themselves surprised they got kissed on the nose instead. The nose is also basically a tip on the face, so a quick kiss would work better in this case. Just imagine having your lips on someone's nose for a long time, it would be kind of awkward.

I hope this was fun and helpful to you all! Now, go forth and pair up your characters to your heart's content!

Let me know if there is something else you would want me to cover.

Goodbye, lovelies!