The things we do out of grief

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric leads Eric out to the garden, both beautiful and eerie in the moonlight. Just as Eric is.

He walks to a spot in the edge of the tree line, not quite where he saw Eric and Athelstan but quite near. "How-" He cuts himself off and tries again. "What would you have of me?"

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sees the gesture and lowers his eyes. "Did you require me to service you, sir?" He asks, half expecting to be ordered to his knees.

[onceaviking]

"Contrary to popular belief," Eric says, "that part isn't terribly important anymore. But I should like to be able to drink from you again."

He means it. You can tell.

[thewidewideworld]

The rejection, or rather lack of orders, throws Sinric a little; throwing him out of the servile withdrawal into himself. "Why? Do I taste- am I so different from others?"

[onceaviking]

Eric looks at him, his face cool and still in the moonlight.

"You, like Athelstan, taste the way people used to taste, back when I was turned. Your blood is sweet. And, of course, yours is sweeter still. Because of what you are."

[thewidewideworld]

He blushes and hides his face a little behind his hair. "Because of what I am." He repeats softly.

[onceaviking]

"Men taste different from women," Eric tells him. "And you taste like neither."

His upper lip twitches. Just a little.

[thewidewideworld]

"I am neither one thing nor the other." He breathes softly, reaching up to touch the blood drying on his neck. "I should wash, before I go in. Lest someone fear I have been hurt."

[onceaviking]

"Come here," Eric says.

No sense in wasting blood.

[thewidewideworld]

He lowers his eyes and goes to Eric, meek and obedient. He kneels at Eric's feet with the grace of a dancer and the habits of a slave.

[onceaviking]

Eric sighs.
"On your feet. I can't reach you down there."

Though it looks very. Pretty.

[thewidewideworld]

He rises just as gracefully, head will bowed. He unlaces his tunic and bears his neck.

[onceaviking]

Eric takes hold of his neck, gently, and leans in to lick his neck with his cool tongue.

[thewidewideworld]

He shivers and pants softly. It's hard not to.

[onceaviking]

Eric's huge hand is gentle. But strong.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric is small and delicate under his touch, warm and trembling.

[onceaviking]

Eric mouths Sinric's warm skin. Slowly.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric stifles a soft grasp. Even cold, Eric's lips are powerful.

[onceaviking]

He laps at Sinric and then he moves his mouth away.
But he doesn't let go. Not straight away.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric doesn't move away either, his heart racing like a rabbit.

[onceaviking]

"You are afraid of me," Eric says. Softly.
"That's very wise of you."

[thewidewideworld]

"You are... too powerful, too strong. It frightens me."

[onceaviking]

"As it should," Eric almost purrs.
"But now you know that I need not hurt you. Overmuch."

[thewidewideworld]

"Thank you, for healing my hand." He isn't sure what else to say.

[onceaviking]

"You are too smart to mistake it for kindness, I am sure," Eric replies.

[thewidewideworld]

He flinches away a little at that, his voice losing its subservient edge. "As you are too wise to believe I accepted your offer for no other reason but that."