Alcuin

[thenorthman]

Once Kersen and his progeny were out of his club, Eric finally flew off to Alcuin's home. He hadn't been here since that first night he had met the boy, and now he stood outside his door, wondering what the fuck he was even doing here. Caring about a human, or close enough.

Still, he rang the bell, standing on the doorstep and listening for Alcuin's approach through the door.

Comments

[alcuin]

"Some I donated to small museums," Alcuin said. "Some I sold to collectors. And some is in storage because I couldn't bear to part with it." He smiles. "There's more upstairs, come see."

He led Eric up the stairs where there were two rooms. The one where he led him first appeared to be an office but mostly a library - two walls filled floor to ceiling with books, and another one with more art. There were framed sketches here as well, an architectural drawing of Paris, and also a figure study of a naked young man lounging in bed with his back turned, head bent towards a book. To an observant eye it was clearly Alcuin. And also, above the desk there was a painted portrait of Anafiel Delaunay, handsome and regal.

[thenorthman]

Eric looked at the sketch of Alcuin, but made no comment, and his gaze swept over the drawing of Paris before he stepped over to the books, reading titles off of their spines. "Do you like Paris?"

[alcuin]

"It's where I'm from," said Alcuin, watching him. "I lived there until I was thirteen, when my mother died. Do you read a lot?"

[thenorthman]

That wasn't what Eric had asked, but he let it go. "There are many hours to a century," he answered, instead. "Eternity would be too long without books."

[alcuin]

"Even my short life would be unbearable without books," said Alcuin, clearly pleased with his answer. He always lit up when he talked about books.

"Hannibal did the drawing of Paris," he said. "I do miss it sometimes."

[thenorthman]

"Don't you ever go back?" Eric asked. He hadn't set foot in France for a little while himself. Not since Sylvie, and being forced to go to fucking Louisiana.

[alcuin]

"Sometimes," Alcuin said. "Was there for a short trip earlier this year. Even went back to the rather bad part of town where I grew up. But everything is different now, of course. I imagine you have that experience a lot."

[thenorthman]

"You could say that," Eric sardonically agreed. "Where were you born?"

[alcuin]

"Oh actually... here in London, but I don't remember it. My father died shortly after I was born, and my mother moved back to Paris. She... was a prostitute, and I grew up around a brothel, for the most part. Until I was twelve. She died, and that is when Anafiel took me in and brought me here. He was my father's best friend."

[thenorthman]

"He was more than that to you," Eric stated, because that much was obvious.

[alcuin]

Alcuin hesitated. Not because he didn't think it was obvious, but because for whatever reason he assumed that Eric knew about his past. It seemed like everyone else did.

"Yes," he said. "Later. I was very much in love with him. We were together for a short while, before his death." He glanced at the portrait unconsciously, and then quickly away.

[thenorthman]

"You still love him," Eric stated, even as he very evenly stepped over to Alcuin.

[alcuin]

"I - well. Yes. I miss him very much."

Alcuin hated how he felt his pulse quicken a bit just from Eric moving closer to him.

[thenorthman]

"Is he the first person you loved, and lost?" Eric asked, saying nothing of the increased rhythm of Alcuin's pulse, even as he stepped right into his personal space.

[alcuin]

"Yes," said Alcuin softly, wondering where he was going with this.

[thenorthman]

Eric wasn't going anywhere in particular; he only wanted to know Alcuin better. "Is he the only person you loved and lost?" he asked, raising a hand to cup Alcuin's face, his other one sliding around his waist.

[alcuin]

Alcuin leaned into the touch. "Yes," he said. "But I don't think I will love anyone again quite the way that I loved him." He loved Hannibal, yes, but it was not the same.

[thenorthman]

"You'll never love two persons the same way," Eric confided in him, then kissed him, with that same vein of domination there always was, with him, in moments like these.

[alcuin]

Alcuin loved the way that Eric kissed him. Especially after what had happened tonight, again, it made him feel safe. Made him feel like he belong to... with... Eric. It made him want to let go, give in.

And he was grateful, too, that Eric had made the first move, that he hadn't had to hint or seduce. Because he wanted him, and on a purely physical level that he hadn't wanted anyone in a long time. He still had dreams about him.

He wrapped his arms loosely around Eric's neck and kissed him back, his body surrendering and pliant against him.

[thenorthman]

Eric's shoulders were hunched, his neck bent, as he kissed the boy - as he (metaphorically) devoured his mouth, as if he wanted this simple kiss to steal Alcuin's breath away and leave no part of him untouched. His hands were holding him firmly, one on his jaw, the other in the small of his back, keeping him right there for Eric to plunder. Eventually, he broke the kiss, and told Alcuin, "Show me your bedroom."

[alcuin]

Alcuin was practically a puddle by the time the kiss broke. "That... that was the next stop on the tour," he said breathlessly, and dropped his arms so that he could take one of Eric's hands and lead him across the hall.

Alcuin's bedroom was decorated in white and light gray, with a large bay window through which sunlight streamed beautifully during the day. There were pops of color on the wall in artwork that was more modern than what adorned the rest of the flat. And his bed was made of elaborate white wrought iron, covered in white blankets and pillows.

Since it was still a tour, he offered, "And ah, this is my bedroom," and swept a hand helpfully. The window was open partway since it was a nice night, and gauzy curtains fluttered.

[thenorthman]

"So I see," Eric confirmed, although his gaze was already back on Alcuin as he did, after quickly looking around to take in the room. He raised his free hand to trail fingertips along Alcuin's jawline, then down his neck. "How sturdy is your bed?"

[alcuin]

"Very," Alcuin said. "I mean, as far as I know, I've never - with someone as strong as you." He looked over to the bed, then back to Eric. "I like that I can hold onto the iron bars." He'd been bound to them once or twice, too.

[thenorthman]

"You're going to need to," Eric promised him darkly, then kissed him again, picking him up and urging him to wrap his legs around his waist.

[alcuin]

Alcuin gasped a little and immediately did as Eric implied, wrapping his legs tightly around his waist and kissing him urgently. He was hard already, and his trousers were a bit tight so he was eager to get out of them.