OOM -- for Athelstan

[capture_eternity]

Dorian's room still looks much the same like the first time when Athelstan came up to have a bath.

It looks a little more lived in now -- some books lying around in a half-read state, and some electronic devices, which Dorian seems quite fascinated by. There's another one on his tray with the tea, the paradoxes and the little bowl of awesomesauce, after all.

"Here we are," he says, putting the tray down while kicking the door shut.

He slings an arm around Athelstan's shoulder again.

"Bath now?" he murmurs against the soft, fuzzy dark beard on the ex-monk's face.

Comments

[capture_eternity]

"Let me run the bath, then," Dorian says. "Hot water alone helps with sore muscles and crud."

He pulls Athelstan along towards his bathroom, and turns up the faucet before starting to shed his own purple silk shirt.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan finishes disrobing with little modesty, and slips into the rising bath water to wait for Dorian.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian selects a few bottles from his bathroom cabinets, opens one of the slightly larger bottles, then adds a few drops of oil from the smaller bottles each, then shakes the larger one a little before pouring the contents into the still-running hot bathwater.

The scents are herbal, and will only be half-familiar to Athelstan -- mint and juniper and lemon balm, he might know; eucalyptus and tea tree, less so.

A soft, creamy foam rises from the water, which turns somewhat milky; then, Dorian sheds his trousers with no more modesty than Athelstan displayed, and steps into the bath. It's a large tub, with enough room for the two of them to comfortably snuggle without it getting crowded at all.

[athelstanthescribe]

The scents are all pleasant, whether he knows them or not, and Athelstan inhales them deeply as he watches Dorian join him.

His arms slide back around Dorian the moment he's close enough, all too willing to snuggle.

"What needs done now?" he murmurs against his ear. "Just sit in the water and let your potions work?"

[capture_eternity]

Dorian is content to snuggle as well.

"Do nothing," he murmurs. "Be comfortable. I can wash your hair and rub your back later, for added creature comforts."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That sounds wonderful." He kisses the corner of Dorian's mouth. "But for now, relaxation."

[capture_eternity]

"Hmmm."

Dorian comes closer, and rubs some creamy foam over Athelstan's shoulders and chest.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan returns the favour, scooping up some of the foam and rubbing it into Dorian's shoulders as well.

"I'll smell like a forest when I go home."

[capture_eternity]

"I don't think anybody will notice," Dorian says, softly.

After all, the two ladies most likely to have noticed are dead.

[athelstanthescribe]

"...no", he says quietly. "You're most likely right."

[capture_eternity]

Dorian leans forward and kisses him again, because Athelstan is so sweet and sad, and his pain is more real than many of the things Dorian sees every day in his own world, and he just wants to comfort his friend.

And kisses won't make the pain go away at all, but they can soften things.

[athelstanthescribe]

They can help him not think about it, for a minute or two at a time, and that's the best he hopes for right now.

He leans into the kiss, just a little more firmly than before, and his fingers comb through the long hair at Dorian's neck.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian keeps kissing him, pulling him closer, scooping up creamy, forest-scented foam to rub over Athelstan's back and shoulders, exploring the planes and angles of his muscles. He's quite nicely put together...

[athelstanthescribe]

He is, though a touch thinner than is ideal after his illness. His own hands begin to explore, slow and relaxed.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian gives a little pleased sound at Athelstan's hands sliding over his wet skin; he dips his head to kiss his neck, at the corner of the shoulder, and then moves forwards, towards Athelstan's throat.

[athelstanthescribe]

He makes a soft sound at the feeling of Dorian's lips on his throat, that region being sensitive, and his hands tighten a little.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian notices, ghosting his lips over Athelstan's throat to then bestow a lingering, suckling kiss underneath the edge of his jaw.

His fingers tangle in Athelstan's hair.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan's head tips back, exposing more of his throat, and his hands slip lower to Dorian's hips.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian slides closer in the warm water, and kisses a tightly dotted line down Athelstan's exposed throat.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan puts his arms around him with a soft groan, drawing him as close as possible.

[capture_eternity]

Hooking one leg around Athelstan, Dorian pulls him closer until they start touching, leisurely afloat, underwater.

"Lean back," he murmurs.

[athelstanthescribe]

He looks into Dorian's eyes, nods once, and leans back. Still touching him, wherever skin comes within reach.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian holds on to him, safely, and scoops up water to run through Athelstan's hair while gently nibbling on his throat and shoulders.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan's eyes drift closed as he lies back in Dorian's arms, trusting, letting him do what he will - but he's not asleep, just increasingly relaxed.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian continues to wash Athelstan's hair and gently nip his skin with his lips.

After a while, he cranes his neck to kiss his mouth again -- he doesn't want Athelstan to fall asleep in his bath, after all.