[Folkmore IC Inbox][un: forestwatcher]

[forestwatcher]

forestwatcher

You've reached Tighnari. I'm not able to answer right now, so just leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.

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[forestwatcher]

Ooh.

[People do not often get to see Tighnari break the even keel of emotions that he shows to almost everyone around him, but here his eyes brighten and he momentarily puts his fork down so he can draw the package closer.

For a moment, he looks conflicted over whether he should finish the food first. He takes a few more bites before he turns his attention to the package.

First thing is the earring, which he softly coos over before commenting he will need a mirror so he can put it on (and which he intends to do at the first opportunity). The second... a very beautiful notebook, which he admires for several moments before he can even speak.]

It will almost be a shame to write in it.

[cashewlater]

[ that bright look warms cyno's heart, and eases his nerves - he'd of course been a little anxious about his gifts, about whether tighnari would like them or not, but that's foolishness, he thinks. tighnari has always enjoyed the things that cyno has brought him, why would this be any different?

as it turns out, it's not any different at all.

leaning his cheek against his knuckles, cyno smiles, warm and fond, setting down his fork. ]

Almost. But I hope you write in it anyway. I noticed the one you're using currently is getting full.

[ and then, gesturing: ]

Open it up.

[ inside, folded into a neat square, he'll find a hand-drawn, but detailed map, that leads to the outskirts of epiphany. ]

[forestwatcher]

[If Tighnari was asked who he would trust the most to buy him a gift and have it be right, few people would rank more highly in his estimations than Cyno. It is rare that he has anything less than an enthusiastic response to the things that the other man brings for him and when it's something like this, something obviously so thoughtfully planned out for a special day, it means all the more.

As bidden, he opens up the notebook and makes a soft sound when the folded map slips out. He slides his plate aside entirely to make sure no accidents happen, then opens it up and smiles brightly as he realises what it is.]

You went scouting for me?

[Of all things to have done... this is something that really does show how well Cyno knows him.]

Where is this... I haven't been out that way yet. How did you know?

[cashewlater]

I did.

[ his smile is easy, reaching his scarlet eyes, softening them around the edges. ]

I spend a lot of my free time exploring, but.. I wanted to find something especially for you.

[ and cyno just so happened to come across the perfect thing, the perfect place, something that he knows tighnari would appreciate completely, if only for the effort put into it. cyno downs another mouthful of food, in an attempt to clear his plate. ]

We can go whenever you're ready.

[forestwatcher]

[It touches him in a way that he can't quite explain. More so than the well thought out gifts, the care that he can already see that Cyno put into this day... it all balls itself into a cosy feeling in the centre of his chest and he's smiling like an idiot at the map for several long moments before he realises what his face is doing.]

Ah-- yes.

[Right!]

I have nothing too pressing to do today. [Nothing that can't be put aside to spend time with Cyno, anyway.] But we should finish our breakfast first. I don't want to let a single moment go to waste.

[cashewlater]

[ tighnari's smile is a soothing balm to his soul. cyno knows he was a fool to doubt that tighnari would like his gifts, but he had doubted nevertheless, worried that somehow, this time, he would misstep. foolish. his partner is quite clearly pleased, and cyno can't help the little rush of pride that has his chest swelling, just a bit. pride, and happiness. ]

Of course. There's no rush.

[ they have all day, after all. it's only morning. cyno returns to his breakfast without argument. ]

Is there anything special you'd like to do today?

[forestwatcher]

I'm doing it.

[He couldn't think of anything better than what he's doing right here and now, spending time with the person he loves most in the entire world and being doted on and treated by him like this. Tighnari smiles indulgently and reaches one hand out across the table for Cyno to take it.]

I'll admit I haven't given it much thought. Only a few of the forest rangers know my birthday, and I tend to spend it away from Gandharva Ville so no one feels obligated to make a fuss.

[cashewlater]

[ i'm doing it, tighnari says, and cyno's heart lifts. ]

Well, I plan to make a fuss regardless.

[ he already has, a bit. smiling, he reaches to meet that hand, weaving their fingers together across the table. he knows well that tighnari doesn't like special treatment, but.. cyno can only be grateful that he's accepting it, anyway, given how cyno loves to freely give it. it takes time for him to open his heart, sometimes, but once he does, cyno is an incredibly loyal, incredibly loving man. ]

But I certainly don't feel obligated. It makes me happy to make you happy.

[forestwatcher]

It's a good thing that no one else knows how sweet you can be. Imagine what it would do to your reputation.

[He squeezes his fingers around Cyno's and grins, turning his attention back down to his breakfast and managing to tackle it with only one hand and the side of his fork. If the scholars who were so terrified of drawing the attention of the General Mahamatra could see him now...

Well, that's just another reason that they can't have this back home. At least not publicly.]

You'd have to go back into academia... but I always thought you quite dashing in your robes.

[cashewlater]

[ cyno's face flushes a soft pink. tighnari certainly isn't wrong. while cyno is a fierce, imperious, intimidating person, for those he loves he is impossibly soft, a pliable marshmallow of a man. tighnari learned this a long time ago - how gentle he can be, how loving - but it's surely only doubled since their relationship shifted to this new, excellent thing.

if the other matra could see him now..

.. well, honestly, cyno wouldn't mind overmuch. just because he loves tighnari doesn't mean he isn't capable of viciously upholding his duty to the law and to sumeru. he'd remind them quickly enough why he is the general mahamatra. ]

.. ah, I hated them. They felt so.. restrictive.

[ he clearly prefers wearing much less. ]

[forestwatcher]

Heheh. I remember seeing you tugging at them when you thought no one was watching.

[He's still giving his attention to his food for the most part, sparing Cyno from being seen blushing like that... but Tighnari doesn't need to look at the other man to know when he's embarrassed about something.]

You really did make for a fetching scholar, but... hmm.

[Then he looks up, glancing at Cyno from beneath his eyelashes.]

I think I prefer you in whatever you're comfortable in. And you have worn some very cute sweaters this winter.

[cashewlater]

[ cyno can only grunt in reply to the scholar comment; he doesn't miss those robes at all. his overcloak is much better, loose and billowing, easy to move around in. of course, it's been far too cold here for cyno to wear his usual attire, no matter how resistant he might be to the chill, and to discomfort in general.

which means.. yes, he sure has been wearing his fair share of oversized knit sweaters. ]

You picked most of them.

[ he says, a smile in his voice. cyno wouldn't say that he has poor fashion sense, but most of the clothing here is very dissimilar from his usual attire, certainly. ]

[forestwatcher]

Mm, I did. I do have good taste.

[He's sure that not everyone would agree, but Cyno has never complained about his taste in cosy winter sweaters. His partner is a sensible man and the idea of function over form is something that they both share, so as long as he's warm what does it really matter?

Though, admittedly, some thought had gone into it to make sure Cyno didn't just look silly. Tighnari strokes his thumb gently back and forth against the other man's knuckles.]

We should make the most of the daylight today, but this evening... I think I'd just like to spend some time with you here.

[cashewlater]

[ cyno breathes a warm chuckle at tighnari's easy confidence. ]

You do.

[ he's not too proud to admit as much. he likes tighnari's taste. so much color and interest isn't always suited to cyno, but he certainly loves the way it all looks on tighnari. scooping the last of his meal into his mouth, cyno chews thoughtfully, then smiles. ]

Yeah, I'd like that too.

[ which is no surprise, really; cyno loves their peaceful alone time. it had been quite strange at first, having so much time to himself, but in tighnari's company he's grown used to it, and even if it still feels as if he should be doing something more with it, he's come to appreciate the downtime a little more. having cleared his plate, cyno sits back in his chair, squeezing tighnari's fingers in his own. ]

I'll make dinner for us, too.

[forestwatcher]

[He had not tried to impress so much... noise in terms of clothing onto Cyno. What he had chosen for the other man had been things that would suit him, not simply things that Tighnari would like for himself... If he was going to do that he might as well just let the other man borrow his clothes.]

That sounds perfect. Just the way I'd want to spend the day.

[Tighnari cannot think of anything better.

His own plate is cleared in short order, but he still seems fairly reluctant to let go of Cyno's hand. Eventually, though, he does sigh and push himself up from the table.]

As much as I could sit here all day looking at you, we should get moving.

[cashewlater]

[ okay but them borrowing each others' clothes is pretty cute.

anyway, cyno's face flushes warm at that. no matter how long they're together, he doesn't think he'll ever get used to tighnari finding him attractive. it'll always feel so new. they could be old and married and he's sure he'd still blush at tighnari's compliments. ]

Mm, we do only have so much daylight.

[ cyno stands and gathers up both his plate and tignari's, depositing them into the sink and running water over them so they can soak. ]

Let's wash up, then.

[forestwatcher]

[Of course he did not have to explain. Cyno understands the need to use the day as well as Tighnari does and they will have all of the cool afternoon and chilly evening to cuddle up together. And what a thing, he sometimes thinks... to realise that he can do that, with the realisation feeling like it comes to him as a new thought each time.]

Sure.

[And while Cyno is at the sink, Tighnari sidles up behind him and wraps both arms around his waist, resting his chin on the slightly shorter man's shoulder.

But, really, he had to have seen that one coming.]

[cashewlater]

[ those arms slip around him, and cyno feels his heart hop right up into his throat, fluttering against his ribs in a way that makes him feel almost giddy. well. giddy for cyno - which means he's offering a soft chuckle, and an easy smile as he works.

gods, but he loves this man. the words sit at the back of his tongue, heavy and unspoken - he's yet to say them, to give voice to the depth of his feelings. no time has felt like the right time, not yet, and the last thing he wants is to overwhelm tighnari with the sheer power of his heart. things are good the way they are. he'll find the right time and place soon enough. so rather than speak them, cyno shows his love in the way he turns his head to nuzzle his nose to tighnari's cheek, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw before he's turning back to his work, scrubbing their plates dutifully. ]

Are you supervising?

[ he asks, his tone soft but playful. ]

[forestwatcher]

[In the end, they are not words that Tighnari needs to hear spoken. Cyno tells him in other ways, in ways that don't need words, and he knows it without needing that verbal confirmation. Tighnari had said it already, though only once, and because at that time it had seemed like something Cyno had needed to hear to make it certain that his advances and his feelings were not being doubted or rejected.

He squeezes his arms around the other man's middle and chuckles beside his ear before nuzzling into it gently.]

You could say that.

[But this is nice...]

Do you mind?

[cashewlater]

Do I mind?

[ he asks quietly, but almost incredulously, and soon enough a throaty chuckle is purring in his chest. the nuzzle to his ear earns a light shiver, but cyno keeps at his work, setting the first plate into the drying rack before beginning to scrub the second. ]

I don't mind at all. I like you close.

[ likes it too much, maybe; tighnari will have found that when they're alone together, cyno can be a little bit.. clingy. he never pushes, never asks for more than what tighnari is willing to give, but he always wants to be touching. holding his hand. leaning against him. pulling him into his lap. kissing him. cyno loves the close contact, perhaps he's been starved of it for so long that he's drunk on the feel of someone so near. perhaps it's that he's loved tighnari for so long that he can hardly bear to keep away from him even when they're in the same room. cyno leans back into his arms, his hand stilling briefly so he can close his eyes, and rest his head back against tighnari's shoulder. ]

[forestwatcher]

Mm, good.

[Tighnari likes being close too. More than that, he likes being able to be close without worrying about how it might look. He tilts his head a little to give more room for Cyno to lean his own back, and he nuzzles warmly into his neck again.

Gods, but he loves this man.]

... Your hands are going to get pruny if you stand here like this much longer.

[cashewlater]

[ there is absolutely something freeing about being together like this, so easily, without fear, without worry that others might see, that it might interfere with his work. here, they can touch and kiss and lean into one another, and no one would bat an eyelash. ]

Mm, well.. there are worse fates.

[ he says, through a light chuckle, before he's drying his hands on a tea towel and turning in tighnari's arms, slipping his own around tighnari's waist, and dipping in for a kiss. ]

[forestwatcher]

Mm, I suppose there are.

[He loosens his grip on the man when he turns around but stays close, and he hums softly against the press of lips to his. Ah... it's just... so good. Everything Cyno does makes his heart flutter in the best way.]

Are there any more chores too pressing to ignore, or shall we set out?

[Though he sounds chastising, he's definitely only teasing.]

[cashewlater]

I could think of a few..

[ and given the way he's pressing warm kisses along tighnari's jaw and down his throat makes it evident exactly what sort of chores cyno is considering..

his hands smooth up tighnari's back, then down again, swaying in place, enjoying the moment. it's so good, so incredibly wonderful to be able to simply exist like this, wrapped up in one another wholly, entirely. cyno hums against tighnari's skin, his smile curving. ]

.. but I suppose we ought to get going. I can give you the rest of your gift tonight.

[forestwatcher]

The rest? [He chuckles warmly and pecks another kiss to Cyno's lips, then another, toying with a lock of his white hair and twirling it slowly around one of his fingers.]

Is that a surprise, or do I get to hear about it?

[Oh, he has a feeling that he knows what Cyno has in mind... and he's definitely not complaining.]