*

[ settle ] sender sits on receiver's lap and gets comfortable

[ sling ] sender slings an arm around receiver's shoulder

[ pinch ] sender affectionately pinches receiver's cheek

[ ruffle ] sender ruffles receiver's hair

[ recline ] sender joins receiver on their chair and snuggles against them

[ hand ] sender takes receiver's hand while driving

[ knee ] sender lays a hand on receiver's leg while driving

[ clean ] sender reaches up to wipe something off receiver's face

[ tie ] sender adjusts receiver's tie

[ collar ] sender smooths out receiver's collar

[ tickle ] sender starts tickling receiver

[ piggyback ] sender gives receiver a piggyback ride

[ pick up ] sender scoops receiver up into their arms and holds them as they walk

[ guide ] sender places a hand on receiver's hip and guides them through a crowded room

[ smudge ] sender cleans lipstick off receiver's face

[ gun ] in the midst of a stand-off, sender reaches over and gently guides receiver's gun down, making them lower it

[ behind ] sender comes up to receiver from behind and wraps their arms around their waist

[ nuzzle ] sender leans in and nuzzles their face into receiver's neck

[ relax ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder while they talk

[ arms ] sender hooks their arm with receiver's as they walk

[ itch ] sender assists receiver with an itch they can't reach

[ catch ] receiver starts to fall, so sender reaches out and catches them

[ calm down ] sender pets receiver's hair and tries to soothe them after a scary situation

[ check ] sender checks receiver's temperature by placing the back of their hand against receiver's forehead, trying to see if they're sick

[ tuck ] sender tucks receiver into bed

[ feed ] sender offers a forkful of food out to receiver, helping them eat

[ undress ] sender helps receiver undress

[ shoes ] sender helps receiver put on their shoes

[ intent ] sender leans their forehead against receiver's

[ bathe ] sender helps receiver wash themselves in a bath

[ shower ] sender helps receiver wash themselves in a shower

[ assist ] sender finds receiver has fallen down, so they rush to their aid and help them stand again

[ bed ] sender helps receiver into bed

[ greet ] sender greets receiver with quick kisses to each of their cheeks

[ high five ] sender gives receiver a congratulatory high five

[ makeup ] sender helps receiver apply makeup

[ injury ] sender cleans receiver's wound and patches it up

[ seek ] sender reaches for receiver's hand and laces their fingers

[ surprise ] sender sneaks up behind receiver and places their hands over their eyes, wanting them to guess who it is

INBOX CALL

@anubyx asked: “ what are you doing up so late? you should be in bed. ”

𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 Cyno catches him off his guard. One might think that after these past couple of years of friendship, he'd be more attuned to the General Mahamatra's presence. Unfortunately, once Kaveh is embroiled in his work or something else that takes the full scope of his attention, the outside world may well be little more than a whispering dream.

Or, at least, that's what Kaveh would usually say.

Tonight, there is no pressing project, no flash of inspiration he cannot wait to put to paper. No, tonight there is only the remnants of alcohol in his blood and a strange, echoing emptiness in his chest. Cyno's home is a rare respite for him, but a respite nonetheless, and it's one of the few places where he can usually hide whatever midnight malediction decides to plague his drink-drowned thoughts. On the rare occasions he cannot force himself to sleep, he thinks instead, dragging himself down ever-darkening spirals of regret and remorse. Cyno is seldom awake for these ill-advised sojourns into his own despair, and Kaveh prefers to keep it that way.

Whether or not he actually can is another thing entirely.

Because where most see the General Mahamatra as unmoved and unfeeling, Kaveh sees the things most people don't consider. The distance his title places between him and other people, and the efforts he makes to bridge that distance regardless, in his own odd way, helped by the keen observational skills of a man oft tasked with truth-seeking.

Thus, Kaveh's efforts are truly a foolish pursuit, but he makes the effort anyway, because his thoughts are not a weight he would wish on anyone.

"I probably should," Kaveh agrees eventually, eyes remaining on the shadows in the distance, a smile slipping into place before he can even feel it. "But I couldn't sleep, so I thought I should get some air. See if maybe willing away some of the nausea might help." It's hardly that bad, but the little white lie is a necessity if he plans to keep Cyno from asking too many questions. "Don't worry, I'll head back in soon."

Silence greets his proclamation, and Kaveh waits for what he expects- a quiet sound of assent, the even quieter sound of feet on stone as he's left to his own devices.

Instead, warmth settles at his side- not pressed close, but near enough that the heat of Cyno's compact body is palpable through the night air and the linen of Kaveh's shirt both. No words are said, but Cyno settles in, makes himself comfortable, and what can Kaveh do but sigh and drop the side of his head against the other man's soft, starlit hair? Kaveh stays quiet, for a moment, knowing he doesn't need to say anything, but—

"Thanks. I was getting a little chilly."

that is until he finds the front door open, and cyno wonders if kaveh wandered out. it wouldn't be wise at least in his current state.

but he was wrong when he watched that familiar frame sitting and watching the scenery from the spot he has deemed worthy for contemplation. even when kaveh agrees, cyno knows it won't be that easy for the other to come inside. and even with the promise of eventually returning to the warmth of his home, the general knows that is a lie waiting to be committed.

although, who could ever simply walk away when there was a visible cloud looming over another's head? he looked lonely, so far away, even when those eyes, always warm and bright, tried to be what he probably wished to truly feel  :  happy. so cyno takes the first step, it is soft, it is careful, it takes him to kaveh. sitting next to him and he lets his eyes take to the skies.

until a heavy head rests against his shoulder, trapping some locks of moon  -  kissed hair. it is not uncomfortable, nor does it tug, but it leaves cyno to pause and look over in deafening silence. kaveh finally loosened his own leash. he smells of the wine he drowned himself not long ago, and dirt kicked up from traveling to cyno's home, and it masks the usual scent that was so signaturely kaveh. his words, too, were signature.

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒, 𝐂𝐘𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐊𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐇 thinks maybe he's not entirely supposed to hear — or understand. So he leaves them well-enough alone, tucking them aside in a little box in his mind comprised of his oddities and inconsistencies. Of all the strange little things that he's sure he's not meant to have noticed about his and Tighnari's odd friend.

"A dream," he echoes instead, looking just as astonished- though happily so. "And, you know, it's strange..." Not so strange as what he'd heard had been going on to begin with, but that was another matter entirely. "...but I can only really remember snippets. Feelings, fleeting scenery. I just..." It's a momentary struggle, getting the words right. Kaveh is an expert in professing his miseries more than his joys, few and far between as the latter have been in recent years. It saddens him to think, but he sometimes has a hard time remembering the last time he felt happy about something without accompanying guilt.

This is something he doesn't wish to have succumb to it either.

"  almost? you sound as if the thought of experiencing a happy dream scares you.  "  he shouldn't tease, he knows kaveh's complications when it comes to that, but is it so bad to let oneself be happy for the sake of being happy? he cannot understand the situation the architect is in, nor does he try to pry. this is simply a matter of getting kaveh to understand that he deserves it.  "  and was this dear companion someone you were able to recognize? they say that a dream is the heart's deepest desire.  "  cyno finally brings the cup of warm tea to his lips now, taking a sip, perhaps leaving kaveh to think on his answer.

Anxiety sucks, it’s real and it’s one hell of an obstacle. We aren’t all super confident people on the other side of the screen. Here’s some questions for the more nervous Muns out there!

How hard is it for you to approach new people you want to interact with?

What’s something you do to try to get to know other’s?

Should people think you’re intimidating/scary?

What’s a good way to start talking to you if people are scared to?

What’s a tip you would give to people trying to get to know you?

Do you dive into conversation easily?

How would you rate your conversation skills?

Do you feel awkward/nervous/etc trying to get to know people?

What is something you want people to know right away about yourself?

What are some things you worry about in terms of new people?

Stranger making small talk, yay or nay for you?

Introvert? Extrovert? Ambivert?

Do you focus more on talking role play first or talking casually about anything first?

Does knowing the other mun make writing threads easier or harder?

Do random messages out of the blue upset you at all?

Do random asks out of the blue upset you at all?

Do random memes out of the blue upset you?

Should people be nervous to send you things at all?

Is communication important to you?

How open are you to talking out problems and getting them resolved?

How scared are you of people, compared to how scared they should be of you?

What’s a way someone could ease the anxiety of unfamiliar conversation?

How much anxious internal screaming goes on with you on a regular basis?

How would friends describe you for the lovely people trying to get to know you? (Friends may send an answer to this question with the ask)