The M Hotel wasn't the oldest hotel in Modesh, but it was certainly the most impressive. When Tibur was small, he remembered his grandmother had been invited there once for afternoon tea in the lobby. He'd never been himself, but he'd hear things at times from his friend Kawen, often finding work there during the peak season.

Kawen wasn't deemed suitable for a front-facing position, but his brute strength was useful when there were a number of cases that needed moving around. As a result, he'd hear all the secrets of the housekeeping department, and knew the preferred snack choices of the few celebrities that had visited Modesh. This information was always Kawen's go-to when he was trying to impress someone. Not only had he worked at the M Hotel, but he even knew which star liked gummy bears.

When Tristan invited his friends to the Caffray anniversary party, all Tibur could think about was how that one actor had ordered half a dozen boiled eggs to his room at 2am. It took a second to realize that he was being invited through its doors.

"Are you sure?" asked Millie.

"Huh? Yeah, the M Hotel. It's being held in the Grand Ballroom" Tristan pulled out his phone and checked.

"I mean... are you sure we're allowed to go?" she said, "I've heard their security turns away anyone without a six figure income."

"If you'd feel more comfortable somewhere else, I can probably ask Caleb to move it" flexed Tristan, "Though as guests of Caffray's CEO, I can't imagine them doing anything to upset you."

It was rare for Tristan to flaunt his husband's power, but he figured so long as it wasn't a regular occurrence, he wouldn't end up like Sarah. 

"Well" said Millie, "As guests of Caffray's CEO, we can't really say 'no', can we Tiger?"

"Of course we can't!" Tibur replied with faux pomposity, "Whatever would the society pages have to write about if we didn't make an appearance?"

When Michael heard that Tibur and his friends were going to attend a party together, he immediately started angling for an invite of his own. In Tibur's case, there were two reasons he didn't want to bring his boyfriend; the first was that he worried Millie would have to third-wheel, and the second was that he feared more of Michael's former conquests would come out of the woodwork at such a big event.

He wasn't jealous as such, and he held no malice towards his former partners, but there was part of him that felt it best to keep his boyfriend away from temptation. He was scared that he'd try to distinguish the pitch of their voices amongst the many that Michael had made scream.

"Tristan chose to invite Millie and I" said Tibur, "we're only going there to support him. Apparently Caleb might get busy entertaining the executives, though I can't imagine him cozying up to anyone besides his husband."

The following day, Caleb had another unfortunate visit from an unwanted guest.

"I see you've recovered" he said to the man that walked right past him and into the penthouse.

"I've got the hang of things now" said Michael, "Tibur and I have found our rhythm."

"If you're not here for advice, there's little reason I can think of as to why I'm forced to see you again. What do you want this time?" asked Caleb.

"I heard you're having a party" said Michael, "at the M Hotel."

"The company's anniversary is public knowledge."

"But I happen to know the manager... and I think what you've got planned for the evening maybe isn't considered public knowledge."

"Is there anyone you haven't slept with?" asked Caleb.

Michael scratched behind his ear and failed to refute him.

"Tibur won't ask Tristan to invite me, he doesn't want to impose on him" Michael explained.

"But you're willing to impose on me I suppose?" noted Caleb, "I already told Tristan he can invite whoever he wants, I'm fairly certain he offered Tibur a plus-one. Maybe he didn't feel like having to babysit you all night."

"Who needs babysitting?" challenged Michael, "It's not like I'm socially inept! Some people around here dislike company so much they're probably better off staying home altogether."

"You want the invite or not?" asked Caleb.

"You're too kind" said Michael, "It doesn't seem like you though. The plan I mean."

"Thank you for your opinion" said Caleb, "now take it with you when you leave."

Mrs Black was still down as a 'maybe' for her sons' celebration, with Fraser in danger of wearing her out ahead of time, thanks to the number of shopping trips he was dragging her on.

"What about this for Farang?" he asked, holding up a beautifully cut blazer that had no right being made from such hideous material. 

"RayRay, isn't it better asking him instead?" suggested Mrs Black, "He'll have a better idea of what he wants to wear."

"He's given me free reign" he smiled, "Whatever I think will complement my outfit."

"And are you wearing a trash bag?" asked his mother, motioning to the piece of clothing in his hand.

"Maybe not this one then..." Fraser relented.

It was better to shop without Farang. As much as Fraser would have enjoyed dressing him up in various outfits and admiring his masculine form, Farang would have hated the time he was wasting; not to mention the money. It was for that exact reason that Fraser had kept him out of the ongoing revovations to the next door apartment.

If he saw the size of the bed, he might have questioned how many thousands it had cost. For the sake of his knees, Fraser had spared no expense.

"Didn't you say he's not the suit type?" asked Mrs Black, "Why not looking for something more in his style. I always hate having to squeeze myself into whatever looks expensive, just to attend one of those things. At least let the man feel comfortable, he's bound to attract some attention on your arm."

"What about me?" asked Fraser, "Mom, won't I attract attention? Have I gotten too old?"

Fraser examined the slight sag beneath his eyes and the lightest of wrinkles that marked his brow.

"If you're too old, then what am I?" she asked her eldest son.

"You're beautiful, Mom!" he flattered, taking her by the arm, "Now let's go find you something expensive looking for the party... you know Caleb wants you to be there..." 

Tibur was pleasantly surprised to find that Farang would be attending the party with Fraser, hoping he'd catch the ear of some enterprising Modeshi businessmen. His friend, on the other hand, had no intention of attempting to network.

"It's my wife's night" he said, his poor choice of phrasing lessening the impact of his well-meaning sentiment, "All I can do is try not to embarrass him."

"To start with, watch how you address him in public" Tibur chided, "There'll be Modeshi speakers there, and they may lose respect in learning that the boss is someone's 'wife'."

"My angel doesn't mind it" said Farang, lighting another cigarette as they sat outside the store, "and why should he? It's the truth after all, my house is his domain."

"But people don't see it that way" Tibur pointed out, "They only look at your positions, and I wouldn't want them to think less of Fraser because of it."

Farang smiled.

"I drive my van, I make my deliveries... I try to provide the little that I can for my family. He is a successful businessman with more money than sense. How else can you explain him choosing to be with me? Tibur, my friend, he is so infinitely far above me that the idea of someone thinking less of him is laughable. His position? The only one that matters is the one he has in his company. Your way of thinking is a quite old-fashioned..."

Tibur returned to the counter somewhat confused as to how he'd been the one accused of harboring outdated views.

"Tristan" he said, "If I called Michael my wife, what would you think of him..?"

"I wouldn't think much about him" he replied, "but I'd certainly have quite the opinion about you."

"That's not good either..." said Tibur, half to himself, "I'm worried Farang may say something inappropriate about Fraser at the party. That people may come to learn that... he's a bottom."

Tristan tilted his head to the side and smiled.

"And?" he asked, "What might be the issue with someone being a bottom..? Are you trying to suggest there's something shameful about it?"

"What?! No, not at all! I just thought it might be different if it's the employees that find out, that they might think..."

"What?" asked Tristan sweetly.

Tibur cut himself off before he made it any worse.

"Typical top-centric way of thinking..." said Tristan, "I wouldn't have thought it of you Tibur, but I guess you've developed a sense of superiority now the roles are reversed."

Tibur was left questioning everything, and failed to recognize that Tristan was teasing him.

"Tonight!" he announced, "It's Michael's turn. I'm not going to be one of those men that gatekeeps their asshole!"

"Tibur..." said Tristan, "You don't need to prove anything. Whatever position makes you feel comfortable; it's fine. You can respect your partner without letting them top you. Don't think there's some hard and fast to rule to a mutually fulfilling relationship, just do what works for you and Michael."

"I've decided" said Tibur, "tonight, we switch!"

Tristan washed his hands of the whole situation and left it up to his resolute friend to decide what was best. When Caleb came to pick him up at the end of the day, he couldn't help asking.

"Husband" he said, as Caleb fastened his seatbelt, "Would you let me top you?"

Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, whatever you wanted Baby, I'd try to make it happen. But, do you... want to..?" he asked him in return.

Tristan shook his head. 

"No, not really" he admitted with a smile, "But it's nice to have the option if I ever change my mind."

Caleb concealed his relief as he drove his husband home, with plans to make sure he was thoroughly satisfied with their current state of affairs.

"Has Tristan gone already?" asked Millie, "I was going to invite the two of you for a drink. It's been a while..."

Tibur suddenly saw the benefit of some much-needed liquid courage.

"I'll join you for one" he offered.

A single drink to calm his nerves turned into a second and a third. By the time Tibur arrived at Michael's apartment, his body was already swaying.

"How much did you drink?" asked Michael, disappointed that a night of passion was looking less likely given Tibur's inebriated state.

"Just a couple" said Tibur, crashing into Michael's waiting arms, "I came to tell you, I'm ready!"

Michael helped him over to the couch.

"Ready for what?" he asked, "You're too drunk to be ready for anything..."

Tibur grabbed his boyfriend's cheeks and kissed him.

"I'm ready to let you fuck me!" he told him, his large eyes filled with determination.

It was fair to say that Michael was surprised, but it was difficult to tell if Tibur really meant what he was saying. There were plenty of 'brilliant ideas' Michael had when he'd been drinking that didn't seem too hot once he'd sobered up. Like the time he decided his drinking glasses were all ugly, and had marched down to the recycling centre and thrown them all away. In the morning, his head pounding, he'd had to hold his mouth open beneath the running tap to quench his thirst.

Those glasses, once gone, were gone forever. The regret was almost immediate.

"This time" said Tibur, "I want you to take control... I've been selfish. We're in this together; we are equal."

He tried to remove Michael's T-shirt but for some reason it was stuck. 

"We're equal, and I love you" Michael told him, "And whatever you want to do, fuck, you should know by now I'm down to try anything. Just not tonight."

"But I'm ready!" Tibur protested, "I think I can do it now. It freaked me out a little before, but I want to show you that I love you. That's what loving someone means, giving all of yourself. I'm ready to do that, Michael."

"It's not just about giving yourself to someone" Michael corrected, "It's about giving yourself to someone you can trust. You're drunk, Tibur, and I love you enough not to take advantage of that. You want me to fuck you tomorrow? I'll do it. My dick will be there waiting for your command. But for now let's get you cleaned up and put to bed."

"I'm glad I didn't lose it to a piece of plastic" came Tibur's cryptic reply, as Michael helped him to the bathroom.

"Whatever you've lost, you can find it tomorrow."

Tibur laughed as they brushed his teeth.

No, you idiot... I'll lose it tomorrow...