#obyrekh

Cause something about the suffocating horror of losing one's soul & ending up imprisoned for all eternity in a hollow, cold metal body. Coupled with the tragedy of never experiencing the warmth of a fellow kin,or really any deep emotions like love,fear or determination ever again really emphasizes how precious life is in spite of its hardships and pain.

Not too mention the many ways we see necrons cope with the "boredom" of immortality in order to maintain their sense of self & struggle to cling on to their past lives as necrontyr really hammers it home how to valuable the flesh is. Which is what made me feels so connected to them so strongly.

What was supposed to be a quick 10-20k gift for @utane (who gave me too many fun ideas to work with) turned out to be way bigger than I thought. Not that I'm complaining. The Gidrim husbands deserve an entire slow burn romance novel, and I am honored to give it to them 🙏

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57011161/chapters/144983326

Summary: Obyron is an immortal, a soldier, and a commander of a squad that fights for every day they draw breath. Until the eccentric overlord of Gidrim, Zahndrekh, comes to him with a proposal: become his consort in exchange for safety and comfort Obyron and his comrades have never imagined.

Agreeing is simple, but the process of courtship is anything but. Obyron is thrust unprepared into the world of palace intrigue, alongside a future husband who is clever, charming, beautiful and utterly perplexing.

“Setekh.”

“Mm?”

“You do know that man is one of my warriors, yes?”

Setekh's eyes narrowed with hunger. “Are you offering? You could order him in here right now. I think I would-”

“All of him is mine.”

But good things never last forever, and Setekh's gaping fishmouth soon sharpened into a tight grin. “You fiend. I should have known a piece like that wouldn't slip by unnoticed.”

Zahndrekh brought his glass up to his lips and took a long, satisfied sip as he waited for Setekh to come up with a response. He appeared to have locked up, mouth still parted slightly with nothing coming out. So that's what it takes to make him shut up.

Make it convincing. “How could I? You've seen him. Like an old god carved from stone - he could pick me up with one arm and carry me across the drill yard without breaking a sweat.”

“Oh, you can't say things such as that, making me think of him sweating.”

“Dedicated. Blazingly competent. Loyal, both to his commander and to his squad. Even-tempered, both on the field and off it. Not smart, perhaps - I don't believe he can read very well - but clever and wise beyond what anyone expects of the average soldier. And he spends a fair amount of his free time working out, even after normal drills. He genuinely tries to be the best he can.”

“By the stars.”

“Beg your pardon?”

Setekh waved his hands at Zahndrekh's face. The gesture was clumsy with wine now; he might not have to keep the act up much longer. “You're getting all soft-eyed. Don't tell me you actually like this man.”

Zahndrekh struggled to close his own stuttering mouth now. “What can I say, competence is attractive.”

“So we're in agreement!” As if toasting some great victory, Setekh raised his glass to Zahndrekh before taking his next sip. “You know… hear me out. Have him summoned, and we could share him. Clearly both of us appreciate him. Why not enjoy him together? I know it's been a while since we-”

“I did say he was mine, didn't I, Setekh?”

“Which is why there's nothing stopping you from calling him here immediately. You're clearly thinking about it.”

“I've considered it. And my conclusion is ‘no.’ I'm not keen on breaking him just for one fun night.”

“What? He's just a warrior! They don't even properly court each other; do you think you need to woo him or some nonsense?” Setekh scoffed.

If he won't stop pawing at the cookie jar, put it out of his reach. “Considering I plan to make him my vargard, yes, to a degree.”

“... You cannot be serious.”

“I'm not keen on getting on bad terms with someone who will be responsible for my food tasters and guard patrols.”

“No, him? As a vargard? He's an Immortal. Surely you would want to take a lychguard. A warrior with pedigree, not a sandborn walking gun-mount. Does he even know how to handle a glaive?”

“I told you, he practices in his free time. I've seen him work with the glaive plenty.”

I can also finally share this piece I was commissioned for @magistralucis 's summer fest fic, From Darkness Unto Thy Light!

Always a pleasure working with you, highly, highly recommended reading this work.

Thanks to @smaller-comfort for tagging me! Like a lot of people, I don't so much have a 'WIP folder' as I have a 'folder where WIPs live, among other things' 😅 These are just the files that I've edited in the past 60 days:

Files not marked in red are irrelevant. Files in Korean are translation efforts at necron novels. Everything I made notes on I'd be willing to talk about. Feel free to ask away 💖

Animatic commission for @agrove101