Re: Dinner: Athelstan and Ragnar
"I don't recall the temperature stopping anyone from fishing," Athelstan said, smiling. It wasn't the easiest meat to acquire during winter, but it could still be caught if needed. And this lake wasn't even frozen over yet, if it would be. He laughed again, at Ragnar becoming too warm blooded. "We have all the creature comforts now, don't we? You don't need land if you want to grow something, only sunlight and something to put the plant in. We have central air and heating now, and a trip from Kattegat to LEngland only takes hours." The world had changed all around them, and this too, was new -- Ragnar cooking for him. Everyone had cooked on the farm including him.
It was something that had continued into Ragnar's years as Earl, though it had happened with less frequency when he was in Kattegat with Aslaug. He did not miss her as he missed Lagertha and Bjorn, even young Gyda who had gone on at such a young age. That was something that he3ld true for both their people -- Even if a child survived the first years of life, that was no guarantee that they would survive to adulthood.
Before he thought too much more, he glanced up and caught that look on Ragnar's face. How long had it been since he'd spoken his birth tongue? Since he'd heard it spoken by anyone else? He was fairly sure if it bothered Ragnar, that he would let it be known. "Are you inviting me to stay with you?" He said with a small smile.
His eyes widened slightly as Ragnar brought in the first of their "not extravagant" courses. "It smells delicious," he said quietly, knee resting against Ragnar's when the man finally sat down again. Picking up his knife and fork, both of them handled delicately in his hands, he used his fork to ease off a bit of salmon, and the knife to make sure he caught everything on the tongs before he took a bite. "That is -- very good, Ragnar," he said a little throatily, words dipped in food-induced pleasure.