[ for the most part, alhaitham manages to fend off most of the akademiya rabble that comes to seek him out. half of them are as transparent as ever, trying to ingratiate themselves with him for whatever reason, to take advantage of whatever power they think he has (which, after standing down as the grand sage, was rather minor) - and the other half? they just seem curious, scholarly intrigue piqued by the standoffish and acerbic nature of someone who seemed to hold sway in the akademiya despite that fact. they get what they come for though, which is clipped answers, no conversation threads to pull and a signature icy look.
he's staring past anyone that tries to talk to him anyway, like if he concentrated hard enough he could hear the conversation kaveh was having half a room away. at least, he can hear the fringes of the architect's laugh filtering through the hubbub in the hall, that musical voice instantly recognisable even through the obnoxious chatter of an entire university.
alhaitham's glass of wine is emptied as he keeps watch from the alcove, probably being a little less subtle than he'd like to think he's being. things just aren't the same as they were even a month before, not now that they'd decided to give whatever it was they had a go, and while he would've probably been fine to watch kaveh from afar like he'd often done over the years had they still been dancing around each other - no.
tonight, it was different.
watching his partner ham it up with some of the most annoying members of the akademiya (though alhaitham supposes, he should probably except the new sage of his darshan); seeing the free touching, overly liberal for what was supposed to be an academic celebration; the effervescence that rolls so easily off of kaveh on to the throng of company circling him, like a light illuminating a room and a thousand desperate moths vying for it.
alhaitham's expression had devolved from simply icy to a smouldering glower, which in turn had at least stopped anyone from approaching him for chit-chat - but he'd had enough of keeping an eye from the shadows, and more than enough of the overly friendly show some of the party guests were happily putting on. swiping another wine from a passing waiter (he'd need more alcohol if he was going to have to suffer through this), the scribe threads through the crowds in what could only be described as an elegant stalk, inserting himself into the circle surrounding kaveh at his side without an invitation or apology.
not that anyone there seemed to mind, considering his status, but he didn't exactly have the same effect on crowds as the shorter man did. ]
You've been busy.
[ he murmurs to kaveh, head tilted towards him so that the rest of the party wouldn't be privy to his words. ]
no subject
he's staring past anyone that tries to talk to him anyway, like if he concentrated hard enough he could hear the conversation kaveh was having half a room away. at least, he can hear the fringes of the architect's laugh filtering through the hubbub in the hall, that musical voice instantly recognisable even through the obnoxious chatter of an entire university.
alhaitham's glass of wine is emptied as he keeps watch from the alcove, probably being a little less subtle than he'd like to think he's being. things just aren't the same as they were even a month before, not now that they'd decided to give whatever it was they had a go, and while he would've probably been fine to watch kaveh from afar like he'd often done over the years had they still been dancing around each other - no.
tonight, it was different.
watching his partner ham it up with some of the most annoying members of the akademiya (though alhaitham supposes, he should probably except the new sage of his darshan); seeing the free touching, overly liberal for what was supposed to be an academic celebration; the effervescence that rolls so easily off of kaveh on to the throng of company circling him, like a light illuminating a room and a thousand desperate moths vying for it.
alhaitham's expression had devolved from simply icy to a smouldering glower, which in turn had at least stopped anyone from approaching him for chit-chat - but he'd had enough of keeping an eye from the shadows, and more than enough of the overly friendly show some of the party guests were happily putting on. swiping another wine from a passing waiter (he'd need more alcohol if he was going to have to suffer through this), the scribe threads through the crowds in what could only be described as an elegant stalk, inserting himself into the circle surrounding kaveh at his side without an invitation or apology.
not that anyone there seemed to mind, considering his status, but he didn't exactly have the same effect on crowds as the shorter man did. ]
You've been busy.
[ he murmurs to kaveh, head tilted towards him so that the rest of the party wouldn't be privy to his words. ]