#poses here

𝐈 𝐁𝐄𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇, 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐆𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐄 𝐒𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆. 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐖𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆.

@lightfallls

Child of light speaks such sweet words to the one who keeps the shackles of shadows in her dainty fingers. It doesn't matter, she thinks, it doesn't matter if he doesn't know. It's better this way and she'll be who he thinks she is. It's better this than to have someone get in her way before she reaches her goal. Acting is in her blood, hollowness will be filled with imagination and mastery of survival and perfected study. From expressions to body language, from word choice to

He can think of her as a damsel in distress and use that to protect her, seeing only elegance and feminine appearance. Actually, it may not be that bad. Power courses through her veins, but Zarina knows brute force won't give her what she wants. Younglings like this boy shouldn't be underestimated solely because she's seen child soldiers and those who have power within them (she, herself, alongside her twin was one).

"But who is not?" Zarina asks softly, tilting her head to the side while giving a soft smile to their other. The world was not fair, it was not kind, and it did not care about anyone but its own order. Even if it meant its own destruction. "In this world, you need to play with cards you're dealt with, right? It doesn't matter how old you are or what you want. A prey in a predator's world? I should hide better, then."

No, the predator here is her and her alone. Elemental power courses through her veins and through every cell in her body. She is the wolf in sheep's clothing, a snake beneath a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a beast in the beauty. A sweet smile, a word of adoration, and the appearance of an ethereal goddess. This one knows too much about how to play her cards correctly, leading so many to succumb their wills to satiate her interest and her boredom. The true consort of darkness stands before this young man, but she won't raise her hand against him until there is need. A child, an elder, a teenager, an adult - it doesn't matter, if they stand in her way she'll slay all of them.

But right now? They are just acquaintances. They meet and he gave his 'kind word' to her. Adorable, isn't it?

@al-hazen

It's not always the Scribe who can capture her between a wall and himself, it can so easily be turned around. It's exactly what she wanted: to get him where she wanted and to strike akin the huntress that she's always been, ever since her birth. It's exciting when he speaks to her in such daring and borderline snarky manner, his dry humor may scare away others but Sokolova finds herself concentrating too much on the sound of his voice and bask in that honeyed sensation it brings to her ears. It's been a local joke about them: Al-Haytham can speak the letters of Pi and she'd listen with a lovestruck expression on her face. So in love, so deeply and utterly in love.

But right now, she's all passion and sharpness. Not giving a moment of turning the tables against her. It's her turn to press him against the wall and capture his lips with her own. It's a kiss of claim, a kiss of daring wishes, a kiss of love. A love that lightens up the candles and makes the summer heat of Sumeru feel just a bit chiller from how intoxicating the feeling is.

Zarina kisses Al-Haytham like it's breathing, essential to her existence. Her fingers curl around his wrist, pressing it against the wall but then she changes her hold to intertwine their fingers together and hold his hand like that as she indulges in the feel of his lips. He's known as the lunatic, as the man who others don't want to cross, as the person whose sharp gave can cut you in two. But she knows what happens behind closed doors and what hides beneath those seemingly pride-like behaviors. Al-Haytham can be as passionate as she can be, and he can greedy. Oh, she loves it when he shows his greed when it comes to her.

It's her turn to keep him occupied. It's her turn to cage him. It's her turn to remind him that she, too, is a hawk and a woman of power despite usually using her silver tongue to talk her out of situations. Chest against chest, lips against lips, heart against heart. They fit so perfectly against each other like two pieces of a perfect puzzle. Zarina can't help but bite down on his lower lip teasingly before letting her tongue slide across that bite as if she apologized (she didn't). It's all to claim, to show her attraction, to confess her love in action.

And when their lips part, golden eyes shine with love and passion. It's rare for her eyes to shine so brightly with emotion, but they shine because it's him. It's him and that's all that matters.

"I hope I didn't hold you off for too long, dear Scribe," she shows no sign of any regret over her actions. Her words are a purr as if she's a cat delighted with her new delicacy. "Consider it your punishment for not paying attention to me."

Zarina chuckles then, but gives his hand a light squeeze.

The half-Qilin knows when someone is different. Be it Traveler from another world or another being who was similar to herself or to those whom she had known before. Be it youkai or adepti or another entity altogether, everyone has a certain aura surrounding their existence. Qilins, with their benevolent and sensitive nature, have felt when there was a mystery surrounding a person. It's been too long since she had witnessed or met anyone who befitted a similar aura as her comrades from the Archon War. Someone powerful, someone ancient, someone truly praiseworthy. Though, unlike those who would sense power and think of how dangerous it was, Qilins were also known as those who could sense good and bad from others. Be it the whirlpool of chaos or the gentle sun rays radiating from someone. Ganyu, upon being half-Qilin, did sense those things acutely but not to the point of her ancestors. Sometimes, it's both a blessing and a curse.