[Closed]

[justscribing]

WHO: (fussiest), (justscribing), (cashewlater), & (wreatharrow)
WHAT: Sumeru crew have a little huddle.
WHERE: Some little cafe with outdoor tables.
WHEN: Early July
WARNINGS: N/A







[It's been a couple days for them all to try and orient themselves in this situation. And, given it's already a strange situation, it might as well just get stranger when Alhaitham is the one who makes a decision that they need a gathering between the four of them that already know each other and have the same place to get back to.

In the morning, he scouts nearby blocks until he finds a small cafe, empty as every other place is but with small tables outside which are a suitable meeting space. Also, maybe he can take some coffee bags to go.

Then, he sends a message to Tighnari and Cyno:]

You're not busy this afternoon, right? [Trick question none of them are busy.] Come meet with Kaveh and I around 1 pm. We should establish a routine with each other and share what information we've found.

[And he'll send along the location, and a photo of the cafe front. Just in case.

Kaveh gets less warning, because Alhaitham decides to just tell him in person when he catches him: they're meeting with Cyno and Tighnari (did he know they were here? Well, anyway,). They'll walk there together. Alhaitham brings one of those blank books and a pen, because he's sure he'll want notes.

And slides into one of the cafe seats, just a bit before the designated hour.]

Comments

[fussiest]

There are degrees to involvement that forestall future trouble, and that includes disclosure. Or was that entire debate we had on frequency and severity just a fever dream?

[ why would two scholarly graduates of the akademiya ever use real words to communicate??? seems sus. ]

[justscribing]

[There are only two adults at this table, actually. It's not Kaveh and Alhaitham.] I remember that but since you've decided that endangering your own health doesn't count as trouble, it's clear you can't be relied on to accurately measure either of those metrics.

[fussiest]

- didn't I just say I wasn't going to argue with you about this here?

[ and then, immediately: ] And both of those incidents were settled. Their consequences were contained to me alone - or did three desert foxes nip at your heels when you were out in the desert last? Is that why you won't let it go?

[justscribing]

[The twitch of his expression before his brows furrow. The consequence is never Kaveh alone. Even if were, that's consequence enough.]

You're the one making it an argument now. I was only explaining my rationale for why I won't be taking your suggestion seriously. [But he knows the well worn path this argument will go.

He pushes his chair back, to grab the handle of the ice chest and drag it closer. Pulling out the layered cream chiffon cake slice in its plastic container. Apparently he's claiming this as his now.]

[fussiest]

Oh? And it has nothing to do with how you turn every rationale into a fight?

[ kaveh rests his head on a pillow of his arms. he observes the filching of the cake, and because he can, makes a face. ] You're going to eat that after drinking the liquid orange? You're going to give yourself nightmares tonight.

[justscribing]

If you wanted it, you should have grabbed it first. [He pops open the container, taking the little (extremely little) plastic fork included with it.

He stabs the cake with his dainty, cheap, disposable fork and takes a bite.]

[fussiest]

[ kaveh's eyes narrow. ]

I hadn't wanted it until now. Give me a bite.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham just stares as he takes another bite.]

[fussiest]

[ oh, that's it.

kaveh looks. and then, because he is kaveh, he immediately looks for an available fork, snatching it so that he can stick it in the cake's general direction for a carved bite of it for himself. ]

[justscribing]

[Kaveh swipes the bite, and Alhaitham makes a show of wrinkling his nose even though he didn't make a single move to try and block Kaveh from the cake. Nor will he be blocking the second or third attempt.]

[fussiest]

[ the second attempt: kaveh makes a face. it's not as if the first bite was pleasant, but the second one had just been to prove a point. ]

... this is far too sweet.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham nods slowly.] It takes like sugar.

[Like, just sugar. The baker should consider a change of profession.] And the cream is dry.

[fussiest]

And the breading is more air than breading. [ kaveh slides his fork back onto the table. the curl of his wrist is like finality. ] The only passable part was the strawberry, but even that was too sweet. First the orange, now this. What do they have against fruits tasting like fruit?

[justscribing]

I wonder how old that strawberry was. [It wasn't molding but it sure didn't look fresh.] We don't really know where these come from. Could be this is the result of another place's cultivation to get oranges and strawberries tasting like this.

[fussiest]

[ kaveh makes a face. ]

I seem to recall there being a pack of strawberry cookies at the bottom there. Open those and see if the strawberry tastes the same, would you?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham pushes the cake aside to dig out the cookies next. He cracks open the plastic lid and turns it to Kaveh in offering.]

[fussiest]

[ the look kaveh gives the packaging is entirely suspect. but he reaches in anyway and filches out a cookie. breading around it, a filling that seems... terribly red.

the second cookie, he takes out and offers it back to alhaitham. ]

If I must, so do you.

[justscribing]

[Must??] I'm not responsible for the things you force yourself through.

[fussiest]

[ must!!! ]

Oh? Cowardice so early in the day?

[justscribing]

You're the one who's backing out of eating a cookie. Which, only you decided to do that. Do you need me to hold your hand so you don't choke?

[fussiest]

Who's backing out on what, now? We'll have a cookie each, and there will be a point of comparison between us.

[justscribing]

I can't back out of something I didn't agree to. This was your idea alone.

[It probably isn't even a terrible cookie.]

[fussiest]

You just don't want to eat the cookie. Well? Admit it. There are some things even your curiosity won't broach.

[justscribing]

I'm just curious how long you will delay eating that cookie.

[fussiest]

You- I'm not delaying! [ says he, delaying like hell, ] If anything, your refusal to eat it is distracting me from eating it. One can say this is all your fault right now.