( So the week passes, and the week drags. He has been preparing what should be Kaveh's room near the staff dormitories. Wriothesley seldom takes on work these days, but if he's physically capable then he will step up to it. This includes cleaning, ensuring that all the corners of the room are free of any moldy patches, and rinsing off the rust from the bed frame. Kaveh is getting a new mattress, too. He leaves the rest to hoping the alterations are enough to distinguish this from the moldy rooms on the other side.
He makes the trip to the city early morning to avoid a rush of people. All the details of where Kaveh is staying are on his phone. He makes a stop by the bakery to grab two coffees before going upstairs to his room.
And, with hands busy, he gives the door a few light kicks...But the metal on his boots doesn't exactly help it sound friendly. )
[ When Kaveh is anxious, the only thing that can calm his mind is sketching. He hasn't really slept, but he has completed pages and pages of work, drawing out blueprints and designs until his hands are aching and tired, and his hands are stained with graphite smudges that don't want to come off, even when he washes them for the fourth time.
He's in the midst of that when the door is kicked at, and Kaveh hurries over to answer it. His limp is mostly gone now, just the slightest unevenness in his movements now. The boots he's wearing help, tall and black and matched with the rest of his outfit: it's far more Fontaine in style than Sumeru, slim black pants and a cream shirt with ruffles and frills, elegant without being too overly ostentatious.
He pulls the door open, trying not to appear too nervous.
(He's so painfully nervous.) ]
Hey.
[ Behind him, the room is very similar to the one in which Wriothesley fell asleep a couple of weeks ago. On the bed sits his suitcase, packed full with everything he brought to the hotel with him. He's checking out today; no point paying for a room when he'll be living in the Fortress. ]
( When the door opens, his eyes first greet Kaveh's beauty dressed more for the occasion in the Fortress. Fabrics wrap his body beautifully no matter what they are. The energy is, understandably awkward but he takes the privilege from his implied invitation and walks in so he can place the cups of coffee on a table. )
I brought you some coffee. I wasn't sure if you took sugar or not, so it's straight black. Did you need any help with packing?
( He glances at the suitcase, then back at him. It all appears as ready as it could be, but the offer fills in the silence. Time feels as though it has folded in itself ever since Kaveh yelled at him in his office. He could have sworn it happened yesterday, or perhaps this is proof he did miss him. He notices the smudges on his hands and how excessive washing appears to have dried out his skin. He only knows since others at the Fortress are quick to point out Wriothesley's hands or his scars when the weather begins to crack the moisture on his lips or fingers. )
[ Inwardly, he hates how good Wriothesley looks. Spending time with that woman has been good for him, he thinks, and it's a good thing because he cares about him and he wants him to be happy— but at the same time he hates how bitter and twisted up it makes him feel.
If they're going to be working together, though, he's going to need to learn how to put it aside. Fast. ]
Straight black is fine. I usually take cream and sugar, but I don't mind it without. Thanks. [ Why he's telling Wriothesley this, as if he'll ever buy him coffee again, he doesn't know. ] But I'm all done with packing.
[ He gestures to the suitcase where it lies on the bed. Before picking it up though, he pauses to shrug on the red faux fur jacket draped next to it. He encountered a lot of lessons the last time he was in the Fortress. If he's going to be there for the better part of the next however long, learning from them is important, even when they're framed around footwear or the warmth of his clothing choices. ]
( Future coffee delivery attempts will be made. He already advised Wosley ahead of time to make an extra special meal on the daily so Kaveh eats proper food rather than whatever inmates end up eating. Each step is calculated for the sake of Kaveh, and Wriothesley hopes it keeps him under a level of comfort and safety to prevent anything from going wrong during his extensive stay.
He sips from his coffee as he watches him get his coat, pausing with the cup on his lips. Even when he's covering every inch of skin he's still a light in the room. So vibrant and warm, like Navia, but exerting a type of appeal that makes him swallow dryly. He follows up with actual coffee casually. )
Yeah. Great. I see you won't be spending cold nights in the Fortress with a thick coat like that. To be fair, I hope the room assigned to you is not as cold as others.
( People from high-end lives observe as Kaveh and Wriothesley make it out of the hotel. )
I did hire a few inmates to serve under you with some construction experience. I leave all authority over them to you once you meet up with them.
( After sometime, they finally make it to Palais Mermonia. Wriothesley still makes it a habit to stop by the desk to sign himself in with Sedene. )
Oh, and he's with me. We won't be here long, we just need a few signatures.
[ For someone who prides himself on his observance, at times Kaveh can be woefully blind— he doesn't see the Wriothesley pauses with the cup against his lips, staring for those few seconds as the blonde reaches for his coat. Instead, his attention is brought back in time for the comment, and he smiles, nodding as he takes his case in one hand and the coffee purchased for him in the other. ]
Worst case scenario, I'll get myself a heater. [ His tone is light, the words practically a chirp. The warden's words make it sound like he's spent time trying to find the right room, and Kaveh needs for his heart not to zero in on that. So he's content for the conversation to remain at that same surface level. It's easier.
Their trip to Palais Mermonia is longer than the time they spend in the building, and yet the experience of sitting with the Chief Justice of Fontaine while he signs their papers serves all by itself to drag Kaveh's feelings back away from "easy" and to the discomfort of the depths all over again. The two of them interact so easily, years of camaraderie in the way they talk and interact. The Iudex, almost inhuman-looking with those lavender eyes and blue streaks of hair that seem to work against gravity, is beautiful in a way that makes Kaveh's toes curl with jealousy. And then there are those private smiles, such simple gestures that make him wonder—
Ugh, but Wriothesley isn't into men. Is he that fucked up that he can so easily imagine something that never would have happened?
He's grateful when they leave. ]
To the Fortress next, right? [ A weak smile. ] More papers to sign.
( Wriothesley could always tell Neuvillette's nature is far from what anyone could imagine. Over the years, he has gathered enough history lessons across the Fortress. Via documents dating hundreds of years and his self-taught approach to educating himself about Teyvat. As a prisoner, he didn't have that much to do besides working and boxing.
He notices Kaveh is more quiet than usual but doesn't think much about it. They're sitting in front of the Iudex himself, after all. With all the permissions granted to freely come and go, Kaveh isn't as restricted by needing an escort if he were to have another unpleasant reaction. )
That's right. We can take private transport. The aquabus takes too long.
( It's Neuvillette's private transport. The inside of the boat is luxurious and even has bottled imported water across Teyvat. Wriothesley helps himself to one for himself and Kaveh until they're dropped off behind the court.
The rest of the way is familiar and quick, unlike Kaveh's first time. )
I'll take your luggage if you'd like. I rather not have you visit the nurse as soon as we step off.
[ Whatever awkwardness and discomfort he's feeling is thankfully chased away once they're in the boat. He finished his coffee during the walk and their meeting, so the water is very welcome, and Kaveh finds himself sighing in content as he sips it, enjoying it more than he's enjoyed water for quite a while.
(A glance at the label shows him that it's bottled from Sumeru, and it makes him wonder.)
They're there before too long at all, and Wriothesley is offering to take his suitcase, and for a moment Kaveh thinks about fighting him on it— but he appreciates the gesture for what it is, and after a moment of hesitation, he nods instead, holding it out for the other man to take.
Even if it feels a little weird, letting him carry it when there's a gift inside for him. ]
Alright. Thank you. [ Though he can't quite help himself from the complaint that follows: ] I'm not that much of a klutz, you know. I've fallen twice...
You know what they say: the third time is the charm.
( He's playful when he speaks, taking the luggage nonetheless as they finally touch the ground in Wriothesley's Administrative area. Both men and women have their eyes peeled at the vibrancy Kaveh brings into the sepia frame, burning deep in their memory.
Wriothesley glances at Kaveh as they head directly into his office. He doesn't say anything, although it should be clear what could be in his mind as he parks the luggage in the middle and glances up at the stairs. They're steeper and more dangerous than the glamour leading up to Palais Mermonia and since they won't be here long, he doesn't bother bringing his luggage up. )
I trust you can handle these stairs, then.
( He glances down with a smile before turning his back on him. )
[ Kaveh huffs, rolls his eyes in the other man's direction— but it's playful in response to Wriothesley's teasing, even if his mood becomes a little muted again as they step into the other's office. The sensation of eyes on him is just something he'll have to get used to, but being in this room again, for the first time since what happened between them, he—
Wriothesley is speaking, and Kaveh shakes himself out of it. ]
..Yeah. Yeah, I can.
[ His tongue feels thick in his mouth, but he manages an answer nonetheless, and after pausing to take a small box out of his luggage and commanding Mehrak to carry it for him, he then puts his focus on the climb, taking one careful step after the other
(and a small, uncomfortable shudder runs down his spine when he crosses the place he fell last time, and all Kaveh can think is that she's so beautiful, that she's exactly what someone like Wriothesley needs)
until they reach the top, and he's able to strike out for one of the chairs. He sinks into it a little too heavily, and Mehrak beeps, depositing the box into his lap. ]
I, um. I have something for you. A thank you gift, I guess you could say.
( Once he's at the top he waits for Kaveh to make sure he makes it here safely. The box Mehrak carries is obvious, but he doesn't think much of it. Perhaps it's full of the tools Kaveh needs to work and he's bringing them here to register them so they're accounted for.
He takes a seat on his chair, flipping through some pages to reach Kaveh's contract again. It's an omen of a sight to see the letters again, let alone having Kaveh in front of him like this. He clears his throat. )
A gift? Aren't I a lucky one? My birthday already passed.
( He glances over at the box's size. It looks like there's proper weight to it, but he'll have to open it later when he's alone. For now, he'll take the paper and slide over toward Kaveh to allow him some time to skim it. )
With Neuvillette's permission, you can come in and out as many times as you'd like, not just once a week. I get a place like this isn't everyone's cup of tea. Since you're the expert here, I have no definitive deadline as to when your work should conclude and I'll leave that in your judgment once everything is to your standard of safety.
Some rules will still apply, such as no graffiti on the walls, and the budget will not cover a garden for the time being, since the main issue is mold and structure.
( He hands the pen over. ) You're free to make any negotiations before you sign, of course.
[ His brows raise. He lost focus a few times when Neuvillette and Wriothesley were talking, his attention pulled uncomfortably between the two of them and their interactions instead, and some of the details as a result were lost. He smiles, a gratefulness tugging at his lips. ]
Thank you, Your Grace.
[ He falls silent again to listen to the explanation of the terms. In response to the offer, he shakes his head, simply taking the pen after reading through the contract. He doesn't have any concerns— everything in the contract seems fair. His signature, elegant and careful, is inscribed into the page, and he leans back, putting the pen down on top of the papers. ]
No negotiations needed for this. I trust you on this, and we're in the nation of justice on top of that. You're not about to mess me around. [ His smile is warm, sweet. ] So now you can open your gift before you show me to my room, right?
You're welcome. ( He sits properly and firmly against the back of the chair. Every fiber of his being truly found this Fortress his home. At any glance, one may not be able to think of this place without Wriothesley in mind. Just as Neuvillette is a symbol of Justice for those on the surface, Wriothesley is people's symbol of rebirth.
Kaveh's demand that he open his gift strikes as odd, but he sees no issue with it so he slides the box over. )
The words are clear as day. I have nothing to gain from ruining your time here.
( So he cuts off open the top of the box, standing so he can peer into it and carefully bring out the device from within. By the sight of it, it appears to be something having to do with cookware, no, for brewing. Eyes flicker towards him while he studies every feature it holds. )
Kaveh, this is... This looks expensive. I don't know what to say. I'm the one who should be thanking you today, not the other way around.
[ Kaveh smiles as Wriothesley opens the box and pulls out the device, only offering the other man a brief shake of his head when the comment about expense is made. ] It was nothing, [ he says, even though it was clearly a lot. Like Mehrak, it uses an ancient machine core, something shown when Kaveh leans across the table to gently press a button on it, bringing to life a face very similar to his toolbox's, just in blue. ]
I called it Darya. It's an old word for "ocean". But you're welcome to rename it if you want; it's yours after all.
[ He takes a moment to point out a few of the features. ]
If you add water here, and loose tea here, it will boil and steep it for you to the perfect consistency. It should be able to learn.. the first few times you make a drink, you can tell it if it's too strong or too weak; it will eventually learn your preferences, and brew based on those. From there you'd even be able to ask for weaker or stronger depending on the day, or the type of tea...
[ As if it knows its praises are being sung, the brewing pot chirps in a similar tone to its cousin, eyes showing a pleased expression. ]
I haven't tested it too much; I didn't want to tune it to my preferences when it should be tuned to yours. But I'll be here for long enough that if it's not working quite right, I'll be able to figure it out.
( All the pieces making up the machine are exquisitely placed. Wriothesley knows a thing or two about engineering, considering he took so much time putting together his gauntlets. A high quality ancient core must have been used to bring this to life, and he studies every part as Kaveh explains how he should use it. Every now and then, he glances over at him. )
When I get it tuned up, I’ll make tea for the two of us. I love it, Kaveh.
( He rubs a thumb over the screen flashing its expression, then turns it around to check out the back side. )
The name is perfect as is— you could be a millionaire if you mass produced these, you know?
[ Kaveh's quick to lift his hands, wave them in a rejection with a shake of his head, even as the smile on his lips shows how proud he is, how the praise has settled happily under his skin.
The simple fact of the matter is that the average person wouldn't pay enough for one of these to cover the cost of the machine core. But he can't say that, because he doesn't want Wriothesley to feel bad, or perhaps (worse) wonder about his motivation. All he wants is to do something nice. Gratitude and apology alike. His feelings, no matter what they are, don't come into it.
He needs an excuse. Thankfully, the first reason he thinks up isn't actually a lie: ]
Ancient cores aren't all that common. Mass production probably wouldn't work too well. If I can do things like this for friends, that's enough for me.
( He breaks down the box to bring it downstairs for disposing. )
Let’s get you settled in your room.
( The trip there is familiar and yet it’s as though they’re walking through the same first day again. Kaveh has double the eyes on him, attracting the attention with his coat. He’s like a model out of place despite having the intention of work.
The room is small enough which automatically makes it not as cold as others, but quaint. Every surface looks shiny and spotless, save for the rusted stains Wriothesley couldn’t get rid of. )
This is also closer to the bathrooms so you won’t have to walk a ridiculous distance to them. Anything else you need?
[ The feeling of eyes on him isn't any better than his first and second visits to the Fortress. The difference is that this time he has Wriothesley on his side to support him, so he doesn't feel quite as awkward as he did before. They make it to Kaveh's room without any trouble, and he looks around in silence.
Everything he asked for is there. Even though he shot everything to hell right after asking for it.
He feels very suddenly like crying, and so he protects himself with a warm, playful smile, eyes bright as they peer up at Wriothesley. The warden asks if he wants anything else, and— ]
What, no personal masseuse? And here I thought my requests were pretty clear...
( The momentary silence gets a nerve working up Wriothesley’s heartbeat. Is it not to par? It is not until Kaveh offers a smile that he can finally release some tension through a sigh. He smiles back at him in the process, walking around the room to ensure one last time everything had no visible mold.
Then he glances at him with some hidden nuance, an impossible kind of look. )
You want to be more spoiled than you already are? This room is luxury.
[ In response to the look Wriothesley gives him, Kaveh just laughs. He's obviously joking, but there's something about the warden's face that makes him wonder if perhaps the other man doesn't get it— which somehow just makes the whole thing more amusing to him. He actually thinks for a moment about teasing him more... but in the end takes pity on him, just shaking his head. ]
I appreciate all the spoiling I've had already. Thank you, Your Grace.
[ He puts his suitcase down, and then sets about opening it up so that he can "move in", for lack of a better word. There's no time like the present, after all. ]
I take it I'll start tomorrow? That will give me time to settle in.
I'll see you tomorrow. Text me if you need anything.
( When he returns to his office, he immediately begins working on setting up a blend of tea for Darya to log into its core. Every finish is meticulously calculated, screaming Kaveh's designs and handiwork. Did he intend on delivering this to him despite potentially never speaking again? )
You can't tell me anything, can you, buddy? Look at me, losing my mind, speaking to a machine.
( The blue lights shine back at him, perhaps disappointed as Wriothesley reduces it to Clockwork Mecha. When the tea and water mix and boil through the system, the scent truly fills every inch of his office.
It's oddly comforting falling asleep at night knowing Kaveh is also in the Fortress.
And when the sun comes up over blue horizons, the clocks in the Fortress also ring. So workers come and go through the bathrooms, some visit the cafeteria and the scents make their place as exiles truly encompass the order of a home.
A guard stops by Kaveh's room. )
I was told you'd be here today. He spent all day yesterday getting this room ready. I watched him clean it himself. It was very odd seeing His Grace get his hands dirty like that. You must be doing very important work.
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sempiternals2023-11-16 11:24 pm
no subject
I see. If you're still there a week from now, I will pick you up from there, then. That gives your ankle more time to heal.
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Yeah. That sounds good to me, too.
..Thanks, Your Grace.
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He makes the trip to the city early morning to avoid a rush of people. All the details of where Kaveh is staying are on his phone. He makes a stop by the bakery to grab two coffees before going upstairs to his room.
And, with hands busy, he gives the door a few light kicks...But the metal on his boots doesn't exactly help it sound friendly. )
It's Wriothesley.
no subject
He's in the midst of that when the door is kicked at, and Kaveh hurries over to answer it. His limp is mostly gone now, just the slightest unevenness in his movements now. The boots he's wearing help, tall and black and matched with the rest of his outfit: it's far more Fontaine in style than Sumeru, slim black pants and a cream shirt with ruffles and frills, elegant without being too overly ostentatious.
He pulls the door open, trying not to appear too nervous.
(He's so painfully nervous.) ]
Hey.
[ Behind him, the room is very similar to the one in which Wriothesley fell asleep a couple of weeks ago. On the bed sits his suitcase, packed full with everything he brought to the hotel with him. He's checking out today; no point paying for a room when he'll be living in the Fortress. ]
Did you wanna come in? Or are you ready to go?
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I brought you some coffee. I wasn't sure if you took sugar or not, so it's straight black. Did you need any help with packing?
( He glances at the suitcase, then back at him. It all appears as ready as it could be, but the offer fills in the silence. Time feels as though it has folded in itself ever since Kaveh yelled at him in his office. He could have sworn it happened yesterday, or perhaps this is proof he did miss him. He notices the smudges on his hands and how excessive washing appears to have dried out his skin. He only knows since others at the Fortress are quick to point out Wriothesley's hands or his scars when the weather begins to crack the moisture on his lips or fingers. )
We can go now if you're ready, though.
no subject
If they're going to be working together, though, he's going to need to learn how to put it aside. Fast. ]
Straight black is fine. I usually take cream and sugar, but I don't mind it without. Thanks. [ Why he's telling Wriothesley this, as if he'll ever buy him coffee again, he doesn't know. ] But I'm all done with packing.
[ He gestures to the suitcase where it lies on the bed. Before picking it up though, he pauses to shrug on the red faux fur jacket draped next to it. He encountered a lot of lessons the last time he was in the Fortress. If he's going to be there for the better part of the next however long, learning from them is important, even when they're framed around footwear or the warmth of his clothing choices. ]
I'm ready to go.
no subject
He sips from his coffee as he watches him get his coat, pausing with the cup on his lips. Even when he's covering every inch of skin he's still a light in the room. So vibrant and warm, like Navia, but exerting a type of appeal that makes him swallow dryly. He follows up with actual coffee casually. )
Yeah. Great. I see you won't be spending cold nights in the Fortress with a thick coat like that. To be fair, I hope the room assigned to you is not as cold as others.
( People from high-end lives observe as Kaveh and Wriothesley make it out of the hotel. )
I did hire a few inmates to serve under you with some construction experience. I leave all authority over them to you once you meet up with them.
( After sometime, they finally make it to Palais Mermonia. Wriothesley still makes it a habit to stop by the desk to sign himself in with Sedene. )
Oh, and he's with me. We won't be here long, we just need a few signatures.
no subject
Worst case scenario, I'll get myself a heater. [ His tone is light, the words practically a chirp. The warden's words make it sound like he's spent time trying to find the right room, and Kaveh needs for his heart not to zero in on that. So he's content for the conversation to remain at that same surface level. It's easier.
Their trip to Palais Mermonia is longer than the time they spend in the building, and yet the experience of sitting with the Chief Justice of Fontaine while he signs their papers serves all by itself to drag Kaveh's feelings back away from "easy" and to the discomfort of the depths all over again. The two of them interact so easily, years of camaraderie in the way they talk and interact. The Iudex, almost inhuman-looking with those lavender eyes and blue streaks of hair that seem to work against gravity, is beautiful in a way that makes Kaveh's toes curl with jealousy. And then there are those private smiles, such simple gestures that make him wonder—
Ugh, but Wriothesley isn't into men. Is he that fucked up that he can so easily imagine something that never would have happened?
He's grateful when they leave. ]
To the Fortress next, right? [ A weak smile. ] More papers to sign.
no subject
He notices Kaveh is more quiet than usual but doesn't think much about it. They're sitting in front of the Iudex himself, after all. With all the permissions granted to freely come and go, Kaveh isn't as restricted by needing an escort if he were to have another unpleasant reaction. )
That's right. We can take private transport. The aquabus takes too long.
( It's Neuvillette's private transport. The inside of the boat is luxurious and even has bottled imported water across Teyvat. Wriothesley helps himself to one for himself and Kaveh until they're dropped off behind the court.
The rest of the way is familiar and quick, unlike Kaveh's first time. )
I'll take your luggage if you'd like. I rather not have you visit the nurse as soon as we step off.
no subject
(A glance at the label shows him that it's bottled from Sumeru, and it makes him wonder.)
They're there before too long at all, and Wriothesley is offering to take his suitcase, and for a moment Kaveh thinks about fighting him on it— but he appreciates the gesture for what it is, and after a moment of hesitation, he nods instead, holding it out for the other man to take.
Even if it feels a little weird, letting him carry it when there's a gift inside for him. ]
Alright. Thank you. [ Though he can't quite help himself from the complaint that follows: ] I'm not that much of a klutz, you know. I've fallen twice...
no subject
( He's playful when he speaks, taking the luggage nonetheless as they finally touch the ground in Wriothesley's Administrative area. Both men and women have their eyes peeled at the vibrancy Kaveh brings into the sepia frame, burning deep in their memory.
Wriothesley glances at Kaveh as they head directly into his office. He doesn't say anything, although it should be clear what could be in his mind as he parks the luggage in the middle and glances up at the stairs. They're steeper and more dangerous than the glamour leading up to Palais Mermonia and since they won't be here long, he doesn't bother bringing his luggage up. )
I trust you can handle these stairs, then.
( He glances down with a smile before turning his back on him. )
no subject
Wriothesley is speaking, and Kaveh shakes himself out of it. ]
..Yeah. Yeah, I can.
[ His tongue feels thick in his mouth, but he manages an answer nonetheless, and after pausing to take a small box out of his luggage and commanding Mehrak to carry it for him, he then puts his focus on the climb, taking one careful step after the other
(and a small, uncomfortable shudder runs down his spine when he crosses the place he fell last time, and all Kaveh can think is that she's so beautiful, that she's exactly what someone like Wriothesley needs)
until they reach the top, and he's able to strike out for one of the chairs. He sinks into it a little too heavily, and Mehrak beeps, depositing the box into his lap. ]
I, um. I have something for you. A thank you gift, I guess you could say.
[ An apology, too, although that goes unspoken. ]
no subject
He takes a seat on his chair, flipping through some pages to reach Kaveh's contract again. It's an omen of a sight to see the letters again, let alone having Kaveh in front of him like this. He clears his throat. )
A gift? Aren't I a lucky one? My birthday already passed.
no subject
It's for the best that he's shut down any and all hope he was letting himself feel before.
Still, his smile is a little halting as he puts the box up on the table next to the papers, even as he tries to offer the other a roll of his eyes. ]
I told you, it's a thank you gift, not a birthday gift. You can open it before or after, I don't mind. Either way, I'm ready to look at the contract.
no subject
( He glances over at the box's size. It looks like there's proper weight to it, but he'll have to open it later when he's alone. For now, he'll take the paper and slide over toward Kaveh to allow him some time to skim it. )
With Neuvillette's permission, you can come in and out as many times as you'd like, not just once a week. I get a place like this isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Since you're the expert here, I have no definitive deadline as to when your work should conclude and I'll leave that in your judgment once everything is to your standard of safety.
Some rules will still apply, such as no graffiti on the walls, and the budget will not cover a garden for the time being, since the main issue is mold and structure.
( He hands the pen over. ) You're free to make any negotiations before you sign, of course.
no subject
Thank you, Your Grace.
[ He falls silent again to listen to the explanation of the terms. In response to the offer, he shakes his head, simply taking the pen after reading through the contract. He doesn't have any concerns— everything in the contract seems fair. His signature, elegant and careful, is inscribed into the page, and he leans back, putting the pen down on top of the papers. ]
No negotiations needed for this. I trust you on this, and we're in the nation of justice on top of that. You're not about to mess me around. [ His smile is warm, sweet. ] So now you can open your gift before you show me to my room, right?
no subject
( He sits properly and firmly against the back of the chair. Every fiber of his being truly found this Fortress his home. At any glance, one may not be able to think of this place without Wriothesley in mind. Just as Neuvillette is a symbol of Justice for those on the surface, Wriothesley is people's symbol of rebirth.
Kaveh's demand that he open his gift strikes as odd, but he sees no issue with it so he slides the box over. )
The words are clear as day. I have nothing to gain from ruining your time here.
( So he cuts off open the top of the box, standing so he can peer into it and carefully bring out the device from within. By the sight of it, it appears to be something having to do with cookware, no, for brewing. Eyes flicker towards him while he studies every feature it holds. )
Kaveh, this is... This looks expensive. I don't know what to say. I'm the one who should be thanking you today, not the other way around.
no subject
I called it Darya. It's an old word for "ocean". But you're welcome to rename it if you want; it's yours after all.
[ He takes a moment to point out a few of the features. ]
If you add water here, and loose tea here, it will boil and steep it for you to the perfect consistency. It should be able to learn.. the first few times you make a drink, you can tell it if it's too strong or too weak; it will eventually learn your preferences, and brew based on those. From there you'd even be able to ask for weaker or stronger depending on the day, or the type of tea...
[ As if it knows its praises are being sung, the brewing pot chirps in a similar tone to its cousin, eyes showing a pleased expression. ]
I haven't tested it too much; I didn't want to tune it to my preferences when it should be tuned to yours. But I'll be here for long enough that if it's not working quite right, I'll be able to figure it out.
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When I get it tuned up, I’ll make tea for the two of us. I love it, Kaveh.
( He rubs a thumb over the screen flashing its expression, then turns it around to check out the back side. )
The name is perfect as is— you could be a millionaire if you mass produced these, you know?
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The simple fact of the matter is that the average person wouldn't pay enough for one of these to cover the cost of the machine core. But he can't say that, because he doesn't want Wriothesley to feel bad, or perhaps (worse) wonder about his motivation. All he wants is to do something nice. Gratitude and apology alike. His feelings, no matter what they are, don't come into it.
He needs an excuse. Thankfully, the first reason he thinks up isn't actually a lie: ]
Ancient cores aren't all that common. Mass production probably wouldn't work too well. If I can do things like this for friends, that's enough for me.
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( He breaks down the box to bring it downstairs for disposing. )
Let’s get you settled in your room.
( The trip there is familiar and yet it’s as though they’re walking through the same first day again. Kaveh has double the eyes on him, attracting the attention with his coat. He’s like a model out of place despite having the intention of work.
The room is small enough which automatically makes it not as cold as others, but quaint. Every surface looks shiny and spotless, save for the rusted stains Wriothesley couldn’t get rid of. )
This is also closer to the bathrooms so you won’t have to walk a ridiculous distance to them. Anything else you need?
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Everything he asked for is there. Even though he shot everything to hell right after asking for it.
He feels very suddenly like crying, and so he protects himself with a warm, playful smile, eyes bright as they peer up at Wriothesley. The warden asks if he wants anything else, and— ]
What, no personal masseuse? And here I thought my requests were pretty clear...
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It is not until Kaveh offers a smile that he can finally release some tension through a sigh. He smiles back at him in the process, walking around the room to ensure one last time everything had no visible mold.
Then he glances at him with some hidden nuance, an impossible kind of look. )
You want to be more spoiled than you already are? This room is luxury.
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I appreciate all the spoiling I've had already. Thank you, Your Grace.
[ He puts his suitcase down, and then sets about opening it up so that he can "move in", for lack of a better word. There's no time like the present, after all. ]
I take it I'll start tomorrow? That will give me time to settle in.
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I'll see you tomorrow. Text me if you need anything.
( When he returns to his office, he immediately begins working on setting up a blend of tea for Darya to log into its core. Every finish is meticulously calculated, screaming Kaveh's designs and handiwork. Did he intend on delivering this to him despite potentially never speaking again? )
You can't tell me anything, can you, buddy? Look at me, losing my mind, speaking to a machine.
( The blue lights shine back at him, perhaps disappointed as Wriothesley reduces it to Clockwork Mecha. When the tea and water mix and boil through the system, the scent truly fills every inch of his office.
It's oddly comforting falling asleep at night knowing Kaveh is also in the Fortress.
And when the sun comes up over blue horizons, the clocks in the Fortress also ring. So workers come and go through the bathrooms, some visit the cafeteria and the scents make their place as exiles truly encompass the order of a home.
A guard stops by Kaveh's room. )
I was told you'd be here today. He spent all day yesterday getting this room ready. I watched him clean it himself. It was very odd seeing His Grace get his hands dirty like that. You must be doing very important work.
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