Damn ok

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  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.

  I have had sooo many ideas of how and when they'd eventually just go for it, and of course, I am drawn to the idea of it starting in the bath because I love the idea of Zahndrekh being fussy over Obyron & using it as an excuse to touch him.

  For it to be far enough along for this to be the moment, the tension would have to be palpable.  Like, barely holding it together around each other.

  As has become something of a ritual, Zahndrekh uses whatever made up gauge to decide Obyron needs a bath this visit and herds him to the washroom.  He doesn't even need to insist anymore, they both know this routine and Zahndrekh draws the water, both 'undressing' (not wholly of course, they're not that scandalous...) as he 'prepares the soaps and towels'.

  The room begins to warm with steam, and Zahndrekh helps Obyron with a preliminary rinse before they finally slip into the water proper, the bath large enough to accommodate even Obyron's massive frame alongside Zahndrekh's.

  He takes his time, carefully cleansing away the gore and patina, the water turning pink and rusty as he works.  Normally, Obyron would dim his oculars and relax into the moment, but this time, he can't stop watching Zahndrekh.  The way his hands move, the looseness of his frame, how wholly at ease he is.  Despite what he’s become, Zahndrekh never flinches away, never hesitates to draw him closer.

  He watches the murky water tint the white necrodermis of Zahndrekh's body, how he dirties himself to cleanse him.  Watches it drip off the arm raised to rest a hand beside Obyron's ankh, still that of Gidrim, while he wipes down his chest plate.  Almost unconsciously he leans into the touch, curling closer, and Zahndrekh glances to his face with a 'breath' of a laugh.

  Since returning, it's somehow easier to see the expressions that should be on the nemesor's face, the smile he's giving Obyron in his mind.

  Zahndrekh shifts closer still, almost chest to chest as he makes the effort to thoroughly scrub his ribplate free from the buildup gathered in every cutout.  Obyron closes the gap, bringing their faces nearer still, and Zahndrekh's movement stutters as he makes a soft sound of surprise.  It turns into a light chuckle as he rests his hand where he'd been cleaning, meeting Obyron's oculars with a fond smile as he teasingly offers a greeting.

  Over all the years Obyron forced himself to acclimate to this treatment, he'd never dared offer to return it.  How could he?  He wouldn't even be able to properly hold the 'cloth' with his claws.  But the desire to innocently bathe Zahndrekh is very far from his mind as he carefully, always very carefully, brings one hand up to Zahndrekh's back, holding him in place.

  Zahndrekh's vocal actuator makes an odd sound, different from his mimicries, something more necron as he lays both hands on Obyron's ribs and shifts his legs closer.  He can feel them settling alongside his own, not quite straddling him, the difference in their sizes too great for that without sacrificing the closeness of their faceplates.

  There's a tremor in his grip that allows Obyron to imagine Zahndrekh's breath thickening, a soft flush in his face, a gentle wanting in his expression as he hesitates, waiting for Obyron to dictate how far they will take this.

  He finds himself pausing, with a question coming to the forefront of his mind.  Had he wanted this in the times of flesh, too?  Had he always wanted this?  The burning that had awoken in his core after Doahht, what he'd convinced himself had been the devout love of a servant, had it always been something else?

  He decides that doesn't really matter right now.  Carefully shifting around his face guard, he presses his deathmask to Zahndrekh's, a surge of sparks causing a tingling static to overwhelm his sensory array as Zahndrekh enthusiastically returns the kiss, bringing his hands up to Obyron's shoulders to hold him there, insistent on finding some way to pull them closer yet.

  Aaand that's where I'll drop it off because I still haven't even settled on how I'd write necron sex in the first place.  But going the easier route of 'same as humies just Robots' (which is probably how I'd draw it too) from that point, they kind of just very frantically do what they can to fuck without moving any farther from each other, which is a little tricky and awkward at first, but once they find what works they just absolutely go at it like animals.  Like that, then Obyron would press Zahndrekh against the baths edge and take him from behind, which Zahndrekh would only tolerate for so long before he'd shift enough they could be somewhat facing each other so he could grab and kiss Obyron freely again.

  Hours, maybe days.  They'd probably drag themselves out of the water at some point to fuck on the floor but I don't think they'd make it to Zahndrekh's 'bed' this time.  Even trying to be on the more cautious side because of his size and his general pointiness, I think it'd be a miracle Zahndrekh's legs were still in any way attached to his hips by the end.  Or his hips to his spine.

  It started with Obyron snapping to like he'd been dozing off on his feet.  He finds himself in an unfamiliar palace, everything smooth, clean white marble.  He’s confused, and cannot remember how he'd gotten there or where there even is, so he falls back onto the one thing he always knows and begins seeking out Zahndrekh.

  It's very quiet in this palace, sparsely decorated with gold or stone accents here and there, but more unusual than the rather bland and geometric architecture, there appears to be no one else around.

  Eventually he navigates his way outside, where he quickly finds himself at waters edge.  Like an island, the palace, at least where he’s found himself, is surrounded by crystal blue oceans.  It's only a few shades darker than the bright blue sky it blends into at the horizon line, thin, pale white clouds the only thing breaking up the monotony.

  He follows the outer perimeter until he finds a pavilion of sorts, set apart from the palace at the end of short walkway, even more island-like yet.  And in the center of it is a lounge and a small table beside it, but even from this distance, Obyron can easily identify the figure just barely visible over the furniture's back.

  As he draws near, he feels an inexplicable, welling anxiety about seeing his master's face.  Which doesn't make any sense, considering he sees it daily.  And sure enough, as he finally closes the distance, Zahndrekh turns to look at him with familiar green eyes, long black coils of hair falling loose from the casual braided style he favored wearing it in.  And of course, he smiles, in that way it pushed up against his eyes and pinched the skin at their corners.

  His outfit is lush flowing fabrics that drape easily over his narrow frame, pure white, accents gold, suitable for the overlord of gidrim.  And he greets Obyron with anticipated enthusiasm, raising his glass of wine and inviting him closer.  Not just closer, but to sit with him.

  An unusual request, but the situation has him feeling unsettled enough, being allowed closer to Zahndrekh's presence feels like an anchor that he would be foolish to reject.  So he sits.  Zahndrekh speaks pleasantly as he always does, and when Obyron confesses he does not remember where they are, the answer rolls off Zahndrekh's tongue followed by a teasing scold and a laugh.

  It doesn't quite feel right still, but being with Zahndrekh eases his mind, and he allows his master to take the burden of worry from him, as he ought to.

  He offers Obyron a taste of the wine, but he must decline, unwilling to impair himself when he’s already so off-put, and Zahndrekh is fondly exasperated, changing tactics and telling him of the wonderful fruits exported from this planet, surely he can at least try one of those.

  As he speaks he sits up more, closer to Obyron, holding a pear-like fruit in his hand.  He tells him about how they're grown and farmed, even used for the wine he’s enjoying so much.  As he shifts closer still, Obyron finds it harder to breathe with his master so close, entranced by the colour of his eyes, the lines of his face.  Some of his robes fall away exposing his collarbone and shoulder.

  There is very little distance between them now, Zahndrekh's legs pressed against Obyron's as he speaks of the flavor, taking a bite out of the soft fruit, making his lips wet with its juice, a drop of it running down his chin.  He holds Obyron's gaze with his own as he brings the unbitten side to Obyron's own lips, with an almost whispered invitation.

  Heart pounding in his chest, as if possessed, he reaches one hand to Zahndrekh's upraised wrist to steady it, more of the juice running down his arm now, and traces his tongue up the faint trails to the fruit in his hand, where he finally bites into it himself, a strange, almost overwhelming sweetness filling his mouth.

  Zahndrekh's wrist is still captured in Obyron's hand as he laughs breathlessly, asking if there's anything else he might like to taste..?  And the fruit falls to the floor as Obyron moves closer, Zahndrekh lying back against the cushions as Obyron presses against him, faces close enough to feel the heat of each other's breath.

  But something in the back of his mind is crying out.  Screaming at him to stop.  Something is wrong.  But Zahndrekh is beneath him, lovely and wanting and the temptation is so strong it aches in him to resist it even this much.

  Zahndrekh asks a light question, and it feels like being gutted to tear himself away suddenly- but he stands, heaving for air and feeling lightheaded as he looks around.  Zahndrekh sounds far away as Obyron begins moving, back toward the palace, things beginning to fade as if he's about to pass out-

  And then he snaps awake.

  I'd mentioned a similar-ish scenario on bsky already but I do so love the premise so here's another 🎉

  Instead of the usual set up of Obyron being assigned and meeting his crew on Yama, his crew were already part of his squadron, and he ultimately didn't get assigned to Zahndrekh at all.  They wind up part of Gidrim's army in the end, but it's after the success on Yama.

  Zahndrekh, as a young, curious, and freshly minted Overlord, is desperate to see the parts of Gidrim an overlord otherwise never would.  He has practice from times sneaking out on his birth world, so it doesn't take long for him to slip out one night, thorough disguise and plans enough in place no one should notice his absence.

  It takes a few weeks and a few ventures before he makes his way down to the nittier grittier parts of the capital city.  Not far from the barracks and places the soldiery dwell when at rest.  Eventually he winds up at a tavern, shuffled in amongst a handful of travelers he'd been chatting with, and eventually, while socializing with several half drunk patrons, he winds up sitting with a group of soldiers.

  They talk, his disguise not good enough to mask his odd speech patterns and he gets outed as a noble fairly quickly, though they assume he is from a very low house, else why would he be spending time in a place like this?  He is charming though, and they even briefly speak of the new overlord and uncertainty of where he will take this backwater planet.

  The time passes, they're all a bit tipsy at the very least, and finally one of them makes a suggestion, about treating their new lord friend with the 'reverence' he deserves.  And, well, he’s hard pressed to turn them down.  They return to a few of the soldiers' shared apartment, and from there things escalate quickly.

  Some of them are briefly shocked at just how unmarred this man is, only a sparse few surgery scars here and there, no discoloration, no textured patches, only the faintest calluses on his hands and feet, and a tattoo running down the nape of his neck to the middle of his upper back.  They decide to give him a few more marks for the road.

  Of course, Obyron is amongst them, and the two of them seem drawn to each other, even as they get swept up with the others, they always wind up back together.  And despite his willowy frame, the young lord certainly holds his own well enough, especially given they are all rather keen to have their more dedicated turns with him.

  By the end of things, sweat still damp on their skin, he asks tiredly after something that'd briefly come up earlier, Obyron's assignment being changed last minute before heading to Yama as the now-overlord's vargard.  Would he really find the job disagreeable?  Obyron is a bit bewildered by the question, but amends what he'd said earlier, no, not really.  It's just hard to imagine become a pampered guard dog of a highblooded noble like that.  But he could certainly imagine worse fates.

  The noble makes an odd reply at that, but then settles in and Obyron does as well, soon allowing sleep to claim him.  And truly, it is a rather spectacular feat the lord had slipped away in the night without waking any of the soldiers, half hungover or not.