AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. THE SCALES.
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reminder that it is one old man's birthday tomorrow and he deserves kisses and offerings. thank you.
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I’m tired of people acting like Zhongli is a serious and chill guy who would never cause problems on purpose as if he isn’t one of the biggest menaces out of the Seven. He used to throw mountains at Venti for annoying him. He, the god of history, starts fights among historians for shits and giggles. He tried to gaslight the Traveler into thinking he was totally not at the Chasm guys really Aether/Lumine you must be seeing things maybe you should go see Baizhu. When Qiqi wanted “Cocogoat” milk he was like “Oh yeah sure totally let’s go look for it” knowing damn well it was a wild goose chase. He made the Traveler sing to a flower and then was like “Oh would you look at that” when a Whooperflower jumped out to maul them. I love him. He’s like a cat pushing things off the counter to see how people react. I would pay to see him interact directly with Neuvillette because I know for a fact he’d get on that man’s nerves and argue about water tasting just to feel something. Furina used freedom from godhood to take a nap and Zhongli used it to give psychic damage to anyone who talks to him longer than 5 minutes. Iconic.
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𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭 is to impart comfort, sliding claw tipped fingers through the tresses of silken, starlight hair. enamored, is he, with the being pressed to his side - though they had certainly not started out that way. it was so easy to remember their initial days, where instinct had them at each other's throats, claws shredding skin and arguments going nowhere. zhongli certainly did not blame neuvillette for his feeling towards the archons. how could he? but here and now, it was easy to see the being that existed beneath the many mantles he wore, and zhongli treasured him in a covetous way - like he might hoard his precious gemstones or veins of gold. his, his, his... written in the scar on neuvillette's neck, the way their elements tangled together in simplicity, the soft swells of hydro dulling any aches he might feel to near nothingness.
it is a tranquil purr that leaves him again, gilded hues fluttering shut a long moment. the prime of the adepti can taste the sorrow and worry in the air, and acts only a second later, rolling completely on his side to collect neuvillette against him. tail twining with the younger dragon's own, he keeps the appendage playfully pinned, tickling soft scales with the great brunt orange tuft at the tip of his own. ❝ there is no need to sass me so, neuvillette. ❞ comes his teasing, face tucking in the iudex's neck to scrape his fangs along his throat. ❝ i'm not so old that i don't know what sarcasm is. ❞
soon, he has the younger on his back, tail continuing it's torturous tease, as he lay above the other. inky hair spills around them both, mixing with the hydro sovereign's bright tresses, and zhongli can't help but smile - fluttering his lips along the curve of his jaw. when he speaks, it's with entreaty, whiskey-smooth voice gentle but imploring, ❝ no sadness or worry, hydro dragon. not today. i command it. ❞
almost everyday it was a cycle: perform duties as befitting the iudex, return home, & instantly mold himself to his lover’s strong, unyielding body. he sunk further into geo - veined arms, expression gradually more serene, & languid did neuvillette’s tail respond in kind. an eons old vow to eschew intimate relationships now broken, & he did not care. anything to maintain this tranquility, less zhongli found it in him to read beyond sovereign’s impassive mien. it was a human emotion / sensation: caring about another’s opinion, but he wished to be unchanged, perfect —— nary someone perpetually concerned over. thus neuvillette wore yet another mask on top of the others, & he knows that a meager opening was all the lord of geo required to see.
“ a needy, old dragon who must contend with his quarrelsome mate. ”
claws dance slowly over zhongli’s skin —— delicately tracing the gilded markings. he imparts hydro on instinct, feeling it transfer from one body to the other, & drapes a svelte leg over his. “ i was attempting sarcasm, beloved. in truth i do not wish you to cease giving me liyuen texts to read in my spare time. ” when his mate grew solemn, he stiffens immediately.
“ . . . indeed, ” he mumbles softly —— white lashes fluttering nicely over pale skin, “ when the danger passes. ” if the weather suddenly changed & it began to rain, it was definitely not because of him. nope.
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If these cards arrive in time, I’ll be handing them out at the Genshin Concert in Chicago ☺️🫰🏽
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i love playing zhon.gli, he is essential to all my teams and truly makes my on-field dps so happy which is why i baby girl him. but i also hate playing zhon.gli, especially when i go to ult AND HE JUST DECIDES TO CLIMB HIS PILLAR INSTEAD!
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#𝚂𝙾𝚄𝚁𝙲𝙴𝚆𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚁 —— like or reblog this if you are interested in interacting with a newly - made neuvillette rp blog. cross - over, original character, & duplicate friendly. not spoiler free: you have been warned. made by owen, 27, he / him. canon div. portrayal inspo from greek myth & book of revelations.
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good morning i am still. very ill and need a nap after doing 1 post so i will start chipping away at these asks later. feel free to send more. i am just. the unstoppable eepy rn.
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𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, after eons of separation from anything remotely near his kind. though zhongli was no sovereign, the dragon was as apart of him as it was neuvillette, and there was nothing quite so satisfying as sinking into his instincts with the mate he had claimed as his own. as cantankerous as the iudex could be, the prime of the adepti was made of bedrock and his patience nigh on infinite. it made for... some amusing encounters, to say the least. couple that with zhongli's innate knowledge that the hydro dragon's huffiness had mostly been posturing - it was easy to cart him off to his whims. poor neuvillette, ever the tired iudex, harassed by his happily retired mate.
there is that sonorous chuckle again, and he moves willingly with the curl of a strong tail, his own sliding forth to coil tenderly about. the tip remains free, and if it wiggles side to side a moment well - that's nobodies business but his. zhongli curls himself half on the iudex, nose running adoringly along his cheek, before brushing a soft kiss to his jaw and moving to rest his head upon the pillow. warm arms, thrumming with geo energy, curl about the younger dragon, and he rumbles his delight. ❝ yes. i must be. i am a needy old man, and it is your burden to bear unfortunately. ❞
there is a soothing stroke down neuvillette's side - and bright cor lapis hues regard him with that same, unending intensity that speaks to his age, his wisdom, and just what he had previously been the god of. ❝ nonsense. would you ask the sun to stop shining? besides - it is within your right to learn the history in those texts, and essential too. for... ❞ a pause, more serious now ❝ whatever comes next. ❞
a sigh opened plush lips: inaudible, yet felt in his body relaxing against a strong form. hydro reached out & held onto geo —— coalescing, & blanketing them both like the warm sun on a cool day. neuvillette wished zhongli could stay in fontaine: to be a face he comes back home to after arduous trials. yet it was temporary, for he also shouldered responsibility in liyue: diminished, as former archon co - existing with mortals. reunions like this were always cherished to fullest extent, however too brief they were, & head turned as zhongli’s lips pressed against angular jaw. “ hmph. there is no getting through to you, ” he mumbles. nicknames have, unfortunately, cemented itself as a permanent fixture in their long lives. if the sovereign were bothered by any of them, he knew his mate would cease immediately.
but he says nothing.
startled by the unexpected action, the book drops from neuvillette’s hand as he was carried into the bedroom —— the tips of his ears warm. dazed by how zhongli hoisted him like nothing ( as if it were the very first time he was held in such a manner ), he aims a soft glare upwards once laid on soft bedding: long hair spilling out around him like silver - white liquid moonlight. “ must you be so needy? ” neuvillettte retaliates with the faintest upwards quirk of lips. humming, his tail loosely coils around zhongli’s waist —— a gentle nudge forward so two lovers can tangle limbs. “ my work commences early, thus i wake up then. ” but today was a rare day off, & in truth he wanted to spend it with his lover: not reading copious tomes.
“ how many hours have passed? i apologize: i do lose myself in the works you bring. perhaps you should refrain from bringing such interesting texts. ”
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actions speak louder than words
non - verbal / action prompts from yours truly.
(add a "swap" to swap the sender/receiver in the prompt (or just do it manually).)
back, sender gives receiver a back hug.
beckon, sender beckons receiver closer with a finger.
blood, sender cleans blood off of receiver.
book, sender helps receiver get a book from a higher part of the shelf.
care, sender takes care of receiver when they're sick.
catch, sender catches receiver by the waist after they bump into each other.
choke, sender saves receiver from choking by giving them the heimlich.
cold, sender places their jacket over receiver's shoulders.
cry, sender wipes tears off receiver's face with their thumbs.
dance, sender sticks a hand out to receiver and invites them to dance.
dip, sender skinny dips in front of receiver and invites them to join.
dog, sender's dog pulls them in receiver's direction.
drive, sender drives receiver somewhere in their car.
drag, sender drags receiver into a room and closes the door behind them.
draw, sender draws receiver like one of their french girls.
face, sender turns receiver's face towards them.
flower, sender gives receiver a flower.
footsie, sender initiates footsie with receiver under the table.
forehead, sender presses their forehead against receiver's.
grab, sender grabs receiver's wrist to stop them from leaving.
jump, sender jumps onto receiver's back.
kiss, sender kisses receiver.
link, sender links arms with receiver while walking.
massage, sender offers receiver a massage.
patch, sender patches up receiver's wounds.
piano, sender teaches receiver how to play the piano.
pin, sender pins receiver's hands behind their back.
pluck, sender plucks something out of receiver's hair.
press, sender presses receiver against a wall.
propose, sender proposes to receiver.
quiet, sender gestures for receiver to be quiet.
rest, sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder.
serenade, sender serenades receiver with a song.
sign, sender walks into a sign and receiver sees.
size, sender measures the size of their hand against receiver's.
shoes, sender removes receiver's shoes for them.
sun, sender rubs sunblock onto receiver's back.
tattoo, sender gives receiver a tattoo.
tie, sender helps tie receiver's tie.
tuck, sender tucks receiver's hair behind their ear.
umbrella, sender lets receiver under their umbrella.
warning, sender presses a knife against receiver's neck as a warning.
zip, sender needs receiver's help to zip up the back of their dress.
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song of achilles — madeline miller sentence starters
change tenses/pronouns as needed !! some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying
tw : death , murder
‘I do not like to lie.’
‘I have never seen anyone fight the way you do.’
‘there is no one like you.’
‘guess what I’m thinking about.’
‘I can’t imagine it. no one has ever tried to take something from me.’
‘he will be a god.’
‘you will be dead soon enough.’
‘do you want to be a god?’
‘i’m sick of talking about her.’
‘you answer a different question than the one I asked.’
‘I do not like to be deceived.’
‘I do not know if I am worthy.’
‘(name) sees many faults, some that are and some that are not.’
‘she will not be pleased, but I have weathered the anger of gods before.’
‘do not let what you gained this day to be so easily lost.’
‘perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.’
‘now I know how to make you follow me everywhere.’
‘I did not think that we would ever—-’
‘name one hero who was happy.’
‘they never let you be famous and happy.’
‘you do not give things up so easily now as you once did.’
‘if you have to go, you know that I will go with you.’
‘you will keep your peace or I will keep it for you.’
‘please, wait. please, let me explain. I did not want to do it.’
‘you did it for nothing.’
‘forgive me. I did not want it. It was not you.’
‘there is nothing to forgive.’
‘it will be better if you go quietly.’
‘you were jealous. you should be.’
‘you know, it’s funny; I keep thinking I’ve seen you before.’
‘useless information is my curse, I’m afraid.’
‘unfortunately I did just that, though I appreciate your faith in me.’
‘you were clever is hiding yourself; we had to be cleverer still in finding you.’
‘you are a fool not to see it.’
‘the ____ are known for their skill in battle, and their deaths will lift your name to the stars.’
‘the gods have seen for to share with me a prophecy about you.’
‘when he dies, people will say, who?’
‘If you go to ___ (place) you will never return.’
‘do not ask me to choose.’
‘I would not care. it would not matter to me. we would be together.’
‘you are a fool. your halfwit death will not save him.’
‘how much longer will he live?’
‘why should I kill him? he’s done nothing to me.’
‘I wish you had never come.’
‘I’ve heard you prefer to share. rooms and bedrolls both, they say.’
‘true is what men believe, and they believe this of you.’
‘your honor could be darkened by it.’
‘I have given enough to them. I will not give them this.’
‘there is nothing he can do. it would only bring him grief.’
‘I was close enough. I could have saved her.’
‘her death is on your head.’
‘you are angry, and not without reason. but why did you come to me?’
‘if you are truly his friend, you will help him leave this soft heart behind.’
‘he is a weapon, a killer. do not forget it.’
‘you can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.’
‘if you hear nothing else I say, hear that. I do not say it in malice.’
‘my father told me once to think of them like animals. the men I kill.’
‘I have no need to forgive you. you cannot offend me.’
‘there are many ways to start a war.’
‘this is what I was born for.’
‘you feel misled; you were promised victory.’
‘I am here because I believe that we will win. I am staying until the end.’
‘the gods have chosen sides, and you must not draw their anger.’
‘he is not worthy of you. he had never been.’
‘do you not ever want children?’
‘I don’t think I would be much of a parent.’
‘what is your army without me?’
‘I am not the one who should kneel.’
‘you will come crying for mercy, but I will give none.’
‘if one of them is stalking you, you must give it something it wants more than you.’
‘who will rule if you fall?’
‘you betray him by warning me.’
‘you know if he had done it, I could have killed him.’
‘her safety for my honor. are you happy with your trade?’
‘there is no honor in betraying your friends.’
‘it is strange that you would speak against betrayal.’
‘you chose her. over me.’
‘my life is my reputation. it is all I have.’
‘I will not live much longer. memory is all I can hope for.’
‘I would have the memory be worthy of the man. I would have you be yourself, not some tyrant remembered for his cruelty.’
‘no fame is worth what you did today.’
‘you are a better man than I.’
‘you left yourself today. and now you have returned.’
‘do not say that until you have heard the rest of what I have done.’
‘no man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.’
‘truly it is unfortunate that one so young has so much pride.’
‘you were given a choice and you chose. you must live by it now.’
‘you have made a fair run of blocking fate’s path. but you cannot do it forever.’
‘whatever you do, I will stand with you, as I always have.’
‘he only threatens. he likes to see me afraid.’
‘there is no one that they fear more, or hate more.’
‘if he is dead, I will not be far behind.’
‘I would not leave you, if you wished to come.’
‘they should hate (name). it is his pride that kills them.’
‘you cannot go out again. you have lost too much blood.’
‘you must forget him. it is as you says; he will doom himself.’
‘they have made their choice. I shed no tears for them.’
‘they we’re foolish, yes, but they are still our people!’
‘you are destroying yourself.’
‘you are destroying yourself. you will not be loved for this, you will be hated, and cursed.’
‘I know what I am asking of you. but I ask it. for me.’
‘I wish he had let you all die.’
‘do you think you are the only one who loved him?’
‘kill me. it will not bring him back.’
‘he was worth ten of you. ten! and you sent him to his death!’
‘I hope that (name) kills you.’
‘there are no bargains between lions and men.’
‘I will not be able to protect you from him.’
‘he is dead. can your power bring him back?’
‘he is a mortal. and mortals die.’
‘I am done. there is no more I can do to save you.’
‘I am glad that he is dead.’
‘in grief, men must help each other, though they are enemies,’
‘it is right to seek peace for the dead. you and I both know there is no peace for those who live after.’
‘I do not sleep.’
‘i’m afraid I have been prompted by a rare stirring of guilt.’
‘I am only an honest man, who likes to see right done.’
‘fame is a strange thing. some men gain glory after they die, while others fade.’
‘we cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory.’
‘who knows! perhaps one day even I will be famous. perhaps more famous than you.’
‘we are men only, a brief flare of the torch. those to come may raise us or lower us as they please.’
‘I have done my best. let it be remember I tried.’
‘go. he is waiting for you.’
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poked an explosive barrel 😐
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𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬, made all the more plausible by the way neuvillette attempts to deem him unworthy of his time. it's a fun little game for a brief moment, lasting only a few seconds, before those stunning claws lay atop his own, and zhongli lets loose a small whisper of air. geo resonance thrums in response, the golden veins about his dark arms glowing briefly as they mix with soft, soothing hydro. he loved it - the way the energy coiled around him like a balm: waves, lapping gently at a shoreline here too. couple that with the answering rumble - a language spoken for two, and zhongli is pleased, unable to resist the pass of his lips upon the sovereign's jawline. it was a brief kiss - sweet, unhurried, and given with a chuckle.
❝ ah. my sincerest apologies, monsieur. ❞ for moment then, zhongli untangles their fingertips, pulling away to stare briefly down at the other. a glint flits across those bright, golden eyes and then... he strikes. arms sweep beneath neuvillette: one at his legs, the other at his back, and zhongli hefts him with practiced ease into the air - as if the iudex weighed nothing at all. cradling the sovereign ( tail included ) within the strong cage of his arms, zhongli sets forth towards the bedroom, taking care once at the door frame to not knock neuvillette's sensitive horns against the wood. despite the clear display of playfulness and manhandling, the elder dragon deposits him upon the rumpled sheets with gentle reverence, and leans back to admire his handiwork. a pleased rumble leaves him - clearly, he is content.
❝ must you be so stubborn? ❞ but the words are said with affection, his knee hitting the mattress as he leans forward, as if he hadn't just carted the hydro sovereign across the home and back to bed ❝ i cannot help but dislike waking with you gone. ❞
if zhongli were still an enemy, he would have never been able to step into his office —— invade personal space, & touch him so brazenly. at this point, every defiant act was performative: & with their draconian nature there was an innate, quiet battle of dominance. one that neuvillette usually acquiesced in private moments like this, even though his behavior spoke otherwise. these mental spars were far more relaxed now, when initially he was barely given room to breathe. one hand ( both were ungloved. sharp talons on display, a white - blue scale pattern matching his tail ) idly hovers over zhongli’s before finally intertwining. hm: perhaps he can prolong this moment for a while longer until the lord of geo gave into instinct.
questioning hues closely examine the book’s contents as if the prime of adepti was not trying to compel him back to bed. yet he leaned into / towards every touch —— reciprocating zhongli’s rumble with his own, calming one. it rolls like waves lapping at the shoreline, & as fingers danced over the pages he lets out a hmph. “ early mornings refresh me, ” he simply replies: long, serpentine tail curling around the consultant’s ankle. “ it is when the voices of the court are at their l - lowe —— ah. ” eyes flutter close & his composure slips when devious lips & wicked fangs ghost an ear. damn zhongli knowing their sensitivity. determined for a quick recovery, neuvillette nonchalantly turns the page —— redirecting his gaze to its contents.
“ behind closed doors, i am neuvillette. not little dragon. ”
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My forever main
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𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 sovereign sometimes, even know when their relationship had long since begun blossoming past enemies. zhongli blamed it on the nature of the draconic. what did one expect when two of teyvat's apex predators were thrown together ( even if, he technically was not born here )? and though he was not of sovereign make like neuvillette, that did not stop them from bringing out their instincts in one another, and had made for more than once piece of... very broken furniture or week long argument. unstoppable force, meet immovable object. it was as charming as it was vexing - for neuvillette knew how to push the ex-archon's buttons just as well as he did the iudex's. but he wouldn't trade it for the world.
the lord of geo buries his face in the nape of neuvillette's neck, inhaling his soft, sweet and sea-tinged scent with a chuff. that tail makes itself known again, this time wrapping around his waist to squeeze lightly. he catches sight of those lovely eyes, his own gilded ones blinking lazily in response, before he nudges the other with his horns again, this time a bit more insistent. ❝ come now. ❞ there is another flick of his tail, soft fur sliding over the iudex's lap. ❝ you must still be tired, and it's rather cold without you. ❞ comforting, coaxing rumbles, deep within his chest, and those geo-veined hands splay lightly across his abdomen, insistent. ❝ or are you giving me the cold shoulder for... ❞ lips, pressed to the shell of a pointed ear, and he smiles just slightly, fangs nipping the tip, ❝ little dragon ? ❞
@incognosis: he gently nudges him with his gilded horns, bright gaze twinkling as that long tail flicks in agitation, fluffed end deliberately laying upon the book in neuvillette's hands. a rumble of a purr, the ex-archon twining arms around his torso. " come to bed, little dragon. " is his murmur, more demand than plea.
peaceful were mornings at home: tucked away in a corner in Quartier Narbonnais, & quite small in comparison to assumptions aimed at his spending habits. Neuvillette cared very little for grandeur, even though he placed extreme importance to maintain a certain image. this, however, originated from the position of Iudex —— Monsieur could never dress so unseemingly. yet here His Impartiality was: wearing a loose - fitting, white cotton shirt with frills at wrists; leather pants accentuated dangerously long legs . . . yet people would ( unfortunately ) declare him a fashion icon & attempt to replicate his outfits. wardrobes that were, unsurprisingly, filled with similar garments.
the book in hand was one a certain ex - Archon brought over from Liyue —— whose geo - veined arms embraced him from behind. at first, Neuvillette was unphased by Zhongli’s expression: vexed, no doubt, over the Sovereign’s disregard. when tip of draconic tail entered his vision, the Chief Justice’s brow furrowed. being addressed as little dragon was hardly proper: & if he wished to get technical . . . reading interrupted, the wyrm slips a bookmark in, calmly sets it aside, & violet - blue gaze narrowed sharply up over his shoulder.
no, he was better than to rise against ridiculous nicknames.
Neuvillette decides to pick up the book & resume reading.
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𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 by live on in zhongli, his age and wisdom carrying forth what propensities cultures and peoples of long past had chosen to adorn themselves in. for the god of battle, removing the vermillion along the sharp cut of his eyes would have been akin to sacrilege, like not putting on his shoes every morning. red - burnished and bright - was not something he could leave behind. for try as morax might to don a mortal skin, the dragon seeped through at the edges like water fraying paper, or he was unwilling to relinquish parts of himself that had been hard fought: including his red eye makeup. ages ago, others might apply it for him - attendants, first, before it became an act of intimacy he only allowed guizhong, and on one or two occasions the yaksha were granted the honor, but now? zhongli preferred to do it himself. and not once in the long span of his life had he done the honors for another... but aether was the first of many things, and this was no exception.
the brush moves over sun-adored skin with gentle flourish, his steady hand unflinching. around the traveler, zhongli allows himself moments of monstrousness - his eyes a bit more draconic and glowing, fangs visible upon his teeth, and sleeves rolled up and gloves removed to reveal the pulsating lines of geo upon his flesh. pressed to the other's pulse, the gold thrums in time with his heartbeat... a fact he might have commented on, had he not been so intent on getting the shape of this line right.
❝ mm, have patience. ❞ is all he says, voice a deep rumble tinted with the vaguest hint of affection. still - the prime of the adepti works, tilting this way and that, always taking care to never sink his claws into the delicate flesh of his face or neck. only when another solid twenty-minutes has passed does the ex-archon lean back, setting the brush aside, and hums appreciatively. astute gaze gives nothing away, peering down at the outworlder, zhongli reaches behind himself, brandishing forth the mirror with capable ease. ❝ forgive me, i am afraid i got selfish and gave you my colors. ❞
there was red there, not unlike zhongli's own bright painted flourish, but heavily accented by the strangest glowing mixture of pure gold, dashed above and below aether's eyelids not unlike artful war paint. one might simply think it to be a strong yellow and orange mixed pigment, were it not for the way it pulsed in time with the veins upon his arms - a clear sign of the geo resonance. perhaps a human would have the audacity to look sheepish about it. but not zhongli. he only tilted his head a bit, more dragon than man, and blinked. ❝ ah... do you like it? ❞
@foxfinch + @incognosisㅤ/ㅤfor zhongli.ㅤ/ㅤbased on our plots! ♡
ㅤㅤsometimes, tradition is as dangerous as it is alluring. long ago, wearing makeup was not a mere exercise of aesthetics: nobles and warriors would carefully paint their faces with rice powder to protect themselves against the scorching sun rays during marches. amongst army ranks laid a not-so-secretive rule, too. the reddest eye shadow colours were reserved for the strongest of fighters; good soldiers would be bestowed with yellow tints over their eyes, war champions decorated themselves in orange, and general-kings could be seen painted in vermillion—one of the most expensive inks in ancient markets. black kohl lining eyelids also referred to someone’s combat prowess; each millimetre corresponded to thousands of enemies defeated on the battlefield.
ㅤㅤduring earthly-sung history lessons, aether couldn’t help but notice something very important. zhongli’s eyes were the reddest and the sharpest he had ever seen in liyue, even among the adepti. yet zhongli seemed to care not for such a fact, too engrossed in his detailed handwork. draconic ambers rested on sun-kissed complexion attentively and gently, painting the corners of golden eyes while holding his chin. slowly, the ancient took his time, decorating the outlander as he best deemed fit. cathartically and unworried—as if aether couldn’t see his fangs hidden between fake teeth. perhaps this should scare him. stories of wolves in sheep’s clothing rarely ended as a forewarning. instead, however, he closed his eyes so the ex-archon could keep on working his final touches. he didn’t care for the hand around his throat, either.
ㅤㅤ“when you’re done, will you let me see what colour you picked for me?” a chuckle. “paimon says i look best in yellow.”
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