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

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I asked," Ragnar says. "Of course. He said he has to do it alone."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Of course", Athelstan echoes. "And there isn't much we can do without his consent."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Especially as his world is full of machines and fire-weapons," Ragnar says. "And we have axes."

[athelstanthescribe]

"We could learn to use those. Or they might not see axes coming."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Still, I don't think we could invade his world without his consent." Ragnar says. "And yes, we could learn, if he let us."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That's the biggest problem. Everything except his consent can be worked around."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Just so," Ragnar says. "In the end, we can only give him what he is willing to accept."

[athelstanthescribe]

"We'll just have to see how it falls out."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Exactly," Ragnar says. "He knows we are willing to help, and we can tell him again when we get the compasses."

He stretches a little, touching his cheek to the sleeping Sinric's golden hair before leaning in to kiss Athelstan.

"He helps so much. He understands us."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Perhaps he might allow us to do something other than fight for him", he says with a nod. "Whatever help he may need."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We can offer when we get the compasses," Ragnar says, "and make it clear we mean it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Make it clear how, that you haven't already tried?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I have," Ragnar says. "But it might be clearer if we are two."

Pause.

"Also, I hadn't thought that our contribution might not include fighting."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan shrugs.

"He's already said he doesn't want to involve anyone else in that."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Which is why I arrived at 'No way to help him'," Ragnar admits.

[athelstanthescribe]

"And you might be right. But you might not be."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And that's another reason I'm no good without you," Ragnar says.

He stretches.

"Come here, and let's sleep as well. It's getting late."

[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.

[athelstanthescribe]

He shifts a little closer, trying not to wake Sinric.

"Yes, it's probably time we did."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric snuggles in without waking, use to cuddling in the company of others. He shifts to make them both comfortable out of instinct.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Hmmm," Ragnar murmurs, in general agreement with the situation.

He drops a kiss on the cheek of each of them, then wraps himself around them and closes his eyes, happy to have them close despite all that is still ahead.

He is soon asleep, and snores only very softly.

[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?"