OOM: Returning Eunuch

[bigarmy_strangepants]

It is late in the day, and Ragnar is lounging in his room, talking to Athelstan.

He could spend eternity just talking to Athelstan, and then an eternity again with all the other Athelstan-related things.

But they never run out of things to talk about, it seems.

"... will turn seawater into potable water, like making salt, just the other way around," he is saying.

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[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sleeps through dawn, a sign of just how tired he was. He wakes slowly, smiling to find himself cuddled between Ragnar and Athelstan. Two of the people he loves most in the world. He presses a kiss to Ragnar's cheek, and then to Athelstan's before slipping out between them as silently as he can.

He can still smell peat smoke and horses in his hair and on his skin so he slips into the bathroom. He leaves the door ajar a little, to let them know they're welcome to join him.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

At first, Ragnar just gathers Athelstan closer to fill the voice in the middle; then, he buries his face in Athelstan's hair hair and tries to close his eyes again, but then, he realises that he is awake after all, sits up, stretches, and yawns.

"... Morning?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"I think it is", Athelstan says without opening his eyes. "And I hear water running."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's voice filters back to them, singing softly to himself under the spray of the shower.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That is Sinric singing," Ragnar says, stretching again. "What a lovely sound to wake up to."

Pause.

"Do you want to keep on sleeping for a bit? I could get us breakfast?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"If you wouldn't mind? Though I don't know if I'll go back to sleep."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric takes his time, luxuriating in the hot water and the clear wonderful smells of shampoo.

He knows if they want him, they'll call to him. Or join him.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar bends to kiss Athelstan's cheek, and then gets off the bed.

"Don't let me disturb you," he says to Sinric as he walks into the bathroom, shedding his shirt and then kicking off his breeches. "You probably didn't have enough hot water for weeks and weeks."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If you had any at all", Athelstan calls, pitched over the water.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs warmly, casting his voice in answer. "Luke warm bucket washing for the better part of a month. I'm surprised you let me into you bed give how I must stink."

He smiles to Ragnar, stepping aside to make room for him. "You're not disturbing me. I welcome the company."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

After seeing to the most pressing business, Ragnar joins Sinric in the shower, starting to scrub himself down.

"Just getting clean," he says, loud enough for Athelstan to hear. "I'll get breakfast right afterwards."

[athelstanthescribe]

"No hurry", Athelstan calls back, and means it.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric takes up the soap and washes Ragnar's back for him. "I promised I'd meet the good doctor for breakfast. I wonder if he's forgive me if I asked him to meet me for lunch instead. Or would you rather the time alone with Athelstan?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"No, stay here," Ragnar says. "I can leave a message for the doctor at the bar when I go down, if you like?"

He leans into Sinric's ministrations, rubbing his face under the running water.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan curls back up in the bed, just listening to the water and what he can hear of the talking.

[thewidewideworld]

"I'll write a note for you to take, if you'd be so kind. I would be rude of me to leave him with no explanation." His clever fingers find knots in Ragnar's shoulders, sliding down the curve of his spine. "I worry some times he gets jealous of what I share with you and Athelstan."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar moans in pleasure at the ministrations. There are always knots of some kind to loosen up.

"Nobody has any business of getting jealous at anybody, over you," Ragnar says. "You are one of the freest people I know. The whole wide worlds is yours, rather than happiness in one place, with one person."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs warmly and kisses the crest of Ragnar's spine. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you know me so well. But even so, it doesn't give me licence to callously break my word. And I enjoy his company greatly and in different ways."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"He is very cultured, even more so than Athelstan," Ragnar says. "All the books and music and art, and good food. You should have as much of that as you want."

He turns to kiss Sinric.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric pushes up on his toes, soapy breasts pressing against Ragnar's chest as he returns the kiss.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar kisses him back yet again. "Yes?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles, arms draped around Ragnar's neck. "The culture and music I share with him takes nothing away from what I share with you. Family, love, desire, security , passion." He pushes up to kiss Ragnar again. Deeply, "Home."

There is so much meaning in that one word. In the truth behind it that coming to their bed last light and falling asleep to their voices was coming home to him.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I suppose," Ragnar says, "culture and words will not replace that sort of belonging I am glad you have found with us."

He kisses Sinric again.

[thewidewideworld]

He answers the kiss with one of his own, one laden with love and desire but not demanding anything. He rests his slender hands on Ragnar's hips, balancing on tiptoes.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Sweet Sinric," Ragnar murmurs, running his fingers down the side of his neck as they kiss.