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]

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.

[athelstanthescribe]

He doesn't open his eyes - but he does respond to the kiss, his lips moving against Dorian's and parting a little, and his hands stroke repetitively over Dorian's skin where he's touching him.

"I'm awake", he murmurs softly.

[capture_eternity]

"I hoped so," Dorian says, running his hands down Athelstan's sides.

[athelstanthescribe]

"You have magic in your hands", Athelstan tells him, mostly joking. "I haven't felt this well in days."

[capture_eternity]

"That's rather the point," Dorian murmurs. He scoops up some of the creamy foam, and spreads it over Athelstan's chest.

[athelstanthescribe]

Finally, he opens his eyes, peering down at his chest.

"What are you doing?"

[capture_eternity]

"Make you smell like a forest even more," Dorian says. He leans over Athelstan, smoothly sliding up with the slippery foam.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll have to go hunting", he says seriously, leaning back against Dorian's supporting arm. "Come back from the real forest so they can see me."

[capture_eternity]

"We'll have to re-dirty you before you leave, too," Dorian says. "Because you're squeaky clean now."

He gently pulls on Athelstan's soggy beard.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The forest might take care of that, too", Athelstan returns mock-thoughtfully, catching Dorian's hand and pulling it away from his beard. "Why do people keep doing that?"

[capture_eternity]

"Because it's a nice little beard?" Dorian says, leaning in for a slightly apologetic kiss.

[athelstanthescribe]

He returns it, accepting the apology with only a small mock-sulk.

"It will be a better beard one day."

[capture_eternity]

"It's quite a good beard already!" Dorian declares.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan gives him a sidelong look.

"You were at Uppsala. You know it can hardly compare."

[capture_eternity]

"I wouldn't want to compare an elegant grove to a dense, impregnable jungle," Dorian says, smiling.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Elegant? It looks like a rat's tail. But I can't give up and shave it."

If he did that, he'd have nowhere to keep Gyda's bead.

[capture_eternity]

"It does not look like a rat's tail," Dorian says, quite aware that simply negating Athelstan's claim isn't a very convincing argument, so he leans in and kisses him again.

"I like it."