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

[thewidewideworld]

"It's like... stepping into a fast flowing river. As long as I keep my footing, all will be well but should I slip, I will need your hand to keep me from being washed away."

[i_am_your_host]

"You can rely on me to bring you back," he says. "Thank you, Sinric, for what you are about to do."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric gets up and kisses Emcee's cheek, going into the bathroom to wash his face and hands, trying to ready himself.

He comes back out a few moments later, inviting Emcee to join him in the bedroom area.

[i_am_your_host]

As Emcee waits, he mentally readies himself as well, focusing on the memories Sinric asked him to. Every night dancing onstage with Helga and Herman. Helga's youthful spirit, Herman's steadfast heart. The way they cared for him during his lowest, darkest days.

When Sinric appears again, Emcee gets up and quietly pads across the room to join him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric stretches out of the bed, holding out one hand to Emcee. "Think about them. About how you feel about them, and I'll try to find them."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee climbs onto the bed and sits cross-legged at his side, facing him, and holds his hand in his lap. He doesn't close his eyes in order to watch over Sinric, but takes a deep breath and directs his thoughts inward.

Right now, he misses them. He misses them and worries for them so much it makes his heart ache.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric closes his own eyes and steps into the stream, feeling the flow of time pull at him. He runs his hands over the weave of the tapestry, seeking the strongest threads.

There are so many powerful threads, so many possibilities. He tries to sort them, tries to find the right one. He goes deeper.

His breathing quickens, his grip on Emcee's hand tightens.

[i_am_your_host]

There is love there, loyal and protective.

But also fear. Fear of what might become of them, fear of what might become of himself. Sinric spoke of threads, and he can't help thinking how intertwined he is with Herman and Helga. Their tightly-knit found family at the Kit Kat Klub had broken up, come apart thread by thread, and now they are all Emcee has left.

He takes another deep breath, covering Sinric's hand with his other one, his grip still firm.

[thewidewideworld]

The knots help, the places where their threads join. They form greater, stronger bonds. He breathes faster, trying to keep hold. There are still too many threads, too many outcomes.

And he can see all of them.

[i_am_your_host]

And Emcee wonders with fear what would happen if those knots came undone.

But no, he won't believe in that. He can't imagine his life without them.

He squeezes Sinric's hand, stroking the backs of his fingers. He's concerned about his quick and shallow breathing, but he isn't sure if Sinric needs him to pull him out.

[thewidewideworld]

The outcomes are too powerful, too confusing and Sinric feels himself starting to be pulled under by them. He clings to Emcee's hand, starting to convulse.

[i_am_your_host]

That's it.

"Sinric," he calls urgently, holding his hand tight and pressing his palm to his forehead. "Sinric, come back now. Can you hear me? You can come back now, I'm here, darling."

[thewidewideworld]

It takes a while for the words to reach him.

His eyes shot open with a cry, his shoulders shaking. He looks at Emcee, wild eyed and panic.

He falls into Emcee's arms, clinging.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee keeps calling to him, keeping his voice as steady as he can, even though he starts to panic slightly when Sinric doesn't respond. And then finally--

"Oh, Sinric," he gasps shakily, as he holds him close and lies down with him. He kisses his brow, whispering his name, stroking his hair.

"It's all right, darling, I'm here. I'm here..."

[thewidewideworld]

"Emcee?" His voice is hoarse and rough, almost on the brink of tears. He clings, his face pressed against Emcee's shoulder.

[i_am_your_host]

"Yes, darling, it's me," he says reassuringly, although inside he's quite alarmed at the state Sinric is in. Yet he keeps stroking his hair, his arms wrapped around him.

[thewidewideworld]

"I'm alright. I'm alright." He mutters, as much to himself as to Emcee. "I fell deep but I'm here. This is home."

[i_am_your_host]

"Yes, that's good," he murmurs, hugging him. "I had no idea-- I didn't know-- you began to convulse, so I tried to call you back..."

[thewidewideworld]

"I heard you. I heard your voice. It guided me back. Thank you." He kisses Emcee a little frantically, his lips dry. "I'm sorry, I did t mean to go that far but the threads, they were so confusing, so tangled."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee combs his fingers through Sinric's hair, licking his own lips before kissing him again.

"What-- what does that mean?" he asks, his brow furrowed. "There were many of them?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Milliways." He tries to explain, his tthroat dry and rough as if he'd been shouting. "It changes the way the threads move. I saw where you died on the docks. Where your friends were captured. But Milliways changed that thread, because you're here and alive."

He coughs. "Some water?"

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee gasps and flinches, hearing the words you died on the docks. And for a moment he's frozen and speechless as his mind whirls.

"--Yes, yes, of course, darling," he then says hastily. Gently distentangling himself from him, he presses another kiss to his brow before slipping off the bed to fetch a glass of cool water from the bathroom. He sits beside Sinric and holds the glass to his lips, his hand trembling a little.

[thewidewideworld]

He sips gratefully, his own shaking hands steadying slowly. "The thread changed, when the door brought you here. The old one was broken and a new thread woven in its place. Pasts and futures spliced together like frayed rope."

He pulls Emcee to him, needing to hold and be held. "I saw your thread if you'd stayed. Without Milliways, you died in the docks. If you had stayed, they would have taken you. The camps, the suffering." He touches Emcee's wrist where the tattoo isn't. "You would have lived but at a cost so high you would wish for death many times over."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee sets the glass aside when he's done, so they can hold one another.

"The camps..." he exhales on a sharp breath. He looks at Sinric with horror in his eyes.

"I have heard much about them, but--" He shakes his head, trailing off, his throat closing. He can't even begin to imagine.

"That can't possibly be my fate," he whispers fearfully.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric shakes his head, clinging a little. "No. No, that pattern changed when you chose to leave. I'm sorry, I'm trying to explain it but it's hard to make sense of what I saw. The thread moved away, when you readied to leave your country but that future was still there. I had to see it to be sure it wasn't the right one. Emcee, it was horrible!"