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]

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.

[thewidewideworld]

"Loving Ragnar." Sinric can't help but arch to the touch, lashes fluttering in a breathless little sigh. His nipples harden as they press against Ragnar's chest.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Later," Ragnar whispers, a bit regretfully. "I promised Athelstan breakfast."

Before the torture in England, and the way it broke things in Athelstan's soul, Ragnar wouldn't have hesitated -- Athelstan would either have come and joined in, or got his share later. But now, he can imagine him noticing, and feeling left out and a failure all at once.

[thewidewideworld]

"Of course." Sinric lowers his eyes and steps back a pace, the same worries in his own thoughts. "Let me finish washing my hair and I'll write that note for you."

He busies himself with the conditioner, schooling his thoughts and his body's reactions.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar feels rather sorry for a moment, but it's important for him not to bewilder Athelstan, or make him uncomfortable.

He quickly rubs soap on some parts of his body, then rinses it off and starts drying himself.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric rinses and wrings his hair out, wrapping it in a towel as he pulls on a robe.

He catches Ragnar's arm and looks up at him, dark eyes deep. "I love him too." He says softly, as if reading Ragnar's thoughts. "And what would either of us not give up to safe guard his happiness."

He gives Ragnar's arm a squeeze and darts into his own room to write the note for Hannibal.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I wish there was more happiness for him, and less need to safeguard against unhappiness," Ragnar says quietly. "It breaks my heart I can't help more from here -- the best I can do is going to free him in our world."

He finishes drying himself, and puts on breeches and a loose shirt. No need for a belt with pouch and seas,,right now.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan is sitting up in the bed, and glances up as Sinric darts past and Ragnar steps into the room.

"All ready?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Sinric will give me a note to leave with the bar," Ragna says, picking up a shoe and wondering if it's too dirty to put on now that he's really clean. "Which I will do while I get our food."

No, the shoe is too dirty. He'll go barefoot for the moment.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric returns a moment later with the note, folded carefully and tied with a length of ribbon. "Thank you for this, Ragnar." He kisses Ragnar on the cheek before coming over to Athelstan and the bed. "May I join you while we wait for breakfast?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Of course", Athelstan assures him, and reaches to throw the blanket back.