No idea what's compelling me but I am deciding to share this strange scenario that came to me some months ago in the late fall
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 never got the full context after that, but he comes to back in his necron body and almost immediately has a meltdown bc the 'dream' was so realistic he'd actually felt alive again. But I do know he was being purposefully manipulated. By who? For what purpose? I do not know <3 but I'm sure he gets out of there and finds / saves Zahndrekh and gets them both to safety and hopefully dismantles whoever was trying to fuck w them in the first place 🎉











