thewidewideworld | (no subject)

The acoustic in the tavern of Ribe were excellent for storytelling, passing sound down the hall just right.

Sinric was sprawled on a bench, holding court as he told his tale.

It was the story of Baldr, most beautiful and beloved of all the gods.

But with a twist. For everyone knew the story of Loki’s jealousy and Baldr’s death and the hands of the much maligned mistletoe, but what became of Baldr’s earthly family.

“For like many of the gods, Baldr walked among men, loved and been loved. For who could not love Baldr as soon as see him? Men had raised sons and daughters proudly, knowing their fair hair and sea blue eyes had been a gift from the shining one.”

“But Baldr’s death had sent a shudder through the land. And even those who did not know they descended from the bright god had wept and wept. Just as all the objects, alive and dead, wept to free him from Hel’s hall. All but the Sly One. “

He took a dramatic breath, hand over his heart to relive such a suffering. “The children of Baldr wept and wept till they made lakes of their homes. They wept so hard that their shining beauty faded and their eyes, once blue as the calm seas turned white as snow or dark as earth for all the water in them was wept away.”

Sinric held the crowd spellbound with his words, letting them wonder if this strange creature with his dark eyes and his odd looks was in fact a child of Baldr.

“And so they go still, Baldr’s tear-wrung descendants, till Ragnarök when he and his brother Höðr will make a new world and beauty will return.” He lifts his mead cup in salute. “Baldr!”

“Baldr!” Many voices call back, giving the skald a chance to wet his parched throat.

Sinric looks around the room as many voices come together to fill the silence after his story and more drinking goes on.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar gives a little gasp of aroused astonishment, and reaches to touch them, full and soft and with sweet nipples that are larger and softer than any man's.

He runs a thumb over those nipples, marvelling at their fullness.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric gives a laughing moan, cupping the back up Ragnar's neck. "Some things never change." He relaxes into the touch, welcoming Ragnar's explorations and rewarding them with moans and sighs.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"Like breasts being lovely," Ragnar murmurs, cupping his hands around them admiringly.

From:

thewidewideworld

"Just so." Sinric laughs and gently guides Ragnar down, encouraging him to taste as well as touch.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"Oh, may I?" Ragnar says, a bit awkward, not quite certain how and what he is allowed to touch.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric smiles and draws him up into a slow kiss. "Tonight is for sharing secrets and experiences. We are private here and none will disturb us. I will keep nothing from you, but that which would do harm."

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"Harm?" Ragnar says. "How could sex do harm?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"Not sex, sweet Ragnar." Sinric smiles, cupping Ragnar's cheek and forgetting he shouldn't know the young man's name. "Secrets."

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Secrets indeed -- the Wanderer must have heard about him from somebody else here already, to know his name. He must have picked Ragnar on purpose.

"Secret can do great harm," he says, "both by keeping them, and by bringing them out into the open."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Keeping them is a duty I take most seriously." Sinric nods, still stroking Ragnar's cheek. "But tonight is a night for secrets of a more pleasurable kind." He strokes Ragnar's thigh, fingers splayed over his hip.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"Like these," Ragnar says, stroking Sinric's breasts again.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric moans, holding nothing back as Ragnar touches. "These and more." He laughs softly. "The secrets of Seiðr, to cast your path west."

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"You know those as well?" Ragnar says. "And would tell me?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"I can't tell you the path, Ragnar Loðbrók." Sinric kisses him again. "But I can set you in it."

He guides Ragnar down, towards his breasts.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar bends his head, and licks over Sinric's generous nipple.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric groans and runs his hand down Ragnar's back, pulling his tunic up. He runs his hand over the curve of Ragnar's spine, fingers nimbly finding knots out of habit.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"Oh yes," Ragnar says, arching into the touch.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sinric encourages him to shed his tunic, wanting to feel the muscle over his broad shoulders under his hands once more.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar pulls off his shirt, then returns his attention to Sinric's breasts, which are a thing of sweetly forbidden marvel.

There are rather fewer scars on Ragnar's skin than Sinric might remember.

From:

thewidewideworld

And yet the strength and shape of him still holds, Sinric's hands tracing the lines of muscles and massaging out knots that will both Ragnar for many years.

And yet other things are different - the weight and worry of earldom is lacking. The heaviness of leadership. If only Ragnar could have stayed a happy farmer and still had Athelstan too.

There had once been a dream of running away together, of the three of them traveling the world but over time, Sinric has come to doubt it had been anything but a dream. Even if the hidden tattoo on his hip anchored him to hope.

And young Ragnar was so full of hope. And ambition. And a sensual joy that is as bright as his eyes.

Sinric stokes down to caress Ragnar's lower back and the upper swell of his rear.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar tilts into the touch, arousal heightening at that boldness.

Playfully, he nips at Sinric's nipples, protecting his teeth with his lips as not to truly hurt, just tease.

From:

thewidewideworld

That gets him a warm growl and a firm squeeze of the rear, Sinric's hands remembering the tight curves and strong muscles.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Those muscles bunch and tighten as Ragnar moans, his hips pushing and tilting towards Sinric, then into his touch, as if instinctively seeking pleasure.