calderamemes | TDM #5

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!mod post,
!tdm

TDM #5

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Barcus smiles at him. He doesn't have Bel's full back story, and he doesn't have to, to want to reassure him he'll have a home with Barcus whenever he needs it. "I hope you will. I worry...we'll lose our memories of this place, when we leave. If we leave. I suppose if we do, even the amulet I've given you won't mean much, but--"

He shrugs. "I have to hope." And he's working on it, from another angle entirely.

"I trust you." He nods, and while he hasn't spent a lot of time considering how it might feel to be bitten by this man, the idea is immediately appealing.

He grins, chuckling softly. "And it's not a kink, trusting you, I swear it isn't, but there is something taboo-breaking about the idea of us together that's fun."

The line got a laugh. "It's a regular joy in my own life to break so many of the rules I learned in my youth," Bel admitted. "Or just what people expect of me. Never doing things I wouldn't want to do, but..." But there was a part of him that liked thumbing his nose at convention, especially because it always seemed like something that he was made to serve, not that served him.

"I trust you, too." he added more seriously. "I don't think I'd be doing this if I didn't."

Of course, now he had to remember if this place had table service or if he'd have to get up to get a drink.

And there it is, perhaps, one of the major personality traits that draws Barcus to Bel, and maybe vice versa. The gnome laughs, delighted, and nods at him. "I understand completely. It was hard to get used to that at first, for me. I left home to take care of home, not because they'd done me wrong." Except maybe they did, a little bit, because he's been living for them ever since and it's not healthy.

"But it still felt like getting away with something, doing things I'd never have had the chance or freedom to do in Spindlehollow."

And this? This is more like thumbing their noses at the natural order of the Underdark. Neither master nor slave, but equals, trusting one another because there's no one around to tell them not to. He stands up on the rung of his stool, because that's the only way he could reach, and gives Bel a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Then, before he gets the urge to bite again, he hops to the ground. "I'll get you a drink, handsome. Wait here. We'll get well and truly marinated, shall we, and see what happens?"

Bel winks. "Be back soon, dear. I'm already missing your company."

Is he playing it up? Yes. Because flirting is fun, and having actually talked about where they stood, it wouldn't be misinterpreted.

Laying it on a bit thick? But it makes Barcus smile, a real smile, as if the idea of his company being so appealing is good to hear. He doesn't say anything else in return, but he does go to the counter and orders for the both of them, returning with two glasses of the basalt brandy, neat.

He places Bel's in front of him first, then clambers back up onto the stool beside him. "It's actually not that strong, for a brandy," he says. "At least, I don't think it is. The flavor is very nice, though."

Lightly, gently, so that he could withdraw at any moment, he slips his hand into Bel's.

Bel gives a brief hand squeeze in acknowledgement, but keeps his grip loose. With his other hand, he brings the glass up to taste the brandy. He wasn't particularly expecting the peppery flavor but it wasn't bad. Tasty, in face.

But he did see what Barcus meant about the more unusual effects of the brandy, beyond just the effect of the alcohol. Barely a few sips in and Bel found he was already struggling not to chew on his own cheek or lower lip. "I don't know how you are managing two of these."

He's going a bit slower with his second glass, and even at that rate his gaze keeps straying to Bel's throat and wrists, but he seems relatively calm. At least, until Bel makes his own comment, at which point he flushes and laughs, shivering subtly.

"Gnomish constitution? Or maybe I'm just used to wanting things I'm not allowed to have. But you don't have to finish it. I won't think the less of you, promise."

"If you want to head home, we can." He squeezes his hand gently.

Bel bit back his initial comment, because innuendo with a stranger was somehow easier than with a friend... or whatever this was becoming on top of friendship. Lack of consequences, maybe. "See, my trouble is I also am used to wanting what I can't have, but most of my impulse control goes out the door when I'm with people I trust. Add that to being casual about physical intimacy, and, well..." he shrugged.

"I suppose... what I need from you is what you want..." Pause, wrong way to phrase that. "What you are willing to do tonight. And where. I'm sorry, I'm not going to be much help beyond 'following any rules you set out', and that's not fair of me." Which was a ridiculous way to tell someone you find them attractive.

Bel sighed. "I would also very much like to kiss you. And that's not just the drink talking."

Barcus is quiet, tapping the edge of his glass thoughtfully. "I don't...think I do casual. I mean, I've tried, when I was younger. Pick-ups at taverns, that sort of thing. It was confusing. The degree to which I get invested in people--not just lovers, but friends--seems to be higher than some other people. Maybe there's something wrong with me."

Like moss on a stone. "What I mean is I already care about you, whether we sleep together or not. If we become lovers or friends with benefits, or just spend one night in bed and that's it, it's not going to be casual because you're already important to me. I'm not going to make demands, and we both have other lovers, but I'm also not going to pretend I don't feel something when I do."

"If that doesn't scare you, then, please. Kiss me. I'd like that."

"And then we'll get out of here and go back to the house, because we've clearly had enough."

Bel nodded. "I more meant if we decided we're friends, and I find you at all attractive, that might be all it takes to be willing to bed you," he said. "I know other people are more restrained than that."

And, yes, Bel also knows that an emotional connection is not required for him if it's just a simple 'let's both just get each other off' sort of night -- he can accept Barcus is not that sort of person, and that Barcus accepts that Bel can be that sort of person. Bel is just starting to realize that he's more inclined to be adventurous with a friend than a stranger, and that the emotional connection does, in fact, make a difference to him as well.

"But, right. Kissing." He does hesitate a bit to consider his approach, but leans in and kisses Barcus on the lips. He is trying to restrain himself -- the drink might be making him more conscious of his own teeth, but it's not the cause of wanting to throw himself at Barcus -- so he just parts his own lips, letting Barcus be the one to decide how deep a kiss this will be.

Barcus may have to think about that one. Friendship plus attraction seems like perfectly reasonable criteria to him, but he is more restrained than that, himself. Mostly because he knows he inevitably gets attached and there's a limit to how many hurt feelings he cares to endure. He hums thoughtfully and takes one last sip of his brandy, letting it linger on his tongue with he full knowledge that he's about to be kissed.

In the end, he decides, what matters most is that Bel thinks of him as a friend. Maybe a friend and something else.

He lets Bel lead, sensing he's being cautious, but once they're together, he takes over willingly, arms slipping around his shoulders to hold him close enough to deepen the kiss. In spite of the urge to bite, he's gentle, but he is very thorough, eventually standing on the rung of his stool again in order to press closer against him.

Eventually, breathing becomes necessary, and he breaks off with a little sigh, nuzzles under the drow's chin, and nips the side of his throat with a soft mmmm.

As soon as Barcus deepens the kiss, Bel matches him with enthusiasm, and moves his own hands to make sure Barcus is not going to fall over while standing on a stool, (or, if he did, it would be onto Bel rather than the floor, which would at least give Bel a chance to right the both of them before his own stool tipped over -- either or both of them falling off a barstool is not how Bel wants to end the evening.)

But, yes, this is good, and making Bel wonder why the hells he hadn't brought up the subject earlier, when he was first starting to realize he wanted this. After the kiss is also good, but slightly awkward the way they are balanced, and Bel is just about to suggest... something before he feels the pinch at his throat, which startles a bark of laughter from him. "No longer could hold it back?" he asks.

Every lover's kiss is a little different. The way Ashton touches him is marked by playful bravado, hiding something a lot more fragile beneath it. Bel is softer, with more natural finesse, and it feels a little like they're sinking into one another. It's very nice, and Barcus shivers subtly, happily, as they drift apart.

And then laughs, called out for sneaking in a bite. "I felt I was given tacit approval for at least one little nibble."

He sits back on the top of his stool, looking into the drow's eyes with genuine warmth. "Let's get out of here, findal. More kissing when we get home, and we can go from there. There's enough room for two in my bed."

Somehow Bel had gotten it into his head that 'going home' would mean their usual nighttime routine, including separate beds -- that leaving would be admitting that it was just this evening.

Which as stupid, and he only realized he was doing it when Barcus made it explicit that going home was to give them some privacy to explore further. He grinned. "Yes, I did give you permission for the nibble. And I would like to join you in your bed and give you permission for many more things."

Aha. That's the enthusiasm he was hoping for. Barcus has to rein himself in to refrain from just hugging the drow; that's not exactly worldly and suave. Maybe it wouldn't matter, though. Bel knows him well enough that he's likely not expecting suave from him.

Warmth and affection, though. Those are both readily available.

He slides off the stool and sets a few coins on the table, tipping the bartender, then offers Bel his hand. The walk home won't take long, with the three portals available right outside the tavern door. "I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you the moment we're home," he admits, as they start walking. "It feels like the effects of that drink are actually getting more intense."

Bel can be worldly and suave, but he's far less so around friends: he sees less need to act cool. He takes Bel's hand, still smiling, and squeezes it.

"I don't think that's just the drink, Barcus, dear. Just as long as we make sure the door is closed so Satchel doesn't wander off outside. Do you want me to restrain myself so we can make it to the bedroom or is it just going to be wherever we make it to?"

Yes, he's teasing Barcus a bit. Because Bel did feel warm (and definitely a bit aroused) by the idea of Barcus having trouble with just the walk back home. Bel can wait, but partially because the anticipation itself was enjoyable.

The look Bel gets in response to that tease is surprisingly intense, coming from Barcus, whose manners are most often mild and self-effacing. His eyes are bright; they're hungry. Possibly it's the dear that did it. He's perfectly capable of blowing off steam with another man, but there are already emotions here.

"You're right," he says. "It's not just the drink. It's you."

"You do bring up an interesting question, though. Assuming we try to make it to the bedroom, whose bedroom are we going to?" His bed fits two; he's made sure of that.

"I suppose I should warn you I'm a devil for post-coital cuddling, too. You may not escape until morning."

Gods, he should have done this earlier. When someone looks at him like that, Bel is going to feel something, and he might have actually noticed Barcus in this way sooner. (The part of Bel's brain that is still capable of logic would point out that this wouldn't have worked without being a friendship first, but logic is not Bel's priority at the moment save for the task of getting home.)

"Your bedroom is closer to the front door than mine." Bel's bed would fit them both, but it was in the back of the house. And at the moment, that was clearly the priority. "And I've discovered a taste for cuddling since coming here, if you don't mind that I'll be awake before you, even if I don't get up."

It didn't bother Bel -- he might only need four hours in reverie rather than six to eight hours of sleep, but he was perfectly capable of lazily dozing with a non-elven lover sleeping beside him. Given the recent weather, staying in a warm bed sounded better than trying to get up and do things. (And if he eventually did get hungry for actual food, there was always the fact that everyone likes waking up to someone else cooking breakfast.)

Barcus chuckles, almost a giggle, but he's quite flushed now, subtly excited. There's probably a joke of some sort that could be made about luring a drow into his bed, but at this point he's not a drow, he's Bel. It doesn't seem worth making the observation, and that's kind of beautiful.

"I always forget that elves don't sleep," he admits, mildly sheepish. "But I don't mind as long as you don't. It's...nice, not to sleep alone. Just knowing someone's there to...well, not watch over me, exactly but--you know what I mean." Feeling one's own inherent vulnerability and smallness is just a fact of being a deep gnome.

He leads the way through the portal into Grey Ward, and immediately turns to the left, taking a shortcut through the alleys toward their shared home. When they come within view of the house, they can see Satchel sleeping peacefully in the window of Barcus' workshop, where she prefers to rest in nice weather.

Drow weren't allowed to be vulnerable. It was an invitation to the cruel, or people who thought you might be cruel and needed to strike first, or just people feeling impotent and trying to hurt someone below them. Which is why it appealed to Bel: knowing he was safe to be affectionate, or sleep in the arms of a lover.

He was having complicated but pleasant feelings about seeing the house. It wasn't just about anticipation regarding sex (thought this was the first time in a long while he had the sense of knowing someone well before asking them to his bed). It was mostly Barcus's house, but he'd been adding things for himself, enough that it was starting to feel like his home as well.

"Satchel will probably wake up as soon as she hears the door open," Bel noted, with the exasperated affection of someone who has been claimed by a cat. (Satchel nominally might be Barcus's cat, but she seemed to have decided Bel was an acceptable backup humanoid.)

It's their house now, as far as Barcus is concerned. He made that commitment when he invited Bel to stay with him in the first place, and it feels right, now. As much as he loves Ashton, thrives on their visits, it wouldn't be right to separate them from their friends--but he doesn't really want to be alone, either. He's been alone for too long.

He laughs softly. "She will. She'll come right for us as usual, but I think if I feed her she'll take the hint."

One good thing about a fluff-brained cat, they're easy to distract.

True to form, her ears perk at the sound of the doorknob turning, and she runs to meet them. Barcus gives Bel an apologetic look and vanishes into the kitchen for a moment to pour a few treats in a bowl for her. But once that's done, he re-emerges and makes a beeline for the drow, putting both arms around his waist. "Now I'm all yours."

Barcus having to make sure Satchel is distracted does mean that Bel has considered matters and decided he can wait the few seconds it takes to walk towards Barcus's bedroom. Feeling Barcus's arms around his waist, and hearing those words does cause Bel's pulse to pick up. "I'd say those are dangerous words, except, at the moment, I'm also all yours."

Well, that and while 'I am going to get laid' is a thought in Bel's head, most of the rest are along the lines of 'where does Barcus like to be touched' and 'I wonder what he sounds like in the throes of passion'. He bends to kiss Barcus's forehead while walking them towards the bedroom door.

Now that they're in private, Barcus is more comfortably handsy than he was in the tavern. Their height difference is significant, two feet of clearance between Barcus' head and Bel's, and he has to reach up to hold him around the waist. This is the opposite of a problem as far as the gnome is concerned, and he tilts his head back to rest his chin against Bel's stomach, looking up at him with hazy, darkened eyes, which flutter closed at that kiss.

There's a feeling of want, but also, strangely, comfort and security.

He follows along easily enough, letting go only to shove his door open. "Are they dangerous, though? I think you're the sort of man who handles his lovers well." Even if they're one-night-stands, which this isn't.

"Not to be too presumptuous, but do you prefer to top or...?" His hands slide down to strokes the drow's hips. "I'm comfortable with either, though the size difference between us means some, mm, care and preparation is important."

"I do try," Bel grinned. "Haven't heard complaints. Though at the moment I'm enjoying how you're handling me." Between the way Barcus is looking at him, and the feel of his hands, even through several layers of cloth, Bel is feeling his own ability to plan peter out into enjoying the sensations of now.

It would be slightly better if his hands could touch more than Barcus's head and shoulders. Now that the door was open, Bel was making a beeline for the bed -- sitting down would do something about their current height difference.

"I'm also comfortable with either," Bel answered. "But, I assumed you would be topping." Because, frankly, while Bel knew there was some level of size difference where no among of care and preparation would work, he hadn't known on what side of that line Barcus fell. Considering it more fully, now that Barcus had offered -- and while Bel wasn't sure if the flush he felt would be visible, the way it was hard for him to keep his eyes from Barcus was probably a giveaway that he was considering the options -- "I'd rather get more comfortable with your body before trying things the other way. I am a quick study when it's a pleasant topic, though."

Though at this point, Bel wasn't feeling particularly exacting; he would be equally pleased to stick to hands, or mouths, or almost anything else.

Barcus follows him to the bed boldly, pausing only to shed his boots and socks, because it's rude to put your shoes on the bed. Even your own bed. He pushes the door mostly-closed behind him, only for the sake of keeping Satchel at bay.

"We can...experiment a little, then," he smiles at him, and the way he crosses the room to the bed isn't exactly sultry, but it is reasonably confident, and he gives the drow a little push to encourage him to sit, or lie down. "I'll see if I can be spontaneous."

Once he is down, Barcus wastes no time joining him, climbing into his lap and settling with one knee on either side of his hips. And then, for all his playful demeanor, he looks up at Bel with eyes practically shining with warmth and affection. Taking his hands, he kisses the backs of his knuckles, right then left. "You're beautiful. You know that?"

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finally finding my way back to this thread orz