(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric carries his bundle upstairs, side by side with Athelstan. They slip through the new invisible door into the solar, it's lighthouse like windows looking out onto the bar's forest and grounds.

The Bar has read their minds and set the room up accordingly - with a long low padded bench for Athelstan to lay on while Sinric massages him. The lights are low, the glass tinted to give the room a warm, protective feel.

And a basket in the corner for Athelstan's dog and his bone.

Sinric sets up the incense the bar gave him - an eastern blend that Sinric has always found deeply soothing. He plugs his little music player into the speakers and sets it to play the soft chanting music of the Buddhist temple in the Sinese Empire.

He holds a hand out to Athelstan and draws him close, offering him a warm hug if he wants it before gesturing for him to undress.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

The touch isn't intended to arouse but the ease tightness and blockages in that area. Something Athelstan may well be suffering from.

"That's the idea. To restore the natural flow to all the parts of the body and spirit. The Sinese believe the two are very closely linked."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods against the pillow.

"As it may help open the way for blood to flow around as it should."

[thewidewideworld]

"Just so." he presses a soft kiss to Athelstan's hip. "I hope it will help you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Something must", he says quietly, reaching back to brush his fingers to Sinric's leg, "sooner or later."

[thewidewideworld]

"Time, beloved. Time and the right circumstances." Sinric promises, moving to the same spot on his other thigh. "Look how far I have come since I came blinking through the door in a hazy of grief and dislocation."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You have", Athelstan agrees. "And very far recovered from what befell you on the road, too. I hope it may be the same when I'm home."

[thewidewideworld]

"And I have you and Ragnar to thank for that." He kisses Athelstan's hip, chaste and sweet.

[athelstanthescribe]

"As I do you. If I hadn't had this place to come to, something to bolster my faith that I would be going home one day..."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric rests a soft hand on Athelstan's side in a gestures of understanding. Ever as he moves his other to massage the pressure points in the side of Athelstan's groin. He has no idea if this will help but he can but try.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Thank you", he says simply, meaning for everything.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles to him and bows. "You're welcome." For everything.

[athelstanthescribe]

He turns his head just for a moment to try and meet Sinric's eyes, otherwise just nestling down into the bed.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's eyes are warm with love and he moves up to press a softly kiss to the corner of Athelstan's lips.

He smiles softly and brushes hair back from Athelstan's temple. "Now breathe deep and let me care for you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes." He focuses on breathing deep and even as Sinric works, using the techniques both Sinric and Alana have taught him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric refreshes the oil on his hands and works his way higher up Athelstan's body, careful to use only as much pressure as he must.

Little by little he moves up to Athelstan's chest and down his arms, working carefully in his hands.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan spreads his hands out flat as best he can, though the scars in the centre are still tight and impede stretching there. At least his fingers still move the way he wants them to, most of the time.

[thewidewideworld]

There are few palms in all the world's Sinric knows better than Athelstan's. Perhaps not even his own. He works them with care and with love, trying to give Athelstan as much movement and relaxation as he can.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Do you think the scar tissue will loosen?" he asks into the pillow. "It aches to stretch my hands too far."

[thewidewideworld]

"Yes." He answers with confidence and without hesitation. "With time and with regular working to break up the scar tissue. That is one of the reasons the Birds were trained to this - to see to the scars my lord carried from previous battles. Over time I have seen scars far worse that this loosen and diminish."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"I don't care so much for my feet, as long as I can walk and run. But my hands have always been my livelihood."

[thewidewideworld]

He nods and moves to the other hand. "I can teach Ragnar too, if you wish?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", he says softly. "Please do. It isn't something I can do for myself."

[thewidewideworld]

"No, that would somewhat defeat the point. Relaxing one hand at the cost of the other." Sinric smiles, working slow lines out from the scar to ease Athelstan's hand open.

[athelstanthescribe]

Slowly, the skin and muscle do ease under his working fingers.

"It would be an endless cycle", Athelstan says with something like humour.

[thewidewideworld]

"Like the serpent biting his tail." Sinric smiles, gently placing Athelstan's hand back against his chest and moving to sit at his head.

He slides the pillow gently out, supporting Athelstan's head and starts in on his neck carefully.