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]

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.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Maybe. If you show me what to do."

[onceaviking]

Eric looks at him for a moment. Then he says, "With your hand. Like when you touch yourselves."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods. "Like... the first time in this room. I can do that."

He's really not ready for the other way yet, especially with a vampire.

[onceaviking]

You should definitely go for someone warm for that first time.

Eric spreads his legs a little, his gaze suddenly heavy on Athelstan's face.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan drinks his wine, sets down the glass, and moves over so he's next to Eric again.

He reaches for him, not taking his eyes from Eric's face, and wraps his hand around him, fingers starting to move as Eric taught him.

[onceaviking]

There is less tension in the set of Eric's shoulders than the often is. When it comes to this.

He is stacking favors like a human might stack wood against the coming of winter. And he is not close to losing control.

Still, it's nice.

His lips part slightly.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan picks up the pace, not afraid of hurting Eric as he might have been for a human man.

After a moment, seeing Eric's lips move, he leans in to kiss him.

[onceaviking]

It's a little unexpected, but Eric lets him.

It's nice in a way.
It shouldn't be.
But it is.

[athelstanthescribe]

It lasts a little while, before he pulls back, trying to determine if what he's doing is getting them anywhere.

[onceaviking]

Eric reaches down and moves his fingers a little.
"Like this is - He cuts himself off with a moan.

[athelstanthescribe]

Well, that's a good sign. He starts where Eric indicated, sliding gradually higher but keeping the movements going.

[onceaviking]

Eric is more responsive than he tends to be in situations like this. Moaning a little.
Twitching.

Gasping.

His eyes have closed. His lips are still parted.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's rather gratifying, getting a reaction like this out of him.

Athelstan keeps going, his free hand straying to run over Eric's skin.

[onceaviking]

Eric's moans grow a little more frequent. And then he stills Athelstan's hand by wrapping his own around it.

"Stop."

His thumb moves across the back of Athelstan's hand in a brief caress.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan looks up at him, confused.

"Why?"

[onceaviking]

"It is -"

He hesitates, seemingly searching for words.
"It is no longer as it was when I was human. And as I told you, there is nothing in me than blood."