sempiternals | Hang up all my fragile thoughts

Very well. [A final sip. Alhaitham is about to reach out to Kaveh's cup and ask him if he's done with his coffee when he asks him that question.

... huh.

He snorts.] I guess I also can make assumptions. [He points to the cup.] Done with yours?

[ He laughs, bright and warm— but when Alhaitham tries to take his (empty) cup, he shakes his head. ]

I am, but let me. You've already made two cups for both of us, and I'm not just a guest. I just wanna send a text first, and then I'll put them in the dishwasher. Okay?

Alright. Thanks. I'll be taking a shower in the meantime.

[He gets up, slowly stretching. He may need to get away from Kaveh's sight to answer any texts. It's a good thing they have ensuite bathrooms in their rooms or it would be odd to take two cellphones with him.]

Have a good shower, Alhaitham.

[ It's said with a quick smile, and he puts his cup on the table with Alhaitham's as he reaches for his phone, taking a few minutes to send a quick text to Euler. ]

Hi, handsome
I was wondering if u had free time 2day?
I forgot it was a holiday
but i'm gonna do more unpacking if u wanna chat more
or maybe we cld meet up again 2nite @ the club
if ur busy tho it's no problem, was just thinking abt u

[ He hits "send" with a fond expression on his lips, and hums as he moves into the kitchen to pack the dishwasher with their used cups. ]

[Picking up his two phones, a change of clothes, and taking off his own, he realizes he needs a bath rug. Which is in the dryer, he believes. So he wraps a towel around his waist and answers the text first.]

Hey, baby. I do have some free time. Not sure if going to the club is a good idea, though. I have work early tomorrow and I know we'd get kicked out again. Chat soon?

[That done, he gets out of the room, heads to the drying machine near the kitchen.] There you are. [And makes to return to his bedroom for that shower.]

[ He can't help but laugh at the comment. As disappointed as he is, knowing that he can't see Euler tonight, he also knows that what the other says is true— if they were to go out, they'd stay late regardless of their plans. ]

I kno ur right
I wanna see u again soon tho...
but anyway lemme kno when ur free and I'll start a call for us.

[ And then, when he's done packing up the dishwasher and wiping down the counters, he sends Alhaitham a message too: ]

he says he's free
thx for convincing me to ask.
When I'm done unpacking i'll cook dinner for us
so think abt what u want.

[ And then he goes into his room, deciding to take a quick shower himself so he can look good for the camera. ]

I want to see you, too.

[An odd thing to reply, considering they are living together. But he knows the feeling, the idea of them meeting as Pharos and Euler again. Alhaitham has to will away an erection half on its way from the memory of their encounter.]

I need to take care of some errands, but I'll let you know when I'm ready.

[And he goes to take his shower, watching his other phone ping with a notification from Kaveh but only replying to that one after he finishes what he has to do.

Only then he replies, rubbing his hair dry:]

I'm glad to hear it. Steak sunshine sprat would be nice.

[ When he gets out of the shower, it's to messages in reply: from Euler, saying that he's got some errands; from Alhaitham, naming what he'd feel like for dinner. Kaveh sends a 👍 in reply to the latter and a ❤️ to the former, along with a note that he has a couple of errands as well.

After all, if Euler is going to be a little while, it makes perfect sense for him to duck down to the store now and get what he needs to make dinner for them later.

He calls out to Alhaitham as he goes, then again when he comes back, putting the ingredients in the fridge so that he has them for later before he goes to his room and boots up his computer, ready whenever Euler is.

While he waits, he opens a box of clothing and starts to pack it away. ]

[It's nice, to see Kaveh so easily come and go into the house, knowing where to go to get groceries, as though he's lived here for a long time instead of freshly moved. After a moment, Alhaitham knocks on his door, peeking inside once given permission.]

I think I'll be reading in my room. I'll be wearing my headphones, so in case you need anything, text me. [A pause, and his lip quirks.] Have a nice date.

[And he goes back to his room. This will give him at least some leeway to bring up his laptop to his lap, his headphones on, and a locked door to his room.

He texts Kaveh in Euler's number:]

Ready whenever you are.

[ His cheeks flush at Alhaitham's comment, and he makes as if to throw a pillow at him— but it's in jest, and he's smiling as the door closes behind the other. The truth is that he's very much looking forward to the date, even though he spoke to Euler only the night before. Plus, for as much as he worried about telling Alhaitham about it, his new roommate-cum-landlord seems... really supportive? Which is more than he can ask for, he knows, especially after everything.

...Still, knowing that the other will be wearing his headphones makes him wonder if he can't get away with being a little naughty.

After spending a few moments amongst his newly-unpacked clothes, he resurfaces with a sheer lace shirt, making sure that the necklace that Euler gave him is visible amongst the patterns. Only then does he affix his mask to his face and sit in front of his computer, starting a chat and putting the camera on as he waits for the other. ]

[He had absently wondered if joking about it would be odd, considering Kaveh is aware of his feelings (though he does think Kaveh is taking them too deeply, he only pegs it to their different perspectives), but he's glad that Kaveh is more busy being flustered than think really about it.

So when he is invited to the chatroom, sitting on his bed, headphones on, and he sees Kaveh—Pharos—the way he is, he has to give a double-take.

He hadn't been wearing that when he had peered into the room. Alhaitham licks his dried lips.]

user2.718: For a moment I forgot to breathe. user2.718: Hi, baby.

[ Reading what the other has to say makes Kaveh smile brilliantly, his eyes meeting the camera with a bright warmth. ]

Oh— this old thing?

[ He says it with a laugh, but the smile no doubt shows just how pleased he is at the compliment, and he bites his lip after a moment, leaning closer to peer into the lens. ]

Because I've unpacked a little, I wanted to dress up for you. You've been so patient while I've been going through this move, so... I guess it's kind of like a reward for you.

[Flirtatious, but in a sultry, intense way. It's so interesting to see the duality of Kaveh's affection when he feels playful, when he feels at ease. With Euler he's always layered his advances with seduction, with Alhaitham, an accidental nonchalance.

He snorts.]

user2.718: It looks very good on you. user2.718: But I don't think I did anything to deserve such a gift.

[A moment, and he types again.]

user2.718: Do you want me to turn on voice?

[ He can't help but laugh when the other mentions that he didn't do anything. Kaveh shakes his head, and smiles. ]

You don't have to do anything. Maybe sometimes I just wanna spoil you the way you spoil me.

[ A pause, as he bites his lip. ]

Well. Not exactly the same way.

[ By now, the next message has come through, and Kaveh nods again. ]

If you'd like to. I'll never say no to the chance to hear your voice.

[In an instant, he turns on the voice chat feature.]

Can you hear me?

[Euler's voice is warm through the connection. Low. He sounds like he's relaxed.] You sound good. I trust you had a good night?

I can.

[ He was already smiling, but there's no doubt that Euler will see him relax all the more, expression softening into something fond and sweet. And to the question, he nods. ]

I did. I ended up watching a movie with my roommate.

[ And then, because admittedly there's a hint of guilt about him over the whole thing: ]

We ended up falling asleep on the couch.

Oh?

[He supposes it's good if Euler doesn't show himself being bothered by it. In fact, Alhaitham can't really act that much, not because he lacks the skill to do it, but because he doesn't think it's fair to Kaveh.]

Was the movie that boring?

[ Kaveh laughs at that. ]

Not to me! I was enjoying it. I'm not sure about him, he fell asleep first. I'll have to ask him... but honestly, I was really tired from everything that happened yesterday. He'd made tea with chamomile, and between that and the cigarette and the blanket, and then him falling asleep on my shoulder, I was so warm and comfortable that I think I had no chance.

[ There's a pause then as he tilts his head, a thoughtful expression growing on his features. Euler sounds okay, but... ]

It doesn't bother you, right? That I'm getting closer to him, after everything that happened? You were right, he's a better guy than I thought. It's not like that or anything but.. I dunno, I just wanna make sure it's okay.

Perhaps he was tired, too.

[He'll grab that comment about the cigarette, save it for later. Because he is genuinely curious about it. But also because apparently Alhaitham had leaned against him in his sleep, and he hadn't realized it.]

As long as you're comfortable, I'd say it's more than fine. If he makes you feel comfortable and safe, then I am only happy to hear it.

[He tilts his head.] A cigarette, though?

[ Euler's words help his guilt relax into nothingness again, and he smiles a little more brightly. He's just about to tell the other that yes, he does feel comfortable and safe, and that he's grateful to him for telling Pharos to take a chance on this guy—

but then Euler asks a question that makes his cheeks heat.

He didn't even realize that he'd mentioned the cigarette. ]

I um. Yeah... when I was calming down last night, I realized I kind of wanted a cigarette. Not to smoke, really, but just.. just for the taste. It reminds me of you. He smokes too, so I asked if I could have one.

[It's nothing that Alhaitham didn't know before. Kaveh had mentioned his cigarettes and his smoking before as Euler and Alhaitham both.]

So… to help you calm down? Or… [to help him feel not so alone?]

Yeah. To help me calm down. To... make me feel like you were there with me.

[ He bites his lip, casts his eyes away from the camera. Even he is aware of how intense that sounds for two people that have met in person all of once, and... ]

Sorry. That probably sounds really stupid.

You don't have to apologize.

[He sighs. He was right there. And yet his presence was not what Kaveh really wanted.

He feels a bit conflicted for the first time.]

Did it help?

[ Not hearing the conflict in Euler's voice at all, Kaveh just smiles, although the awkwardness is still written on his features even as he looks back up at the camera.

Regardless of Euler telling him he doesn't have to apologize, there's something strange about the whole situation... something on which Kaveh can't quite put his finger. ]

It did. It wasn't quite the same but.. it was nice.

I guess I have to kiss you harder for the taste to last longer.

[It slips out. A master of language he is, and he knows the power words hold. And yet, he doesn't manage to rein in the impetuousness of his own heart, tugging at his tongue before he can help it.]

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