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[empyrean_mirror]

EMPYREAN REFLECTION

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EMPYREAN STAIRWAY

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username: paradisaea

"This is Kaveh. I can't answer right now, but please leave a message!"

NAV ALHAITHAM CODE IMAGE

Comments

[empyrean_mirror]

What?

[Oh he downright squeaked. You made a grown man squeak, Dehya, I hope you're happy.]

[legendofthelion]

Hey, if Alhaitham didn't bring it up it must not have bothered him, right? [Dehya waves a hand.] You probably still feel like shit, so take a painkiller and a nap.

[And worry about sorting through 1,000 comments later.]

[empyrean_mirror]

Oh, sure, just take a nap while I've gone and drunkenly posted my--posted Alhaitham to the public for the whole network to see. Easy.

[Mehrak has helpfully floated off to get him a glass of water for the painkillers tho.]

Anything else I should be emotionally prepared for before I check my shellphone, Dehya?

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya hums, rubbing her chin.] I don't think there's anything else. Least not about you, but you and Zack set off a whole thing with people posting pictures.

[She smiles, this time more reassuring.] It was all in good fun, don't worry.

[empyrean_mirror]

All in good fun...

[He sighs a little, and shakes his head, but he does--pause. And stare at Dehya a bit.]

...Hey, before you go, let me ask you something.

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya's about to turn to go when Kaveh speaks up again. She stops.] What's up?

[empyrean_mirror]

[He smiles, a little lopsided, and very warm.]

You were helping him with his 'research survey', weren't you?

[legendofthelion]

I answered it, yeah. [And then cornered him for some proper girl talk on the matter because he clearly needed it.]

[empyrean_mirror]

...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.]

[legendofthelion]

Uh--you're welcome? [Her brows creep up.] Did he tell you or did you overhear what we were talking about?

[empyrean_mirror]

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.

[legendofthelion]

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.]

[empyrean_mirror]

Mhmm.

[Kaveh kind of laughs out of his nose.] I think I held us up much longer than he ever did.

[legendofthelion]

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!

[empyrean_mirror]

[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?

[legendofthelion]

A favor from Alhaitham? I better save that for something really worth it.

[empyrean_mirror]

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.

[legendofthelion]

It's really nothing. Don't worry about it! [She rubs the back of her neck.] You just get some rest, okay?

[empyrean_mirror]

...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.]