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.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"The things they've come up with in later times."

He'll never cease to find it amazing.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"So," Ragnar says, reaching out to stroke Athelstan's lower leg and foot, "Jay is putting three of those into barrels to take on the voyage, so if we run out of freshwater, we still won't die. It hasn't happened to us yet, but it's a danger if voyages get too long. It makes getting there yet a little bit safer."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Every little helps", he agrees. "One can go on each of three boats, unless you're only bringing one."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"One for me, one for Rollo, and one for Floki," Ragnar says. "They know about this place, after all."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods. "So they can think of something to tell the others, if it comes to that."

[thewidewideworld]

There is a soft sound from the half open door of Sinric's private room. The sound of someone dropping heavy boots and dragging themselves around the room.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, that was exactly..." Ragnar was saying when he hears the noise.

"Sinric?" he calls.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric peeks his head around the door, caught halfway in the action of undressing. "Beloveds. I didn't expect to find you-" the rest gets lost in a heavy yawn.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Well, since you have", Athelstan suggests, "come in."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, come here," Ragnar says, extending his hand. "Snuggle between us, and fall asleep while we talk of machines from the future."

[thewidewideworld]

"One moment." He sheds the rest of his clothes and changes into a robe. He pads in to join them, his bare feet silent on the deep rugs. "I've missed you both."

He takes Ragnar's hand and let himself be pulled closer.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Were you gone very long, this time?"

As Sinric experienced it, he means.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar pulls him close so he comes to sit on the bed as well, then leans in to kiss Sinric's cheek

[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.