hexstrapper | caldera inbox.

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?"

Barcus bustles around the room quietly, putting things away as they speak together, and taking a moment for himself to message Bel and let him know he'll be home either very late, or in the morning. He's not eavesdropping, but he does catch the bit about three taps, and files it away in his mind as he dampens the fire and tucks the food under a glass cloche to keep animals from scenting it and coming in for a nibble.

He offers a hand to whichever of them prefers to take it, and guides them out of the workshop. It's late enough, no one else is there anyway, and he can lock up behind their departure without inconveniencing anyone. The walk back to the Inn is leisurely, as there is no call to rush them, and his legs are short anyway.

Once they're in Xander's room, he looks up at them with a warm smile: "Ground rules, gentlemen? I enjoy kissing, for one thing, but I do understand if you prefer to keep that for one another. And if one of you is usually more...in charge," his gaze strays to Viktor briefly, because of that tap me thrice, "I'm happy to defer to him."

Viktor has a feeling Xander will be doing a lot of praying tonight. Hopefully some of it to him.

He nods to his love and cradles the back of his neck as he nuzzles into him, closing his eyes briefly. Sweet man. Yes, he feels much better about all of this now.

He takes Barcus' hand, because he hadn't gotten a chance to heal one of them yet. As he stands, he sneaks healing into it. He hobbles over to his chair; now that he's gotten used to it, it's hard to justify not using it. It conserves so much of his energy, and he knows he's going to need it. He takes the hand of whoever will hold his on their walk to the inn.

Viktor's brows raise as Barcus seems to assume that he's usually the one in charge. He has no idea where that came from.

"Ah, we tend to... Take turns?" He looks to Xander uncertainly. "I am far less experienced, however, and have never taken more than one partner, so I doubt I will be much use in the driver's seat here."

"And I see no reason to bar certain activities. That seems unnecessarily complicating. We both enjoy kissing."

Let's be realistic: most of it would be to him.

He grabbed his cane and stood on Viktor's other side to hold his hand as they headed to the inn. He could hope, with any luck, that Finnick didn't clock him walking into a room with two men tonight, but he doubted he would be so lucky. Alas — something to blush about later.

"We go wherever the mood takes us." He added with a soft laugh, "and I have no issue with kissing. If there is something we do not enjoy, I am sure you will know quickly enough."

He looked between the both of them as he shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over a chair beside the bed, cane set against the wall. "If anything, kissing seems a fantastic way to begin." And with that said, he settled onto the edge of the bed and reached for Viktor to pull him into his lap, hands on his hips. "Why don't you join us up here, Barcus, and we can... ease our way in."

Barcus gives a little shiver when he feels that healing energy, but he says nothing, only shoots Viktor a fond look.

"Ahh, well," he looks a little sheepish. "My experiences with multiple partners at once have been few and far between, but this wouldn't be the first time. The first time, I was a little tipsy at the Elfsong and a halfling and a gold dwarf took turns kissing me like they were passing a cigarette back and forth across the bar."

Talk about a sexual awakening.

He makes so bold as to remove his own jacket, shaking it out gently and folding it. He leaves his boots by the door so as not to track dirt into the room, and then there's a utility belt to remove lest the tools poke someone in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Once all that is done, he looks up to see the one man in the other's lap, and he has to take a moment to enjoy the sight before coming over and clambering onto the bed beside them.

"You really are both very handsome," he observes, and rests a hand on Xander's back lightly. He'll wait patiently until they seem comfortable before reaching out for more.

Viktor chuckles softly as Barcus recounts his first experience like this. Viktor can't imagine being in such a position, but it does sound interesting. This is as adventurous as he's ever been, and still, it's not like any of them are strangers.

He rises from his chair, hobbling over to the bed, where Xander takes him into his lap. He hums happily; the gesture makes him feel... Adored. He drapes his arms loosely around his partner's neck and kisses him languidly, closing his eyes and losing himself in it readily. If anything can soothe his nerves, it is this.

From the start, Viktor never expected anyone in Caldera to have eyes for him, but was quickly proven wrong. Still, it's dizzying when someone new expresses attraction to him.

"Thank you," he breaks the kiss to murmur. "As are you, and as I was saying, exceptional with your hands..." He really and truly is very attracted to Barcus' hands, which should now be in top-shape for their activities. "Would you... Mind removing my brace for me? I would like to see them at work." He lifts his right leg, clad in metal, toward the gnome.

Gold dwarf? Xander was so close to asking for an explanation of what exactly that was — a dwarf made of gold? Dwarf that specifically mined gold? A Dwarf from a city called Gold? — but managed to stay on course towards this threesome instead of diving into Faerûn species.

Viktor should feel adored, because he was. Xander slid his hands up his partner's sides, then up between them to start working the buttons of his shirt open while they kissed. And when Viktor pulled back, he dipped his head down to kiss along his neck instead, teeth catching a small patch of skin to gently tease between them.

He trusted Barcus well enough, but he still made sure to angle his head so he could watch the brace removal — just in case.

Don't ask, Xander, because Barcus will answer that type of question in detail, even in bed, as long as his mouth isn't full. But they can compare notes later!

Barcus lets them kiss without interference, watching with a blend of softness and desire.

Which, admittedly, starts to tilt more towards desire as Xander starts to undo Viktor's shirt buttons, and kiss his neck. He catches his breath slightly when Viktor speaks, looking up at him. The request is downright flattering; he understand the value of a brace or a prosthesis. "With pleasure, my dear," he answers, and rolls forward onto his knees to be in a better position to access the device.

He runs his fingers over it carefully first, as if testing for tensile strength, but fortunately for them all he doesn't get bogged down in curiosity with respect to the construction. Maybe later he'll ask Viktor whether he designed it himself and about some of the specs, but for now he just unfastens it and removes it, gentle and matter-of-fact, and strokes the leg beneath.

"Where would you like me to put it?" This is not something that gets cast over a chair like a pair of trousers.

Viktor undoes Xander's hair tie and begins to comb his fingers liberally through dark locks as his neck is kissed. He likes this quite a bit, being given attention from both men at once. He looks down, watching Barcus intently. His gaze holds admiration and perhaps a little appraisal, like this is a test, whether Viktor realizes that consciously or not.

Barcus seems to admire the construction of it (yes, Viktor designed and built it with Jayce, and they can discuss later), which is nice. He treats the brace with the careful practicality Viktor has seen him treat any other machine with, though with more gentleness given the context. He thinks it could do with more reverence, not because Viktor actually sees himself as divine, but because he's been thinking a lot about what Gadriel told him. That machines have spirits just like people do, and that one must build a relationship with any machine that aids them regularly, like armor or a prosthetic or mobility aid. Machines must be shown gratitude and respect, in Gadriel's opinion, so Viktor has been trying to cultivate a practice of this, and it has actually been quite good for him mentally. A way of accepting his need for these machines without a negative focus on his own limitations.

In any case, Barcus is respectful enough to meet his high standard.

"Prop it against the nightstand, please," he commands softly. "And then come here." Oops, he'd just said he wouldn't take the reins, and now he's giving orders.

He turns his attention back to Xander, grabbing and lifting his face to kiss him on the mouth again with more fervor. Hunger. Their tongues mingle as he removes his leather glove, revealing a hand that's oddly purple, gnarled fibers of metal woven together. Barcus may have seen it before, if he saw Viktor doing fine detail work in the workshop, but otherwise he keeps it covered. He then makes quick work of Xander's shirt buttons, exposing his lovely chest, sliding the garment off his shoulders.

The fingers in his hair certainly made it a little more difficult to focus on the gnome's brace removal skills, but given how Viktor responded with zero complaints, Xander let himself relax and focus on kissing his partner's neck; marking a little patch of pale skin until it started to bloom with red. He finished just in time for Viktor to tilt his head up, and despite all suggestions that they took turns being in charge, he obeyed without hesitation, lips parting to accept and eagerly receive his kiss like a supplicant receiving a blessing.

He managed to slip Viktor's shirt off before the other man set to work on his, shoulders shrugging, the shirt tossed aside to be dealt with later. Given Viktor's "come here" order to Barcus, he trusted he had something in mind, and seemed content with occupying himself for the moment; hands on his hips, pressing down gently yet insistent so he could grind up against him.

Were he aware he was being judged on proper reverence, Barcus could have put more emphasis on his fascination. Forgive him, but he's a little distracted, between the awareness that they're slowly undressing and the soft sound of their kisses. He nods, rising to set the brace aside as instructed, and the something about the shift in tone sends a shiver down his spine.

Oh...Oh, perhaps he guessed more rightly than he thought he had! When he turns back, he moves more slowly, half-entranced by the picture before him, and when Viktor reaches out and pulls him in, settling him where he wants him, he goes without question, and without complaint. He's still fully dressed, himself, minus his boots and stockings, but that is the least interesting thing happening right now. He touches each of them lightly, just a stroke along the flank and lower back to let them know where he is, and because he can't bear not to touch, but otherwise waits to see what they have in mind.

Xander opens to him like a flower in bloom, and his scent is just as sweet, musky and spiced and full of some pheromone that makes Viktor feel drunk. Despite the mark Xander left on his neck, it would seem the other two men are more than happy to let Viktor lead, and moreover, he thinks the situation calls for it. If no one is in charge, three people trying to have sex sounds like chaos to him, and he won't have chaos. He will have perfection.

After a particularly deep plunge of his tongue into Xander's mouth, he breaks the kiss and takes a long, intense look into his eyes, communicating his possession and love. He finally turns to Barcus, coaxing Xander to face their friend as well. Their bodies show the struggles of their pasts, with Xander's many deep scars and Viktor's brace bolted into his very vertebrae, and what Barcus would recognize (from Viktor's work) as runes scarred into his chest, as though once carved there.

He reaches for Barcus' eager face and caresses his cheek with his flesh hand, looking fondly into his eyes before leaning forward slightly to kiss him. Similar to Xander's deep brown, Viktor's eyes are like pools of amber, with a glow like firelight, warm but intense. The kiss is soft and slow, savouring, and then he pulls back to look at Xander, encouraging him to kiss their friend as well.

Xander had tried — but when Viktor took a hold of his chin, every time, without fail, he felt himself entranced to the point he could not do anything but whatever he asked of him. His lips remained parted even after that feverish kiss, his eyes focused upward to meet his, adoring and love drunk.

He turned to face the gnome as well, unable to quell the faintest hint of jealousy that clenched his fingers into Viktor's hips when their lips first connected. It was a brief flare, however, that passed by the time his turn came to do the same.

With Viktor on his lap, he did his best not to dislodge him when he hooked an arm around Barcus and pulled him closer, long hair now loose from its usual bun brushing the gnome's cheek when he pressed a firm, sensual kiss to his lips.

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