AU week - telling the tale.

[thewidewideworld]

Sin takes Athelstan's hand and leads him through a door and then another, and up a narrow flight of stairs that seem to be hidden in the walls. To another door that looks like it should be locked but isn't. (Or isn't locked anymore.)

The journey leads them into the roof and a flatish section of tiles where they can sit and look out over the lake, protected from the breeze.

"Come, sit with me." Sin strolls across the tiles, sure as a mountain goat till he finds a good spot to sit with their backs against a chimney.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"No," Sin admits with a soft chuckle. "But I understand we can get one easily enough."

[athelstanthescribe]

"They seem to never run out", he agrees.

[thewidewideworld]

"Like some kind of magic." Sin purrs, helping Athelstan up. He shimmies back into his clothes, helping Athelstan dress with little kisses.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan pulls his jeans back up and fastens them, letting himself be deliciously distracted with each brief kiss.

[thewidewideworld]

Sin's very gentle in helping him, aware of how sensitive and shaky Athelstan must still be, even after their long rest on the tiles.

[athelstanthescribe]

His knees do wobble a little as he moves to look for his shirt, and he steadies himself on Sin's arm.

[thewidewideworld]

Sin holds and supports him, nuzzling him playfully. "Come with me." He smiles, taking his hand and leading him down to the bar. "I'll arrange us a room, how about you talk to the bar about a picnic to take with us?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"That sounds good." He offers a playful smile in turn. "We've both been burning energy."

[thewidewideworld]

"And I've had rather a bit too much to drink. Something to fill my stomach might be a good idea." He comes back with a key and a basket of bath things.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan has a picnic basket, and gives the bath things a sidelong glance.

"Planning a soak?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Apparently the bar recommends we do. Perhaps the room has a particularly good bath?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Maybe it does. And it does sound nice." He opens the basket, blinks, and laughs. "Alka-Seltzer."

[thewidewideworld]

"Clearly she's worried about me too. Come." He follows the number on the key to a room.

It's a particularly lovely little room with an open fireplace and a plush looking bed. The bathroom includes a rather decadent spa. "This looks very nice, very nice indeed."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yeah, this is - very cosy." He wanders into the bathroom and side-eyes the spa. "I don't even know what some of this is."

[thewidewideworld]

"I do." Sin laughs, setting his basket of bath things down. "Fancy Italian hotels."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then you'll have to educate me", he says lightly.

[thewidewideworld]

Sin grins and shows him what each of the dials and taps is for, how to increase the pressure of the jets or select which ones to have on. How to make the bath maintan temperature for a longer soak.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Everything you could want out of a bath", he says when the lesson's over. "And the room out there looks like my house."

[thewidewideworld]

"Really? Maybe that's why she chose it for us, to make you feel at home. I imagine you living surrounded by books and comfy blankets."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That's pretty much it", he agrees. "I picked a little old house and I've kept it renovated but without central heating, so I have open fires a lot."

[thewidewideworld]

Sin smiles and pulls him into a kiss. "Then let's stretch out in front of your fireplace and enjoy our picnic first. Then we can soak or sleep as we see fit."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan slides his arms around Sin, returning the kiss.

"That sounds great. We can always have a bath in the morning."

[thewidewideworld]

"Hmm, I like the sound of that. The idea of having a morning with you." Sin smiles, touching his nose to Athelstan's. "Should we warn Ragnar I've kidnapped you?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"If he asks the Bar", Athelstan murmurs, unwilling to go back downstairs now, "I'm sure she'll point him up here."

[thewidewideworld]

"Good point. You never know, he might crawl in with us at some point during the night." A prospect Sin rather enjoys. "I'm pretty sure the bed is big enough."