for @citer

[cashewlater]

Comments

[citer]

[ ... ]

I wouldn't. [ he says, slowly. ] There are two reasons for this. I enjoy living here, and I have no where else to go. I will not be returning to the Sanctuary of Surasthana; I decided this when I was given to you. There is nowhere else in Sumeru where a Valuka Shuna can live, and live the way I intend to.

Cyno. [ he says this, and looks at him. ] I've yet to build a definition of home for myself. You must understand why.

[cashewlater]

[ the answer surprises him, but he supposes that it makes perfect sense, however it makes his stomach clench with the injustice of it all. injustice that does not sit well, with cyno. it's laughable, isn't it? that becoming the general mahamatra, sumeru's paragon of judgment and moral upstanding, has earned him this?

he feels the weight of tighnari's gaze, and meets it. ]

You can't have a home when you are not a person. When you do not have agency.

[citer]

I've always had agency. I've always been a person. It simply isn't recognised. If I will not change myself for society, and I really won't, then I will make society change for me.

[ but there's a quirk to his lips as he shakes his head. ] Those are naïve words. But I enjoy it here, in this place. I suspect you are making me a home.

[cashewlater]

It's wrong.

[ cyno's voice is low, and he sets aside his sarsheer; his appetite has vanished. tighnari's mouth is quirking, but cyno finds that this topic brings him no joy. he's always followed the rules, the rules of the land, societal rules, and thought himself their lesser, finding no reason to doubt the status quo. but things have changed, meeting tighnari, learning the dark secret of the valuka shuna's existence..

the stink of corruption and the imbalance of power make his stomach turn. ]

I'm glad you're content here, but you shouldn't have to be. [ he should be making his own home. he's so smart, so strong, he deserves better than to be cyno's pretty pet. in this moment, cyno decides something. ] Are you up for a trip to the city?

[citer]

[ cyno's upset comes like the beginnings of a desert storm. tighnari has never had cause to fear cyno; he does not fear him, now. but he supposes that he understands where cyno is coming from, and where he is hoping to go. if justice is made into a man, what would he do when met with injustice? what if justice is unjust? what then?

the question has his tail flicker. ]

Today? Now?

[cashewlater]

Yes, today.

[ folding his hands, he rests his mouth against them, his expression hard. a thousand thoughts dance behind his eyes, but his lips are tightly closed. ]

It doesn't need to be the city. Anywhere within a day's travel would be fine. Anywhere you want to go, want to see.

[citer]

[ ... ]

Will you be my tour guide?

[cashewlater]

I would accompany you, yes. Unless you'd rather travel alone, but I'd feel better knowing you weren't.

[citer]

I find myself wanting to travel with you. If you have no issue with it, and I have no issue with it, then it should be fine, right?

[ tighnari smiles. ]

I wish to go see the Bimarstan. I heard they have a new skin grafting technique to treat those with Eleazar. There's a doctor there I've been meaning to speak to to see his opinions on it; I wonder if he will have a moment.

[cashewlater]

[ at last, the hard line of cyno's shoulders begins to soften, though a quiet storm still thrashes behind his eyes. still, there's no need for the food to go to waste, so he sees to his sarsheer again, taking a healthy bite. ]

The Bimarstan, then. As you wish. We can leave as soon as we've eaten, and I'm dressed.

[citer]

Oh, so you don't intend to walk out in your night clothes. I wondered.

[cashewlater]

You're funny.

[citer]

Funnier than you are. [ tighnari grins. ] Have the rest of the flatbread. You haven't had anything to eat since yesterday, Archons-knows-when. We'll find foodstalls in the city, I presume. I expect you to show me how to purchase street food, and demonstrate to me how people eat it.

[cashewlater]

That's hurtful, you know.

[ 8( HE WORKS SO HARD ON HIS JOKES. but cyno finishes off his sarsheer regardless, and digs into the flatbread, while enjoying his lassi. ]

[citer]

So you won't be my example?

[ says he, with a handful of cashews. ]

[cashewlater]

I shouldn't be, after that remark. You're such a brat.

[citer]

Yes, yes. But that's not a no.

[cashewlater]

Hmph. Of course I'll show you.

[citer]

[ his eyes soften around its edges. of course they do. ]

Thank you, Cyno. You're very kind. I suppose you don't get told that often.

[cashewlater]

No, I can't say that I do. Most are wary of me. You'll see for yourself, soon enough.

[ once they head into the city, and people keep a wide berth. finishing off his lassi, cyno sets down the empty glass. ]

I don't mind.

[citer]

[ tighnari thinks about this for a moment. cyno, with his shoulders set, justice-made and alone. ]

It gets lonely though, doesn't it?

[cashewlater]

[ ... ]

.. yes. I have my work to keep me company. And you, now.

[citer]

You do. [ as he rises to collect the platters, he allows his tail to brush against cyno's shoulder. a moment of grace, here and at last. ] Go put on some clothes. I'm looking forward to stretching my legs for the first time in a while.

[cashewlater]

[ the brush of his tail is warm, and eases cyno's mood, but it is brief, and soon enough he's rising to his feet, touching his fingertips to tighnari's back as he passes behind him. ]

I'll be quick.

[citer]

[ leaving behind on tighnari's skin a spot of sunburst warmth.

he clears the trays, and begins his own preparations. a cloak and hood for his head, hise ears carefully pinned back. a long, woven skirt so that his tail will not show. gardener's clothes that he had asked for as he spent so much time working with plants. he takes his bow. the dagger's sheathed and hidden beneath the folds of his cloak, just added insurance, though he suspects that cyno will be on guard today. he is that sort of man. tighnari finds that he trusts him. of course he would.

he checking his bowstring by the time cyno emerges again. ]

Did you know that your hardworking household staff have been housing and feeding horses here at your palace all this time?