Two Years Earlier
27 October 2034
8:49 pm
On a Friday
Býkonsviði, Prydania
Einhildur felt great. She'd had to sneak out in a long coat because there was no way in hell her parents were letting her out dressed like this. But now that she was here? She tossed the coat away to the side defiantly, an act of confident teenager rebellion, a declaration that she was going to let loose. Tight black shorts black knee high socks, and a black top that let her midsection exposed, all topped off with a black cat's mask, the only indication of any real theme to her outfit other than "I'm gonna have fun."
She wasn't alone with her outfit either. Most of the girls were dressed like that. Halloween. They may have all become too old for trick-or-treat'ing but the night still stocked adolescent rebellion.
Still, despite that, her outfit did catch the eyes of a few of the guys.
But she only waved to one of them.
"Styr!" she said, catching Styrbjörn lifting his scarecrow mask to take a sip of punch.
"Einhildur!" Styrbjörn answered with a wave, seeing her friend, before her outfit dawned on him.
Holy shit. She was
hot. How'd he never see that about her before...?
"Um... hi... I..." he stammered but Einhildur just pointed to his red plastic cup.
"Drinking anything fun?" she asked playfully.
"Um..." Styrbjörn couldn't pull his attention from his friend's exposed midsection or the way the short black shorts she was wearing hugged her hips... but eventually he found the words.
"Nah," he said blushing.
Damnit. If any time was right for underage drinking it woulda been now, to look cool.
"Just...um... just punch. Saving the hard stuff for later," he said with a wink.
"Ok that's good Styr," he told himself. That was a save. And something he could work with. He had a flask of brennívin in one of the many pockets of his cargo pants, stolen from his parents' liquor cabinet. He'd told himself he wouldn't even drink it. They were all fifteen, too young to drink. He'd brought it though, so he didn't look lame in front of his friends. But now... if Einhildur... looking like that... wanted to? He'd drink a whole damn bottle of brennívin for her.
"Bitchin," Einhildur said with a smile as she leaned back against the counter. Styrbjörn got her a plastic cup of punch, and she lifted her mask to drink it.
"Fok even the eye glitter..." Styrbjörn thought. He'd been her friend since they were kids and... he'd never thought of her like this... but...
"So your parents know you're here?" Einhildur asked.
"My mamma and pabbi? Nah, they think I'm at Rafnar's watchin' monster movies."
"Rafnar's in Saintes visiting family," Einhildur pointed out.
"Exactly," Styrbjörn replied, giving her a wink. Já. The bad boy look. That'll work.
"What about you? Your mamma and pabbi know you're here?" He couldn't imagine her dad would let her out like that...
"They know I'm out. At a party where we're all gonna play bobbing for apples and have pumpkin carving contests," Einhildur said with an exaggerated smile and a faux-sweet tone.
"Well here's to having a good time," Styrbjörn declared, raising his cup. Einhildur happily yelled out "RALT!" which got all the other teens to do the same holding their cups up, whether they were drinking alcohol or not.
The declaration was enough for Ufi Dybdahl, who was hosting this party with his parents away on a vacation, to go "let's really get it goin'!" and turned up the music. The house full of fifteen year olds howled excitedly and a living room table and chairs were shoved aside so there'd be room to dance.
"Oh man! Let's go!" Einhildur squealed with excitement. Styrbjörn didn't even pick up she'd asked him until she grabbed his hand.
She grabbed his hand. Her skin...her hand... it was so soft and warm...
He'd usually say no. Dancing? He couldn't dance... but she wanted to and...
"Sure!"
No, Styrbjörn couldn't dance. But he was far from the only one who couldn't. The good thing was... no one seemed to care. They bobbed and headbanged and grinded against each other, as the music seemed to grow louder...
Styrbjörn was just captivated by Einhildur... she couldn't really dance either but did it matter?
He had a moment of clarity though. Lots of pretty girls here... lots of pretty girls wearing as sexy a Halloween costume as they could... but Einhildur was just captivating.
He didn't dwell on it, both of them bobbing together to the music, smiling sincerely if a bit awkwardly at each other.
And then she took his hand again.
"Come on!"
"Where we going?" he followed her into the kitchen. It was relatively quieter here, away from the dancing.
"Let's do the hard stuff!" she exclaimed.
"Wha...oh!" Styrbjörn nodded as he tossed his scarecrow mask to the kitchen counter. Einhildur tossed her cat mask two, now seeing their faces in full, smiling, a bit sweaty from the dancing but...
"Does he look cuter with sweaty hair?" Einhildur thought to herself? "Does he...?"
Styrbjörn patted down his left leg and found it, lower pocket, and produced a silver flask with a faded FRE emblem on it. His pabbi's. He shook it with a playful smile before unscrewing it and looking around. There was a punch bowl on the counter and red plastic cups strewn everywhere. He grabbed two filled them with punch and then...
"You know how much to add?" Einhildur asked, sounding genuinely curious. A soft admission she'd never mixed drinks before.
"Oh já," Styrbjörn replied hoping his bluff was convincing. He thought back to movies and tv. How'd they do it? What seemed like the right amount?
So he poured some brennívin into each... and over poured. Of course neither knew that and both winced as they went to take a sip, the sweet, fruity punch overcome by the liquor. They each tried to fight it but they both made puckered faces at each other before laughing.
"It's strong!" Einhildur said with a blush.
"Já..." Styrbjörn replied.
"Um... is it still ok?"
Einhildur nodded. She wasn't going to have her friend thinking she was a wimp!
The taste of the liquor wasn't so bad as they drank more of it, and Styrbjörn leaned back against the kitchen counter.
"So you wanna go dance again?"
"Maybe in a bit," Einhildur replied with a smile.
"This is nice though."
Styrbjörn nodded, as they drank some more, and started to talk. They were friends. They talked all the time, and they weren't breaking any new ground here. School gossip mostly, chuckling as they pointed out various who's who's at the party...
But this felt different. Styrbjörn felt lighter. He felt less worried...and he felt far less intimidated by Einhildur's outfit.
Einhildur too... she felt happier... and as they both laughed over a joke about the chess team captain... she felt just a bit dizzy. And leaned a bit into Styrbjörn, before she fell laughing into his arms.
They stopped for a moment. Styrbjörn, though his hormones and the alcohol, was worried for a moment but... she was ok. In fact she was smiling looking up at him...
And then he did it. He leaned in, and she kissed him... he kissed back....
Styrbjörn awkwardly positioned himself against the fridge so she could push him back against something that wasn't the countertop... she tasted so good, and as soon as he could, he kissed her again, as she stepped onto his feet, kissing him back. Their make-out session only interrupted when Ufi came in and gave a playful "get a room!" comment before pointing down the hallway. The guest room.
Einhildur and Styrbjörn looked at each other and... Styrbjörn didn't know what came over him! He tossed her over his shoulder, and she laughed and cheered! He had no idea he could do that! He must be getting stronger...
He carried her into the guest room and set her down on the bed, the thumping tone of the music behind them as he closed the door... crawling on bed as she kissed him again.
"Have you... have you done this before?" Einhildur asked.
Part of him wanted to lie... but he couldn't...
"No..." he said shaking his head.
"Me either..." Einhildur admitted sheepishly.
"But..."
"Já..." Styrbjörn replied. He knew. They both wanted to. He kissed her again, and slowly leaned against her, lowering her to her back...she looked up at him, her friend...
"I'm..." she said shaking.
"I think I'm ready..."
Something about that... maybe it was that she clearly didn't say it with any confidence. Maybe it was because he had his own doubts about it...
His parents weren't devout to any crazy degree, but they still went to Church every Sunday. And thought Styrbjörn was reaching that age of teenage rebellion himself... he was named after a saint! His own uncle! It made him...just think about this.
He looked down at her. God she was hot...
He sighed. And leaned back.
"What's wrong?" Einhildur asked, sounding worried and blushing. Did she do something wrong? Was she not cute enough?
"Wha...? No! No..." Styrbjörn insisted.
"But I like you... a lot."
Einhildur sat up in bed.
"So... so do I... like you I mean..."
"Is it weird? 'cause we're friends?"
"I mean..." Einhildur replied, "don't you wanna be with someone you like?"
"Já..." Styrbjörn nodded.
"I do..." he smiled.
"So... what's wrong?"
"I want to be with you... but I wanna..." he paused so he wouldn't slur his words. The brennívin was going to his head.
"Right. I want to be with you right. The right way. I wanna save myself. For you..."
He blushed. It was so lame to say! It went against everything peer pressure and tv and movies told him! He had this girl, a cute girl he liked, ready to sleep with him! He could do it... he just... it was a feeling in his mind. That he just...wanted to do this properly.
Einhildur adjusted, moving to her knees as she scooted closer to Styrbjörn.
"I like you too... and...that's ok. I mean... I mean I like that. I sounds nice."
Fok. Was she really going to marry Styrbjörn Granseth? She was only fifteen but... it felt right.
Styrbjörn nodded and she spoke up again.
"We won't do it... but... you can still spend the night with me?"
Styrbjörn nodded with a grin. Neither had drank alcohol before tonight and Styr's generous pours of brennívin had left them a bit loopy.
"Já I can..."
Einhildur grinned. She kicked her sneakers off but otherwise kept her clothes on as she lay down in bed, cuddling up against Styrbjörn. He grinned. And lay down next to her, holding her.
28 October 2034
7:26 am
On a Saturday
Býkonsviði, Prydania
Styrbjörn stirred awake and winced. His head... there was this dull, throbbing pain... and oh God. Morning wood. He pulled away from Einhildur, but... they were both clothed. So they probably didn't do anything. The conversation... he remembered it even if his head head.
"Owwww is this a hangover?" Einhildur muttered, as she stirred awake.
"I think so..." Styrbjörn replied, quickly pulling his knees to his chest to hide the tent in his pants.
Einhildur noticed and smiled, propping herself up with one hand under her head.
"Last night... you meant what you said right?" she asked softly.
"Já..." Styrbjörn replied.
"I did."
"That's good... thank you."
"For what?"
Einhildur blushed. She felt like she was starring in one of those lame videos they showed you at school.
"For not taking advantage of me..."
Styrbjörn blushed but smiled. He was just as drunk as her.
"I said I wanted to do it the right way," he shrugged.
The two picked themselves up, and left the guest room. The house was a mess. Chips plastic cups, blunts... fok if the cops showed up they'd have a field day. Their classmates were all sprawled out. Most still asleep. A few couples here and there, but the two made sure to be quiet. Styrbjörn helped Einhildur into her coat, and the two slipped out onto the sidewalk. It was early but already Býkonsviði was coming alive for the Saturday. True, it was chilly and the sky was grey but people were already out and about. At least the overcast skies spared them a little bit in their hungover state.
"I'll walk you home," Stybjörn said with a smile as they held hands on the sidewalk.
"So are we... boyfriend and girlfriend?" Einhildur asked.
"Já... I mean... if you want!" Styrbjörn answered.
She chuckled.
"I I like that..." she said, causing Styr to smile.
"But Ufi saw us. What do we say? About... you know. We were alone all night..."
"It's no one's business," Styrbjörn answered.
"It's just ours."
The two just spent the rest of the walk holding hands, each enjoying the feeling. They both wanted to say so much more, but didn't know how. But... neither felt any pressing need to say anything either. Also... they were both hungover. That helped.
Eventually they got to Einhildur's family's townhouse.
"Um... do you wanna hang out tomorrow?" she asked.
"I think I need to sleep this off..." she chuckled.
"Já... já I'd like that..." he replied.
"I can pick you up after Church tomorrow?"
"That's great," she said with a smile, giving him a soft peck on the lips. Each of their hearts fluttered as they looked into each other's eyes...
"See you tomorrow, Styr."
"See ya Ein..."
28 October 2034
8:10 am
On a Saturday
Býkonsviði, Prydania
Father Finngeir Rössvoll noticed someone was in the confession booth at St. Josef's. He found that he had a rather good aptitude for this part of his work. People found him comforting. And they found him reassuring.
He sat, and slid the divider away, the intricate screen still obscuring who was on the other end. If only he wasn't so good with voices!
"Tell me what weighs on you, my child," he said in a friendly voice.
"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It's been three months since my last confession."
Styrbjörn Granseth. Of course Finngeir knew him!
His own son, Björnólfur, had been killed alongside Styrbjörn's uncle, who he had been named after. They were
murdered by the Syndicalist regime in the Advent Executions of 2015. Since the end of the War Finngeir had gotten to know Styrbjörn's father. He'd helped comfort him, became a family friend... and he'd been Uncle Finngeir to his children!
Of course Styrbjorn would know that. He must know that. Confession was supposed to be private but he knew the kid he was practical and uncle to and Styrbjörn knew he was the priest at this church. He was coming here because he knew he could trust him.
In one way... that was worrying. Was he ok?
"It's ok, my child," Finngeir replied, keeping up the allusion of anonymity.
"What's troubling you?"
"I was at a Halloween party..." Styrbjörn began. He paused. Finngeir smiled. Kids will be kids.
"A party is not a sin. God doesn't expect us to stay home praying all the time." He just wanted to comfort the kid.
"Well, Father, at the party there was alcohol. And I know I'm under age but... but I drank it..."
Finngeir nodded. Honestly? He found it kind of adorable. The kid he'd once known as a baby was going to parties now.
"I would never condone under age drinking, my child, but that in and of itself isn't a terrible transgression."
"My friend Einhildur was there and..."
"Oh no," Finngeir thought.
"Don't say what I think you're gonna say..."
"...and we got drunk and made out."
Finngeir waited for more... but there wasn't anything.
"Is that... that it my son?"
"We were about to do... more.... " Styrbjörn paused for a moment.
"But we decided not to."
Finngeir breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good. Good for both of you. But if you didn't go further..."
"We kissed a lot. A lot. And... we decided we wanted to be together the right way. But... I'm worried I may have sinned."
Finngeir smiled. Styrbjörn had a girlfriend! That was too sweet. And too cute. And he'd actually shown some restraint...
He knew that depending on who you asked kissing with the tongue might be sinful, from a purely priestly perspective, but he shrugged.
"My son," he said, "God has His commandments. And these are very hard and fast, but everything else is a bit circumstantial. You were drinking. You were enjoying a night with your friends. All in all this is harmless, relatively. You found your way with a girl you liked and you both decided to be responsible. The only sin here is underage drinking," he chuckled.
"But you and this young lady are on a good path."
There was a pause for a moment.
Styrbjörn nodded.
"Thank you Father."
"Say a Hail Marry," Finngeir added.
"For the drinking. But don't worry about your new girlfriend. She and you made the right decision."
Styrbjörn nodded, saying the prayer quickly, if earnestly. Finngeir replied with the prayer of absolution.
"Go in peace my son," Finngeir said with a nod.
Stybjörn smiled. He was just... he liked Einhildur. He wanted to do things properly. And he just had to make sure.
"Thank you Father," he said, before leaving.
Finngeir smirked. He'd never betray the sanctity of a confession but he was curious what Þorfinnur would think!
Love is a Lie by Lion, 4:47