cashewlater | ic inbox @ hotel caelum;

[ the feel of that cloak pulled over him surprises him for only a moment, smiling after and taking hold of it properly so it doesn't slip. leave it to cyno to be so prepared. it has his tail swaying now, chuckling a little as they make their way to the door. ]

That excited to see what we'll find?

[ well, he can hardly blame him, exploring the unknowns is always exciting in itself. and since it's the two of them, they'll be more prepared than going at it alone. ]

[ oh tighnari looks so cute in his cloak.. ]

A little bit. It's hard not to be, and it's been awhile since we've had the chance to spend so much time together.

[ not since they traveled to mondstadt with collei. their work keeps them both so busy. they step back out into the unforgiving sands, but thankfully cyno knows the way to the elevators, and it isn't far. ]

[ it is a nice cloak, and one that has cyno's scent clinging to it - a distant thought would likely be that it's something nice to have, but he's quickly distracted by the lingering heat as they step onto the sands. he follows cyno's lead, though keeps close, just on the chance a sudden dizzy spell hits him. ]

That's true. With your duties and my own tasks, we don't have as many opportunities like this.

[ they really are both unfortunately busy. despite the heat, tighnari is still in a good mood, tugging the cloak just a bit more overhead as they make their way in the direction of the elevators. ]

Mhm. All the more reason to take advantage of it.

[ tighnari is the sort of person that cyno could never really tire of being around. they're close in a way that their company never gets old, and cyno will treasure every moment of this while they have it.

they move quickly, and cyno knows the way through the dunes toward the elevator fixed into a smooth rock formation; the doors slide open, and he quickly ushers tighnari into the nice climate controlled elevator. ]

Much better. So.. should we just choose randomly again?

[ once he's ushered inside, he emits a long sigh of relief, hands guiding the hood off his head from the cloak with a small shake of his head. ]

Whew... that was much easier than when I came by earlier. [ he's not on the edge of passing out, that's for sure. not that it got to that point but leave it to cyno's sharpness to get them through it quickly. his tail sways up and down with thought as he glances to the rows of buttons before nodding. ]

I'd say so. Unless you know of a floor you want to explore already. I'm fine either way.

[ very good, he's glad to see that tighnari is still upright by the time they enter the nice cool elevators. thankfully the trip back was not very long. ]

No, I'd like to leave it to chance, and see what we get.

[ cyno glances over the buttons, then.. simply pushes a random one. the doors close, the elevator moves smoothly, and after a very short wait, the doors slide open again, revealing.. a rolling field of flowers, hemmed in by a forest. ]

Hmm, this seems nice -

[ he says, stepping out, and the moment his foot touches the ground - poof - he's a fluffy white jackal. ]

Then we'll leave it to chance.

[ a light agreement while he watches cyno reach out to press a button. it doesn't hit him to consider offering cyno his cloak back, comforted by the weight of it and his scent clinging to it. though the greeting sight of the field of flowers does have his ears perking to attention. ]

Oh, interesting. I wonder how differ-- [ oh. ] Cyno?!

[ HELP... there's a surprised wide-eyed look from tighnari, concerned at the sudden change as he steps after only for a repeating poof and instead there's a dark green and softer green small fox in place that flops over after tripping over his own paws with a pitched yelp. oof. ]

[ no.. that little yelp! it's so cute!! all of tighnari is so cute, like this!! look at that adorable tiny fox with the ears too big for its head..

wobbly on his own feet, cyno moves toward where tighnari fell into the flowers, all sprawled out. lifting one foot, he.. places his paw right on top of tighnari's head. ]

Having some trouble?

[ tighnari really is so small like a true fennec fox, with ears so big they flop easily. he is squinting at where he landed, peering and flexing little paws until cyno's own settles on him.

instincts have him ducking and raising two paws to try and bat the other's away. his tail lashing all the while. it isn't at all with malice, almost playful as he huffs out. ]

Obviously, you big lummox. I had no idea the floors would extent effects this far..

[ he will push onto his paws after, giving a quick shake to rid any clinging grass and petals on his fur. ]

[ oh look at that crabby little fox calling him a lummox!! it's so much less intimidating when tighnari is This Way.. cyno really wants to pet him, but he has no hands. ]

Heh, yes, a full body transformation is quite a lot.

[ cyno's hermanubis only manifests claws, after all, and it's still a lot of energy. ]

You're... cute.

[ the fox pauses for a moment, briefly taken aback by that-- ]

..You're ridiculous.

[ but it's said softly, his tail swishing quickly before he gently butts his head against cyno. he isn't used to compliments like that, and normally it's easy to brush it off from anyone, but it's cyno so he feels a bit.. flustered? ]

We may as well explore more, even like this.

[ his tail flicks up to barely bap at cyno's muzzle as he skips further onto the floor. exploration time! ]

[ tighnari's never been particularly good at taking compliments by cyno's estimation anyway, but.. gosh, he can't get over that adorable little fox face, especially when he receives a little headbutt. too much. too cute.

but he won't harp on about it, instead he watches tighnari wander forward through the flowers.. cyno can't help the rush of excitement through his body, and he quickly trots to catch up, before he's circling tighnari, and dropping down into a play bow, tail wagging. ]

Think you can chase me?

[ he just has this. sudden doggy urge. to chase. ]

[ tighnari continues to step forward, little confident taps of his small paws until cyno catches up and starts to circle him. both ears perk high up, tail shooting up as well and playfully he tries to nip at the jackal when he's close enough. keeping an eye on him as he circles before cyno is play bowing with body language that can only read as playful. he observes him, an ear flicking back while his tail swishes side to side with thought.

cyno often will make light of the situation to rid of any worrying or concerns, so this isn't too surprising. it's what makes the man so endearing. even if tighnari tries to play the inquiry off, sticking his nose up to the side. ]

And why would I do that?

[ except, there's that telltale wag of his own tail even if he tries to brush it off. before he's suddenly pouncing at the jackal. you silly, silly dog. ]

[ cyno is good at reading body language, it comes with the job, he needs to be able to read people easily, to tell when someone is lying, or agitated, or calm.

tighnari is even more easy to read in this shape. cyno sees the wag of that tail, the way his ears swivel forward. he knows what's coming!! tighnari pounces, and cyno laughs, and together they tumble into the flowers and begin to play. cyno is substantially larger than tighnari in this form, so he's sure to be gentle, but he also isn't afraid to lay the little fox flat, either.

they roll and pounce, chase and snap at each other, and cyno gets a mouthful of tail soon enough. he splutters, trying to paw the excess fur off of his tongue. ]

[ lay this little fox flat, he dares you cyno. any weight or squish of the larger jackal is only met with a bat of a paw in their tumbling and playing. but his ears don't pin back to suggest any true hostility or aggression. only quick little swishes of his tail as he keeps leaping and pouncing after him with every chance.

until the other is caught in a moment of sputter that is, which causes a light laugh from the smaller fox. tighnari comes close enough to brush against cyno, gently headbumping beneath that muzzle with a high flick of his tail to shake off that feeling. ]

I'd say that's a win for me.

[ tighnari comes close as he's shaking his head, trying to get rid of that fur, but that gentle headbump pleases him, even if his competitive spirit is ignited, a little.

lowering his shaggy neck, cyno rubs the side of his face against tighnari's, snuffling into his ear. they're generally rather affectionate with one another, but it's even easier like this, for some reason - it's easy for cyno to nuzzle his nose right into that fur.

at least, before he pulls right back with a soft dog sneeze. ]

Careful, or I'll see that as a challenge.

[ a surprised noise escapes him at the snuffle, ear flicking wildly. tighnari himself is normally subtle with his touches but like this... it's definitely easier. his tail wagging a bit faster while cyno nuzzles into him.

until he sneezes, that is. which earns a soft yip of a laugh. he stands on his back paws to plant his front two paws onto the larger canine's body to steady himself, one raising after a bit to paw gingerly at cyno's nose. sir your sneezies! ]

So I can win again?

[ it's fine, he just had a noseful of fluff. cyno gently butts their heads together at the brow, soft and affectionate, his own tail wagging, sweeping across the flowers. ]

You won on a technicality. I won't let it happen again.

[ nipping playfully at one gigantic ear, cyno turns and lopes off in the direction they were heading before. ]

That's something a sore loser would say.

[ which is said in an airy teasing tone, that softens when their heads butt together. there's a temptation to nuzzle into his face fully but he holds back from it. especially when cyno is nipping at an ear and already trotting off.

rude! there's a light huff until he chases after him, quick on his feet as he pushes through the floors and grass after him. ]

Hmph. It's the simple truth.

[ cyno shoves his nose up in the air with a huff. he won't let tighnari best him again!! ]

But let me know if you get tired, I can carry you on my back.

[ tighnari is much smaller, after all, it's harder for him to push through all of the underbrush, the thick grasses and flowers, with his little body. ]

[ hehe... do your best cyno. ]

Hmmm, I don't think that will be necessary. We'll see.

[ granted, cyno could probably just carry tighnari by the scruff of his neck if he wanted really. still, if he follows close behind cyno, it should be fine. though some of the heavier growth does push him back a little, trying to press paws through to try and squeeze himself along. ]

[ cyno is certainly better able to navigate the grasses, pushing them aside with his larger body for tighnari to follow quite literally in his footsteps. he keeps his head lifted, scenting the air, his ears swiveling as they grow closer to the treeline. ]

Still doing okay back there? We've nearly reached the forest.

[ he calls over his shoulder, looking back to make sure he hasn't lost tighnari to a thicket of grass. it's beginning to thin out now that they're reaching the edge of the treeline.

it's a thick forest, but not unwelcoming. birds call, and sunlight slants through the canopy, a hundred insects humming in the underbrush. he won't go in without tighnari, though. ]

[ it's expected of cyno to take in their surroundings, taking advantage of his size while tighnari's own view is more lower leveled... but that's fine. because he can take in more of the flora and plants.

which is precisely why when cyno calls back to him, there's only a muffled "Mmmffph" sound from tighnari. the small fox pushes through the thicket, taking in everything as they reach the edge with... a mushroom held in his muzzle. he sets it down at his own paws and gives a quick shake of his fur to rid of any clinging grass. ]

There are actually some interesting things in here.

[ the temptation to bite the shroom is strong... ]

[ little fox where did you find that mushroom!! of course he found a mushroom. of course he wants to bite it. cyno turns around to face tighnari more fully, the forest at his back. ]

You really want to eat that, don't you?

[ he knows you, tighnari!! ]

Why don't you take it back with you when we leave, so you can go to the infirmary if you need to?

[ it's reasonable, but he also knows tighnari, knows full well that he might not have the patience to wait until their exploration is finished before he bites into it.. anyway, poof! a basket appears! how convenient. ]

[ from the thicket of underbush and many plant specimens! and of course cyno knows tighnari so well, who is wagging as he carefully turns the shroom around with a paw to examine it more closely. he sniffs at it for a bit and lowers himself to the ground to take it in. ]

I would like to. But it's a bit harder to research properly like this. Especially since I don't have my journal with me..

[ the cons of a full transformation. but hey, a basket is quite convenient! he huffs at the infirmary mention. tighnari may be quite willing to eat new mushrooms for sake of research but he's mostly smart about it! he picks it up and plops it inside the basket with a slow wag of his tail. ]

I have plenty of things in my room to help prepare me if needed.

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