(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]

"Sadly true." Sinric muses, his voice still warm with laughter. "But some people aren't civilised enough to distinguish between pleasure and a warm hole. Or good wine from goat water."

[cook_the_rude]

"Alas, the rude will never die out," Hannibal says. "Let us ignore them, this time. Where we're we? Right, being close in post-coital afterglow."

He settles against Sinric again.

[thewidewideworld]

"I like that idea very much." Sinric purrs, nuzzling the curve of Hannibal's neck. "Just to enjoy being held." He craves intimacy as much as sex.

He starts to sing, very softly and very sweetly, just enjoying the feeling of this and the acoustics of the room.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal lies back, eyes half-closed, listens, and relaxes, easy a a big cats sure of his territory.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric enjoys the sprawling neatness, his comfort and satisfaction sounding in his song. The sun dips behind the city's wall, casting long shadows.

The pretty Nubian girl clears her throat in the doorway, carrying a candle to light the lamps.

Sinric smiles to her. "Thank you." He looks to Hannibal. "We should go back soon, I fear."

[cook_the_rude]

"We should," Hannibal agrees, bestirring himself. "No pleasure lasts forever. The fleeting ness, and the memories, make it doubly precious."

[thewidewideworld]

"All things to their seasons." Sinric agrees and steals a kiss before getting to his feet slowly. "And I'm very glad to have shared this one with you."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal gets to his feet as well, then picks up his towel. "Now bsck to the changing room."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and leads Hannibal down a corridor back to the dressing room.

The wall are painted with stunning frescoes kept bright with care, the tiles underfoot worn with many centuries of feet, comfortable and warm.

[cook_the_rude]

"You can feel that the old hypocausts are still working well," Hannibal murmurs. "Of course, there's slaves working down there."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods minutely, all too aware of the pain and toil suffered by other slaves within the Empire. And how very lucky he is not to be among them.

[cook_the_rude]

"We always live by the suffering of other creatures," Hannibal says. "We can't not, if we are honest to ourselves. But we can minimise."

[thewidewideworld]

Again Sinric nods minutely and makes a mental note to speak to the head of the palace kitchens about having extra food sent to the slaves of this establishment. Some small way of giving back.

He helped Hannibal into his tunic and belt, going to his knees to lace up the sandels. He glances up at Hannibal with a smile as he stands, glad to have had today.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal gathers him close for another kiss, never mind who sees this.

[thewidewideworld]

He melts into the kiss, alway warmed by a demonstrative lover.

He lingers there a moment, looking up into Hannibal strange and wonderful eyes before allowing the mask of servitude to slip back into place as he dresses and opens the door back to the bar.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal follows quietly, all the way back.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric shudders as they re-enter the bar, his hair straightening from dark waves to his usual cascade of gold. "How strange! I'll almost miss the curls."

[cook_the_rude]

"Almost," Hannibal says. "It was a charming disguise, but this is you."

Pause.

"Thank you again for the once-in--a-lifetime experience."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles warmly, touched by Hannibal's kindness. He pushes up on his toes to kiss the corner of Hannibal's lips. "Thank you. Now, I should get back before I'm missed. Till next time our paths meet, iki pasimatymo." He adds in passable Lithuanian.

[cook_the_rude]

"Xαιρε," Hannibal replies, returning the kiss for a last time before parting.

[thewidewideworld]

{ooc: lovely, shall post now.}

[cook_the_rude]

[[ <3 ]]