[ cyno isn't as practiced with bird forms, so he does not fly, but his jackal form is more than swift enough to make the trip very quickly. after informing tighnari, cyno bounds his way to alhaitham's, nosing his way through the door. ]
[ Kaveh looks up from where he's sitting when the jackal noses its way into the treehouse. He can tell at a single, relieved glance that it's Cyno, and he reaches out without a word, knowing the other will come to his side.
He doesn't even know what to say. According to Thirteen, they're living their lives at home simultaneously with this— and Kaveh himself has remembered more since arriving here, so he knows it's true— which means he's not actually without Alhaitham, but—
[ cyno doesn't think to change back. not yet. instead he noses the door closed, then pads forward toward kaveh, pressing the top of his furry head into the offered palm. he thinks, perhaps, a little physical contact would go a long way, and it's much easier for him to be affectionate in this form.
he sits on his haunches. ]
I'm sorry. Truth be told, I worry about this every day.
[ Kaveh is more grateful for Cyno staying in this form than he even realizes; it makes it easy for him to lean into him, to blink back the tears that don't soak into his fur. It allows him to conceal the worst of it— he hates showing that weakness in front of his friends, even in a situation such as this.
He hates that he's even feeling like this about Alhaitham's departure to begin with. It's not like he'll never see him again—
He swallows back a sob. ]
It's stupid. Thirteen said we live our lives at home at the same time. So... so it's not like he's actually gone. And I barely saw him here anyway. And he drives me crazy all the time—
[ not that he wouldn't offer kaveh a hug in his usual humanoid form, of course - he would, and in a heartbeat, but he also knows how skittish kaveh can be when it comes to showing what he perceives to be something that might be burdensome on his friends. like this, he thinks it might be easier for kaveh to let out what he needs to let out. ]
That isn't really the point.
[ he says, gently, and noses at kaveh's hair. ]
Even though we live our lives at home, if I had to go on here without Tighnari or you, I would be devastated.
[ He knows even before Cyno says it that that's not the point. He feels exactly the same way, no matter how hard he's trying to talk himself out of it in this moment. But the other's words give him permission to grieve— and it's clever of him to have stayed in this form, because like this, Kaveh hardly thinks twice about the fact he's laying these burdens on the shoulders of one he usually wouldn't.
He reaches up, swipes a tear from the corner of his eye. ]
It's not. [ He admits it quietly. ] I liked knowing he was here, even when I didn't see him often. He understands me the best, even though I hate that about him. And it was nice to... to be able to talk to each other outside of everything that fucks us up back at home.
[ cyno can't really sympathize - he doesn't really know what it's like to have a friendship like that. his relationship with tighnari has always been smooth, loving, open, and easy, he's never had to navigate the rocky waters of a relationship like kaveh and alhaitham's.
but he certainly can empathize with the fact that kaveh is hurting, that he is grieving. cyno hates to see it, wants to do everything in his power to make it better. ]
You know you're welcome with us any time. [ a beat. ] Even if you'd like to stay for awhile.
[ Kaveh leans his head against Cyno's jackal one, and nods, offering him a small, tired smile. ]
I think I'll be okay. I was living by myself already, wasn't I? Although I guess you will probably see more of me because I'll visit you instead of him— though there's someone else I've been spending time with too, lately, so...
[ A pause, and Kaveh reflexively reaches for his spoon. ]
Is it dumb to text him too, make sure he's okay? Everyone else has been here, it's just Alhaitham—
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[ cyno isn't as practiced with bird forms, so he does not fly, but his jackal form is more than swift enough to make the trip very quickly. after informing tighnari, cyno bounds his way to alhaitham's, nosing his way through the door. ]
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He doesn't even know what to say. According to Thirteen, they're living their lives at home simultaneously with this— and Kaveh himself has remembered more since arriving here, so he knows it's true— which means he's not actually without Alhaitham, but—
He sighs, pressing his face into his hands. ]
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he sits on his haunches. ]
I'm sorry. Truth be told, I worry about this every day.
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He hates that he's even feeling like this about Alhaitham's departure to begin with. It's not like he'll never see him again—
He swallows back a sob. ]
It's stupid. Thirteen said we live our lives at home at the same time. So... so it's not like he's actually gone. And I barely saw him here anyway. And he drives me crazy all the time—
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That isn't really the point.
[ he says, gently, and noses at kaveh's hair. ]
Even though we live our lives at home, if I had to go on here without Tighnari or you, I would be devastated.
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He reaches up, swipes a tear from the corner of his eye. ]
It's not. [ He admits it quietly. ] I liked knowing he was here, even when I didn't see him often. He understands me the best, even though I hate that about him. And it was nice to... to be able to talk to each other outside of everything that fucks us up back at home.
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[ cyno can't really sympathize - he doesn't really know what it's like to have a friendship like that. his relationship with tighnari has always been smooth, loving, open, and easy, he's never had to navigate the rocky waters of a relationship like kaveh and alhaitham's.
but he certainly can empathize with the fact that kaveh is hurting, that he is grieving. cyno hates to see it, wants to do everything in his power to make it better. ]
You know you're welcome with us any time. [ a beat. ] Even if you'd like to stay for awhile.
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I think I'll be okay. I was living by myself already, wasn't I? Although I guess you will probably see more of me because I'll visit you instead of him— though there's someone else I've been spending time with too, lately, so...
[ A pause, and Kaveh reflexively reaches for his spoon. ]
Is it dumb to text him too, make sure he's okay? Everyone else has been here, it's just Alhaitham—