[ With a matra and a helpful neighbor constantly sweeping near the door, Alhaitham can afford to leave a single window open while he makes a visit to the bazaar. Or so he thought. This is the first time he's had someone poking their nose into the house. At least this is someone he recognizes, although a visit from Vash is certainly a surprise.
Alhaitham lowers the crate he's carrying next to one of the potted plants flanking the door. If the light clattering of bottles isn't enough to alert Vash, Alhaitham steps around the corner to meet him. ]
[ Well, he smiles, anyway!!! And abandons the window he was using as a peeker to meet Alhaitham since he has little interest in decor and furnishings. People are better. ]
Alhaitham, hey!
[ Greeting like a friendly dog seeing someone familiar, or anything at all, and he even approaches him with like an overly familiar stray. It comes with a small wave of his gloved left hand.
Can he see the crate around the corner with Alhaitham in front of him... He heard little clinks over here. ]
[ Just a big golden retriever with a prosthetic... It's tough not to lower his guard around Vash, who's been as harmless as a desert fox since they met. No wonder Kaveh likes him. ]
I went to the bazaar to pick up an order I made. [ He pointedly glances at the crate on the ground. ] If you're looking for Kaveh, he's on an expedition in the desert with one of the professors at the Akademiya. He won't be back until late in the evening.
[ Only the desert heat would keep Kaveh and Madam Faruzan from debating and tinkering and philosophizing until daybreak. Alhaitham will draw a bath for him when he gets home. ]
[ Good. He wants Alhaitham to think of him as a harmless critter instead of a walking nuclear bomb. The crate... He eyes it again, but doesn't ask any questions about it. ]
Evening? [ EVENING. Yes, Vash, people have consistent jobs. ] Maybe I should have texted him before showing up...
[ Hands on his hips, he isn't sad or disappointed Kaveh isn't around. Instead, there's excitement. Is this worrying? Depends on the beholder. ]
That gives me a couple hours to check out more of the city, then!
[ Vash hasn't done anything outwardly strange or dangerous in Alhaitham's presence just yet. There have been stories offhandedly mentioned by Kaveh, but Vash himself seems pretty unassuming, albeit (understandably) uninformed. He hasn't visited Sumeru enough to know everything about it. Unsupervised, he might get himself into trouble.
So, fine. He will play babysitter. Kaveh won't forgive him if he finds out that Alhaitham wasn't accommodating and let Vash wander off unattended. Vash is an adult, but Alhaitham should be a gracious host, etc. He'll never hear the end of it.
Alhaitham breathes a sigh through his nose. The company could be worse. ]
I'll accompany you, since you're already here. [ He fishes into his utility belt and holds out his silver house key to Vash. ] Before that, I'd like to ask you to hold open the door for me while I bring this box inside.
[ Alhaitham is assuming a lot of things about Vash here. Who's to say he'll get in trouble? Wouldn't it make sense to stay OUT of trouble when you're visiting foreign lands? He could be very much well-behaved!
However, he isn't going to say no to company, not when it isn't posed as babysitting. His eyes do gleam a shine when Alhaitham mentions tagging along. Not quite a perk, but welcoming all the same.
Keys are his now, taken by his gloved left hand. Thank you. ]
Noooo problem! [ With a twist and push, the door is open and he holds it open. ] What's in the box, anyway?
[ Being well-behaved doesn't necessarily mean that trouble won't happen. If Vash is ambushed by eremites or lost in the desert or god forbid his ass eats something too spicy or unfamiliar, there's a chance that no one will be there to help him.
Alhaitham hoists up the crate and brings it inside. He settles it beside one of the divans; again, the bottles clink together. Alhaitham walks aside to grab a short metal crowbar propped by the shelves. (They keep this handy, obviously.) ]
Wine.
[ He works open the lid of the crate and carefully pries it off. He pauses, bent over with a hand on his knee, contemplating something. He ultimately decides to speak on it, if only because Vash understands Kaveh's emotions to a better extent than he can: ]
We argued last night. That argument is part of the reason why he left for the desert.
[ He survived this long?! Maybe he will suffer and Alhaitham or Kaveh would find him on the ground in an alley, but he won't DIE. The chances he would make enemies by accident is high, though. Maybe...... If he becomes a wanted man here........ Alhaitham can bail him out....
Closing the door and trailing after him, his expression goes through a roller coaster of curiosity and interest, confusion, astonishment, then landing on curiosity again and 'oh no.' Straightening up, he wonders if he should make his presence very small, nonexistent, plain scarce, but there's nowhere to go and no one else here to buffer them. ]
Woah... You're telling me this?
[ Honestly, he would have understood if Alhaitham kept it to himself—they aren't friends. Plus, their very first conversation remedied whatever worries he had for Kaveh and his infamous roommate...
Not that he isn't invested. He very much is. Their happiness is a part of his happiness. ]
[ He moves to set the lid and crowbar on one of the shelves nearby, but before he goes about removing the nails from the lid, he turns back to inspect Vash for a moment. ]
It's not serious, if that's what you're thinking. We argue like this fairly often.
[ He can kind of understand what that means after seeing them bicker. It's familiar and similar to what he and Wolfwood go through. Sometimes you fight... To fight...
The difference is Wolfwood seldom makes it up to him in drinks. Anyway, Vash comes over to size up Alhaitham, but somehow not get in the way of him preparing his apology bottles. ]
Sooo your feelings aren't hurt? I'd let you cry on my shoulder, if you want!
[ He scoffs and begins to pull the nails from the lid, speaking between the creaks of wood. He sets away the nails that aren't bent out of shape. ]
Kaveh has enough tears for us both, I'm sure. [ Metaphorical tears. ]
Now that we've agreed to date, he assumed he had free rein to empty the house of decor he doesn't approve of. It became yet another argument regarding aesthetics and some imaginary rubric of what a good partner would and wouldn't allow.
[ And Vash watches! Oh... To receive a crate of alcohol to assuage any small hurts from a small argument with your boyfriend. That's sweet and romantic. He smiles at the thought while Alhaitham pries another nail out of the lid.
[ Alhaitham's expressions are generally neutral with the slightest shifts, but he thinks he can read him enough.
The shock is too much. Would Alhaitham be peeved that Kaveh wants to be more private??? Did they even talk about this???? What should he do to not complicate their budding romance?????? He believes in true love????????? Cracking a big grin, he tries to think of something. ]
M-maybe he would have told me today?!
[ Maybe Vash doesn't need to cover for Kaveh here, even if this is the worst cover ever. It's giving their little architect the benefit of the doubt!
If there are still nails on the lid, he will take the tool and pull them out. It isn't a big deal! It isn't! ]
[ VASH IS BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND... Alhaitham, not privy to any of this, is just weirded out that Vash decided to do his work for him? Why is he acting so unwell ]
You don't need to do that.
[ He holds up a hand defensively, because he's not about to reach in there. ]
[ Vash misunderstands this entirely, thinking Alhaitham is saying he should drop the act rather than drop the tool in his hand. Why wouldn't he defend Kaveh? The two men here are not on the same page at all.
... He also works weirdly fast and efficiently while unwell. ]
[ There weren't many nails left, so Vash gets to finish before Alhaitham can breathe another word. At least it got done, but now Vash will have to find something else to nervously fidget with. ]
Forget it.
[ Alhaitham picks out the few nails that aren't bent and collects them in a small pile. Kaveh will want to use those later for something or another, along with the crate's lid. ]
Kaveh did mention that he didn't want you finding out.
[ Alhaitham isn't bothered by it, though. It's on Alhaitham for thinking Kaveh wouldn't be stubborn for once. ]
[ He will nervously fidget over the tool now. First he places the tool on the unnailed lid, but then lays it back where Alhaitham initially left it, only to return it back on the lid because it's at higher elevation for the adult joints.
Vash oscillates between anxious and chill (sometimes this is depression or old weariness) so quickly. ]
Oh... [ What does he even say to that? ] How come?
[ He can come up with a couple of reasons, but might as well ask. ]
[ Alhaitham watches Vash's fidgeting before looking back at him. Vash... chill... Although Kaveh's taught him a degree of understanding when people are affected by trauma or just. How their world is. Alhaitham still isn't good at soothing nerves when there's really nothing to nervous about.
They really need a teapot, if only for some kind of calm, lush, untouched space in their world to just relax. But even that might be a little jarring for them.
Anyway. Alhaitham smiles and it reaches his eyes. ]
[ Alhaitham is giving him such a generous and charitable read when simply he's nervous over something he shouldn't be nervous about—even he knows he shouldn't be nervous. Still... The chance of true love shattering?
Can't let that happen, especially when he imagines their path to get here barely has cobblestone left to tread. It comes to a surprise to him, after his devotion to the veracity of love, that Kaveh would think he'd be worse than he already is. There's a ceiling for insufferable and he's sure had hit it before Kaveh was conceived. ]
Okay. I know I'm annoying and I gave him a hard time before, but I wouldn't have if he didn't push back so hard!
[ The anxious display melts off instantly and the tool is abandoned onto a nearby counter. ]
All I'd do, which is what I'm going to do now, is congratulate you two—[ And then he perfectly sees Alhaitham's smile. It earns a small twisted scowl, indignant like a child. ] What are you smiling about?
[ He doesn't LIKE that (joke). Seeing the smile grow (is he imagining it) pulls him from scowl to comically aggrieved. His cheeks puff up first, imitating an angry puffer fish which he has only ever read about, before he deflates like a balloon. ]
I'm starting to see why Kaveh thinks you're annoying. [ Alhaitham's just SMILING over his suffering. Where's the comfort! The reassurance! Instead he's here like "yeah, you two are both obnoxious." ] You enjoying yourself, mister antisocial scholar?
He won't be upset because I'm not going to be as insufferable as he thought.
[ However, that wouldn't affect Kaveh being upset with Alhaitham. Vash would not save him from that, but he's sure that Alhaitham can handle that himself... Which is unfortunate.
Alhaitham can peruse his tomes while Vash watches him, but eventually he stands up and approaches. He casts the spines a glance, checking to see what are the usual reads here. ]
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Alhaitham lowers the crate he's carrying next to one of the potted plants flanking the door. If the light clattering of bottles isn't enough to alert Vash, Alhaitham steps around the corner to meet him. ]
The front door is here.
[ He folds his arms and nods to the entryway. ]
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Alhaitham, hey!
[ Greeting like a friendly dog seeing someone familiar, or anything at all, and he even approaches him with like an overly familiar stray. It comes with a small wave of his gloved left hand.
Can he see the crate around the corner with Alhaitham in front of him... He heard little clinks over here. ]
Aboooouut to head out? Or... Just got back?
[ Curious. ]
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I went to the bazaar to pick up an order I made. [ He pointedly glances at the crate on the ground. ] If you're looking for Kaveh, he's on an expedition in the desert with one of the professors at the Akademiya. He won't be back until late in the evening.
[ Only the desert heat would keep Kaveh and Madam Faruzan from debating and tinkering and philosophizing until daybreak. Alhaitham will draw a bath for him when he gets home. ]
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Evening? [ EVENING. Yes, Vash, people have consistent jobs. ] Maybe I should have texted him before showing up...
[ Hands on his hips, he isn't sad or disappointed Kaveh isn't around. Instead, there's excitement. Is this worrying? Depends on the beholder. ]
That gives me a couple hours to check out more of the city, then!
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So, fine. He will play babysitter. Kaveh won't forgive him if he finds out that Alhaitham wasn't accommodating and let Vash wander off unattended. Vash is an adult, but Alhaitham should be a gracious host, etc. He'll never hear the end of it.
Alhaitham breathes a sigh through his nose. The company could be worse. ]
I'll accompany you, since you're already here. [ He fishes into his utility belt and holds out his silver house key to Vash. ] Before that, I'd like to ask you to hold open the door for me while I bring this box inside.
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However, he isn't going to say no to company, not when it isn't posed as babysitting. His eyes do gleam a shine when Alhaitham mentions tagging along. Not quite a perk, but welcoming all the same.
Keys are his now, taken by his gloved left hand. Thank you. ]
Noooo problem! [ With a twist and push, the door is open and he holds it open. ] What's in the box, anyway?
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Alhaitham hoists up the crate and brings it inside. He settles it beside one of the divans; again, the bottles clink together. Alhaitham walks aside to grab a short metal crowbar propped by the shelves. (They keep this handy, obviously.) ]
Wine.
[ He works open the lid of the crate and carefully pries it off. He pauses, bent over with a hand on his knee, contemplating something. He ultimately decides to speak on it, if only because Vash understands Kaveh's emotions to a better extent than he can: ]
We argued last night. That argument is part of the reason why he left for the desert.
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Closing the door and trailing after him, his expression goes through a roller coaster of curiosity and interest, confusion, astonishment, then landing on curiosity again and 'oh no.' Straightening up, he wonders if he should make his presence very small, nonexistent, plain scarce, but there's nowhere to go and no one else here to buffer them. ]
Woah... You're telling me this?
[ Honestly, he would have understood if Alhaitham kept it to himself—they aren't friends. Plus, their very first conversation remedied whatever worries he had for Kaveh and his infamous roommate...
Not that he isn't invested. He very much is. Their happiness is a part of his happiness. ]
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It's not serious, if that's what you're thinking. We argue like this fairly often.
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The difference is Wolfwood seldom makes it up to him in drinks. Anyway, Vash comes over to size up Alhaitham, but somehow not get in the way of him preparing his apology bottles. ]
Sooo your feelings aren't hurt? I'd let you cry on my shoulder, if you want!
[ Teasing. ]
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Kaveh has enough tears for us both, I'm sure. [ Metaphorical tears. ]
Now that we've agreed to date, he assumed he had free rein to empty the house of decor he doesn't approve of. It became yet another argument regarding aesthetics and some imaginary rubric of what a good partner would and wouldn't allow.
1/2
...
Boyfriend? ]
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You guys are dating?!
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He hasn't told you?
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The shock is too much. Would Alhaitham be peeved that Kaveh wants to be more private??? Did they even talk about this???? What should he do to not complicate their budding romance?????? He believes in true love????????? Cracking a big grin, he tries to think of something. ]
M-maybe he would have told me today?!
[ Maybe Vash doesn't need to cover for Kaveh here, even if this is the worst cover ever. It's giving their little architect the benefit of the doubt!
If there are still nails on the lid, he will take the tool and pull them out. It isn't a big deal! It isn't! ]
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You don't need to do that.
[ He holds up a hand defensively, because he's not about to reach in there. ]
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[ Vash misunderstands this entirely, thinking Alhaitham is saying he should drop the act rather than drop the tool in his hand. Why wouldn't he defend Kaveh? The two men here are not on the same page at all.
... He also works weirdly fast and efficiently while unwell. ]
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Forget it.
[ Alhaitham picks out the few nails that aren't bent and collects them in a small pile. Kaveh will want to use those later for something or another, along with the crate's lid. ]
Kaveh did mention that he didn't want you finding out.
[ Alhaitham isn't bothered by it, though. It's on Alhaitham for thinking Kaveh wouldn't be stubborn for once. ]
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Vash oscillates between anxious and chill (sometimes this is depression or old weariness) so quickly. ]
Oh... [ What does he even say to that? ] How come?
[ He can come up with a couple of reasons, but might as well ask. ]
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They really need a teapot, if only for some kind of calm, lush, untouched space in their world to just relax. But even that might be a little jarring for them.
Anyway. Alhaitham smiles and it reaches his eyes. ]
He said you would "be insufferable about it."
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Can't let that happen, especially when he imagines their path to get here barely has cobblestone left to tread. It comes to a surprise to him, after his devotion to the veracity of love, that Kaveh would think he'd be worse than he already is. There's a ceiling for insufferable and he's sure had hit it before Kaveh was conceived. ]
Okay. I know I'm annoying and I gave him a hard time before, but I wouldn't have if he didn't push back so hard!
[ The anxious display melts off instantly and the tool is abandoned onto a nearby counter. ]
All I'd do, which is what I'm going to do now, is congratulate you two—[ And then he perfectly sees Alhaitham's smile. It earns a small twisted scowl, indignant like a child. ] What are you smiling about?
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You two are alike in a lot of ways. Him calling you insufferable seems like the pot calling the kettle black. Appreciate the congratulations, though.
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I'm starting to see why Kaveh thinks you're annoying. [ Alhaitham's just SMILING over his suffering. Where's the comfort! The reassurance! Instead he's here like "yeah, you two are both obnoxious." ] You enjoying yourself, mister antisocial scholar?
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Just making an observation.
[ Yes he is. Nails, lid, and tool now safely set aside, he leaves the crate be for now and moves to search through the books on his shelves. ]
Kaveh may be upset that I told you, but what's done is done. I see no reason to hide it.
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He won't be upset because I'm not going to be as insufferable as he thought.
[ However, that wouldn't affect Kaveh being upset with Alhaitham. Vash would not save him from that, but he's sure that Alhaitham can handle that himself... Which is unfortunate.
Alhaitham can peruse his tomes while Vash watches him, but eventually he stands up and approaches. He casts the spines a glance, checking to see what are the usual reads here. ]
Book for the road?
[ Since Alhaitham offered to accompany him. ]
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