hi anon!! hehe I'm glad you liked my art!! 🥰 hmmm. i think intially lyney would be extra hissy towards wrio, like a cat that got hurt somewhere and doesn't want you to get closer. but if they're already well acquainted, lyney might let his mask slip altogether and be the whiniest most dramatic version of himself wrio has ever seen. the juxtaposition of lyney bottling up his big serious feelings to the best of his ability and then being a whiny sad mess when his period hits is just very funny to me, and i think in a way it would be an outlet of his feelings because now he has an ~excuse~ to be whiny (backwards logic, but when have we ever known lyney to be reasonable when his own emotions are concerned).

if lyney is still wary of wrio, he might try not to show that he's not feeling well and brush wrio off when he asks (tho he'd notice the way lyney curls in on himself more than usual and how he keeps having to bite back a grimace). in that case wrio might just try to subtly take care of him, brewing him an extra cup of tea or getting a special snack from the cafeteria that he knows lyney likes. if they're closer, then how lyney reacts can switch within the blink of an eye. he might bicker with wrio even more than usual, or be snappy and unreceptive to wrio's teasing. he might crawl all over wrio for physical comfort or shy away from his touch. maybe once in a while his emotions might overwhelm him and he'll sob and sob and scream at wrio to leave him alone (he'll always apologize after though).

i think in any case wrio might try to take care of lyney either by physical reassurance, bringing him comfort items, or being a sounding board as lyney rants and whines and groans about how sucky he feels. he might keep lyney's head in his lap and run his hands through lyney's hair to distract him from his cramps, maybe give him a back massage or run a bath for him to relieve lyney's resulting backache. he'll cuddle lyney until he gets enough of it, get the treats lyney is craving, ask sigewinne for medicine that helps relieve lyney's pain. anything to make lyney feel better and act more like his usual self, really (though wrio could get used to lyney's more cuddly moments, hehe).

i hope this answered your questions, anon! feel free to let me know if you want to know more!! 💕

I'm so sorry it took me so long to respond anon, my brain has been stuffed with other things 😭😭 the difficult thing about this is that, well, there's so many ways it could go!! my initial thought is that both of these guys are so emotionally constipated they would've been dedicated to taking those feelings to the grave if other people didn't push them to finally get together hfdkfjdj. and it's not like they're oblivious; they're very perceptive and have probably noticed that the other has some kind of feelings for them!! it's just that these morons are so reluctant to accept happiness when it's given to them. they don't think they deserve it or that they're ~supposed~ to have good things, even just subconsciously, that they push away these opportunities time and time again until someone forces them to see sense.

but let's just say that that isn't the case (i for one would also like to put their respective traumas aside and focus on the fluff/humor potential). i like the thought of lyney orchestrating some kind of over-the-top confession event, but i think the vulnerability involved would make lyney kind of shrink in on himself the way he does when he's around people he's close to. his confession would be a whispered one in the dark when wriothesley is almost asleep, or mumbled under his breath when wriothesley is busy with work, to give him just a smidge of plausible deniability in case wrio reacts negatively to it. maybe he has to give it a few tries, laughing it off out of reflex whenever wrio asks him to repeat himself because despite everything he's still afraid of opening up like that.

wrio feels different to me, even if his uh. emotional situation is similar to lyney's. he seems like a guy that values honesty, and maybe he might just tell lyney about his feelings once he's 100% sure they exist just so lyney like knows what's up with him?? bc i think their falling in love would be a slow and gradual process, and the more wrio falls the more his behaviour shifts, which is something lyney easily picks up on. his confession is more of a selfless action meant to put lyney at ease, to clear the air between them, and he stresses that he doesn't expect lyney to return his feelings, just to tell wrio where his boundaries lie so wrio doesn't accidentally cross them.

but ultimately, cheesy as it sounds, it feels like a confession between them doesn't need words. neither of them seem particularly concerned with the line people see between platonic and romantic relationships, especially when they're already sexually involved with each other. i think that maybe one day they're just casually spending time together and it kind of sinks in how much they've learned to trust each other and how much they've found a home in each other, even if they're scared to admit to themselves or anyone else how much the other means to them. they just kind of naturally learn, together and with each other, how to let others in and be vulnerable around each other, and by the time they realise how far they've gotten, they're not pulling back, even if they might have before. they've gotten so used to each other that it's not as scary anymore, and they don't want to let go of that newfound safety. and if that happens to come with casual displays of affection and kisses, sure, they'll take it!

this is of course assuming a mostly canon compliant setting, so if you're heading into au territory there are even more options to consider!! this is all i have for now though, but if you want me to go more in depth or have different questions feel free to let me know!!! 💞💞

oh my god anon hfjdhdjfj HELP the secondhand embarrassment,,, maybe lyney expected their house to be empty for a good while so he and wrio could go at it but then arle comes home from work early or something... i can't even envision how exactly she would react, lol. she probably wouldn't enter lyney's room so casually or without knocking, so maybe she walks in on wrny getting freaky on the living room couch. in which case she'd definitely get annoyed at the thought of lyney getting their couch dirty hfkdjfk. while she might technically take up the role of parental figure i don't see her as particularly parental, she would mostly just let lyney make his own decisions so there's little judgement on her part. i can kinda imagine her pinning wrio with a glare and asking him in a way that's both deadpan and threatening if he's wearing protection (if wrio is doing the penetrating in this case). wrio would gulp and nod tersely and then arle would go "alright" and leave them to their fun hfkdjfk. tho i think lyney would feel way too embarrassed to continue whatever it was they were doing. lyney double-checks his housemates' schedules before he invites wrio over for a good time again lol

hi anon!! hmm, I'm not so sure either, considering lyney's leading a bit of a double life. i could definitely see him as some kind of performer, like an actor or idol, but he might also be some kind of activist or something that allows him to help people behind the scenes (legally or illegally lol).

honestly there's plenty of options depending on how much you're willing to bend their canon occupations. sure, cop is a go-to option for wrio, but he could also be a security guard, a fireman, or even a lawyer or a mechanic if you want to play more with his sense of justice or his tinkering skills respectively. lyney also has plenty of options if you go less literal and more based on his personality and characteristics. either way, it's an alternate reality, so you can go as ham as you want!! you could let them have jobs that don't align with their characters at all, either because you think it would be cool or because it's a job they're currently stuck in because they didn't have the opportunity to get their dream job. it all depends on what kind of story you want to explore! ✨

omg anon yes!!! these guys have absolutely zero experience with any kind of intimacy, and i love the thought of them learning to navigate it together 🥺🥺

i often kinda default to the headcanon that lyney does have experience with sex but moreso as a tool than as an act of love, so it's kinda refreshing to think about lyney actually shying away from it. I'm tempted to throw some asexuality in there as well (yes I'm using the self-projection beam, sue me); lyney never really experienced desire and what he's seen of sex in his corner of the world usually contains violence and coercion, so he doesn't want any part in it. There IS however some kind of tension between him and wriothesley, but it's something neither of them really know how to express.

physical touch is probably something they have to ease into, starting with holding hands or short caresses until they're comfortable enough to cuddle for longer amounts of time. i think especially wriothesley is extremely touch-starved to the point that he, paradoxically, finds most touches kind of overwhelming and foreign, and it takes a while before both touching and being touched feels natural. lyney is better off because of his close relationship with his siblings, but not by much. he might have an easier time initiating touch, though, because of his more social nature. the more comfortable they become around each other, the closer they get to maybe crossing the boundary to more sensual acts. maybe they're making out and things get heated enough that they start rutting against each other, or they're cuddling and letting their hands wander into previously unknown territory. i imagine their initial reaction is to shy away from it, pull back into familiar territory. but by that time they've built up a strong enough bond that the newness of it is all that blocks them, not a lack of trust.

before they try anything they discuss things at length, but some boundaries in place, share their worries. after that come many, many tries at exploring their desires, some successful, some not. they slowly find out what the other likes, what works for them and what doesn't, what to keep in mind when the other is nervous or in a bad mood. many times they called it off because things got too intense and they needed a moment to process. it's a very non-linear journey, but each try, successful or not, reinforces their trust in each other, because they know they CAN pull back safely and say no, not now, not there, maybe another time.

now i kind of want to write them going on that journey, as someone on the asexual and aromantic spectrums the slow discovery and steady building of trust and experience speaks deeply to me haha :') thank you for sharing your idea anon!!! 💕💕

I LOVE HARBINGER LYNEY!! especially if he also takes over the House of the Hearth (bc those things don't necessarily go hand in hand). he'd be such a good Father, teaching the kids to be loyal and stick together above all and only using fear the way arle does as a last resort 🥹 one of the first things he'd do when he's in charge is to strengthen the bond between the House and the Fortress: not only would that help for intelligence gathering, but it would also make regular meetings between lyney and wrio less suspicious. i really love the idea of wrio turning into this fun uncle for the kids at the House when he comes over for a meeting with lyney hfkejjfjf. another benefit of the strengthened bond between the House and the Fortress is that wrio gains a bit more leniency in whatever information or missions he might get involved in, and him knowing more about the inner workings of the fatui wouldn't be considered as much of a risk. lyney tries his best to keep his work separate from his relationship with wrio, but it's not always easy with the way wrio values the law, even if he understands that sometimes other methods are necessary to get the filth off the streets efficiently.

if they're not dating already by the time lyney becomes harbinger, they definitely will as soon as he does, bc harbinger lyney is the FULL PACKAGE. i actually kind of like the thought of lyney and wrio having had a fwb kind of arrangement closer to the canon timeline (with lots of unresolved feelings, obviously), until lyney needs to prepare to take over the House and withdraws with a confession still on his tongue. a year passes, maybe two, maybe three, as they both try and fail to get over one another while working to reach their respective goals. when lyney enters the fortress again with a new title on his belt and an incentive to talk to wrio he's a little taller, a little more muscle-y, his body a little more balanced compared to his lanky young adult self. his hair is a little longer, his face a little sharper, but his smile is still just as beaming as before. he combines his charisma and easy-going nature with the calculating diplomacy that arle imprinted on him, making him a harbinger to be reckoned with. wrio is instantly blown away by his well-tailored suit that both teases at his assets and leaves plenty to the imagination, the subdued smile that has the wildfire in him neatly contained, the newfound confidence -- fully genuine, this time, not partly a farce -- apparent through every move he makes as he enters wrio's office for the first time in years.

the tension in the air zaps like electricity as they saunter through the formalities, until lyney lets his mask slip when every business topic has been discussed and asks if wrio would like to spar with him in the ring to shake their bodies loose, as they used to do sometimes in the past. there wrio experiences lyney's improved martial prowess first-hand, and it's the first time in a long while that he's beaten in the ring. i can just imagine the smug, vindicated smile on lyney's face as he pins wrio to the ground, leaning in close and murmuring "now we're even~" in wrio's ear. wrio is trying VERY HARD not to pop a boner right there, i assure you 🤭 it's no question what they end up doing together after that, hehe.

i hope this answer isn't too fragmented, I've had a long day and my brain is very tired right now hfkdjfj. please let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on something or share my thoughts on something more specific (bc for now i kept it fairly general and wrote down whatever came to mind, but i can say more with the right prompting)!! thank you for asking, it makes me very happy that someone wants to hear my thoughts on things 💕💕💕

man, the thought of wrio trying to be supportive of lyney's choices while also being wildly jealous is so,,, it's both hot and sad?? he wants lyney so bad but he needs lyney to come to him first, he wants whatever their relationship might become to be completely on lyney's terms, but lyney keeps flirting with other men around the fortress and it makes wrio's stomach churn bc he is here!! waiting!! and he can't comment on lyney's choice of company bc he isn't technically making a move on lyney and so isn't technically a competitor, but he still gravitates closer to lyney and tries to signal lyney is his without actually forcing lyney into something he doesn't want. and lyney... lyney is just doing all this to get wrio's attention and his passiveness and his slightly sarcastic support of lyney's conquests infuriates him!!! like sir i am TRYING to get you over here but you keep being a gentleman and respecting my boundaries!!! my god these two are so smart but so stupid 😭😭 just TALK to each other i PROMISE it will not kill you

those are some great thoughts, anon! i feel like maybe he's searching for some kind of stability trying to court older men, or maybe he sees himself as older than he actually is bc he was forced to grow up so quickly. maybe with older men he can kind of feel like the younger boy he never got to be, have someone take care of and look after /him/ for a change. i think people closer to his own age remind lyney of the differences between their experiences, how they are more free than he's ever been or ever will be. he can be and IS friendly with them, sure, but he kind of envies them, too, and maybe he sees himself as a bit too broken to subject to souls so young and innocent.

.... or maybe he just finds older men hot. who's to say 🤭

hi anon! hmm.. I've expanded on scenarios previous anons sent about jealous wrio on here before (just scroll down my previous answers if you want to read them!) but we haven't really discussed lyney yet so I'll see what i can come up with for him... i think jealous lyney could swing two different ways: when he's in a decent headspace, his jealousy comes from uncertainty and being afraid to lose what he has, so he might become overly clingy and attached as a result. he has to stay close and keep checking whether things are still okay between him and the one he loves/wants so they don't slip through his fingers.

if he's in a bad headspace, though, his jealousy comes from being convinced he doesn't deserve whatever good is within reach, and then lyney withdraws completely. his jealousy morphs into misery and resentment towards both the person he loves/wants and towards himself for believing for a second that he could have good things, that he let himself become weak and vulnerable enough to get affected by things like desire.

i think in both cases the cure is his love reassuring him that they won't go anywhere, that they WANT to be with him, that he's not a burden or all the other things he's convinced himself that he is. it's mostly aimed to be emotional/mental reassurance, but it can be physical too, if lyney feels like being touched at that moment. a hug can help heal a lot of wounds after all. what lyney needs when he's jealous is to be paid attention to, to be seen for who he is, to show his ugly parts and have people accept them as they are. he might put on a flirty light air at first to test the waters, but once he's got the attention of the one his feelings center around he might let go of the pretenses and be honest about what he's feeling and seek the reassurance he needs.

thanks for asking, anon! this was fun to think about 💕 i could go more in depth about jealous wrio as well in the future if you'd like to hear it!

listen. wrio gets legit cuteness aggression from lyney sometimes. because HOW can a grown man (maybe barely, but for sure an adult) like lyney be THIS ADORABLE?!? with his bright smile just slightly flawed by a gap between his front teeth, giving him a playful and almost childish look. with his expressive, melodic voice and a matching laugh to emphasize the silly things he says and the silly faces he makes sometimes. the way he interacts with children and animals. the way he takes any reason or excuse he can get to perform a little magic or sleight of hand, even if it's just idly shuffling cards in his hands when he's bored. the way he curls up in seats or blankets, the expression he wears when he's engrossed in a book, the curls of his hair before he straightens them and puts every lock in its place, the face he makes when he puts on make-up or carefully rids his jaw of stubble. the longer wriothesley knows him and the more he GETS to know him, the more things he finds about lyney that make his heart go all goopy. lyney has a way of burrowing in people's hearts and making a home there, and wriothesley, though stubborn and initially resistant, is not immune 🥹