For Sinric

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan's room is almost pathologically neat, the bed made and everything in its place.

He stands aside to let Sinric in, the bathroom door standing open to reveal the huge sunken bath inside.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Oops, so Sinric really didn't mention it last night,

"You were very full of hemp smoke," Ragnar says. "sweet, cuddly and hungry, too. I am sorry; tell me what you want to be called, and I'll stick by it."

He looks at Athelstan, trying to gauge whether the name of Sinric means anything to him.

[athelstanthescribe]

It doesn't seem to - Ragnar might well have mentioned it only for it to get lost in four years of conversation.

"Oriens was the name I was given", Athelstan offers.

[thewidewideworld]

"I quite like Oriens." He answers, starting to steady himself. "It has a nice feel to it."

He moves towards Ragnar, flirtatious mask returning. "So you are the great earl who deserves such a wonderful bath."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I am," Ragnar says. "And it's not just baths I am getting, Oriens."

He looks at Athelstan -- how much does Sinric know yet?

Ragnar is willing to be discreet and even forgo a kiss for 'Good Morning' if Athelstan would be careful around somebody from their world, even one that Athelstan has clearly shared his bed with.

[athelstanthescribe]

"He knows", Athelstan says with a small smile. "We can trust him."

After all, Oriens has secrets of his own.

[thewidewideworld]

"You're a very fortunate man, Earl Ragnar. To have such a kind-hearted and gentle lover."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You can't even begin to know yet just how wonderful Athelstan is," Ragnar declares. "I thank Fate every day that it gave him to me."

He crosses the room to Athelstan, takes him in his arm, and kisses him deeply and lovingly.

Being able to touch his beloved in front of a witness is a special thrill, a feeling of both belonging and possessiveness he is usually denied.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan blinks, having not expected such a forthright action, but quickly relaxes into the kiss.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric chuckles and lounges a little on the bed to watch. "He is a treasure, sure enough." The warmth is his own thighs attests to that.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Do you mind?" Ragnar whispers against Athelstan's lips; he doesn't want to embarrass him.

He'll have to explain later who Sinric actually is, and how much they owe him -- even though this beautiful youth has no more idea of it than a piece of amber has of the Silk Road.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not this time", Athelstan murmurs back, sparing a warm look for Sinric. "And he doesn't seem to mind, either."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric grins wickedly. "Oh I don't mind at all. You are beautiful together. But this bed is so large and cold without company in it."

He sprawls out over his fur wrap, knowing how it highlights his golden hair. "Unless you'd like me to go?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar runs a big, warm hand down Athelstan's bare back, getting even bolder.

"Do you like what you see?" he asks Sinric.

He kisses Athelstan once more.

"In that case, we could come a bit closer. and keep you company."

Another look at Athelstan, to make sure he's on board with that development -- without even knowing who Sinric is.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's already slept with Sinric, and if it's what Ragnar wants... and besides, he has to admit the idea is intriguing.

He takes Ragnar's hand and steps towards the bed. "We wouldn't want you to get cold."

[thewidewideworld]

"How can I not like what I see when you're both so stunning. Like an oak and an ash tree entwined." He shimmies back, perching on the foot of the bed to give them space and let them lead as they wish.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That is a lovely image you have for us," Ragnar says, settling on the bed and pulling Athelstan with him for another kiss, and a bolder touch running all the way down his front.

[athelstanthescribe]

"He's a poet", Athelstan says softly as the kiss ends. "A little songbird."

[thewidewideworld]

A song bird he is and can be. Sinric starts to sing softly, a lilting song in Arabic about a hunter whose loves is turned into a deer, cursed to chase and never catch.

He whispers kisses over Athelstan's shoulders as he sings, brushing fingers through his long brown hair as Ragnar touches him. Beyond that, he waits to see what they've will permit of him in their coupling.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Sinric doesn't know who he is, either -- and probably needs to be put at ease, young as he is.

Ragnar winks at him over Athelstan's shoulder.

"You needn't stay dressed," he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan turns his head to look for Sinric, reaching backwards for his hand.

"Unless you want to, of course."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses Athelstan's shoulder again, squeezing his hand. Still singing, he reaches for the brooches and lets the cloth fall, revealing his full form to Ragnar for the first time (for him anyway).

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Bad Ragnar, in turn, remembers.

Still kissing Athelstan, he reaches out to touch Sinric's breasts, rubbing the soft, generous nubs of his nipples with callused fingers.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan turns to take both men into his arms, including them both in this and allowing space for them to touch each other.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric moves to be closer to them, still singing though the song drifts into moans as Ragnar's hard hand finds him.

His own hands move - the Ragnar's thighs, to Athelstan's chest, ready and willing to pleasure them both.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar kneels up to unceremoniously loosen his breeches, which he then easily sheds -- he's been the only one still wearing clothes at all, and now this has been remedied.

Ragnar remembers well how sensitive Sinric used to be -- is, really -- and he does like nipples, too.