inbox; duocaeli

[ohthehumanities]

DUONET ID: Artchitect

"You've reached Kaveh! Leave a message and I'll call you back in a--HEY, DON'T TOUCH THAT I JUST GOT IT IN THE RIGHT SP--"

✉️ ☎️ 📷

Comments

[diffract]

Some of the bouquets arrived before I spoke to anyone who lives in this house.
There's only one culprit that I can surmise would have done this.

[ it's kaveh. ]

[ohthehumanities]

[Very graciously, he does not make any comments about Alhaitham projecting such a terrible aura that his suitemates psychically sensed his impending presence. Praise him.]

Well you surmised incorrectly, so you'll have to do better research. Did you talk to the florist already?

[diffract]

[ kaveh can say whatever he wants and alhaitham will still be "idc" and he knows it ]

The Traveler received one of these bouquets.
She was unable to contact with the delivery-person by the time she messaged me about the bouquet. We could only check the card she received, and there was no florist listed.
I contacted several shops in the area. None seem to recall sending bouquets of that nature.

[ohthehumanities]

[PRAISE HIM!!!!]

The traveler? Wait, she's here?

[WHO IS THIS TRAVELER??? ALHAITHAM!!!! Ugh... but that's--actually legitimately a bit strange, so now he's frowning at his phone. Hmmm.]

Were you charged money for it? Maybe you can trace it that way.

[diffract]

She is. The two of us were also assigned to live together along with another stranger.
Thankfully nothing was charged. Whichever individual was responsible for sending them must have done so out of a strange sense of charity.

[ohthehumanities]

[Oh... hunh. Briefly, he considers asking if the flowers were just sent to the apartment at large--but no, it's not like Alhaitham to make assumptions, and he already mentioned a card.

If it were Kaveh, he'd brush it off as an odd but pleasant mistake and go about his day, but he knows how much Alhaitham hates possible threats to his peace. And if Alhaitham and the Traveler know each other, it does seem less like a straight error and more like a purposeful gesture.]

Have you ever spoken to Roxana Agrece?

[diffract]

[ fast forwarding this to after he meets roxana, for the added spice

because it'll take alhaitham a moment to let the name register with him again. his memory is too unforgivingly precise for him to forget what happened under the jasmine trees. he wasn't in his right mind when he was beside her, holding her hand and engaging in small talk, his senses attuned to her every move, her gaze shining on him like a slant of warm light.

all familiar feelings, dating far back into his past. he's only able to identify them because he's felt them before. they were just briefly shared with an unexpected person who, honestly, had done nothing to deserve them but share the same color palette as someone he knows. he'd have to meet roxana again to deduce if there was any real meaning behind it—and he highly doubts that there was.

after that pause: ]

I have.

[ohthehumanities]

[I'm so glad Alhaitham got to experience the joys of being in love with Roxana

Kaveh, of course, is completely oblivious to everything going on in Alhaitham's head. The pause is something he notices, but without context, it's easy to brush off.]

Apparently, she and my other self were relatives--distant, mind you, but close enough that it was easy to recognize her here. Anyway, the point is that she's a florist--she might have some ideas on how to get to the bottom of this, if it really bothers you that much.

[diffract]

[ thanks, he's not!

oh no. alhaitham had a feeling, of course, but ever since the jasmine tree debacle happened, he had some sliver of hope that it was just a coincidence. he pinches between his eyes and breathes in deeply. ]

She's your relative.
Have you spoken to her lately?

[ohthehumanities]

We went shopping the other day. Why?

[Immediately after--]

I'm not sorting this bouquet debacle out for you just because you hate socializing.

[That is not even close to the issue here, Kaveh]

[diffract]

I didn't ask for you to sort this out. Are you so engrossed in your project that it's interfering with your reading comprehension skills?
I only mean to say that she and I had a strange first encounter. I may as well tell you about it now before you hear about it later.

[ohthehumanities]

I'm just saying it preemptively! I know you hate going out of your way.

[He would help sort it out if he thought it was a genuine problem more than a nuisance for Alhaitham, but don't point that out or he'll get mad]

Strange how? What did you do? [stop assuming Alhaitham did things, Kaveh]

[diffract]

[ he wants to point it out so bad... because if alhaitham really asked for his help, kaveh would eventually give it to him (after asking if he's feeling all right first).

alhaitham's every move is carefully calculated, never executed until the outcome worked in his favor. in the pause before his next message, he carefully crafts his next words—even though there's no reason for him to do so at all. normally, alhaitham wouldn't hesitate to tell him the truth. however kaveh reacted to it and interpreted it was of no consequence to him, temper tantrums aside. it was more important to be impartial and honest.

but this. alhaitham could deal with their existing history, but the memories supplanted by the alhaitham of crane city makes honesty more difficult. telling kaveh about the entirety of what happened feels strange, like he's asking for something he can't have. ]

Have you visited the Jasmine trees?

[ohthehumanities]

[The pause would've caught his attention even without the preemptive warning. It's unlike Alhaitham to be hesitant and indirect--the first pause he brushed off, but two in close succession is enough to put him on alert. He's not... worried, per se, but Alhaitham's clearly bothered by whatever happened, so he drops the teasing and the bickering for a quick, serious reply.]

No, I haven't. The ones near the nightlife district, right?

[diffract]

Right. Did you happen to witness anything between the people that were under the blossoms?

[ohthehumanities]

I haven't been in the area. [The only reason he'd go is for the bars, but he's been caught up in making this birdhouse and hasn't been drinking lately.] What were you doing over there?

[Alhaitham goes out for drinks sometimes, sure, but Kaveh doubts he'd be in the mood for that this soon after arriving here, and he can't think of anything else over there that would be a draw for Alhaitham.]

[diffract]

Sightseeing, in accordance with the instructions we were given when we obtained the cards.

[ohthehumanities]

[Hmm... makes sense...]

So what happened?

[diffract]

The dragon's attack broke some of the trees branches onto the floor.
Roxana was wearing heels at the time, and she asked for my aid to walk around the broken branches underneath the tree. So I gave it to her.

[ which is... weird... considering that he doesn't normally help others for no reason or benefit. he didn't need to pair up with someone to complete the square. ]

[ohthehumanities]

[It is kind of weird, but Kaveh has no idea what to make of it, or why Alhaitham is telling him this with such bizarre gravitas. ...Then again, maybe Kaveh's overthinking it--he can't tell Alhaitham's tone over text, after all.]

...
Congratulations on your newfound altruism?

[It's not the most mature response, but he doesn't know what Alhaitham is expecting him to say.]

[diffract]

It wasn't altruism.
All I know for certain is that I felt compelled to act strangely.

[ ... ]

In short, when we were finished with our walk, the two of us kissed.

[ohthehumanities]

[Oh. Oh.

Well. That explains all the weirdness.

The words are so foreign that it takes Kaveh three tries to actually process them--once he does, he very nearly drops his phone about it. It takes him even longer to figure out how to respond, which means it's his turn to leave Alhaitham on read temporarily.

If Alhaitham had phrased it any other way, Kaveh would... well. Not respond at all, maybe? Say something vague, hedging around any genuine conveyance with the full force of his denial. Conjure up a thousand different readings of this situation, none of which would be accurate and all of which he would internalize anyway, because that's just how he is. Maybe later, alone with his thoughts, he still might sit, and doubt, and wonder.

For now, though--Alhaitham phrased it perfectly, because Kaveh fixates on the right thing: That it was unnatural in a way that unsettled Alhaitham, insomuch as Alhaitham can be thrown off. Once he's over the initial shock and the swell of complicated, confusing feelings, he texts back with single-minded concern.]

Compelled? Then, how are you feeling now? Should I come over?

[And do... what, exactly, he doesn't know, but it doesn't matter. If Alhaitham needs help, he'll go without question.]

[diffract]

[ unfortunately for nats and pixis, there's no way that alhaitham wouldn't have been comprehensive with his explanation. that's just his nature.

if there was another part of him that sought to give context to kaveh for another reason, like avoiding misunderstandings about alhaitham's intentions... it's not one easily identified through text. as far as kaveh knows, he's only avoiding future awkwardness. there's no doubt alhaitham would have gotten an earful if kaveh found out about it later.

that pause, though. kaveh could be simply processing the awkwardness of the situation. the roommate you disdain just kissed your cousin. how would anyone respond to that? kaveh could also be busy, but his heart is too sensitive and his attention can be razor-sharp. he wouldn't be distracted from conversations like these.

alhaitham huffs through his nose. of course kaveh's immediate recourse would be to tend to him first and foremost. should i come over? alhaitham skims the line several times, unable to escape the implication that kaveh would be who he needs, like he would rush to him if alhaitham only asked him to. ]

I'm fine. My mental state seems back to normal.
However, after [ pause ] it happened, I suddenly succumbed to a dizzy spell. I waited until it mostly passed before returning to the dorms.
I've been eating lightly since then. I should be back to normal in a day or two.

[ohthehumanities]

[In another lifetime, this would be a perfect opportunity to tease Alhaitham. If the situation wasn't so unsettling, if their relationship wasn't... the way it is, it would be easy to say something light-hearted, like I didn't know my junior was so easily flustered or What, don't tell me your first kiss was under duress. But Kaveh's worry is genuine, and Alhaitham's words don't make him feel any better.

(And... well. They're not like that. Kaveh's thoughts and feelings about it are irrelevant in the face of facts, as Alhaitham so loves to remind him.)]

Are you sure? If you still feel affected even outside of that game world, shouldn't you check with a doctor, just in case?

[diffract]

[ two idiots, both influenced by their relationship being "the way it is." there's a quiver of feeling as alhaitham keeps reading kaveh's messages, concurrent discomfort and satisfaction. kaveh is attentive to everyone's needs, always, but the fact that kaveh still finds room to be like this with alhaitham reminds him of bygone days. ]

There's no need. Slight residual discomfort from a video game doesn't warrant a trip to the hospital.
It doesn't help that we experience this game and life "outside" of it in the same manner, with the same capacity for physical ailments.