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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

[indispensable]

And that argument is only valid if I actually want to keep one of these fishes as a pet. Which I do not have the intention to do so.

[Why would he even do that? Its not even smart enough to understand human speech, let alone hold an intellectual debate. They look cool and swim funny but that's about it.]

[empyrean_mirror]

The issue is not whether or not you keep one as a pet, the question is why you'd ever refer to them as friends. The pet fish is purely a hypothetical, Alhaitham, don't be pedantic.

[indispensable]

Do I not have the right to be pedantic, considering how this is just your way of making me call a fish 'friend'.

[Kind of hard to not be biased when you are literally trying to cite him as an example, senior.]

[empyrean_mirror]

And here I thought you'd be jumping at the chance to use them in weaseling out of making more friends.

[indispensable]

And why would I need to put myself through the trouble for something like that?

[If he doesn't want to do it when he just... doesn't. That's easy enough.]

[empyrean_mirror]

Because I'm not giving up on that notion, Alhaitham.

[Gauntlet: thrown.]

[indispensable]

The notion of me not having 'friends', as you'd put it?

[empyrean_mirror]

You should try making some. We're in a new world.

[indispensable]

A world that won't matter once we get back to Teyvat.

[He's willing to play nice, but its all in the name of going back. Alhaitham certainly has no intention to stay here.]

[empyrean_mirror]

Ephemeral connections still have meaning in our lives. It matters, even though we won't stay, as long as we still remember it.

[indispensable]

I do not deny its value, but meaning has always been a subjective thing, based on the beholder. You have always put more stock in these things than I.

[empyrean_mirror]

Is it not through our connections to others that we grow? Not even trees grow without their roots tangled in one another. Like it as not, other people leave their shape on us, even on you who separates himself from others.

How are we to suppose that has no meaning? Or do you see friendship only in terms of what it binds you to? Neither you or I are tied to this place, no matter how comfortable we make the unknown duration of our time here.

[indispensable]

Does everything have to be one or the other? I do not need to be friends with people in order to work with them. There are ways to communicate and connect with others but still keep everything objective.

Neither of us were here by choice, and as you've said yourself, we are not beholden to anything about this place. We don't even know if we can even remember anything about here if we ever do manage to return to Teyvat.

[What is the point then, if the potential for them to be lost is right there in their face?]

[empyrean_mirror]

[There's a notably long time before Kaveh responds to that one.]

I don't want to forget.

[The potential of loss exists in all things. But he doesn't want to not have tried at all.]

[indispensable]

[A pause on Alhaitham's end as well.]

As always, you remain far too sentimental, even in a situation like this.

[It's not a bad thing, though.]

[empyrean_mirror]

And what's wrong with sentiment, Alhaitham? It's part of being human.

[indispensable]

Nothing.

Just be careful of how much you're giving it, as well as to who.

[empyrean_mirror]

Always so cynical.

The risk of loss is not a compelling reason to not try.

[indispensable]

You know better than I that there is limit of how much one can lose.

[empyrean_mirror]

Which is also why I can state, without a doubt, that there is every reason to keep trying anyway.

You can lose more by simply doing nothing at all.

[indispensable]

I am aware.

[He knows all too well, really.]

[empyrean_mirror]

[Another long pause.]

When are you getting back?

[indispensable]

In an hour, maybe two.

[He still needs to wrap up a few things with Cid but after that...]

[empyrean_mirror]

Alright.

[That's plenty of time to mope and then pull himself back together before the man shows up.]

onto action for the cuddles

[indispensable]

[Kaveh's response, while not exactly surprising by any means, tells Alhaitham perhaps far more than a single text message is supposedly able ton convey. Of course, much of it is based on his own guesswork, but he knows Kaveh well enough by this point to be fairly confident in said guesses.

Which is why when he does eventually return to their house in Eltrut—an hour an a half later—its with takeaway that's largely comprised of the food that Kaveh likes. Alhaitham doesn't bother to announce his return, like always, simply closing the door behind him once he's inside and then bringing the food onto the dining table once he has his boots removed.]