Deep brown is practically an exotic eye color to a deep gnome. Most Underdark denizens have pale violet, blue, or grey eyes, except for drow from areas under Lolth's sway. Barcus finds himself admiring the color of Xander's eyes as he looks down at him. He can't help but make a small noise at the rubbing circles against his palm. It feels simultaneously sore, the ache of pressing a bruise, and pleasant. Regardless, he relaxes in the other man's grasp, surrendering to whatever he thinks is necessary.

He chuckles at the banter between them. "I've never met an inventor, tinkerer, or artificer who didn't do that to themselves. Either you're up all night finishing a project or you're up all night fretting over the fact that you haven't started your next one. But that's partly why this place exists. At least we can push one another into resting now and again."

"Thank you," he smiles at the compliment. "Some of the first things I invented were small automatons to carry explosives. The same principles were easy enough to miniaturize and apply here. We should...the three of us, we should collaborate some time."

His eyes are drifting half closed. It's not hard to mesmerize him with hand-holding, apparently.