[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

[justscribing]

Vandalism is a crime. [Not that he's going to actually prevent Kaveh from painting the town rainbow should he so desire. He doesn't actually thinking painting murals is going to earn admonishment if public intoxication and, apparently, stealing a chandelier do not.]

You'll need paint.

[fussiest]

I know where to get paint. Their quality seems dubious, but I can make do. [ and then, of course, because this is kaveh: ] Do you think this city knows the difference between vandalism and art? That might be a bit too subjective for a place like this, much like it is with you.

[justscribing]

[With the slightest uptick of the corner of his mouth:] I think you're going to find out.

[Because this is Kaveh, who clung to the notion of art even when the Akademiya continued to deride that form of self-expression. When has the opinion of the powerful been what influences Kaveh?]

[fussiest]

[ alhaitham's lips quirk, just enough that the balance of line to quirk is but a singular, dangling fisherman's hook, a cat's tail along a sunny veranda. kaveh breathes out, and, because he is kaveh, takes a strawberry cookie and presses it against that curve.

there. ]

I will find out. [ because that echo is there: that no matter what anyone says, kaveh will find out. in what universe can anything compel him otherwise?

and who else is there to witness it but alhaitham? ] And you will hear about it. I know where you live, now. You can't run.

[justscribing]

You say that like I'm the one that makes running a habit. [And then he tilts his head from where the cookie was poking uncomfortably at his gums, and eats it right out from Kaveh's fingers.]

[fussiest]

[ like a spoiled cat. kaveh rolls his eyes. he dusts crumbs from his fingers, and in lieu of anything else around he's interested in drinking, he takes that can of orange nightmare back to sip. ]

Hide, then. Like a mole, or some kind of a small, scurrying creature.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham chews the cookie slowly, stone-faced, as he tears apart the overly-sugary flavor and the uncomfortably completing textures of much-too-dry and much-too-chewy. It certainly doesn't settle well when he swallows.]

You can't stop me from changing the locks. [It's an empty threat.]

[fussiest]

You can't stop me from taking the hinges off your door.

[ sweetly, like the cookie is. kaveh grins. ]

Awful, right?

[justscribing]

That's definitely a crime. [Well, Kaveh? Gonna break the law so you can tell him if you already broke the law?]

[fussiest]

If it's a crime, it'll be one worth committing. Don't get too comfortable, now.

[ but the taunt comes, as always, with balm - even if it's the offering of the too-sweet orange soda. you know, to wash down that awful cookie. ]