runningred | (no subject)

{From here}

Jay leads them into his room. It's comfortably large and mostly taken up by benches and a decadent looking bed.

He pulls a fold out massage table out from under a bench and starts wiping things down to create a clean space to work. "Ragnar, I think it's best you go first. Have you decided where you want the receiver?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar opens his eyes and looks up at Athelstan, eyes still unfocused, and murmurs something.

From:

athelstanthescribe

"I know." He can guess at what Ragnar said. "And I'm here."

From:

runningred

"Just breathe deep. Take your time." Jay cleans up and set the needle down, not prepping the second until they're ready.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar lifts his other hand to wrap it around Athelstan's as they are holding on to his hand, and breathes silently for a little.

"I am here."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"And not going anywhere."

He's dreading his turn, but all the more determined to go through with it now.

From:

runningred

Which is more or less why he chose to do them in that order. That and if Ragnar had to watch Athelstan go through it without knowing it was going to be okay, he might have... well, broken Jay's arm at least.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Slowly, still not letting go of Athelstan, Ragnar sits up and moves his head and shoulders, as if letting out tensions he didn't even realise he had held in.

From:

athelstanthescribe

"How do you feel?" Athelstan asks.

From:

runningred

Jay hands him a glass of water and follows it with a glass of something fizzy and sweet. Sugar is never a bad thing after a shock like that.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar gulps down the water, and then slowly sips the sweet and fizzy drink.

"Okay now," he says, squeezing Athelstan's hand again. "That was a bit odd. But it only took a short moment."

He turns his head to smile into Athelstan's eyes.

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan smiles back.

"Only you could call that 'a bit odd'."

From:

runningred

Jay chuckles, giving them both time and space till Athelstan's ready.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

"And now, you can feel my heart beat," Ragnar says. "Do we put the receiver in place now, or only after the thing on Athelstan's heart has gone in?"

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Let's do me first", Athelstan decides. "Get it over with."

From:

runningred

"The receivers won't hurt more than a moment's discomfort. Like stepping on a tack."

"Athelstan, if you're ready?" He washes the mouth-guard and preps the second needle as Athelstan gets himself comfortable.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar stands, then pulls up a chair and sits behind the head of the massage table so he can put his arms firmly around Athelstan, to hold him close during the terrible seconds of the device going in.

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan prepares himself as much as he can, slipping the mouth guard into place and taking Ragnar's hand to squeeze.

He nods to Jay.

From:

runningred

Jay nods in answer and repeats the process, very careful to make it as swift and easy as he can.

Once for needle is out, he helps Ragnar hold Athelstan through the moment of pain.

From:

bigarmy_strangepants

Ragnar holds Athelstan firmly, murmuring reassurance into his dark hair, momentarily not caring at all what Jay sees or hears, only that Athelstan knows that he'S there, and with him.

From:

athelstanthescribe

Jay is already a trusted person, and Athelstan's fingers dig hard into whatever's under them as he tries and fails not to scream, muffled by the mouthguard.

From:

runningred

Jay isn't one to judge. After all, he won't do this to them if he didn't know they loved each other. Anyone with eyes can see that.

He counts off the seconds, waiting for Athelstan feel the returning jolt.