Athelstan's Room

[onceaviking]

And then he turns to face Athelstan again.

"Where do you want me to bite you?" he asks.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"The wrist", Athelstan says, and offers it.

(He might change his tune, but for the time being he's determined not to.)

[onceaviking]

Eric steps closer and lets his fangs drop.

Click

He takes Athelstan's wrist in one of his big, cold hands and turns it slightly before lifting it to his mouth.

There's a slight pause before he bites down - and when his fangs does break the skin, he stars rubbing the base of Athelstan's thumb with his own thumb.

Soothingly.

[athelstanthescribe]

The soothing is appreciated, as it's been long enough since the last time he'd forgotten the first sharp shock of the bite - but what he hasn't forgotten is the last time they spoke.

He turns his hand a little, letting Eric drink.

[onceaviking]

Eric cradle Athelstan's wrist as his lips and tongue move against his skin, coaxing the blood into flowing faster.

His eyes are closed and his eyelashes seem almost dark against the paleness of his cheekbones. And the sounds as he drinks are wet. Intimate.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches him, judging the progress of his own physical condition even as he studies the look on Eric's face.

[onceaviking]

Eric seems wholly engrossed in his feeding.

He trusts Athelstan as much as he'd ever trust a human. He didn't see any large silver objects as he had a look around the room, and he'd hear it if Furrypants came through the door.

So he allows himself to enjoy the pleasure of drinking pure, clean blood that tastes like home, fully.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan would only hurt him if he absolutely had to, and Eric doesn't want to make that happen, so Athelstan won't have to.

He lets it go on until he wavers a little, steadying himself against the wall.

[onceaviking]

Eric slowly opens his eyes and moves his lips away, pressing against the wounds with his fingers.

His lips and tongue and teeth and fangs are bright red.

"Would you drink from me?"
You never know. When people get ideas.

He licks his lips. Slowly. Enjoying the slickness and the faint trace of warmth.

[athelstanthescribe]

It's tempting. It's really tempting. And while he's relearned how to resist temptation these last four years... why should he?

"Just a little. So I can make it downstairs without falling."

[onceaviking]

Eric lets go of Athelstan's hand briefly - letting the blood flow - to lift his own hand to his mouth and bite down on the fleshy part below his thumb.
Foregoing his tongue this time.

He then holds out his hand and returns his attention to Athelstan's blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan takes his hand and brings it to his mouth, sucking at the blood and its familiar taste and - lift - before it stops flowing.

[onceaviking]

And when he does, he may sense a reaction. A whispered moan against his own wet skin.
A small twitch in Eric's body.

[athelstanthescribe]

He smiles very slightly against Eric's hand at the reaction, and his thumb moves to the pulse point of Eric's wrist, even if there's no pulse there.

[onceaviking]

A breath against his skin - and then Eric's mouth pulls harder at the wounds.
Drinking.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan lets him, dropping Eric's hand once the wound there has sealed over - without entirely letting go of it.

[onceaviking]

And Eric doesn't pull it away either.
His eyes have closed again and he has begun to caress Athelstan's wrist in earnest now, his fingertips tracing patterns on his skin.

It's a very gentle touch.

[athelstanthescribe]

He isn't sure what that's all about, but he certainly isn't going to end it before Eric wants to.

"Just a little more", he murmurs.

[onceaviking]

It's a practicality, really.
Trying to ensure that his hand stays in place, because tendrons and nerves are easily damaged.

That's all.

And then, after a little more, he slowly stops. And this time he does bite his tongue to lick the wound closed. Cleaning the skin at the same time.

Eyes still closed.
Face still.

He looks younger that way.

[athelstanthescribe]

He never really looks old - the joys of vampirism - but there's more to looking young than just smooth unmarked skin.

Athelstan nods. "Thank you."

[onceaviking]

Eric pulls his lips slightly back and retracts his fangs with a click.
Then he wipes the back of his hand across his mouth.

"Do you need more?" he asks.
Blood.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Hmm." He considers that. "I think I should be all right, once I get downstairs for a meal. But thank you for offering, as well."

[onceaviking]

Eric reaches over and puts cool, but not cold, fingers to his neck.
"Hmm," he says. "You should probably drink something before heading for the stairs."

It almost seems as if his touch lingers a little.

[athelstanthescribe]

It might even do that.

"Water? Or wine?"

He'll take Eric's advice on this matter, because Eric's the one who knows.

[onceaviking]

"Wine."

A better advice would likely have been water, but Athelstan asked and it is what Eric would have had if the situation had been reversed.

[athelstanthescribe]

He'll probably go for some of both anyway. But wine will feature because Eric said so.

"Eric", he says abruptly. "If this is only paying my debt... I'll pay it."

[onceaviking]

Eric licks his lips again, raising one eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" he asks.

[athelstanthescribe]

"'It was fortunate that you spoke with me, back when the longboat came'", Athelstan quotes. "And that out of nowhere, except that I wouldn't follow you just then."

[onceaviking]

"I make no claims on anything but your blood," Eric tells him.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then you'll have my blood."

He fulfils his obligations.

[onceaviking]

Eric had a feeling he'd think like that.

He nods.

"It is not a bad thing," he says. "Knowing a vampire."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And having a vampire willing to occasionally do you favours?" He smiles slightly. "I'll remember that."

[onceaviking]

"If I have nothing better to do with my time," Eric replies. Breezily.

There are still traces of blood around his mouth.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If that, yes." He nods and adds, thinking of the growing tension between Ragnar and King Horik, "I may have some battle opportunities for you in the future... if you have nothing better to do at the time."

[onceaviking]

And for a brief moment, Eric looks almost nostalgic.
"I do miss battle," he says. Quietly.

[athelstanthescribe]

"It would be the king's warriors against those loyal to Ragnar", Athelstan tells him. "If it comes to a crisis point. But you could kill as many of the king's men as you like, however you like."

Finding their fellows drained of blood would have the bonus of frightening the survivors.

[onceaviking]

"And a torn of head or two would just be a bonus," Eric says with a small smile.

Someone has clearly begun to think like a Viking.

[athelstanthescribe]

"It would certainly be unnerving", he says with a nod - because yes, he has, more and more.

[onceaviking]

"Torn off limbs work great as well," Eric tells him.
"And jawbones."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan laughs quietly.

"I'll leave the details up to your preference."

[onceaviking]

Eric smiles.

He has a nice smile. When it is not sarcastic, or arrogant, or one of the many other things it often is.

"But just remember, I am nobody's attack dog. You may ask. And I will answer what suits me best at the time."
He is, after all, not the one in debt here.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Of course", Athelstan says with a nod. "You're your own man, free to choose either way. But I'll come to find you if the time comes, to ask."

[onceaviking]

He nods.

Then he wipes his mouth a final time.
"Drink some wine. Eat some meat. On me."

His smile is small and mirthless.

"Never let it be said that I do not match the generosity shown by earls."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You always have", Athelstan says quietly. "At least after these... repayments. And I appreciate it as I do his."

[onceaviking]

Eric gives him a small nod and runs a hand through his hair.

"I'll see myself out," he says, turning to leave.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll see you soon", Athelstan says to his back.

It's a promise, of a kind.

[onceaviking]

Eric looks back at him, over his shoulder.

"Yes," he says. And then he is gone.