Re: Dinner: Athelstan and Ragnar
"This space can be too big for me. I don't know why I chose such a big house to live in. I have filled it with books and things to keep me company. I asked for Stan-" Ragnar paused, frowning against the barrage of feelings. "I asked for Stan because I was so lonely. Because I had tried to have relationships but I was never going to be able to stay with people. Because I would never grow old. They would die. They left. Or I left. Over and over. And I have been so lonely. I asked for Stan. And now I have his company. I talk to him. But I would love nothing more that to have someone else here who will hear my voice. Who will speak to me. Who I can hear moving around in other rooms."
He picked at his food for a few moments. "There is a spare bedroom upstairs. It is close to mine, they join with a balcony. My other room is allocated to a friend, but I do not think he will use it. I would like nothing more than for you to live here with me."
At least he brightened up a bit at the offer of Athelstan singing. "You have a beautiful voice. I remember." And the choice of steak- Ragnar didn't expect it to be any different. It was how they had eaten it when they ate together. How they ate all of their meat. Cooked on the outside, lively in the middle.
"I learnt many. Some out of boredom, some because I had moved around. I learnt better English. I learnt your Latin tongue. I learnt Greek. And then Italian. French. Spanish. The ones I needed for anywhere useful, when everyone was colonizing. I will speak to you in whichever you like, if it pleases you," he grinned. "I went to war a few more times, because I would not die, I thought I could be helpful. But it was hard." His grin faded, and Ragnar nodded, sighed. "Finish your starter, I will make a start on the main."