suffusion | ★ ( HOTEL: IC CONTACT. )

[ by this point, anyone would know where it would hurt cyno most, but it wasn't as if tighnari wasn't capable of defending himself. so the mere idea of potential danger... it's never bothered him. it hasn't ever really been a worry. it was simply... wouldn't cyno deserve better? it's a brief thought, but when he peers again into cyno's face, sees that love and affection that reflects back at him - his heart tightens a bit painfully.

perhaps they were both foolish. dancing around, skirting around words, trying to protect one another when really.. haven't they always been doing that? it really would make no difference. he shivers at the trail of those hands, tail twitching with a quick swish side to side. there is a roll of his eyes at yet another joke, but to hear the following words after...

his heart aches. good, but painfully. a breath exhales slowly while arms encircle cyno more to press them together in a loose hug. nudging his nose against a cheek. ]

I know.

[ tighnari has always known. known for as long as he has shared those very same feelings. even though hearing them out loud, to hear cyno say it himself... it ignites a warmth in his chest, because everyone would hope to have their feelings return and tighnari is of no exception. cyno is quite possibly the only one who would ever have his heart like this. he cannot see himself ever possibly loving someone else as much as he loves cyno. not in this way. and the way cyno continues to look at him, those very thoughts are surely returned. ]

I've always have, and will, love you, Cyno. Nothing will ever change that fact.

[ words emit in a soft whisper, quiet in this moment for only him to hear and no one else. ]

[ i know, tighnari says, and cyno nearly chuckles; of course he knows. cyno has made no attempt to hide it, and he might have held himself back from saying the words, but he showed it in a hundred other ways, both big and small. his love for tighnari isn't something that can be easily contained, it isn't something that can be shoved into a box and tucked into the back of his mind - it's something that struggles to be free. he's not strong enough to restrain it.

perhaps they were foolish to dance around it. could he have learned the taste of tighnari's lips years ago, and not wasted all of this time? well. perhaps so, but also, cyno won't take up time complaining about it. he has tighnari now, and that's all that really matters, isn't it? and he's hearing his dearest feelings returned. like tighnari, he has known on some level that his feelings were reciprocated, but hearing it, watching tighnari's mouth shape the words - it floods him with fondness and warmth.

he'll never forget the sound of it.

cyno closes his eyes, leans into tighnari's warmth, breathes in his unforgettable scent. he's setting this moment, in all of its detail, to perfect memory. ]

I suppose this was a long time in coming.

[ for how long they have danced around it, right now it feels easy and simple, as if they have been lovers for years. but in many ways they have been, haven't they? cyno nudges his nose along tighnari's cheek, his jaw, leaving a soft line of kisses there. ]

[ tighnari would be a fool to not see it, really. of course, it really solidifies it to hear the words uttered, and admittedly he wouldn't mind hearing them again. just like he wouldn't mind being kissed by cyno again, and again, merely taking in the man's scent and feeling him here within his arms as well as beneath his fingertips.

it's almost dreamlike. with the distant melodic tune of music, a gentle breeze with bright colors of the flora and the ponds beside them. but still he keeps his attention solely on cyno, taking in the contentment that glows brighter on his partner's face. ]

Suppose it was, in a way.

[ though as hidden as it technically was, it was also always there. tighnari chuckles softly, a hum sounding after as his tail starts to sway with the feel of those kisses. his heart stutters, quiet and gentle, guiding their noses together in a languid nuzzle. in a way, this does change things - but at the same time, it doesn't. their feelings may have been enlightened to one another, yes, but it can easily go back to the way things have always been. which is why he directs cyno to look at him - meeting that gaze while he observes him closely. ]

But I want to hear it from you directly. What is it you want.

[ he wants cyno to be certain of it. whether it's to keep thing as they are, or something more, tighnari is willing to accept and give him whatever it is he wants. but for his own sake, he wants to hear it. see it for himself without any worries or doubts. ]

[ ah, and there it is..

really, cyno wonders if there could ever be any other answer than the one he has to say. could he possibly go back to the way they once were, now that this box has been opened? now that he knows what it's like to kiss tighnari, and hold him this way? sure, very little would actually change, one way or another, but.. cyno isn't sure he's strong enough to go forward with the knowledge he has now, and never kiss tighnari again. of course, he cannot know his dear friend's heart, either, cannot know what it is what he wants. all cyno can do is answer on his own. ]

I.. [ he starts, then pulls back to look into tighnari's face, his eyes. ] .. I only want to be with you, in whatever capacity you will have me.

[ an unfair answer, perhaps, but it is the truth. he would never hold tighnari to anything. still, that isn't all he wants, is it? tighnari deserves to know what it is that he's feeling. ]

But were I to have exactly what I desire - [ his eyelids flicker downward, and cyno appears almost.. shy. almost demure. ] - it would be.. to have you as my partner, in every way I've always wanted. To keep holding you, and kissing you, and dancing with you.

[ calm composure keeps tighnari steady, quiet and patient as he waits for cyno to answer. like him, he is aware of his own feelings on it all, but he wants to hear it from him, wants to know cyno's own answer. two-toned forest eyes meet with scarlet red, ears perking forward at the start of those words, and his heart lurches.

there's a look of fondness that fills his gaze and a thumb traces the spot beneath one red eye. truly, tighnari doesn't see it as an unfair answer, after all it would have been the same answer he would have provided himself if cyno had asked it of him. to be with him, however he will have it. whether it's like this - his eyes close for a moment, his tail lowering with an almost anxious twitch of the end.

however, those words continue again, and eyes widen when he peers back at him. to catch that shyness in the way his gaze flicks down. ah. the way his heart stutters and skips, it's fleeting and fast, like a young teen stumbling about when facing their crush. for a moment, tighnari lets it sit, until he presses forward to give cyno a chaste kiss. afterward, he pulls back with a soft smile. ]

Then that would make two of us with that very same desire. [ that almost demure is cute, and though he almost wants to tease - he does want to make his own feelings known. ] I want to be with you. So, if you'll have me... then, why don't we try?

[ those words - they make him happier than cyno could ever rightly express. warmth burgeons in his breast, swelling and rising like the desert dunes, filling him up with a content pleasure that nearly undoes him.

the two of them. together. together in a way that cyno's always wanted. he can hardly take it in.

releasing a shivering exhale, cyno tips their brows together until they touch. for a moment he says nothing, only remains like this, close to tighnari, feeling the warmth of his hands and the brush of his breath, enjoying his scent and nearness. to think that this could be their new normal, now.. ]

Okay. Yes. I'd like that.

[ he's a little less eloquent than he might want to be, the excitement fluttering behind his ribs is enough to make him a little nervous, in the best sort of way. ]

I'm yours, then. I always have been.

[ the expression on tighnari's face softens considerably as their brows touch, and even though cyno doesn't answer right away... he doesn't say no either. it's alright even if he does, but since with how everything has been until now - isn't it worth taking that step? to try and not hold themselves back for a change? certainly, tighnari feels that cyno of all people deserves every bit of happiness he finds himself in, deserving of all the love that can be given after everything he's done.

gingerly, tighnari holds cyno's face in his hands, simply smoothing thumbs over skin as they drink in this warmth and shared closeness. enjoying just being able to hold him like this. that warmth continues to swell, heart racing a bit more in its excitement at those words, unable to stop himself from smiling a little more.

okay. yes. it may not be eloquent, or filled with rosey colorful words, but tighnari doesn't need it to be. it was enough, and an answer in itself that makes him cradle the man closer. ]

Just as I have always been yours. [ even if it goes without saying, because who else would have his heart but cyno? contentment fills him, more than happy to stay here in this little bubble of theirs but they have nothing but time right now. so, he hums a bit with thought, head tilting a little. ] A productive talk this turned out to be, don't you think?

[ no, it wasn't eloquent, but it was cyno; he's nothing if not a very direct man, to-the-point even at times like these. he can only ever be as he is.

those hands on his face.. they feel so warm, so wonderfully familiar, and cyno cannot help but to break into a smile, a real, bright, broad smile, something incredibly rare. cyno's expressions are usually quite muted, soft and not terribly effusive, but right now he can't hold himself back - doesn't want to hold himself back. this smile is for tighnari and tighnari alone.

his arms sweep around his partner, squeezing him close as he laughs a soft, low laugh, nudging their noses together; when was the last time he felt so unabashedly happy? ]

Well worth coming to this floor, I think. Here -

[ cyno releases him, but only so that he can kneel and carefully pluck one of the lotus blossoms from the water. lifting it, he slips it into tighnari's hair, weaving its stem through the strands to keep it in place, in the absence of a human ear. ]

One for each of us.

[ to remember this night by. ]

[ a surprised sound squeaks out of tighnari at the sweep around him, tail and ears perking high while he blinks quickly. but the sight of that happiness that blooms in cyno like that bright red rose behind his ear - his expression settles on soft amusement, chuckling as he takes in the sound of that chiming laugh.

moments like these are always a reminder how much he cherishes the other man. cradling him with a return of that nudge, tail sweeping behind him as he hums in agreement. would things still have gone this way if they hadn't come to this floor? or would it have gone differently? he grows a bit somber at that thought, but it's quickly gone when cyno suddenly pulls away.

his gaze flickers down as his partner kneels, watching him for the moment. a smile lifts again while he stays still to make it easier for his partner. an ear flicks, raising a hand to gingerly touch the edge of a soft petal until he steps closer again to offer a gentle kiss in return.]

You sap. [ his tone is airy with tease, poking cyno on his chest afterwards. but there's a soft appreciation that glows obviously.] I'll be sure to perserve it, thank you.

[ of course he could never forget this moment. ]

[ oh, cyno is absolutely a sap. he always has been, and he always shall be. he's terribly weak to those he loves, and being close with them, giving them gifts, doing them favors - nothing pleases him more than this. nothing makes him happier. generally speaking, he asks for nothing for himself, needs nothing for himself, but this - he'll take this. tighnari as his partner, something he's only ever allowed himself to contemplate in his dreams..

it's now a reality. ]

Mm, mine too.

[ he wants to keep this rose for as long as he can, dried and pressed into his favorite book to look upon whenever he needs the fond memory. cyno has very few keepsakes and mementos as a general rule, but this is a clear exception. with a knuckle beneath tighnari's chin, cyno lifts his face a little, nuzzling their noses together. ]

Lotus say that we rose to the occasion.

[ please.. ]

[ tighnari leans into the touch, allowing the lift with ears flicking forward until

that. almost immediately his ears fold back flat, his expression reflecting the same. ]

Don't you start.

[ however, he doesn't look too bothered by the sound of jokes despite the grumble. only because he knows this is a clear indication of cyno's good mood.

so, just this once, he'll forgive him for it. except really he eventually always does excuse these jokes in the end. ]

Otherwise I'll have a thorn to pick with you.

[ he says this. so very very flatly. help. ]

[ cyno knows full well that he's taking a risk here, cracking jokes during a sweet, wonderful moment like this, but he could hardly help himself. the opportunity was waiting to be seized.

but then tighnari - ]

Did you just..

[ cyno's smile blooms like the rose behind his ear, fondness burgeoning, filling him up so full he feels fit to burst with it. a chuckle bubbles from his lips just before he kisses tighnari again, this time with more confidence and assurance, a little more forwardness.

to think that this is his new reality, now - that they can kiss whenever they want to. ]

[ cyno really is taking a risk, jokes that could potentially ruin the moment, but fortunately for him tighnari is in a good mood - how could he not be? a good enough one to humor him just a little though he emits an exasperated sound.]

It won't happen again.

[ so no getting used to it! though cyno's picked up mood is quite infectious, unable to stop himself from smiling wider as cyno swoops in for another kiss.

his tail curls high, pleased by the confidence in this kiss, nudging their noses together as he kisses right back. affection like this isn't something he's quite used to but - with cyno, he can tell he'll never get tired of it. drawn into it so easily. ]

[ their happiness and excitement is all but tangible, as if it's charging the very air around them, and at his hip, cyno's vision flickers and flashes, dancing with light. his lips part, his head tilting to better accommodate their mouths, and they kiss, and kiss, and kiss, cyno's breath coming in shivering rushes. his hands smooth down tighnari's back, keeping him scooped in close as if cyno never wants to let him go again.

he doesn't.

the kiss breaks in time, but cyno stays close, so that their lips and noses brush with every murmured word. ]

I could kiss you all night long and never tire of it.

[ he's waited for it for so long, after all, and thoroughly convinced himself that he would never know the feeling, that he would never experience this sensation. yet here they are, and he couldn't be happier for it. ]

[ each kiss is returned just as sweetly, sighing softly into them, though the moment those hands smooth over skin does his back arch with his fur standing a little on end. it pulls small shudders from him, his tail curling low to coil a little around cyno's leg.

a purr-like rumble sounds from his chest, that swell of warmth and contentment burning so brightly. really, he can't help but agree with cyno's words. this sensation... the feeling of kissing him, it's almost addictive. ]

Mmm, tempting as that is - you can kiss me whenever and wherever. We have any time to do that.

[ It's spoken in an airy tease, because they had come here to explore and yet here they are kissing away like a couple of teenagers in love. not that he blames him, or really minds, he's more than content to receive such affections from him.

even so, he pulls a bit back, taking the moment to finally catch his breath. a bit dizzied with a fuzzy warmth that settles comfortably in him. ]

We should go back to exploring this floor, or head to another. Your choice.

[ that sweet little purr.. cyno loves the sound of it, loves the gentle vibration against his lips, and one hand slips up to settle against tighnari's chest to better feel it. he's heard it before of course, plenty of times, but this time it feels different, special, but maybe that's cyno simply being a sap again. ]

Mm.. you do have a point.

[ whenever and wherever. he loves the sound of that. ]

Let's move on to another floor. I think this one has.. fulfilled its purpose.

[ they've danced, they've kissed, they've confessed to feelings that they've held dear and close to their hearts for years.. yes, anything further would be overstaying their welcome, he thinks. so cyno offers his arm to tighnari again, to lead him back through the gala and toward the elevators again. ]

I always have a point.

[ though it's said with some amusement, brow raising with a look over. the purr shifts into a hum when he feels cyno's hand linger as if only just then was he aware of it. his tail loosens from it's previous coil to sway contently side to side.

he would say the floor definitely has done just that and more but. he's sure they're both still reeling in from this turn of events. he can feel it in the way his nerves seem to buzz excitedly, ears twitching as he glides a hand along cyno's arm.]

Another floor it is. Have one in mind? Or are we leaving it a mystery again?

[ tighnari hardly minds what they decide. he has nothing to worry about when he's with cyno, whatever it is they'll be able to face together just fine. his arm slips in with cyno's own after, following with while they make their way through the chatter and music of the gala. leaving behind the festivity to move back into the elevators once again.]

[ having to detach from tighnari to walk through the gala again is a bit of a disappointment; now that they've unlocked this particular door in their relationship, cyno just wants to spend every moment holding and kissing him until their mouths are sore and they've mapped every inch of one another. he very much is, in fact, feeling like a giddy teenager in love, as if all of this is brand new, and he isn't a grown man.

but there will be time ahead of them - all the time they want - to explore one another. ]

Hmm. I'll leave that choice to you.

[ he says, as they slip back into the elevators again, their fancy clothing dissipating, popping back to what they had previously been wearing. the flowers, thankfully, remain. ]

Then I'll just randomly pick a floor.

[ with their previous clothes returning, he takes the time to gingerly remove the lotus flower from his own hair into the pouch at his waist - he doesn't want to risk losing it later, or wherever they may end up. because picking blindly could mean they can end up quite literally anywhere.

he presses a button after, leaning back against cyno's side as the elevator starts to move to the thirty-third floor... which then opens up to a bright, sunny area. their first steps are immediately into sand, the air drifting with a rather salty breeze as they're welcomed to the sight of an oceanic beach view.

beach floor! which means... some beach wear that tighnari finds himself in. a free hand raises to lift the visor a little, appreciate. ]

This is new.

[ the elevator shifts, and opens up to.. a desert? no - a beach! it's been awhile since cyno has visited a coast, so he's immediately smiling warmly and stepping out onto the floor in his own beach wear! popping into existence at his feet is a cooler and two folded chairs, and by tighnari, an umbrella and a bag full of towels, sunscreen, and other beach necessities. how well prepared this floor is!

the wind blows through his hair, and cyno breathes in the salty air. ]

This looks nice.

[ he steps out a little further, the elevator doors closing behind them. ]

[ oh good, better that the floor is prepared because there's no possible way they would be with the lingering mystery each of these could end up being. so he will gingerly remove his arm from around cyno to gather up the bag and umbrella, easily resting it against his shoulder while gesturing to the other things by his partner. ]

May as well take what we can get, hm? Let's find a nice spot to settle in.

[ of course he isn't too excited about the idea of sand invading his soft fur, but it's worth exploring anyways. it isn't a sight and opportunity they get a lot of either. there's fortunately a lot of space on this floor so he's quick to find them a spot, stepping quickly over. ]

How about here? Not too close to the waters, but not too far either.

[ it's got a very calming view too. ]

[ tighnari found the magical spot! cyno nods. ]

This is great, yeah.

[ he'd think anything is great right now though, honestly. he's still high up, riding cloud nine. he kissed tighnari!! a bunch of times!! his mood is unbreakable right now.

he leaves the umbrella to tighnari, instead setting down the cooler and unfolding their chairs, pushing them down into the sand to find purchase. ]

I might enjoy a swim.

You should go for it.

[ a swim doesn't sound terrible, but tighnari would have to prep his tail before he can take a dip himself. once he lodges the umbrella in place and ensures it won't come collapsing down, he moves to peer into the bag.

he pauses at the sight of the sunscreen bottles, looking over them before he emits a hum. how convenient! ]

Actually, before you do, we should probably get you covered. Better to be prepared against the sun even if it's not necessarily outside.

[ hotel floor sun... ]

[ HOTEL FLOOR SUN.. cyno has his suspicions about the nature of the floors, and whether or not they are inside at all, but they're here for a good time, so let's have a good time!! and tighnari is right.. cyno spends enough time under the harsh desert sun to know how important skin protection is.

so he nods, and tugs off his shirt, setting it onto one of the two chairs before he's plucking up a bottle of sunscreen, and beginning to apply it to his arms. ]

You should, too, even if you're staying under the umbrella.

Don't worry, I will.

[ light reassurance as he reaches for the bottle himself, but instead of applying it to his own body first does he come up behind cyno. a hand presses against the other man's back, massaging some of the sun lotion on across toned bronze skin. ]

Let me help you first. Then I'll take care of myself, mm?

[ the fox can help him with at least the harder to reach areas, tighnari's hands easing the lotion steadily with generous amounts of sun lotion. better to be safe! ]

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