Eric's room - for Athelstan

[onceaviking]

Eric's room is neat and bare.
He hadn't been expecting to return.

He opens the door and lets Athelstan in. Then he switches on the bedside lamp and turns to look at him.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"A little... dulled", he says after a moment's self-evaluation. "But otherwise all right."

[onceaviking]

Eric nods.
"The offer still stands," he says, quietly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"And I'll take it", he says equally quietly. "At best, I'm going to watch someone volunteer in my place."

[onceaviking]

Eric nods.

Then he looks away. And says," Peace."
That's what comes after.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll remember", Athelstan promises.

[onceaviking]

He nods.

"When will you go back?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Soon." He glances at the door to Eric's room, and everything that lies beyond it. "No sense putting it off."

[onceaviking]

Eric nods.

"No," he says. "There no sense in that."

[athelstanthescribe]

"So", he says with a faint smile. "Soon."

[onceaviking]

"If I am there, let me know," Eric says and gets up, heading for, of course, the bathroom.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Perhaps today." He pushes himself up, with an effort, and wanders in that direction as well. "We'll see."

[onceaviking]

"How are you feeling?" Eric asks, without turning, as he turns in the water. Sometimes getting vertical makes a difference.

[athelstanthescribe]

"A little dizzy. I've felt worse."

He's walking under his own power, and in a straight line.

[onceaviking]

Eric nods and steps under the spray. Running his fingers through his hair.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan heads for one of the other shower heads, intent on enjoying this thoroughly.

[onceaviking]

Eric reaches for a bottle of shower gel and begins to lather up, running his hands over the hard planes of his body.

[athelstanthescribe]

He watches, but doesn't approach again. Not yet.

He'll just take in the sight of Eric for now.

[onceaviking]

And Eric is fully focused on washing, the simple pleasure of getting clean, of touching his own, slick skin.

And he is a little distant too, perhaps.
Still caught up in the events at home.

Still getting used to still being here.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan doesn't take his eyes off him, even as he goes about the business of washing himself.

"Where will you bury him?" he asks eventually.

[onceaviking]

"A were owes me a favor. He's in the construction business and he is working at a site where they are laying the foundation for a new building. He'll go in there. And believed with concrete."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There to remain until they knock it down", he says thoughtfully.

[onceaviking]

"If they ever do," Eric replies.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If they ever do. Yes." A faint smile. "Let's hope they don't."

[onceaviking]

"Long may it stand," Eric murmurs and tips his head back, into the spay.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan falls silent again, washing the blood off himself and taking the chance to wash his hair while he can.