video - un: forestwatcher

[veardant]

[ a good thing he's had some time to get used to phones in reverie.. this one looks a little different, but the functionality is more or less the same. anyway! the feed opens in a small garden, outside of tighnari's cottage, where he's sitting on the freshly tilled earth, beneath his fruit trees. nevermind that blueberries generally grow on bushes not trees WHATEVER this is fable we do what we want. he seems to be enjoying the shade! ]

Ah - hello.

[ tighnari's tall, furry ears flick as he gets comfortable, sitting cross-legged with his tail curled at his side. ]

My name is Tighnari, I'm a botanist trained in plant medicine, so I thought I might as well make people aware of my presence. There's a lot of new and interesting plant life here, so I'd like to please advise you all not to eat anything you're not entirely positive is edible.

In fact, maybe don't eat anything you forage in the wild in general. But if you do, please seek out treatment immediately. Many plants and fungi are fine to consume, but still others can be potentially quite harmful. If you're unsure about anything you find, you're welcome to ask me. And for those of you finding yourselves with new.. appendages, I'm planning to produce many balms and oils that are safe for fur and feathers and scales, and can help you to keep them healthy.

Comments

[alcazarzaray]

As long as she's doing all right, that's what matters ...

( speaking of which. guess which artist has noticed that tear on Tighnari's ear? he pulls his phone closer to his face in order to take a better look a it. )

Hang on a second - Tighnari, what happened to your ear? You look like you've been in a fight!

[veardant]

Ah..

[ ahem. tighnari's gaze darts away for a moment, before he's rubbing absently at the back of one ear. it's not that he doesn't trust kaveh to know - of course he does - it's just.. ]

That's a bit of a long story.

[alcazarzaray]

( oh! it sounds so much more serious than he expected! )

Is that so ... if the details are too painful to share with me, you know I won't push you. Just know that I'm here if you need to chat, all right? I wouldn't mind swinging by if you would like some company. ( he's so fucking good. ALHAITHAM TAKES HIM FOR GRANTED!!!!! )

[veardant]

[ kaveh.. tighnari smiles in a way that's both gentle, and very tired. it's so good to see him again, even just over the phone. tighnari's chest constricts with emotion, but he's quick to bite it back, clearing his throat. ]

That's not a bad plan. I'm making lunch, you're welcome to join me, if you like. We can eat in the garden.

[ alhaitham ABSOLUTELY takes him for granted!! ]

[alcazarzaray]

Don't you worry, I'll be over as quickly as I can.

( as soon as he discovers where Tighnari lives... )

Would you mind sending me your location over on your device? There should be a little button.

[veardant]

Right.

[ thankfully he's gotten used to phones, so it only takes him a few moments of searching to find the aforementioned button. ]

Ah, that should have worked, I think.

action

[alcazarzaray]

Wonderful! I'll hang up now. See you soon!

( and sure enough, after getting dressed and straightening himself out a little, Kaveh arrives at the front door to Tighnari's cottage before knocking once or twice. when stepping back from the door, he can't help but appreciate how cute his home looks ... it's very verdant, which suits him. )

[veardant]

[ tighnari, of course, hears him coming before kaveh even knocks, so he's at the door the moment kaveh's hand drops. he's very comfy in his new threads, and from the cottage the scent of warm soup and fresh bread wafts. one ear twitches, and tighnari smiles.

if he were the hugging type, he'd absolutely be compelled to tug kaveh in for one, because friend, things have been rough, but tighnari contains himself, stepping back so kaveh can pass. the little space is still somewhat bare, but it's cozy nonetheless, and newly furnished!! with a cushy cream sofa and wooden side table. in the windows are several cuttings gathered from the forest, resting in empty bottles and cups of water, taking root. tighnari ushers him in, and closes the door. ]

It's good to see you.

[alcazarzaray]

( when the door opens and Kaveh sees Tighnari wearing that impeccable outfit, it should be no surprise that a man so drawn to aesthetic beauty is stunned for a moment. he steps inside, admiring the inner workings of the other man's cottage before taking a moment to really drink in how nice his outfit looks. )

Wow, your outfit! Now that's a look that certainly suits you. I simply adore those clothes!

( but, aesthetics aren't why he's here. )

Sorry. You know me. I certainly didn't come here to fawn over your clothes and your house, despite how beautiful they look. Would you like to sit down to have a chat?

[veardant]

[ ah yes, typical kaveh, arrested by what he sees around him, but tighnari can understand his passion. he's not an artist in the same sense that kaveh is, but he sees beauty in the world, in the petals of the nilotpala lotus unfurling beneath the moonlight, in the hardy cactus standing against the heat and sand, in the tangled limbs of adhigama trees over the avidya river. he sees it in the oily black feathers of a crow, and the shelf mushrooms that climb the side of his hut.

so he doesn't begrudge kaveh his moment, even if tighnari still playfully rolls his eyes as he turns toward the kitchen. ]

Don't worry about it. The soup should be finished by now, go ahead and sit on the sofa, I'll bring it out.

[alcazarzaray]

( he can't say that he was expecting to be fed, but there is an undeniable smile on his face at the prospect. )

Soup, you say? Here I was just expecting a pot of tea. That's awfully kind of you to feed me. I must admit, I have missed your cooking tremendously.

( it's been quite a while since that time he was entertained by Tighnari, Collei and Cyno, hasn't it? the fact that there are home comforts so readily available here has really helped him feel settled. as instructed, the architect sits himself down on the sofa, running his hand across the fabric while taking a gander. he just can't help himself, ok. all in all, it's a good sofa. )

[veardant]

Don't get too used to it! I'm not going to feed you every day.

[ he calls over his shoulder, as he meanders into the kitchen. it takes him a few trips to bring everything back - two bowls of warm minty bean soup, as well as two empty cups and a small pitcher of cold water, then the bread on a sad looking cutting board. tighnari squeezes all of this onto the side table pulled to the front of the sofa, and sits. ]

Enjoy. We can have tea after.

[ slicing himself off a helping of freshly baked bread, tighnari begins to dig in. ]

[alcazarzaray]

( Kaveh laughs with amusement. ) As much as I would love that, it wouldn't be nearly as special if you did.

( the blonde man shuffles to the edge of his seat while he takes in a great whiff of the soup's captivating aroma. there really is nothing quite like a delicious plant based meal made by Tighnari. )

This looks amazing! Thank you. ( he reaches out to scoop a tasting portion with his spoon, before he brightens with an enthusiastic 'mmmm!' and a smile. ) Perfection.

( once they both start comfortably eating, Kaveh engages Tighnari about his scar yet again. )

... So, whenever you're ready, I'd love to hear what's been going on. ( the compassion in his voice is ever present. )

[veardant]

[ you're too sweet, kaveh!! tighnari would call himself a decent cook, but he appreciates how much his friend seems to like it, and he's quick to dig into his own bowl, sopping up plenty of it with the warm bread. he hums, then laughs. ]

Well, I'm glad you like it. I made plenty, if you want to take some home with you.

[ soup is one of those things that lasts for like, an entire week of leftovers.

it's such a simple thing, sitting here eating with kaveh, but after reverie, it feels like such a breath of warm, fresh air. tighnari hardly realized how much he missed his friend until this moment, until this chance to see him again. but of course, the inevitable comes, and tighnari tenses, his ears folding back against his hair. ]

Well. I take it that now that you're here, you understand that the concept of other worlds is less far-fetched than we might have once believed. [ a brief pause. ] Before coming here, I was in.. another place. Somewhere else, that wasn't Teyvat, but a prison called Edge of Reverie.

[alcazarzaray]

That's very kind of you to offer. Thank you, Tighnari.

( leftovers only for him!! since he doesn't live with Alhaitham, but, it's fine. he'll just continue to savour this meal for as long as he can. Kaveh watches his friend speak intently while they eat, but the moment that Tighnari mentions the word 'prison', his facial expression drops into one of serious concern. )

A prison...? ( how on earth did Tighnari get sent to prison? did he dig up some kind of illegal plant? ) How did you end up in prison? ( Kaveh will allow him the chance to explain his own story rather than making any assumptions. this is a serious matter, after all. )

[veardant]

[ yes kaveh, your very own leftovers!! incredible.

but of course, tighnari expected this much from kaveh. his friend has always been kindhearted, that he would be concerned is no surprise. ]

I was taken there by an entity called The Warden, and made to play.. games, to make up for my crimes.

[ he winces. gods, he sounds out of his mind, doesn't he? ]

One of which, apparently, was "excessive sass".

[alcazarzaray]

( of course he believes every word that his friend says. Tighnari is one of the most trustworthy and reliable people he knows, and yet ... he can't help but raise an eyebrow with concern over the circumstance for his "crimes." )

Here I was running the assumption that you dug up a rare or illegal plant ...

( it's a lighthearted comment - but one delivered in bewilderment more than anything else. after all, how could Tighnari possibly end up in jail? the thought is beyond him. but, he's here to listen. )

What sort of games did you play? ( if that scar is anything to go off ... it doesn't sound like fun playground games. )

[veardant]

No. Nothing like that. I think the crimes were simply an excuse to..

[ .. well, to do whatever the warden wanted to do. a fine excuse to "punish" them. tighnari tenses, folding his hands across his lap, breathing a slow, soft sigh. ]

Some of the games were harmless, almost foolishly so, like.. affection bingo. Others were far less so. I was -

[ maimed, psychologically tormented, killed. his fingertips ghost across the scar on his ear. ]

One game saw the teams pitted against one another, voting to raise and lower one another in elevators. At the end, we all dropped. Those who "won" were the least injured.

[alcazarzaray]

( The flash of concern on Kaveh's face is undeniable. Even though Tighnari didn't delve into more of the details, he can tell that things weren't pleasant.

The architect places his soup bowl down on Tighnari's coffee table, before leaning over to hug him. Sorry. Kaveh is soft, we know he's soft, and he can't stop himself. )

Gods - Tighnari. I'm so sorry. ( He pulls back for a moment with a serious expression worn on his face. ) None of those aggressors are here, are they? The warden? I swear, if I see him ... ( He'll have something to say about that. )

[veardant]

[ of course kaveh moves in to hug him - that's just his way, he's a gentler soul than others might assume, and tighnari tenses for a moment, but soon melts into it. he wouldn't call himself a huggy person, by nature, but for the right people, he can be plenty affectionate.

it also feels nice, after so long without seeing kaveh. ]

No, the warden isn't here, though honestly, I.. keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know? I keep waiting for her to appear and sweep all of this away, to find that it was just one more cruel game.

[ thank you for having his back, knife kirby!! ]

[alcazarzaray]

( It's a heartbreaking concern - but a valid one to have. He keeps his arm wrapped around his friend, allowing the fox to nestle against his shoulder. Kaveh may seem like an angry bean most of the time around Alhaithan, but his true anger is definitely outsourced when people fuck with those that he loves. His tone is firm and pronounced with protective compassion. )

While this situation is far from what we can comprehend, and I know you're well within your means to protect yourself, just understand that I won't let anyone lay a finger on you. ( He will use the Big Knife if he has to. )

If you ever feel as though you need company, you can stay in my cottage for however long you want.

[veardant]

[ tighnari hates to admit it, for how independent and strong he fancies himself, but the weight of kaveh's arm is more of a comfort than he can rightly say, as is the scent of his hair and clothes, familiar and warm. tighnari releases a long exhale. ]

Well, hopefully it won't come to that. I'd rather neither of us need to protect ourselves at all.

[ after only a moment's hesitation, tighnari rests his heavy head against kaveh's shoulder, in a rare show of vulnerability. it's certainly a heavy indication of trust, trust he has in kaveh to not only tell him about all of this, but to allow himself to lean on him. ]

And I'll.. keep that in mind. Thank you.

[alcazarzaray]

( Aww ... head on shoulder. So sweet. So cute. Kaveh feels privileged since he knows that Tighnari isn't this cuddly with everyone. )

Hopefully it won't. I ... can't quite say I know enough about this realm yet, but it does feel safe to me. The creatures here are so interested in having us all mingle and get to know one another. It's strange, and a little bit endearing.

[veardant]

[ he is absolutely very, very picky with his cuddliness. also, one of his ears is definitely tickling kaveh's jaw. ]

Mm. I tend to trust my instincts, and they're telling me that this place is indeed different, but.. it's still difficult to shake the possibility that this all might turn on its head.

[alcazarzaray]

( He chuffs out a faint laugh at the ear tickling his chin. Ah, just Tighnari things. )

Well, if things do go pear shaped, you know where to find me. I'll always be here for you. ( Which may come sooner than they think ... )