#cynodace

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Candace tells Cyno he sounds like a textbook when he speaks in the desert tongue. More identifiably rainforest than passing merchants or even some scholars. Cyno confides that Cyrus never told him from where in the Sands he's even from; no tribe to seek out, no dialect to learn from, no folktales or traditions to even remember.

Candace starts helping him learn the Aaru dialect since. "Lending" it to him. Maybe Aaru Village wasn't the home he was born in, but she made sure it was the second home he was always welcome in.

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Cyno taught Alhaitham simple Matra code when he was Acting Grand Sage. "Status check", "ok", and so on, in case of emergencies. Alhaitham first uses this in the Grand Sage office after a long day; stress had stolen from him speech and sign and writing, leaving behind weak taps and scratches of "escape needed".

Cyno starts asking "status check" more often since. Still in code. Even after he returned to being Scribe, even during meet ups with friends, an escape to silence can still be necessary.

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Alhaitham asks Candace why she writes to him in Vedanagari script in personal letters. Her calligraphy is more stilted compared to her writing in Deshret script. Candace admits she craved a connection her father who was an Akademiya scholar; she couldn't spend much time with him growing up due to her Guardian training.

Aether:Zzzz

Amber:*big spoon*Zzzz

xxxxx

Aether:But what if it isn’t pure all the way through?

Xiao:Just skim the top layer of snow. A little dirt is no worse than karma-

Keqing:*carrying Ganyu* She fell asleep on the trip…

Xiao:*takes Ganyu* You could’ve said my name.

Keqing:I have that right?

Xiao:You’re with my partner and closest friend. It’s not an issue.

Keqing:Ah… I wish I knew that. Aether, legs….

Aether:*picks her up*

Keqing:Thank you.

Aether:Does that curtesy extend to all my partners?

Xiao:*grumbles* I will think about it.

xxxxx

Aether:*walks in*

Scara:Well if isn’t the resident bicycle.

Aether:….*tears up* The what?

Scara:!? It was a joke! Relax!

Mona:*closes book* Scara…

Scara:Relax!!!! Aether, insult me back!

xxxxx

Yanfei:Madam Ping! I need your advice! Can you read this for me and tell me what you think?

Ping:….This is just a letter from the Traveler asking how you’ve been.

Yanfei:Yeah, but he wrote “My dearest, Yanfei” instead of “My dearest Yanfei,” with the comma after my name! Was that intentional or a mistake!

Ping:….

Ping:Bless your heart.

Yanfei:Not helping!

xxxxx

Kamisato porch

Aether:*enjoying the scenery*

Ayaka:*leaning on him*

Ayato:*opens door* I’m back Ayaka. How are things?

Ayaka:*drinking tea at the table* Uneventful.

Ayato:Is that so? Hello Aether. Enjoying our garden?

Aether: *20 feet away* Yep! Thought I’d swing by and say hello.

Ayato:Hehe, so it seems.

xxxxx

Waiter: Your total will be 1000 mora.

Amber:Okay. That’s easy enough t-

Aether:*puts down 1000*

Eula:I’ll handle the tip. *gives 1001*

Aether and Amber:….

Eula:What? Did you think I’d allow myself to lose to you? We are both treating her.

Aether:Lose t- I paid the tab! I would’ve let you spend 600 while I gave 500 mora!

Eula:…These are the type conversations that should be discussed beforehand!

Amber:Frankly, I’m just happy you both agreed to this. *smiles* I like this quality time. *holds their hand*

Eula and Amber: *silently bashful*

xxxxx

Aether:Zzzz

Scaramouche:Zzzzz

Mona:*in the middle*….(Why do they insist on me in the middle when one of them will never to pee!!!)

xxxxx

Aether:*starting a fire*

Charlotte:*focuses lens*

Aether:Uh is this really picture worthy?

Charlotte:I’m just testing out my new zoom function.

Aether:So what, the focus is on my hands?

Charlotte:Uh huh. *zooms in on crop top*

xxxxx

Furina:*head on his lap* Aether?

Aether:*playing with her hair* What’s up?

Furina:Is this what healing feels like?

Aether:I’d like to think so. If not, then we’ll find another way.

Furina:Hmm *closes eyes* This is perfect.

xxxxxx

Tighnari:Welcome to the seminar on proper forest travel. Everyone, find a seat.

Aether:*sits on a chair*

Nilou:*sits in his lap*

Collei:*red* N-Nilou? I think there’s a few more chairs.

Nilou:I saw, but all Tighnari said was to find a seat. Someone else can have the chair.

Cyno:You make a compelling argument, but I’m that’s not what Tighnari-

Candace:*sits on Cyno’s lap*

Cyno:Please begin whenever you’re ready.

Tighnari:This is not what I meant when I said “bring a friend.”

xxxxxx

Aether:Do you ever wonder what Kokomi writes about in her diary?

Gorou:Not really. It’s her business.

Aether:Yeah, you’re right.

……

Aether and Gorou:(I can’t let him know she’s let me read the pages about him.)

xxxxx

Aether:Paimon, I’m going on a date. I already made your lunch and dinner.

Paimon:Tell Keqing hello for Paimon.

Aether:…How’d you know it was Keqing?

Paimon:You woke up ten minutes earlier than usual and got a head start on commissions. Now you’re leaving after chores and your braid redone.

Aether:….

Aether:Can you not watch me so keenly?

Have a look as well!

Desert Gang Week is scheduled on May 5-11, 2024!

Candace mentions in one of her voicelines that her father was an Akademiya scholar. Y'know. From the rainforest. But he was ambiguously mentioned in past tense (we only know for certain her mother died when she was born) so who knows how much he taught her about the rainforest's culture. And she rarely had the chance to leave the village too; most of her pre-AQ contact with the forest seems to be merchants.

Cyno was briefly raised in the Temple of Silence but says his memories of that time was hazy. Given that Cyrus didn't even tell him about the Temple much less that that's where he's from, I doubt he passed down any desert stories/traditions that are specifically from the Temple (which Cyrus had to know plenty about given he lived with them for years). If Cyno ever got curious, he didn't have specific leads that would've gotten him very far either.

Candace likes to buy trinkets from merchants -- including identifiably rainforest things like bracelets with Kalpalata engravings and pendants with Akademiya emblems. Cyno's Mahamatra headpiece -- very obviously Hermanubis imagery inspired -- was custom-made according to his requests, presumably based on what little he remembers of the Temple. They may not actively say it, but I think they yearn for the parts of themselves they never got the chance to know.

(Late) Desert Gang Week 2024

Day 5: crossover AU

It's the magical girl cynodace AU (feat. dehyatham) again, y'all know what I'm about <3

ID: several drawings of Cyno and Candace from Genshin Impact, featuring Alhaitham and Dehya as their fairy companions (a bird and a lion, respectively). The drawings are "photos" of various scenes, scattered across a surface.

Top left: lion Dehya grooming bird Alhaitham, both seeming content. Bottom left: Candace and Cyno looking surprised and excited at the camera, with Cyno pointing at Nilou dancing in traditional dress on the stage.

Center bottom: Cyno sleeping with his head on a desk, and Alhaitham also sleeping on his head. Center: Candace and Cyno in magical girl forms, both holding staffs inspired by the Dialogues of Desert Sages. Candace is holding one palm forward, projecting a blue magic shield, while Cyno has a hand up, summoning violet magic claws.

Cyno:*laying down*….

Candace: *straddling him*….

Collei:*red* Excuse me…*closes door*

Collei: (Aaaaaahhhhh!) I’ll just see someone else.

xxxxxx

Collei:Amber!!!! *opens door* Can-

Eula:*pinning Amber*…..

Aether:*walks out bathroom* Hey I got the- *immediately walks backwards*

Collei: *inhales* Excuse me, I am…terribly sorry. *closes door*

Collei:(I should just ask Master Tighnari to help with talent books.)

xxxxxx

Collei:Master!? *turns corner* Are you- seriously!?

Tighnari: *covers face*

Cyno:*pinning him* Collei, knocking is important.

Dehya:*knocking* Candace? You up yet? If we don’t leave soon then we’ll be crossing the desert when it’s scorching. I know it’s called a rain forest but it doesn’t wash away smells as much as you might th-

Cyno:*opens door* Hello…

Dehya:Oh, Cyno? I didn’t realize you were in the village. Another runaway?

Cyno:In a sense. Candace will be out soon. Her interrogation tactics are quite impressive.

Dehya:That’s a weird way to compliment someone. I gotta be honest with ya.

Cyno:Wouldn’t you want someone complimenting your mercenary skills?

Dehya:Fair point. Anyway, the two of us are going shopping in Sumeru City. The elders and I finally convinced her to take a short vacation. Wanna tag along on the trip back?

Cyno:Sorry, but I’m staying here a bit longer. I have a few things to get in order. You two enjoy yourselves though. I’m not much for clothes shopping anyways. I’m sure the entire experience would be like w-

Dehya:Walking on pins and needles?

Cyno:*smiles* And that is why you are a close friend. Take care. *walks away*

Dehya:(He really needs better material) Wait, darn I could’ve said that!

Candace:*walks out* Hello. Early as always.

Dehya:Hardly. I was right on time! You’re the one actually dragging your feet for once. I guess that’s how interrogations go. Who’s the poor chump? Can’t be from here or else a glare would’ve been all that’s needed.

Candace:…*smirks* Is that what Cyno told you? I guess it was an interrogation in a sense.

Dehya:E-Excuse me? You…weren’t helping him with a case?

Candace:Hardly. Cyno is on leave and was kind enough to visit. He even offered to watch the village while I’m away.

Dehya:So…he was just in your home? *hands on hips* For how long?

Candace:Long enough. Let’s not dwell on it shall we. *starts walking*

Dehya:Oh no! I will dwell the entire trip! Why call it an interrogation!?

Candace:I don’t do particularly well with surprises too often but he refused to tell me what my birthday gift was. So I…asked politely.

Dehya:Ha! Wow! That sounds like the complete opposite of an interrogation. I knew he was a little off his game.

Candace:That word works fine; considering the rope and knots.

Dehya:What?

Candace:What? *walks faster*