[ No human in history has packed away their end-of-day documents as fast as Zhongli does in the ensuing ten minutes, out the door before the cleaning lady even arrives. He hurries to the Wanmin Restaurant where an order is placed for his collection, giving him enough time to return home for a bath where he cools off a little and reasserts some kind of common sense over the simmering need to be within touching distance of one very specific human. He is the oldest Archon, after all, and should exert temperance ...
He arrives early back at Wanmin and is politely but firmly instructed to wait.
Just over an hour after saying goodbye to Baizhu, he climbs the stone steps up to Bubu Pharmacy with a bag of well-packaged soup and vegetable rolls in tow, golden eyes brighter than usual in the dark as he knocks on the closed door. Liyue looks lovely on the hills above and below, the orange glow of the sunset picking out the city in gilded edges as he paces a few steps away from the entrance and admires the peaceful scenery. ]
[ baizhu answers the door, and he's dressed down for the night in a simple but elegant robe, his hair pinned back up, a warm smile on his face. the pharmacy is dark and quiet, of course, and changsheng is absent from her usual place nestled comfortably around his shoulders. it's been too long of a wait, he thinks, but it has been even longer for zhongli, assuredly, at least baizhu had found a little relief (while only compounding zhongli's frustrations). ]
Come in, come in.
[ he gestures, leading zhongli into the pharmacy, closing and locking the door again behind him.
from there, baizhu leads zhongli up the red-painted stairs to his apartment above. it's decently sized, but not large by any means, comfortable enough for one man to live in easily. his desk is neat, save for a few scattered papers held down by a jade dragon paperweight, and his bedroom is tucked behind a lovely folding screen, but of course, zhongli has seen it all before. with the door closed behind them, there's no reason to hesitate further - baizhu hums, leaning in from zhongli's side to nuzzle to his ear. ]
[ baizhu isn't sure what zhongli has planned, but he does know that they're going somewhere, and that that somewhere is warm. he's packed appropriately, in lighter clothing, and they're soon off, taking their cart beyond liyue's borders and into.. lovely sumeru!
baizhu has always wanted to visit their rainforest neighbor. it's a beautiful land, and so thick with incredible plantlife, even the air smells of loamy forest earth and wet leaves. he breathes deeply, the humid air comfortable on his aching lungs. as the cart rolls along, baizhu reaches out his hand to touch the heavy hanging adhigama leaves that shroud the path ahead of them. he wonders if he'll finally be able to meet tighnari, after so long; he's heard so much about the forest ranger from their traveling friend, and he'd love nothing more than to chat medicine with him.
for now, however, zhongli guides the cart to a little cabin in a grove, up high enough on a hill to be able to see sumeru city in the distance, the divine tree twisting up into the dusk-lit sky. baizhu marvels as he climbs from the cart, stretching his arms over his head. ]
Ah, it's all more beautiful than I could have imagined..
I only wish we could have arrived in the city proper before nightfall, but this way we can sample some local delicacies. Dinner was included in the cabin stay for the night.
[ And it isn't going to be sea-food, thank goodness! Zhongli reigns in the horse and starts taking it out of the tack, zoning in on the stable. Baizhu looks lovely in the sunset, the verdant hue of his hair exacerbated by their rich surroundings. ]
Go inside and take a peek at what the owner has left us. I'll be along shortly.
[ Slow-cooked bamboo shoot soup and almond tofu are two dishes with an eclectic combined scent where he stores them in his teapot's kitchen, leaving the realm to await Xiao in his Liyuen apartment. It's late and the sun is starting to set, casting the humble space in a golden glow as he tidies here and there, still fully dressed from work. It's rare that he entertains visitors (unless Childe demands his attention or Baizhu wishes to discuss a mutual customer), rarer still for it to be Xiao who is more at home in the wilds. Zhongli, however, is reluctant to let him fester in isolation and occasionally feels the responsible need to encourage Xiao into company (and if the Traveller were here, he's sure Xiao would have practically teleported over on the spot ... )
Lighting the oil lamps so his apartment looks occupied for the evening, Zhongli sips his wine and hums as he finds a secluded shelf for his teapot. ]
( there is some hesitation on xiao's part. it's true that he finds more comfort in the wilds of liyue, preferring its wildlife and his own company. perhaps it's habit, sinking into necessary isolation — he's tainted those around him with his karmic debt before, cast them into mania. between the time he departs to meet with zhongli and their conversation, he rereads it.
if he's hesitant, he's sure such a thing stems from the unknown, now that rex lapis is zhongli of the wangsheng funeral parlor. it could be his karmic debt could impact him now as well.
xiao teleports nearby, his expression tight before he dispels it, swift feet carrying him to zhongli's apartment door quickly. the rap he gives to it is polite in his attempt to adhere to more modern customs. it all still feels foreign, though. like his limbs aren't confident in their movements. his grip tightens on the small, delicately wrapped parcel he's brought with him. )
[ He takes Baizhu by the hand and tells him in no uncertain terms, I'm going into rut. While still capable of rational thought, he gathers up two backpacks (medical ointments, bandages, bedding and suchlike) and goes on a hike with him into the Liyuen countryside, describing as best he can that he doesn't know how long a rut lasts but some of the things to expect from it: possessiveness and insatiable sexual needs are the main factor and he blushes as he thinks of them, trying to keep his calm as long as possible.
The fever hits him first, itchy in his mortal bodymod until he can stand it no longer and needs to return to his truer shape. A cave is constructed out of stone and cor lapis that runs like marbled gold through the rooftop; in the depths of this cave that subtly illuminates itself with a warm light, Zhongli sprawls on a large nest made of blankets and pillows of the finest craftsmanship, furs and embroidered throws all pummelled into place. His long tail curls around him and drapes off the stalagmites that hem in the nest as he hugs one of Baizhu's shirts, curled up with his face in it as he gets some rest at long last while his mate is, ironically, exploring the grounds around them while Zhongli builds their refuge. Supposedly. It's cooler in the cave than outdoors. Geovishaps and other geo-based creatures seem to flock to the countryside surrounding them, making it impossible for anyone to sneak up on their den. They seems to have caught the Geo Archon's scent and act protectively around Baizhu, more like tame pets than monsters.
The need to mate and breed thrums within Zhongli's draconic blood and he can hardly think straight by the time Baizhu arrives back to see him in his fully revealed form, mindlessly growling when he hears approaching footsteps from the outside. ]
not only is zhongli's scent thick in the air, the glow and pulse of cor lapis guides him in the evening dimness, drawing him to the constructed cave with ease. there is no one around for miles and miles, no one to stumble upon them in the countryside, not even a hidden cabin - they are alone, and given the space that they need.
a low growl greets him as baizhu steps into the cave and begins to slowly approach the nest, but he isn't afraid. even like this, he knows that his lover would never harm him - no, if nothing, this excites baizhu deep in his core, stirring something primal in his gut. truth be told, he has been looking forward to this a little, eager to satisfy his mate in a way that only he can. setting down his backpack, baizhu speaks softly as he begins to disrobe. ]
[ Zhongli catches Childe's hitched breath in a kiss, moving with him as he grinds his sweet, eager lover into the bed with rolling hips that have a mind of their own, losing himself little by little. The branding heat of both cocks eases away only after he nips at Childe's lower lip, payback for hearing him say breed me and the way it bounces around in Zhongli's skull like a command (Childe has always thought he himself was too easy for Zhongli but the reverse is also very true, there is exceedingly little Childe could not have if he requested it), and after indulging both their hedonism he reaches between them to stroke his more human-sized cock to gather slick, a low rumble in his chest, before two fingers rub at the tight pink hole between Childe's legs that has been sadly neglected since he left on his mission. Zhongli spoils him and more, long digits insistent but never forceful as he works Childe open and nuzzles his way along a cheek so as to watch his reactions.
He gets to the second knuckle on both and curls them to find a prostate, unerring after having long memorised where Childe loves to be stimulated. ]
Open up now, just like that. You're such a good boy, Ajax, so ready to let me in ...
[ he whines into zhongli's mouth at the first press of slick fingers inside him, body so accustomed to the familiar intrusion that allowing it is instinctive, second-nature. the initial burn of being stretched is almost as good as the feeling of fullness, and he twitches, gasping, as one finger, then a second rub over his prostate. it sends pleasure jolting up his spine, cock jumping and dribbling onto his belly. ]
Please, [ he begs, thoughts already going a little hazy with pleasure and desire. he knows his lover will give him what he craves, what they both need. it's been weeks since they were here in this bed together, and he needs zhongli inside him more than he can begin to express. he wants to feel the throb of his heart, the heat of his skin, his body held in his arms and between his thighs.
and he wants what he's been promised, too. ]
You want to see me all full of you? [ he drops a heel to the bed, digging it into the mattress, using it as leverage to try to fuck himself down onto the god's fingers, urging them deeper. ] All swollen with the eggs you put in me? You'll have to work extra hard to try to make them take, you know. [ he smiles, sweet and wicked and a little punch-drunk. ] Keep me here in bed, breeding me again and again.. They say there's certain positions you should try when you're trying to make babies, right?
[ Neuvilette's house is large and very airy, very cream, very ... not to Zhongli's tastes, but he recognises the elegance in the other dragon that suffuses the way he lives and how he decorates not just his home, but Zhongli himself. The wardrobe he is given is modest but well-tailored, browns on top of shirts, everything far simpler than the styles they wore in the past. It will do.
He has nothing and nowhere else, so.
Absorbing all the information he is given proves overwhelming, as Neuvilette knew it would, and there is something to be said for the kindness the Hydro dragon shows in spending a whole week holed up with Zhongli at a laptop or over a phone, his informative escort when he shows him cinemas and modern shops. Neuvilette's patience is hidden behind a veil of propriety, yet he still relaxes and rests his forehead against Zhongli's when the latter gives thanks in their own way, peaceful proximity meaning more than it would to two humans. The day after, Zhongli is told he can have a car with a chauffeur and go wherever he wants in Liyue, but to please return at nightfall. Feeling more roguishly like himself for a moment when Neuvilette stresses himself out, Zhongli promises to be back under the light of the moon (which does not prove comforting at all, as he knew it wouldn't, haha).
That is how he finds himself sitting in a park, watching people pass by. Joggers, families, students; Liyue is different although it still has the old scent of home attached to it, and he isn't half as anxious or worried as Neuvilette thought: there is nothing here that could hurt him, after all. The fabulously technological trinkets interest him, yes, but the world is still dull and he knows why ... his heart is no longer stone but it aches, making him aware of every beat. ]
[ it's a day like any other. busy. sunny. the weather in liyue harbor is warm and comfortable, the sky a lovely blue, thick with fluffy clouds, but baizhu's eyes are on his phone and not the sky as he texts kaveh while he walks. the man worries far too much. baizhu might be ill, but he's certainly capable of walking through the city alone, and besides, his doctors are always laying it on him that he should stay active.
so here he is, being active. with the spring term ended, baizhu has no reason to remain cooped up in his room studying, poring over medical texts and his own meticulous notes, when the fresh air and sunshine are calling him. it's been awhile since he's visited his favorite hole-in-the-wall bookshop. he'd invited kaveh along, but he was far too busy mooning over that man that baizhu can't recall the name of, so he had left his morose friend face down on the sofa while he stepped out into the city proper.
given the nice weather, he'd dressed comfortably, in a loose black crop top and jeans, a light jacket overtop, and his footsteps are light, his teeth worrying his bottom lip as he rolls his eyes, quickly thumbing kaveh a reply. for the last time, no, he doesn't think kaveh's weird behavior has frightened off what's-his-name.
slipping his phone back into his pocket, baizhu hitches his canvas bag higher on his shoulder as he enters the park, the dappled sunlight painting his loose hair as he moves leisurely along the path beneath the trees and across the space, toward the little bookshop across the street. ]
[ teyvat is an interesting land, he thinks, certainly far more vast than most of the places he has visited with the astral express so far, spanning several nations, each of a sprawling size. impressive, dan heng thinks. only the luofu has been able to rival the size of teyvat thus far.
and thinking of the luofu, he can't help but be reminded of it when entering liyue. they are not the same, of course, but there are similarities that make this country feel.. comfortable, in a way. a bit like home, even if the luofu had never really been his home in the way that the astral express has become. nevertheless, he feels at ease here, at ease enough that he's wandered away on his own while stelle and march went sightseeing in the countryside. liyue harbor is bustling this afternoon, the weather is lovely, and dan heng has just finished up his lunch at wanmin restaurant.
pleasantly full, he pays with a generous tip, then slips out of his seat to begin his wanderings again, wondering where the streets might take him.
they don't take him far. he's hardly turned away from the restaurant when he spots a.. curious figure. tall, resplendent in browns and golds, with an air about him that is unmistakable. this man.. he is not vidyadhara, and yet dan heng feels the same energy about him, perhaps sensing the draconic blood that runs through his veins; one of long's other scions, perhaps? the vidyadhara are not the only followers of the permanence, after all, not their only descendants.
[ The harbour is lively as ever, full of faces both familiar and new (it's a tourist trap, every native knows) and Zhongli is for once enjoying some time off work. The day is still young and he has no solid plans, which is how he tends to like it. Seeing where events take him is always entertaining, the freedom of it is ... well, freeing. Not that he can ever tell Venti or he will never hear the end of it.
Loitering in the street where he admires the new additions to Mingxing jewellery's shelves, the mild blandness of the day is interrupted as his instincts abruptly stand on end when a strange, somehow very well-known scent wafts over and makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turns around and looks directly at a young man across the road, staring intently as he internalises the initial alarm and eyes him up; finally, he turns to face him fully as something of a mutual acknowledgement. An invitation even, as he starts walking toward him, never once looking away.
Dragon, all his senses whisper, but this is not one he knows. ]
[ leaving zhongli's side had not been easy, but dan heng does not belong on teyvat, he knows - at least, not yet. perhaps the day will come that he leaves the astral express.. but that day is not today, nor is it in the foreseeable future, but they are both capable of being patient. it's all right. even still, dan heng couldn't help but get the impression that zhongli did not expect that he would return to teyvat - or hoped that he wouldn't, maybe, preferring instead that he find some young mate across the stars.
but even though that might be a more ideal setup for dan heng, the heart wants what the heart wants, and their lengthy stay on teyvat had endeared him to the old dragon so deeply, that he can't imagine ever wanting to take another mate. he can be patient. he can work with long-distance.
it's several months later that dan heng takes a space anchor back down to teyvat, refreshed by the sight of liyue, beautiful and sunny and welcoming. he knows the harbor well by now, so picking his way to the wangsheng funeral parlor is quite easy. slipping in through the front, dan heng raps his knuckles lightly against the door of zhongli's office, before opening it a moment later. ]
[ Head down as he writes, he dips his ink pen and briefly glances up with a wryly amused expression only to freeze and doubletake the figure standing inside his office a moment later. He stares, lips parting in shock as the pen falls from his fingers and he rises from his chair, uncertain whether he is seeing correctly or if the sun beating down on his back through the window (he likes to be warm as he works) had finally made him hallucinate. ]
Dan Heng?
[ His heart beats faster and he cannot move, even as he stares to drink in the sight. Zhongli is half-convinced he is seeing things. ]
[ It is around seven in the evening when Zhongli makes his way to Bubu Pharmacy, ensuring that the vast majority of customers have left and the last are leaving when he requests to be shown to the back for his 'appointment' with Baizhu. Gui is happy to do so, locking up the shop and heading home as Zhongli goes upstairs, and it is noted that Qiqi is similarly absent. Likely at a sleepover with her friend, if Zhongli remembers Baizhu talking about that being a thing, once. All that matters, as he walks the dim hallway to the bedroom, is that he has Baizhu to himself. He does not, after all, intend to give him any reason to stay silent tonight.
He knocks on the bedroom door, waiting to hear an answer before opening it. ]
Doctor? I have brought wine, if you are in the mood to partake.
[ It was likely that Baizhu had paid Gui a little bit extra this evening for staying around long enough to show Zhongli up the stairs; Qiqi was safely in the hands of Yaoyaoi where they would do whatever it was that little girls did at slumber parties. And now Baizhu waited for Zhongli's arrival-- he'd had a book that he had been reading and continued to read even as he heard the heavy footfalls on the stairs and then the hallway leading toward his chambers. ]
Wine? Of course I am in the mood to partake, how very generous of you.. please come in.
[ Come Baizhu's voice from behind the closed door. When Zhongli opens up the door, he finds Baizhu (sans Changsheng) draped out across his bed. There is a book in his hand and his hair is undone and cascading across his shoulders, but even more telling was the state of half-dress that the Doctor was in currently; he looked rather ready to be further disheveled by a lover. The darker purple silk robe fell open to where it was tied, one pale leg stretched outward, the other one with the ankle tucked underneath. ]
I insist that you make yourself comfortable. [ He shifts as smoothly as a snake to make room for Zhongli beside him; and just like that proverbial snake-- he is waiting for the perfect time to wrap around the distractingly handsome golden-eyed man. ]
[ The scent has been getting stronger over the past month to the point where all Zhongli can smell during his class is the sweet little omega in the front row of his lecture about Ancient Rome, as pretty as any of the statues referenced on the projector. Gentaro has, since he joined the class two months ago, been polite and well-mannered, and among the other omega and beta classmates he is popular ... or was, until nearly four weeks prior when his body seemed to wake up to its wants and desires.
It started off as the faintest trace of sweetness, a mere distraction that was easy to dismiss: Gentaro is not the first young man by far who is vaguely on or off heat amongst his peer group. Hormones are, after all, rife. Only when the scent started thickening during lecture after lecture, practically coating Zhongli's tongue today, have other students begun to react with a second glance. It was easy to clear them all out, no one wanted to be around for a professor humiliating one of them for getting slick in an alpha's presence, especially given how kind and patient Zhongli had always been on that note. A very forgiving, discreet teacher.
But Gentaro smells like a newly budded flower, crisp and keen, and Zhongli needs to do something. Say something.
He calls Gentaro to stand behind his desk, idling rolling up the sleeves of his shirt and exposing the geometric tattoos there now most of his students have gone, bar one. With a hand on a hip, he fixes Gentaro with a not unkind gaze of steady and simmering amber. His voice is low with a purr, all his attention on the young man who reeks of arousal and a wet, ready hole. ]
I think you know why I have kept you back, Mister Yumeno.
It's not something he'll readily admit. Partly, because he doesn't have to. He's seen the looks his peers have given him. The way Zhongli's gaze sometimes lingers on him. Gentaro has a hell of a poker face, though. Years of closing himself off has given him plenty of time to perfect the mask.
But, of course, it had to come to a head some time. The moment he'd stepped into Zhongli's orbit, he knew there would be trouble. If there's one thing he's grateful for, though, it's getting in trouble and getting out of it. Except-- he's not sure about today. Gentaro isn't stupid.
No, he's aching to feel Zhongli inside him, filling him up, breeding him until he can't think. This close to him, it takes everything in him to not press against Zhongli and offer himself, completely and openly. He manages to keep himself composed as he watches him. The man is heartbreakingly gorgeous.
No one has ever looked at him like that. It makes him feel too vulnerable. ]
Do I, Professor?
[ And his voice has never sounded like this: low, thick with desire, rougher. ]
[ Like any other night when Dan Heng has slept over, Zhongli prepares a dinner of various snacks and popcorn with which to entertain his would-be nephew. Dan Feng works long weeks away overseas and Zhongli, a longterm friend and past fling when they were young and stupid defaults to his honorary status of uncle. It's not as if Dan Heng needs babysitting anymore, a young man nearing his twenties, but Zhongli hopes he still enjoys their movie marathon weekends and isn't going to be bored now that he's getting older, so he makes every effort to buy his favourite nibbles and soft drinks, bringing down the blanket Dan Heng has always curled up in since he was a child so that the now lanky dragonlet can feel as welcome as ever.
One movie in and Zhongli has an arm around the huddled lump at his side, gently stroking the long hair cascading in a silky wave over a blanketed shoulder. He glances down at him, sliding his other arm around him in a concerned hug. Dan Heng has been awfully quiet tonight, entirely different to the sassy commentary that usually dominates their evenings.
He can smell something sweet, assuming it is just the new scent of Dan Heng's very recent shift into adulthood. It's cloying and strange, but Zhongli likes it. ]
Are you alright, a-Heng? You've barely touched your favourite chips and salsa.
[ dan heng has had a crush on his neighbor for as long as he can remember - since his early teen years, certainly - and it hasn't abated even a little bit over the past several years. he's hidden it well enough, he thinks, or at the very least zhongli is gracious enough to pretend not to notice, but.. well, if he didn't notice, would he really allow dan heng so close? would he really allow him to lean into his arms like this?
maybe he knows, and he.. and he's interested to?
no, that isn't possible. zhongli is simply a friendly man who has known him since he was a child, of course he's comfortable being close with him. he's an affectionate person. but that reasoning doesn't keep dan heng from wanting him, and tonight it's worse than normal. he feels warm all over, fiercely needy, and he's growing wet between the thighs at a considerable rate. swallowing thickly, dan heng shakes his head. ]
Oh, I.. mm, I'm fine, yes. [ he murmurs, cheeks burning as he presses his thighs together, shifting in nearer without thinking. ] Just.. a little warm.
( his kingdom has fallen to a god; golden, ruthless, and unrelenting. the war had been bloody but swift, because his people had refused to bow down to the enemy after the king had been slaughtered, no matter how powerful he had been. he had heard rumours that his king had reneged on a contract or another, but had quickly dismissed it as lies in the wake of the invasion.
this conqueror has many names: deus auri, morax, the war god, the golden one, the god of death, each and every epithet whispered in fear, in awe. most of his people have capitulated, for deus auri has promised that no harm will come to them if they pledge allegiance to him, and folded into the new order. he had shown them prosperity, gold, endless beauty to wash away the blood, but there are still rebellions, with the last bastion of resistance being the one childe had been born into.
the conqueror had quelled their kingdom, folded it into liyue's when he'd been born, and childe had grown up on a steady diet of hate and vengeance; a beautiful, strong, youth who craves the fight. he had seen statues of the god-king erected, bridges and roads paved anew, wealth and order flowing through everywhere but the last of their fortified village on the very outskirts of what was once their own kingdom. their chief, the brother of the king, had borne a steady hatred for deus auri himself, and had chosen childe to be the king's downfall. after all, childe had grown up charming and handsome, with the bluest eyes that the light doesn't touch.
when the time came, the chief offers him up to deus auri as the very first tribute, and for childe, his instructions were clear: to take the life of the being who had laid claim to what was once their kingdom, and the chief's birthright.
childe, clad in white and gold, carries the poison he had been gifted in the necklace he wears. when he had been taken, the beauty of those golden eyes still burned in his memory, he barely registers when the emperor's attendants undress him, subjecting him to dispassionate indignity, checking every inch of him for purity, virginity, and whether he harboured any weapons. they'd dressed him in a simple white robe, flowing and comfortable, and he wonders if this is something the emperor himself has instructed them to do.
they'd forgotten about checking the necklace, and childe, heart thudding in his chest when he had been delegated to an impossibly massive, far-too-decadent chamber, seizes the chance to empty the contents of the poison into the golden chalice that sits at the head of the ornate table. this must be the emperor's, and once the man swallows it, his work will be complete. )
[ He doesn't know what to do about the young Snezhnayan rebel.
Zhongli is well aware of how fiery his new concubine is said to be, his spies long ago outed the truth of the rebel forces that Ajax had grown up amongst and sworn allegiance to, that was never an issue. What does prove awkward is how totally and completely the young man does not understand how his country has been beaten: there are pockets of resistance left, yes, but there will never be a grand uprising now the Tsaritsa is dead. More than that, her corpse rots in the earth and rock under Morax's control, it is impossible for her to be ressurected in any way that evades his power. Her tomb is his extended skeleton of iron, brick, and mortar. He can feel how silent she is in death.
Liyue does not seek to alter Snezhnaya's culture yet the latter do benefit from everything Liyue offers, freely bringing commerce and warmth to a once frozen wasteland of a nation. To say that many Snezhnayans race to Liyue's temperate villages would not be an exaggeration, and an edict is set in stone that mora must flow like water between Liyuen and Snezhnayan hands, a kindness his people are proud to prove of themselves.
It is not tyranny, not really. War is simply war, and there was never a world in which Deus Auri would allow frost to break down the stone foundations of his beloved city, his land.
Ajax does not understand the scope of his own hopeless situation, so Zhongli is not mad when he tastes poison in his drink. He drains the goblet before putting it down and pacing around the table to his new concubine, patience in his amber eyes as golden-brown robes rustle around his bare feet.
He tilts a curious look at Ajax, then nods to the jar of water nearby. ]
Will you please pour me a glass? The hemlock and wolfhook tasted quite bad.
[ dan heng is pacing back and forth, back and forth in central starskiff haven, waiting.
it's been a long time. much, much longer for dan heng than for zhongli - so long that he has changed, grown, gathered even more power - even his physicality has changed, his horns swept back, his tail corporeal. will things still be the same? eventually he stops, takes a deep breath, and leans back against the railings, arms crossed loosely.
it'll be fine. there's nothing to worry about. he's acting like a hatchling. zhongli is zhongli, and in truth, dan heng is very excited to show him around the luofu, to introduce him to his home.
[ Liyue is entirely self-sufficient these days, their Archon (and all Archon history) long fallen into myth. Zhongli has lived many lives, moved from nation to nation over the centuries so as not to arouse suspicion about his immortality, but leaving Teyvat entirely took some planning and he procrastinated at least ten years. Now, on a ship docking into a haven he has heard much about on the oddly familiar Xianzhou Luofu, he does not feel as homesick away from the earth of Teyvat as he imagined he would. He dresses in a relaxed hanfu, horns on display and hair loose. Unrecognisible away from Liyue, it does not matter whether he pretends at mortality or not, so he opts for comfort instead.
Dan Heng looks different enough that he gets a second glance, Zhongli wondering until he catches a familiar (albeit altered) scent on the breeze. Alighting on the dock, his attention remains on him as he closes the distance and devours the strange sight of his former lover with a curious stare; where are the green seaglass horns and iridescent tail? Whose golden horns are those with a tail like that of a Geovishap's, taller and older? And yet, he knows the man beneath, as much as he doesn't understand the changes.
He can feel something sturdier than Anemo and Hydro emanating from the other dragon, even across the walkway, something close to Dendro ... and definitely Geo. He reserves feeling any way about that until he understands.
Zhongli stops in front of him by a few metres, giving him a softly appraising smile. ]
( it's been a relatively busy day at the cosy little coffeeshop that childe works at — it's not part of a franchise, which makes the homey vibe of the entire place even more rustic and genuine, with regular customers and fun experimentations with the menu.
childe likes his job, all things considered; the owner pays quite well, and lets him experiment on the different types of coffee and tea he brews. one, in particular, he had made for a tall, handsome, mysterious man that childe had decided he wanted from the moment he had set eyes on him.
zhongli is golden-eyed, elegant, with a touch of danger and dominance in the way they've always interacted, and childe hadn't stopped his pursuit of him ever since the first time he'd written his number on the cup. so what if he's only seventeen? the heart wants what the heart wants, and a few months here and there isn't going to make a difference. eventually, childe has at least gained some headway, and has wrung a date from the man. and with that date had come another, and another, but zhongli has always been a gentleman and had not so much as touched him aside from some soft kisses.
therefore, something had to be done on this particular date.
childe teases him from the morning, sending a shirtless photo, then one where he's playfully tweaking his rosy nipples. and then the most blatant one, snuck from the staff bathroom where he'd taken a very quick video of himself grasping his cock, playing with his red-orange curls.
he'd put the phone aside then, busying himself up until the time he knows that zhongli will come for him. when he does, childe's eyes will be hungry, his smile innocent for the sake of his co-workers, who are nursing their own crushes on zhongli — too bad, guys. he got there first.
he has been waiting for this all morning, and he can't help when that innocent smile becomes a little smug. )
[ Accustomed to people flirting with him, it was that first pot of tea that made him return. Childe is very attractive (and Zhongli has intended to wait the handful of months until the boy is eighteen before going any further in their relationship) but from the beginning he has been hit with the sense one man cannot hold back an open dam: Childe is a force of nature, determined to be noticed and appreciated, the latter of which Zhongli cannot help but provide even with his own restrictions set in place.
He wants him very much. The conversation is always witty, Childe is as fresh as a Snezhnayan snowball to the face with his upfront opinions, and it does not hurt that he looks as ripe as a strawberry meant for plucking. The dick-pic is crass but it has the intended effect of Zhongli admiring that pink cock longer than he should if he were wise, having to close his phone before he crashes.
He pulls up in the black Mercedes at the agreed-upon hour, five-sharp. Sometimes Childe works late but today with their extra time together Zhongli has given him free reign to pick whatever they do. They can go anywhere Childe wants, as Zhongli's treat. Perhaps the endless possibilities will have kept Childe's hand out of his pants for the majority of the day.
Walking in dressed in all black, he returns the warm smile. He loves the dark blue eyes that rest on him so eagerly, the fluffy red hair from rushing around all day with orders, and the freckles on pale skin. ]
Good afternoon. I hope you're ready to go, but I can take a seat if not.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
( @ untime )
[ No human in history has packed away their end-of-day documents as fast as Zhongli does in the ensuing ten minutes, out the door before the cleaning lady even arrives. He hurries to the Wanmin Restaurant where an order is placed for his collection, giving him enough time to return home for a bath where he cools off a little and reasserts some kind of common sense over the simmering need to be within touching distance of one very specific human. He is the oldest Archon, after all, and should exert temperance ...
He arrives early back at Wanmin and is politely but firmly instructed to wait.
Just over an hour after saying goodbye to Baizhu, he climbs the stone steps up to Bubu Pharmacy with a bag of well-packaged soup and vegetable rolls in tow, golden eyes brighter than usual in the dark as he knocks on the closed door. Liyue looks lovely on the hills above and below, the orange glow of the sunset picking out the city in gilded edges as he paces a few steps away from the entrance and admires the peaceful scenery. ]
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Come in, come in.
[ he gestures, leading zhongli into the pharmacy, closing and locking the door again behind him.
from there, baizhu leads zhongli up the red-painted stairs to his apartment above. it's decently sized, but not large by any means, comfortable enough for one man to live in easily. his desk is neat, save for a few scattered papers held down by a jade dragon paperweight, and his bedroom is tucked behind a lovely folding screen, but of course, zhongli has seen it all before. with the door closed behind them, there's no reason to hesitate further - baizhu hums, leaning in from zhongli's side to nuzzle to his ear. ]
I hope the wait has not been too excruciating.
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birthday;
baizhu has always wanted to visit their rainforest neighbor. it's a beautiful land, and so thick with incredible plantlife, even the air smells of loamy forest earth and wet leaves. he breathes deeply, the humid air comfortable on his aching lungs. as the cart rolls along, baizhu reaches out his hand to touch the heavy hanging adhigama leaves that shroud the path ahead of them. he wonders if he'll finally be able to meet tighnari, after so long; he's heard so much about the forest ranger from their traveling friend, and he'd love nothing more than to chat medicine with him.
for now, however, zhongli guides the cart to a little cabin in a grove, up high enough on a hill to be able to see sumeru city in the distance, the divine tree twisting up into the dusk-lit sky. baizhu marvels as he climbs from the cart, stretching his arms over his head. ]
Ah, it's all more beautiful than I could have imagined..
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[ And it isn't going to be sea-food, thank goodness! Zhongli reigns in the horse and starts taking it out of the tack, zoning in on the stable. Baizhu looks lovely in the sunset, the verdant hue of his hair exacerbated by their rich surroundings. ]
Go inside and take a peek at what the owner has left us. I'll be along shortly.
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threads ( APRIL-MAY )
■ kaveh, bkstrt — pretty like gold
■ childe, bkstrt — kiss your god
■ baizhu 1, bkstrt — heal me, doctor
■ baizhu 2, bkstrt — workplace disturbances
■ baizhu 3, open post — bz's birthday rut
( @vigil )
[ Slow-cooked bamboo shoot soup and almond tofu are two dishes with an eclectic combined scent where he stores them in his teapot's kitchen, leaving the realm to await Xiao in his Liyuen apartment. It's late and the sun is starting to set, casting the humble space in a golden glow as he tidies here and there, still fully dressed from work. It's rare that he entertains visitors (unless Childe demands his attention or Baizhu wishes to discuss a mutual customer), rarer still for it to be Xiao who is more at home in the wilds. Zhongli, however, is reluctant to let him fester in isolation and occasionally feels the responsible need to encourage Xiao into company (and if the Traveller were here, he's sure Xiao would have practically teleported over on the spot ... )
Lighting the oil lamps so his apartment looks occupied for the evening, Zhongli sips his wine and hums as he finds a secluded shelf for his teapot. ]
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if he's hesitant, he's sure such a thing stems from the unknown, now that rex lapis is zhongli of the wangsheng funeral parlor. it could be his karmic debt could impact him now as well.
xiao teleports nearby, his expression tight before he dispels it, swift feet carrying him to zhongli's apartment door quickly. the rap he gives to it is polite in his attempt to adhere to more modern customs. it all still feels foreign, though. like his limbs aren't confident in their movements. his grip tightens on the small, delicately wrapped parcel he's brought with him. )
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( @untime; breeding, eggpreg )
The fever hits him first, itchy in his mortal bodymod until he can stand it no longer and needs to return to his truer shape. A cave is constructed out of stone and cor lapis that runs like marbled gold through the rooftop; in the depths of this cave that subtly illuminates itself with a warm light, Zhongli sprawls on a large nest made of blankets and pillows of the finest craftsmanship, furs and embroidered throws all pummelled into place. His long tail curls around him and drapes off the stalagmites that hem in the nest as he hugs one of Baizhu's shirts, curled up with his face in it as he gets some rest at long last while his mate is, ironically, exploring the grounds around them while Zhongli builds their refuge. Supposedly. It's cooler in the cave than outdoors. Geovishaps and other geo-based creatures seem to flock to the countryside surrounding them, making it impossible for anyone to sneak up on their den. They seems to have caught the Geo Archon's scent and act protectively around Baizhu, more like tame pets than monsters.
The need to mate and breed thrums within Zhongli's draconic blood and he can hardly think straight by the time Baizhu arrives back to see him in his fully revealed form, mindlessly growling when he hears approaching footsteps from the outside. ]
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not only is zhongli's scent thick in the air, the glow and pulse of cor lapis guides him in the evening dimness, drawing him to the constructed cave with ease. there is no one around for miles and miles, no one to stumble upon them in the countryside, not even a hidden cabin - they are alone, and given the space that they need.
a low growl greets him as baizhu steps into the cave and begins to slowly approach the nest, but he isn't afraid. even like this, he knows that his lover would never harm him - no, if nothing, this excites baizhu deep in his core, stirring something primal in his gut. truth be told, he has been looking forward to this a little, eager to satisfy his mate in a way that only he can. setting down his backpack, baizhu speaks softly as he begins to disrobe. ]
It's only me, my love. I'm here.
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( @ rowdie )
[ Zhongli catches Childe's hitched breath in a kiss, moving with him as he grinds his sweet, eager lover into the bed with rolling hips that have a mind of their own, losing himself little by little. The branding heat of both cocks eases away only after he nips at Childe's lower lip, payback for hearing him say breed me and the way it bounces around in Zhongli's skull like a command (Childe has always thought he himself was too easy for Zhongli but the reverse is also very true, there is exceedingly little Childe could not have if he requested it), and after indulging both their hedonism he reaches between them to stroke his more human-sized cock to gather slick, a low rumble in his chest, before two fingers rub at the tight pink hole between Childe's legs that has been sadly neglected since he left on his mission. Zhongli spoils him and more, long digits insistent but never forceful as he works Childe open and nuzzles his way along a cheek so as to watch his reactions.
He gets to the second knuckle on both and curls them to find a prostate, unerring after having long memorised where Childe loves to be stimulated. ]
Open up now, just like that. You're such a good boy, Ajax, so ready to let me in ...
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Please, [ he begs, thoughts already going a little hazy with pleasure and desire. he knows his lover will give him what he craves, what they both need. it's been weeks since they were here in this bed together, and he needs zhongli inside him more than he can begin to express. he wants to feel the throb of his heart, the heat of his skin, his body held in his arms and between his thighs.
and he wants what he's been promised, too. ]
You want to see me all full of you? [ he drops a heel to the bed, digging it into the mattress, using it as leverage to try to fuck himself down onto the god's fingers, urging them deeper. ] All swollen with the eggs you put in me? You'll have to work extra hard to try to make them take, you know. [ he smiles, sweet and wicked and a little punch-drunk. ] Keep me here in bed, breeding me again and again.. They say there's certain positions you should try when you're trying to make babies, right?
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( @untime; modern teyvat au )
He has nothing and nowhere else, so.
Absorbing all the information he is given proves overwhelming, as Neuvilette knew it would, and there is something to be said for the kindness the Hydro dragon shows in spending a whole week holed up with Zhongli at a laptop or over a phone, his informative escort when he shows him cinemas and modern shops. Neuvilette's patience is hidden behind a veil of propriety, yet he still relaxes and rests his forehead against Zhongli's when the latter gives thanks in their own way, peaceful proximity meaning more than it would to two humans. The day after, Zhongli is told he can have a car with a chauffeur and go wherever he wants in Liyue, but to please return at nightfall. Feeling more roguishly like himself for a moment when Neuvilette stresses himself out, Zhongli promises to be back under the light of the moon (which does not prove comforting at all, as he knew it wouldn't, haha).
That is how he finds himself sitting in a park, watching people pass by. Joggers, families, students; Liyue is different although it still has the old scent of home attached to it, and he isn't half as anxious or worried as Neuvilette thought: there is nothing here that could hurt him, after all. The fabulously technological trinkets interest him, yes, but the world is still dull and he knows why ... his heart is no longer stone but it aches, making him aware of every beat. ]
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so here he is, being active. with the spring term ended, baizhu has no reason to remain cooped up in his room studying, poring over medical texts and his own meticulous notes, when the fresh air and sunshine are calling him. it's been awhile since he's visited his favorite hole-in-the-wall bookshop. he'd invited kaveh along, but he was far too busy mooning over that man that baizhu can't recall the name of, so he had left his morose friend face down on the sofa while he stepped out into the city proper.
given the nice weather, he'd dressed comfortably, in a loose black crop top and jeans, a light jacket overtop, and his footsteps are light, his teeth worrying his bottom lip as he rolls his eyes, quickly thumbing kaveh a reply. for the last time, no, he doesn't think kaveh's weird behavior has frightened off what's-his-name.
slipping his phone back into his pocket, baizhu hitches his canvas bag higher on his shoulder as he enters the park, the dappled sunlight painting his loose hair as he moves leisurely along the path beneath the trees and across the space, toward the little bookshop across the street. ]
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double dragons;
and thinking of the luofu, he can't help but be reminded of it when entering liyue. they are not the same, of course, but there are similarities that make this country feel.. comfortable, in a way. a bit like home, even if the luofu had never really been his home in the way that the astral express has become. nevertheless, he feels at ease here, at ease enough that he's wandered away on his own while stelle and march went sightseeing in the countryside. liyue harbor is bustling this afternoon, the weather is lovely, and dan heng has just finished up his lunch at wanmin restaurant.
pleasantly full, he pays with a generous tip, then slips out of his seat to begin his wanderings again, wondering where the streets might take him.
they don't take him far. he's hardly turned away from the restaurant when he spots a.. curious figure. tall, resplendent in browns and golds, with an air about him that is unmistakable. this man.. he is not vidyadhara, and yet dan heng feels the same energy about him, perhaps sensing the draconic blood that runs through his veins; one of long's other scions, perhaps? the vidyadhara are not the only followers of the permanence, after all, not their only descendants.
ah, he's staring, isn't he? ]
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Loitering in the street where he admires the new additions to Mingxing jewellery's shelves, the mild blandness of the day is interrupted as his instincts abruptly stand on end when a strange, somehow very well-known scent wafts over and makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turns around and looks directly at a young man across the road, staring intently as he internalises the initial alarm and eyes him up; finally, he turns to face him fully as something of a mutual acknowledgement. An invitation even, as he starts walking toward him, never once looking away.
Dragon, all his senses whisper, but this is not one he knows. ]
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reunion;
but even though that might be a more ideal setup for dan heng, the heart wants what the heart wants, and their lengthy stay on teyvat had endeared him to the old dragon so deeply, that he can't imagine ever wanting to take another mate. he can be patient. he can work with long-distance.
it's several months later that dan heng takes a space anchor back down to teyvat, refreshed by the sight of liyue, beautiful and sunny and welcoming. he knows the harbor well by now, so picking his way to the wangsheng funeral parlor is quite easy. slipping in through the front, dan heng raps his knuckles lightly against the door of zhongli's office, before opening it a moment later. ]
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[ Head down as he writes, he dips his ink pen and briefly glances up with a wryly amused expression only to freeze and doubletake the figure standing inside his office a moment later. He stares, lips parting in shock as the pen falls from his fingers and he rises from his chair, uncertain whether he is seeing correctly or if the sun beating down on his back through the window (he likes to be warm as he works) had finally made him hallucinate. ]
Dan Heng?
[ His heart beats faster and he cannot move, even as he stares to drink in the sight. Zhongli is half-convinced he is seeing things. ]
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( @menhulu; reunited fated mates post-sinfluencers )
( @ sneklace )
[ It is around seven in the evening when Zhongli makes his way to Bubu Pharmacy, ensuring that the vast majority of customers have left and the last are leaving when he requests to be shown to the back for his 'appointment' with Baizhu. Gui is happy to do so, locking up the shop and heading home as Zhongli goes upstairs, and it is noted that Qiqi is similarly absent. Likely at a sleepover with her friend, if Zhongli remembers Baizhu talking about that being a thing, once. All that matters, as he walks the dim hallway to the bedroom, is that he has Baizhu to himself. He does not, after all, intend to give him any reason to stay silent tonight.
He knocks on the bedroom door, waiting to hear an answer before opening it. ]
Doctor? I have brought wine, if you are in the mood to partake.
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Wine? Of course I am in the mood to partake, how very generous of you.. please come in.
[ Come Baizhu's voice from behind the closed door. When Zhongli opens up the door, he finds Baizhu (sans Changsheng) draped out across his bed. There is a book in his hand and his hair is undone and cascading across his shoulders, but even more telling was the state of half-dress that the Doctor was in currently; he looked rather ready to be further disheveled by a lover. The darker purple silk robe fell open to where it was tied, one pale leg stretched outward, the other one with the ankle tucked underneath. ]
I insist that you make yourself comfortable. [ He shifts as smoothly as a snake to make room for Zhongli beside him; and just like that proverbial snake-- he is waiting for the perfect time to wrap around the distractingly handsome golden-eyed man. ]
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( abo uni au; gentaro )
It started off as the faintest trace of sweetness, a mere distraction that was easy to dismiss: Gentaro is not the first young man by far who is vaguely on or off heat amongst his peer group. Hormones are, after all, rife. Only when the scent started thickening during lecture after lecture, practically coating Zhongli's tongue today, have other students begun to react with a second glance. It was easy to clear them all out, no one wanted to be around for a professor humiliating one of them for getting slick in an alpha's presence, especially given how kind and patient Zhongli had always been on that note. A very forgiving, discreet teacher.
But Gentaro smells like a newly budded flower, crisp and keen, and Zhongli needs to do something. Say something.
He calls Gentaro to stand behind his desk, idling rolling up the sleeves of his shirt and exposing the geometric tattoos there now most of his students have gone, bar one. With a hand on a hip, he fixes Gentaro with a not unkind gaze of steady and simmering amber. His voice is low with a purr, all his attention on the young man who reeks of arousal and a wet, ready hole. ]
I think you know why I have kept you back, Mister Yumeno.
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It's not something he'll readily admit. Partly, because he doesn't have to. He's seen the looks his peers have given him. The way Zhongli's gaze sometimes lingers on him. Gentaro has a hell of a poker face, though. Years of closing himself off has given him plenty of time to perfect the mask.
But, of course, it had to come to a head some time. The moment he'd stepped into Zhongli's orbit, he knew there would be trouble. If there's one thing he's grateful for, though, it's getting in trouble and getting out of it. Except-- he's not sure about today. Gentaro isn't stupid.
No, he's aching to feel Zhongli inside him, filling him up, breeding him until he can't think. This close to him, it takes everything in him to not press against Zhongli and offer himself, completely and openly. He manages to keep himself composed as he watches him. The man is heartbreakingly gorgeous.
No one has ever looked at him like that. It makes him feel too vulnerable. ]
Do I, Professor?
[ And his voice has never sounded like this: low, thick with desire, rougher. ]
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( modern dragons & age gap @ menhulu )
and past fling when they were young and stupiddefaults to his honorary status of uncle. It's not as if Dan Heng needs babysitting anymore, a young man nearing his twenties, but Zhongli hopes he still enjoys their movie marathon weekends and isn't going to be bored now that he's getting older, so he makes every effort to buy his favourite nibbles and soft drinks, bringing down the blanket Dan Heng has always curled up in since he was a child so that the now lanky dragonlet can feel as welcome as ever.One movie in and Zhongli has an arm around the huddled lump at his side, gently stroking the long hair cascading in a silky wave over a blanketed shoulder. He glances down at him, sliding his other arm around him in a concerned hug. Dan Heng has been awfully quiet tonight, entirely different to the sassy commentary that usually dominates their evenings.
He can smell something sweet, assuming it is just the new scent of Dan Heng's very recent shift into adulthood. It's cloying and strange, but Zhongli likes it. ]
Are you alright, a-Heng? You've barely touched your favourite chips and salsa.
[ That bowl should be gone by now! ]
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maybe he knows, and he.. and he's interested to?
no, that isn't possible. zhongli is simply a friendly man who has known him since he was a child, of course he's comfortable being close with him. he's an affectionate person. but that reasoning doesn't keep dan heng from wanting him, and tonight it's worse than normal. he feels warm all over, fiercely needy, and he's growing wet between the thighs at a considerable rate. swallowing thickly, dan heng shakes his head. ]
Oh, I.. mm, I'm fine, yes. [ he murmurs, cheeks burning as he presses his thighs together, shifting in nearer without thinking. ] Just.. a little warm.
[ yet he's cuddling closer? hmm. ]
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conquerors and concubines.
this conqueror has many names: deus auri, morax, the war god, the golden one, the god of death, each and every epithet whispered in fear, in awe. most of his people have capitulated, for deus auri has promised that no harm will come to them if they pledge allegiance to him, and folded into the new order. he had shown them prosperity, gold, endless beauty to wash away the blood, but there are still rebellions, with the last bastion of resistance being the one childe had been born into.
the conqueror had quelled their kingdom, folded it into liyue's when he'd been born, and childe had grown up on a steady diet of hate and vengeance; a beautiful, strong, youth who craves the fight. he had seen statues of the god-king erected, bridges and roads paved anew, wealth and order flowing through everywhere but the last of their fortified village on the very outskirts of what was once their own kingdom. their chief, the brother of the king, had borne a steady hatred for deus auri himself, and had chosen childe to be the king's downfall. after all, childe had grown up charming and handsome, with the bluest eyes that the light doesn't touch.
when the time came, the chief offers him up to deus auri as the very first tribute, and for childe, his instructions were clear: to take the life of the being who had laid claim to what was once their kingdom, and the chief's birthright.
childe, clad in white and gold, carries the poison he had been gifted in the necklace he wears. when he had been taken, the beauty of those golden eyes still burned in his memory, he barely registers when the emperor's attendants undress him, subjecting him to dispassionate indignity, checking every inch of him for purity, virginity, and whether he harboured any weapons. they'd dressed him in a simple white robe, flowing and comfortable, and he wonders if this is something the emperor himself has instructed them to do.
they'd forgotten about checking the necklace, and childe, heart thudding in his chest when he had been delegated to an impossibly massive, far-too-decadent chamber, seizes the chance to empty the contents of the poison into the golden chalice that sits at the head of the ornate table. this must be the emperor's, and once the man swallows it, his work will be complete. )
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Zhongli is well aware of how fiery his new concubine is said to be, his spies long ago outed the truth of the rebel forces that Ajax had grown up amongst and sworn allegiance to, that was never an issue. What does prove awkward is how totally and completely the young man does not understand how his country has been beaten: there are pockets of resistance left, yes, but there will never be a grand uprising now the Tsaritsa is dead. More than that, her corpse rots in the earth and rock under Morax's control, it is impossible for her to be ressurected in any way that evades his power. Her tomb is his extended skeleton of iron, brick, and mortar. He can feel how silent she is in death.
Liyue does not seek to alter Snezhnaya's culture yet the latter do benefit from everything Liyue offers, freely bringing commerce and warmth to a once frozen wasteland of a nation. To say that many Snezhnayans race to Liyue's temperate villages would not be an exaggeration, and an edict is set in stone that mora must flow like water between Liyuen and Snezhnayan hands, a kindness his people are proud to prove of themselves.
It is not tyranny, not really. War is simply war, and there was never a world in which Deus Auri would allow frost to break down the stone foundations of his beloved city, his land.
Ajax does not understand the scope of his own hopeless situation, so Zhongli is not mad when he tastes poison in his drink. He drains the goblet before putting it down and pacing around the table to his new concubine, patience in his amber eyes as golden-brown robes rustle around his bare feet.
He tilts a curious look at Ajax, then nods to the jar of water nearby. ]
Will you please pour me a glass? The hemlock and wolfhook tasted quite bad.
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it's been a long time. much, much longer for dan heng than for zhongli - so long that he has changed, grown, gathered even more power - even his physicality has changed, his horns swept back, his tail corporeal. will things still be the same? eventually he stops, takes a deep breath, and leans back against the railings, arms crossed loosely.
it'll be fine. there's nothing to worry about. he's acting like a hatchling. zhongli is zhongli, and in truth, dan heng is very excited to show him around the luofu, to introduce him to his home.
so he waits, watching the docks with interest. ]
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Dan Heng looks different enough that he gets a second glance, Zhongli wondering until he catches a familiar (albeit altered) scent on the breeze. Alighting on the dock, his attention remains on him as he closes the distance and devours the strange sight of his former lover with a curious stare; where are the green seaglass horns and iridescent tail? Whose golden horns are those with a tail like that of a Geovishap's, taller and older? And yet, he knows the man beneath, as much as he doesn't understand the changes.
He can feel something sturdier than Anemo and Hydro emanating from the other dragon, even across the walkway, something close to Dendro ... and definitely Geo. He reserves feeling any way about that until he understands.
Zhongli stops in front of him by a few metres, giving him a softly appraising smile. ]
You remain as cute as I remember, xiao mifeng.
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barista au.
childe likes his job, all things considered; the owner pays quite well, and lets him experiment on the different types of coffee and tea he brews. one, in particular, he had made for a tall, handsome, mysterious man that childe had decided he wanted from the moment he had set eyes on him.
zhongli is golden-eyed, elegant, with a touch of danger and dominance in the way they've always interacted, and childe hadn't stopped his pursuit of him ever since the first time he'd written his number on the cup. so what if he's only seventeen? the heart wants what the heart wants, and a few months here and there isn't going to make a difference. eventually, childe has at least gained some headway, and has wrung a date from the man. and with that date had come another, and another, but zhongli has always been a gentleman and had not so much as touched him aside from some soft kisses.
therefore, something had to be done on this particular date.
childe teases him from the morning, sending a shirtless photo, then one where he's playfully tweaking his rosy nipples. and then the most blatant one, snuck from the staff bathroom where he'd taken a very quick video of himself grasping his cock, playing with his red-orange curls.
he'd put the phone aside then, busying himself up until the time he knows that zhongli will come for him. when he does, childe's eyes will be hungry, his smile innocent for the sake of his co-workers, who are nursing their own crushes on zhongli — too bad, guys. he got there first.
he has been waiting for this all morning, and he can't help when that innocent smile becomes a little smug. )
Oh, hey.
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He wants him very much. The conversation is always witty, Childe is as fresh as a Snezhnayan snowball to the face with his upfront opinions, and it does not hurt that he looks as ripe as a strawberry meant for plucking. The dick-pic is crass but it has the intended effect of Zhongli admiring that pink cock longer than he should if he were wise, having to close his phone before he crashes.
He pulls up in the black Mercedes at the agreed-upon hour, five-sharp. Sometimes Childe works late but today with their extra time together Zhongli has given him free reign to pick whatever they do. They can go anywhere Childe wants, as Zhongli's treat. Perhaps the endless possibilities will have kept Childe's hand out of his pants for the majority of the day.
Walking in dressed in all black, he returns the warm smile. He loves the dark blue eyes that rest on him so eagerly, the fluffy red hair from rushing around all day with orders, and the freckles on pale skin. ]
Good afternoon. I hope you're ready to go, but I can take a seat if not.
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