Well, I'm not going to say that entire plan was your greatest work, [ because yes, it had been a rather ridiculous chain of events - ] - but there'll always be characters like that lurking in the shadows, especially in the Akademiya. Foreseeing what happened tonight would've been impossible.

[ alhaitham never pulls any punches with the truth, but regardless of how obtusely the architect had gone about attempting to reveal his feelings, no relationship - casual or not - deserved someone being treated in that way. especially not kaveh; his kaveh. the taller man would always be a proponent for the blunt truth, but it's always nice when the truth also aligns with his personal interests.

the half-smile and odd comment does little to throw alhaitham, but he plays along anyway - kaveh was all emotion and raw nerves at the best of times. it would likely do well not to dwell too much on something neither of them could change or forget, so instead he raises an eyebrow at the observation. the hand on kaveh's cheek moves up to thread almost soothingly (for whom? unclear) through his golden hair instead, as his other shifts to hold the small of his back. caged in. ]

Oh?

[ his low voice muses, not displeased with the compliment but that had certainly not been his objective. on the contrary, getting furious is such a hugely uncomfortable feeling for alhaitham that he's still coming down from it, adrenaline still running quietly through his veins despite the fact the scholar had been hauled off hours ago now. ]

Does that mean I'm going to get provoked more often?