Xander took a bite of pasta as well and seemed more than satisfied with the taste. All in all? An excellent meal clearly made with love.
He hummed thoughtfully, fork between his lips while he considered the suggestion. "I have been considering some sort of respirator, rather than the simple masks filled with herbs that are more common in my world. Or perhaps... an auto-cauterization device? Something that could seal wounds cleanly and disinfect them at the same time."
Viktor briefly has to wonder how a man can be this charming and handsome while also being incredibly smart and altruistic. It is a mystery science has yet to solve.
"You deserve one as well, then," he retorts.
"These are excellent ideas. I particularly like the idea of a tool to seal life-threatening wounds, for those who do not have magical healing, or have exhausted their supply of it. My own ideas included continuing our work on a sedative gas like the one in the coins, or some sort of... Vehicle or method of transporting injured citizens." He gestures slightly with his fork as he speaks. "Though I admit, perhaps that one came to mind due to my own failings in transporting others during emergencies here in the past. Perhaps it is more a salient problem to me because of my limitations, but I have witnessed many people carried from rubble or away from front lines in battles here."
Xander did not argue, but his face did redden a touch at the retort. Well damn, Viktor.
He nodded along approvingly, taking bites of the delicious meal Viktor had prepared when breaks in conversation allowed so he was not being rude. As always, he was entranced by the passionate way the other man spoke when it came to scientific discovery and invention. "It is a good idea. Transportation in emergency situations seems entirely reliant on others with physical strength to spare. If they are not around, something else would need to be implemented." A beat. "How long do we have? Perhaps multiple things can be completed with enough time and effort..."
"The Revel is toward the end of the month, so I think we have two or three weeks." The suggestion of multiple inventions is exciting to him, despite the prospect meaning less sleep. "I would certainly be willing to build more than one. Perhaps we ought to consider what might lend itself best to a demonstration, then. If we found someone who was already injured in an unrelated circumstance, healing a wound on the spot would be impressive."
He takes another bite of food, trying to pace himself a little and not get too excited.
"I also have already been working on the coin, and it would be nice for Beleth to see that her idea had borne fruit."
Perhaps between the two of them, they would get enough sleep to function enough at the actual revel for said presentation. Xander may be a doctor, but he really didn't take his own advice as often as he should — especially when he was deep in study or, in this case, deep in building fancy science projects with the man he was head over heels for.
"Then the coin and the cauterization device. If we can implement your crystals to power and heat it, perhaps it will not be too difficult to produce. And we can assure no one ends up unconscious while handling the coin and trying to reform its use."
"Absolutely. The crystals are hard to come by, but I do not foresee us needing to mass-produce such an item- a few in the right hands would do wonders. The anaesthetic, on the other hand, needs no crystal and could be produced more easily, but I would still want to control who has access to it, so it is not used for nefarious purposes."
While he feels they shouldn't spend their whole dinner talking about work, he can't quite help himself. His heart quickens and he can't stifle a smile as he nearly shivers with excitement.
"Oh, I am thrilled! This brings me back to the Young Inventors competitions Jayce and I would enter. I did not think I would ever get such an opportunity again." What with, y'know, being about to die.
"Of course. A few to the healers quarters in the three realms, once we perfect it enough to reproduce." They had to make the thing and test it first, but never say these two weren't enthusiastic. "I agree, of course." No just tossing that out to randoms. "I assume you could craft a list of trusted Visitors that could make use of it." Or a shorter list of Visitors he did not trust.
Father help him but Viktor was so cute. Especially when he smiled.
"Perhaps the workshop can host another without any godly interference in the future."
Viktor nods to that. Yes, shorter to make a list of those he doesn't trust, which is simply Jax and anyone he hasn't met yet. Percy would be on it too, but he is now gone.
To his idea, Viktor actually gasps, soft but barely audible.
"This is a marvellous idea." He points loosely at Xander with his fork before loading it with more fish. "I hope to see other Visitors' inventing things for the Revel. I am eager to see the other talents as well."
His face falls a bit as he seems to have a particularly unpleasant thought occur to him.
"Surely Barcus will be inventing something to display." From what he knew of the gnome at this point, it stood to reason.
Xander smiled and set his fork down so he could reach over for Viktor's free hand with both of his own. "I can speak for us, if you like. I do not mind it."
"Yes! I must ask him what he's planning. I'm sure with all the time the three of us will be spending in the workshop in the coming days, we will find out in one way or another."
He softens as Xander takes his hand, his nerves easing immediately. He takes a few long moments to ponder this, rather than going with his knee-jerk answer of yes please.
"I appreciate this... However, I always had Jayce speak for us in public about our inventions, and as a result, I do not think anyone even knew I was partly responsible for them. I should take more credit for my work here, when I am able..." He sort of mumbles and trails off, clearly thinking ahead and worrying about it already.
"You should." Xander squeezed gently, thumb rubbing along the back of Viktor's hand. "You deserve the recognition for the things you make. If, however, you need to hold my hand while speaking, I would not be opposed."
Xander was confident enough that when the time came Viktor would manage, one way or the other. And if the man had to grip his hand for several minutes to get through it, clearly that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
The heat blooming across his cheeks had not ebbed since the earlier compliment, and he felt it burning up to the tips of his ears now when Viktor kissed his knuckles.
"I will look forward to it, as I always do these days." He liked having someone to see every day at the workshop, be it to work together or to just bring him lunch.
Xander reluctantly pulled his hand back so he could take up his fork and finish his meal, unable to keep the smile off his face for the rest of their time at the table. "I would suggest we start tonight, but I admit I was hoping this invitation was meant to have us distracted from work for a time."
The blush is very charming on Xander, and it makes Viktor blush in turn, looking down at his food and trying to keep his mind from wandering too much.
Viktor eats like a bird, but he at least makes a valiant attempt at clearing his plate, and gets about 3/4 of the way through it before declaring that good enough and nursing his wine glass more. He anticipates his nerves cropping up again, and figures a drink or two will take the edge off, without making him as loopy as he was at the picnic. Frail as he is, Viktor can hold his liquor much better than his.
"It was," he confirms. "As eager as I am to start the work... For once, there are some activities I am more eager for." He smiles wryly.
Xander had been debating heading down to the tavern for dinner when Viktor extended his offer, so by the time he got ready and made it to his home, he was starving. Hence why he cleaned his plate — which hopefully made the other man feel good about his cooking, because it was clearly delicious.
He also might have been nervous and excited now that the conversation was shifting completely, and he took a hearty drink of his own wine just as Viktor spoke up.
"I will be honest," he began, fingers fiddling with the stem of his glass, "I was hoping you might say as much. Our brief time at the picnic has kept my mind... busy."
that was s'pose to say his jelly... Zoned out and mist a word
"... Is that so?" Viktor asks quietly, smiling to himself. For him, the picnic was an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, and though Xander was a highlight, it was hard to think back on their encounter without feeling embarrassed at himself. He's glad to hear that Xander still wanted him after, apparently even moreso, so clearly he hadn't messed up so significantly as to turn him off generally.
He tops up both of their glasses, then reaches for Xander's hand again, thumb stroking over his knuckles.
"Well... Why don't you sit on the couch while I clear our plates and clean up in the kitchen for a few minutes. Then I will join you. We can allow our food to settle and see where we go from there. The sweetbread can be a late-night snack," he finishes with a quirk of his lip.
This was there Xander simply nodded, the blaze of heat on his cheeks so intense it was starting to make him sweat. No need to tell Viktor how frequently he thought of that encounter when lying alone in his bedroom at the inn. Nope. Nah.
"No, let me help." He squeezed Viktor's hand insistently. "It will be quicker that way." He caught himself. Laughed nervously. "I must sound a bit too eager, don't I?"
Viktor observes the blush, the nervous eagerness, and suddenly doesn't feel so silly for his own awkwardness with romance, his overzealousness at the picnic. Xander is stumbling through this, too, and there is comfort in that.
There is also a teeny tiny bit of power in that. In being wanted like this. It feels good.
Viktor pushes himself up from the table, taking his crutch and moving as smoothly as possible to Xander where he sits. He puts a fingertip under his chin to tilt it upward. He slowly leans down to kiss him, incredibly soft and light, just the slightest taste of something.
"There is nothing wrong with eager." He intones it as a declaration, something to absolve them both. Then, he straightens and offers a hand to help Xander up.
It had been... a long time since he had been intimate with someone. His arrangement with Celene was purely for the sake of continuing the Riverwatcher name, and neither of them found true pleasure in it. The difference between them was that Celene had actually gone out and found her pleasure when she could — Xander had not. He was always too busy. So maybe he was a little rusty.
He looked up, obediently tipping his head back to look up at Viktor. And he accepted the kiss, humming against the other man's mouth, heat roiling in his belly.
Okay... maybe very rusty.
"That is good to know." He grasped his hand and stood, and for a split second, Viktor would feel the distinct tension in Xander's arm — like he was about to pull him closer and only just stopped himself. Not yet. Soon. They needed to get those dishes up. "Let me fetch my bag once we're done, and I will follow you anywhere."
Viktor feels that almost-pull, hears what sounds like a suggestion of the bedroom rather than the couch, and tilts his head appraisingly.
That heady tension seems to fill the house, pressing Viktor into a slightly nervous, anticipating silence as the two collect the dishes and clean up. He's hyper-aware of Xander's every movement. It feels like they are in a new world, one with just the two of them, one where anything could happen.
Whatever they're about to do, Viktor has never done it before, and he feels every small detail of this scene being burned into his memory as a first time. Everyone always talks about first times, so it must be important to remember, he figures.
So while from the outside, it may look like two men doing the dishes, something utterly mundane and domestic, to Viktor it feels more like a ritual before some kind of important ceremony.
He finishes his wine before they leave the kitchen. Once Xander collects his bag from the entryway, Viktor takes his hand and leads him down the wide hallway to his bedroom. It's a very simple room. A double bed, neatly made, a nightstand, a dresser and closet. An attached bathroom. The only decorations are various metal trinkets scattered around, either things that Viktor has constructed, or parts of machines.
"Skan is not here," he announces, for no particular reason at all. He does not announce that Skan helped him formulate this plan and purposely went out to leave them here alone.
He sits on the edge of his bed, leaning his crutch against the nightstand. The edge of the table looks slightly scuffed and worn from leaning the crutch there many times before. He places a hand on the spot next to him, and once Xander sits, will take his cane and lean it in the same spot.
His nerves are certainly back.
"Have you... Done this before? With... With a man?" Clearly, he'd had sex with his wife at least four times to have four children, unless they were adopted.
In that moment, Viktor could have asked him to climb onto the roof to have sex with him there, and he would have figured out a means to make it happen. Luckily, the other man seemed to take his hint that the bedroom might be more comfortable for this first time together. A closed door, a comfortable space, just the two of them.
Xander was nervous the entire time they cleaned up, and only managed to catch his breath and calm himself when he gathered his bag. He took a few seconds to appreciate the space that was Viktor's room, too, noting the worn spot for his cane, the trinkets, the scent of him that lingered in the air.
"Ah. I had wondered." And he had figured the Gryphon was gone on purpose, given how pointed the invitation had been. He would have to thank him later.
For now, he sat, and took Viktor's hand again. "I have, but it's... been a while." He admitted with a chuckle. "Have you?"
Oh, they could just take the elevator to the roof, easy. It's nice up there, too, but Viktor would never try something so daring for the first time. Maybe in the future...
"I have never done this with anyone. So, you may have to... Guide me a little."
He blushes, a little embarrassed to admit being a thirty-two year old virgin, but he knows Xander won't judge him, so he interlaces their fingers and leans toward him, looking into his brown eyes.
"I am nervous, but I am fully lucid this time, and I still want you very much."
"You seemed very confident earlier. I may not have ever guessed." He admitted, his smile warm and his gaze soft when he met Viktor's eyes. "I am glad to hear it, because I want you, too. Don't be afraid to speak up, if you don't like something we're doing — or if you do like it. Think of it like... an experiment? We are testing boundaries, comfort levels, what excites you, what doesn't. It is data we gather together, and only at the pace you want."
He turned and lifted his other hand to curl his fingers against the back of Viktor's neck, leaned in to kiss him only after he replied. No need to be rude.
"Well, I would hate to oversell my prowess." He may be confident at times with kissing, but anything further is a big intimidating question mark. If Xander assumed he was more experienced than he actually was, Viktor would be all the more nervous when something came up that he was uncertain of. Best to be on the same page.
"You are speaking my language," Viktor murmurs, his lips already crashing into Xander's. It would seem that words like experiments and data effectively get him going.
He wraps his arm around Xander's neck, kissing him deeply and placing his flesh hand on his partner's thigh, sliding inward and upward.
That's what he thought you'd say you big fuckin nerd.
Xander, not for the first time, wished he had the youthful energy of a man without a longstanding illness and terrible lung capacity, because all he wanted to do was shove Viktor over and climb on top of him. Instead, he had to slowly adjust — and while the intention was still to push him over onto the bed, he had to do so with far less enthusiasm, his arm sliding around Viktor's middle and pressing against his back, bracing when he pushed forward against him to try and ease him onto his back while they kissed, his tongue slipping between his lips and past Viktor's.
And perhaps it was no surprise that he was already growing hard — the mere idea of being with him intimately enough to make his hips jerk against the other man's palm.
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Xander took a bite of pasta as well and seemed more than satisfied with the taste. All in all? An excellent meal clearly made with love.
He hummed thoughtfully, fork between his lips while he considered the suggestion. "I have been considering some sort of respirator, rather than the simple masks filled with herbs that are more common in my world. Or perhaps... an auto-cauterization device? Something that could seal wounds cleanly and disinfect them at the same time."
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"You deserve one as well, then," he retorts.
"These are excellent ideas. I particularly like the idea of a tool to seal life-threatening wounds, for those who do not have magical healing, or have exhausted their supply of it. My own ideas included continuing our work on a sedative gas like the one in the coins, or some sort of... Vehicle or method of transporting injured citizens." He gestures slightly with his fork as he speaks. "Though I admit, perhaps that one came to mind due to my own failings in transporting others during emergencies here in the past. Perhaps it is more a salient problem to me because of my limitations, but I have witnessed many people carried from rubble or away from front lines in battles here."
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He nodded along approvingly, taking bites of the delicious meal Viktor had prepared when breaks in conversation allowed so he was not being rude. As always, he was entranced by the passionate way the other man spoke when it came to scientific discovery and invention. "It is a good idea. Transportation in emergency situations seems entirely reliant on others with physical strength to spare. If they are not around, something else would need to be implemented." A beat. "How long do we have? Perhaps multiple things can be completed with enough time and effort..."
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"The Revel is toward the end of the month, so I think we have two or three weeks." The suggestion of multiple inventions is exciting to him, despite the prospect meaning less sleep. "I would certainly be willing to build more than one. Perhaps we ought to consider what might lend itself best to a demonstration, then. If we found someone who was already injured in an unrelated circumstance, healing a wound on the spot would be impressive."
He takes another bite of food, trying to pace himself a little and not get too excited.
"I also have already been working on the coin, and it would be nice for Beleth to see that her idea had borne fruit."
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"Then the coin and the cauterization device. If we can implement your crystals to power and heat it, perhaps it will not be too difficult to produce. And we can assure no one ends up unconscious while handling the coin and trying to reform its use."
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While he feels they shouldn't spend their whole dinner talking about work, he can't quite help himself. His heart quickens and he can't stifle a smile as he nearly shivers with excitement.
"Oh, I am thrilled! This brings me back to the Young Inventors competitions Jayce and I would enter. I did not think I would ever get such an opportunity again." What with, y'know, being about to die.
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Father help him but Viktor was so cute. Especially when he smiled.
"Perhaps the workshop can host another without any godly interference in the future."
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To his idea, Viktor actually gasps, soft but barely audible.
"This is a marvellous idea." He points loosely at Xander with his fork before loading it with more fish. "I hope to see other Visitors' inventing things for the Revel. I am eager to see the other talents as well."
His face falls a bit as he seems to have a particularly unpleasant thought occur to him.
"Though... I am phobic of public speaking."
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Xander smiled and set his fork down so he could reach over for Viktor's free hand with both of his own. "I can speak for us, if you like. I do not mind it."
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He softens as Xander takes his hand, his nerves easing immediately. He takes a few long moments to ponder this, rather than going with his knee-jerk answer of yes please.
"I appreciate this... However, I always had Jayce speak for us in public about our inventions, and as a result, I do not think anyone even knew I was partly responsible for them. I should take more credit for my work here, when I am able..." He sort of mumbles and trails off, clearly thinking ahead and worrying about it already.
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"I just might." He lifts one of Xander's hands, leaning forward to kiss his knuckles softly.
"For now, I will put it out of mind and focus on the inventions themselves. That is the fun part."
A beat.
"Especially if I am doing it with you."
They are going to have to get this gay shit out of their systems tonight if they want a chance in hell at focusing on their work.
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The heat blooming across his cheeks had not ebbed since the earlier compliment, and he felt it burning up to the tips of his ears now when Viktor kissed his knuckles.
"I will look forward to it, as I always do these days." He liked having someone to see every day at the workshop, be it to work together or to just bring him lunch.
Xander reluctantly pulled his hand back so he could take up his fork and finish his meal, unable to keep the smile off his face for the rest of their time at the table. "I would suggest we start tonight, but I admit I was hoping this invitation was meant to have us distracted from work for a time."
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Viktor eats like a bird, but he at least makes a valiant attempt at clearing his plate, and gets about 3/4 of the way through it before declaring that good enough and nursing his wine glass more. He anticipates his nerves cropping up again, and figures a drink or two will take the edge off, without making him as loopy as he was at the picnic. Frail as he is, Viktor can hold his liquor much better than his.
"It was," he confirms. "As eager as I am to start the work... For once, there are some activities I am more eager for." He smiles wryly.
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He also might have been nervous and excited now that the conversation was shifting completely, and he took a hearty drink of his own wine just as Viktor spoke up.
"I will be honest," he began, fingers fiddling with the stem of his glass, "I was hoping you might say as much. Our brief time at the picnic has kept my mind... busy."
that was s'pose to say his jelly... Zoned out and mist a word
He tops up both of their glasses, then reaches for Xander's hand again, thumb stroking over his knuckles.
"Well... Why don't you sit on the couch while I clear our plates and clean up in the kitchen for a few minutes. Then I will join you. We can allow our food to settle and see where we go from there. The sweetbread can be a late-night snack," he finishes with a quirk of his lip.
My brain filled in the blank its ok
"No, let me help." He squeezed Viktor's hand insistently. "It will be quicker that way." He caught himself. Laughed nervously. "I must sound a bit too eager, don't I?"
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There is also a teeny tiny bit of power in that. In being wanted like this. It feels good.
Viktor pushes himself up from the table, taking his crutch and moving as smoothly as possible to Xander where he sits. He puts a fingertip under his chin to tilt it upward. He slowly leans down to kiss him, incredibly soft and light, just the slightest taste of something.
"There is nothing wrong with eager." He intones it as a declaration, something to absolve them both. Then, he straightens and offers a hand to help Xander up.
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He looked up, obediently tipping his head back to look up at Viktor. And he accepted the kiss, humming against the other man's mouth, heat roiling in his belly.
Okay... maybe very rusty.
"That is good to know." He grasped his hand and stood, and for a split second, Viktor would feel the distinct tension in Xander's arm — like he was about to pull him closer and only just stopped himself. Not yet. Soon. They needed to get those dishes up. "Let me fetch my bag once we're done, and I will follow you anywhere."
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That heady tension seems to fill the house, pressing Viktor into a slightly nervous, anticipating silence as the two collect the dishes and clean up. He's hyper-aware of Xander's every movement. It feels like they are in a new world, one with just the two of them, one where anything could happen.
Whatever they're about to do, Viktor has never done it before, and he feels every small detail of this scene being burned into his memory as a first time. Everyone always talks about first times, so it must be important to remember, he figures.
So while from the outside, it may look like two men doing the dishes, something utterly mundane and domestic, to Viktor it feels more like a ritual before some kind of important ceremony.
He finishes his wine before they leave the kitchen. Once Xander collects his bag from the entryway, Viktor takes his hand and leads him down the wide hallway to his bedroom. It's a very simple room. A double bed, neatly made, a nightstand, a dresser and closet. An attached bathroom. The only decorations are various metal trinkets scattered around, either things that Viktor has constructed, or parts of machines.
"Skan is not here," he announces, for no particular reason at all. He does not announce that Skan helped him formulate this plan and purposely went out to leave them here alone.
He sits on the edge of his bed, leaning his crutch against the nightstand. The edge of the table looks slightly scuffed and worn from leaning the crutch there many times before. He places a hand on the spot next to him, and once Xander sits, will take his cane and lean it in the same spot.
His nerves are certainly back.
"Have you... Done this before? With... With a man?" Clearly, he'd had sex with his wife at least four times to have four children, unless they were adopted.
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Xander was nervous the entire time they cleaned up, and only managed to catch his breath and calm himself when he gathered his bag. He took a few seconds to appreciate the space that was Viktor's room, too, noting the worn spot for his cane, the trinkets, the scent of him that lingered in the air.
"Ah. I had wondered." And he had figured the Gryphon was gone on purpose, given how pointed the invitation had been. He would have to thank him later.
For now, he sat, and took Viktor's hand again. "I have, but it's... been a while." He admitted with a chuckle. "Have you?"
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"I have never done this with anyone. So, you may have to... Guide me a little."
He blushes, a little embarrassed to admit being a thirty-two year old virgin, but he knows Xander won't judge him, so he interlaces their fingers and leans toward him, looking into his brown eyes.
"I am nervous, but I am fully lucid this time, and I still want you very much."
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He turned and lifted his other hand to curl his fingers against the back of Viktor's neck, leaned in to kiss him only after he replied. No need to be rude.
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"You are speaking my language," Viktor murmurs, his lips already crashing into Xander's. It would seem that words like experiments and data effectively get him going.
He wraps his arm around Xander's neck, kissing him deeply and placing his flesh hand on his partner's thigh, sliding inward and upward.
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Xander, not for the first time, wished he had the youthful energy of a man without a longstanding illness and terrible lung capacity, because all he wanted to do was shove Viktor over and climb on top of him. Instead, he had to slowly adjust — and while the intention was still to push him over onto the bed, he had to do so with far less enthusiasm, his arm sliding around Viktor's middle and pressing against his back, bracing when he pushed forward against him to try and ease him onto his back while they kissed, his tongue slipping between his lips and past Viktor's.
And perhaps it was no surprise that he was already growing hard — the mere idea of being with him intimately enough to make his hips jerk against the other man's palm.
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