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

[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.

[onceaviking]

Eric may cast a brief look in his direction.
Remembering last time he tried that.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's doing it better this time, remembering that as well and keeping his hair well out of his eyes.

"Can vampires starve to death?" he asks suddenly.

[onceaviking]

"I have no idea," Eric replies, his eyes closed as he washes his hair.
"I guess I might find out now."

[athelstanthescribe]

"In a few decades, perhaps. Or however long buildings are made to last in your world."

[onceaviking]

"Perhaps. There are the silver chains to consider as well."

Pain. Incessant, unbearable pain.

[athelstanthescribe]

"But they won't kill him, in and of themselves?"

[onceaviking]

"He is too old for that."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"And there will be nothing he can do to end it himself, away from the sun."

[onceaviking]

Eric turns his head to look at him.
"No," he says, calmly. "There won't be."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then perhaps he had better hope starvation is possible."

[onceaviking]

"I am sure he will," Eric says, quietly intense.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan looks back at him.

"You can trust this were not to talk?"

[onceaviking]

"His father owes me money. This is how he is going to pay me back."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods.

"So if he does, he knows what will happen."

[onceaviking]

"He does," Eric agrees.
"His father is a drinker and a gambler and a great embarrassment to him. But they are kin."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Kin protects kin", Athelstan agrees. "If they can."

[onceaviking]

"Even if they have to serve a vampire to do so," Eric says with a small, somewhat unpleasant smile.