(no subject)

[thedemonmagnet]

Helen had been topside from the horrible place for a few days and Xander's heart had finally stopped racing whenever she was out of his sight. Granted, he wasn't too happy that she was out at the Club drinking with Luthor, why was it always Luthor, but at least she knew she was safe. And while he didn't get the drinking, he knew this was something they needed to do.

But it did give him the chance to work on a few personal projects that he'd neglected in his worry and then in his reunion with Helen. So there he sat on the porch, forming a piece of wood in his hand with one of his woodworking tools, waiting for her to come home to him.

Comments

[alcuin]

Alcuin laughed again. "Well, so do I. It's really more hyperbole."

He thought to what he had told Xander about Terre d'Ange. A great deal, while eschewing most of his personal history. Though Xander knew that he had died, he did not know it was murder. And though he knew what a Servant of Naamah was, he did not know that Alcuin had been one. At the time it had been out of respect for Giles, unsure whether he would want Xander knowing that his lover had once been a prostitute. And since then, the issue had simply never come up.

"But you will not offend me by speaking of love. Love as thou wilt, hmm?" He smiled.

[devilwoman]

They'd brought the alcohol up from Rapture, split between The Catscratch Club and The Winchester - Ianto hadn't wanted any of it for the Hub. And that afternoon, Lex and Saffron had gone to the club and done a quality check on it...or, at least, that's what they said it was. It had ended with both of them spectacularly drunk on some very good booze. It had been a little touch and go as to whether Lex was going to have to carry Saffron home, but in the end, she'd managed to stumble off, cheerfully waving off Lex's offer to walk her there so they could both go home to bed and their respective significant others.

She was fairly unsteady on her feet as she reached the hut, and it might have been a small miracle she made it up the steps of the porch without stumbling. Upon realizing they had company, Saffron broke out into a wide and bright grin. "Alcuin, what a pleasant surprise!" she gushed. "I'm so glad to see you."

Kicking off her shoes, she went over to Xander and sat herself right in his lap. "Hi, baby," she said, soft and adoring, before she kissed him hello.

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Alcuin had told some about his life before the island and Giles had told him other parts. None of it was anything Xander was comfortable with but he didn't hold that against his friend. It wasn't his fault after all.

"Then you should come around often. There's lot of talk about love around here," Xander replied with a silly smile on his face.

Which only grew as he looked up as Helen approached. He'd half stood to help her but was forced back down into his seat as he suddenly had a lap full of Boss Lady. And he was very glad of the conversation he'd just been having with Alcuin because he didn't feel bad about returning Helen's wonderful kiss right in front of him. "Well, looks like you and Lex had a good time."

[alcuin]

Alcuin stood immediately when Helen entered, and offered her a smile that didn't fade when they kissed. He could not bring himself to be jealous, not when Xander seemed so very, very happy.

"The pleasure is mine, Helen," he said warmly. "I hope you do not mind Xander keeping me company."

[devilwoman]

"A very good time, and you can rest assured, that Rapture booze has been thoroughly taste tested." Saffron's eyes were locked on Xander's, seemingly seeing no one but him, but when Alcuin spoke, she turned her head to look at him with a smile. "Oh, not at all!" she chirped, and while it seemed she was surely drunk enough to be slurring, her speech was mostly fine, if a bit slower than usual. "You're always welcome at our home."

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

“Well, that’s good to hear. About the alcohol I mean.” Xander almost asked if Luthor was able to make his way home, if Helen’s drunkenness was any indication of how much they’d had, but once she looked at him like that…he couldn’t say he cared about much of anything.

It was very tempting to fall into the intense gaze being set on him but Xander was more polite then that and also looked away when Alcuin spoke. “Please sit. You don’t have to go just yet. Always welcome means always welcome.” While he wanted nothing more than to follow through on the look Helen was giving him, he’d been serious when he’d said he wanted to help Alcuin, even with just simple company, and running him off wasn’t the way to accomplish that.

[alcuin]

Alcuin hesitated, as the look that passed between them certainly had not gone unnoticed... but they both asked him to stay, and so he sat down beside Xander.

He looked to Helen with a sheepish little smile on his lips. "Xander has been very kind in offering his company whenever I might feel lonely. I fear my house feels very large and empty sometimes." Not to mention his bed, but that was not Xander's problem.

[devilwoman]

Saffron listened with sympathy, giving a nod that was slightly exaggerated in her drunken state. "Oh, sugar, I know how that is," she said. "It was just me in this hut for a good long while."

She turned her head back to Xander and gave him a soft smile as she placed a palm to his cheek - having to make the attempt a couple of times to land it where she was aiming. "I think we both know how that is."

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Xander did know exactly how that felt, having lost many people from his home and bed on the island. It wasn't a pleasant feeling and he really did feel sorry for Alcuin, which only made him want to help more. At least...as much as he could.

He gave Alcuin an amused smile as he patiently waited for Helen to touch him. "Yeah, we do. Empty huts are not fun for anyone. I just wish there was more we could do."

[alcuin]

At that flicker of understanding across Xander's expression, Alcuin suddenly missed Rupert so much that it ached.

"You've both been very kind," Alcuin said, and leaned in to kiss Helen's cheek, and then as an afterthought, Xander's as well. "Thank you. Sometimes I forget that I'm not really alone at all."

[devilwoman]

Saffron smiled as Alcuin kissed her and Xander's cheeks. It was good to help people, she thought. And then suddenly, a booze-powered lightbulb went off in her head.

Saffron had never had any illusions as to what she was best at. She'd never hesitated to use her abilities for her own gain, never hesitated to use them to help others either. It was a certain special kind of assistance she provided; she'd even helped Xander, years ago and before either of them even suspected where they'd be now. She was especially good at a great many things, but with this, she was at her best. And right then, sitting in her boyfriend's lap and across from what had to be one of the most beautiful guys she'd ever laid eyes on, Saffron was also quite possibly more drunk than she'd ever been.

Being really drunk had always made Saffron more promiscuous. But lately, now that she was in her first monogamous relationship in something like a decade, it seemed to make her tend towards her old ways, when it came to sex, and how she used to quite enjoy a good threesome. She used to be just fine with sharing, for the most part, and apparently being shitfaced made sharing sound like a good idea again.

"Alcuin, honey, would you ess - excr - exqu - sit tight, we'll be right back," she said, finally slurring a little, as she stood and yanked on Xander's hand to get him to stand up with her. "Baby, can I talk to you inside for just a second?"

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Xander himself just flushed slightly at the kiss from Alcuin but gave him a kind smile of thanks in return.

And then he was completely surprised when he was suddenly being yanked around by his very drunk girlfriend. He gave her a worried frown before standing and given Alcuin an apologetic look. “Umm…we’ll be right back, I guess.” He managed to say before he was pulled into the hut where he turned to Helen. “Okay, what’s going on?” Was that her scheming look in her eyes? The one that usually scared him on a good day and now when she was drunk? He was a bit terrified of what she was thinking but he patiently listened.

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked a bit startled when Helen pulled him away, but he was always always obedient and polite, and took a seat on the porch, looking out toward the nature surrounding them... and to his credit, did not even attempt to eavesdrop.

[devilwoman]

Saffron pulled Xander inside, trying not to be too unsteady on her feet, and kept on pulling until they were in their bedroom, standing beside the beautiful canopy bed they shared. "Honey," she said, looking up at him steadily as she could, her hands resting at his waist to anchor her. "Alcuin's our friend, right? And he's lonely, and hurting. I can tell."

She paused to lean in, raising slightly up onto the balls of her feet to kiss him, which resulted in her clutching handfuls of his shirt at his sides so she didn't fall over. "I think we should help him," she said, and as she spoke, she glanced over at their bed.

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Xander racked his brain, trying to think of what in the world Helen could be getting at. He caught the glance at the bed and gave her a confused look. "You...want him to stay with us?"

He honestly had no idea.

[devilwoman]

Saffron nodded, giving Xander her best drunken approximation of the sweet and wide-eyed look she tended to give him when she wanted him to say yes to something. "Just for tonight," she said. "He needs company, a certain...kind of company, and I think you and I can give that to him, tonight."

She paused, tried to study his expression to see if he understood what she meant. "Do you know what I mean?"

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

At that look, Xander groaned. He’d yet to not give in to that look and the drunken version was even more pathetic.

But he still couldn’t quite believe what she was saying. It wasn’t anything she’d ever suggested before. “You…you want us to sleep with him? Are you sure?” It wasn’t like Xander hadn’t thought what it would be like to sleep with Alcuin. His friend was stunning, but they’d both fallen in love and it seemed to not be meant to be. And he hadn’t thought about sleeping with anyone in months, not since he’d moved in with Helen. This…this was a lot to think about all of a sudden.

[devilwoman]

"Listen to me," Saffron said as she took Xander's face in her hands, as if he had been doing anything but that very thing. "I love you. With all my heart, and soul. You're the only one for me, for - to have the sharing of my life with. You know that, right?"

She didn't give him a chance to answer before she continued. "But there's a comfort he needs, one we can give him, it's a certain - he needs it." She huffed out a breath, frustrated by how her state of inebriation wasn't letting her be as eloquent as she would have liked. "Yes, I'm sure. But only if you are, too."

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Xander had been listening to, and looking at, her very intently throughout this whole surreal conversation that he still couldn't quite believe they were having. "Of course I know that. And I love you more then anything." He said in confirmation, because he felt it needed to be said before he could continue.

Eloquent or not, her words were still attempting to go right over him. But if there was one thing Xander knew, was the need to do something to comfort a friend in need. "Yes..." He said softly before repeating himself in a more confident manner. "Yes. I'm sure."

[devilwoman]

"Okay," Saffron replied, her thumbs running lightly back and forth over his cheeks. She nodded, then leaned in to kiss him tenderly. "Okay. Let's go ask him, then."

She released Xander's face and took his hand instead as she turned toward the door, trying not to lose her balance in the process. Once they were outside, she took them right over in front of where Alcuin was sitting, releasing Xander's hand only after she'd hung on as she knelt in front of Alcuin, Xander's steadying grip keeping her from falling over.

"Alcuin, we have something we'd like to ask you," she started, her hands moving to rest just above his knees. Saffron took as steady a breath as she could, and mustered all the focus available to her addled brain so she could make what was undoubtedly going to be the most coherent speech she would give that night.

"I'm not a servant of your Naamah, but I'm trained to see things," she explained, knowing he would understand what she meant. "I see a need in you, and I think there's something can be done to ease it a while, offer a little refuge." She paused, took one of his hands in hers. "Xander and I have a very nice bed, very spacious and comfortable. And if you're willing, we'd like for you to join us there, for tonight, and we'll see what we can do for you."

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

While Xander still wasn't quite convinced this was a good idea, he was willingly to go along with it. The worst thing that could happen would be that Alcuin would say now. If he said yes...well, it would be interesting but Xander certainly didn't have it in him to say no.

When Helen knelt, Xander switched his hold to her shoulders, helping her to stay steady as she spoke to Alcuin.

While Xander didn't see things quite the way they did, he did see things as well. Granted, his view tended be a bit more innocent then theirs, he couldn't deny the want to help a friend in need. "Really, Alcuin, we want to help. It would be our pleasure." He said, as reassuring as he could.

[alcuin]

Alcuin looked a bit startled when Helen knelt in front of him, and it was clear as well from his expression that he had not been expecting what followed.

He looked at them both for a moment, and then finally asked, a bit hesitantly, "Do... you want me?"

It was important to him. As lonely as he was... he needed to be desired, not pitied.

[devilwoman]

By way of an answer, Saffron leaned forward, releasing Alcuin's hand so she could cup his face in a way very similar to what she'd been doing with Xander just moments before, and yet so different.

"Yes," she said softly, then leaned in to kiss him, and took her time with it.

[scoobys-heart.livejournal.com]

Xander watched Helen kiss Alcuin and while his heart twinged for a moment, he couldn’t help but find the sight beautiful as well. Before the kiss even ended, Xander reached out and set his hand on Alcuin’s shoulder, so when they did break away, the other man would look up at him. “Yeah, yeah we do Alcuin.”

Then it was his turn to lean in a kiss his lonely friend.

[alcuin]

The kiss from Helen was sweet, and Alcuin parted his lips instinctively and leaned into it, and then when Xander's lips were offered to him as well, he opened himself up even farther to it. Desire sparked inside him.

He was, in truth, unsure as to why they were making this offer, and he hoped that it was in the spirit of desire, and love, and not pity. But unsure thought he was, he could not find it in himself to question.

"It would honor me to join your bed," he said softly when the kiss with Xander broke.