[ To his credit, Kaveh's expression holds its gentleness through Alhaitham's first snarky comment; it's during the second that it falters, brows lifting and lips parting as he stares at the other man in silence for a moment, tracking the irritation leeching into his voice, the shift of his eyes, glinting with something menacing, back to the light trailing in from the party they've left behind.
He shakes his head, lifting a hand and taking the scribe's jaw in his fingers, echoing the movements made by Alhaitham many times over in the past few weeks, drawing that gaze forcibly back to his, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. ]
As much as you know I enjoy it when you go all spinokrokodilian, he was hardly undressing me, Alhaitham. He was ingratiating himself, that's all. The man has no scruples; just a few months ago he was one of my loudest detractors, but with the tide changing as it is, I suppose his loyalties have gone along for the ride.
[ Even with Kaveh's fingers having a firm hold on the other's jaw, there's a softness to the way they skate along the skin, his smile softening as his eyes search the other's face. ]
If you're worried, you don't need to be. He's a pretentious asshole. [ A pause, and then more softly: ] Most of them are.
[ He has some friends among the scholars, of course, but overall he finds his admiration aimed mostly at those who find themselves on the outer cusps for one reason or another. Madam Faruzan, Tighnari, Alhaitham himself. People he can trust to be themselves no matter what might be at stake.
...And maybe he's ashamed of himself, a little, sucking up and doing what he has to do to flatter the others at this party.
Kaveh's expression changes in time with the ugly pang in his chest, and his hand falls from Alhaitham's jaw, a soft breath trembling on his lips as he looks past the other, gaze boring into the nearest wall. ]
I guess I'm not much better. I'm sorry for making you come here tonight.
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He shakes his head, lifting a hand and taking the scribe's jaw in his fingers, echoing the movements made by Alhaitham many times over in the past few weeks, drawing that gaze forcibly back to his, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. ]
As much as you know I enjoy it when you go all spinokrokodilian, he was hardly undressing me, Alhaitham. He was ingratiating himself, that's all. The man has no scruples; just a few months ago he was one of my loudest detractors, but with the tide changing as it is, I suppose his loyalties have gone along for the ride.
[ Even with Kaveh's fingers having a firm hold on the other's jaw, there's a softness to the way they skate along the skin, his smile softening as his eyes search the other's face. ]
If you're worried, you don't need to be. He's a pretentious asshole. [ A pause, and then more softly: ] Most of them are.
[ He has some friends among the scholars, of course, but overall he finds his admiration aimed mostly at those who find themselves on the outer cusps for one reason or another. Madam Faruzan, Tighnari, Alhaitham himself. People he can trust to be themselves no matter what might be at stake.
...And maybe he's ashamed of himself, a little, sucking up and doing what he has to do to flatter the others at this party.
Kaveh's expression changes in time with the ugly pang in his chest, and his hand falls from Alhaitham's jaw, a soft breath trembling on his lips as he looks past the other, gaze boring into the nearest wall. ]
I guess I'm not much better. I'm sorry for making you come here tonight.