cashewlater | ic inbox @ hotel caelum;

[ 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.

[ look, cyno very much trusts that tighnari knows what he's doing, but accidents happen, and if this mushroom turns out to be one of the rare ultra toxic ones, he wants his fox to be safe!! just please.. for his peace of mind..

when tighnari drops the mushroom into the basket, cyno nods his head. this is a good compromise, he thinks. ]

Okay, in your room, then.

[ and cyno ducks his head through the loop of the basket to carry it around his neck, before turning back toward the forest. he smells water.. ]

[ sorry cyno, you know how he is! at least he has no intentions of doing it alone, nodding in return when cyno agrees with him. he can accompany him with his research and be there in case it really does end up bad. hopefully he can find some more specimens to take back...

his tail lifts as cyno takes the basket upon himself, padding after him quickly enough to catch up and brush his side against cyno's own in gratitude. ]

I wonder what else we'll see.

[ into the forest they go! which tighnari takes in curiously, ears twitching as they take in the sounds of insects and birds alike chirping in the background. otherwise, he's fine to follow cyno's lead still. ]

[ it's fine, it's fine, he's happy with this compromise! he just didn't want something weird or dangerous happening out here in the middle of nowhere when he doesn't even have proper hands. besides, this way tighnari can easily collect more samples of different kinds!

because this forest absolutely has mushrooms. as the scent of the water grows stronger, the plant life grows thicker, and soon enough they're entering an area full of mushrooms. some grow on the trees, some are as big as the trees, and at the center of the mushroom grove is a pool of clear, cool water. crystals sparkle at the bottom.

even cyno can recognize that it's quite beautiful. stepping forward, he paws at the water's surface, creating luminescent ripples. ]

[ mushrooms galore.... there's a skip in his step as he bounds forward, inspecting some shrooms, pawing at newer specimens, plucking others from where they're growing on the trees (that he can reach, anyways) and ground to gather them together. his tail almost a blur as it wags side to side, excited at the potential research he'll be able to do later.

of course he can't do much about the much larger ones. not his size, and even how he is regularly would at most maybe be able to snip a piece at most but. he's drawn back to cyno, watching as the water sparkles and reflects back beautifully with cyno's white fur.

he'll walk on over, peering into the water after with that same curiosity. ]

See something?

[ mushrooms everywhere! and flowers, too. once tighnari approached him, cyno turned to look at him, then lowered his head to drop the basket so that tighnari might fill it up with all of his gathered samples. ]

Crystals.

[ he touches the water's surface again, disturbing its glassy sheen, and the crystals shine beneath the slanting sunlight that filters through the clearing. they're mostly clear, but with a rainbow iridescent shimmer to their surfaces. ]

They're pretty. I wonder if they're safe.

[ cyno plunges right into the water with a splash! ]

[ good boy. tighnari will help himself to filling said basket up, careful as he does and taking in how many he's gathered so far. ]

Hmmm...

[ he ponders the thought, wondering if crystals found in the depths of a lake really is safe... annnd there cyno goes! well. ]

...Guess we're about to find out if they're not.

[ he sits down, staying where he is at the edge instead of jumping right on in after. mostly observing his companion to see. ]

[ he's sure in the water!! cyno swims his way down to the bottom of the little pond, and retrieves a few of the larger crystals in his mouth.

doggy paddling his way back up, he deposits them onto the ground, then climbs out of the pond and.. shakes water vigorously everywhere!! ]

The water is nice and warm.

I'll take your word for it.

[ a quiet huff, said moments before he's sprayed with water that was previously clinging to cyno's fluffy white fur. he yelps in surprise and jumps at the jackal with two paws ready to smack (gently.) ]

That wasn't an invitation to get me wet as well!

Heh. Sorry.

[ he's not that sorry, though.. especially considering he's now pushing his big wet head against tighnari, rubbing it along his fur! ]

You big oaf.

[ said with obvious tease, especially when the ends of that fluffy tail is wagging just a little, but his ears do pin back at that dampness how dare you. he'll try and give one of cyno's ears the lightest of nips in retaliation. hmph. ]

[ that ear nip has him shaking his shaggy head, before he pushes down into the grass and begins rolling against it to get the wet off. ]

I could get used to this shape, you know. [ he says, tail thumping. ] Though the lack of thumbs is a shame.

With how quickly you adapt, I'm sure.

[ he reaches to lick a little at part of his own fur that was ruffled by that big 'ole wet head. tighnari moves to sit afterwards, his tail sweeping over side to side. ] There's only so much you can do with your teeth after all. Granted, staying like this would prove more troublesome than it's worth.

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