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]

"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."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...well." He smiles slightly against Dorian's lips. "Perhaps I might keep it as it is, if I can get the braid just a little wider."

[capture_eternity]

Dorian gently teases the little tuft on the end. "It's wide enough for the bead to stay put," he says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Gyda did it", he says simply, and manages - mostly, he thinks - not to let the stab of grief show on his face. "Delicate little fingers."

[capture_eternity]

"Oh, Athelstan!" Dorian says, his voice full of sympathy at that very visible stab of grief. "You'll always have something of hers with you, carrying her memory into the future."

He leans in to kiss Athelstan again, and reaches out to open the faucet again -- the bath could use a bit more hot water. They've been here for a bit.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll carry this bead on me all my life", Athelstan agrees softly. He reaches for Dorian's free hand, the one not operating the faucet, threading his fingers between Dorian's for the sake of contact.

[capture_eternity]

While the water runs, Dorian cradles Athelstan's cheek in his now-free hand, and leans his forehead and nose-tip against his, just providing closeness and contact.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan closes his eyes for a long moment, leaning into Dorian's touch and just focusing on the feel of skin against skin, letting it force out the thoughts and memories and pain.

When he opens them, blue eyes gazing into brown, he closes the small gap between them for another kiss - a little deeper, this time, but still slow and soft.

[capture_eternity]

The water is still running loudly, fragrant steam raising; Dorian tilts his head for the kiss, just slightly, so it can deepen and heat up a little, lips open and softly wet on the inside.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan reaches past him without looking or breaking the kiss to twist the faucet back the other way, because the last thing they want is to be interrupted by the bath overflowing.

Then he gives his undivided attention to Dorian, lightly stroking the back of his neck with the unentangled hand.

[capture_eternity]

"How sensible of you," Dorian murmurs, deepening their kisses while holding Athelstan close, sliding skin on skin now all along their upper bodies, intimate and promising.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I do try", he murmurs back between kisses, and lets his mouth stray from Dorian's for a few minutes, marking a trail up his jaw to the spot behind his ear. "Now help me forget about sensible."

Help me forget about home, he doesn't say. Help me forget about other people's pain, and my own.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian lets go of him, sits back, and then appreciatively runs his hands over Athelstan's chest. "I'll be glad to oblige," he murmurs.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I thought you might be." He looks Dorian over, as appreciative as the other man's touches. "Here?"

[capture_eternity]

"We might make a bit of a splash," Dorian says. "Here, or the bed -- you pick."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's your bathroom", he points out with vague amusement. "But the bed may be more comfortable."

[capture_eternity]

"Then let's dry off and go over there?" Dorian says, leaning in for yet another kiss before straightening up.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes." He's still holding Dorian's hand, and doesn't release it as they get out of the bath. "We can always come back here later, if we like."

[capture_eternity]

"We might have to," Dorian says, sounding positively hopeful about it as he hands Athelstan a large, very fluffy towel.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan eyes him, visibly amused, and wraps the towel around them both.

...well, it's large enough.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian puts his arm over Athelstan's shoulder underneath the towel as the wander over to the main room, and to the lovely rococo bed in its corner.

[athelstanthescribe]

They haven't made much effort to dry themselves, but the towel has taken care of most of the excess on its own. As they approach the bed, Athelstan turns for another kiss.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian allows his part of the towel to slip off his shoulder as he leans in for the kiss, deepening it as if in promise of things to follow.