[ open ] kaveh's permanent catch-all

[fussiest]

WHO: kaveh (fussiest) & y'all!
WHAT: this is a perpetual catch-all for kaveh because i'm too lazy to make a new one every month. this is for closed starters, tag-ins, visits to kaveh's workshop and the like! be wild! be bold! be free!
WHERE: all around the city, and especially at kaveh's workshop, the pairidaeza architectural design studio in district 1
WHEN: everywhere! everywhen! all at once!
WARNINGS: bickering, probably - everything else will be warned for on a thread-by-thread basis

Comments

[fanstheflames]

[ Yeah, she also has no idea which one is which, at a single glance, so she nods a tad sympathetically with Alhaitham's plight. Not that she's underestimating his ability to figure it out through some kind of wacky genius method, but. Still. ]

They don't even look any different, huh...

[fussiest]

Hey, now. Even if they did look very different, I couldn't tell you which one is which, lest the knowledge biases you. And yes, Alhaitham, I do remember which one is which. I'm the one who packs up all our food after dinner. If I can track material compositions, where's the difficulty in two tupperwares of hummus?

[ kaveh shifts the plate to tsuruno. he gives her an encouraging nod. ] Have a bite of each. Let us know what you think. Whichever one that tastes better - well, isn't that further evidence for each of our arguments?

Though I'm confident mine will come out the winner.

[ kaveh, in his mind, possibly: right one! right one! right one!! ]

[justscribing]

Since Kaveh has already forgotten what the counter-argument of this is: I don't expect you to find any measurable difference between them.

[He's already taking a piece of pita for himself but he at least holds off to let Tsuruno dig into the hummus first before he follows along. Not because he's part of the testing, he's just hungry.]

[fanstheflames]

Right, I know!

[ But reminder appreciated. So basically it's... three possible options here. One, that she likes Kaveh's better. Two, that she likes the other one better. Or three, they taste the same.

Tsuruno at least appears to take it seriously, preparing two pieces of pita to scoop some hummus onto them, one from each container. She's even careful to take an equal amount of both, for ultimate fairness.

A longer pause to chew and deliberate her two options. And then, very thoughtfully-- ]

I really can't tell what the difference is. They're both really delicious.

[fussiest]

[ the mock dismay is entirely theatrical. kaveh looks between the two tupperware containers, then at tsuruno, then sighs the sigh of a storm coming to reluctant rest. ]

Oh, no, you've spent too much time around Alhaitham. This is certainly all his fault somehow!

[justscribing]

[Also with mock offense to Kaveh:] You're going to doubt Tsuruno's judgement just because you don't want to be wrong? Her family owns a restaurant, so if anyone could have noticed a difference it'd be her.

[Is he also saying that because it justifies his stance. Yes.]

[fanstheflames]

Right! I mean, my family doesn't make hummus, but--!

My tastebuds remain unbiased!

[ Gosh!! ]

[fussiest]

But it's so clearly different! The one I made with ice-cold water is just that much richer!

[ kaveh pouts, this grown-ass man sitting across from them both - but he's moving the hummus containers closer to alhaitham so he can grab a bite too regardless. ] It's fine. This is fine. It's a nuanced taste! I'll have to make sure you add more hummus to your diet, Tsuruno, so that you can also appreciate the nuance.

[justscribing]

The nuance that's entirely in your head. [But he rips off a piece of the pita bread and dips it into the nearest hummus container.] Tsuruno, you should try it with some of the pomegranate seeds on top. I think you would like it.

[That combination of savory-salty and just sweet enough to blend with it. In fact, after popping the first piece in his mouth he proceeds to do exactly that with the second scoop.]

[fanstheflames]

Ooh?? Sold!

[ Whether she's replying to Kaveh feeding her more or Alhaitham suggesting new flavor combos--well, it's probably both, and she lets out a thrilled little hum, going for a couple of seeds to arrange on top of the hummus. ]

[fussiest]

[ here, kaveh has to grin. it's unusual for alhaitham to share what he likes. anyone can learn one's opinion on a messageboard, or so he claims - but only a few ought to know what he does in his private time. tsuruno digs in with the pomegranate, and kaveh prepares a bowl for the seeds should they need it.

he rolls his eyes. ]

I will have you eat your words sometime. But not today. Both you, ensure that you don't fill up on hummus, pita and pomegranate. I have a meal still on the stove that's almost ready! It'll be a shame if neither of you had room. When you're done, Tsuruno, I have dishes in the third cabinet from the left. Can you grab the plates?

[justscribing]

[Tsuruno sprinkles on pomegranate seeds, and the edges of Alhaitham's eyes curve.]

You're going to send Tsuruno back with leftovers either way. [Bit he rips the pita a few more times to savor the hummus before he returns to pomegranate seeding duty.]

[fanstheflames]

You are?

[ Look at Tsuruno, all bright-eyed and hopeful now--after she's polished off her hummus and pomegranate pita, humming in approval at the taste. Kaveh foists food on her all the time but still, she can't help but feel a little thrill of excitement every time she gets to eat more of it. ]

I-I mean! Right! Third left cabinet!

[ And she's off and running to the cabinet to collect the plates. They're in no real danger of breaking, despite her enthusiasm, at least. She's far too used to waiting tables. ]

[fussiest]

[ kaveh's eyes gleam. ]

Oh, dear, did Alhaitham give it away? [ as he tips his head to tsuruno, all conspiratorial glee, ] Do me a favour, Tsuruno: now that the jig is up, at least pretend to be surprised when I foist three or four containers on you on your way out. Give me some gratification, hm?

[ to the table comes the meygoo dopiyazeh, still simmering in its pot, and three plates of basmati rice steamed to fluffy perfection plated on tsuruno's spoils from the cabinets. kaveh sends tsuruno to the table proper with a set of napkins, then collects the nicer set of cutlery they have. he sweeps over to deposit them where their placemats are, then holds out a hand for alhaitham to pass him the bowl of pomegranate. ]

There's also more pita and hummus, as you obviously know, and I'll have the salad up shortly. But don't fill up too quickly, hm? I've also dessert.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham offers the bowl to Kaveh.] He's been excited all day about you coming over. Once the renovations start it'll be a few weeks before he'll let anyone else inside.

[fanstheflames]

Oh, so it's sort of like a last hurrah? Temporarily? A few weeks sounds like a pretty long time...

[ Well, she's a teenager, though. A teenager with a short lifespan dangling over her that she tries not to think about. A few weeks feels like a hefty loss, somehow. But she takes the napkins to their proper place and glances over her shoulder at Kaveh. ]

Either way, right now, I'm waiting til we're all at the table! [ Meals together? The best. ]

[fussiest]

The time will pass before you know it. [ kaveh says, and then considers tsuruno, ] Well, Alhaitham's exaggerating. I'd only bar people because of the safety hazard, and it's not terribly nice to look at. But if you still wanted to drop by, Tsurunoo, I can make it work. Most of the apartment is habitable anyway, and having you around means I can finally make dishes that take more than two people to eat.

[ kaveh sets the juicer. there's something warm, he thinks, about the portmanteau behind him. tsuruno and alhaitham at the table, kaveh about to join them. the scent of homecooked food. he used to do this too, kaveh thinks, wait for his father and mother to join the table before they ate together.

he's smiling as he brings over three cups of pomegranate juice. three ice-cubes float in bright, cherry liquid strained to startling clarity. he slips a cup in front of tsuruno, and clicks his tongue. ] It's a bit sharp, and it won't be as sweet as the fruit juices they have in the stores. They put far too much sugar in those things.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham slides from the counter to the table. He watches Kaveh round with glasses and the smile upon his lips first. The moment sinks into Alhaitham then. This is peace. This is the kind of life his Grandmother had hoped for. He's certain that he's found it. He's certain he'll do anything to keep it.

The reach for his glass is quick so his fingers can brush over Kaveh's before they leave. He douses the warmth in his chest with the cool, tangy sip of pomegranate.]

There's an excessive amount of sugar in most of the packaged foods. It's as if they need to hide the taste because it's that poor quality.

[fanstheflames]

[ Can't believe they're flirting with each other in front of her like this. How far they've come.

But Tsuruno sips her juice sagely, blinking at the tartness. It's not enough to thwart her, of course not, so she's right back to it in the next few seconds. ]

Well, sometimes it's just laziness. But this is really good! And I'll definitely come over whenever you want me to!

[ It's been a while since her family was all together for meals, but there's a warmth to it, similar to the meals shared at Mikazuki Villa, if missing way more girls than usual. ]

[fussiest]

[ alhaitham's fingers linger against kaveh's. his warmth lingers. in turn, kaveh gives alhaithiam's shoulder a gentle, affectionate nudge, before he settles in his seat. kaveh deftly begins serving the food, a portion of rich and warm, rich curry before each other them in turn.

satisfied that all of them have been served and properly settled, kaveh sets to digging in. ]

Good. Alhaitham needs enrichment every now and then. I can't have him buried in his books all day long; eventually he's going to devolve into something less than human, and then where will we be? At least come once in a while to put him in his place, won't you, Tsuruno?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham was always doing this, he just has zero charisma.]

Put me in my place? I find Tsuruno and I to be generally in agreement. I think it's you who should be listening more to us.

[fanstheflames]

Okay, no weaponizing me, either of you.

[ Pointedly, if not fondly. ]

I'll come visit you both because I love you both and you need more company anyway.

[fussiest]

Alright, alright. We'll be visited because we are loved, and we love you all the same, Tsuruno.

[ kaveh looks up, suddenly consternated: ] Wait - I don't need more company, do I? You mean Alhaitham, don't you? I'm quite social! And socialised, even!

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham, who knows he will only stop weaponizing Tsuruno to her face, merely smiles into the bite of food he takes.

He doesn't need more company as far as he's concerned, but he's not going to protest Tsuruno's.]

[fanstheflames]

[ Wow.

Good thing she can't read minds, merely blinking. ]

I think everyone needs company. I mean, you could get visited by everyone in the city, but you'd think something was up if I didn't drop by, right?