A behavior question

[ritaxis]

If you're reading a story set in another place and time, and soldier friends are holding hands, what do you think is going on?

How much preparation do you need to believe that this is normal behavior for close, platonic friends, in this particular place and time?

Comments

[pameladean]

I assume it's close platonic friends until I see evidence to the contrary.

Possibly my uneven reading has made my expectations a bit weird, though.

P.

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Well, it would help if it's first shown in a situation where someone in authority is looking on approvingly -- a military officer, a chaplain, the wife or girl friend of one of the soldiers....

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

I think that if it was written without romantic or sexual language I would buy it as platonic friendship pretty easily.

[zeffy-amethyst.livejournal.com]

I come from a country where men holding hands and hugging each other is the norm so I would assume it to be platonic.

And I don't think I would need any prep. Just throw in a line about one grabbing the other's hand, and still talking normally, platonically and that's all I need.