|| Going to try to make replies here-- I've been really struggling everywhere

[ He's... not sure. Tighnari says maybe a week. Or so. Because he needs to observe him. This is frustrating. ]

[ It's just the sand and dust. And maybe the residual heat from his trip. . . . . Tighnari's telling him to stay in one of the huts. ]

[ He's fine. Tighnari needs to stop insisting— /Sneezes/. ]

"Oh? I thought you had a busy social calendar?" He would note as he stood up to head towards Lambad and pay for their meals and drinks. "Whatever. Just don't talk too much on the road. I hate ceaseless prattle underneath the desert sun."

[ Tighnari is already scolding him for taking a flower out of Archons-Knows-Where in an ancient temple underground. .... he's being put in quarantine while the Forest Ranger looks into it. ]

[ .... Hm. He'll have Tighnari look at it first. ]

Perhaps I should take this back to Pardis Dhyai.

He's brewing coffee. Paperwork is piled high on his desk but he's not getting to them until he finishes drinking.

"...." He would sigh and shake his head. Alhaitham wasn't looking to dance, though it seems Kaveh, in his current state, does not even recognize the state he's in. "How much did you drink this time?"

"For starters, that's the closest place I could have somewhere to stay before heading out to some of the expedition sites the Akademiya has in the desert." He points out. It was simply logical.

"The desert. I have to check on something in Aaru Village and gather some archaeology reports." He kept his answer simple, not really elaborating on his plans. "Lucky for you, you'll have the place to yourself for a couple of days."

... and just like that, he's pumping the volume on his headphones UP.

"I don't think there's a direct correlation. If you continue to pick fights, I will continue to be a pain in your neck, regardless of whether it is my intention or not." He would sigh and shake his head. "All I'm saying is, I plan to take what I think might be a lengthy trip in the future, so-

There's a curious thought in his mind as he visits Pardis Dhyai.

"For someone who is not fixated, you sure have a wild imagination of what I get into on my personal time." He paused for a moment and thought carefully. It's not as if... "And what if I do find a lover for intimacy? Does that mean you'll be fine if I brought them home?"

Nothing better than a book to wind down after the end of an excruciatingly long day.

"You seem so fixated on whether or not I'm seeing someone." Alhaitham countered, as he took another sip of his drink. "Do you think that I would be so shallow to think, like most people do, that solitude or the lack of intimate companions somehow lessen my social capital? If that's the case, then-

Not much has changed, indeed, and yet so much has. Nilou's earnest smile, her demeanor, and her passion for the craft-- all these things have not changed. She simply knew where her strengths were, and focused on that. Being a performer was what she loved most, and even if she hadn't just said-

As Kaveh's meal arrived, he asked for a glass of water. He'd already had dinner, and was simply waiting for Kaveh to finish. "Mhm. I would, but not right now. I want to save my days off for something."

"Things have been quiet." He would remark— there wasn't anything new or unusual that happened, save for the fact that the Zubayr Theatre seemed a little... quieter in her absence. "I do think you were missed at the Zubayr Theatre. Of course, that goes without saying." He would add. Alhaitham was

"Highly unlikely. I go to work at the exact time it starts, do what is tasked of me and never take it home or work any overtime. Part of that is having adequate and appropriate rest times."

"Not when there's work in the morning. Besides, I value the time I spend resting."

|| I really should probably organize this account more and add more info. 😭

"Yes, but it's almost nine. I'd like to be back home at a reasonable hour and get a complete sleep."

He sighed, handing him the menu that was on his side of the table. "Fine. Just pick something to eat. I don't want to be out too late just waiting for you to finish eating."

"No, no. One bottle is fine, every now and then. I think he appreciates the gesture, so that's all well and good."

"The fact remains that I haven't been the one escalating the issue." He would reply, as quiet and as calm as ever. "Why don't you just sit down and grab dinner instead? It's a more productive use of your time than puffing up angrily in public."

Scowls at paperwork.

"......." That would explain why Kaveh seemed to have skulked off somewhere. He sighs. "Well, it was just /one/ bottle, right?"

"No, of course not. I'm simply trying to be civil." He gave him a sharp look, as people were glancing. "Don't give Lambad any more trouble."

"Not really." Alhaitham admitted. He hadn't run into anyone today... Perhaps by design, or simply because he tends to value his solitude.

"And here we have an example of a logical fallacy, or maybe even two. Come on now, your feeble arguments shame your whole Darshan." Of course Kaveh was simply arguing for the sake of arguing, and Alhaitham really shouldn't be adding fuel to the fire, but well...

Alhaitham reached out his hand for the rattan bird and observed it carefully— the craftsmanship was impeccable. That might actually just go up next to the Prototype Aranara statue on his shelf. "Thank you, Nilou. I'll put this on my display shelf." He turns his gaze to her, and although his face-

"No, I'm drinking a glass of wine. One glass is enough. And /I/ am well-versed in restraint." He takes another sip. Implied, but not stated: unlike some.

"I see." He would listen to the way she described her travels. It sounded like she had a good time and even interesting company. Her expression even seemed to soften as she reminisced. Good for her. "It would seem you made a lot of new friends."

"Mhm. The bulletin boards disagree." He would shrug it off— Kaveh would always argue to make a point, despite evidence to the contrary.

"Hm? Oh, you mean these." He would reach into his pocket and show him the key with the lion keychain. "I picked them up earlier because you left yours. Imagine if I hadn't. Oh, and by the way, I can hold my liquor. Unlike someone."

"Dragonspine? It sounds like you really had quite the adventurous time." He would lightly take a sip and set his drink aside. Frankly, he's surprised she even thought about getting him something. But that was just the kind of person Nilou was. She was always thoughtful about everyone. "Who was -

"Ah yes. Serenity over." He would glance at Kaveh's direction. "What is it that has you fuming now?"

"Nilou." He would look up from his drink, noticing her. "I see you've returned. How was your trip?" He offered her the seat in front of him.

He's seated at a quiet corner in Lambad's, finishing up his drink.

𐔌 ﹒ ⋆ ꩜ ⋆ 𓂃 ₊ ⊹

Exasperated sigh.

It's a Sunday and he's under no obligation to get out of bed.

Born to b̵̡̝̣͔̋̄̚r̶̛̰̲͍̞e̸̯̘̬̐͗̐a̴̧͓̪͌k̵̙̼̪̪̓̂̏ ̶̧̰̻͗̈́̽t̴̻̤̜̊͊͠h̴̰͒ẻ̸̳̅͘̚ ̵̲̩̻̟͆s̴͙̻̳̥̐̀̐ḧ̶̖̻́̇̓a̴̛̞͙̣̓c̴̨̅̉͗͝k̴̬̖̂̍̈́͗l̵̡̙͎̏ẽ̵͕͎̏̊s̴̜̾̾̏̏ ̷̡̤̆o̷̻͍͐̅̑f̸̝̪̘̃̂͝͠ ̷̤͕̌̾̑͠f̴̝̦̫̀̏a̸̡̧̹̐͑́͝t̶̛̙̲̲̾̏̚ȩ̵͕̲̖̊̇̇ ...forced to deal with applications.

The academic week is over and done with. Now, if you'll excuse him, he's off to do as he pleases.

The Akasha System could have been an indelible tool for scholarly pursuits... However, the over-reliance of the Akademiya on it, and their abuse of its functions only seems to prove that mankind might not ever be ready at all to receive the gifts of Wisdom.

|| Going to try to be more active here.