[for alcuin] a quiet celebration

[karmic_darwin]

It had taken some doing, arranging a meal for Alcuin's birthday without Alcuin himself either making plans or being aware that Mohinder had anything planned. He supposed he might simply have told Alcuin, but he thought, perhaps, Alcuin would fret over whether he meant to invite Rupert - he didn't, as it happened

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[will_you_see]

"Holiday?" Alcuin repeated, having found himself temporarily distracted by the soft touch and the buzz of wine. "I suppose, the Longest Night... even if we don't celebrate it here, since the seasons hardly seem to match the days. But the midwinter masque was a sight to behold."

He was still so content and pleased by the evening, touched by the trouble that Mohinder had gone to for his birthday, which had passed with little fuss the previous two years on the island.

[karmic_darwin]

"Perhaps we might. I see no reason you shouldn't attempt to organize a Longest Night masque. The island seems to love a party and sharing the tradition would keep it vibrant for you, would it not?"

His fingers still smoothed over Alcuin's back, but he made no effort to lift his shirt. It was, after all, Alcuin's birthday they celebrated. He would leave the matter of sex in Alcuin's capable hands, leave it utterly to his desire.

[will_you_see]

"Well..." Alcuin looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps next year, if we have a month of winter. It would feel a bit wrong in the summertime."

He tipped his head back, resting against Mohinder's shoulder. "Thank you," he said softly, "for this. It is a pleasant change. Last year..." He sighed. "My birthday came just after I found out that James was gone, which was on the heels of Giacomo's disappearance. It was a lonely time."

[karmic_darwin]

He would remind Alcuin of the masque in November, if they were both still here, a thought he did not want to pursue at this time, especially given the direction of Alcuin's conversation. Instead, he bent his head over Alcuin's and kissed him softly, more affection than invitation, although with Alcuin desire always waited in the wings.

"I had hoped the situation with Rupert might be resolved in time to invite him, as well, but considering how things went on New Year's, it seemed prudent to ensure you a pleasant birthday and out that reunion off a little while." It wasn't, perhaps, his most graceful conversational gambit, but then no one had ever accused him of social grace.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin couldn't help the soft sigh that escaped his lips at that reminder. He had been avoiding bringing up the subject, but since it was there lingering now...

"Is everything... all right between the two of you?" he asked. "I admit, I have been avoiding him a bit. I don't want to interfere any further."

[karmic_darwin]

Head tilted downward to study Alcuin, Mohinder parted and closed his lips several times before formulating his response. At length, he shrugged eyebrows and shoulders, and spoke the truth.

"Our relationship is much as before, only punctuated by periods of brooding. He will not forgive himself for his past, or for what passed with you, and nothing I say will persuade him."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin sighed. "Perhaps it was a mistake to avoid him. I do not wish him to think that he's done anything to wrong me... I cannot help to think that I have handled this situation poorly from the moment I saw that he had returned."

[karmic_darwin]

"It's nothing you've done, Alcuin, you'll have to take my word for it. He simply cannot reconcile his desire for you with his nearly parental feelings toward Xander who shares your years, though not your experience." Mohinder gestured dismissively with his hand. "The problem lies exclusively in his mind and I doubt very strongly you can do anything to change it until he's ready."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin nodded, not entirely believing it, but understanding Mohinder's point. "I simply do not wish to make things worse," he said.

Then he twisted in Mohinder's loose embrace and regarded him for a moment. "Does my age ever bother you?"

[karmic_darwin]

At that, Mohinder smiled and dusted a kiss over Alcuin's brow. "Does it seem like your age bothers me?"

Which wasn't precisely an answer, but he hadn't thought of Alcuin's age in connection with the two of them since the first weeks of their relationship.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin smiled somewhat sheepishly before brushing his lips to Mohinder's cheek. "No. Of course not."

Then his face brightened and he added, "And I am a year older now. What do you think, does twenty-two suit me?"

[karmic_darwin]

"Twenty-two suits you every bit as well as twenty-one, except--" Mohinder answered, corners of his mouth lifting to a grin. "I believe your hair's turned silver."

He combed his fingers through that same hair and down Alcuin's back.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin laughed. "Well, I suppose there's nothing that can be done for that."

In a single graceful movement, he turned and swung a leg over so that he was straddling Mohinder's lap, then lowered his lips to his throat.

[karmic_darwin]

"Nothing that should be done," Mohinder rejoined, voice dropping and softening with the skim of talented lips over his throat. "You know perfectly well that I love your hair every bit as much as the rest of you."

His hand skimmed down Alcuin's back to his slender hip, hitching him closer while tilting his head back to offer up his neck. A birthday gift of a sort, he supposed.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin trailed his lips up Mohinder's throat to his ear. "Take me to bed," he whispered.

[karmic_darwin]

"A birthday gift for me?" Mohinder murmured, teasing. He was not at all inclined to move and yet a bed did permit of certain options the floor, no matter the number of cushions scattered there, did not. "How thoughtful."