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]

He purrs.

Eric has quite a good imagination as well.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan laughs quietly.

"Mind, I'm... almost sure Lady Lagertha sent Thyri to me. But I hope I pleased her all the same."

[onceaviking]

"Then that's what matters," Eric says with firm conviction.

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods, and offers a crooked smile.

"And perhaps now I'm going to live, she'll come back."

[onceaviking]

"That is a thing to strive for," Eric says.

"Dry off. I'll walk you to the door."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods, turns off the shower, and reaches for a towel.

"And I'll go home."

[onceaviking]

"And you'll go home," Eric agrees, grabbing another towel.

[athelstanthescribe]

It doesn't take him long to dry off, even doing it thoroughly, and a few minutes to put his clothes back on, and then he's ready... at least physically, and he can force himself to do many things.

[onceaviking]

Eric is back in his track suit as well and as he walks over to Athelstan, he drops one huge hand on the back of his neck.

It might be meant as a comfort.

[athelstanthescribe]

It clearly isn't a harsh gesture - perhaps a touch possessive, but that's almost a comfort in its own way as well, and Athelstan smiles up at him.

"So. Downstairs?"

[onceaviking]

"Downstairs," Eric agrees, letting Athelstan out the door.
He'll walk him to the door and let him drink discreetly just before passing through.

[athelstanthescribe]

And so they walk downstairs, back into the main bar, and over to the front door.

[onceaviking]

Eric looks around, discreetly, and then lifts his hand to his mouth, partly hiding the fangs as they come down.

He bites down with a crunch and then offers his hand to Athelstan.

[athelstanthescribe]

He follows Eric's gaze, a quick flicker of eyes just to double-check, then shifting so that Eric's body blocks anyone's view of them, lifts Eric's hand and drinks.

[onceaviking]

Eric lets him take a small mouthful and then he stops him.
"Careful," he says. "It'll be different once you go
Through. Perhaps."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Different?" He's never tried that before. "How so?"

[onceaviking]

"At home, it's stronger. More intoxicating. This should be enough."

[athelstanthescribe]

"All right." He'll take Eric's more knowledgeable word for it. "Everyone else has been drinking heavily, I'm sure they won't notice a thing."

[onceaviking]

"At Uppsala? Not a chance," Eric agrees.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan laughs briefly, then glances back at the door.

"Well, then."

[onceaviking]

Eric gives him a clap on the back.
"I will see you later,"' he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes." He's trying very hard to still be sure he'll be back. "Until then."

[onceaviking]

Eric nods and waits for him to move.

And when he does so, he bends down and murmurs, "Peace," in his ear.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Peace", he echoes very quietly.

And then he's gone.