CROSS-CANON DOUBLE DATE OF THE MULTIVERSE

[bitemark]

Comments

[diffract]

[ at some point mid-conversation, there will be the scratching against the lock of the front door, then a click, then a creak as the door comes open and closed. alhaitham walks inside with a small stack of books held against his hip, though he quickly comes to a halt as he considers the living room—and the strangers lounging on the divans. ]

... Right. [ he sets the small stack of books on one of the benches near the door, because that's where books go, of course. into the living room he goes. ] Kaveh said his guests would be arriving today.

[piteous]

[ Vash rudely POINTS at the new addition to the hangout— ]

It's that dude from your memory! [ Kaveh's memory. ] The one where you picked up the diadem!

[ This may be too telling of Vash's knowledge of the other man... Only stories from Kaveh about how annoying he is, then also their broken friendship, yet nothing else. There's some surprise because he didn't expect to recognize Alhaitham at all. ]

[diffract]

[ help. alhaitham just. stops and looks at him like this. he'll wait for vash to remember that pointing is rude, if he ever does. ]

[piteous]

[ He stops pointing not because it's rude, but because it's a weird pose to hold for too long. Sometimes, you're old and incorrigible to a fault, disrespectful and free.

That hand offers a small wave, though, undeterred by Alhaitham's steel countenance. ]

I'm Vash, Kaveh's friend.

[diffract]

[ ok, so he's not going to figure it out. alhaitham is taking notes on him, but based on this short interaction and what kaveh's already told him, he's already guessed that this is vash. ]

Alhaitham. I should get used to the fact that you're both more acquainted with me than I am of you. [ kaveh mentioned that they could see into other peoples' memories. awkward, but there's nothing he can do about it. ]

You were able to see Kaveh's victory at the Interdarshan Championship then.

[piteous]

[ Alhaitham is unfortunately going to learn that Vash is a creature. At least he's friendly and doesn't bite. ]

I wouldn't say that... Sure, Kaveh mentioned you a couple of times, but that's not the same as meeting someone.

[ A nods. It is incredibly awkward, but he tries not to make that the focus. ]

It looked like it. I couldn't ask for details because we were really drunk—wait. You should sit down and drink with us a little! Kaveh already brought out the wine, so...!

[ He gestures with his free hand. Come come!! ]

[diffract]

[ vash really is so smiley. alhaitham can't help but be reminded of nilou. ]

How unsurprising.

[ as alhaitham sits on one of the divans, he glances quickly at the wine labels. there's a chance that one or both of those came from his stash. ]

And thanks, but I'd rather not drink without having something to eat as well. We should get going to Lambad's Tavern soon.

[piteous]

We're going to eat out? [ This comes to a surprise where he stop drinking the wine. ] Wolfwood and I don't have any currency here yet.

[ Four people seems expensive! And while Vash isn't against taking freebies... He doesn't want to assume this is free. ]

[ohthehumanities]

[HE'S HERE... THE MAN HIMSELF. Wouldn't it be funny if this wasn't Alhaitham's house and Kaveh was equally surprised. But no, he just glances over and goes back to putting stuff on the table.]

Finally escaped the shackles of employment, I see.

[diffract]

I'm not sure what you mean. My position is perfectly serviceable.

[ imagine having a job you like ]

[ohthehumanities]

Easy to say when you're never at your desk in the first place!

[Mr. "You can catch me during my office hours, just kidding no you can't"]

[piteous]

Didn't know scholars had to be stationed anywhere...

[ He just assumed you were all nerds researching and submitting papers to a council, not needed anywhere. ]

[ohthehumanities]

[They are, but unfortunately, Alhaitham is the person the papers get submitted to...]

He does, because he's the Scribe at the Akademiya. Which theoretically constitutes managing documents or some such, but apparently means that in reality, he gets to do whatever he wants and get paid for it.

[How many italics can you fit into one sentence, Kaveh]

[crucifer]

[ Unlike Vash, Wolfwood does not point and go 'WHO'S THAT POKEMON'. So hello. He's just sat here on the couch and turns to look at the guy who enters. ]

You must be the guy he's been talking about so much.

[ He also remembers you from a memshare. What's it like to be so famous. ]

[diffract]

[ he hates it. if people perceive him they might give him more work. no thanks ]

Oh? [ he briefly glances up to kaveh. ] I didn't realize the Light of Kshahrewar would be hard-pressed to find other topics to regale his guests with.

[ohthehumanities]

He's exaggerating. I barely mentioned you at all.

[HE WILL NOT BE SLANDERED IN THIS WAY]

[crucifer]

I'm not, he kept moping about it repeatedly.

[ohthehumanities]

[YOU'RE FULL OF LIES]

I did no such thing!!

[crucifer]

I feel like we talked about him a lot.

[diffract]

"It"?

[crucifer]

[ About what an incredible roommate you were. ]

Just comparin' living situations between the UG and... here, I guess.

[crucifer]

Always easy to talk about folks from home, at least ones that aren't your literal national god.

[ So there's probably that. ]

[diffract]

[ ... ]

I may have misunderstood. You're saying he talked about me while you were in the Reapers' Game?

[ he was giving kaveh the benefit of the doubt and thought he just meant today ]

[crucifer]

[ Uh oh. He blinks once. ]

If you live together, it's kind of hard to not come up in mention even once...

[ Will... maybe save this for Kaveh's sake? ]

[diffract]

You said that I was brought up repeatedly, not just one time.

[ sorry kaveh. tbf characters point out that kaveh brings up alhaitham a lot when no one asked, so maybe he's less surprised than he should be. ]

Wouldn't that attention have been better spent on other, more important matters?

[ like being alive? ]