James curled into the nest and then... oh? Kaimana blinked for a second at the offer while the cogs in her brain began turning, generating some... I dunno, some kind of thoughts. She wasn't really well versed in gestures such as this from strangers, really. Glaive did stuff like this when they were younger but Glaive was her best friend... Was this gesture of a romantic flavor? No, no, that couldn't be possible, right? Kaimana wished her doubt could be stronger. She turned to body language for answers, observing up and down as if the answer were written somewhere among James's feathers...

And she came to the conclusion that she had indeed almost jumped to an incredibly false assumption. There was only friendliness in those eyes, nothing more. Phew. Had she missed the cues, this could have been drastically more awkward... Kaimana did not and could not return any romantic affection such as this, in this way, because first of all, Kaimana had no romantic interests in others upon first meeting, even if she had heard of them prior. It just didn't feel right to feel that way about someone you really didn't know. And second of all, Kaimana was very gay.

A pleasant smile came to her face once she had realized and confirmed their intentions to herself. "Why thank you, James." She would accept the offer then, cuddling up beside the horse, slowly easing into the comfort of the warmth and feathers of another gembound. It was nice. It was kind. It was a good way to start a friendship.

@James (I can edit in a snooze, i don't really know what to do now)

James cooed like a pigeon in the back of his throat, ruffling his feathers before draping a wing over Kaimana, "Comet tells me I'm warm, so if you get too hot, feel free to nudge me off!"

He smiled happily, the feathers that generally lay smooth on his neck and chest fluffing up, making him look like he was wearing a very fluffy sweater.

"Hey, do you have a girlfriend?", he asked, ruffling up again, "Unless I'm assuming incorrectly- I'm not trying to come on, I'm gay I swear-"

James fumbled over himself before just flashing his rainbow feathers and grinning sheepishly, "My own wings call me out on it."

He set his head atop Kaimana's back and rubbed his nose against her fur, marveling, "Wow- you're so soft! Like... velvet or something!"

He could almost... fall asleep on her...

He yawned and ruffled his wings for the third time, flicking his tail to rest on Kaimana's, "Hey- could we be friends?"

@Kaimana

:eyes: you can post her sleeping maaaybe next round? i just had one more silly question fsiofjiofsfsog

'Comet tells me I'm warm...' Kaimana laughed heartily. "She's right! Feathers insulate a nest well enough when it's cold -- always being covered in them must be like being swaddled in a blanket all the time! Is it comfortable? Oh-- and I don't think I could kick you off," she chuckled. "I sleep like a rotting log."

Kaimana was kind of in awe of the sheer amount of fuzz and fluff on James. They could probably sleep through even the harshest, coldest Fornax storm with this much insulation built into them.

The next question came as... well, um, not a surprise-- maybe a surprise? Kaimana wondered if there was a non-surprising way to bring that kind of a question out of the blue. She giggled at the awkwardness of it, and how presumptuous it was, and how James reacted to themself even asking it. What a funny gembound she had found. She was glad Comet had them as a parent. "Aha, I do not have a girlfriend, no. But your assumption would be correct -- I also swear that I am gay." Women were pretty. That was just a fact. She giggled again at the mention of James's wings, giving them away. "These wings of yours don't seem to be made for being sneaky." They seemed more fit for flying, painting the sky with majestic colors.

James's nose against Kaimana's hide, along with their comment about how soft her pelt was, reminded her of Glaive. Her heart ached just a little at the thought of her fisher dragon friend. Glaive hadn't visited in a while... "Yes," she managed to keep laughing anyways. "You're not the first to think that." A laugh that ended in a beaming grin. "My pelt, too, was built for cuddles." Camouflage and survival too, but really, who cared about that in this moment? This was just fun, a time to be enjoyed.

'...could we be friends?' Kaimana pretended to consider, placing a paw gently on her coral beard and mocking a thoughtful expression. A beat later, she was back to smiling. "I think I would very much enjoy being your friend, James. Consider it a deal." That last part was a joke, in a way. It was also the beginning of a new cycle. Hopefully one that could pass much affection and support around, because Kaimana liked James. They were funny, awkward, well-meaning... they loved Comet so much, she could tell. Another giggle managed to escape the jaguar -- she wasn't really trying to hold any in. Of course she wanted to be their friend! Cuddle buddies! She almost felt like a cub again.

A cub taken under the wings of companionship. It was such a wonderful feeling, now that she was starting to settle into it. Kaimana closed her eyes, let her heart open (it wasn't too hard for her). It was a long-forgotten experience, but a welcome one -- the experience of making the active decision to be someone's friend, to enjoy their company and welcome them whenever they came. It made Kaimana feel glad that she had met James, and Comet. Glad to have this opportunity. Glad, and grateful, in this moment, to be able to enjoy what the universe had given to her.

And so, gladly, just like this, Kaimana was soothed into sleep.

- exit via cuddle snooze UwU -

@James

James beamed and fluffed up even more, looking more akin to a marshmallow than anything, "It's very comfortable! And if I'm hot, I can cool myself off- I have thousands of tiny little fans attached, it's amazing."

He flushed gently at Kaimana's teasing, embarrassed, but nodded, "Gay friends!"

He flapped his wings again and smiled, "They're not, but I never was either. My hooves make so much noise all on their own. I kind of like them."

James beamed as Kaimana to agree to be friends, feeling childish but in a good way. He rubbed his snort against Kaimana's fur for a few more minutes before yawning widely.

"Thank you," he said softly, letting his eyes close.

Completely oblivious to his child and friend being drowned by a god-damned kraken, he fell asleep, warm and safe and comfortable. Yissss...

@Kaimana for vis

Exit James!