#"crys

Before I begin, an anatomy lesson from Google because I'm a dork and I perform to impress. Since I haven't really read anything based on anatomy, scent glands are primarily located on the base of the neck extending up to the jawbone, on the wrists, the fingers, sides of the torso, and most obviously, the genitalia (˵ᵕ̴᷄ ˶̫ ˶ᵕ̴᷅˵). I'd assume that the pheromones would be the strongest on the neck or in the crotch.

Now, I think that it's basically canon that Zhongli used to be a... troubled (common synonyms: unhinged, feral.) young adult. I want to believe that he's never really changed but has instead learned to hide his desires under his gentlemanly facade. In the last 5 centuries or so, he's never had anything challenge his public persona-- that is until you came into the picture.

From the beginning of your relationship, he kept his emotions on lockdown, learning to cope or deal with it separately; however, his burning desire was only fueled by his growing infatuation with you. The desire-- the craving-- the need to mark you up with his sharp, draconic teeth, his long, talon-like nails, with his musk, reminiscent of the bitter tea that he drinks regularly with additional earthy tones to it. Strong, deep, but all the more delicious. To you, it smells of a light cologne, something that he mists onto himself just enough for you to barely smell it as you invade his personal space, but to others, the yokai and the adepti, the kitsune and the oni, and more importantly, to other dragons, it's an overwhelming, suffocating claim on his lover, you.

Your 'scenting sessions' are an incredibly intimate and vulnerable position for both of you. It's something that is equally, if not more intimate than a heated make out session. He's offering a gift to you, a part of himself that cannot be taken from you, a gift that you receive with pleasure, gleefully taking his mark.

He's taken by surprise when you first mention it to him. You've never done anything like this before, but it's not an unwelcome surprise. You're both sitting on a comfortable, but luxurious, couch. He pulls you closer to the center of the couch before placing his hand on your chest and gently pushing you back until your head lands softly onto the cushioned headrest. He crawls on top of you, caging you between his body and the couch, giving you a way out while he pauses and looks up at you with his golden, seemingly glowing eyes. He continues, softly rubbing the side of his face and his neck against your own, it's cute, you think, like a cat-- until he bites just below your jawline with sharp canines that you could have sworn weren't there before.

The next time, it's your turn, in the same position but with you on top. You repeat his movements, but instead of biting him, you tell ask him to bite you. He's distracted, you glance up at him and its then that you notice that his once diamond shaped pupils are slitted, he's breathing heavy through his mouth-- and is he-- is he blushing?

During his ruts, his scent is intoxicating, a very welcome aphrodisiac that urges you to let him have his way with you. Its stimulative qualities may as well be a mild side effect as you would let him have his way with or without its help. Its strongest when given through a bite or through... other bodily fluids, but its only done this way when he's at his most vulnerable and possessive state, during his rut. (Or unless he's asked, which may as well be an immediate trigger to an early heat.)

You're his one and only lover, a treasure worth protecting, a jewel that he just might one day whisk away to his den, keeping you to himself for an eternity. He resists this urge at the very least, but it's not like you would be complaining any if he did.

Post-first scenting session:

"My love, where did you learn of this?"

"Oh! On my last trip to Inazuma, my friend-- you don't know her, she's a pink haired fox-girl--"

"--a kitsune?"

"Yeah, she told me to mention it to you-"