thewidewideworld | AU week - telling the tale.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

thewidewideworld

"More that I can't answer my phone while I'm riding and sometimes I end up in places without cell access."

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan laughs quietly.

"That too. Up a Nepalese mountain isn't a place with coverage."

From:

thewidewideworld

"You'd be amazed. Everest is a shocking tourist trap." Sin shakes his head. "No privacy at all except at elevations I'm not a good enough climber for."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"That's kind of sad. Like the coach tours they run to Stonehenge."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Avebury is far more beautiful." Sin hums, finding something to much on. "And Bryn Celli Ddu in Wales."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I'd like to go to these places. The spiritual places." He peers over Sin's shoulder. "What did she give us?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"Sandwiches mostly." Sin passes him roast beef and pickle, helping himself to an egg and lettuce. "And scones and jam. I think she might have had English heritage on her mind."

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan grins.

"Maybe she did. I have got an Old English name."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Athelstan is the name of an English king, isn't it?" He asks curiously.

From:

athelstanthescribe

"At least one, I think. It means 'noble stone'."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Noble stone. I like that. It's a stable name, a strong name rooted in history." He nods. "It suits you."

From:

athelstanthescribe

He smiles. "Thank you. I've no idea why my parents chose it, but maybe for those reasons."

From:

thewidewideworld

"I'm afraid I don't know what Sinric means. I'm not even sure it's my name. It was just all I could remember from before the fire. but it's become mine."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I don't know either", he says apologetically. "I wonder how you got to Istanbul - you're clearly not Turkish."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Yeah, the blonde hair tends to give it away." Sin chuckles. "But it takes dye well and it makes me distinctive when I want to be."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"What other colours have you tried?" he asks lightly, biting into his sandwich.

From:

thewidewideworld

"Back in my days with the Emperors, I had it dyed every natural colour under the sun to blend in with the crowd. And a few shades of skin tint too."

"Since... well it's been a while since I was anything but my natural shade. I was bright blue, purple and pink for a pride parade in San Francisco about five years ago."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I'd have loved to see that." There'll be pictures somewhere, no doubt. He curls his legs up comfortably under him.

From:

thewidewideworld

Sin sprawls out and turns on his phone, flicking through his photos to show Athelstan. "I looked so good that year!"

From:

athelstanthescribe

"It's combined well, the colours", Athelstan agrees, then asks shyly, "Would you... let me go to Pride with you one year?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"Absolutely." Sin grins. "But we should skip San Francisco and go to Australia instead. I've never been that far south and I'm told their Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is amazing."

From:

athelstanthescribe

It's a long way to travel, but that's exciting as much as scary.

"Anywhere you want. You're my guide."

From:

thewidewideworld

"March, next year then?" Sin asks, helping himself to a scone and licking cream off his fingers. "We don't have to plan that far ahead. We can just touch February and see if it's still something you want to do."