OOM - upstairs with Sinric

[i_am_your_host]

During Emcee's recovery in his room, he became a recluse. He couldn't find the motivation to go downstairs (too tired, too lazy, too sad, too unsure of himself), so he would ask George to see if any of his friends were around. To talk, and perhaps to let the talking lead to other things. Jay, Sinric...even Eric.

At least, he thought, he might be ready to take up his other old habits.

(He wasn't certain if he could feel Eric's presence. It might have just been wishful thinking. Or not.)

As it happens, Sinric is in the bar when George goes on this particular errand. He floats up to the long-haired blond and chirps out the sounds Emm See! at him, and moves backward toward the stairs as a gesture to follow.

Comments

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee plants kisses along his jaw and nuzzles him under his ear, his breath hot on his wet skin. He slides a leg over Sinric's, rubbing against them.

"What are you doing?" he murmurs curiously between kisses, feeling the circles Sinric is tracing on his palm.

[thewidewideworld]

"Just singing." Sinric smiles, his eyelids fluttering warmly at the touches and kisses. "Sharing a little calm. I can't make anyone feel anything against their will."

[i_am_your_host]

"It tickles," he chuckles huskily, still kissing him.

[thewidewideworld]

"Sorry." Sinric smiles between kisses, turning the soft touch into a firm caress instead, tangling their fingers.

[i_am_your_host]

He hums a soft laugh before pressing his lips to Sinric's, indulging in their warmth and softness.

After a few moments in which there is only the sound of their deep breathing and the gentle lapping of water against the sides of the tub, Emcee asks him, "May I wash your hair?"

[thewidewideworld]

"You most certainly may." Sinric smiles, stealing another kiss.

[i_am_your_host]

"Marvelous," he purrs, before shifting his position again, urging Sinric to move up and forward a bit so Emcee can sit behind him. He stretches his legs out on either side of him, and begins to carefully gather Sinric's hair at his back.

"I may not be as good as you at this, but hopefully I won't be pulling anything out by the roots."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric shuffles up, making room. He laughs softly. "Don't worry, you won't pull it out."

[i_am_your_host]

"I'll be gentle," he chuckles.

Raising his knees so that Sinric can brace himself on them, Emcee lets him lean back to thoroughly soak his hair. He slowly combs his fingers through the long, silken strands, working out any knots and tangles as Sinric had done for him. Then, when he sits upright again, he begins to massage in generous handfuls of shampoo. This will take a while longer with more hair to work with. But it's a nice, calming task. And like Sinric, he begins to hum a tune, his smoky tenor reverberating softly through the room.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric reacts with happy little sighs and contented moans. "You touch makes me miss my brothers. They would have loved you."

[i_am_your_host]

"I'm sure the feeling would be mutual," he says with a faint smile, as he cups his hands full of water to pour over Sinric's hair and lather it up some more.

"Do you know where they are now? Any of them?" he then asks gently.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric doesn't answer at once, taking a moment. "I do, yes. " His voice is soft and sad. "I past through Constantine's city on my way north and west. I... I took time to... say my goodbyes at his grave. Luka, the youngest of my brothers found me."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee slowly runs his fingers through Sinric's soapy hair, over and over, rinsing and repeating. He strokes his arm and shoulder at his mention of Constantine.

"How had Luka fared since you left?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Well. He has faired well. Anthousa looked after him. She set him up with a rather lovely villa. Before she entered the nunnery."

He goes quiet again. "Anthousa was, is, Constantine's youngest child and only daughter. Leo doted on her. Luka was her beloved playmate. That protected him."

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh... How fortunate that they were able to grow up together and stay close."

He urges Sinric to lay back against his knees, and to tip his head back so that he can thoroughly rinse his hair. He sweeps stray suds and drops of water off Sinric's brow and temples with his fingers as he does so.

Growing quiet himself, he hesitates to ask what happened to his other brothers.

"And the other little birds?" he says softly, hardly over the sound of the water.

[thewidewideworld]

"Niketas, one of Constantine's younger. He made a pact to smuggle and scatter the Birds out of the city and into new lives. Luka only knew what had become of one of them, Talus. He ended up in Greece, where Anthousa studied. The others," He shrugs. "But he knew where Probus' body was buried. A pauper grave in a field of flowers."

[i_am_your_host]

There is a bit of a sigh of relief when he hears that most of them escaped. That someone in power had enough compassion to risk doing something good. But his heart sinks, as he recalls Sinric had spoken of Probus especially fondly.

"I'm sorry, darling," he murmurs, cradling and stroking his head, his long hair trailing like pale liquid gold in the water.

[thewidewideworld]

"He's at peace. Or so I hope is true." Sinric's voice still carries the weight of guilt. "I had a dream, the night of the party on the beach. Constantine came to me. He told me that Probus and Castor both were safe with him, even though Probus took his own life. I want to believe that's true."

[i_am_your_host]

And his heart cracks, when Sinric says Probus had taken his own life.

He bends his head to press his lips to Sinric's damp brow.

He then begins to comb the fragrant, softening oils through his hair, making it gleam.

"I hear that dreams here sometimes take on...deeper meaning," he says musingly. "That people from one's past-- can come back through them. Like a spirit from beyond, but-- I don't know. More real. I have never experienced it myself. But as you know, anything can happen here. If Constantine came back to ease your mind with this news, then I would believe it."

[thewidewideworld]

He reaches back to stroke Emcee's shoulder in thanks, both for his company and his understanding. "So I have been told, on that one day especially. And so I hope is true. I left him behind when most I should have confided in him. Just as you long for news of your friends, I wish I could be sure I didn't cause my brother's death."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is quiet for a moment as he smooths Sinric's hair out, and now, for the most part, simply strokes it for the sake of stroking it, while Sinric rests against him.

"I have never liked to dwell on 'what ifs,'" he murmurs. "Roads not taken, choices left unpicked, signs overlooked or ignored. Hindsight is always clearest, but all those should haves, could haves, and would haves...they will only weigh you down and hold you back. And you can only go so far in life with such a burden."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric turns in Emcee's arms, leaning in to kisses him. It's a soft kiss, carrying affection and gratitude.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee accepts the kiss, and returns it with equal affection, as he wraps his arms around him in an embrace.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric strokes Emcee's hair, feeling the soft cleanness of it as his kisses grow deeper.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee hums with pleasure against his lips as their tongues intertwine. Slow and leisurely, like sluggish but sensual serpents.

He raises his knees, his thighs closing in on either side of Sinric's hips.