#cipher x reader

you wake up in your room in the expre—...

wait...the express?

you clearly remember fighting Irontomb to death...all the alliances, the geniuses, they— they were all with you right? so why

how did it end so quickly?

you wake up in hopes of finding your crew in all and well...

but why do you hope to see 13 more faces amongst them? Will your wishes be answered?

"shh! be quiet! he can hear us!" "no no no! I can't do this...!"

you heard shrill mumbles coming from your bathroom which you thought can be an intruder... you grabbed your bat and went in to find it

empty...

blub blub blub bubble bubble...

oh

no wonder

"come on out i know its you" you fold your arms as a smile sneaked up on your lips once the two noisy culprits stood up with Castorice heaving from the effort of holding her breath underwater.

"The golden water gave you two away Cipher and Castorice" you chuckle, feeling fuzzy as you see the two chrysos heirs. "Well someone couldn't hold her breath underwater..." she rolls her eyes as Castorice quickly jumps up to her defence "Not everybody is like Miss Hysilens!"

soon they let you leave to find the other heirs and as you make your way to the parlor car, you see Trinnon and Trianne run in the hallway of the bar.

You chat with Hyacine and Ica who could only doot doot their way in your conversation.

A bright and cheery conversation with Mydei, Aglaea and Cerydra over wine only they drank.

You got over to Trianne and Trinnon where the latter is currently chasing the former with the help of Tribbie. Cute very cute

It's so peaceful...and so warm and happy

In the Passenger Cabin you find Anaxa and Hysilens. With Anaxa who may or may not have taken some very downright blasphemous ideas after looking into the Tin Can's head. After a chit chat, you find Phainon.

You rush over after seeing him. How long it has been since you last saw him. "Long time no see partner!" he greeted you with that sunny smile you came to adore in all those months with him and others as you faced so so many trials and tribulations that it all now feels just like yesterday still lingering at your fingertips.

"Just hearing about Penacony and the Xianzhou Alliance from Dan Heng isn't really enough to make me imagine just how impressive those places sound like!"

"There are many places you can still visit on the cosmos Phainon" you beam excitedly as you tell him about it. "Some village with wheat fields like Aedes Elysiae must exist somewhere then surely?" he smiled but there was a hint of melancholy in his town now having to leave behind his past forever and journey towards the future wiht renewed hope.

"And your pink haired friend is also waiting for you!" he states. "Where is she-" "Oh come on you know she has a way of coming up at the right time"

"He is right my friend"

Ah...there she is, your beloved friend who stayed beside you all this time, all these centuries and cycles.

"Cyrene! what happened? did we win? did Irontomb fall?" you ask frantically your mind racing a thousand miles.

"Well...Irontomb has been defeated but he has not fallen...if we do no contain him then he might rise again but we can think about it later! The Express Car really exceeds my expectations from all those visions and dreams that i saw from you!"

but something feels off...

"So...this is not a dream? You guys are not fake?"

"Hm? Of course we arent't! Although the world that we so desperately fought for is now nothing but a star drifting in the cosmos, it is a seed that will be nurtured to its full growth and Amphoreus will be born anew hehe" she smiles at you, with hope straining her words

"So...you guys will now stay with us? With the Crew?"

"They will journey with us now until they find their own purpose" you hear Himeko's voice as she approaches you with Welt, Dan Heng and March and Pom Pom.

"As the Conductor we have all unanimously decided to let the Heirs stay in the Express for as long they like!" "In this trailblazing journey, we always welcome visitors abroad but they are more than just visitos or passerby to us" Welt fixed his glasses as he sounded Himeko and Pom Pom's claim. March chirped in "Wow! We are catching people from the cosmos like strays now! First it was Sunday then the whole Chrysos Heir group!" Dan Heng said "Well there should be enough room for them"

"What...about you Cyrene? You haven't said anything about staying in the express..."

"Well i still have some unfinished business so... i wish for the cosmos to know about the romantic story that we have penned down for Amphoreus so.." she handed you As I've Written "fill up the blank pages with the epic saga that we foretold" she gave you a wink but you saw how her eyes were threatening to spill the tears

"See you tomorrow then friend! it was a beautiful and romantic journey like no other..." she turned her back

its supposed to be beautiful sure but does it feel so conflicting? so empty? why is this reality like a sweet dream?

"and i hope you will forgive me friend"

until we meet again

farewell, Amphoreus

see you tomorrow, PhiLia093/peach/Elysia

yall got no idea 'bout how badly I cried after completing the quest. its beautiful and the fact that amphoreus might form again if we keep on trailblazing in an unknown number of years is quite comforting which means we might get to see them again

✦ summary : hsr valentine's special! how your faves would go about spoiling you this holiday.

✦ content warnings : none, a lot of fluff. find your love language, and see which characters would do the best at giving you it! — part two 'what are their love languages' coming march 14th

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

They've always held you in high regard. Their partner is wonderful in so many ways words alone can't explain. But they'll find a way to worship you with them anyways. A coy smile on their face or a heartfelt expression is what you'll see as they shower you with compliments and minute things you didn't know they kept track of.

ft. jade, anaxa, CIPHER, feixiao, WELT, sparkle, SUNDAY

PHYSICAL TOUCH

You thought they were physical before? Oh you haven't seen anything yet. Valentine's morning, and they'll have a hard time letting you go. Your Valentine's with them is filled with cuddles, holding and kissing at every moment. They've given you their heart, and they can only hope to be closer to yours.

ft. topaz, BOOTHILL, constance, FIREFLY, guinaifen, MYDEI, kafka, ARGENTI

GIVING GIFTS

That odd device you mentioned a month ago? Merch of characters you told them you liked? They'll find a way to get you it. And don't get them wrong, their presents are passionate. Handmade crafts, considerate keepsakes. They'll either surprise you by sheer quantity or quality. Each gift is a fraction of their heart.

ft. ruan mei, AVENTURINE, phainon, CYRENE, serval, sampo, DAN HENG

ACTS OF SERVICE

They spend the whole day doting on you. Like it's their life's purpose to make sure you're not stressed, hungry or unsatisfied. They'll make you breakfast, massage your neck, get you your favorite drink. There's no uncertainty that you'll be able to feel how much they care. This day is all about you, and they're determined to show how infallible their love is.

ft. veritas ratio, HIMEKO, jiaoqiu, MOZE, gallagher, ROBIN

QUALITY TIME

They wish they could have all the time in the world to stay right by your side. Forever is a thing that's hard to imagine. But they don't have to worry about that as long as you wake up and go to sleep together. Whatever date night they planned ends up soothing their heart because you're there with them, busy schedules aside, they'll make dedicated time for you

ft. ACHERON, aglaea, CASTORICE, march 7th, JING YUAN, blade

no matter what, your faves love you in just the right way you need.

Amphoreus men and ladies as your pet cat.

Part 1 and part 2.

Characters: Mydei, Anaxa, Phainon, Cipher, and Aglaea

Mydeimos

🍷 Is a Somali breed.

🍷 Mydei is an aloof and reserved cat that prefers to be left alone. He’s not a lap cat that you can cuddle and pick up whenever you please, at least, not until you spend enough time earning his trust. Over time, he learns to tolerate your desire to touch him, but most other people aren’t so privileged. Unless they’re children, that is. Mydei is surprisingly tolerant and gentle towards kids. Even if they tug on his tail or fur, he never lashes out at them.

🍷 He's also very stubborn. During the first few months of your cohabitation, Mydei would resist and fight back whenever you tried to get him to do something he didn’t want to, such as bathing and brushing. He swatted at you when you pushed your luck, but you noted that he never used his claws on you or even tried to bite. Despite being feisty, he knew not to hurt you. Once he warmed up to you, Mydei became tolerant of you bathing and grooming him even if he didn’t like it. He may flick his tail and look all brooding, but he stays well-behaved during the process.

🍷 Prefers hiding away somewhere high up. Mydei likes to sit on top of the fridge or wardrobe where he’s unlikely to be bothered. Those are his favourite hiding spots whenever you have guests over.

🍷 Mydei is an energetic cat that needs daily exercise and play to burn the excess energy. He gets restless staying cooped up at home with little stimulation and could tear up your furniture and curtains trying to entertain himself. Aside from playing chase with a laser and string, you found that the most effective method was to let Mydei outside where he could run around unhindered.

🍷 Letting him roam outside churned out some interesting results. Despite being a reserved cat, Mydei garnered a large following. Cats from all over the neighbourhood started following him around as if he were their leader. When you opened the door to let Mydei back home, you’d sometimes spot a group of 10 or more cats sitting not too far away before going their separate ways once Mydei disappeared inside. You’d also spot them following him around the neighbourhood, facing off against other strays or engaging in play.

🍷 Aside from human children, Mydei is also gentle with kittens. You discovered him playing with a couple of stray kittens once. He let the little ones bite and hop all over him and even played chase with them.

🍷 Mydei is protective of you and comes running when he senses you’re in distress. There’s a spider you’re afraid of? He kills it for you. There’s a person making you uncomfortable? He sits next to you and growls at them with his tail whipping in warning until they leave. He will even fight off a dog if it gets too aggressive towards you. You’re his most trusted and beloved owner, so he sees it as his duty to protect you. For this reason, he often stays in the same room as you when you sleep, almost as if watching over you.

🍷 Likes to watch you cook. When he hears you working in the kitchen, Mydei will almost always join you and sit somewhere nearby, watching you cook or bake with interest. Will jump on the counter to investigate what you’re making (and get his fur in the food). He likes it when you give him ingredients to sniff and sample. You discovered he’s fond of creamy foods and pomegranate, though you only give them to him in moderation.

🍷 You’ve heard of cats having nine lives, but you swear Mydei has an infinite amount of them. You’ve lost count of the number of times your heart has stopped seeing Mydei fight dogs, fall out of trees, and almost getting hit by a car. Miraculously, he always came out in once piece with nothing more than a few scratches. In fact, Mydei’s health in general is very good. The only times you’ve had to take him to the vet was for shots despite all the precarious situations he’s gotten himself into.

Anaxagoras

🌿 A Russian Blue.

🌿 Shortly after acquiring Anaxa as a kitten, you quickly discovered just how intelligent he was. He didn’t like being separated from his mother and siblings and so became an escape artist in an attempt to go back to his original home. At first, he hid near the front door and waited until you opened it to quickly dart outside. Once you became vigilant and careful about opening the front door, he got crafty. He figured out how to turn doorhandles and used open windows to escape even if they were a few floors up. He got injured doing so, so you had to lock all your windows.

🌿 After a lot of grief, Anaxa eventually accepted his fate of being your new pet and stopped trying to run away. However, he refused to be a cuddly lap cat for you. He doesn’t ask for or give affection, he shies away when you try to pet him and wriggles out of your hold when you try to pick him up. If you pester him too much, he’ll warn you to back off my flicking his tail and hissing. Scratching is his last resort, but he’ll do it if you bother him enough.

🌿 When you’re not forcing your affection onto him, Anaxa can be a surprisingly fun cat to have. His high intelligence enables him to solve complex puzzles. He’s fond of those cat puzzles that require him to solve them to get a treat. He also likes being given obstacle courses to cross, such a needing to cross a hallway covered in string or balloons. Though he’s less fond of obstacles that require him to jump and crawls under them if he can. He likes being challenged since it keeps him mentally stimulated. If he gets bored, Anaxa will play with the faucet, light switches, and get himself into your cupboards and drawers to explore, otherwise he’ll become moody from boredom. You have to regularly entertain him.

🌿 Though it may seem like Anaxa doesn’t like you, that’s not true. Just because he doesn’t let you pet him doesn’t mean he isn’t fond of you. He’s actually very in-tune with your emotions and comforts you when you’re sad or hurting. When you cry, he approaches you and lays on your chest or lets you hold him and cry into his fur without protest. It’s one of the few times when you can pet him without him shying away. He also senses when you’re on your period and comes to lay on your abdomen to soothe your cramping.

🌿 You swear that Anaxa understands every word you say. When you talk to him, his body and expression change in response to what you’re saying, such as flattening his ears when you scold him or perking his tail when you praise him. He also meows back at you as if continuing the conversation. His meows get particularly angry when you try to bathe him or when you come home late.

🌿 Anaxa’s favourite toy is a dromas plushie that he usually keeps in his cat bed and cuddles with to sleep. He also likes wearing the dromas catsuit you bought him. It’s the only outfit he doesn’t try to tear to shreds but actually struts around the house in.

🌿 Due to his high entertainment requirement, you chose to let Anaxa roam outside despite his many attempts to flee as a kitten. To your relief, he didn’t attempt to flee but returned home whenever he was done exploring for the day. However, he tends to come home looking disheveled and sometimes even bleeding. You soon find out that he gets into fights with the neighbourhood cats. For whatever reason, they don’t like Anaxa. Your beloved kitty also eats plants he’s not supposed to, so you had to rush him to the vet a few times.

🌿 During one of his many excursions outdoors, Anaxa injured his eye. You don’t know how it happened, but you were very distraught when you brough him to the vet and were told the eye would have to be removed. You thought about preventing him from going out after that, but Anaxa would ask to be let out and turn into an escape artist again when you refused, so it was easier to just let him and monitor when he went out. Thankfully he never got that injured again.

🌿 Despite his unpopularity with the neighbourhood cats, you were pleased to see him get along with a couple younger cats. Hyacine, Castorice, and Phainon sometimes followed Anaxa like kittens following their mother and he tolerated them well. You even caught him grooming one of them. There is also Calypso, a stray that spends a lot of time with Anaxa doing whatever dangerous hijinks he gets up to. You’re not sure about the blind cat Aglaea, though her owner told you she and Anaxa got along well after you left Anaxa in their care for a couple of days.

⋆. 𐙚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 ⋆˚࿔

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characters: Aglaea, Hyacine, Phainon, Castorice, Mydei, Anaxa, Cipher x reader

n/a: This is the last repost from my previous blog! hope you enjoy it ^^ (+ i also added mydei that previously wasn’t included in these hcs :))

warnings: none

words: 800

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hyacine - sweetie, love, sunshine (because you brighten her day). willing to get a little silly with it and call you her teddy bear or cupcake, even if such cutesy names fit her even more!

castorice - dear, beloved, my love. very classical endearments you'd find in literature (most of her exposure to romance comes from books). said very shyly like she's not used to even thinking it.

hysilens - sea butterfly, fish food, small fry, angelfish, starfish, little crab, seabird. clownfish if you're silly. less flattering endearments depending on what kind of ocean creature she's assigned you. it's always out of love though because everything that's part of the sea has its charms.

cerydra - does giving you your own special title count as a pet name. dux cordium? dux amorum perhaps? one of the heirs who isn't necessarily keen on pet names; her esteem for you is evident in other ways.

aglaea - beloved, my sweet, my love, my dearest heart, my other half. however she can convey that you mean everything to her, and she is undone without you. as the heir of romance she has many kind words for you.

evernight - her dearest memory. one of the few things in this universe that is solely evernight's to keep and cherish.

cipher - babe, baby, kitten. her most precious treasure. her beloved chicken sandwich (JOKE)

cyrene - runs the whole gamut of endearments but specifically angel, honey, dearest, darling. for once, the story of her words isn't quite enough to express all her feelings for you, but she'll keep trying anyway.

phainon - my love. seems like he'd bashfully call you babe or sweetheart or honey. similarly to hyacine, you too are his daylight, but also his moon and stars.

anaxagoras - beloved, dearest, dear. keeps it remarkably simple, however his love for you is anything but. often just uses your name because it's just as important as any endearment to him.

mydei - mostly uses your name, however one day he'll unexpectedly call you darling and leave you feeling shocked and flustered about it. not so much reliant on the words to convey his love but it is still apparent when he speaks highly of you in his very proud, noble way.

ʚɞ Sadder days, why do they keep on using me? ʚɞ

Pairings: Phainon, Mydei, Aglaea, Anaxa, Tribbie, Castorice, Hyacine, Cipher + Reader (Platonic)

Summary: Being a child and a Chrysos Heir isn't the easiest life to lead. Before you stand the Council of Elders who question your worthiness, restricts you of privileges. Innocently, you let your fellow Chrysos Heir know about this, thinking it of a funny joke. But their protective reactions say otherwise.

Tags: Fluff, child!Reader, Chrysos Heir!Reader, bullying mentioned, nickname 'Pebble' by Cipher, CW: Caenis

A/N: TYSM FOR THE REQ! HEY GUYS 😘 um tbh i didn't think id write all thw Chrysos Heirs, my indecisive ass couldn't pick 3 so i wrote them all, n i wanted to practice writing them, CIPHER MY DAUGHTER, IF HER PART LOOKS LONGER TO U ITS BC IT IS I LOVE CIPHER, ALSO ‼️‼️‼️ Aglaea is there in almost all the scenerios bc i wanted to keep her beef w Caenis and i wanted to see Caenis get cooked by her, anyways, hope you enjoy!

⚘ Phainon:

You don’t mean to cause a stir. You’re just playing with Phainon in the garden, gathering poppy crowns and giggling over flower names when you casually mention how the Elders always make you skip dinner to memorize ancient hymns—how sometimes, you fall asleep hungry. You don’t say it like it’s a tragedy. Just another thing you’re told is “normal for a Chrysos Heir.”

Phainon stills. The laughter drains from his golden eyes, replaced with an unreadable calm. “They made you go to sleep hungry?” he repeats softly, as if confirming it with himself. When you nod innocently, he offers you a little smile—but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

When Phainon enters the Council chamber, his presence hits like a cold wave. The smile is gone. His sword is at his side, but it’s his voice that cuts deeper. “I don’t remember starvation being part of divine inheritance,” he says with polite fury. “So unless Caenis would like the Court to believe we mistreat children under the name of legacy—” Caenis tries to defend protocol, but Aglaea arrives silently, crossing the chamber like a shadow made of light.

She stops beside Phainon, her voice slicing through. “This Council does not decide who is worthy of meals.” Her sharp eyes land directly on Caenis. “Let it happen again, and Chrysos Heirs will not be the only one watching.”

That day, Phainon sneaks into your room with a basket of your favorite pastries and a bright crimson cloak. “To keep you warm,” he says, gently tucking it around your shoulders. “And full.” His eyes shine with something fiercely protective.

⚘ Mydei:

You’re trying to explain why you couldn’t join the morning drills— “One of the Council Elders said I wasn’t allowed because I ‘stumble too much,’” you say, with a small shrug. Mydei had invited you to watch his sword forms, hoping to inspire you. You thought it was funny at first, even. Mydei doesn’t.

He goes stiff like a storm’s brewing inside him. “Which one?” he asks bluntly. When you tell him, he huffs a sharp breath and mutters, “Coward. Talking like that to a kid.” He doesn’t say much else—just grips your hand and tells you to follow him.

The door to the Council opens with a slam. Mydei doesn’t wait for permission to speak. “Let me make one thing clear,” he growls. “If I hear anyone—anyone—calling a Chrysos Heir weak again, you'll face me in battle. And I won’t be gentle.”

Caenis raises a brow, but Mydei steps forward with a soldier’s bite. “You think you’re teachers? You can’t even train your own mouths.”

The Council stays quiet. Mydei only leaves after Aglaea places a hand on his shoulder and says, “They’ve heard you. Now let them listen.” Her gaze meets Caenis’ like lightning meeting stone.

Later, Mydei gives you a wooden sword shaped like his own. “Next time someone calls you clumsy, show them this. And swing it.” He thinks he's done a great job, at being your self-proclaimed older brother.

⚘ Aglaea:

You didn’t expect her to take it personally. You’re sitting with Aglaea, gently brushing gold thread through her loom while she works, when you mention how the Elders often "joke" that your voice is too soft to be taken seriously. “That’s why they skip me when we make announcements,” you add with a laugh.

Aglaea’s thread stills. “And you believe them?” she asks quietly. You shrug. “They’re just grown-ups. They know more.” Her hands lower from the loom entirely. “No. They should know better.”

She enters the Council chamber with poise, but her tone could cleave marble. “You ridicule a Chrysos Heir for softness when it is precisely softness that weaves our world?” Caenis tries to defend it as “harmless critique,” but Aglaea turns to him fully. “You silence children with cruelty and call it structure. I call it cowardice.” Her voice resonates like bells in frost.

Caenis falters, for once unable to summon a counter. Aglaea’s threads glimmer faintly at her fingertips. “If I ever hear of this happening again, Caenis, your title will not shield you from public scrutiny. Do not test me.”

Later, she invites you to recite the announcements beside her. She amplifies your voice with a golden thread wrapped gently around your throat. “You don’t need to speak louder,” she whispers. “Only truer.”

⚘ Anaxa:

You're munching on fruit slices with Anaxa in the twilight courtyard, swinging your legs off the edge of the marble ledge when you casually say, “The elders said I should never sit there again—something about 'dirtying the marble with a lowborn's presence.' But they were joking, I think?”

Anaxa doesn’t laugh. In fact, he freezes.

You watch him for a moment before he rises silently, his silver decorated gun glinting beneath the faint light. “Stay here,” he says, voice calm in a way that makes the trees stop rustling. When you look up, he's already ruffling your hair before he decides to leave, the gun never leaving his side.

At the next council assembly, Anaxa stands before them, posture straight, gaze unflinching. “If you ever use your authority to wound one of our own again, I will remind you of your place beneath the Heirs,” he said with that rare, cold fire that made even Caenis lean back. Aglaea, seated beside him, adds calmly, “Would you like us to issue a decree about seating, Caenis? Or are you worried it would make your favoritism too obvious?”

Later, you find Anaxa sitting beside you again, wordlessly handing you a fresh fruit plate and adjusting your seat on the marble ledge with a cushion he’s brought. “Let them speak again,” he mutters, “and I’ll make sure they eat their tongues.”

⚘ Tribbie:

You’re on the floor of the garden sketching creatures when Tribbie flops beside you with a sandwich. She offers you half, but you hesitate—“The Elders said I shouldn’t ask for extra food again,” you explain. “They said it makes me look greedy.” Tribbie blinks. Then blinks again.

Then she laughs. “Pfft. Idiots.” You think she’s joking—until she’s marching off across the marble halls, determined she is. She's let Aglaea know everything beforehand to prepare something to have the Council's mouth shut.

She bursts into the Council meeting mid-session. “Who told a child they were greedy for being hungry?” she demands, voice echoing off every polished wall. One of the Elders stutters out something about “teaching restraint,” but Tribbie dismissed them immediately. “You want to teach restraint? Try restraining yourselves from being terrible.”

Just then, Trianne, Trinnon slip in behind her. “We agree,” Trianne says smoothly, already feeling proud at her own intervention. “Very distasteful.” Caenis tries to object—but Trinnon starts unpacking notes of complaints filed by others. Suddenly, the Elders have nothing to say.

Tribbie returns with her arms full of bread rolls, cookies, and a sticky note that has the Tribios and you drawn on it, presumably Trianne's artwork. She plops them down beside you. “Eat like a monarch, heir.”

When you point at the artwork, Trianne suddenly flies over to you, Trinnon tagging along. For the rest of the day, you're surrounded with the company of who you thought were angels, if only you understood how much of it is true.

⚘ Castorice:

You are curled up in the Library of Phillia, showing Castorice a new drawing you made of her butterflies. Offhandedly, you say, “The council laughed at my handwriting when I gave them my poem. They said ‘a Chrysos Heir shouldn’t scribble like a child.’” You smile. “But it’s okay. I’ll just draw instead.”

Castorice blinks, her smile fading.

“That... was not kind,” she says quietly, but there is something brewing behind her eyes—something sharp. She nods to herself, closes your drawing book, and stands. “I’ll be back soon.”

The elders were deep in deliberation when Castorice entered, silent as snowfall. Without greeting, she places your poem on the table before them. “You mocked this,” she says softly. “Mocked a child who creates beauty without pride.” She meets Caenis’s gaze, not blinking. “Do you even remember what it means to feel joy when someone gives you something they made?”

Caenis opens her mouth—but Aglaea, who's been there for a 'conversation' with the Council, speaks first. “Apologize,” she commands. “Or would you rather Castorice recite the council’s mockery before all of Okhema?”

The next day, Castorice returns to the Library with a gentle smile and a new pen set, custom-engraved. “Write anything you want,” she says, setting down her own writing beside yours in hopes of inspiring you. “And if they laugh again, I’ll have them see the work of death myself.”

⚘ Hyacine:

You're gardening in the sun with Hyacine, pulling weeds with muddy hands. Laughing, you say, “The elders said I looked like a wild rat in the wheat fields last time.” You don't realize anything was wrong until Hyacine stops.

Hyacine sits back, hands frozen on the trowel. She tilts her head slightly, face unreadable.

“Is that so?” she asks softly.

Later that evening, she walks alone into the council chamber, Little Ica following her behind. The room quiets as she approaches Caenis, her demeanor just as polite as before.

“I believe it is beneath your station to insult a Chrysos Heir’s appearance while they tend to the lands that feed you,” Hyacine says calmly. “Perhaps you’ve confused your position as Elder with that of Tyrant.”

Aglaea raises an eyebrow from her seat. “Should I schedule a disciplinary hearing, Elder Caenis?”

The outcome is a quiet shift in the way the council looks at you afterward—stiff backs, awkward greetings. That night, Hyacine returns to the field with a wide-brimmed hat and gloves in your size. “Let them come here and work a day,” she says gently. “They won't be able to do half the work you've done.” At that, Little Ica nods its head. You can only smile and giggle, playing with the small animal and blissfully unaware of the situation that had unfolded and folded before your own eyes.

⚘ Cipher:

You’re sitting cross-legged in the Archives Hall with Cipher, who’s animatedly decoding one of the ancient puzzles meant only for Chrysos Heirs. The two of you have always had a curious sibling-like bond — she calls you “pebble,” even though she’s never told you why. As you're watching her flick a holographic rune between her fingers, you casually remark:

“Elder Caenis said I don’t need a voice, just obedience. And that I’m lucky to be allowed in the Twilight Courtyard at all. Isn’t that funny?”

Cipher’s hand freezes mid-air. The rune stops spinning.

Her blue eyes shift sideways toward you, her smile still on — but it’s tight now. Too tight.

“Funny,” she echoes with a little giggle. “Oh, pebble… that’s not funny. That’s war.”

She leans forward, brushing your cheek with her knuckles in a seemingly affectionate gesture, but the glint in her eyes is pure wildfire. You don’t realize it yet, but Cipher's already scheming. And the Council of Elders? They just became her next puzzle to break.

Cipher never storms into the Council chambers. That’s not her way. Instead, over the next week, strange things begin happening. First, an announcement from the Twilight Treasury: several of the Council's estates have been flagged for "historical debt inconsistencies" — despite being paid in full centuries ago. Then, the lights in their personal quarters flicker endlessly in a Morse-like code that spells "Shame. Shame. Shame." in Old Okhemian script. Mysterious scrolls arrive at their doors bearing scandalous (but utterly false) allegations of betrayal against the Chrysos Lineage. The public stirs. Whispers spread like wild vines.

The Council calls an emergency meeting with Aglaea, demanding she identify and restrain the culprit behind the chaos.

Standing before the silver dais, Aglaea regards Caenis and the others with that glimmering stillness of hers — the unbreakable elegance and serene silence.

“You believe someone has targeted you through manipulation, forged accounts, and deception?” she asks, voice silk over ice.

Caenis stiffens. “Yes. The records and the symbols — they’re Cipher’s design. She must be punished.”

Aglaea’s lips part in a soft smile. It doesn’t reach her eyes. “Mmm. How unfortunate,” she replies simply. “But I see no reason to intervene. Perhaps it is your accounts that deserve closer examination.”

She turns away without another word, her threads already weaving protection around you in invisible rings.

Cipher meets you later that night under the sky of the Twilight Courtyard. She’s wearing that same carefree grin, legs swinging from the balcony as if nothing happened.

“Pebble,” she hums. “I handled it. They won’t be bothering you anymore.”

You blink, confused. “What did you do?

She leans in conspiratorially and winks. “Just... moved a few numbers around. Drew some attention. Gave them a taste of feeling small. You know, justice — but with extra glitter.”

You don’t understand all of it, but you smile anyway. Cipher bumps her shoulder against yours and tosses you a tiny silver coin etched with the Council’s crest — and a cartoon goose stamped over it. “Keep it,” she says. “A souvenir. From your very first coup.”

Prompt: What does it look like when they are flustered/how do they act?

Characters: Anaxa, Mydei, Phainon, Cipher, Aglaea,

A/N: Finals are KILLING MEEEEE, just a few more days and I'm free!!! And once I'm free i can spend more time writing :3 So expect more posts this month~!