hexstrapper | caldera inbox.

Xander's bias toward Imperial made wine was easily swayed by the absolute stellar vintages being crafted at the Visitor run winery in town. At least once a week he showed up with a new bottle to try — tonight, it was a dry red, with the appropriately paired cheeses, and he would be damned if he didn't convince Viktor to sit down and enjoy it with him.

Xander, for his part in the current scene, was staring at Viktor, having just made some comment about the need to be carried back home, should they both imbibe a bit too much, and how Skan would probably playfully chide them for their rambunctious wine and cheese party.

When Viktor spoke to address Barcus, however, he turned to smile at the gnome, but his gaze almost immediately focused on the way he flexed his hands. "Bask all you wish, my friend, but do let me examine your hands, if I may? You look pained."

Viktor is debating whether Gryphon-riding under the influence would be more dangerous than getting themselves home in such a circumstance when Barcus calls them out for looking smug. His cheeks grow pinker, but he smiles and chuckles a little. It stands to reason that Xander brought at least two bottles of wine, and the first is nearly empty.

"Apologies, Archmagos. We must be insufferable." Though he feels similarly, that the workshop is as much his as it is Barcus' now, he worries sometimes about irritating Barcus with their chatter or taking up too much space in the workshop. With all of them spending so much time here, they're almost as much roommates as colleagues, and Viktor wants to be considerate.

"Yes, and I am happy to provide you a little healing, if you are sore," he offers. He leans forward so as to peer over at Barcus and his hands, and this has the added effect of making him closer to Xander, so he leans on him a little and plays with his hair in the back with one hand.

These impossibly kind men! Barcus looks slightly flustered at the dual offer to ease his hands, if also grateful. "It's nothing, really," he protests. "I've just been working in fine detail for hours and it's left me a bit sore. I suppose I might be developing a touch of arthritis, but it's not that bad."

He takes a sip of his wine, stalling, but then relents and sets the cup aside, stepping closer and leaning against the arm of the sofa opposite Viktor. He offers his hands palms-up. "Really, you can have a look, but don't waste energy on it."

He chuckles softly at the nickname. Archmagos. He still needs to come up with one for Viktor, and his mind wanders over gnomish words for a moment. "Mm. Are the two of you celebrating anything in particular, or just having a cozy night in together? I never got around to formally congratulating you on your invention for the revel. Had the judgment been based on long-term usefulness rather than Nymion's whim, you'd have won handily. That will save lives."

Would that he could produce another arm to wrap around Viktor. Alas, he would need both to tend to Barcus, which he did so without hesitation.

Xander had the faintest of buzzes currently; a pleasant little heat that reddened the tips of his ears. Deep brown eyes were half hidden behind his eyelids as he focused his attention downward on the gnome's hands, grasping one lightly with both of his own and pressing his thumbs into the base of his palm, where he applied a little bit of pressure in the form of slow circles.

"Celebrating Viktor taking a break." He teased as he worked, "not that I have any right to protest it — I am terrible at taking breaks myself, but I at least hydrate." Viktor was fully within his rights to flick Xander in the head for that. "Thank you. We did not set out to win either way — I am proud of what we made and how we can help others here."

Skill issue, Xander. Non-octopus problems.

Viktor doesn't flick him for that- mostly because he's right, and he has no rebuttal. He does shake his head a little though, having heard this criticism many times already. He's trying, okay! Otherwise, he looks over Xander's shoulder at Barcus' hands, noting their slight bruising. The gnome has just as much a tendency to downplay his pain as Viktor does, so he pays the brushing-off no mind.

"Yes, nothing in particular; we are just relaxing. Xander has a knack for turning any regular day into an occasion." Usually by bringing these fancy foods and beverages, but there's a warmth in Viktor's tone that suggests it's more than that. Truly, he thinks just the fact that they are together at all is reason enough to celebrate, lately.

"Oh- thank you, Barcus." Viktor smiles with his usual sheepishness, but there's also a definite pride hidden there. "Your approval means far more to me than Nymion's, so I am glad you see the merit. And no, we did not even have winning on our minds. The Revel was simply an excuse to push ourselves on a tight timeline to create something that would help people."

"I thought your invention was fantastic, as well. So... Creative, and with so many potential uses."

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.

Barcus might die seeing his eyes when the sunlight hit them just right — like pools of honey, hinted with gold. Alas, the lighting in the workshop may have been good, but not nearly good enough to make that wonder happen.

"I have said it before — it is good I am here." He murmured affectionately while his thumbs moved up along Barcus's palm. "Tell me if the pain is too much." Because the last thing he wanted to do was hurt him. Then, to finish his previous thought: "I am prone to overworking as well, but I have a habit of noticing it in others moreso — and I cannot leave anyone to potentially harm themselves just for a few more minutes of work."

He smiled. "Well, I am not opposed." He hardly imagined Viktor would be.

"It is," he murmurs, ghosting his lips against the nape of Xander's neck. It's obvious he's happy for his presence, but not because he's telling him to drink water.

Viktor is moulding himself around his partner's back, slowly hooking his chin on his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his middle like a clingy koala as he watches their interaction.

"I am surprised we haven't collaborated already." He's definitely been wanting to, but he and Barcus were both so busy with their own things for the past while. "We could certainly build something amazing, and lose a record amount of sleep while we are at it."

He notices the way Barcus relaxes, his eyes drooping. Viktor smiles faintly.

"Magical, isn't he? Without even a spell to speak of." He's talking to Barcus about how great Xander is at hand massages, of course, sounding as smitten as a blushing bride.

Barcus is someone who, in spite of his great fondness for dick, really does notice facial features and personality traits first in the attractive people around him. Were someone to ask, he would definitely compliment Xander's eyes, and Viktor's perfect cheekbones. Among other things.

In the meantime, even as he relaxes into the attention, he smirks a little at the way Viktor is snuggling up behind his lover. "Well, we just need to think of an idea. I certainly don't want to monopolize your time together when you're having fun, but I do fear my workbench has had enough of me for the day. Just chase me off when you want privacy again."

Or don't. He kinda likes this.

"Mmmhmm," he murmurs in answer to Viktor. "Very good with his hands." Whoa, wait, that came out wrong. His ears turn violet. "Erm!! I didn't mean for that to sound lascivious; my apologies."

Well, far be it from him to stop Viktor from latching onto him. He would return the favor but, you know, his hands were occupied massaging Barcus to help alleviate some of his pain. He set said hand down and motioned for the other so he could repeat the process.

At least Barcus wasn't alone in his blushing — between the compliments and Viktor's snuggling, his own cheeks were flushed with heat. "Funny we speak of my hands, when it is Viktor's that I first complimented." He laughed. "No apologies needed. I am glad I can be of service."

"Do stay, Barcus. If we wanted privacy, we would have gone home." These days it never seems like sex is off the table completely with the two of them, but they would have at least stumbled back to the inn rather than doing it here, if things went in that direction.

Viktor chuckles softly, the sound warm and low.

"It is true. I would wager that all three of us are quite good with our hands," he says, leaving that out there to be taken as it will.

Now that Xander is done with one of Barcus' hands, Viktor puts his wine glass on the table and takes it in both of his. He runs his fingertips feather-softly down the countours of it, turning it over and getting a good sense for where the sore parts are. He then decides to simply sandwich the gnome's hand between both of his. His hands glow with an ethereal, multicoloured light, similar to how he looked in his storm form on the beach. He presses healing magic into Barcus' hand, which should feel warm and tingly, and relieve his aches further.

Honestly, Barcus wouldn't hold them to that bit. Going home for privacy. Making love in the lounge wouldn't be appreciated, because other people want to relax there, but as long as they clean up, it's whatever.

When Xander sets his one hand down, Barcus fumbles for a second like he's not sure where to put it, because his first inclination is on the nearest man's knee and that's a little bit presumptuous. Before he comes to a conclusion, Viktor takes it and now each one of them has one of his hands and Barcus' pulse is racing.

He's reading too much into this, surely. It feels so nice, though...

"I, hmm, I do pride myself on my ability to handle delicate, detailed work," he says tentatively, smiling. Flirting with the idea of flirting. "I suppose sometimes creation takes a soft touch, and sometimes it needs a stronger hand."

You know, at first, Xander did not think there was any flirting happening. Probably because massaging Barcus's hand had been more physician's instinct when seeing a man in pain and knowing how to alleviate it — touching someone was not inherently flirtatious to him.

But now they're talking about hands and being good with them, and Viktor's weight was still leaning heavily into his body, and his lips had just been on his neck. Barcus was blushing. He was blushing.

"...Are you flirting with my partner, Barcus?" Well he was half right, and he didn't even sound accusatory. Genuinely curious here — was he? (Don't mention the fact that he didn't add himself to that question).

Immediately, the gnome feels called out, and he looks apologetic, but then he catches the look in Xander's eyes and reads it accurately. No, that was just a question, not a complaint, and given Barcus' tendency to dance around a topic to begin with, it's pretty legit. His expression softens again, and they're still both holding onto him, so he lets his shoulders relax and laughs a little.

"Forgive me, dear, but I'm only flesh and blood, and there are two kind, brilliant, beautiful men holding my hands. It can stop right now, and I'll behave myself, if you prefer, but technically I'm flirting with you both."

He looks at Viktor. "It does my heart good just to see you two being happy together. I meant that bit about basking. But it did rather sound like you started the flirting. Am I wrong?"

At Xander's question, Viktor's eyes widen, and he blinks. Was Xander truly not aware of the atmosphere permeating this room, which is coming just as much from Viktor's smitten buzz and the fact that Xander is massaging Barcus' hands as anything Barcus is saying or doing?

"I- I-" He stammers. His cheeks are red now, and though he knows neither of them are being accusatory, he's struggling to find words to explain himself. "Perhaps I did...? The drink is making me foolish," he chides himself.

"I- I admit, I thought we were all flirting..." He says innocently, and looks to Xander. "But apparently Xander was just being a good doctor, and we were getting carried away. Sorry, darling, I will stop." He draws his hands away from Barcus, putting them on his partner's shoulders instead, and kisses his cheek.

Oh. OH!

In Xander's defense, he was not used to men flirting with him to begin with, given it being a big obvious no-no back home, and he was just doctoring by default when the gnome came over with sore hands.

"I seem to be the foolish one." Xander said, still amused and now blushing just as much as everyone else. He closed one eye as Viktor kissed his cheek, and offered Barcus's hands another soft squeeze. "We have not discussed the exclusivity of our relationship, but if Viktor is not opposed to flirting and a bit of exploration, I am not either."

Barcus looks a little crestfallen, but he lets Viktor withdraw without complaint. "Well, I don't think flirting is foolish, but if you're concerned the wine has your inhibitions too low, I can certainly give you space."

Except of course Xander is holding onto him still and the atmosphere hasn't actually been disrupted that much. He seems reassured by the squeeze of his hands, looking from one to the other. "Well, now I'm getting a resounding maybe."

"Viktor is aware I have more than one partner. It's not a situation I ever expected myself to be in--gods know I didn't think I had that much cachet--but there is a lot to be said for being able to share pleasure and affection freely, while knowing there will always be someone you can come home to. Obviously, it's not my place to dictate the terms of your relationship, but should there be a little extra space on this couch for me tonight, rest assured I'll be the most appreciative of guests."

And since Xander is the one who's still holding his hands, he'll take the opportunity to bring one closer and give him a light, chaste kiss on the back of the knuckles. "I do feel much better, by the way."

"It's not... I am not drunk by any means, so don't fret about that. I just... Feel comfortable with the two of you, and with Xander and I recently making our relationship more serious, I have been in an affectionate mood."

He's a bit confused and embarrassed by all of this, worried that he's behaved inappropriately when he thought he was just having fun with the people he cares for. He fights the urge to close up and withdraw. Examining Xander's face and tone more closely, he does not seem to be upset, so perhaps the situation is not doomed.

He feels a strange, small flash of jealousy as Barcus kisses Xander's knuckles. And indeed, perhaps part of the reason he was flirting in the first place was a subconscious insecurity about Xander massaging Barcus' hands. He knows now that Xander was doing it only from a doctor's perspective, but in the moment he wasn't sure, especially when Barcus started to enjoy it so much. He wonders if his and Xander's relationship is too new and fragile to be opening it up to others. But, well, the opportunity is right here and now, and it is tempting.

"I love Xander very much, and I wouldn't want to do anything to upset him. But I am quite fond of you, Barcus, and... It would be nice to share the affection we seem to be overflowing with. Exclusivity is... A conversation we should have had, given... Our unique situation." Or rather, Xander's unique situation, but he won't put too fine a point on it, in case his partner doesn't want to talk about it. "I personally would not want to do anything sexual or romantic with anyone unless Xander was directly involved. But if we are all having a good time with this..." He shrugs, brows raised curiously as he looks to his partner.

He could not turn any redder if he tried now that Barcus was kissing his knuckles. He did not pull away, but he did lift his other hand up to press against Viktor's cheek.

"I am married," he offered by way of explanation, because he saw little point in hiding it. "My wife, Celene, is a noblewoman with an inclination toward the fairer sex. We married for political purposes, and respect one anothers boundaries. Truly, she had been telling me for years I needed to find a lover, or several." He chuffed out a laugh at that last part. "I am happy with Viktor — more than happy, but I... see no harm in a bit of fun tonight, if that is what we all would like. We come as a pair, regardless." Since he felt similarly about doing anything without Viktor.

"Viktor..." Barcus keeps a hold on Xander's hand but reaches out to the other man, slightly tentative, but seeking to brush his fingers across his cheek. "You have no idea how much I admire you, do you? An absolutely remarkable creator and innovator, how could I not be drawn to the fire in your mind?"

"Like the two of you, I am certainly not about disrupting my relationships with Bel or Ashton," or Dorian and Orym, but those are much looser, bonds of bright affection with no particular boundaries or rules set yet. "But being friends-with-benefits, even for just a night, would mean a great deal to me. To express my admiration and my gratitude."

"Also, forgive me, but I can't help but notice I'm at exactly the right height for certain activities with men your size." He's capable of being cheeky, too, not just sentimental!

The news that Xander is married seems not to surprise him even a little bit. He just smiles wider. "Oh, my parents were a bit like that. It's common among deep gnomes to have marriages with a woman and a man and they both have same-sex lovers on the side. My father was more interested in his work than sex--although he adored my mother, I'm one of eight children--but my mother had plenty of lady-friends. One of them taught me how to cook, actually."

Viktor exhales a small oh and looks down as Barcus brushes his cheek. Clearly he did not know how much his gnome friend admires him. Nor that he would like to express that admiration... Amorously.

Still, their hands on his cheeks calm him, reassure him that everything is okay. He closes his eyes for a brief moment, feeling how warm his body is.

He blushes again at Barcus' suggestion of... Well, it sounds like fellatio. "So long as we could sit while you do it..." He murmurs. He is not standing for that long, nor does he want Xander to. Their sex is... Adaptive, to require the least effort possible.

He is glad to hear that Xander's arrangement is not such an uncommon one, after all. He imagines it will comfort his partner to hear it treated as normal, and it's enlightening for Viktor as well.

"Shall we go to Xander's room at the inn, then?" For a bit of privacy, and a bed.

Okay, well, now it was time for Xander to feel the pang lf jealousy when Barcus spoke so adoringly at his partner. Human nature, he told himself, and he was not about to be contradictory when he was openly supporting it all. The gnome worded it all nicely anyway.

He was going to just... let Viktor take the reins on that blow job talk. Good lord. In fact — give him a second to pray silently.

"Your father and I have that in common." Being too busy to worry about side partners during his marriage, that is. "I am glad to know you understand. I think my bedroom will suffice." Which meant he had to get up. Xander sighed and released Barcus hand so he could turn and kiss Viktor on the lips, his smile warm when he pulled back. "You're sure?" Because this was sudden and a lot and he'd be damned if he didn't double check.

Barcus might be just a little amused at that insistence that they be allowed to sit. It's fair, though. His height is less advantageous in that position, but he's still more than happy to make good on the offer. "If I'm doing my job properly, you wouldn't be able to keep your knees from buckling for long anyway," he assures them. "And I'm known for doing all sorts of jobs properly."

But now he's starting to feel like the slut in the room, which may be accurate but it's a little unusual for him. He pats each man on the shoulder and moves away to let them talk to one another and come to their final conclusions. "Anywhere you prefer, dear. I suppose he's the only one of us without roommates."

Not that Bel would mind Barcus bringing them to their place, but there's also the cat and the dragon to consider.

"Oh, my." Barcus, please, you're going to kill them before they even make it to bed with you.

He's grateful to get a moment to speak directly to Xander. He thinks they both could use a little reassurance before they get into this.

And the kiss does settle Viktor's racing heart, makes his breathing deeper. It's okay. Everything is okay. Finally, he can look Xander in his deep brown eyes, and his warm gaze is soothing. He puts his hands on his partner's cheeks.

"I am yours, and you are mine. Nothing will change that." He's just as much saying it for himself as for Xander. "My heart will not be pulled in any other direction. It belongs to you alone." Of course, there are other people Viktor loves with all his heart, like Jayce and Skan, but not like he loves Xander. It's different. He kisses him again.

"This is just... A nice bonus to what we already have. We can stop at any time; Barcus will understand. So just... Tap me thrice, if you need to." Their signal.

"Father above..." Xander muttered in response to Barcus's comment. He cleared his throat and focused on his discussion with Viktor.

He couldn't help the fond smile that spread across his lips, his own worries assuaged almost as soon as their eyes met. "As does mine." He assured his partner and eagerly returned the next kiss he offered.

Xander gently tapped Viktor's arm three times. "Of course. You do the same."

That said, he turned his head to gently nuzzle into Viktor's neck, and he remained there for a few seconds to catch his breath before pulling back and looking over to Barcus.

"Shall we, then?"

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