asoundofdrop

[asoundofdrop]

Since you've done a couple of NSFW alphabet, would you honour us with one for our boi Phainon 🩵🌞

it would be my pleasure to deliver 🙇 phainon nsfw alphabet. gender neutral, TW // nsfw.

z = zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

as physically strong as he is, phainon doesn't fall asleep that quickly after. he'll help you clean up and go to bed, but after that, he lies in silence, just enjoying your body heat and taking in your sleeping face. there have been moments where he never wants the night (day?) to end.

y = yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

no one yearns as desperately as phainon, let us be real. phainon is always in the mood for you, even when you think he isn't. as long as he gets the slightest inkling that you might want him he'll drop everything to please you.

x = x-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

phainon is. well. huge. he's very tall and broad besides, so expect him to enjoy smothering you with himself as much as possible. his muscles aren’t just for show, and sometimes he accidentally manhandles you around though he doesn’t intend to.

w = wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

when you’re away from him for any period of time, phainon sprays your perfume all over the bed and rolls around in it. he won’t be able to sleep otherwise.

v = volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

phainon’s fairly loud in the grand scheme of things. he likes letting you know how good he’s feeling, and he doesn’t get embarrassed that easily. he lavishes you in praise, telling you how good you are between an abundance of gasps and whines.

u = unfair (how much they like to tease)

he doesn’t tease very much, but it does happen sometimes when he thinks it’s especially cute when you squirm and beg for him.

t = toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

he’s not against toys at all, and if you prefer them he won’t have any problems using that on you. you’ll have to pleasure him yourself after that, though. he thinks it’s only fair.

s = stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

this is a question you don't want answered. phainon can go for much longer than humanly possible - don't ask unless you're ready to find out.

r = risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

again deferring to you, if there's anything you'd like to try, phainon's absolutely down. he's open to "harder" kinks like knifeplay, bloodplay, all within reasonable safety, of course. tying you up is a secret favourite of his.

q = quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

he prefers not to rush if he can help it. phainon will make time for a proper session if he has to and pull all his chrysos heir strings. nothing makes him feel more icky than the thought of not lavishing you in the attention and care that you deserve.

p = pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

phainon thinks he's being slow and sensual, but really you'll feel that he's quite rough out of sheer size alone. eventually he loses his cool as well and ends up pounding into you anyway - so fast and rough would be more accurate to describe him.

o = oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

when it comes to giving, phainon much prefers using his hands than his mouth. he likes it when you're able to hear him, and so in that vein, he prefers receiving oral when you're up for it. (it does get pretty tiring, however, so it's not a very common occurrence.)

n = no (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

he'd never degrade you. it's just not something that's in phainon's capability, despite everything else he can do. it'd hurt him more than it'd hurt you.

m = motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

basically anything, but if he had to choose, maybe just seeing you do domestic things around the place. cooking, cleaning, adjusting your hair in the mirror. phainon’s heart explodes from affection and it often quickly turns into something more.

l = location (favorite places to do the do)

phainon feels like a very against-the-wall kind of guy, exactly as it sounds. he enjoys pinning you against something, fucking you roughly into the surface, kneading your soft body in his hands. the walls of your house, in an alley somewhere, as long he can keep you trapped in his arms.

k = kink (one or more of their kinks)

praise, both giving and receiving, is a big turn on for him. all you need is to tell him he’s a good boy and you can expect to be too sore to walk the next day.

j = jack off (masturbation headcanon)

phainon typically doesn’t spend too much away from you, so in the short periods of time he doesn’t have access to you, he avoids touching himself. he likes the idea of saving himself up for you and you only.

i = intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

really, phainon’s attempts at romance in the bedroom are clumsy at best. he’s too eager, overbearing, with his affection, too excited to get his hands on you that he smothers you in what should be slow, romantic kisses. he’s more of an enthusiastic dog than anything.

h = hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

i doubt he grooms himself very often, so there’s a medium-sized tangle of white hair down there with a bit of a bluish sheen compared to the hair on his head.

g = goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

he doesn’t intend to be, but sometimes phainon will make you laugh in the bedroom, for example when he knocks over a lamp rushing to get to you.

f = favourite position (this goes without saying)

prone bone (if that’s what it’s called). anything where you’re pinned flat down and his entire body weight is bearing down on you, helpless to the full force of his love for you.

e = experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

he’s probably… vaguely experienced? he’s been pleasured once or twice before, and vice versa, but he hasn’t really put his dick into someone else before. phainon’s nervous at first, but pretty confident regardless for the little bit of experience he has.

d = dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

he has fantasised about fucking you in front of the other chrysos heirs more than once. this is one of phainon's secrets he'll take to the grave.

c = cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

he likes finishing inside you and watching the cum drip out of you, just so he can use his dick to push it back into you. ;)

b = body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

he loves every single inch of you, but if he absolutely had to choose, perhaps the shoulders and neck area. phainon likes burying his face there when he cums, biting and leaving marks all over, or if you prefer it, he restrains you gently around the neck and watch as your eyes roll in a mix of pleasure and exhilaration.

a = aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

cuddly, and very clingy. phainon cleans you up and dresses you before you can even finish catching your breath, and then he's snuggled up with you under the covers, tracing his hands over the marks he'd left and rubbing his face into your hair.

a hatbox summer event | discord server if you enjoy my work, reblogs help the most! ⭐️

[asoundofdrop]

Consequently, in reference to my previous Phainon (3.4 spoilers) post, the only time I imagine him in a sweet love story is by being the victim to the dumbest love interest possible.

Buddy is sopping wet dog down bad for you and you're too stupid to realize it. You’re so painfully oblivious to his feelings because you misinterpret his actions and words as simple kindness. He is a hero— all heroes must be kind and you are no one special, therefore he is just being polite.

Brought you your favorite snacks? Well, they’re sold at nearly every stall in the market so you wouldn’t be surprised if he just so happened to have some (you wonder why he always has them though.)

He remembers your favorite books and authors— once, as a birthday gift (how sweet the Hero of Amphoreus is, remembering your birthday. Must be a lot of hard work remembering everyone’s birthday in Okhema!) he gave you an authentic first copy of your favorite scripture, written in the first accounts of Titan language! 

Sometimes, he takes you out for dinner and you can’t help but feel bad for him. He once told you the Prince of Kremnos meddles with his food— purposefully curating the most disgusting dishes for him. You always make sure to pay for his meal beforehand (You can’t possibly make the hero pay for you!) and sometimes, when he comes to visit you at work (you will say, it’s like clock work that he shows up, always ten after ascent hour), you hand him some of your leftovers (you think he cried once— Gods, he should really talk to Lady Algaea about how cruel that Prince was being.)

Once, he invited you for a stroll through the gardens during Curtain Hour because you couldn’t fall asleep. Gosh he really was sweet, the picture perfect hero of fairy tales! Normally you avoided the walk to Marmoreal Palace due to the stairs and heat, but this time around he offered to carry you! (How embarrassing, how could you ask him to do such a thing when he had better things to do?)

You remember that night quite clearly. You were both the first to witness the first flowers bloom that day, with their petals taking flight through the plaza and the sweet song birds chirping away on the horizon. He tells you that you remind him of the golden roses of legend— that your beauty was radiant and the first stars of evernight could never hope to compete with you. Why, he would say you stood above even the Titan of Romance!

(“Oh, you’re so sweet, Phainon. I’m so glad you’re my friend!”)

Consequently right after, he collapsed and you had to haul him to Lady Hyacine. Something about heart problems. Poor Phainon, you sure hope whatever is troubling him goes away soon!

[asoundofdrop]

Side note: I actually got curious and googled it, apparently Greece has free/pretty cheap healthcare.

[asoundofdrop]

phainon practice

i know nobody looking at it but i messed up the bracelet lightning LOL

[asoundofdrop]

"No goodbye kiss for your friend?"

[asoundofdrop]

So... do you want cool pictures of your blorbos?

Well you can pay me now to take them for you!!!! I am now offering g-pose cash commissions!!!! Satisfaction (mostly) guaranteed!

[asoundofdrop]

originally, phainon is not all that needy or physically affectionate person with anyone. he is friendly sure, and he is well liked on first impression half the time, but he never crosses the line with people he isn’t real close to. he’s friendly and nice, but there’s always a line separating him from most people, a boundary he himself doesn’t realize he has put up until someone mentions it, or maybe you mention it by cooing at how sticky and needy he is compared to how he acts with the public.

because with you? with you it’s different.

he needs to hug you whenever he gets the chance. he loves it when you run your hands through his hair and scalp. he likes hugging you. he swoons when you show him affection or blow him a flying kiss at the gates of okhema (insert mydei disgusted noises). he has to see you at least once a day when he’s in okhema and needs to be up to date with your status if he’s not. he likes holding your hand. he likes kissing you and when you kiss him back; on the lips, on the forehead, on his cheeks, on his hands, he is done. he likes it when you sit on his lap. he likes laying his head on your lap. he loves snuggling your stomach. he also likes listening to your heartbeat or having your face squish against his chest. intertwining both of your hands is a must every now and then.

there are no boundaries when it comes to you. he needs you with him, always, and is addicted to touching you.

“you are such a needy boy,” you coo at him, laughter in your voice.

phainon only melts all the more, seeing you like this. he can’t help but lean down and smooch your cheeks.

[asoundofdrop]

Yehua's Pride and Joy

CW: Mentions of slapstick, ingestion of poison, Xiwu's a little avoidant about her homesickness, the Okhemans are a bit xenophobic?, maybe you'll get secondhand embarrassment from how I wrote Phainon, please don't look to this like I actually know how to write doctors LMAO, this is not beta read either because we ball A/N: I left this one in the oven for longer than intended and now I somehow ended up with enough words that I need to split this into two parts...

Xiwu knew it was a dream right away, when she found herself sitting cross-legged on the floor of an old cottage. The air would be chilly, which was inevitable and they long accepted it as a part of their home. She had a mortar filled with chewed up petals in her lap and the familiar weight of the pestle in hand. Slow unsteady footsteps, accompanied by the thunk of a walking cane, approached her from behind.

She had no control over her body, but even if she did…

Leaning back giggling, she greeted, “Old Master Yehua!”

The silk veil obscured his face, not that she needed to see it. He had a scowl on his face—the kind where he was pretending to be really disappointed.

“Your throat is all raspy. Does it have to do with what you’re working on?”

“I’m making medicine.”

“Explain it to me.”

“It’s a bunch of baneroot flowers…” Xiwu cleared her throat in preparation. “If you chew it up… and mix it up with some other herbs… it can be used to treat… the poison built up from being… in the rain. Even the old and young… should be able to take it… no problem.”

“You fool of a student. That’s still poison you’re putting in your mouth.”

“If there was another way… I’d do it. I’ve tried… And since people really need this… it’s—.”

“Don’t say it’s nothing.”

“If less people die… a little cough is nothing.”

“Then call me when you are finished. I’ll be your first test patient.”

Xiwu huffed and stomped her heel.

“No! I need to test it… one more time. Then I’ll know all my other tests… weren’t flukes… and then I need… to make sure the adjustments are right. It’s the very first lesson… that you taught me, Old Master.”

“Never feed a patient medicine that you personally made if you’re not willing to take it yourself.” Although Old Master Yehua sighed, he spoke softly, “It seems you have also learned how to be difficult from me. Where did you even get the idea to use baneroot flowers?”

“I… I ate some when I got caught… in a downpour the other day,” she sheepishly admitted. “Then… I got the idea to combine it… with other stuff… To dilute its poison… enough that it won’t kill… but leave enough to counter the rain’s poison.”

“I didn’t teach you to put random things in your mouth.”

“It’s not random… if we had notes on it…,” she said matter-of-factly. “Or… you could call it… rational curiosity?”

In another familiar sequence of motions, Old Master Yehua raised his cane.

“Ow! Old Master—!”

Xiwu sat up sharply, pressing a hand to the top of her head. The dull ache was but a phantom sensation. Now that she was back in the Trailblazers’s temporary lodgings in Okhema, longing weighed heavy in her chest.

“Is everything alright, Xiwu?” Dan Heng asked carefully.

She touched her cheek and teardrops wetted her fingers. Starting with an awkward laugh in a feeble attempt to diffuse his worry, she vigorously wiped them onto her sleeve: “Yeah, I’m fine. But you guys are up pretty early.”

“It’s almost the afternoon actually,” Caelus corrected her. “Phainon brought you back pretty late. He said that he found you asleep near the Garden.”

“Oh…”

“You mustn’t overdo it,” Dan Heng scolded gently. Deciding not to pry at the lingering sag of her shoulders, he reached for the hair clip on the table. As he combed his fingers through her hair and arranged it the way she usually did, he noted to himself that he really needed to look for a brush at the market. “Since we’re all awake now, why don’t we get breakfast?”

Xiwu perked up.

“Where? You sound like you have a place in mind.”

She’s not quite at her regular energy yet, but it was a start, Dan Heng could admit.

Caelus triumphantly grinned and answered, “Guess what? I was telling Dan Heng that I got some very important intel from Mydei. He told me where he likes to go for some honey cakes!”

“For real? What kinda magic did you work?”

“It didn’t take much effort, to tell you the truth. Just a small ‘please’!”

Which was likely to be an understatement. Between his persuasiveness and stubbornness, it was rare for Caelus to fail in getting what he wanted.

Xiwu clapped her hands together.

“Mr. Mydei’s so nice.”

“You two are already so excited,” Dan Heng said, rather calmly himself. “Let’s get going then.”

After locking the door behind them, the Trailblazers walked through the Marmoreal Market, following Caelus’s lead and the directions that Mydei gave him.

Instead of talking boisterously, or the merchants hawking their wares, the locals whispered to each other. They huddled close together and covered their faces as if there was a foul taint to the air, leaving the main walkways wide open. While the market wasn’t devoid of people, there was a sense of reluctance to be there. Xiwu eventually gave up on trying to make out their words.

“You’re quite sure you remember the way?” Dan Heng asked.

Caelus awkwardly scratched the back of his head: “Well… Mydei did say it was a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. He really doesn’t kid around.”

Xiwu stuck her head under his arm. Her face was pressed to the phone screen as she skimmed Caelus’s notes.

“We’re almost there!”

In a deadpan rebuttal, Dan Heng could only ask again, “…Where exactly?”

“We did make a right turn at the fruit stall that was managed by an elderly lady,” Caelus said, reading his notes, “and we only have a few more turns to make.”

After another fifteen minutes of purposeful searching, they finally arrived at their destination: a small outdoor diner with only four tables. The owner looked to be in his sixties, and was unexpectedly full of vim and vigor when he seated them with menus.

It did leave the trio to wonder how Mydei came across this diner after considering the collective effort they invested.

With honey cakes being the main and only specialty, their choices were limited to customizing the toppings. Even the drinks were specially picked as complements.

Xiwu leaned over: “Cae, Cae, what do I want?”

“…Everything,” he answered with emphasis, playfully confident.

“How’d you know?” she gasped.

“Because I’m the greatest mind-reader.”

“Hehe, I could believe that.” Xiwu lowered the menu and stared ahead. “Ah, no good. I wish I had a bottomless stomach.”

“Maybe if you make an offering to a shrine?”

“It’s no such miracle, but I can let you try a bite if you order something different than me,” Dan Heng offered.

“Really?! You’d let me? Okay, hm…”

With much deliberation, they put together their orders. Xiwu drooled in anticipation of her two plates of honey cakes. Dan Heng began to talk about what he had learned from his studies, something to do with the way Okhema organized their calendar and holidays.

The owner soon returned with the food and drinks.

“You two must be the outsiders that Lord Phainon returned with some time ago,” he remarked. “You should take care these days. I hear that there’s a cold spreading around Okhema right now, and it’s quite awful. Those who caught it have such horrible fevers that they’re bedridden.”

Dan Heng saw that Xiwu snapped out of her excited daydream, a grim look crossing her features.

“That certainly is a cause for alarm,” he said. “Does it come with the time of season?”

“This cold? I’m afraid not. Folks are blaming the refugees that passed by Okhema a week ago… Even though I have a sneaking suspicion it’s only because they’re annoyed that spare supplies were given to the refugees…”

“But it’s not like we shouldn’t help if we could…,” Xiwu mumbled under her breath, frowning.

“In any case, I’m sure the sooner this Flame-Chase finds success, the better it will be for everyone,” he said, throwing a glance her way as if his words were also a reminder to her.

“Not that I have a place to say.” The owner sighed. “Our healers are quite busy as it is. I hear that they’ve been turning away patients simply because there’s no attention to spare… But that’s enough gloom from me. Enjoy the food and call if you need anything else.”

After he set down drinks and shuffled away to his spot behind the counter, Dan Heng’s arm shot out and yanked Xiwu back into her chair by her jacket straps. Caelus immediately thought of those old-fashioned action movies, starring wizened masters that could snatch flies out of the air with a pair of chopsticks.

“Uwegh—?!”

“They can afford to wait however long it takes for you to finish breakfast. This isn’t the kind of food that keeps well for later.”

“It sounds important…”

Dan Heng glanced at Caelus.

“I’ll eat it if you don’t want it,” he said. To make good on his “threat”, his fork inched over to her plate.

“Wah, no, no, I want it!”

Leave it to Caelus to be so attuned to Xiwu’s wavelength, Dan Heng mused.

He and Caelus could rest assured that she was firmly planted in her seat, fork and knife finally in her hands. She poked the honey cakes, topped with generous helpings of homemade apricot jam that didn’t overwhelm the taste buds. They were cooked to perfection—a nice crispy outer layer without being greasy, while the insides were still fluffy and soft.

She lifted a cherry to her mouth, ready to taste it next. Without skipping a beat, Dan Heng added, “Take out the pit.”

“No, that’s a waste!”

“Take out the pit.”

There was no room for argument, but Xiwu still tried anyway, with a pitiful pout and the best teary eyes she could muster: “But… but…”

“It’s not the end of the world to throw away the pits, and definitely not worth the headaches or coughing fits you get after.”

He was absolutely unmoved! World-shattering! The farmers who grew the cherries would be so heart-broken if they were to find that not every part of their hard work was fully appreciated!

“…Yessir.”

Despite that, Xiwu would call it a good breakfast in the end. She was quite impressed by the Crown Prince’s recommendation and mentally dubbed him as the dessert specialist.

“I’m gonna go to the Garden!” she announced.

“How about I come with you?” Caelus asked. “I don’t have plans for today, and it’s not like there’s trash cans for me to check out here.”

Dan Heng grimaced, but he exchanged a nod with Caelus.

“I’ll be digging up more information about Amphoreus and re-organize my notes.”

“Okay! Then we’ll see you later, Dan Heng.”

Xiwu skipped along the pavement, though Caelus occasionally stopped to catch golden butterflies—“creation nymphs” he had called them, a very important side task that Aglaea entrusted to him.

Do they always look like golden butterflies? Would it help Caelus and Aglaea to bring them every glowing insect?

And that was when Xiwu spotted a crowd, its onlookers relatively quiet. 

“What do you think they’re doing?” she asked.

“No idea, but no better way to find out than to see for ourselves.”

He kept a hand on Xiwu’s shoulder while he gingerly squeezed into the crowd. There was an open spot in the middle that barely fit them. Caelus scrunched his face as he squinted ahead.

“There’s a sale happening.”

“Huh? What are you seeing?”

She hopped on her tippy toes, but that wasn’t enough for her to see over the crowd’s shoulders.

“A guy with—. This might be easier.”

Caelus lifted Xiwu onto his shoulders, earning an excited “whoa!”.

A meticulously groomed man in fine silk robes stood atop a platform, holding out an ornate bottle from his cart.

“A plague has been brought to our doorsteps by outsiders. I understand your fear, whether it has come for your loved ones already, or if it will come for you next. But I can assure you that such fears are not necessary! What I have here in my hand is medicine that can treat this sickness,” he explained. “Just a single sip of this will make you feel better by the next day.”

Feeling her fingers tighten in his hair, Caelus glanced up at Xiwu’s face. He recognized that look—the focused excitement to unravel a mystery.

How did he prepare the concoction? What did he use that made him so certain it would work that fast? Unless she had a bottle for herself to examine, she wouldn’t know without asking directly.

Several amongst the crowd began to whisper to each other.

“Who is that?”

“Doctor Thessalus. I’ve been to his clinic once. His medicine worked, but it was a bit expensive.”

“Whatever’s going around sounds worse.”

“If only those refugees didn’t bring their problems to us…”

The doctor solemnly continued, “I’m certain that many of us have also fallen upon hard times. So I will not ask for much. Only 10% of what I would normally charge for these medicines, because what matters most is that we all make it through this together.”

Whether it was genuine need, paranoia, or disdain for the refugees, they began to buy.

It was certainly true that many of the city’s healers were occupied during these troubled circumstances. The beds always had a patient waiting for help.

So she couldn’t fully blame their attitude, saddening as it was.

When Thessalus sold the last of his stock, Xiwu climbed off of Caelus and approached him.

“Doctor Thessalus—.”

He dismissively waved a hand: “Sorry, little lady. I’m out. Better luck next time.”

“No, no, I thought maybe I could get some advice from you. Since you studied medicine in Okhema your entire life, there must be something you would know that others wouldn’t.”

Thessalus stopped his diligent preparations to leave. The way he squinted as he scrutinized Xiwu was like he spotted a rat scurrying in his pantry.

“You are that outsider who has been helping the Heirs and doing all that… ‘charity work’,” he said, lip curled in a scowl. “You’ll have to forgive my refusal in sharing my… trade secrets. Some of us have livelihoods to maintain.”

“Oh…”

Xiwu watched him walk away huffing. She was unfazed, save for a sympathetic frown on her face. Caelus, on the other hand, stuck his tongue out and blew an obnoxiously loud raspberry.

“I never thought of that when I left my home,” she mumbled thoughtfully.

“Could’ve been less of a prick about it.”

“But his life depends on it, Cae, that must be serious!” She then tapped Caelus’s arm in a panic. “Is it the same for Nonon?! He always talks about how little he has!”

“I have a little what?” a third voice interrupted.

Phainon had his arms crossed, fond exasperation tugging at his lips, but it faded away as he returned Xiwu’s smile.

“Nonon! Good morning,” she greeted.

“What a coincidence,” Caelus teased, “and what made you teleport here?”

“You can’t chalk it up to a coincidence weaved by Janus themselves?” he joked.

Caelus decided to say nothing of the Chrysos Heir’s expectant grin when he approached them.

“There was an Okheman doctor here just now, selling medicine to people. I was hoping to learn a thing or two but I got turned down,” Xiwu explained. Then quite grimly, she added, “Money… isn’t such a transient issue here, it seems.”

“Everyone has to pay around here,” Phainon said, a tint of confusion lacing his voice. “…Is that not how it is everywhere?”

“I never saw the need for it back home. It was only when I became a Trailblazer that I really learned about it, since to Old Master Yehua, it wasn’t so big a deal.” Mimicking his grumpy voice, she continued, “Like, ‘Who’ll even keep track of these debts fifty years from now!’.”

“…Fifty years… I sure wish I could see it the way you and your master do.”

“Hmhm, indeed, more people should learn of my master’s boundless wisdom!”

Caelus glanced between Xiwu and Phainon. She was getting antsy, and that meant he had to speak soon.

“Since it seems like the cold is being handled, why don’t we take today to rest?” Xiwu didn’t immediately jump at the suggestion, so he pressed harder. “You know, all work and no play will make anyone dull.”

“He has a point. I did find you on the floor again,” Phainon reminded her.

Whether he caught on or had his own concerns, Caelus was grateful for it.

“I… Maybe for today. Does that mean—!”

“You’re still grounded by Dan Heng.”

She visibly deflated: “Right…”

“Let’s go pet some dromases instead and see where the day takes us from there?”

Xiwu bounced right back and cheered, “Sounds good to me! Are you busy, Nonon? Let’s go together!”

She looked at him with such wide, excited eyes. Phainon’s throat dried as he hadn’t expected it to be turned around on him. He grew uncertain how to answer coolly, but he did hope the expression he was making was as controlled as he pictured in his head.

“Sure! I have some time to spare.”

Caelus mouthed something with a knowing grin that Phainon barely caught. “Simp”? What did that mean? But he was unable to question it, already feeling Xiwu pull him and Caelus by the hand.

“Xiwu, you’re taking us the wrong way—!” Caelus yelled, digging his heels into the floor as best as he could.

It took his, and Phainon’s, timely intervention to avoid getting too sidetracked. Although he wouldn’t have minded roaming freely with her, he had to make sure Xiwu’s mind was kept off of the Garden.

Most of the dromases were at the station when they arrived, gathered at their troughs to eat. Xiwu excitedly ran to each one and patted their snouts. Though they were too engrossed to pay her much mind, she got a huff of approval if she scratched an itchy spot for them.

“I wonder what it’s like to be a dromas~…”

Caelus took a small chunk of redsoil and held it to Xiwu.

“Still hungry?”

“Did you want a piggyback ride?”

Phainon blinked, stupefied.

“When Ms. Castorice said that you two tried the redsoil, I…”

“It was so bitter I could die.” “It was alright.”

The two spoke simultaneously, confirming what Phainon had originally thought to be an attempted joke from Castorice. But with the things he had caught Xiwu eating in the past, it really wasn’t that far-fetched, huh? Tame, even.

“Remember the face Dan Heng made when you said it was ‘alright’? Who would’ve thought it was still possible by now?”

“He’s missing out, I tell you.”

“Haha… not all experiences need to be lived,” Phainon interjected.

Xiwu’s cheeks were rosy from giggling.

“That’s what he said too. But it was worth a try! Plus, who knows if dromases like to share food with other people too?”

Phainon sighed, pretending to be exasperated: “It’s absolutely unbelievable how curious you two get, like you’re trying to compete with Cerces themselves.”

Caelus put a hand to his chest, huffing proudly, “Why, thank you. We take pride in our scholarly pursuits.”

An older man—one of the caretakers—came up beside Xiwu. He heaved, lifting a bag over his shoulder and adding more redsoil to the trough.

Within moments, a younger one came out protesting: “Dad! You should be resting! It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since you took Doctor Thessalus’s medicine!”

“And it worked, so let me be!”

She looked up at the older caretaker, raking over his form from head to toe.

He seemed steady enough on his feet, despite the redsoil he carried. His face didn’t have a flush to it either, so she couldn’t help the disbelief.

“You had the cold, mister?”

“I’m fine! I needed some fresh air anyway,” he answered gruffly.

“…May I at least feel your forehead?”

“Huh? Who are you to ask me that?”

“Please take no offense, sir. I can personally assure you that she’s a doctor,” Phainon spoke up.

The caretaker warily eyed Xiwu, and reluctantly lowered his head.

“Whoa… it feels completely normal,” she said. “You should drink—.”

“See, what’d I tell you? I’m not so fragile.”

Xiwu caught a faint scent in his breath as he pulled away—metallic, but it was so brief that she couldn’t be certain.

The older caretaker already left to start his other duties, bickering with his son. She physically shook off the dread that threatened to cross her face.

That smell is familiar. Could that doctor have used bloodbloom as the key reagent to his medicine? It’s dangerous but if he already has a good reputation, then he must know…

Except, a fierce knocking on their door followed in the morning. With how much it lingered in her mind, she wondered if it was a self-fulfilling prophecy—a horrible one at that.

When Dan Heng received it, he narrowly sidestepped in time to avoid Phainon.

“Sorry, it’s an emergency,” he explained. “Xiwu, a citizen came asking for you. The dromas caretaker, he… his father fell ill again. He was refused by the Garden, and he was refused by other doctors. Would you…?”

Without hesitation, she picked up her bag: “Okay! Take me to him!”

“Do you need help?” Caelus asked. “An extra pair of hands?”

“Hopefully not! I’ll catch you two later!”

She rushed out the door, following behind Phainon.

Would this be the moment that her legs finally grow longer? Surely there was still hope for that even after two whole centuries and then some. Or this would forever remain a wishful fantasy and she would simply have to envy how easy Phainon made these huge strides look.

The young dromas caretaker awaited them outside of his home and ushered them in right away.

“Please help, outsider! I promise, whatever we have left, I’ll—.”

“Excuse me!”

With practiced motions, she tied a silk veil around her face as she squeezed past the young caretaker and knelt at the father’s bedside.

The older man was in the midst of a coughing fit, so intense that he could hardly catch a breath. Xiwu coaxed him to lay on his side and spotted the splatter of bloody spit on his palms, accompanied by a scent of metal that was stronger than yesterday. She pressed her ear to his back.

“Hm… he’s not sick…”

“What do you mean he’s not sick?! Do you not see how much pain my dad’s in?! He wasn’t like this while we slept! If you’re saying this because we don’t have money—!”

“And it’s not because of some illness,” she continued. The son went silent, and even Phainon had to admit he never thought her capable of such a tone. “His lungs are too clear, believe it or not.”

“Is this not treatable by your magic?” Phainon asked.

“It would only heal the tears, but not what’s actually causing him to cough like this.” She then turned to the son, and he straightened himself out. “What did your father take?”

“Yesterday, some bread with fig jam, that’s it. That’s what he has for breakfast everyday. Oh, and… a sip of that medicine! Just a sip! When we opened the bottle, that’s how much was in it. Not even enough to fill a goblet halfway.”

The son searched the kitchen and produced an ornate bottle. Xiwu took it and popped off the cork, squinting at the contents.

It was the source of the metallic scent. If she had to guess, there were only two drops of it remaining, but it would be enough for her to identify it. She pulled back her veil and tipped the bottle to her lips.

“Wait!” Phainon yelled as he grabbed her wrist. “Should you really be trying it if it’s really…?”

“This amount won’t do anything to me.” She licked up the remnants and sourness spread across her tongue. Phainon practically wrenched the bottle from her hand, watching with panicked eyes as she momentarily coughed. “So I was right… Mister, do you have peppermint tea?”

The son had been stupefied by her recklessness, and took a moment to realize she was speaking to him.

“I do, yes!”

“Make some. It’ll buy me some time to make the actual medicine.” After ordering the son and watching him rush off to his task, Xiwu turned to Phainon. “Could you see if the warehouse is willing to give some noxweed? I’ll need… three pounds at best, but I think I could make do with one too. Oh, and some salt. And if you run into anyone else that’s…”

Phainon sighed—perhaps a sign that Xiwu could expect a lecture when all was said and done.

“You can count on me.”

“Thank you, Nonon.”

And now, she needed to focus on her part.

The noxweed will take care of the bloodbloom’s side effects, but there’s no denying that it weakened his body. I’ll need something to improve his throat’s recovery to prevent possible scarring. And another that can control the heart rate and reduce stress on the veins. What can I combine that won’t add to his symptoms…?

When Phainon returned from the warehouse, Xiwu surrounded herself with an assortment of ingredients that he couldn’t put a name to on an open table. She carefully judged every addition to the powder mixture in her mortar, so lost in her work that a lock of hair slipped from behind her ear and went ignored.

Despite the sprint, he held his breath as he reached out. The moment his fingertips brushed against her temple, she looked at him.

“Oh! Is that what I asked for?”

He flinched and held out the parcels.

“R-right! The salt and… the… Yeah. I managed to get two pounds of it with some help.”

Her face was still hidden by the silk veil, but the crinkles around her eyes was enough for him to know she was grinning up at him.

“Thanks, Nonon! I owe you one.”

“Uh… no problem.”

She took the parcels and continued with her work, leaving Phainon to hide behind his hand.

He thanked every Titan in existence that his voice came out normally, or he would have begged Thanatos to drag him into the furthest depths of the River. Perhaps he could have also thanked his years of doing public speaking at the Grove, even if none of them left him quite as rattled like this. Oh Kephale, Mydei would have much to say if he saw right now.

There is an ongoing predicament and he needed to get it together!

Not to mention, if he kept falling apart at every little thing Xiwu did, he would be getting absolutely nowhere. Then it wouldn’t be only Mydei’s comments he would have to withstand.

“Nonon…” Phainon’s head jerked up. Xiwu had finished scrubbing a frond of noxweed with salt, and moved on to rinsing it and tossing it into a boiling pot of water. “Were there… a lot of others…?”

“There are. I asked, and it sounds the same as what’s happening here. So I repeated what you said about the tea and that we’d come to them as soon as possible.”

“We?”

She was so surprised, but by what, he hadn’t discerned.

“Did you… think I was going to leave you to handle it by yourself?”

Xiwu paused to stir the noxweed around.

“…No, but thank you, Nonon. You’re the best.”

He should deny it. He had the words ready like a kneejerk, so that he could chase off whatever it was that settled into his heart. That she was the one doing the actual work. That someone like Mydei would offer more, or have a better idea of going about this.

But something tinged her voice that he couldn’t pick apart.

“It’s done!” she cheered.

She strained out the wilted frond and added the infused water to the powder mixture. Phainon helped the father sit up long enough to carefully drink the medicine.

“This is horrid…,” the father wheezed. “I’d rather eat dromas po—.”

“Dad, no!” The son worriedly glanced at Xiwu. “Please don’t mind…”

“Hehe, I can’t blame you for saying it’s nasty. But good on you! Not a drop wasted.”

The father’s coughing subsided over the next few minutes, and his chest began to rise and fall in even paces. Xiwu checked the pulse point on his wrist and hummed in satisfaction that it was back to normal. Eventually, tension left the son’s shoulders as the father drifted back into peaceful sleep.

“Will that really be the end of it…?”

“Don’t worry, the noxweed will work. I’ve tried the very thing that your father took. The smell and taste isn’t easy to mistake once you have.”

Phainon would have believed she was talking about honey cake flavors and not possible poison.

“I see. Thank you, doctor… I’m sorry for how I spoke to you earlier.”

Xiwu waved a hand.

“As long as everyone’s alright in the end! Now then, this is the most important part. I’ll write it down for you just in case, but! No solid food for the next few days, and make sure it’s warm and mild. And no heavy work! Your dad needs to keep his heart rate calm for two weeks. If he tries to work before he’s healed, he’s going to end up worse than today. Got it?”

“Yes, doctor. And as for payment…”

“Well, you two do your best to live and I’ll call it even!”

“H-huh? Are you…”

“Am I what?”

“She’s serious, yes,” Phainon clarified. “More than you could imagine.”

“Yes, I’m very serious! If that’s all you have to ask, I need to hurry.”

By the time Xiwu treated those seeking her help, it was late in the afternoon.

Although suspicious that the patients had similar—if not the same—symptoms, it meant she only needed small adjustments to her concoctions. With the sense of urgency gone, her legs felt heavy like jelly, ready to fall off at any moment. She collapsed beneath a tree, cheek pressed to the soft lush grass, and yawned.

“You worked hard,” Phainon said gently as he sat, leaning back against the tree trunk.

“And Nonon is so patient,” she praised. “Showing me the way even though you didn’t have to…”

He breathlessly laughed.

“Aren’t you a flatterer?”

Xiwu pouted. If she had a tail, it would be thumping against the grass: “You don’t believe me? …I know I can cause a lot of problems. But you’d smile and say it’s okay.”

“You know you can come to me if you need anything.”

“Does it always have to be for something?”

“I can hardly refuse you, now can I?”

Maybe he should have some shame in how quickly he confessed, but as of now, he couldn’t help being so honest with her so open.

“Then you should lay down too. The grass feels nice and soft… I bet a chimera would agree that this is a perfect place to nap.”

She patted the empty spot next to her expectantly.

“You’re not afraid of how it might look?” he asked.

Thankfully, if he needed to, he could excuse his reddening ears on their day of running around Okhema.

“Like two people napping.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

He shedded his shoulder pads before rolling onto his side and faced Xiwu.

The Dawn Device’s light crept through the branches and casted a swaying shadow over her figure. People disappeared into the Marmoreal Palace for their baths, leaving the outside quieter than usual. Without their hustle and bustle, without someone pulling them away for their duties, time seemed to slow to a snail’s pace.

Phainon eventually broke the silence: “You know, you were quite passionate about helping those people, even if they weren’t yours and with no thought of compensation… Being a doctor must be what you’ve wanted to do all your life.”

He paused, and the way he said it dawned on him. Before he could brush it off, Xiwu hummed, stirring sluggishly.

“Believe it or not… not at first.”

“Huh. Is that so?”

“It’s actually a bit of a long story. Things seem calm enough if you want to hear it.”

“I’d like to.”

“I used to be a dancer,” she said. “You see, I got my magic from my mom and dad, and they taught me how to use it. They disappeared early on though… so I idled my time with these kind villagers who were close by. But… as the years went by, I outlived each one. My magic wasn’t enough.”

Phainon’s curiosity was crushed into guilt.

“I’m sorry. I dredged up painful memories for you.”

“Nah, I learned to carry it. I did think… it was so little, I still do. When Old Master Yehua took me in as his student, I hoped they’d live as long as me.”

Not enough. He could understand, so well it hurts.

“Heh, a lot of people told me that I see time differently from them. So… I decided. I’d just keep doing my best,” she continued. “Whether it really was ‘enough’ and they got to do what they wanted to do… it was up to them. Even if… it hurts, and I have many more centuries to go on my own in the end. Knowing how fragile everyone else’s lives are makes it hard to turn back… not that I was good at that either.”

“It’s impressive that you haven’t grown numb from all those farewells. I wish I had a single ounce of that fortitude.”

“I’ve been smiling for my homeworld for centuries. I can handle smiling for two if you want.”

Phainon felt that pull grow stronger—the pull that drew him to her, and her companions, since the fateful day they crashed by Janusopolis.

Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer, he was about to answer, until he noticed her breathing was deeper as she dozed off.

“Rest well,” he whispered instead. His fingers inched closer, touching hers, but never daring to move more than that. For a few more moments, he wanted to take in the sight of her face so relaxed in sleep.

Xiwu dreamed of the cottage again.

This scene… was after she finally tested her new medicine on Old Master Yehua. He had gone out into the rain and breathed the air for an hour, and returned to take it.

“Your medicine works well. Your hours of studies and thorough application is the reason for your success. Although I am relieved to know you have not once recklessly prescribed your medicine to the villagers, your methods do leave room for my scrutiny. But… keep this up and you will not bring shame to me.”

“Hehe… of course, Old Master Yehua!”

I want…

I want to hear you praise me again. Just one more time, Old Master Yehua.

[asoundofdrop]

划水划完了^^..和卡穆正式见面是在2020的湛蓝曙日，也是在海边！话说卡穆去海滩捡啤酒瓶碎片＋又在自己做小手工了，好可爱hhh结合情人节剧情来看，卡穆的愿望和期盼你也许会许愿的东西估计是："我想一直陪在你身边"

[asoundofdrop]

deliverance

(forgot to upload it here oops)

[asoundofdrop]

I offer more (half) naked Phainon as part of anatomy practice-- (aka I slapped on pants because I didn't feel like shading his waist LMAO)

(Good luck handling all that - to my beloved Xiwu ajdksk)

[asoundofdrop]

yan anaxa, mydei & phainon — handling jealousy.

It doesn’t take much to rouse Anaxa’s possessiveness. 

As a rational man, you’d expect him to operate on cold logic, but he’s prone to bouts of passion. Bizarrely, a person flirting with you is a pardonable transgression. He can’t fault people for succumbing to biological urges. What he can (and does) find fault with, however, is when others monopolize your time. He’s devised a simple system for issuing judgment. By his estimate, no one aside from him should take more than five minutes of your time. Anything beyond that is excessive. After all, he fulfills every role. Colleague, teacher, lover; he’s the complete package! So why would you need anyone else? 

Anaxa considers it a personal insult if you indulge others past their allotted time. This is made worse if you’re enjoying yourself. Why not tell him to leap into the black tide if you think so little of him? Despite the creative ideas swirling in his head, he won’t enact revenge on the guilty party. Instead, he hunts you down afterward. You’re then lectured on your ‘unbecoming conduct.’ He acts like people who seek your company are contagions you must avoid, lest you catch their stupidity. It’s best to let him finish his diatribe. Interrupting him will not go over well for you. 

Comparatively, Mydei is the most forgiving. 

People know to leave you alone. They assume their life would be forfeit if they so much as glance at you the wrong way. Mydei might not be the monster others assume him to be, but that doesn’t stop him from utilizing this misconception. Contrary to public perception, he won’t extinguish bloodlines over some youth trying to win your favor. No, stuff like that doesn’t get under his skin. It’s your former attachments he struggles with. The fact others hold a special space in your heart that’s permanently closed to him hurts more than a knife through the chest. 

He can protect you physically from threats, but he lacks what it takes to truly put you at ease. Try as he might to make himself less intimidating, you’ll always fear him. While this has its merits — such as discouraging subterfuge — he dislikes the terror in your eyes. In an ideal world, he’d prefer to see you smile or hear your laughter. Whoever brought you joy before earns his silent loathing. Mentioning them in passing guarantees putting him in a pensive mood. Mydei’s difficult to read, but with enough observation, you’ll come to recognize the correlation. 

If Phainon could, he’d handcuff your wrists together so you’d never be apart. 

Fortunately for you, the tricky logistics have dissuaded him from this plan. Your luck ends there. He always finds ways to hover around you, absorbing your attention like a sponge. Phainon’s reputation precedes him — in public, others are remiss to interrupt your outings when you’re together. They’d feel bad intruding on what little free time the Deliverer has. You’ll feel alone while surrounded by swaths of people who think they’re doing you a favor. Owing to this, there are rarely situations that could lead to him experiencing jealousy. 

The same can’t be said for inanimate objects. He’s gifted you an assortment of items in line with your interests, so that when he’s away, you can entertain yourself. When he returns and you don’t put them down, he can get a bit prickly. He’s been counting the days until he can see you again, only to lose to a book. Why read epics, when he can regale you with his equally thrilling adventures? It’d be obvious and reflect poorly on him as a man if he tossed out these belongings. This leaves him to compete with your hobbies for your attention, to varying success. 

[asoundofdrop]

Jokar tongue meme

[asoundofdrop]

I wouldn't be surprised if my screen cracked from how fast I reblogged this--

yan anaxa, mydei & phainon — how they kiss.

Anaxa considers it a valuable learning experience. 

He never does things on a whim. Even though you inspire hedonistic impulses, he has the willpower and pride to subdue them. He only approaches you with amorous intent if he's confident he'll find success. The timing must be right. Whether you’re chasing a thrill or trying to manipulate him, he waits until you’ll accept his advances. He’s a scholar at heart, theorizing, testing, and making adjustments until he discovers what makes you weak. He aligns himself with your preferences. This isn’t solely for your benefit, no; he derives satisfaction from understanding you better and exploiting it. 

Loquacious as he can be, he’s noticeably silent in between kisses. If you open your eyes, you’ll find satisfaction over his success embedded into his features. It’s only when you're breathless that the unwelcome observations begin. He’ll note aloud what gets you visibly excited, where you’re sensitive, how well you respond to his affection… there’s no way to shut him up than with your lips. In one of the many notebooks he keeps about you, he records the development as a resounding success. Neat handwriting details what techniques he should employ in the future for better results. 

In direct contrast to his intimidating stature, Mydei is hesitant when he kisses you. 

He isn’t sure what led to this development, but he doesn’t want to waste the opportunity. His hesitation is unexpected. You’ve seen the longing in his eyes, try as he might to hide it. Given the bloodthirsty creed of his people, you expected him to be a brute, only to discover he handles you like you’re made of glass. He often pulls away, eyebrows knitting together as he examines you. He isn’t a fool. He’s confident that you’re scheming, and while this displeases him, the temptation to share an intimate connection temporarily eclipses reason. 

It’s a bit awkward at first. If he feels your pulse has skyrocketed or your breathing is labored, he’ll stop and ask what’s wrong. This might give the impression he’s unaffected, but don’t be fooled. He’s enamored to the point he doesn’t trust himself. That’s why he keeps pausing and checking. He’s worried his grip may have grown too tight or that he’s smothering you. In reality, his kisses are rather chaste. His lips might be chapped, but he kisses you softly and slowly, with great restraint.

Phainon is concerned you’ve lost your sanity since his last visit if you willingly kiss him. 

Once he establishes that no, you haven’t gone mad, you’re just craving stimulation, he’s conflicted. He’s crafted a romantic narrative in his head and cast you both as the leads. He’s eager to reciprocate, but he can’t help but wish your motives were different. This mental hurdle is quickly leapt over. He decides to make the most of it, his hands cupping your face and lips feverish against yours. Don’t be surprised when he sweeps you off your feet. This helps reinforce the delusional storyline you’re so intent on deviating from. 

He’ll dip you, the sudden fall causing you to latch onto him out of instinct. Your subsequent gasp is so endearing that he gets this boyish grin, a flush settling over his face. He’ll sheepishly apologize if you chastise him, yet the words have no sincerity. You might think he’s getting drunk off kissing you. He grows increasingly sloppy and disheveled, although his grip never loosens. If anything, it tightens, as he discovers what he’s been missing out on. Getting him to let you go is a time-consuming endeavor. 

[asoundofdrop]

Nekkid Phainon under the cut cause uhhh anatomy practice, just prommy you will not look too closely at the hands cause I didn't know what to do with it--

[asoundofdrop]

Phainon's hardest (pun intended) challenge:

He's stuck where he is. In theory, he couuuuld ask Xiwu to move........ but that would also mean admitting that there's a problem.

Which he cannot.

For (self-imposed reasons).

[asoundofdrop]

Phainon becomes incredibly attentive when he's genuinely invested in someone. He'll remember details that even you forgot you shared. He'll start analyzing every non-verbal cue, speech pattern, mannerism and facial expression of yours from the moment you enter the room. From there on, he'll form suitable hypotheses on your current circumstances.

“Today's quite a hot day! What do you say we move to a cooler place?”

“Please don't take it the wrong way, but I just have this feeling that... you've got a lot going on. Is everything okay?”

“What did the skillet eat on its birthday? Pan-cakes..... Hey! Don't try to hide it I saw that smile!”

— are some of the approaches he takes. This process is not entirely analytical in his case, because his responses and understanding are always rooted in his natural empathy.