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]

And Eric presses his bloodied mouth to Athelstan's neck and increases his pace, willing him to come. To let him taste it in his blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

It isn't much longer after that before Athelstan shouts out - Eric's name, this time, not Ragnar's, and his whole body is racked with the force of his orgasm.

[onceaviking]

The taste -

Eric swallows, once, twice, and then he bites his tongue and licks Athelstan's skin, tightening his hold on him at the same time.

They're vulnerable right after release. Humans. It's the right time to give the impression of gentleness. Care.

[athelstanthescribe]

Real or fake, it's a good enough impression.

Athelstan sags against him, having given all he can for one day.

[onceaviking]

Eric runs his lips along his jawline and kisses his eyes.
Still holding him tightly.

[athelstanthescribe]

He opens his eyes after a while, tiredly blinking up at Eric.

[onceaviking]

Eric's lips and chin are wet with blood. His hair is tousled.
He runs a hand through it, but it helps very little.

Then he touches Athelstan's cheek.
"You okay?"

[athelstanthescribe]

He's not sure how much of that blood is his, and how much is Eric's own from closing his wounds, and it doesn't seem to matter.

"Just... need to rest. I can go back to my room..."

[onceaviking]

"You can sleep here. I will wake you before dawn."
It surprises himself a little. The offer.

Still, Athelstan is harmless.
And he smells nice.

Especially now.

[athelstanthescribe]

It surprises Athelstan, too, but after a moment he nods.

"That would... probably be best."

[onceaviking]

Eric gets up from the bed and pads - naked - over to his desk.

"You can wash up if you like first," he says.
He'll wait a little.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan considers this, mustering the energy to roll onto his back.

"Later", he decides, not sure if he can move any further.

[onceaviking]

Eric nods and then he turns his attention to his laptop.

He's looking at vampire specific legal templates.
Last will kind of things.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan's head drops to the bed, and he's soon asleep.

[onceaviking]

Time passes.
The room is quiet apart from Eric tapping on the keys of his laptop once in a while.
Keyboards are not built for Viking fingers.

At one point he goes to the bathroom to wash up.

When dawn approaches he walks to the bed and touches Athelstan's shoulder.
"Wake up."

His fingers are cold again.

[athelstanthescribe]

He starts awake immediately, always a light sleeper.

"It's time to go?"

[onceaviking]

Eric nods.
"You have time to wash," he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"All right." He swings his legs to the edge of the bed, moving stiffly but with more energy than before. "I do enjoy your shower."

[onceaviking]

"It certainly is a thing to be enjoyed," Eric agrees.

He has gotten dressed in the meantime as well, in a tracksuit, and as Athelstan gets off the bed, he begins to pull the bedding off. No reason to sleep in sheets crusty with dried blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's not sure where his clothes ends up, and glances around for them as he heads to the bathroom.

"I hope the laundry here is good", he says with a quick wry smile as he catches sight of the sheets.

[onceaviking]

"It is," Eric says. "And reasonably priced."

Athelstan's tunic and trousers have ended up in a heap close to the bed.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes note of that, for when he returns, and disappears into the bathroom.

...Eric may want to come and drag him out in a while, before his hot water bill goes through the roof.

[onceaviking]

Eric lets him bathe.
He understands.

He gets ready for the dawn himself, closing up his laptop, bundling up the soiled bedding, and, yes, making the bed.
He likes clean sheets.

He is feeling the approaching sun but he'll wait till Athelstan has left before lying down.

[athelstanthescribe]

He does put a limit on his time, given the approaching dawn, and emerges with his skin rubbed dry and his hair at least not dripping, to dress.

"Still a few minutes, I hope?"

[onceaviking]

"The sun has risen," Eric says, "But I can manage."

He can feel the pressure build in his nose and ears, but staying awake for a couple of minutes more matters little.