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[justscribing]

USERNAME: Alhaitham ALHAITHAM GENSHIN IMPACT TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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[justscribing]

[Alhaitham pauses. He continues to watch the frame of Midnight's back.

Stupid vampires.] Do you care?

[unrequite]

Only in the sense that you've broken the pattern. If it's important...

[ Midnight shrugs. ]

It's beyond my scope to pursue the what or the why. It's an observation and only that, I suppose. Of course, I do like being seen... But that's my investment in the matter.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham does not look away.] And what do you think the pattern is?

[unrequite]

You had no reason to look at me. I walked away. Still lacking a reason to look at me, you looked.

[ ... ]

That's all.

[justscribing]

If that's all, why comment? [He folds his arms, leaning back in the seat.] Do you think I'm unaware of my own actions?

[unrequite]

[ ... ]

You're paying me some measure of attention. If I'm mistaken, please pardon me, but if I've caused you reason for concern, I'd like to know if I can allay said concerns.

[justscribing]

[... Well at least he's staring at Midnight's back.

There is a long, incredibly awkward pause. He clears his throat.]

... I assume you're aware of the video.

[unrequite]

I am.

[ As though they've seen the same lamp post on the street outside, or he's been asked about the existence of a certain type of bread. Very commonplace. Midnight doesn't know what the conclusion is. ]

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham opens his mouth.

Closes his mouth. Tries again.] Do you have no interest in addressing it?

[unrequite]

[ A shrug. ]

What is there to address?

[ ... Seriously. They're both the type to ruminate these sorts of intrusions on their own, to regard the present with more importance than the past. It's about the amount of thought Midnight's chosen to put in it... Without Kaveh's interference, that is. ]

[justscribing]

Nevermind. [He pulls his gaze away, finally, sinking into the chair.]

[unrequite]

[ ... ]

If...

[ ... Go on. Finish the sentence. ]

If you need to speak to me for Kaveh's sake, by all means.

[justscribing]

It isn't for Kaveh's sake. [Alhaitham would bend the knee at lot for Kaveh. And so Kaveh would never ask this, just as he never asked Alhaitham to give Midnight a second chance. There are lines Kaveh will refuse to cross out of the respect he has for Alhaitham, and Alhaitham's love.

That doesn't mean that Kaveh didn't proceed to have a meltdown over it. Just that it's not the reason Alhaitham himself is off-balance.]

[unrequite]

Mm. All right.

[ And Midnight snaps up within himself once again. The silence drags by. Kaveh has certainly decided to redo the entire landing, which is definitely why he must be dragging an entire bag of new planks with him... ]

[justscribing]

[How long does it take Kaveh to grab his level? Probably as long as he thinks he needs to stall to make these two talk.

But Alhaitham reads that shutdown as a closure. If it doesn't have to do with Kaveh, Midnight isn't interested. Which fits within his expectations.

He shifts in the seat. Forces his gaze away from Midnight's back and to the book in his lap.]

[unrequite]

[ ... Kaveh had talked about it, hadn't he? About happiness, about being happy. About being happy around Alhaitham. Midnight closes his eyes, tilts his face toward the sun. There isn't much to say. There was a chance for them to be something more than this. Midnight made his choice about it. The chance is now gone. There's nothing else to say. He's made unforgiveable choices with the intention of never being forgiven. He knew this from the beginning, he stands by it to the end. It was for happiness... And Alhaitham's happiness was preserved, wasn't it? He is still happy, even if Midnight's actions had very little to do with that, in the end. That's enough. He's done enough. ]

[justscribing]

[The silence goes on. Alhaitham doesn't open the book.]

... Weren't you going to the balcony?

[unrequite]

[ ... ]

I wonder. If we have such little to say to each other because our thoughts are the same, or if we simply assume that our thoughts are very similar. I wonder about this quite a bit.

[justscribing]

There are many reason who specific people would choose not to converse. [Alhaitham raises a brow.] Is that really the first one you've come up with?

[unrequite]

No. My first thought is that I've done many things to alienate you, and that you've found this relationship irreparable. I, for one...

[ A beat. ]

I don't fight losing battles. And I certainly enjoy lying about myself, but not so far as to lie about my faults, nor my ability to address them. If you find them irreconcilable...

[ ... A small shrug. ]

I won't tell you that I'll change for you. Or anyone else. Other than Kaveh, of course, but he did force that promise out of me.

[justscribing]

[For all Kaveh's agony about it, Alhaitham doesn't feel strongly about trying to "repair" things with Midnight. Least of all if he's the only one making an effort. He can play nice and give him another chance, but that's very different from letting him in.]

Let me posit a third possibility: that you're proving to be a terrible conversation partner.

[Of course, there's also that.]

[unrequite]

[ A small smile. Ah. That one's funny. ]

Perhaps I am. How terrible. I should rectify that immediately. Pray tell, Alhaitham of the Haravatat darshan: in your learned opinion, how does one have a pleasant conversation?