for @suffusion

[cashewlater]

[ the forest is quiet.

cyno knows these woods like the back of his hand. he knows all of sumeru, has trekked nearly every inch of it - nearly - for he fears no beast, nor the darkness of the unknown. his work takes him all over the land, through the deserts and forests alike, and though he works for no one, he does not hurt for mora, for cyno is the most gifted hunter and tracker in sumeru. no quarry has ever escaped him, and he has never failed to deliver on any job. this job will be no different.

it isn't an easy hunt. not only is this area of the forest unfamiliar to him, but his prey is sharp and smart, with an incredible sense of hearing. cyno's footsteps are all but silent, but the sensitive ears of the witch can detect him even at his most stealthy. it's fine. he's brought in difficult prey before. if stealth could only get him so far, he has other methods, though he must take care - should the rumors prove true, this witch is powerful, tricky, wise, and cyno could easily find himself on the wrong end of his quarry's wrath. but he was ready for a fight, if it came to it, and it would.

for five days he simply watches. listens. the witch hears him, he knows, but cyno is well hidden, and cannot be found. he scales the trees and watches from the branches, stock still, his clothing camouflaged, his pale white hair tied up and rubbed with charcoal to keep it from standing out. for hours he sits, vigilant, watchful, learning the witch's patterns and strengths, behaviors, taking their measure, and even that is not easy, but cyno learns over time that his adversary favors the bow and dendro magicks, that they know the forest well, and make use of all of its parts. in the end, cyno can only hope to overpower them by force and speed alone, striking fast, getting in close before the bow can be drawn on him. it'll have to be enough, with the element of surprise unavailable to him. but he'll use the tools he has.

his eyesight, for example, sharp in the night. his keen sense of smell. his own good hearing, and his powers of observation. his patience.

cyno strikes in the night, when the witch is far from their hut, gathering samples of bioluminescent moss. he's fast as a bolt of lightning, moving comfortably in darkness, taking them from behind and knocking them to the loamy earth, with his spearhead at their throat. ]

Comments

[suffusion]

I see you're still as stubborn as ever, Cyno.

[ a sigh and shake of his head, but he gets it. cyno has always been this way after all. so he isn't surprised by the insistence even though tighnari had been quick to try and put his thoughts in first. his acceptance to stick with the couch. ]

Fine. I'll sleep on your bed.

[ for a moment, he watches him get up, wobbling and some concern strikes through. without another thought, he's quick to his own feet and gently rests a hand to his back. ]

Careful.. Here, let me help you with that.

[cashewlater]

[ stubborn indeed. cyno smiles. ]

Almost as stubborn as you, hmm?

[ he chuckles softly, though when tighnari rises and rests a hand against him his smile fades, his lidded eyes shifting to the vampire's face, watching him quietly, warmth lifting to his cheeks. they're so close like this.. how easy it would be to lean in, to close the distance between them again, and gods, gods, cyno very nearly does it. softened by the wine and warmed by tighnari's nearness, he dips his head, his exhale shivering -

and then the memory hits him like an icy lance in the gut - the memory of the last time he screwed up his courage to kiss tighnari. he overstepped, then. he can't overstep again. cyno's throat bobs as he swallows thickly, takes a deep breath, and nods. ]

Oh - y-yeah, sorry. I'll be fine, just stood up too fast.