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

[runningred]

Lock goes darting off to get him a bottle of water as the others emit a chitteting sound which Jay related as applause. "Seems like. And I suspect a few of them were translating bits into their own language as you went. Don't be shocked if they start taking some of that advice."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar chuckles, and then accepts the water bottle he's given. "Thank you," he says to Lock. "Viking machine people. There could be worse."

[thewidewideworld]

Jay chuckles. "Now there's a scary thought!"

"May I sing to them?" Sinric asks softly. "I don't know anything quite as wise as the epic of Ragnar's people but I know many songs from my own court."

Jay nods and gestures him to go on if he wants to.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar has a few sips of water, then offers the bottle to Sinric to wet his throat before he starts.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods his thanks and wets his lips and throat before beginning to sing.

He chooses a simple child's song at first and is a little shocked when the drones pick up the tune and in their own humming tones, sing back the repeats.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar grins at that, and puts his arm around the startled Sinric in a gesture of affection and protectiveness.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric leans into the touch gratefully but doesn't let the song fall, instead he switches to a more complex song, still one of call and answer that the drones take up eagerly.

Jay notices the youth's surprise and give the adults a subtle signal to chill. He doesn't want them frightening Sinric in their enthusiasm.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

With the answering parts of the song, Ragnar joins in as well -- he doesn't sing well, but he sings, as most parents will have to.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs softly as Ragnar joins in, leaning in to squeeze his hand.

He sings three or four songs more before stopping to sip more of the water.

"I think you made some new friends." Jay chuckles as the drones click and chirp their approval.

Lock comes back and tugs lightly on Ragnar's sleeve, wanting to show him something.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar gets up, offering his hand to Sinric, to ask him to come along if he wants to.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric takes it, still a little overwhelmed by the little flying creatures.

Lock gently tugs Ragnar around to one of the many lean-to sections developing around the edges of the workshop. He uncovers a little model on a shelf and lifts it down, lowering it into Ragnar's hands.

It's a longship made of glass and metal, open at the base so it can be set over a small candle. The eyes of the dragon figurehead gleaming.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That is very beautiful, and cunningly made," Ragnar says, turning the thing in his hands in admiration.

[thewidewideworld]

"It looks like a Varangian ship." Sinric smiles, "It made this for you?" He asks.

"He." Jay correctly gently. "Lock is a he, not an it."

Sinric flushes and stutters an apology to Jay and Lock.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"For me?" Ragnar says. "I can take this home and light a candle in it and impress my kids?"

[runningred]

"Actually, that's the scale model." Jay explains. "He's planning you one to fit a bonfire inside. Impressive the whole village."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That will be a great marvel!" Ragnar says. "It will impress peope far beyond Kattegat."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles. "It would rival some of the great art of Byzantinum. Indeed a great wonder for all to see."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"But won't the glass burst from the heat?" Ragnar wonders.

[runningred]

"The glass is out of vehicles from the future so it's hardened against fire and impact. It might look fragile but the glass he's using is very strong."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"So it's not just a great piece of impressive art, it is something of a miracle," Ragnar saus

[runningred]

"Just a millennia of technological advance." Jay shrugs. "And a brilliant artist's work."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"But it will be a miracle to the people who see it," Ragnar says, smiling, "and a nice riddle for digger-uppers from the future."

[runningred]

"Already planning to screw with future archaeologists? Good man." Jay grins.

Sinric touches the little ship in Ragnar's hand. "Can you risk such a thing? You would have to bring it back from a trade trip or raid surely?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Trade trip," Ragnar says. "They happen all the time. We're not Byzantium, or the future -- if we want to go shopping for something not sold in Kattegat, we need to sail away for a few days."

[thewidewideworld]

"Something so beautiful could have come from Byzantium? Or at least people could be told so, even if the artisans of my city would struggle to find such fine coloured glass in such thin layers."