(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric lead Hannibal out of a doorway and into the warm light of spring afternoon. He cranes to look up, following the line of the wall and the buildings. "We're in the right place. The bath should be just through there."

He points to a alley that leads out the road and the grand entrance to the bath houses. "It is small by some standards. Only large enough for thirty or forty people. Many of the greater baths have closed for the cost to keep them is very high and many wealthy households have smaller bathes of their own."

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric purrs softly, tracing the shape of Hannibal's lips with his own. "You would not be the first, nor the last." He grins. "Why do you think I requested a private room. I hoped you might rise to me."

He scrapes off the last of the oil, offering Hannibal a hand up and gesturing him to corner where an amphora of clean water waits to rinse off.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal follows him over. "I will rise to anything you have to offer," he says, "but perhaps not before that?"

He rinses himself off.

"Yes, I can definitely tell that the soap-like reaction of oil and my sweat has worked the way it should," he comments.

[thewidewideworld]

"That might be wise." Sinric chuckles, scooping up water and helping rinsing Hannibal off, rubbing him down with the linen towel.

"Would you prefer the frigidarium or the caldarium next? Most people prefer the steam rooms first but in these smaller baths, it is acceptable to use the rooms in whichever order you wish."

[cook_the_rude]

"Do they have a tepidarium here, to warm up gently before braving the steam?" Hannibal asks.

[thewidewideworld]

"Oh yes. And it is most beautiful." Sinric smiles, giving himself a quick rinse off too before leading Hannibal into the tepidarium.

The tepidarium is a great vaulted hall, large as any Olympic sized pool with smaller, more intimate pools around the edges suitable for groups of five to ten.

The walls and floors are decorated in geometric blue and white tiles, the arching ceiling picked out in silver starbursts depicting the constellations.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal stops beside the threshold, as if to keep the entrance free, and looks around.

"It is amazing," he says. "Would you like a swim first, or shall we take to one of the small pools?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I am at your disposal." Sinric smiles, hanging their towels by a peg. "I wish I were free to take you to the baths in the palace. They are much more grand than this."

He crouches on the edge of the large pool, using the reflection of the water to pull his now dark hair back and bind it away from his face.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal sits on the edge, and smoothly slides into the water, causing barely more than a ripple to disturb Sinric's reflection.

"Grander than this?" he says. "I do believe you, but I find this very grand."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric binds the end of the braid with a leather thong and comes sit beside him, dangling his feet in the warm after.

He leans back on his hands to look up at the vaulted roof. "The common areas of the palace bath is larger than this, with half the pool is open to the sky so a clear and beautiful day may the enjoyed." And the bacteria in the water kept in check by the sunlight.

"The other half is covered by a roof tiled with gold, each piece no larger than the nail of your thumb. Along the edges are depicted every animal known to man, and more known only in stories. The marble of the bath is white as snow but veined with such a deep red that the stone seems almost to pulse with blood."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal looks up at him. "That sounds amazing -- especially the marble! Where is it from?"

[thewidewideworld]

"In truth, I do not know. The bath was commissioned by Constantine the Great in the building of the palace but much was repaired and changed by Justinian the first. My Lord has always stressed that it is the duty of each emperor to keep such things in trust and care for them well. He sees it as his responsibility to see to it all public works and building are kept in good repair. Especially the aquaduct and wells."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal leans back in the water, arms spread on the edge of the pool, and smiles at Sinric. "I like how proud you are of all the good and decent work he does," he says. "All the minutiae of running an empire smoothly, well organised and under control. Without aqueducts and wells, of course, the city would be unable to live at all. Cities are only possible, since the dawn of time, by public works -- so good things come to the ruler who takes good care of his infrastructure! But not every ruler by far is wise enough to know it."

[thewidewideworld]

"I am proud." He smiles softly, still only dangling his feet in the water. "History remembers his victories and his failures and his fierce stance on iconography. It forgets the time and money he poured into the city, into keeping the people safe.

"Around the time of my birth, plague struck the city and killed many. Constantine did not blame God or the wickedness of men. He turned the army to work restore clean water, bought great stocks of food and had it brought into the city so people would neither starve nor pay a fortune for bread. He spread word to the people fleeing the wars in Greece and Spain that the city was open and welcoming, repopulating it with those in need of a home. These are the acts for which he should be remembered." His face is flushed with passion, his voice sure and strong.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal looks up at him, reaching out an arm as if to lure him into the water.

"History remembers that," he says, "but as a footnote, as the dull stuff. But in reality, that is the blood and bones of any empire, that is what keeps civilisation working and people content. It should be the benchmark by which all rulers are judged, but unfortunately, it isn't. Wars and scandals shine so much brighter in their luridness throughout the centuries."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric accepts the lure and slides into the water, resting at Hannibal's side. "He tries to teach Leo such things. When I was-" he cuts himself off, "After what was done to me, Constantine sent him to the outermost wall on the very northern edge of the Empire to tend to the upkeep and repair of the walls there. Both as punishment as to teach him that it is an emperor's due to see to the protection of all citizens."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal throws an arm around Sinric, and leans in to bestow a small kiss to his temple. "You are so lovely, with any colour of hair," he whispers. "It's about who you are, you know. So passionate about the good work your Emperor does -- that speaks of the beauty of your heart and soul."

He leans back again.

"Teaching as punishment isn't optimal didactics, though. Learning from one's punishment can work, but there's no guarantee."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric flushes sweetly at the compliment and snuggles close to Hannibal, resting on hand on his chest. "Thank you."

He settles to rest his head against Hannibal's shoulder, letting the warm water soak into him. "Perhaps not. Perhaps there was never a way to teach Leo to be a better man but I think it a credit that my Lord never stops trying. In part I am glad he will not know the ruin that will fall of his house because of his son's failings as a man."

[cook_the_rude]

"I think we can all be grateful that we won't know what people do to ruin our legacies after our deaths," Hannibal muses.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric moves to face Hannibal, half straddling his lap. He cups Hannibal's cheek and kisses him with slow but powerful passion. "I will always remember you with gladness, for your kindness, your warmth and your care."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal returns the kiss with the same kind of passion, putting his arms around Sinric. "You don't need to remember me just yet," he says. "I'm right here, and hope to stay in your orbit for a while, as long as Milliways brings us both."

[thewidewideworld]

"As I hope too." He smiles and kisses Hannibal again, settling across his lap. "Shall we move on to the caldarium?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Yes," Hannibal says. "Let us move on."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kisses him again and rises out of the water, like a dark haired Venus. He fetches the towels and their sandals and leads Hannibal to antechamber of the caldarium. The hypocausts heats the room, not quite hot as a sauna, allowing the bather to warm enough to be ready for the caldarium proper.

Sinric lounges on a stone bench, inviting Hannibal to join him till they build up a sweat and move on.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal sits beside him, and discreetly drapes his towel over his own lap.

He exhales.

"This is very pleasant," he murmurs, "so I don't want to risk it becoming too pleasant where people can see it."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles and stretches out a little, enjoying the anticipation of their privacy later. The stone is smooth and warm but not yet hot. He teases long fingers over Hannibal's shoulder. "The frigidarium will rob that heat from you fast enough." He purrs.