heya author im new here and is wondering bcs i saw zifra and sistel tag, is there's a ship for zehra/sifra or if its more like poly option or something??
the poly is something i’ve thought about for a while - in a world without their jealousies over sir, they could have been quite good friends (and they both find each other attractive). but implementing it is something that would take a while, both because i need to finish the next update (and wrangle with tweego) and because there’s a lot of tension between sifra/sir/zehra because of the awkward dynamic they had when they were younger
🧸 : Into public displays of affection or are they more reserved?
Zehra: In settings that are more professional, she would be more reserved - however, in "civilian life", or away from the city, she'd be much more comfortable with being openly affectionate.
Sifra: Pathologically opposed to public displays of affection - if you saw them and their partner, you'd assume they were friendly work colleagues. Has the capacity to be very affectionate in private or among trusted friends.
Irin: Depends on the display - something like a kiss, absolutely no problems, literally in public or in private doesn’t matter. Something like a hand touch (or, dare I say it, a wrist touch) - that’s a little intimate for public consumption, he’d rather that, if they did it at all, his partner did that in private.
Estel: Would love a partner to be affectionate with them, all the time in any situation if they're comfortable with it. Like a flower to sunlight.
Anahi: The most she would accept would be some light hand-holding - but she would think it was quite reassuring. She would never initiate or ask for it, though. (She would melt if her partner asked or initiated.)
ROs’ most sensitive areas / where do they like to be kissed or touched the most?
zehra’s thighs are the most sensitive - so for example resting a hand on her thigh when sitting together would make her shift in place. she likes to be kissed on the lips.
sifra likes forehead kisses, also like. kisses to the temple from behind? (i can see it in my mind, but it’s midnight when i’m writing this so i’m not sure if i’m explaining it right, lmk if that makes sense lmao)
irin mostly likes giving neck kisses and receiving thigh kisses - kissing for him mostly comes in the context of sex, at least at first, so that would be what would appeal to him the most.
estel enjoys cheek kisses (because cheek kisses often lead to making out), not least because they’re “safer” in terms of telegraphing intentions.
anahi is touch resistant (not quite touch averse, but she definitely doesn’t enjoy being touched by people she doesn’t trust), so everywhere’s “sensitive” at first - she is always very partial to hand kisses, though.
how jealous do the ROs get? what are they like when it happens?
got a little long <3
zehra actively tries not to be jealous - she tries to make sure that she gives her partner space, but also she finds it deeply unattractive and she doesn't want her partner to think the same. it would have to be something fairly egregious to get a reaction from her, and at that stage she would become much more withdrawn. hiding any vulnerabilities until she has a chance to lick her wounds.
sifra seethes. they've spent the last ten years seething, they're very good at it. they know it's bad, they know it's unattractive and they know they shouldn't but they can't help it. the feeling is too intense, too visceral to ignore, and it awakens too much anxiety. they try to remove themself from the situation (e.g. if at a party, they would leave/go outside to get some fresh air), otherwise they lash out verbally. hurt people hurt people.
irin experiences compersion, rather than jealousy. he'd be the most open to an open relationship, and really just wants his partner to be happy. one thing he would struggle with, though, is not being with his partner - he's more likely to be jealous about something nebulous (e.g. an open-ended contract requires them to leave town for a long time) which means he can't see them.
estel gets "clingier" - terrified of being abandoned, utterly terrified of it, and clings harder if they sense a partner withdrawing or transferring their attention to someone else. you're the only one who's ever stayed, please don't leave now, please--
anahi gets angry. moody, sulky, aggressive in her demeanour, unwilling to hear excuses or apologies. (secretly hopes that you leave - she can stay angry if you leave, she doesn't have to blame herself if you leave).
in terms of game mechanics, estel and anahi would react the worst to the pc having romantic interactions with other characters - it doesn't immediately lock you out, but it will quicker than for the other three.
Your writing is impeccable as always, but that "No" did hurt a lot. Why, Sifra, why do you have to be so cruel?? 😭
i'm glad you liked the update! a little explanation under the cut </3
generally, though, sifra and zehra have different philosophies on how people should engage with the past - sifra thinks you should focus on the present (which means they try not to think about either the past or the future), and on the other hand zehra romanticises the past a lot.
whether or not sifra's been successful at not thinking about the past is debatable...
you’ve heard of golf widows, but this is something else.
shoots and board meetings and brand discussions and activist panels and you haven’t seen zehra in three days, three days of wanting and waiting.
her insta’s pretty, though. the benefits of dating an influencer who seems perilously close to being on a time magazine list are many, and one of those is that her social media feed is vivid enough that you feel like you could be there with her. warm, brown eyes and sunny smiles and soft skin you can almost feel under your hands–
23:23pm: miss you.
the message is typed and sent before you know you’ve done it, and you type and delete and re-type and re-delete a follow-up.
23:26pm: nvm, i’ll see you at the weekend <3
the next thing you’re aware of is the harsh drums at the start of naacho naacho, the rhythmic pounding a drill into your temples. light from your mobile stabs deep into your retinas when you look blearily at your phone and answer before processing who’s calling.
“hello?”
“hey, baby.” baby. a flush of warmth floods through your chest at the pet name, one that had started as a joke when you had been “just friends”, and had lingered long after the point of no return, where you could never be “just friends” again.
“hey.” it’s 2 in the morning, and the memory of needy texts slams into your throat. “sorry if i woke you up, i–”
“i miss you too. how was your day?”
for a moment, your mouth opens and closes uselessly before you demur. “yours was probably more interesting.”
“i want to know about yours.” her tone is firm, but you can hear the smile in her voice and you open up, like a flower under sunlight.
to address some (admittedly otherwise lovely) asks i’ve received - i don’t publish asks about the characters that use incorrect pronouns, and the correct pronouns are as follows:
