🍄 * @cyno-oh asked: The forest never sleeps. Cyno and Tighnari belong to the jobs and routines they have performed for years now. Avidya Forest's revered guardian does likely not take time off work for even his own birthday because, akin to the duties Cyno takes upon himself as General Mahamatra, it is a labor of love for the both of them. Cyno has never been the type of man that fashions excuses in order to visit an old friend and in turn Tighnari tolerates his impositions with minimal complaints. Collei was not the first in their long history, but he can think of no other instance for which he is more grateful. The most effective professors are gardeners first who know each species has unique needs. (Since his school years, Tighnari has possessed all the makings of a sage, lacking only in greed for the prestige such a position promised.)
Cyno takes his obligations seriously, observing all ritual to the letter of the law with the attentiveness of a high priest during ceremony. Birthdays, however, do not come with a prescribed list of instructions detailing how to be carried out successfully. There will be no extensive explanation for the gift he offers, not a single word of his correspondence with a certain Traveler or the bargain he'd struck with an elderly man to part with this rarity. These are not matters he wants Tighnari to be concerned with.
He does not invite himself inside immediately despite having every inch of the room memorized. At this hour, he doubts Tighnari has completed his rounds and Cyno hardly wishes to be a distraction. Outside he waits with his arms crossed and head ducked into the cover of his hood. When Collei arrives instead it is still within his expectations, but he notices other effects that manage to surprise him slightly. The familiar table she offers him a seat at holds two cups - perfectly matched - before she clears them away and gestures for him to set down the package in his arms.
Eventually, Tighnari joins them after Cyno has asked Collei of a great many things from her studies to plans for the future. And while Collei's own birthday is several months away, he presents her with some academic titles that would be difficult to get her hands on otherwise.
"Nari," he addresses once all equipment has been stored in its proper place and Tighnari settles into a leaf-backed chair as well. "To the North of Aaru Village, I met a man who had cultivated golden roses. They unfortunately cannot thrive outside the desert. Although using techniques you showed me in the past, I preserved three to the best of my ability. The seeds are intact, but I imagine even you will encounter difficulty in trying to achieve favorable results. This man devoted much of his life to accomplishing that task. Regardless, you should do with them as you please." He pauses, solemn. "I'm rooting for you. Happy Birthday."
today is my birthday, and i should have invited my friends over for dinner.
— but unfortunately, reads his letter to the traveler in neat block letters, i have accepted amurta's invitation to give a series of talks scheduled on these days, and i can't back out of that.
tighnari pads back into the perimeter of gandharva ville, bow and quiver more slack over his shoulder than he had worn them upon departure—the tell-tale epilogue of another day's work, a false breath of finality until dawn broke again. they are their own people with realistic lives to live. the world around them does not stop spinning for something as arbitrary as a calendar date; time does not skid and stop on its heels, though tighnari always wishes it did, for the three of them.
maybe it does not need to. maybe this is the next best thing. not two steps down the bridge and a breathless chuckle leaves him, realization blooming across his features. his pace does not stutter, but skips half a beat faster, eyes snatching their light right out of the stars. collei's voice comes first if only for how much less cyno speaks in comparison, but neither of the two can elude him. tighnari's tail swishes; the hut grows larger in sight. soon enough the familiar adhigama wood door swings into honeyed warmth.
"i'm home," tighnari calls to them. home.
collei's pleased note carries down the hall. neither collei nor cyno stand on ceremony—theirs is a comfortable routine, seldom as it occurs, steady as his beating chest and certain as the lichtenbergs marring it. tighnari shrugs off his gear. he replaces it on its proper mount one piece at a time, unrolls one last knot in his shoulders, then moseys on over to the source of light chitchat. before he finishes seating himself at the table, he is able to put two and two together: cyno and collei, books and a package. tighnari has half a mind to tease them about the visit, but it is quickly overridden by the other half that deems there are more worthwhile things at stake than looking cool on his birthday. besides, realizes tighnari, the good general himself has something to say first; and the only time cyno disappoints is when he is delivering a punch line.
which, fairly enough, does not come until the very end of his spiel. tighnari had blinked wide at the description of his gift, gaze casting briefly over the parcel—he did not need to glance at collei to know she shared his inquisitive expression—before he set his bewilderment back upon cyno.
"it's my birthday, and you come in our house with a challenge? not to mention another dreadful joke," tighnari chides with retracted fangs and a theatrically raised brow. in any case the scolding belies his undeniable smile. it grows across his face by the second, spreading before it spills over to a laugh; one that crinkles his eyes, all mirth and unspoken gratitude.
"you really must take me for a gardener," his voice softens, airy still. those words carry more weight than tighnari fears he may be worth. "that's one rose for each of us, hm?"
still, who would he be today if he never chose to try? where would they—the three of them—be now? would time still have stopped for tighnari in this small place, would he be able to turn his head and look at collei like this, would he ever have a reason to keep three pillows and plates in a hut made for one?
"if you're trusting me with such an arduous responsibility, then i'll do my best to trust your reasons. on one condition, of course: you'll have to keep visiting to see how these roses are growing. i'm all ears if there's something i could be doing better. i'm not a miracle worker, you know. but, with you... with collei..."
he hopes they will never realize how afraid he is. out of all the things the world has to fear, tighnari is most afraid of how much they believe in him. their belief; it is powerful, it is terrifying, it is light, it is love, it is everything. there is no doubt about it: they are everything. tighnari's thumb brushes the package like a butterfly wing.
"thank you for the gift, and for going out of your way to visit. i'll give them everything i have, so both of you need to make sure to watch them bloom with me."