Damn ok

🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞

What Zahndrekh does not realize is that Imotekh had applied an 'invitation' on him, so soon after Zahndrekh finds himself being approached almost overwhelmingly, by lords, guards, crypteks, he becomes incredibly popular on mandragora for the moment, happy to try and accommodate as many as possible.

But in his delusional mind, it quickly gets to a point he’s feeling exhausted and sneaks off to his private chamber for a breather.  No idea what all that was about but not exactly unpleasant either.  Goes to lie down and rest without even bothering to clean himself up.

Once Obyron locates and returns to him, he sees both Zahndrekh's state and the notice, annoyed and slightly worried, but after lightly stirring Zahndrekh to clean and update him, is soothed to find him in good spirits.

By this point, I'd imagine Zahndrekh would be a well established member of Gidrim's court, has worked on campaigns and whatnot, even fooled around a bit with Obyron at least a few times.

And so Obyron has also become more familiar with his favored cryptek's 'work ethic'. It's not surprising when he catches word of Zahndrekh's fixation on whatever project he’s been working on lately. But he can't very well allow such an important asset to go debilitating himself, so at the end of one day, before retiring to his own chambers, he goes to speak to Zahndrekh.

Any hope the cryptek had taken it upon himself to rest is dashed as he finds him in his lair, books, dataslates, and parchment sprawled about him on the desk and floor. He approaches, making his exasperation known to a very unreceptive Zahndrekh.

It's a mostly playful back and forth, Obyron threatening to order him to rest, Zahndrekh calling his bluff, Obyron trying to subtly parse what it could've been that sent him spiraling this time (as Zahndrekh tends to overwork himself to compensate for perceived failures of some sort).

It's obvious Zahndrekh is teetering on the edge of burning himself out, he looks truly exhausted, even his self maintenance falling by the wayside, hair and clothes disheveled like he hadn't even returned to his own room in days. But cryptek's are uniquely temperamental and stubborn creatures, pushing is likely to make Zahndrekh act spitefully in some other regard...and only serve to upset him further.

Obyron decides to fight dirty.

After regaining Zahndrekh's attention (he'd gotten distracted trailing off trying to give a very valid reason for Obyron to allow him to continue working), he kisses him. Very thoroughly. Zahndrekh is quick to see through his ploy, but that's perfectly fine, given Obyron also knows he’s already won regardless. Hoisting him over a shoulder, Zahndrekh pretends to be shocked and complains, squirming, but ultimately accepting his fate as Obyron carries him to his room.

The implied promise of sex is enough to keep Zahndrekh clinging to consciousness, even though being off his feet almost instantly had what little energy remained draining. But this works in Obyron's favor, because Zahndrekh only understands the plan half as well as he thinks he does.

Finally, upon reaching Obyron's bed chamber, he sets the cryptek upon the sheets and kisses him again, the both of them removing his clothes. The first sign of confusion appears when Obyron does not allow Zahndrekh to work his clothes off in return, instead joining him on the bed and guiding him to lie beside him still dressed. They exchange a few more light teases, Zahndrekh seeming uncertain of this approach but happy to go along with it as Obyron continues kissing and gently touching him.

It's when Obyron's hand finally makes its way between his legs that Zahndrekh puts up the slightest resistance. This is very, very far removed from their usual type of play, and it's clear it's somewhat unsteady ground for him. But Obyron merely reassures, winning him over easily enough with a slow, unrelenting pace and lingering affections.

With hand and mouth he works Zahndrekh out of any remaining energy, and by the time he finally climaxes, he can hardly cling to consciousness any longer. Obyron holds him until he's certain Zahndrekh is properly asleep, and then cleans him carefully. He then changes out of his clothes into whatever he'd typically wear to bed possibly after taking care of himself and joins Zahndrekh beneath the sheets.

It would be the first time they would've done something that...I don't know, gentle seems unfair a word because I don't want it to sound like they were only rough n tumble in the early days. Soft, more about care than pleasure, you know?

But that seems like a really good in for them, especially because I suspect by that point Obyron would've definitely picked up on how isolated Zahndrekh truly is, even from his own peers, and it would worry him. I think it'd be hard for him to admit his care, and budding affection, but can allow himself things that 'are sort of also for him' or he can hand wave off as indulging Zahndrekh (he’s 'not much for snuggling', but even from the beginning he'd allow Zahndrekh that time afterwards since it seemed important to him).

  This one basically shifts the power dynamic in the fully opposite direction.  Follows canon's set up until Yama is won, but then Setekh's family basically go 'well you can still be plenty useful if you marry that friend of yours', which Zahndrekh thinks is a fantastic idea.

  Feeling both pressured by family and trying to view this as a potential chance to get his revenge with a little patience, Setekh agrees.  So once Zahndrekh is a little more solidly established as overlord of Gidrim, the two are married, with Setekh staying there as both consort and nemesor for Gidrim.

  Now, he can't go and kill him too early.  I'm sure there's a bunch of ridiculous political stuff going on with the agreement between Zahndrekh and Setekh's father / Phaeron, so obviously he can't screw any of that up.  Zahndrekh might be a fool but he’s a useful one, perhaps the dynasty is hoping Zahndrekh will join the Sautekh and build a path to alliance between the two?  Or perhaps there are certain benefits from marrying specifically into Zahndrekh's family (it's never really stated Where Zahndrekh came from before, if his family was Sautekh, or their own dynasty, or independent as he was with Gidrim).

  Regardless, he has to wait for the right moment.  He has to be sure he can carry out whatever his dynasty needs from Gidrim once he becomes overlord (or that he can fully cut ties from them if not).  Now, that's a little tricky considering he did try to have Zahndrekh assassinated toward the end of the Yama campaign, and someone else knows about it.

  The only good thing is that Obyron knows he can't really speak up about it, especially not now, but it still means he’s going to be under quite a lot of scrutiny, considering the vargard has more say in Zahndrekh's protection than anyone.  Even him.

  How is any of this fun or sexy?  Well despite how Setekh chooses to view it Zahndrekh basically has him in one of those bargain store bug collecting carriers and is providing enrichment as he sees fit <3  He's very enthusiastic to seal the deal on their wedding night, and spend the 'honeymoon period' showing Setekh just how happy is he to have him there.  <- this provides the beginning of, basically, completely throwing Setekh off balance.  Zahndrekh treats him not as a consort but a trusted ally and friend still, gives him plenty enough room and trust and respect as both a member of the court and nemesor in his own right, and while Setekh convinces himself he expected this, because of how naive Zahndrekh is, in truth he didn't.

  He'd expected Zahndrekh to make it easier to hate him.  To belittle him.  To 'put him in his place', as any decent rival would.  Not to show him respect as a peer, show him affection as a husband, show him trust as a friend.  Which of course, antagonizes him deeply.

  Anyway most of the idea is just Zahndrekh staying winning while regularly fucking Setekh into a stupor (or getting Obyron to, or them both having some fun with him at once, and hey, why not get some of the lychguard involved too, the more the merrier-!)

  Obyron, for his part, is extremely unhappy about it all at first, since much as Setekh also believes, there isn't much he can do and he worries deeply about Zahndrekh's safety.  Luckily he gets to relax a little with time as he realizes Zahndrekh perhaps knows his friend a little better than he'd initially given him credit for... (plus he lets him take his aggressions out on him sometimes, thank the star gods that little jerk actually likes to be used and abused lmao)

  In the most self indulgent version, I'd imagine Setekh kinda keeps convincing himself to wait for the right moment all the way up until biotransference, or perhaps shortly before, he has to return to his own dynasty to act as phaeron because one of his brothers assassinated their father but then Also got killed and so Setekh is the last remaining person with any birthright to the throne.

  Doesn't matter much.  I've mentioned before I will Never ! Give Setekh a redemption arc so even if he did grudgingly genuinely soften to Zahndrekh a lot before biotransference, I do still think they'd, at the very least wind up separate in the far future.

  I'd really liked the idea of Obyron and Zahndrekh just very passively growing to care more for each other over the years.  By the time Obyron accompanies Zahndrekh on his first campaign without Setekh immediately present, I could imagine them having really developed a bit of a natural dynamic that would likely fool those who didn't already know into believing Zahndrekh was just Obyron's master.

  So this lead to a scenario where, on a 'solo' campaign, off the heels of some wild victory Zahndrekh really pulled out of his hat, the two return to his tent before Zahndrekh is off to meet with the other lords who are still trickling back themselves.  But the adrenaline is high and Zahndrekh is alight with momentum, already talking about plans for the next move, ideas he has to get down before he’s forgotten, talking a mile a minute while Obyron mostly just watches with both awe and fondness.

  But as Zahndrekh is showing Obyron something on the map, he looks to him, and they're standing very close, Obyron leaned in to clearly make out what he’s being pointed to.  When Zahndrekh falls quiet, Obyron looks to him, their eyes meet.  And Zahndrekh kisses him.  Obyron barely has the willpower to hesitate in returning it.

  This leads to a very frantic undressing, fumbling to the nearest convenient place, and then falling together and fucking like long lost lovers reunited at last.

  They obviously can't dally in the afterglow for very long, especially not both quietly knowing this was both unacceptable and undeniable.  But they don't really talk properly about it, likely both hoping they could play it off as merely a lord seeking relief from his servant.

  But I love the idea of their first (and only..?) time being while away on campaign, in the heat of the moment (bonus sad points if it's the last campaign before Zahndrekh is grounded).

  However.

  Whilst thinking of that, it did also cross my mind that...well, I love to hc that Obyron was like, essentially an eleven in terms of conventional attractiveness by necrontyr standards.  And I also love to hc that, in canon, Setekh was wildly jealous of both Zahndrekh and Obyron...

  So with that in mind, I think it's entirely possibly Setekh may have, in the past, utilized Obyron for a little satisfaction while on campaign.  It's hard to say 100%, if he would've been able to swallow his pride enough to let a sandborn touch him like that, vs possibly seeing that as both a right and way to reestablish their 'proper roles', if you will.

  If that were the case though, I did have an alternate thought abt Zahndrekh and Obyron's aforementioned Moment, where instead of just both being overwhelmed in the moment, Zahndrekh manages to 'get his wits about him' and pull away from the kiss, deeming it inappropriate and trying to somewhat laugh it off.  This ultimately leads to Obyron 'reassuring' him that if he'd like to 'utilize' him, it is his right.  Which immediately sobers Zahndrekh.

  He’s heartbroken, now thinking he'd forced a kiss on Obyron when he'd initially thought it was a shared desire, but also realizing Obyron's sort of automatic 'understanding' of the situation means it's likely Setekh has 'utilized' him himself.

  He’s very upset but tries easing the situation into a wind down and reassuring Obyron he has no wish for that, and after one more brief miscommunication of Obyron worrying Zahndrekh is upset over having kissed a sandborn soldier and Zahndrekh clarifying he’s upset over having forced himself upon him, they manage to clear the air properly, and Obyron confesses he does also want...whatever Zahndrekh is willing to offer.

  Aaand then they still fuck !!!  But w much heavier emotional overtones somehow.

  This bonus thought definitely wouldn't be "canon" to this au, but I did also make myself emotional thinking abt a scenario where Setekh catches wind of them fucking and corners Zahndrekh abt it, who then tries to insist it was just him needing to let off a little steam on campaign and that, since Setekh said he could trust Obyron, Zahndrekh figured he would be really the only safe choice.  Smiling and batting his eyelashes.

  And Setekh is like 'well you have good taste I'll give you that much' and Zahndrekh wants to fucking scream and throw up, and it doesn't get any better because then Setekh insists he doesn't have to wait for it to become so dire, he can have Obyron any time he likes so long as they make sure he doesn't wind up with his child.  As a matter of fact, they could share him together.

  Zahndrekh has to play it off casually, and since Setekh himself seems so enthusiastic about the idea he can't really play the whole 'oooh but he’s only sandborn, shouldn't he be last resort?' card, so he just kind of...'whatever my lord wishes' and hope maybe Setekh is teasing him more than anything.

  He isn't.

I've been on the fence of how to characterize both Z & Obyron in the bedroom (individually & together), esp warring w my 'aspec Zahndrekh' hcs, I'm always undecided where I want to put the both of them libido-wise and role-wise.

I'm certain they'd be flexible regardless, but I do feel like Obyron kind of gets off on the servitude-submissive thing at least a liiittle bit more than being dominant / brat taming Z (even if he does quite enjoy that as well).

I can't shake the idea that, while Z is generally just there for a good time, that he leans dominant, and is very very good at it. I think it's sort of like...he’s fairly easy to trust and his goofiness is disarming enough his partners tend to just start by playing along in a sort of humoring way and then don't even realize as they're guided deeper into the roles and how much they enjoy giving up control to him.

That being said obv most of the fandom just kinda has a consensus on Obyron fucking like an animal, and I don't disagree w that, but I also feel like he sits in a sort of...all or nothing type of position. He could probably honestly just go stretches of time without sex and not even really notice, but when the bug bites, it's something he needs to deal with, like, he'd get pent up very easily at those points.

There seems to be...general consensus that Zahndrekh is pretty quick to spread his legs, but more varied takes on stamina & general libido. I've always been a fan of that half-joke trope where a character has Zero stamina for physical exertion like 90% of the time but then they just don't stop in the bedroom (I even have a silly comic abt that in my notes somewhere), which could be fun for him.

I think it's tricky with his being a nemesor. You'd imagine he'd have some muscle and athleticism if he’s going out and waging war, but it's frequently described across canon material that plenty nemesors barely have any direct interaction w the fighting themselves. W all their fancy tech & Obyron + lychguard to handle most of the issues, even if Z is more hands on, he also wouldn't really need to be particularly fit.

Flesh time flayer virus, everything is the same, but who got infected is Switched (this post is specifically abt Obyrekh's side of things tho) 

  I was initially just going to make a joke abt Obyron having a few tricks to get his husband closer as well, but then I started thinking about it and got visuals of Zahndrekh trying to clean the inside of his "brace" and realizing how dirty the whole thing is.

  He exclaims his shock and horror at how poorly Obyron's been taking care of himself then gets to work with much more haste, reaching deeper around his neck and chest cavity, lightly tugging cables and wires, brushing up against sensory nodes, asking in bewilderment how Obyron even got the underside of his "brace" so dirty, until his arm is almost all the way inside him, and he accidentally tugs a flux cable as he’s scrubbing and Obyron moans, getting Zahndrekh to freeze as he realizes how, ah, bold he'd accidentally gotten in his focus.

  Only to then realize and fix a glare on Obyron, face plates nearly pressed together like this, and Obyron shifts just enough to pull Zahndrekh's weight forward and off balance, 'shuddering' at the cables his arm catches internally, earning a gasp and a scolding from Zahndrekh, he needs to be more careful or he might make him jostle the brace out of place!

  Obyron reassures in a low voice that it's very solidly attached, bringing one hand up to support Zahndrekh's back in this new position, besides, he thinks he missed a spot.

  And so Zahndrekh continues "cleaning", more slowly and deliberately, as Obyron starts to gently tease his claws around Zahndrekh's thighs and hips, only causing him to jerk and shiver while he works more.  They go on like this, until finally, a couple of thin trails of oil and flux running down his spine and mixing with what blood stains hadn't been reached yet, lubricant dripping down Zahndrekh's thighs, Obyron hoists Zahndrekh up and lays him where he'd been seated, neither of them lasting very long with how much they'd worked each other up, both smeared everywhere with old gore, lubricant, and even a little of Obyron's flux...

  This thought brought to you by a flesh times scenario that came to me as I was falling asleep earlier, of Zahndrekh being really needy & hauling Obyron back to his private chambers, but Obyron wants to take things slower, so he sits Zahndrekh on a table & just kisses him for a minute, & when Zahndrekh finally breaks away to complain, Obyron sticks his fingers in his mouth.

  Zahndrekh is obliging enough, but Obyron drags even that out, really toying with him & delighting in how desperate Zahndrekh is getting, using every one of his tricks to try & get Obyron just as impatient.  Ah, but that's a losing game unfortunately.  His frustration tolerance is much too high after all these years.

  Once he finally removes his hand, he uses it to slick himself.  Thoroughly.  As Zahndrekh resorts to his final tactic; pleading in earnest, which is, of course, the one that almost always gets him to break.

  it's interesting how almost every time I think of Zahndrekh & Obyron fucking it's sort of like, frantic and desperate and messy.  Even in 'established relationship' settings, I guess that's just the vibe they give me.  Guys who are both super not normal about each other but pretend to be so hard that it makes them even weirder about each other.

  I think most of the necron(tyr) relationships would be like that at first honestly.  These guys are really bad at emotional processing and the main ships all have weird class difference struggles going on, too, so it's easy to imagine whenever all of that finally breaks down and they go for it, it's inevitable it'll be a rather intense thing.

  I guess I just also see most of the other pairings as reaching some level of normalcy, of trust, but I think the difference with obyrekh is that they are both really...idk, set in their ways?  They don't communicate well and sort of assume a lot, and so I think the mindset at play is more like...we have this for now.

  I'm not explaining it well.  But I think it's just like there's an almost...'while it lasts' mentality between them, even subconsciously.  Which is especially heartbreaking if my other hc align with it and they have been together and lost that closeness before.  Maybe even multiple times.  So they really dont know.