bakerstreet | Status

[ Kaveh looks Very Displeased with the button, but he makes no effort to remove it. ]

There’s an easy solution to that.

( is there, now. )

[ If looks could kill, Alhaitham would be six feet under. ]

Oh really? And what would that be?

[ A pause, and then he rushes on before the scribe can talk: ]

And don't just tell me not to help people out, because we both know that's not happening.

( unfortunately, alhaitham is used to that look from kaveh. totally ineffective. moving on: )

Then, don’t take on unreliable clients with deadlines that are unreasonable.

( he has a laundry-list of things, kaveh. )

[ The hackles are most definitely up in response to that one, his eyes wide and the irritation clear on his face— as if it wasn't already. ]

Are you joking? You know full well that I need those clients in order to make rent!

[ Unfortunately, a large percentage of his clients have unreasonable demands of him.

(Although maybe if he put his foot down for once and stopped trying to please everyone...) ]

( that’s the point he’s trying to make here. while it may come off as cruel, he genuinely does have kaveh’s best interest in mind. he’s just not a normal person in the way he conveys it. )

Which you’re often late on, as-is. If you continue to take needlessly difficult clients and deadlines, you’ll overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion and sickness, and then you won’t have any mora to your name.

[ On some level, Kaveh understands that Alhaitham is trying to look out for him. He really, genuinely does. It might annoy him that the other man refuses to talk like a human being, but he can understand his intent most of the time—

It's just that, unfortunately, the logic of understanding is often overridden by sheer annoyance. Something happening right at this moment as Kaveh scowls, folds his arms defensively over his chest. ]

I already have no mora to my name, and you know that! I'm doing my best, alright? You really think needling me about this is going to help me feel less exhausted somehow??

( well, that’s a pretty straightforward answer. )

In the long-run, yes. You burning yourself out won’t do anyone any good: yourself or your clients. Being critical with your choices now will save you more pain, later.

( or, this is how he shows affection. because he’s not like this to anyone else, really. )

[ Kaveh understands more than he would like to that Alhaitham being like this is his way of showing affection. And to be honest, it's for the best that it is— anything gentler would be liable to make him go running for the hills.

Somehow, that doesn't make it any easier in the moment, or serve at all to lessen his scowl. ]

Perhaps I should have been more critical with my choices when I agreed to move in with you...

[ It's muttered, but loud enough that Alhaitham can hear.

On purpose, of course. ]

( absurd.

but alhaitham knows this track well. he knows that they bicker and fuss over things together and that kaveh moving in and out is always a threat without teeth.

neither would be comfortable returning to that quiet loneliness. neither are cut out for it. )

Spending excess mora on a room at an Inn and having a tab that is never paid. I’m sure they would have benefited you greatly.

[ He wouldn't leave. Just as Kaveh's genuinely pretty confident Alhaitham wouldn't throw him back out on the street, even when he's late with rent or overly frustrating—

(yes, he knows he can be frustrating too... he'll just never admit as much out loud.)

For now, he makes quite the show of rolling his eyes. ]

At the very least I wouldn't have had to deal with... with this all the time.

This being someone pointing out the holes in your logic and flaws with your thinking so you can avoid later pitfalls? What a wonderful life that would be for you.

( said in the driest tone possible.

but there’s that mild twitch of a smile. just on one corner. blink and it’s gone. )

So your status is simply work related, then.

[ Kaveh doesn't dignify the first comment with a response. Largely because he's too busy heaving a noisy sigh in Alhaitham's direction. What a jerk!

He does, however, take note of that smile. ]

This one? [ An irritated glance at the button. ] What else would it be?

[ Apart from, you know, a lot of things. ]

Wasn’t it intended to be about interpersonal relationships?

( then again, if kaveh throws himself at work above else, maybe that says a lot, too.

alhaitham is simply glad he doesn’t have anything describing him. that’d be… complicated. )

[ Ugh. Yeah, it probably was, but Kaveh's brain went off in one direction and stayed there, and—

Well, now the button is even more offensive than it was before! His eyes narrow, and he tugs at it a little, as if he can magically remove it from where it's fastened to his cloak.

Then, he sighs. ]

...I guess it works that way too.

[ After all, he's good at screwing up interpersonal relationships too, isn't he? Present company very much included. ]

( ah. of course it does. why would kaveh allow himself to be close to anyone with that past of his? with that focus on crawling out of debt?

alhaitham sighs; kaveh truly is a complicated being. )

You must not want it enough. ( he doesn’t mean to be cruel. he simply means that kaveh always achieves what he puts his whole heart and mind into. so, if he wanted someone, surely he’d succeed there, too. )

[ Intent or not, sometimes the things Alhaitham says quite simply are too harsh for his liking— and this is one of those moments. Kaveh scowls. ]

For you to talk like that, clearly you don't know the first thing about me.

[ Which is a strange thing for him to say when he's always felt that Alhaitham is the person who— however unfortunately— understands him the most.

Perhaps he's lucky that the button doesn't go into any greater detail. ]

I notice that you're somehow not stuck wearing one of these.

( the thing is, that’s surprising. if kaveh is claiming that’s the opposite, then he must have been trying. pining even. has kaveh been seeing someone without alhaitham knowing? ah. that doesn’t fit the narrative. )

I am. ( a cursory look back down at his arms and chest. nothing for him. perfect. )

It wouldn’t be anything shocking, even if it were. ( what he considers shocking, anyway. he tends to think he’s very clear with his intentions and actions. )

[ His brows raise at the comment, and a slight smile curves at his lips, something in his expression that wants to be mockery but in the end is more teasing than anything else; Kaveh lacks the cruelty needed for true derision even when it's angled at Alhaitham. ]

Let's see... "Too enamored with words to have interest in a real relationship"? [ he muses aloud, tapping at his lip. ] Or perhaps "too irritating?" Or maybe even: "Saved the world but otherwise prefers to do the bare minimum, no partners for me thank you"?

[ Alhaitham may think he's obvious in hos he acts, but even for Kaveh sometimes he's as clear as mud. And that's annoying, because the architect likes to think he can read people pretty well.

At the very least, this discussion of Alhaitham's theoretical button gets them off the topic of his actual one. ]

( the guesses amuse him. yes, he has no time for petty romances where he doesn’t see any possible long-term future. in fact, alhaitham’s assessed long ago that really only one person could ever have him consider romance.

there’s a slight flicker of a smirk as he shakes his head, crossing his arms. )

Fleeting romances aren’t of interest, no. ( his gaze softens, if only for a second. ) If anything, mine would say something along the lines of old-fashioned. ( not that he’s a sap. it’s just - he’s stuck on one person and very stubborn about it. )

[ Oh.

Alhaitham is interested in someone. ]

Old-fashioned, huh? [ Kaveh tries to sound as nonchalant as he possibly can, when in reality what he wants to do is make demands: who are they, and how did they possibly get past that infuriating wall he's always got up? ]

So, what— you want to properly court someone? Take them on dates? Get married?

[ Archons will his mouth stop moving— ]

I have to admit, I wouldn't have taken you for the type. Seems like too much effort for you.

No, I do not do any of those things.

( he doesn’t court nor does he put endless effort into trying to entice someone into romance. to him, that would be wasted effort. it wouldn’t be a fair representation of who he was. it’d be cruel.

but he cares. he feels. and he yearns. he will never not say he yearns. )

I haven’t considered marriage before. I wouldn’t be opposed.

[ If it wasn't for the second part of Alhaitham's response, Kaveh would probably laugh. The scribe calls himself old-fashioned, and then says he wouldn't court or go on dates— so what, in his eyes, does old-fashioned actually mean? There's a debate to be had about semiotics, about a linguist using words in a way they're not normally used—

But, again, he's quickly distracted from the thought, and a frown forms on his features, one that briefly creases his brows before he chases it away with a carefully-schooled look of surprise.

(At least he hopes he looks surprised. He's never been particularly good at hiding his feelings before; why should now be any different.) ]

Marriage in general? Or is there someone on whom you have your eye, Alhaitham?

( hm.

to alhaitham, he’d argue that old-fashioned is not fixed to any point in time. courtship and other rituals of romance have come and gone with the ages, varying in technique and style. to him, his affection is simple and straightforward. it doesn’t merit saying it aloud when he thinks his actions speak so loudly throughout the years.

kaveh’s question does raise a brow. )

I would not marry someone simply for the sake of marriage, no. ( don’t be ridiculous, kaveh. which means he must have someone in mind. in a way. sort of. ) Marriage is a progression of a relationship. ( so he’s not actively seeking to skip the steps. )

[ Ugh. He is very much starting to regret this whole conversation. And the button in the first place, not that there's much he could have done about that.

Alhaitham likes order, and peace and quiet. He probably has his eye on— or maybe, from that last comment, is already seeing?— some pretty, delicate thing with her head constantly in a book. Another Haravatat graduate, or perhaps from Vahumana. Someone with whom he can enjoy a spirited debate from time to time, while also getting the quiet he so desires. Kaveh can practically see them together—

And he would rather not, so he blinks the image away and swallows against the thickness in his throat, aiming for irritation, a roll of his eyes. ]

Do you always have to nitpick my words? I obviously meant "general" as a hypothetical. I know you're not about to go and randomly marry someone off the street!

[ "Who is it?" is what he wants to ask, but he doesn't. ]

relationship status | a meme ♡

in a committed relationship with fucking himself over

i’m sorry for laughing but also not sorry AT ALL

oh never be sorry

kaveh why are you such a wreck

four words: it's his whole personality

hello????? that’s so true but also TOO REAL

my poor heart in the face of kaveh...

it’s okay just think of his demo…

the demo!! so excited for next week.....! ♥

people will be throwing cash at kaveh (as they should)

I certainly will be! I'm pre-farmed and everything lol

omg dedication. i’ve just been watching content (true laziness)

I mean, you're playing Alhaitham so......

i can’t exactly deny that

LMAO why do I feel like you mean that you can't deny you're playing Alhaitham

LOL don’t you worry about it 😅

ohhhhhhhhhhh my gods how difficult LOL

i’m cracking up now 😂 😂

me too lmao

now i’m shaking my head at these two

I'd say welcome to my house but I feel like you live here too

now why would you ever say that… ✨

call it a hunch! I didn't realize I had a roommate, but I welcome it!

i cook and clean and cause a mild ruckus 💭

I cook too, but cleaning is not my speed lol. I have two cats who assist with ruckus though for sure