open rp;

[cashewlater]

text. voice. action.

Comments

[cashewlater]

[ tighnari's answer eases cyno's heart a little, and he relaxes, exhaling a soft breath. his hands remain obediently still. ]

Mm. Yeah, me too. I've always wanted a big family, you know? Little critters underfoot. [ a beat. ] Not right.. now. Just.. in the future, someday.

[wreatharrow]

[ There's a soft hum. Tighnari resettles, cheek resting upon his folded arms. his tail swishes around.

Cyno can start again whenever he wants. Tighnari is smiling. Cyno is... Actually a soft man, hmm? ]

A big family, hmmm?

[cashewlater]

Mhmm.

[ as soon as tighnari is comfortable again, cyno sets back to work, continuing to roll his thumbs in circles down the lower half of tighnari's spine, following the sweep of his back. ]

I'd like to adopt, too. There's so many kids out there that need homes, and the system isn't.. kind.

[wreatharrow]

[ Just like Cyno's hands, they are easing back into things. Now that Tighnari has made his position clear, they can continue to speak. To talk at length about the topic. ]

That makes it sound like you know a thing or two about it, Cyno

[cashewlater]

[ cyno's hands slow a little in their movement, and he smiles wryly, briefly lost in thought. ]

I was older when I was adopted, so. I have a little firsthand experience.

[wreatharrow]

Right. You mentioned that you were adopted. I just wasn't aware that it was when you were older.

[ Tighnari hums, smiling to himself. ]

You really are a far more gentle person than I.

[cashewlater]

Oh?

[ he sounds a little puzzled by that, but his hands continue to work, moving up tighnari's spine now, using his knuckles to work out the knots. ]

What gives you that impression?

[wreatharrow]

It's quite the extensive list that gives me this impression. The first one is by the way your hands are moving on my back right now. You're completely mindful of how much pressure to apply.

[ In other words, he is reading Tighnari and his responses. Adjusting for them. it takes a keen and skilled eye to do that. ]

Wishing to adopt a child to take them from a situation you had once experienced? Further proof and there's more.

[cashewlater]

[ well. tighnari isn't wrong about that. cyno is a very perceptive man, attentive to tighnari's reactions, so.. he supposes he has a point. ]

Well.. isn't it natural, to want to help those who have been in the same position as yourself? Wouldn't you want to do the same?

[wreatharrow]

We're not talking about me right now. This is a discussion about you, Cyno.

[ Don't you start derailing the conversation! ]

[cashewlater]

[ he grunts, and frowns. cyno doesn't love the topic being him, but he's not about to argue with tighnari, either. ]

Yes, well.. there's nothing wrong with being gentle sometimes, right?

[wreatharrow]

There's not, no. I'm glad that you have accepted it.

[ He's smiling now. And then he GROANS. Arches his back. Cyno must have gotten a knot. ]

[cashewlater]

[ oh, good spot, hmm? cyno's thumbs roll over it again, slowly working out the tension in the muscles. ]

I suppose it's good that I know when not to be gentle, hmm?

[wreatharrow]

[ Tighnari's response is to release a sigh. A high pitched keen. ]

Don't be so smug. It's not cute... At all.

[cashewlater]

[ a smile slants his mouth, and cyno chuckles, still gently working away at that knot until he feels the hard muscle finally beginning to give way and relax. ]

One second you're glad I accept a compliment, the next, I'm smug. Cheeky fox.

[wreatharrow]

[ Nope. Not saying anything else... Just breathing out. Sighing.

Groaning and dropping head into arms. ]

[cashewlater]

[ he offers a soft laugh, and also lapses into silence while he continues, working out each and every knot in tighnari's back and neck until the fox is little more than a puddle beneath him. after that, he smooths his hands up and down tighnari's back, soothing, applying a little more fragrant oil so that the calming scent will linger.

only once he's fully finished, and sure that tighnari is entirely satisfied and relaxed, does he allow himself to drop down to lie beside him, one arm draped against tighnari's lower back. ]

Feeling good?

[wreatharrow]

[ Tighnari is silent, yes. It just feels good, to be completely at another's mercy. Even if it's only the fox becoming nothing more than a puddle. A mess of lose muscles and just purring. The moment that Cyno settles next to him? Tighnari's tail is wrapping around the other. As it trying to draw him closer and keep him there. ]

Hmmm. Very. Might be even better than the treat I gave you.

[cashewlater]

Heh, I don't know if I'd go quite that far..

[ cyno's thumb rubs slow circles into the dip of tighnari's back, and he smiles, gazing fondly at his profile. his heart squeezing up. ]

That was a very good treat.

[wreatharrow]

[ The thumb moving still feels good. Tighnari leans in further. Tucks his nose in against Cyno's neck. ]

Who knows... You might get something else in the morning for doing this.

[cashewlater]

[ cuddling in close, cyno reaches over tighnari's shoulders to switch off the bedside lamp, and after a moment, there's a dip at the end of the bed as hanan hops up, curling over their feet, a nice warm bundle of fur. ]

Is that so? I look forward to it.

[wreatharrow]

[ Oh! Hanan is going to join them? Tighnari nearly looks up. However the moment he tries to use his muscles? Seems pretty pointless... He can't really move all that much.

Oh well. Tighnari just nips at Cyno's throat. Tired but playful. ]

Get a good night's rest, Cyno.

[cashewlater]

[ of course she is, hanan is a lovely sweet girl she deserves to sleep in the bed like people! with a gentle, satisfied hum, cyno closes his eyes. ]

'Night, habibi.

[wreatharrow]

[ Tighnari releases a purr. One that drifts closer to a sigh. His tail stays curled around Cyno. Murmurs something akin to "night" before drifting off.

He only wakes once - to tell Collei that he won't be in. She can either run the store or keep it closed.

Then he drifts back under. And there's no waking early from him Cyno has utterly exhausted this poor fox. ]

[cashewlater]

[ time passes. their relationship progresses. everything isn't perfect, but it's still wonderful, every day feels like a dream. at one point, rather than living half-and-half at each others' places, they broke down and purchased a space together, a large loft apartment that had more than enough space for both of their things, and their hobbies and work. aside from living area, cyno has his office/studio for his tattoo work, and tighnari has plenty of space for his plants and work.

living together tested their boundaries and their ability to be around one another long-term, but like all the rest, it worked out well. they had spats here and there, but they never went to bed angry, and as far as cyno was concerned, it only brought them closer.

time passes.

time passes, and cyno feels more and more that he wants to make this permanent. to prove to himself and to tighnari that he is serious. committed.

it's winter now, and the air is crisp and cool, smelling fresh and sharp. a thin blanket of snow coats the city in silence, and cyno finalizes his plans. they've just enjoyed dinner out, after an afternoon spent ice skating, and they walk now arm in arm through the light snowfall. cyno's nerves are on fire, his stomach twisting, but he continues onward, leading tighnari through a park near to their home. it's beautiful, the trees and grass shining white and sparkling with icicles, and the branches above them are wound with fairy lights that cast a glow above and around them.

his gloved hand slips through tighnari's as they approach an old stone walking bridge shrouded by snow-clad trees. warm lantern light fills the space, and they're about halfway across it when cyno stops, hesitating. ]

Hey.. 'Nari.