hearthwarming | reverie 🦋 inbox

[ Ori's attention is split between watching Tighnari unpack the basket, and the lovely flower he's set aside, feeling a warmth blooming in her chest at how easy this is. It's really not all too different from the moments they've spent together thus far, before they slept together last night, but it feels more... special, now.

With an elbow on the table, she tips her head to one side and rests it against her palm, smiling at him warmly. ]

I don't mind. It's almost like we're on a picnic, but inside.

[ thanks to all the plants, and the company, of course. ]

[ she's so cute.. ]

You're right. I'd offer a real picnic, but the weather isn't particularly good for it.

[ the chilliest picnic.. anyway, he pours them both a glass of water, sets the basket aside, and at last carefully lifts the wrapped flower, holding it toward her. ]

This is for you.

[ and if she unwraps it, ori will find that it isn't a simple cutting - it's well rooted, soil still clinging to its roots, ready to be planted. ]

[ perceive her cuteness!!

But... oh. She had been eyeing the flower this whole time so far, but she didn't want to presume... What if he'd taken the cutting to bring back to his dormitory after this, or something?

All to say, she blinks for a moment down at the flower, then she glances back up at him. ]

I... Tighnari...

[ She takes it off of his hands and into hers with a warm, appreciative smile before she unwraps it with a mind to get it into a vase immediately, except... ]

Oh! This is... [ so she can plant it for herself. She understands. He's so thoughtful... ] Thank you...

[ though he's not the type to be particularly nervous, tighnari is nevertheless relieved once she accepts the flower. he takes a bite of his sandwich, chases it with some water, and smiles. ]

It's a Padisarah, a flower grown only in my homeland.

[ he turns toward her a little more, his eyes bright; he loves to talk about flowers. ]

According to legend, the goddess of flowers left them wherever she danced, and when she died, they were never able to be cultivated again, not in the same way. The Dendro Archon grew a new phenotype, but was never able to achieve the same beautiful blue color.

[ Ori is much too captivated by the Padisarah to think about her sandwich. She takes in its every detail, and listens dutifully as Tighnari tells her about it.

It's beautiful, she wants to say, but the words are lost in the thoughts swirling in her head at what he says. This isn't just any flower - it's one from his home, a piece of the land that made Tighnari who he is. Her heart twists and turns in her heart in a most pleasant way that she hasn't felt in what seems like so very long...

The story behind this flower, though, is bittersweet... He speaks of a flower goddess, of loss... This certainly isn't the first time that they've spoken about flowers, but that now-familiar, bright look on his face feels more precious now than ever before. ]

I'm sure the goddess of flowers would have appreciated the Dendro Archon's efforts all the same.

[ tighnari is more than pleased that she seems to like it. it's.. important to him, that she does, that the gift is meaningful. plants and flowers were their first connection, and they remain a commonality between them that they can both appreciate - what better way to display his feelings for her than through this shared love of nature? and with this padisarah, not only will she be able to keep one flower, she'll be able to grow more, to continue cultivating it on her own.

a soft smile blooms across his features, tighnari's ears folding gently back. ]

I'm sure you're right.

[ a beat. ]

You remind me of her. They say that the goddess of flowers had horns on her head, and was the Mistress of Dreams.

[ She can't help but mirror that gentle expression with one of her own, a rosy tint spreading across her face... Even moreso when it seems that Tighnari is comparing her to an actual goddess.

Unsure of whether she's truly deserving of such a comparison, she's unable to keep herself from chuckling and reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear bashfully. ]

T-That's...

[ She shakes her head, though the affectionate smile of her face continues to betray her bashfulness (and some amusement). ]

It's a bit bold of you to compare me to a goddess, don't you think...? Still, I... [ She sighs. ] I'm very flattered...

Bold? I suppose it is..

[ tighnari hadn't been thinking much of it, really, just that it was true, but now he looks a little sheepish, his ears folding back, a light flush on his air cheeks. ]

Well, it's just the truth, that's all.

[ There's another twisting, fluttering feeling in her heart at his sheepish look; carefully, she sets the Padisarah back down onto the table and then reaches out to curl her fingers around one of his hands. ]

I appreciate your honesty. It's not every day that I get that kind of compliment, haha...

[ Seriously, a goddess. ]

Thank you for that, and for the flower... I'll take good care of it, I promise.

[ he feels a little better once her fingers curl around his. tighnari is an incredibly honest and straightforward person, he says what's on his mind and in his heart, he'd been afraid, for a moment, that he might've scared her off. he smiles. ]

Good. I trust it's in excellent hands, but if you have any questions, you can always call on me.

Of course. I'll have to make do with what I can do with our dormitory, since we don't have a conservatory like your team does, but... I'll do my best.

[ It's a precious gift from him, after all. She squeezes his fingers before she decides she can do one better, and pulls his gloved hand up to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the fabric over his knuckles. ]

This is far better than any of the gifts I saw floating around during that last game...

I'm sure you'll take great care of it.

[ she might not be a botanist, but he knows how good she is with plants, he's quite sure that she'll figure it out. padisarahs can be a little finicky, but they're not too difficult to care for.

his face warms when she kisses his knuckles, tighnari's ears twitching back a little. ]

I suppose it's time we talk.

Mm, yes...

[ She lowers their hands, although she doesn't let go. Her thumbs brush over his knuckles tenderly as she glances thoughtfully at his twitching ears and blushing face, finding hers starting to warm and redden, too.

Where do they even begin? Perhaps she hasn't gotten as much time to collect her thoughts as she would have liked, between other things that have gone on today, but... ]

... I know that there are many questions around this place... Not the least of which is what happens if we're all sent back. The truth is, Tighnari, I... Have someone that I care deeply for, back home. It's not as if we're together, [ at least not anymore ] but the feelings remain all the same. But I also know that I care deeply for you, too, and I don't feel that one lessens the other.

[ their hands lower between them, and tighnari threads their fingers together, squeezing gently. ]

I understand. There's someone at home that I..

[ ah. tighnari's face reddens a little. this is actually something he's never said out loud before, something he's never admitted to anyone but himself, and even then, only barely. ]

Someone I have feelings for. He and I never came to anything, but.. I understand, and I agree. It doesn't change my feelings for you.

[ Oh. She didn't think they would have this somewhat unhappy commonality shared between them. Ori and Colin, for their part, were happy for some time until responsibilities and time apart drove a wedge between them... amongst other things. ]

Ah... So, then...

[ She squeezes his hand back. ]

Like many others here, I think... I would like to treasure the time that we have here, together. If you would have me...

[ they do have this unfortunate circumstance in common, indeed. tighnari doesn't tie himself up in knots over it or anything, but.. there are certainly some lonely nights..

but he smiles. ]

Of course I would. [ ori you sweet fool!! he touches his brow to hers. ] I'm happy to continue this, and see where it takes us, even though it's quite possible that our time here may be brief. I think you're incredible.

[ May those lonely nights be few and far between, from now on...

Ori smiles warmly as their foreheads press together, and she sweetly nuzzles his nose. Something wonderful and new swells in her chest. "You're incredible." ]

I could say the same for you, you know...

[ Unable to contain herself any longer, she presses in and kisses him, bringing the hand of hers that's not entwined with his up to cup his cheek. ]

[ her lips find his, and tighnari sighs softly, his eyes flickering closed.

this kiss feels a little different from the rest, for the sweet new information between them, the knowledge that their feelings are the same, that they want to continue this thing between them, and not simply allow it to be a one-off. tighnari isn't really the type to do flings, though he would've respected her choice nonetheless.

one hand lifts away from her own to cup at her cheek, the pad of his thumb gliding along her jawline. ]

[ Perhaps a part of Ori might have thought that last night should have stayed a one-off, a pure expression of desire and attraction and loneliness that need not turn into anything more than that. And that perhaps they could have continued to be friends despite that. But a larger part of her knows that she really does care for him in a way that she thought she might not care for anyone again.

And so, the kiss certainly is different. It lacks the needful nature of their first meeting last night, and the raw hunger of this morning. It is a kiss that heralds a shift in their relationship and standing with one another, and one that they share because they simply can and want to.

She hums and smiles against his lips as he kisses her back and trails his touch along her jawline, causing warmth to bloom across her face at the contact. With her other hand now free as well, she moves her arms to wrap around him. Whenever the need for air bids them to pull away, she mutters: ]

I know this place isn't pleasant by any means, but... I'm glad that I met you here.

[ absolutely they would have remained friends, he wouldn't have held it against her had she wanted to keep things platonic between them, but.. he's quite glad that they've decided to move forward different. glad, and a little.. nervous. for reasons he's soon to explain. ]

I'm glad, too.

[ tighnari's free hand smooths along her side, and he pulls back a bit to look into her face, pensive and serious. ]

You should know, though.. one of the reasons I've not moved forward with Cyno is that my kind - we mate for life. [ a pause, and he presses his lips together. ] I'm not telling you this to pressure you. You don't have any obligation to me, but if it turns out that we can never leave this place..

[ That pensive expression on Tighnari's face causes some concern on Ori's end as she returns his gaze with a questioning, worrying look. He soon does explain, and she stills. ]

Ah...

[ Her gaze falls away from him, her features reading equally as pensive and serious, now. If that stopped him from being with his love at home, then... ]

I feel like I should be asking you, then, Nari... Are you sure? About me? [ as a mate for life? ] If it does turn out that we can never leave this place, then...

[ What does that mean, for them...? ]

[ he shakes his head. ]

Don't worry, there are certain things that go into choosing a lifemate, no choice needs to be made right now. We have time.

[ time, at least, that they have here.. for whatever that is worth. however long they might have here. ]

It's simply something you should know about me, for the future, should you want to move forward.

[ Oh, that was... rather presumptuous of her, wasn't it? She blushes deeply, chuckling to herself as she brushes her hair away from her face. ]

Hah, that's... Good. I understand. Thank you for... Letting me know.

[ There's some measure of relief, there. After all, she couldn't even make things work with someone like Colin. The two of them had been through so much together, and for so long they were happy. But if she couldn't even become a life partner for someone she knew her so deeply and for so long, then... What hope does she have for something like that again?

It would be good for Tighnari to have the time to decide... She wouldn't want to disappoint him... ]

What was it that stopped you... with Cyno...?

[ her relief is a little palpable, and tighnari chuckles; they care for one another of course, but it's quite a big decision to make so soon after a lonely tryst. tighnari is a cautious soul, unsurprisingly, it's why he has yet to choose a mate to begin with, despite being more than of age.

tighnari smiles wryly, and nods. ]

Yes, in part.

[ tighnari can't help but feel a pang of homesickness. he often goes far longer than this without seeing cyno, but still - cyno is so far from him right now, and tighnari doesn't know when he'll see him again. if he'll see him again. ]

But mostly our work keeps us apart. We're both very dedicated to our work, and his takes him all across Sumeru.

[ Surprise first flits across her face, before softening into something that all but spells her recognition, that resonance, that understanding. Knowing that despite what both parties must feel in their hearts, circumstances
- work, social standing, anything else - simply would not allow for anything long-term or sustainable. ]

Hmm. As much as it pains me to say, I... I understand that, too. And I'm sorry to hear it.

[ She glances at Tighnari again, meeting his eyes, and offers a knowing smile. She's sure that, if things were different, Tighnari would have chosen Cyno as his mate, and that Cyno would have accepted. And she's sure because she knows the incredible person that she knows Tighnari to be. ]

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