justscribing | The City

[ during this apparently, ]

Alhaitham, my oldest and most vexatious headache, my untold terror of a Junior, why exactly are you giving Netzach unsolicited advice about his sex life? What did he do to offend you, and how could he have done it? He's been stabbed! Let him be! What's wrong with you?

[They're definitely just in different rooms in the apartment, texting. Like they do.]

It's not just about his sex life.

[ ?! ]

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER!

Personally I think this is proving to be a productive conversation. Yesod has asked me for perspective a couple times. It's helping Netzach to hear from someone who thinks similarly to him.

Yes, but there is a what, and there's also clearly a how. And my question to you is - how did it come to ravishing, of all things? Who even uses that word, and how did you upend it from that disgustingly extensive vocabulary of yours?

Is it not suitably descriptive of our own sex life?

NO.
In what way, shape or form is that the indicative word???
Wait, is that what you're thinking when-
No, say less. I don't want to know. I don't want to even think that might be what's going through your head while we. You know.
I can't talk to you anymore. Why are you like this.

By the way, this all started because Yesod had thought you were also in a relationship with Midnight and that he and I were sharing you the way he and Yesod share Netzach.

You did talk to him about the kissing, didn't you?

Oh, yes, because I certainly had time to do that between the Gala, Nowruz, the incident with the oripathy, and Netzach getting stabbed. It was top of mind for me to clarify something for a misconception that Midnight doesn't have, because I already turned him down twice.
Exactly how did Yesod get that impression? Did you ask?

He didn't clarify, but since he didn't think Netzach and you were in a relationship despite the kissing, I assume something was up with Midnight.

Should I ask Netzach while we're talking?

Do it, and while you're at it, ask Midnight as well. Oh, right, the two of you are not on speaking terms.
What exactly are you telling Netzach, anyway? You're hardly in a state to give relationship advice, your relationship only officially started a few months ago. I'd know. I was there.

[Ignoring that comment about Midnight to start texting Netzach again...]

Like I said, I was giving Netzach some perspective on how Yesod might be feeling, without sharing exactly what Yesod confided in me. We had some similar feelings in regards to the liver situation and he's struggling with his feelings in their relationship in a way that Netzach hasn't been sure how to assuage.

I gave him my viewpoint of you using similarities in our relationship. There's a surprising amount of overlap.

... I see.
He wanted to know earlier, I think, regarding Netzach being stabbed. I should have messaged him far sooner than I had.
I can empathise with his desire to want to know, or rather, for someone to choose to inform them regardless.

Yes, that's the point I was making to Netzach. The important thing is to trust Yesod with the choice whether he wants to be there, or at least be forewarned.

Yesod realizes these incidents aren't the same. I'm sure he doesn't hold anything against you or Netzach.

Seems Netzach doesn't know where you and Midnight being together came from either. Maybe it's just that someone else saw you two.

[Yes, he does assume that Kaveh kisses Netzach and Midnight in relatively public places.]

... Alhaitham, for the pre-eminent Haravatat graduate and one of the most prolific scholars to come out of the Akademiya in the last hundred years, you are an idiot.
I can barely let you kiss me in public, what makes you think Midnight and I are doing anything in public? What would we even do in public? If people are extrapolating from me giving him a tongue-lashing for every silly thing that comes out of his mouth, then I might as well be together with half this city!
I can't believe you sometimes. And they let you be the Grand Sage! Perhaps even the current state of Sumeru is beyond saving.

Well, I figured it wasn't unlikely you have kissed him in public. Or he kissed you, whichever one of you initiated it.

[Alhaitham knows he purposefully riles Kaveh up instead of being like, polite and romantic about it.]

After all, what really embarrasses you about it isn't the act but the feeling behind it, right?

Yes, but I'm also not daft, and I've eyes - I know what this sort of thing looks like. Look, you accuse me of not being able to let Midnight go, but you're the one who can't seem to leave his business well alone.
Should I be asking if he's done something to you recently, or if you've done something to him recently?

I'm having no trouble ignoring him. This conversation just reminded me and I realize that it would be a hassle to correct if he's for some reason believed you're together.

But Netzach says Midnight hasn't said anything, so it sounds like I'm right and it is some rumor from someone unrelated.

Also he wants you to make something you like but he hasn't tried yet for what you cook for him tomorrow.

Since when did you care for gossip, or for correcting gossip? You let an entire cohort of Akademiya graduates think that you're some kind of Kshahrewar experiment gone wrong for years, and Siraj thought you were looking down on him for a decade and you let that go on until he tried to assassinate you. You just can't stop picking at this because it's Midnight.
Leave it be, Alhaitham. And don't say things about Midnight when Netzach is around. Just as I hardly like it when someone says terrible things about you, even if it's deserved and usually true, Netzach doesn't deserve that either.
I'm making eggplant stew, then. He hasn't had that yet, and I know that Yesod likes eggplant. Did you want beef or chicken?

I care that there's no misunderstandings between the people involved. Which includes me. Since it seems to be just gossip, I'm not concerned. You're the one who's worried about you look in public.

Which, my consent to sharing your lips as you put it was never with the expectation you would have to hide it. You know that, right?

[And then, belatedly:]

Beef.

There are no misunderstandings, Alhaitham. If anything, I've a working theory that Midnight doesn't quite think anyone's able to match him in love in both intensity and depth, but since it's Midnight, you don't want to hear it.
And I know - nor am I hiding anything.
I'll make a kabab torsh for dinner, then. We'll top it with pomegranate. Crack one open, would you?

And you're still upset I don't want to hear it.

[But the phone is abandoned on the end table so Alhaitham can go to the kitchen to de-seed a pomegranate.]

The City | Inbox

text. @kaveh, sometime after the stabbening

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