Three's company

[strikingtwice]

It had started as curiosity, testing the waters really. Meallan cared very deeply for Evan, nothing would shake that, but he'd also noticed with interest the younger man's focus on Laedo. It threw him at first, but after a little thought he realised it wasn't terribly surprising; Laedo was attractive, no question there, and Meallan himself had made a few playful passes at the askan (old habits died hard really). But they were the kind that could have easily gone further if not for a dedication to someone else, and so the idea that Evan might be interested was... Something that opened a whole new set of previously unconsidered ideas for him.

So they'd talked about it, and talked about Laedo, and that had led to other activities that distracted the both of them, and the next morning Meallan had suggested an idea to Evan that he could see sparked an interest in the other man's eyes.

From there they'd both starting making more comments to Laedo, and while Meallan knew his own overt invitations tended to be overlooked as a continuation of the same playful advances he'd made before, Evan's overtures were both incredibly arousing to watch as a third party for a change and sincere enough that he could see what he hoped was consideration in Laedo's gaze. They'd both teased as much as they could, everything short of outright asking him, and then Meallan had an idea.

Which led to the sparring session he and Laedo enjoyed now, good exercise for them both and he knew Evan was rather enjoying the show too. The arm the askan had granted him caught the sun as Laedo's own skin did as they ducked and clashed against each other, and as they finished Meallan's grin was wide and pleased even as his heart raced in his chest and he heaved for breath.

"I almost had you that time," he teased, flashing a wider smile as Evan joined them both. "But since we're all here... how do you feel about unwinding in the hotspring for a time? It would help to relax everything after that workout."

Comments

[strikingtwice]

Curious, Meallan's gaze darts between Laedo and Evan, wondering what it is that the pair had been talking about. He'd heard Laedo's final comment of course, but if anything it only made him more curious about why the other man might feel the need to state his continued respect, and he feels a flare of concern about pushing too far too fast again.

But Laedo is in the water and waiting for them with obvious interest and while he'd offered Evan a final chance to maintain decency and perhaps de-escalate the building heat if it wasn't wished for, he hadn't taken it. So despite his concerns, Meallan reminds himself that both his friends are adults and he should trust them to make it clear where their boundaries are without him hounding them further.

So he smiles at Evan's answer and drops to a sprawl by the water's edge, his attention fixed entirely on the other redhead. "Exactly the kind of answer I'd been hoping for," he answers, heat in his voice as it had been in his fingers previously. "Don't let me stop you..."

[asscan]

Laedo stifles another snort and, finding himself close to Meallan's top-side, takes a braid and tugs. "That's not very fair of you." Though the strip-show isn't in the least something he wants to have halted. In fact, he can see why the elf might want to sit back and watch.

Now that he's settled, he murmurs, "I hope to get a proper show out of all of this. You leave a man too long to soak and he'll turn into a prune, after all." At this point, he's expecting something more along the lines of the pair of them playing around in front of him, which would honestly be enough if he had to admit it to himself. The rest is icing on the cake.

[evantuality]

Evan gives a little laugh at their respective encouragements. Having not expected to find himself in the spotlight as such, he suffers a spike of embarrassment at the eyes on him. Mel's little purr sends heat up his spine just as well as his fingers had, but what brings him out of his momentary mortification is the oddest realization that Laedo and Mel's eyes are more similar to each other than they are to his own. A quartet of golden eyes, belonging to some very attractive people, trained on him and waiting for him to get naked. It's enough to buff even the most uncertain ego a little.

The closest Evan gets to giving a proper show, however, is to take his time a little more than he otherwise would. He wriggles out of his pants, slacks from home that have grown a little tight around the muscle he'd put on after all that walking on Zeta-12, folds them, puts them aside with his shirt. His boxers are blue (and bless the luck that sent him in brand-new shorts when he'd first been spirited off here) and would have been just fine for swimming trunks, but he hooks his thumbs in the waistband there and slides them down, steps out of them.

He's no longer entirely the weedy thing he was when he'd arrived at Oska for the first time, some muscle filling out his frame, but it's utilitarian rather than the kind of sculpted topography the other two sport. Shoulders to lift, legs fit for months'-worth of hauling ass, a core built up by modest combat training and all the swimming he's done here. He's still more solid than lovely, but he's proud of what he's gained. His body hair is sparse and light enough to be hard to see, and the carpet is the same bright red as the drapes.

He turns to fold his shorts and stack them with the rest, brilliantly aware of the eyes on him. He's flushed all the way to his chest, he's sure of it, and when he turns he's grinning a little, eyes on the spring rather than either of them, though his gaze slides to Mel as he steps into the pool himself.

There's warmth in his gaze, and sheepish entreaty; is he doing this right? Was his little not-quite-a-show sufficient?

"Your turn," he suggests, to Mel but really to the both of them.

[strikingtwice]

"I think it's very fair, taking the time to appreciate Evan as much as he deserves," Meallan returns, reaching out to splash a bit of the water at Laedo. "And I'm certain we'll find a way to make up any pruning for you."

But teasing aside, Meallan's gaze is entirely focused on Evan as he strips. He's seen him naked before, but it's a sight he never stops appreciating and it seems all the more exciting now that there's another set of eyes on the younger man as well. When Evan turns back and slips into the pool, Meallan takes a moment to give him a slow, hungry look, his gaze tracing every curl and line of muscle with obvious approval. And if that isn't enough, he tugs Evan's head back to kiss him deeply, savouring it before he breaks away and nudges him towards Laedo.

"I think that's enough of my opinion, but perhaps Laedo has one he'd like to make as well?"

It's an invitation to them both, although Meallan imagines it might help as well if he were more... involved, although help them or help himself to a situation he imagines he'll thoroughly enjoy he couldn't say. Either way, it means his trousers need to come off as well and he rises, unlacing and peeling them off with a fluid motion, followed by his own plain smallclothes.

Like all elves, Meallan is completely hairless with the exception of the top of his head and eyebrows, a difference that still causes him much amusement with Evan at times, and the pale expanse of skin is broken only by a fine pattern of freckles and the paler lines of scars. The worst of them marks where Laedo's magically crafted arm meets his flesh, and while Meallan finds it easier to bear the loss now, he still angles that side away from them instinctively, self-conscious about the marks.

It doesn't stop him from sliding into the water as well, however, carefully making his way to the pair and boldly reaching out to caress Laedo's hip beneath the water. "Don't you think you're over-dressed?"

[asscan]

Well, this is going better than Laedo had expected... or maybe it's just that he has not gotten any in long enough that barrelling into the territory of naked hip-caresses feels like a breakneck pace. A shiver arcs almost electrically up his spine and--he casts Meallan a suspicious glance, knowing the man to be both talented in that regard and tricky at times--he turns to rest his elbows and back against the pool. A gentle shimmer rustles his clothing to nothing, the gesture neither flashy nor drawn out... but there are more important things to consider.

The asandus's glance at Meallan turns downright pleased, then he turns his gaze on Evan and, a moment later, slips an arm up and around him to draw him in. pale fingers--still heavily adorned in rings, mind--slip through as yet undampened red hair, and he tests his friend in a full on kiss. Goddess, he hopes he was reading that cheeky suggestion that Meallan had just made...

Pushing Evan back, he growls, "I could do with more of that." But he leans back against the edge of the pool, then, and chuckles. "I thought I heard mention of you using those warm hands of yours to better effect. Who's back are you taking first?"

[evantuality]

Mel's kisses have grown familiar, but never fail to intoxicate, to set Evan's heart to thumping in that particularly heady mixture of admiration, adoration and anticipation. Laedo's lips, however, are entirely new -- and somehow even with the sly hint counting as forewarning, he somehow had not expected the kiss, not a proper one, not like this. It's enough to render him pliant and hazy as he absorbs the newness, and he leans into it a little before Laedo pulls away again. It's a one-two punch that sets him to goosebumps even in the sultry embrace of the hotspring.

"Ah." It had been enough to thoroughly distract, and it takes a moment for words to sink into Evan's brain. He raises his hands, dripping, above the waterline and grins, a hot, hazy thing. "Ahh... well, maybe, maybe guests first?" He looks between Laedo and Mel, lips quirked, flushed and feeling delightfully tantalized and exposed. Being able to rub some iridescent shoulders will give him a focus, wean him on to engaging some other potentially iridescent parts.

Now there's a thought that just about has him glancing down under the water. He flushes more deeply, eyes hooding a little as he looks back to Laedo's face instead.

[strikingtwice]

He watches the exchange with approval and a touch of caution; while Meallan is fairly certain Evan and Laedo are both entirely on-board with all that's happening, he watches for any signs of hesitation or dislike anyway, ready to intervene if it proves necessary. Fortunately it doesn't, and Meallan is instead treated with the sight of Evan looking rather pleased with the outcome of everything so far, something he doesn't disagree on in the slightest.

At Laedo's question he laughs, shooting him and Evan an amused look. "Give him a moment to recover before asking him something like that," he says. "I think his head is still spinning."

But not so much Evan can't decide on a path after a moment and Meallan slips his hand behind Laedo's back and nudges him forward. "You heard the man."

[asscan]

"Guests are technically supposed to leave gifts, at least where I come from," Laedo warns, but he turns around, chest facing the lip of the springs... and coincidentally facing a little more closely towards Meallan. Presenting his back to Evan gives the elemental some time to analyze the rather vague, thick golden stripes that run from Laedo's spine out over his torso... and indeed, the iridescent parts he was wondering about are only obfuscated now by the sloshing of water around them. He's a little more pink around the backside than across the parts of his torso not gold, but that could be from sitting on the ledge of the pool. Just like the rest of his body, at least, Laedo's back and behind are as sculpted as anyone could ask for. The depth of the pool allows him to jut out, giving Evan a little bit of leaning over to do if he wants to reach the man's shoulders.

That done, he turns his attention back to Meallan and brings a hand up, takes some hair, pulls him in close. Too much taunting from him; Laedo's more than certain that he's had enough cues for this to at least be passable behaviour, so he gives Meallan a lingering kiss as well. He likes taking charge of the moment, and though he supposes it isn't entirely his place, he still borrows Meallan's hand--the one that had been so helpful at his back--and guides it down his stomach.

Of course, under water the golden hairs Meallan will encounter are less of a gently curly fluff, but the heat of the pool isn't entirely to blame for the half-chub the both of them have foisted on him. When he pulls back, Laedo's grin is--he hopes--infectious.