[ the self-doubt and hurt in kaveh's voice is almost enough for alhaitham to disengage and storm back into the party to weed out the catalyst of all this, the scribe's brow furrowed as the other looks up at him and has the audacity to compare himself to the bottom-feeders skulking around outside. he's pissed, because he's not good at this, not good at comforting others when he's rarely offered it himself, not good at saying the right thing when it's about emotions and not making some sort of logical point.
and, he's pissed, because someone else has gone far enough to upset kaveh and make him doubt himself, when alhaitham distantly knows the architect needs little encouragement to do that in the first place.
frowning, the scribe pretends not to have heard the blasé comment about rejoining the party continuing on just feet from them. they're two opposites, one ready to sacrifice himself to save others from his problems, and one doggedly chasing them until the wounds were picked clean - even if it stung. ]
Are you questioning my judgement? Like I ever speak without intent. [ is his contrary reply, though he doesn't let go of kaveh's waist. there's a brief pause, then another short sigh huffed past his lips. ] Look, there's nothing wrong with playing the game. I've seen it all, even more so over the past few months - every dirty trick, every underhanded scheme you could imagine, these self-serving opportunists have taken their chance to pull. But, I'm pretty sure you're incapable of cheating this game because all you ever are is yourself.
[ as optimistic and naïve as that self may be. ]
You feel ashamed because, what, you have ambition? Do you want me to chide you for that?
[ and it's then alhaitham releases kaveh from his hold because he's trying to make a point but he's pissed and tired and probably not putting it in a way that would make any meaningful sense to someone as emotional as the man standing in front of him. raising a hand, he runs it through his own hair in some quiet exasperation, mostly at the throng of idiots outside that had caused this complex. ]
A man that's built palaces to last the ages hardly needs my validation to live up to the reputation he's carved himself.
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and, he's pissed, because someone else has gone far enough to upset kaveh and make him doubt himself, when alhaitham distantly knows the architect needs little encouragement to do that in the first place.
frowning, the scribe pretends not to have heard the blasé comment about rejoining the party continuing on just feet from them. they're two opposites, one ready to sacrifice himself to save others from his problems, and one doggedly chasing them until the wounds were picked clean - even if it stung. ]
Are you questioning my judgement? Like I ever speak without intent. [ is his contrary reply, though he doesn't let go of kaveh's waist. there's a brief pause, then another short sigh huffed past his lips. ] Look, there's nothing wrong with playing the game. I've seen it all, even more so over the past few months - every dirty trick, every underhanded scheme you could imagine, these self-serving opportunists have taken their chance to pull. But, I'm pretty sure you're incapable of cheating this game because all you ever are is yourself.
[ as optimistic and naïve as that self may be. ]
You feel ashamed because, what, you have ambition? Do you want me to chide you for that?
[ and it's then alhaitham releases kaveh from his hold because he's trying to make a point but he's pissed and tired and probably not putting it in a way that would make any meaningful sense to someone as emotional as the man standing in front of him. raising a hand, he runs it through his own hair in some quiet exasperation, mostly at the throng of idiots outside that had caused this complex. ]
A man that's built palaces to last the ages hardly needs my validation to live up to the reputation he's carved himself.