They could go on a while like that, snuggling and reading and taking their meals together and having occasional cuddly naps while Isfain does impenetrable magical research and slowly improves his understanding of her fox-related situation.

They could! For days, even. He has a pretty nice collection of books, and she enjoys reading them. Though she does need breaks to do other things. Snuggles are great and all, but she's a fox, she gets antsy.

One day she decides to take advantage of her acute sense of smell and go exploring in the area around his tower.

When she returns, she looks very pleased with herself, and also more than a little covered in dirt.

As soon as she comes in the front door, Isfain appears and giggles at her.

She yips happily up at him, then politely wipes her paws on the doormat. Being stuck as a fox is no reason to track mud through his house, after all.

"Thank you. You look very adventuresome this morning," he says. "Did you have fun?"

Affirmative yip!

She hops over to the set of letters he first made, then says, You have a weasel for a neighbor! And some goats.

"I had seen the goats but not the weasel!"

It got uppity when I started investigating its den. Very brave little thing, the weasel.

"Do I still have a weasel for a neighbour?"

She giggles a little fox giggle. Unless I convinced it to move!

"Well. I'm glad you had fun."

He comes over to sit on the floor by her letters and playfully taps the end of her nose.

This earns him another giggle.

I'd snuggle you, but I don't think you'd appreciate the dirt.

"Yes, I was looking for a clean spot to pet and I didn't see one, other than," tap, "your small adorable nose."

She makes a little happy yip, then pokes him affectionately with her small adorable nose.

I might need another bath, she says, after a pause.

"Yes," he agrees, "I think you probably do."

I didn't mean to get this messy! It just kind of happened.

"I don't mind!" he assures her. "—Although..."

Her ears perk up and she looks at him attentively, in lieu of spelling out the obvious question.

"...It occurs to me that... things were a little different, last time I gave you a bath."

She blinks up at him, confused.

And then his implication clicks and she ducks her head, suddenly ambushed by an attack of the shy.

A bit, yeah, she agrees.

"Sorry - it's possible I shouldn't have brought it up - but, well, it didn't seem any better to not bring it up, you know?"

Little affirmative yip.

It seems better to talk about it than not. It's okay.

"...You're very charming and I like you very much," he says, smiling down at her.

Shy fox shy fox shy fox—

You're very charming and I like you very much, too, she manages anyway.

"I think most of the reason why I've been so snuggly with you is because you're small and cute and soft and - not complicatedly human-shaped - but you are very charming and I do like you very much and I think even when you are complicatedly human-shaped I will still want to pet you and hug you and read with you and kiss you."