Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Tuesday Tropes: The Accidental Kiss


In honor of Valentine's Day, what could be better than posting about love, romance, or that special first kiss? Unless, of course, that kiss was a complete accident.

Hmm ... this spaghetti is delic--mmh!

The Accidental Kiss - The act of one's lips coming into contact with someone/thing without the character(s) intention of doing so. This often occurs in the heat of a happy moment or by crashing into each other.

Most examples of this trope can be found in the anime/ animation world, due mostly to the comic applications associated with it. While this does happen in real life, fiction tends to overlook injuries (smashing of teeth).

If kissing requires the invasion of personal bubbles, how can accidents happen? There are ways. Some might get pushed from behind, resulting in the awkward kiss.

"Check out that nose hair!"

There might be some truth to the old adage of "love is blind" as well, like mistaking a rescuer for someone they have a crush on because they are visually impaired.

"Well ... guess you're not so Toph, are yah?"

Perhaps something really exciting just happened and characters react without realizing what they're doing!

(Ron's face is priceless, isn't it?)

Then again, maybe a kiss was intended - on the cheek, for example - but the destination moved en route.


Characters may trip into lips or bonk mouths in the dark. Either way, there's room for misunderstandings, laughs, or unexpected sweet/sensual moments. Sounds hot!

Have I ever used this trope before? Well ...


Since I happened to write this before I heard of Cassie Mae's HOT bloghop (and being Valentine's Day), I thought sharing this would be excellent fun. Enjoy!

Excerpt from The Dragon's Heart - Chapter 5 (WiP) 

He finished his horse and made ready to prepare her stallion. As he handled the cantle, Celesia wondered, her mind invested with all that's transpired around her: magical creatures, a thief in the castle, and now her, standing alone in the stables with Mavarco’s handsome apprentice. She neared him, watching as he fastened a leather strap under the stallion’s belly. By the look of his eyes earlier, she knew he had feelings for her. Because she was the princess, he would never divulge them.

But I can ...

Not knowing when she would have another chance, Celesia closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. His skin felt softer than she expected, smoother than velvet ... until it puckered back.

Her brown eyes flashed open, catching Tukey’s within his surprised face. They pulled apart and stared at each other. Neither spoke a word. Quivering, Celesia raised a hand over her mouth; the sensation of his lips stayed. Only the horses broke the silence between them.

“Princess?” Tukey asked, his face flushed.

“I—” Celesia felt her own blush surfacing. “That was—”

“—an accident?”

It was a fair explanation, so she nodded.

Tukey’s fingers combed through her hair as he brushed his hand by her ear - his eyes, unlike before, now devoid of caution. “I never believed in accidents ...”

*     *     *

I'm David, and remember that awkward moment ... ?

70 comments:

  1. Nice writing, David! Oo la la. :) And I love love love the clip. Old shows are so funny.

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  2. I've never used an accidental kiss. It sounds like fun though.

    Love the excerpt. “I never believed in accidents ...” Great line.

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  3. Nice DAvid! I'm excited to read your sub this week. That's HOT!

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  4. Sweet, awkward moment. Like most first kisses. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. "I never believed in accidents" <----Love it. You create fun work, David. You took me there, to "that place" and even in the short excerpt, I got a vibe of your writing and it was really nice. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. I don't think I've ever had an accidental kiss in my writings. This is nice. Your last line is awesome!

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  7. Love the accidental kiss. Very clever and well done.
    Thanks for sharing.

    I'm #52 on the hop.

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  8. Haha, this sounds like my first kiss. Except instead of being all sweet, the hubs pumped a fist in the air and shouted, "I got lip!"

    Dork. :)

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  9. I don't like the name Tukey because my mind fills in the "R" and I see "Turkey".

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  10. Nice. Love that kiss between Harry and Ginny. SO much better in the book than in the movie.

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  11. I used one 'in the moment of excitement/danger' kiss in my book and that's the most anyone will ever get out of me!

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  12. I'm way to embarrassed/shy/self conscious to ever allow an accidental kiss to happen. Just the thought of writing one makes my insides curl up in a nauseous ball. It would probably be good for me to write so I can get over it. Writing is so much cheaper than therapy.

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  13. Aahh!!! I LOVE the last line! Swoony. Your story sound fabulous, I want to read it!!! I'm with Donna--that kiss between Harry and Ginny is waaaay better than the lame-o one in the movie.

    And all this talk of accidental kisses makes me think of a time in high school while playing the licorice game...
    *scampers off to write it down*

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  14. Funny, I never thought to the "accidental kiss" in literature before. Neat!

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  15. This was totally NOT an accident. I loved the awkwardness. I felt it!

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  16. I probably wont ever use an accidental kiss, it just seems to messy, or unpredictable. But a re-routed kiss would work. Like you said, meant for the cheek and you get a mouth full of lips. Happy valentine's day!

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  17. I haven't ever tried the accidental kiss either, but that was great!! Good stuff, David!

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  18. I loved that!!! Accidental kisses are sweet! Loved your post and your scene. I need to use one of those accidental kisses . . . probably more my speed when writing romance.

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  19. Seems less like a true "accident" and more "impulsive." A true accidental kiss: In the movie Road to Morocco when Bing Crosby and Bob Hope think they're kissing each other, or the ghost of Aunt Lucy. And they realize it's a CAMEL! (But I think they mistakenly called it a kangaroo).

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  20. Oh geez, that video didn't load when I first got to your blog. I guess that movie has two funny kissing scenes!

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. At the end of it all, young Tukey threw caution to the wind. Sounds like that accidental kiss was rather inspiring.

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  23. I don't believe in accidents either :) This is so great David!

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  24. So cute. I love this! Accidental kissing. I might have to do that in TGT 2.

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  25. This blog post made me laugh! I love all the different kinds of kisses! And your scene was great! Awkward and sweet. <3

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  26. "...until it puckered back." LOVE that!! I never considered the accidental kiss. Nicely done! I'm a new follower via the bloghop. Nice to meet you!

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  27. That was so sweet! I think I need to add an oopsy-daisy-I-didn't-mean-to-put-my-lips-on-your-lips kiss somewhere now. And all the accidental kisses before were great :) Happy Valentine's day and thanks for sharing!

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  28. Love this post with all the examples of accidental kisses. And your own scene rocks!

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  29. Accidental kisses are looked upon with a raised eyebrow by the ghost of Sigmund Freud, but he is an old fuddy-duddy ... according to Alice. Love the clip. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! Roland

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  30. Oh this was fun. Cool you wrote it before the hop

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  31. Aww that kiss was so sweet:) I loved it!
    And those other accidental kisses, you gotta love em!

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  32. We just want to think these kisses are accidents ;) Very cute post David!

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  33. I believe in accidents too. awesome take on the blog hop

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  34. Haha I love the awkwardness. Nice job!

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  35. Nice! Now I want to write a bunch of accidental kissing scenes. But I think there are no accidents when it comes to kissing, just impulse.

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  36. Nice! I love the surprise kisses. And yes, Ron's expression is priceless!!!!

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  37. I've totally had that awkward kiss that was supposed to be on the cheek but the boy turned his head, and it was like, side-lip. Ugh. Now whenever I do this, I grab their face, and put my hand over their mouth. It's fool proof :)

    This was an awesome post! Thanks for the follow!

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  38. So sweet! I bet neither of them will be able to think about anything else from then on ;)
    Thanks for sharing!

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  39. Nice! I really, really liked this! You did a great job with it.

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  40. Wow. I accidentally kiss people all the time and now I know I'm not alone.

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  41. David, I love the last line. No accidents. No regrets. Well done!

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  42. Great excerpt! I admit I've chipped a tooth or so in my time...but never tasted nose hair, thank goodness.

    If you've got time, I've tagged you to answer 11 random questions over at my place. Questions are at the bottom of this post. Whee!

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  43. First, I love how you preface your scene ;) Second, this is one of the best accidental kisses I've read, and I have to second, third and fourth the comments about that last line. It shows quite a lot about his character, and I like what I saw of it. Thank you for posting and for visiting my blog!

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  44. Love the ending! Aww! Wonderful exert.

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  45. Awwww! So cute! I love, love, LOVE that last line!! Yay for accidental kisses!

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  46. This kiss scene says a lot about your characters and the story as a whole. It's sweet and funny. The princess knows what she wants, huh? Turkey didn't seem to mind. Super cute!

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  47. lol...you've just gotta love those accidental kisses. But as Tukey says, there are no accidents. ;)

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  48. Haha, Oops! Loved the excerpt.

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  49. Any guy who knows his way around horses is hot (says the horse girl). That's why cowboys are so sexy.

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  50. Wonderful writing! Those accidental kisses are funny, but I agree, there are no accidents.

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  51. I love how you leave it off right there and just let us imagine what comes next. Happy little accident :)

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  52. I'm giggling like a little school girl at the "trope" choices. hehehe. So perfect. I can't help but love it when this happens. Even if it is on lady and the tramp. Ginny & Harry is an all time fave tho!

    Love your bloghop entry too!

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  53. Oh I really love this accidental kiss! Well done! And "I never believed in accidents" is a fantastic cliffhanger for us. :)

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  54. Haha! Tukey's a brave man going in for more! Great job, David!

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  55. Love the sweet moment. So good! Thanks for sharing.

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  56. Hilarious. And sweet ..can't say I've accidentally kissed someone.

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  57. I absolutely love "until they puckered back". That was so great!

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  58. Lady and the Tramp was such a sweet, accidental kiss. I wonder if people have been trying to recreate it since it first airing.

    I liked your own accidental kiss. Very sweet :)

    .......dhole

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  59. that was so lovely, and I loved all the pics of accidental kisses - awesome work :)

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  60. I love Tukey’s last line that he never believed in accidents.

    That kiss was very sweet, thanks for sharing.

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  61. love those unexpected kisses! And even more when they've been building up! :)

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  62. I love this troupe!! One of my favorites it can be funny and romantic at the same time :)

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  63. Beautiful last sentence... "I've never believed in accidents." Sigh, I'd for sure faint if someone said that to me. Love it.

    Ron face was priceless.

    Great post!

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  64. Until they puckered back . . . I love it! Great post!

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  65. Love it! Great scene :) And the accidental kiss is totally one of my favorite tropes--so fun!

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  66. Ah, Bob and Bing! A fitting end to a very cool post. Now, where can I get the rest of your story? I'm totally hooked and ready to purchase. :D

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  67. Road to Morocco! I love the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby road movies so so much.

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  68. So I'm reading this post late, but I really enjoyed the last line of your excerpt. And, of course, the accidental kiss is classic. One of the cutest I've seen recently was on the TV series, Bones. Booth (the guy) put his hand over Brennan's (the girl) coffee just as she was about to drink it to keep her from burning her lips...she ends up kissing his hand instead. :)

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