suffusion | ★ ( HOTEL: IC CONTACT. )

[ the temptation is strong, but so far they've been more or less harmless in their exploration. his tail sways side to side in his own quiet excitement, meeting cyno's gaze and smile with a smile of his own and raise of a brow. he knows enough that cyno has been enjoying the experience and - really, that's the most they could ask for.

however, his attention is enraptured by sight of the garden, the sight a welcoming one rather than leaving one to be wary or cautious. it at least seems inviting enough. he follows after, curiously looking around until they find themselves changing again.

though, his own clothing isn't nearly as extravagant as cyno's own, it is certainly dressier in a sense. the top cutting off shortly to expose his stomach, with silk leggings hanging over his legs exposing parts of it in certain areas. one hand rests on his hip, ears flicking back as the earring dangles with the motion. ]

How fortunate for us this time. So far it only seems to be our clothes at least, but better to stay sharp anyways.

[ he says with another observant look around, tail held high in a soft curl. ]

Of course.

[ tighnari is changed as well, though he might not look quite as flashy as cyno, he certainly looks very nice. tighnari rarely shows so much skin, however, and cyno's gaze drifts aside, his cheeks dusted pink. ahem. ]

I wore something just like this at the gala when I was promoted to general, if you remember.

[ it was a little too fancy for his tastes, but he does like how it looks, it certainly fits his sense of style, and it's light and airy as well, easy to move around in. anyway, they keep moving forward, and the garden opens up.. into a large, beautiful outdoor gala. the sky is dark and velvety above, dotted with stars. there's food and dancing, drinks, music, and paths leading further into the gardens that hem in the grounds. it's all.. quite lovely, really, even if cyno doesn't particularly fit into large social scenes. ]

[ ah, if only tighnari paid extra close attention to cyno to see that nice blush on his cheeks. while those clothes are the same kind of style... cyno is certainly very attractive, and even one glance in this attire was enough to have his heart skip a beat. he hums a little with thought, taking in the garden. ]

I do remember, yes.

[ really, how could he forget? as they move on, he takes in the outdoor gala and the sight of the sky is what really takes one's breath away. it's beautiful, though the familiar sight of twinkling stars isn't nearly as ethereal as back in Sumeru. ears perk forward at the sound of music that trickles in, curious at the sight of the tables flourishing with food and drinks. without another word, he steps closer to cyno with an arm slipping around one of the other's own. he tilts his head, gaze raising to meet cyno's with a lift of his lips in an easy smile. ]

So what's our course of action, General? Should we check out more of the gardens? Or are you interested in mingling with the crowd?

[ cyno's blush isn't as easy to see as other's might be, he thanks his darker complexion for that, and is very grateful for tighnari not noticing, thank you very much.

nevertheless, the gala awaits them, and cyno is about to turn to ask tighnari if he would like to stay and enjoy it or move on, when that arm slips through his own. ah. that answers that. still a little flustered, cyno smiles warmly, then closes his opposite hand over tighnari's, squeezing. something about the air here.. he's feeling a little more bold, a little more forward. ]

Well, I'm not much of for mingling even at the best of times..

[ though he could spend all night here, in tighnari's company. together, they move forward. ]

I'm sure you want to enjoy the gardens, hmm?

[ that bold confidence shows in the way tighnari presents himself on that arm, curling so gently but assuredly around cyno's own. his lips quirk in a warmer smile when he feels that hand over his and emits an airy laugh at that comment. ]

No, you often aren't unless the topic involves TCG.

[ there's a sweet teasing tone to his voice at that, his steps matching each of the other man's while they make their way but his attention drifts over to the rest of the setting with their topic shifting. as if tighnari would so no to cyno's company to begin with, as much as he teases or even exaggerates moments of his company when he slips into his joking stages. and with the privacy of the gardens? ]

With the added addition of your company... how could I ever say no? My ears would certainly appreciate it.

[ though the crowd and music aren't nearly as voluminous or loud as they could potentially be.. he isn't shying away from that invitation. his tail lowers enough for the ends of it to brush against parts of his companion's exposed leg, which could be very much accidental if tighnari wasn't looking to him now. there's a bit of a freeing feeling to let him boldly do as he pleases. as he wants. ]

[ he likes it - this boldness in tighnari, too. generally speaking, he knows tighnari is a forward person by nature, not one to beat around the bush, but he's also careful and polite, and their situation is.. a little complicated. but here, right now, cyno doesn't feel that weight.

let them enjoy this time together, he thinks. they deserve it. tighnari certainly deserves it. ]

The gardens it is, then.

[ together they move along the edge of the dance floor, arm in arm, and cyno soon leads tighnari through another arched trellis draped with fragrant wisteria. the gardens open up before them, full of cultivated plantlife of all kinds, beautiful blooming flowers and weeping trees, thick cherry blossoms. there are even ponds full of koi, on which lotuses bloom, and it's toward one of these ponds that they move. ]

[ as they move along, tighnari's tail sways side to side while they step under the path of arches, hand raising to gingerly touch the dangling welcoming sight of wisteria with various red climbing roses intermingling with them. carefully, he plucks one healthy blooming red rose, admiring the sheen of its petals that blossom so openly.

he takes in the sight of the various flora and plant life around them, admiring the ponds that twinkle under the lighting as lotuses dance and drift aimlessly over the surface. there's a warmth that seeps itself into his own bones, a familiar kind of warmth that he finds himself dwelling in in the company of his friend. a comfort that blankets him with a coziness that he just wants to sink into.

once they reach a pond, he stops at the edge of it, before he carefully turns to cyno with a bright gleam in his two-toned eyes. then, without another word, he brings that earlier carefully plucked rose that he managed to rid of all its thorns to bring up to set behind one of cyno's ears. the color of it as warm and bright as cyno's own gaze, but not nearly the same sunset effect his friend has. ]

It always amazes me what we can find on these floors. It's really beautiful, don't you think?

[ cyno might not be a botanist, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy and appreciate the beauty of this garden. the air smells fresh and crisp, and the lush, verdant bursts of foliage are lovely to look at - and that's not even counting the flowers themselves. they paint a hundred colors across the landscape, their fragrance filling the air..

tighnari also isn't the only one enjoying the moment for the company. cyno always cherishes tighnari's companionship, but there's no arguing that this is a little different, a little.. dangerously romantic. yet he doesn't resist it. can't resist it. and when tighnari places that rose behind his ear, smiling so beautifully, cyno's face flushes warm again, his eyes flicking a little wider, fixed on tighnari's face.

and then he smiles. ]

Beautiful. Yes.

[ cyno swallows thickly, and before he can overthink it too much, he asks: ]

Would you dance with me, Tighnari?

[ they're still more than close enough to the venue to hear the music. ]

[ there's a bit more color on cyno's cheeks, with that smile and wider eyes - tighnari thinks he's beautiful as well. more so than the red rose that adorns him. fingers gingerly brush aside some white strands of hair, gaze softening as he admires the man a bit more. the feeling that swells in his chest is familiar - but there's something more intimate in this moment.

though, the question has the corner of his eyes crinkling with mirth, taking a step closer with a swish of his tail. one hand smooths over onto cyno's shoulder with a light grip and a slight tilt of his head. ]

Mmm, I thought you'd never ask, Cyno.

[ the music is a soft melodic tune, indicating a slow gentle dance, so tighnari is already guiding one of cyno's hands onto his own waist with a soft squeeze. a clear indication that he's allowing the other to take lead, which he confirms in a soft voice after. ]

I'll let you lead.

[ ah, that smile is radiant, and cyno feels his chest tighten with impossible fondness.

oh this is dangerous indeed. he might be tormenting himself here, allowing this, but he doesn't stop. it feels like a dream when tighnari leads cyno's hands where he wants them, and cyno's thumb brushes a slow circle against the skin bared at tighnari's waist.

though it might surprise some people, cyno is quite a good dancer. dancing is, after all, not so different from combat, and cyno's particular style of combat is smooth and fluid and flexible, and therefore, so is he. he listens to the beat for a few seconds before beginning to move, his grasp on tighnari's waist becoming a little more firm as they slide easily into the dance, hand in hand.

he wants to say something. he should say something. but all he can do is look into tighnari's face, his captivating eyes. ]

[ that brush of his thumb entices a slight shiver from him, straightening a bit in small surprise - as if his change in clothes had been something that slipped his mind. after all, with how focused he has been on cyno, he hasn't given much thought to anything else. though it's a touch he may have shied away from before... he leans into it, allowing that palm to settle comfortably against his skin. finding that need to indulge in just a little for a change.

patiently he waits for cyno to move, and when he does, they move into step without missing a beat. his steps slide in one after another, flowing in tune with fluid and smooth notions. his hand squeezes cyno's own gently, gaze bright and twinkling a little under the warm lights around them, lips still lifted in a smile until he decides to step out of line.

and that is by causing them both to spin on the spot, arm raising to suddenly accommodate himself as he turns with one swift twirl and his back gently presses against cyno's chest. the contact is brief, gone as he twirls back and moves them both back into the same steps as before with cyno leading again. ]

You're quiet suddenly. Have something on your mind?

Yes, I do.

[ he has many things on his mind, things that are not helped by the delicate, lovely way that tighnari twirls, nor the way the fox presses his back to cyno's chest. it's fleeting, but the warmth of tighnari's body lingers against him, the sensation of having him so close making his skin prickle.

they move back into the dance with ease, silk whispering against silk, and cyno draws closer, scooping tighnari in near with the hand at his waist slipping to the small of his back, resting just above the base of his tail. cyno's thumb swipes the soft, downy fur there, and he lowers his eyes briefly, then lifts them again.

they've danced before, this isn't the first time. tighnari attended the gala for his promotion, after all, and there had been plenty of events that they'd been wrangled into, hosted by the akademiya. sometimes they even dance at home in tighnari's hut, laughing playfully. why does this feel different? why does cyno's heart feel ready to burst from his chest? he's feeling far more bold than he otherwise might, though perhaps it isn't necessarily boldness, but rather fearlessness. cyno isn't afraid of tighnari knowing his feelings, after all. he's quite straightforward. what he's worried about is putting his dearest friend in danger.

but he's already in danger, isn't he? everyone knows how close they are, no matter how cyno attempts to downplay it. anyone who wanted to get to him could surely do it through tighnari, despite what the true nature of their relationship might be. collei, too. so what is he waiting for? ]

Tighnari, I..

[ he murmurs softly, their bodies still swaying to the music. ]

[ there's no fighting against the way that hand draws him closer, following every bit of the other man's lead and guidance. though he can't help the shiver that runs up and down his spine as that thumb swipes over that sensitive area at the base of his tail. that hand at the man's shoulder smooths over to wrap that arm around cyno's neck, peering to meet that scarlet red gaze straight on.

this way of dancing with him is familiar, yes. a request from cyno is never going to be turned down from tighnari, who is even one to indulge him in tcg matches. a playful dance between them in more secluded areas like home. an outing to another region for some time together. though like cyno, he can tell this is different from those times before.

tighnari feels that same desire, need, to share what it is he feels in this moment, however he's more attentive of cyno's own demeanor. the soft murmur of those words while they sway with the melodic tune, he knows it's something that cyno wants to say. he grows quiet himself, contemplating, until he resolves to do something to ease his companion's hesitation.

just this once - ]

What? Fox got your tongue?

[ get it.... cat got your tongue.... but it's fox, because tighnari.... ]

[ did tighnari.. did he just crack a joke??

it certainly helps to alleviate the tension. cyno's eyebrows lift, his eyes snapping open a little wider, and a smile soon curves his mouth, but his heart still thrashes in his chest. ]

A little bit.

[ fox does have his tongue indeed. and his heart. everything that he is, is tighnari's. cyno's throat works as he swallows thickly, and not for the first time, nor likely for the last, his gaze flits briefly downward to tighnari's lips. his heart leaps again. they're so close, it would be so, so easy to close the distance between them, to finally learn the taste and texture of tighnari's mouth, information he's been aching to know for years.

his thumb continues to move in slow circles at the base of tighnari's tail. he felt that shiver, and he wants more of it. cyno's pale hair spills over his shoulders as he dips his head forward a little, brushing their noses, whispering. ]

I.. want to kiss you so badly.

[ a brow raises, lips quirking with a look to the other man - yes, he did, in fact, crack a joke, but his look suggests for cyno to not get used to it, because the chances of it happening again are slim!! if nonexistent! a one-time opportunity and it's been done. still, it does the job as he hopes, finding the other a bit more alleviated.

a soft hum emits, gaze flickering down as he catches sight of the way the other's throat bobs with that swallow. finding the close distance between them tantalizing, any breaths leaving them ghosting one another's lips that has his tail swishing slowly in anticipation. their steps begin to slow and tighnari takes that opportunity to slide his hand held in cyno's own to cup a tanned cheek.

lashes flutter to a half-lidded state when cyno leans in, pupils dilating the moment their noses brush together. and of course that damned teasing touch to his tail, causing it to curl highly up with a quiver. however, it's those words that have him freeze, peering back at that gaze. he has always wanted to kiss cyno, to share such intimacy with him as he does, why was he so afraid to do so before? it's almost hard to remember, finding the temptation gently coaxed but he pushes that thought away. he pushes all cautiousness out the window - cyno's confirming whisper is all he needs to just

pull cyno the rest of the way and bring their lips together in a kiss. ]

[ there's a moment where he's sure that tighnari will rebuke him. there's a reason they've never acted on their feelings, after all - a reason they've held back for so long. yet right now, it feels like none of that matters. cyno's heart aches for him, to be as close to him as he can possibly be, and this moment, dancing together amidst the flowers to distant music.. it's perfect.

when he feels tighnari pulling him in to close the distance, cyno's heart leaps into his throat.

and then he's pressing forward, locking their mouths gently together, both arms coiling around tighnari's middle to pull him close. closer. as close as he can manage. their lips slide together in a perfect match, and cyno shivers, losing himself in the sensation immediately.

tighnari's lips.. they're just as soft as he'd always imagined they would be, just as warm, plush and silken. their breath mingles, and cyno's pulse kicks up, his head tilting to better accommodate their kiss, a low hum in his throat. he feels dizzy. this is a dream, something he's ached to do for so long that finally achieving it feels unreal.

one hand slides slowly up tighnari's back, rough calluses catching against soft skin, and the other lifts to slip into tighnari's dark hair, cradling his head closer. ]

[ a soft noise escapes tighnari, surprised by the coil of arms around him that pull in turn, which has his own arm around cyno's neck grow firmer. his heart skips, a fleeting feeling until it quickens when those lips press back. part of him knows he shouldn't have indulged - that they both know it would have been better to move on from that admittance, to turn their eye away and continue on.

and yet every second of this feels right. like it was meant to be. as if it was always going to end up this way. eyes slip to a close as he familiarizes to the feel of that mouth against his own, peeks of fangs lightly grazing that bottom lip when that kiss deepens. he can feel every breath being swallowed with the brush of their noses, heads tilting to feel more of those lips on his.

ears tremble in a fold back, burying into dark hair with an arch to his back when that palm maps along the exposed layer of his back. shuddering to that callus roughness that causes a churning pleasure in his stomach. a thumb smooths over cyno's cheek, gingerly holding that cheek in his own palm. it encourages fingers to reach up to tickle into white strands, fingertips dragging lightly over his scalp.

though his chest starts to tighten as he loses his breath amidst their shared kiss, reminding himself to breathe through his nose. however, that feel of a hum emitting from the other man does pull a chuckle from tighhnari himself. he can't help but smile, his tail dipping low to curl around part of cyno. he wants nothing more than to commit this moment to memory - to remember the way it feels to kiss cyno. he could easily get addicted to it. ]

[ cyno feels.. almost drunk on the shower of sensations, the incredible warmth, and the bone deep satisfaction of something he's been aching for for so very, very long. kissing tighnari, it just feels correct in the way that breathing feels correct, in the way that his heart beating feels correct. he's never quite known a feeling like it, before.

and then tighnari is arching into him, pulling close, and cyno's breath rushes hot, a shiver sweeping down his spine from the feel of tighnari's fingers, heat blazing under his skin. his head is full of warm, static cotton. tighnari chuckles, the sound bubbling against his lips, making cyno smile, his mouth curving against tighnari's. ]

Mm.. just what are you laughing about?

[ he says softly, his voice a low, rough whisper between them, but he keeps tighnari close, holds their bodies together, his lips pressing to the corner of tighnari's mouth. ]

You, of course.

[ it really feels like whatever walls they've built up over the years, guarded and careful to avoid putting either of each other in a difficult situation... is simply out the window now. gently broken down, piece by piece by each trailing touch, brush of those lips against one another. bubbling a warm, gentle sensation in his chest that swells with those lips smiling against his mouth.

he brushes their noses languidly, lashes fluttering open to peer into the other's man face. there's no hiding the sheer look of fond and affection that he looks to cyno with. feeling his nerves still alight while he has a thumb smooth a small circle beneath an eye, curving that palm back against his companion's jawline. his own voice in the same kind of whisper. ]

Next time you should just kiss me.

[ because in the end of it all, he will always have a weakness that is cyno. it doesn't matter what happens now, or will happen, whatever future comes, cyno will always be tighnari's weakness. and he has long since accepted this very fact. ]

[ for cyno, it is much the same. he has let others into his heart recently enough, but tighnari..

tighnari, and collei. they are his life. his heart. his family, his reason to wake up in the morning, even beyond his own sense of duty and work ethic. cyno fights for sumeru and her people, he fights for those he loves, to make the world a better place for them, a safer place, day by day. and so they, too, are his weakness as well; there is nothing he would not give for tighnari, up to and including his life, the breath in his lungs. ]

Next time..

[ he murmurs, weakened by that irresistible fondness in tighnari's eyes, knowing that same deep, undeniable love is reflected in his own expression. next time. yes. he likes the sound of that.

and next time, it would seem, is right now, for cyno is soon cradling tighnari's face in both of his rough hands, and kissing him again. ]

[ of course tighnari sees it in him. he has always known, he would be blind to not see how cyno looks at him. with how much the general mahamatra extends himself for both collei and him. how far he goes for their sake, the effort, the dedication he has towards them. tighnari isn't completely naive and oblivious to not see it.

it was almost a silent agreement, for the both of them to not say anything. to not label it, to put words to what it was. but clearly now they've taken a step past that line - pushing through in that simple admittance of his desire to kiss, and tighnari accepting it willingly.

just as he accepts it now as well. feeling those rough hands cradling his face so gently, ears folding back into his dark hair with a soften look in his two-toned gaze. lashes flutter to a close again as he returns that kiss sweetly, his own hands dropping to rest on the other man's waist to slowly encircle it.

though there's no hiding the way his tail starts to wag, swishing side to side as hands squeeze cyno gently. ]

[ if cyno had a tail it surely would be wagging as well, but his surging happiness shows in other ways - in the way he holds close to tighnari, in the way he still cannot stop smiling even as they kiss again. he's pleased. more than pleased. cyno is absolutely over the moon. he kisses tighnari again, and again, and again, their lips sliding together, before he's sinking his teeth gently into tighnari's lower lip.

gods, he could kiss tighnari for hours and never tire of it. ]

We should..

[ .. talk about this. shouldn't they? there's so much to be said, despite how much they both already know of one another's hearts, so much that doesn't need to be said, since they've said it a hundred times with their smiles, their deeds, their lingering touches.

cyno pulls back, but only enough to be able to look into tighnari's face, into his forest colored eyes. ]

.. talk.

[ each kiss is languid, soft, a simple touch to share affections with one another - it isn't rushed, heated, or anything too demanding. and yet it still has his heart racing, especially so when he feels the sink of those teeth that entices a surprised noise from tighnari. however, the start of those words have his gaze fluttering open, peering at him while he takes this brief respite to catch his breath. ]

...ah.

[ right. as obvious as it may be to another, even with things left unsaid, it would probably be best to discuss it. if it's what cyno wants, tighnari can't really turn it down or away. even if it would be so easy to go back to the way things are. so he nods after a moment, his head tilting to gently press their foreheads together. another noise leaves him, one of affirmation. ]

Then, let's talk.

[ the moment tighnari responds, cyno thinks that perhaps he should have waited for this, should instead allow them both some time to simply enjoy this night and this moment without having to weigh it down with conversation. it's okay for them to just.. have this, isn't it? to allow themselves to indulge in something they've wanted for so, so long?

cyno wonders why this should be so difficult in the first place. if two people care for one another, shouldn't they be able to express that, without fear and without worry? if only things were so uncomplicated. ]

Do you remember that night - it was a long time ago - before you graduated? It was a quiet night, nothing particularly interesting happened. We sat together on the terrace outside of your apartment. It was summer, very warm, we were drinking peach iced tea.

[ cyno remembers it, he remembers it as if it were yesterday. his thumbs smooth across tighnari's cheeks, fingertips sifting into his dark hair. ]

We talked about the stars. You pointed out our constellations, and we talked about a potion that could turn me into a scarab. That night - that's when I knew.

[ to most, it must be so easy, so simple to be able to express without any worry or concerns. and certainly it's easy to share how much he cares for the other man - but there's only so much he can express how he really feels towards him, given each their own responsibilities. but more importantly, the burden he fears would push cyno in a difficult situation. after all, being general mahamatra of all things, he has so many more important duties and things that require his attention. and yet, he still spares time for tighnari, for collei, still reaches for his company - is here now even. it doesn't need to be difficult, but it is. and he knows he shouldn't be selfish, should be content already with what they have. however, right here, in this moment, there's something that keeps pushing him to indulge further, to express it out loud. to stop skirting around feelings, shared or otherwise, to simply say it how it is.

he blinks when cyno begins, his gaze steady and holding that red gaze straight on. of course he remembers that night. he almost remembers every day he's spent with cyno, from his meeting with him, to their buddling friendship that surprised even him. to find himself drawn and enjoying his company, to learn more about the man that was behind the intimidating cold front most saw cyno to be. he hums softly to confirm, mostly listening, closing his eyes as thumbs smooth over his cheeks and his head tilts into that drifting touch.

though, his lips twitch into a softer smile, chuckling. ]

You wouldn't stop trying to come up with jokes about scarabs after that. How even as a scarab you'd always find your way back due to your "insect-tinct." And "I wonder if I would be too cool for school; given my amazing ‘beet-itude.'" [ but that's how tighnari could always tell cyno was in a good mood, he'd slip in some jokes, testing tighnari who would groan and lightly shove him away but. ] ...I had already known by then too.

[ when he would open his door, to greet Cyno, who was always eager to share a new joke with him, or simply talk about nothing.. he had become so painfully aware of how much cyno had wormed his way into his heart and settled a permanent place there. ]

:3c

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