(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

From here

Sinric's room is small, simple. A slightly narrow bed spread with furs, a long free-standing wardrobe and a padded window seat that overlooks the gardens. But what dominates the room is a large baroque harpsichord.

Sinric ducks his head, tucking some stray books away, hair hiding his face shyly. "I'm sorry, I know it's not much."

Comments

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is quiet for a moment. It's a heavy sort of quiet, pensive, anxious, even sad.

He sighs.

"It used to be better."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric opens his eyes, his expression open and compassionate. "I'm sorry." Both that things aren't as they were, but also that he made Emcee think on it.

[i_am_your_host]

"It's all right," he murmurs, touching his temple to Sinric's brow.

"Things can't be helped. The coming war is a fixed point in several histories, it seems. And it starts with the ascension of a new leader. A megalomaniac. A dictator. A year has passed with him in power and already he's made life difficult for those who do not agree with him or fit his standards. His police are closing down 'unsavory' businesses like the Kit Kat Klub; it's only a matter of time before this haven for our kind gets shuttered. And who knows what will happen to me or my boys and girls if we're in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He sighs again. "We didn't have to live in so much fear before."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric listens with wide eyes. He has fear, under Leo's threat as the others must have under his rule. But nothing like that. Nothing so wide spread.

He doesn't offer to help or make any suggestions, because no doubt Emcee has worried on the problem far harder and deeper than Sinric ever could.

Instead he leans in to kiss Emcee softly, lovingly, giving him this moment safe and warm to hold on to.

[i_am_your_host]

The kiss surprises him. But it's a sweet surprise, and very much appreciated in spite of himself.

When he doesn't know which way to turn, and when he stubbornly clings to the notion that he can weather the storm, a kiss like this is as much help as anyone could give at this point.

He cups Sinric's cheek and lingers in the kiss for a while, just letting things be. No worries. No troubles.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric strokes Emcee's cheek, happy to linger as long as they both wish. No future, no past, just the joys of here and now.

He draws back enough to smile into Emcee's eyes.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee catches the light of his smile and it reflects in his eyes.

He chases after his lips for one more kiss, before drawing back as well, though their faces are never farther apart than truly necessary.

Taking Sinric's chin in his fingertips, he sweeps the pad of his thumb back and forth under his charmingly full lower lip.

"What shall we do now?" he murmurs.

[thewidewideworld]

"Would you allow me to wash you?" Sinric asks softly, "When my brothers and I had had a long night, we would wash and massage each other. And I would very much like to do that for you."

[i_am_your_host]

It doesn't take long for him to consider this, and he nods.

"Yes. That sounds lovely."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles and kisses him, before slipping off the bed. "Stay there."

He vanishes into the small bathroom and returns with a silver basin that steams with hot water and the scent of exotic oils.

Sinric sits in the bed at Emcee's side, resting the basin on the beside table and rings out a cloth, stealing another kiss.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee had thought that they would bathe, together, in the bathroom. But at Sinric's insistence, he stays put, wondering what he has in mind.

And then he emerges carrying a basin of fragrant water.

A rather incredulous smile spreads across his face and he shakes his head.

"All right," he chuckles, licking Sinric's kiss off his lips, "I didn't expect this."

[thewidewideworld]

"In the palace, we had access to one of the big communal bath houses but after a long night, none of us would feel much like dealing with other people. We had a large copper hip tub but the time it took to hear the water was more than we could be bothered with."

He rings out the cloth and starts by washing across Emcee's brow, over his temple and down to behind his ears, repeating the path on the other side.

"So we would do this for each other instead."

[i_am_your_host]

He lays still under the touch of the warm, damp cloth, a little unused to such attention, but he likes it all the same.

"Quite a practical idea. And one where you can indulge in each other as well. I feel spoiled already."

[thewidewideworld]

The water is just the bearable side of hot and the oil is sweet and spices.

"We were all slaves, all of use sold young. We were all the family any of us had. How could we but love each other." He refreshes the cloth and gently closes Emcee's eyes with his fingertips before sliding the cloth over his eyes.

[i_am_your_host]

"You were fortunate to have one another," he murmurs as he lets his eyelids fall closed. When Sinric draws the cloth away, it's stained with black makeup.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's use to make up of a sort and wipes it away carefully, making sure not to leave streaks on Emcee's face. "We were. There were arguments from time to time, like all brothers I'm told but never more than squabbles."

He rinses the cloth and moves over Emcee's cheeks and jaw, smooth and gentle.

[i_am_your_host]

Eyes still closed, Emcee lifts his chin a little to give Sinric better access to where he wants to wash him.

"Mm. I have no blood siblings either, at least none that I know of, or parents for that matter. Those without families either make do without them, or create them from the people closest to them."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric plant a soft kiss in his jaw, another on his throat as that too his washes with care. "And which of those are you? Or does it change with the needs of your boys and girls?"

[i_am_your_host]

He hums a little, at the kisses, and at the questions.

"I am neither, I think. I seem to find myself taken in by groups of people. Rather like a stray cat," he adds with a chuckle. "As a child I was taken in by a house of prostitutes, and they became my family. When I got older, I lived with artists and actors and all sorts of entertainers, and then they became my family. And then I was hired at the Kit Kat Klub, so now our ensemble has become my current family. We all do our best to look out for each other, especially in these trying times."

A beat.

"And the occasional post-show dressing room orgies are nice."

[thewidewideworld]

"Making the most of the family you have by you." Sinric nods. "Sounds like a wise way to live. I confess, as much as Yan has welcomed me into his household and I am fond of his children, I don't feel the same familial connection with them."

He rinse his cloth and moves down onto Emcee's neck, sweeping gentle strokes out to his shoulders.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee breathes deeply, inhaling the warm, rich scent given off by the steaming water.

"Not all connections work, unfortunately. Do you still feel like an outsider?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I am an outsider there. But I think I'm becoming more accepting of that, now that I am reminded of myself. I will never fit in there and should celebrate than instead of trying to hide that."

[i_am_your_host]

He opens his eyes to look at him, and he nods.

"Yes. People will say and think what they will of you, no matter what you do. You might as well be yourself. I would do the same in your position."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles as he smoothes the cloth over Emcee's chest, leaving a slight sheen of spiced oil on his skin. "I think I now know every iteration of whore in Sinese."

[i_am_your_host]

"That ought to come in handy some day," he says wryly.

He reaches over to give Sinric's arm an reassuring touch.

"Just hold your head up high, darling. Wherever you are, wherever you go."