...And came to visit right after, I noticed.
[Kaveh laughs a little, then shakes his head.] I just--wanted to thank you, for that.
[He says that, and his whole expression softens, something warm and bright just thinking about...something.
Holy shit, Dehya. I think the mad bastard did it.]
[Kaveh laughs a little, then shakes his head.] I just--wanted to thank you, for that.
[He says that, and his whole expression softens, something warm and bright just thinking about...something.
Holy shit, Dehya. I think the mad bastard did it.]
Uh--you're welcome? [Her brows creep up.] Did he tell you or did you overhear what we were talking about?
He didn't tell me. But I did read the damn survey, Dehya.
[Kaveh laughs a bit, and shakes his head.] It's fine. But I'm sure he made it...as difficult for you as he does anything, so I thought you deserved to know he found the answer.
[Kaveh laughs a bit, and shakes his head.] It's fine. But I'm sure he made it...as difficult for you as he does anything, so I thought you deserved to know he found the answer.
That should be everything you need to know, then.
Cost?
[Kaveh blinks. He...hadn't really thought about it. But he looks at the butterflies for a while.]
Ahh...100 dubloons for all of it. Is there any colors you want on the butterflies?
[He's lowballing it, but he is more focused on the idea of making the butterflies than anything else.]
[Kaveh blinks. He...hadn't really thought about it. But he looks at the butterflies for a while.]
Ahh...100 dubloons for all of it. Is there any colors you want on the butterflies?
[He's lowballing it, but he is more focused on the idea of making the butterflies than anything else.]
Their colors matter less than the ones made to be tracked. Whatever you decide is fine.
[Daqiang waves his hand and a decently sized bag appears in a shimmer of blue energy. He opens it and pulls out the requested dubloons.]
When can this venerable one expect to pick them up? He should be contacted to do so, and not have them delivered. They are... a surprise.
[Daqiang waves his hand and a decently sized bag appears in a shimmer of blue energy. He opens it and pulls out the requested dubloons.]
When can this venerable one expect to pick them up? He should be contacted to do so, and not have them delivered. They are... a surprise.
Mmm...give me a couple weeks to make sure the tracking ones work correctly. I'll contact you when they're done.
That seems reasonable. I'll see if I can't adjust them a little bit.
[But Daqiang's energy might be...a bit....well he'll worry about that as he comes to it.]
[But Daqiang's energy might be...a bit....well he'll worry about that as he comes to it.]
Oh. [And then it hits.] Oh! Did he finally confess?
["Finally" like it's been more than a few weeks but honestly he was clearly overthinking things.]
["Finally" like it's been more than a few weeks but honestly he was clearly overthinking things.]
Mhmm.
[Kaveh kind of laughs out of his nose.] I think I held us up much longer than he ever did.
[Kaveh kind of laughs out of his nose.] I think I held us up much longer than he ever did.
Think you're both a little at fault there. [She swings her arm to give him a firm pat on his back.] Still, that's great!
[he mostly manages not to stagger.]
I guess it doesn't matter much now. But he owes you, make sure you collect it from him, alright?
I guess it doesn't matter much now. But he owes you, make sure you collect it from him, alright?
A favor from Alhaitham? I better save that for something really worth it.
Or something that'll really annoy him.
[He laughs, but smiles again--he's still clearly exhausted and hungover, but that smile might be brighter than the desert sun.]
...Truly, I could never thank you enough, Dehya. I owe you too.
[He laughs, but smiles again--he's still clearly exhausted and hungover, but that smile might be brighter than the desert sun.]
...Truly, I could never thank you enough, Dehya. I owe you too.
It's really nothing. Don't worry about it! [She rubs the back of her neck.] You just get some rest, okay?
...I'll see what I can do.
[Sleep is not what he's getting once these painkillers kick in, but Dehya doesn't need to know that.]
[Sleep is not what he's getting once these painkillers kick in, but Dehya doesn't need to know that.]
Text; set a couple days after Heizou's birthday
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spectacleofphantasmagoria
2024-07-24 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lyney knows that Kaveh's kindness is unusual, but right now... he's kind of banking on it. Kaveh's a good man. He just hopes that kindness will extend to the bombshell he's about to drop.]
[Kaveh will get a quick little message that, coming from Lyney, is unusually straightforward. Just an address to a local cafe and a short message:]
Please meet me here if you can. I have something important to tell you.
[Kaveh will get a quick little message that, coming from Lyney, is unusually straightforward. Just an address to a local cafe and a short message:]
Please meet me here if you can. I have something important to tell you.
?
I'll be there in 10.
[Kaveh's concerned, naturally. It's unlike Lyney, which means it must be something serious...he does worry if the man's been injured in that strange Abyss. Archons, he hopes not.
He does get to the cafe a few minutes earlier than anticipated, actually.]
Lyney?
I'll be there in 10.
[Kaveh's concerned, naturally. It's unlike Lyney, which means it must be something serious...he does worry if the man's been injured in that strange Abyss. Archons, he hopes not.
He does get to the cafe a few minutes earlier than anticipated, actually.]
Lyney?
Thank you.
[And that's all Lyney sends; no bells and whistles, no dramatics. It's definitely out of the usual for Lyney, who can be found sitting rather tensely at the small table he's secured. There's a cup of tea before him, but it's only half-drunk; he's instead shuffling and flicking his cards in a way that to a casual outsider may seem like practice, but in actuality is a nervous fidget for his hands. It doesn't help that his leg is bouncing anxiously beneath the table, either.]
[He looks up sharply when his name is called, but he forces a pleasant smile onto his face when he sees Kaveh.]
Kaveh, hello. Please, take a seat. Would you like anything off the menu? My treat.
[And that's all Lyney sends; no bells and whistles, no dramatics. It's definitely out of the usual for Lyney, who can be found sitting rather tensely at the small table he's secured. There's a cup of tea before him, but it's only half-drunk; he's instead shuffling and flicking his cards in a way that to a casual outsider may seem like practice, but in actuality is a nervous fidget for his hands. It doesn't help that his leg is bouncing anxiously beneath the table, either.]
[He looks up sharply when his name is called, but he forces a pleasant smile onto his face when he sees Kaveh.]
Kaveh, hello. Please, take a seat. Would you like anything off the menu? My treat.
Hmm? Oh, it's fine, we had a late lunch...
[Kaveh waves off the offer reflexively, but he does still take a seat, brows furrowed in obvious concern. Something is...obviously wrong. But Lyney doesn't look injured...]
Are you quite alright?
[Kaveh waves off the offer reflexively, but he does still take a seat, brows furrowed in obvious concern. Something is...obviously wrong. But Lyney doesn't look injured...]
Are you quite alright?
Ah, of course! It's that time, isn't it?
[Perhaps it's the Fontainian in him, insistent on light pleasantries before a serious topic. But as Kaveh presses into his state, Lyney lets out a small sigh. He tucks the cards away into a pocket and rests his elbows on the table, folding his hands in front of his chin.]
Ah... well, in truth, I've had... something important I need to tell you. Something that... well, it's something I feel you should know.
[Perhaps it's the Fontainian in him, insistent on light pleasantries before a serious topic. But as Kaveh presses into his state, Lyney lets out a small sigh. He tucks the cards away into a pocket and rests his elbows on the table, folding his hands in front of his chin.]
Ah... well, in truth, I've had... something important I need to tell you. Something that... well, it's something I feel you should know.
...What is it?
[Is he dying? is Freminet hurt? did something else happen with Alhaitham? Kaveh's mind is racing a little to try and sort through the possibilities, but. The only way he'll know is from Lyney's own mouth.]
[Is he dying? is Freminet hurt? did something else happen with Alhaitham? Kaveh's mind is racing a little to try and sort through the possibilities, but. The only way he'll know is from Lyney's own mouth.]
[Lyney pauses, feeling the nervous energy building up within him. But despite his fears, he can't let his emotion get the better of him. Father always stressed the importance of controlling his emotions, after all.]
[Father... She had also been the one to push him to tell the others. If she thinks it's a good idea to tell them, he should follow her lead. So he takes a steadying breath and looks up at Kaveh, his expression turning serious.]
Before I begin, I just... want to ask one thing of you. However you respond to the news I'm about to tell you is your decision, and I will respect it no matter the outcome. But I only ask that you hear me out completely before making that decision. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have afterwards as well. Is that fair?
[Father... She had also been the one to push him to tell the others. If she thinks it's a good idea to tell them, he should follow her lead. So he takes a steadying breath and looks up at Kaveh, his expression turning serious.]
Before I begin, I just... want to ask one thing of you. However you respond to the news I'm about to tell you is your decision, and I will respect it no matter the outcome. But I only ask that you hear me out completely before making that decision. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have afterwards as well. Is that fair?
[Unlike Lyney, Freminet was downright terrified of seeing what Kaveh's reaction would be if he told him in person. For now, he debated would it even be okay to talk to him over a text. At the same time, he knows he has to do this.]
...Mr. Kaveh, are you available at the moment?
...Mr. Kaveh, are you available at the moment?
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