slipping away with Ragnar

[thewidewideworld]

{From here}

Sinric leads Ragnar into the bathrooms, glancing around to see if anyone is around before slipping into one of the stalls and closing the door behind them.

"Do you want me to paint your prick with my lips or lift my skirts and take me standing?" He asks with a list-filled purr.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

The fact that Childmass understands that is heartening and he reaches across to gently squeeze the man's hand in unspoken thanks.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Thank you for wishing us well," Ragnar says. "May I bother you for..."

He hesitates.

[manofbusiness]

He isn't certain what to do with Sinric's physical contact - he doesn't get it all that often - so his hand just sort of stays there. But he doesn't pull it away.

"For what?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric withdraws his hand after a moment, the touch light and brief.

He looks to Ragnar, curious what he might ask the man for.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Knowledge from your magic?" Ragnar says. "If you can do that for somebody else?"

[manofbusiness]

"Do you mean my cards?" He leans back, thinking. "Yes, I can ask them questions on your behalf, but they are not so good at the details. What do you want to know?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric listens with interest, fascinated by this strange magic that seems so natural to Ragnar and his northern gods.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I'd like to know where we will go, Athelstan and Sinric and I," Ragnar says. "How we can break free from all the politics and be ourselves."

[manofbusiness]

"That might be difficult. Remember, they do not speak in words... but I will ask."

He gets the cards out of his pocket.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric sighs and kneel up to gather Ragnar in his arms, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips.

He cups Ragnar's cheek, looking into his eyes. "We may never be free, Ragnar. Unless we run away and spend our lives here where we can be as we are. But then I will never find you and you will never find Athelstan."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Afterwards," Ragnar says. "After now. When we find you again in our world."

Pause.

"I know that," he then says to Childermass.

[manofbusiness]

"Very well." He holds the cards in his hand. "Shall I read for each of you individually? Who first?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I will be old and ugly and you won't want me any more." Sinric teases, kissing the tip of Ragnar's nose before settling back down.

"Athelstan." He answers without hesitation.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Yes, ask about him," Ragnar says, nodding agreement.

[manofbusiness]

"All right." He shuffles the cards dextrously, murmuring to them. "Tell me about their friend. Show me his future."

Then he begins the spread.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric watches with interest, his eyes tracing the shapes and patterns of the cards. He has heard of such things but never seen it done.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar watches, fascinated, as well.

[manofbusiness]

"The Empress", Childermass begins slowly, fingers running over the cards one by one, "means your friend will receive your message. Next, the Lovers, signifying there has been or will be love in his life - perhaps more than one love."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles softly. "Athelstan will always have love. While there is breath in either of us."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And others," Ragnar says. "He is easy to love, kind and clever as he is."

[manofbusiness]

Childermass nods absently.

"The Eight of Cups. He will leave something behind, but - the Nine of Swords, it will not be easy for him when he does, or perhaps after. The King of Swords means an ambitious and powerful man. Finally, the Four of Wands means homecoming."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric looks to Ragnar, knowing the powerful man and hoping for the homecoming but the talk of loss worries him.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Thank you," Ragnar says. "That is reassuring, mostly -- he will come home to me and my people, as his place is with us now. There are several powerful men that make his life difficult and may cause loss -- even me."

[manofbusiness]

"Life is rarely as simple as we would like", he agrees, gathering his cards back up. "Which of you will have the next reading?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Ragnar." Sinric says softly. "My path is already foretold."