For Athelstan

[hot_water]

[OOC: From here.]

Tahno leads Athelstan up to his sumptuous purple and black suite, kissing him whenever he can. He sets the melon on the entryway catch all table, slipping a hand under Athelstan's tunic and suckling on his neck once the door is shut.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan makes sounds of pleasure throughout, increasing in volume, sometimes Tahno's name, sometimes non-verbal.

At the end, he's left hoarse and breathless, stretching up to claim Tahno's lips again.

[hot_water]

Tahno brushes his lips against Athelstan's gently, cupping his cheek in an apology for being rough. He nips his lower lip and strokes his hair with his free hand.

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's all right", he murmurs to the silent apology. "I didn't mind."

[hot_water]

Tahno nips his ear at that. "Good," he purrs. "I'll work the kinks outta yer muscles for ya if I made 'em stiff again."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Mm", Athelstan hums against Tahno's jaw. "I'd enjoy that."

[hot_water]

Tahno kisses him briefly, and pushes off the bed. He disappears to wash his hands, and returns to turn the fireplace on and light a candle from the armoire. "Here, roll on yer belly."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan has pushed himself up a little while Tahno was gone, and rolls over obediently now.

"If this is like the last time, I may fall asleep."

[hot_water]

Tahno smiles. "That's fine, man," he drawls gently. "If ya fall asleep, it.means I'm doin' a good job." The waterbender shakes the candle a bit. "If it's awright, I'm gonna pour some oil on you."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That's fine", he says with a smile, stretching his arms out to the sides so Tahno can work on his shoulders completely. "I understand it helps."

[hot_water]

"It really does," Tahno drawls. When the candle is ready, he dribbles and pours the melted oil on Athelstan's back. It's a bit waxy, bit once he sets the candle aside and starts working on the former monk's shoulders, it becomes creamy, like a lotion. It also smells of vanilla. "Lemme know if this is too warm."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's perfect." He stretches under Tahno's hands, already relaxing. "And it smells good."

[hot_water]

"Good," Tahno drawls again, gently pinching the muscles supporting the nap of Athelstan's neck against his shoulder. Tahno gradually increases pressure in his pinches, performing lifts. "I coulda made ya smell like bourbon."

[athelstanthescribe]

He laughs quietly into the pillow, enjoying everything Tahno's doing.

"That might have raised questions."

[hot_water]

"But then ya woulda had a fun story to tell--or make up," Tahno drawls cheekily. "It ain't really lyin' if ya ain't hurtin' no one."

He drags his thumbs up and down the nape of Athelstan's neck, and rubs in small circles.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan groans in reaction.

"True enough. Tall tales are hardly lies anyway."

[hot_water]

"So how would ya explain away yer smelling like bourbon?" Tahno drawls playfully, digging his thumbs into Athelstan's shoulders with sweeping strokes.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The simplest would be..." He pauses to think. "It being spilled on me, I suppose. I'd need more time to think of an interesting story."

[hot_water]

Tahno chuckles, dragging his knuckles up and down on either side of Athelstan's spine. "That's fair. I probably couldn't come up with better," he drawls, paying special attention to a specific knot.

[athelstanthescribe]

He makes an indescribable sound of pleasure as Tahno works on his back.

"Oh... I'd stopped noticing that one..."

[hot_water]

Tahno teases the knot out and moves onto another one. He extends his thumb to make upward strokes between between the shoulder blade and the backbone.

"Yer... really tense," he opines, shaking his head. "Do ya do a lotta heavy liftin'? Ya might be liftin' wrong."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sometimes", he admits. "Farm equipment, feed... animals... if I am, I've been doing it wrong all my life."

[hot_water]

"Ya might be, I dunno. Bend yer knees and lift from there, not with yer back," Tahno explains. As one thumb slides off, the other one begins its stroke upwards, and he moves up and down Athelstan's back.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'll try that next time", he promises. "At least it's easy to correct. Oh, that feels good."

[hot_water]

"Good," Tahno drawls to both the promise and the praise. He rests both thumbs on the upper back before slowly sliding them down, with constant pressure. He lingers near the hips before beginning another stroke. "What's the first thing yer gonna do when ya get cher armband?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"The first thing?" He's a little drowsy, as Tahno's efforts work to relax him, but answers. "Have a drink with Ragnar in celebration, I should think."