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]

Ragnar picks up his mug of tea again; it's cooled down by now, but still drinkable.

"Sinric!" he adds his voice to Athelstan's.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric joins them after a moments delay, not looking much more polished. His hair has been brushed to a shine and bound up in delicate braids. His eyes are dark with kohl and his tunic fresh and pretty.

Either dressed up for them or to meet his doctor. Or both. "My beloveds." He kisses each of them in turn, scented sweetly and seeks out his abandoned tea.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan leans back to look at him.

"Look at you, all dressed up."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And bright and shiny," Ragnar adds, smiling.

[thewidewideworld]

He sweeps a deep bow. "It's the first time I've been properly clean in weeks. I wanted to make the most of it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"As you should. Though you may have to let it wear off again before you go back."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"We can help roll you in grime," Ragnar grins, "before you go back. I wonder if the bar has camel dung?"

He grins his familiar bad idea grin at them both.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric growls and gives Ragnar a playful shove. Like being mauled by a kitten.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You don't think our Sinric goes rolling in camel dung?" Athelstan demands lightly.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"He will have to be re-grimed in some way or another," Ragnar says, catching Sinric's hand.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric pounces on Ragnar, trying to tickle him in order to get free. "I can simply draw water and say I washed. I don't need to be rolled in dung!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"That would probably be easier", Athelstan agrees. "If there's a place you could have got the water from."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar falls backwards on the bed, laughing as he is tackled, and tickled, completely giving in to the onslaught.

[thewidewideworld]

"Ha!" Sinric pins him down, blowing raspberries on the neck of his defeated foe.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches them, eating all the olives.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar laughs and flails, pinned down and silly, naked feet in the air.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric gives him a big sloppy kiss and rolls over to rest his head on Athelstan's knee, looking up at him. "I'm glad you're here to be the voice of sense."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I do try. But don't let me spoil your fun."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Well, I'm being the voice of nonsense," Ragnar says, reaching to tickle Sinric's side, "so somebody has to make up for it."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric screams and giggles, reaching for Athelstan for help.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes his hand, but isn't taking sides.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar grins up at him as he gathers Sinric close to tickle him some more.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric giggles and tries to climb into Athelstan's lap, to get away from Ragnar's ticking. So much for that perfectly brushed hair!

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan yelps in protest, holding his bowl of olives safely out of the way.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar lies back, smiling at them both with pure innocence, eyeing both Sinric and the olives.