For Athelstan

[onceaviking]

His room is neat.
The laptop is switched on, the decanter in the low table has been refilled with wine, the bed is made.

He turns on the light as they enter and turns to look at Athelstan.

Comments

[onceaviking]

Eric reaches over and steadies him with a huge, cool hand.

"I'll get it," he says and gets up to fetch a glass of wine.
Very naked. Very unconcerned about that fact.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan sits back down on the bed, looking discombobulated.

"Did you take more than the other times? I know there were more bites, but it's hard to tell..."

[onceaviking]

Eric returns with a full wine glass and hands it to him, looking at him.
"A little more. I - "
He smiles.

"I found you hard to resist."

[athelstanthescribe]

He takes the wine and drinks a little, with a curious cock of his head.

"My blood is a rarity? Even here?"

[onceaviking]

"Even here. "

He sits down again, at the edge of the bed.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches him, unfazed by nudity when there's this distance between them - he grew up in a community of men who shared living space, after all.

"Then perhaps I ought to ration it", he says, teasing.

[onceaviking]

"That would be cruel," Eric says with a mock pout.
And then the pout melts into a thoughtful expression.

"I don't think you'd want that. To be cruel."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not on purpose", he agrees sincerely, if with a touch of amusement left over from seeing Eric pout. "I wouldn't enjoy it."

[onceaviking]

"No,"Eric says, looking at him.
"You wouldn't. Drink your wine."

[athelstanthescribe]

He takes another swallow, obediently.

"Where's it from?"

[onceaviking]

"France. From a - France."

He doesn't really know what had possessed him to ask for that particular wine.
He's not one for sentimentality.

[athelstanthescribe]

"They are known for it", he says with a nod, "even in my time. The Romans liked Gaulish wine."

And... all wine, really.

[onceaviking]

He nods.
"Yes," he says. And then, "I spent some time there once. With a girl. I haven't tasted it. Obviously."

Being a vampire.
There are so many experiences he will never have.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Some time... with one girl", he echoes, not quite a question. "And after your turning... did your people have access to wine?"

[onceaviking]

"They did. Before it too, but it was rare. And not from that part of France, I think."

He rubs a hand over his face.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Would you rather not speak of it?" he asks immediately, quietly.

[onceaviking]

There is a long silence.

Then Eric says, "I can't talk about it. About her."
Not looking at him.

[athelstanthescribe]

"All right." Eric's told him before his only Progeny was Pam so that means, one way or another, this girl died. "I'm sorry."

He drains the rest of his wine.

[onceaviking]

Eric looks back at him.
"Don't be. Don't waste that on me."

It's meant as a joke.

"Do you want more?"

[athelstanthescribe]

The joke rings just a little hollow, somehow. Athelstan considers the offer.

"Perhaps just a little. The point is to make me able to walk, after all."

[onceaviking]

Eric chuckles and gets up to get the decanter.
"Lightweight," he says as he returns and fills up his glass.

It's a coincidence if it sounds sort of - fond.

[athelstanthescribe]

Totally a coincidence.

"I'm building tolerance", he claims. "...slowly."

[onceaviking]

Eric snorts.
Unimpressed.

Then he lies back down on the bed and stretches.
Pale. Blood spattered. Hard.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan studies him, his eyes much clearer now with the reviving wine.

"You're... not finished. Can I do anything about that?"

[onceaviking]

Eric lifts an eyebrow.

"Do you want to?" he asks.