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“—So then Yaoshi offered me this weird, red fruit that was beating like a living organ,” Khaslana rants, gesticulating widely. He’s seated on the edge of Nanook’s palm with his legs hanging over the side. From time to time, he snags a roasted chestnut from the paper cone by his thigh, peeling them absentmindedly with practiced motions, the shells tossed into the boiling river of golden blood below. It’s a good solution for getting rid of the rubbish, but it makes Nanook feel strange in his heart.
The home visits murder attempts continue, but this is the second time Khaslana has come over to just complain. This plot seems to have derailed…
“—And I told that lunatic no, I don’t want to be fertile, thank you very much—”
Nanook blinks. “What?” Because, what? Why in the name of the Cosmos is Yaoshi so fixated on knocking Khaslana up, even after Nanook delivered an unforgettable warning? Irritation stirs, Nanook double checking Khaslana again to make certain he bears no other Aeon’s mark. None. Good. At least Yaoshi knew better than to touch Khaslana this time. Nanook can somewhat understand Yaoshi’s fascination. After all, Khaslana is golden and beautiful; it makes sense that THEY would want to make him breedable as well.
…
Having just popped a chestnut into his mouth, Khaslana’s cheeks puff up, slapping an angry hand down on Nanook’s palm (it tickles). “Are you even listening to me?” He chomps down aggressively. “This is all your fault in the first place!”
“How do you keep attracting Aeons?” Nanook returns. He peers down at Khaslana, unable to understand this point. Last time it was Aha, a real nightmare to deal with; the time before that Xipe.
“That’s what I’m asking you. It’s always the strange ones too.” The wings fluff in aggravation. “They’re your colleagues aren’t they? You’re my damn Aeon, can’t you get them off my back? No other Emanator has to deal with this bullshit—”
My Aeon, Khaslana said. His Aeon.
“—Zephyro even snickered at me. Snickered. Didn’t IX take all his emotions or something?”
“THEY did.”
“Oh.” Instantly, Khaslana deflates, wings drooping. “I… shouldn’t have made light of that. Even if Zephyro is a dick.” He absently rubs his right arm.
Nanook watches Khaslana pluck another chestnut to peel. It seems they’re getting along well. “I’ll take care of the other Aeons.” Since Khaslana called Nanook his Aeon, THEY can do this much for him. “The only one that can’t be deterred is Aha.”
Khaslana makes a sound of disgust. “That nutcase.”
On that, Nanook completely agrees. “If I strengthen your mark, you can call me to you. In case Aha finds you again.”
Khaslana stares blankly at Nanook. “Strengthen my mark…?” The sun on his neck flares in understanding, and he bristles, growling, though there’s also a tinge of color to his cheeks. “I can take care of myself.”
Disappointing, but it was worth a try.
Stomping to his feet, Khaslana cleans his hands with a flash of flame. Nanook is pleased to see Khaslana has mastered Destruction’s fire, but the feeling is complicated. Using it to wash his hands is practical, but Destruction shouldn’t be used like this…
“Anyways, you take care of that.”
Nanook cocks THEIR head. “Leaving so soon? Aren’t you going to ‘bring me Destruction’ this time?”
Khaslana stiffens, confirming Nanook’s suspicion that he (temporarily) completely forgot about killing Nanook. “Clean up your mess first!” he blusters. “I’ll kill you after. You just wait for it!”
Nanook’s mouth curves, suppressing a chuckle. “I’ll be waiting for you then.”
Something in Nanook’s tone has Khaslana shooting THEM a furious glare.
His ears are red.
Swiftly, Khaslana launches himself into the air, soaring away.
Leaving behind a paper cone of roasted chestnuts in Nanook’s hand, a tiny spot of white against the massive palm. There’s about a third left. It’s not a mistake. Having watched Khaslana for so many cycles, Nanook knows he always tidies up after himself.
It’s an offering.
Distracted by his ire, Khaslana hadn’t even realized he was leaving an offering for his Aeon.
A feeling rises that Nanook can’t quite place. It’s pleasant.
Reducing the size of THEIR body to better appreciate the gift, Nanook folds THEIR form in until the paper cone fits in THEIR hand. Sitting down cross-legged on an island of stone, THEY take a nut out, copying Khaslana’s motions to peel it. The chestnut is delicious, sweet and smoky. The peel travels an arc, tossed into the seething golden river.
Zephyro, walking in on this scene: …
Zephyro: (Why is my Aeon out of character again?)
Zephyro: (…It was Khaslana, wasn’t it? Sigh. I’ll come back later.)