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Who: Kaveh and the Cafe Regulars
Status: Open
Where: Surasthana Cafe
What: catch-all
Warnings: the chaos gays are here and doing PDA, but we'll keep it at a solid T. Probably.

[A. Day to Day at the Cafe]

[Life is fairly simple, currently. Kaveh and Alhaitham open the cafe most afternoons and Kaveh helps serve coffee and putters about with his other work, small mechanical things and bits of jewelry. Lately, he's been talking to local bakeries about serving their baked goods here, so there are some small pastries in a case available for purchase! Right now it's largely just croissants, muffins and cookies, but he has hopes of expanding that selection someday. If only for some naan.

Either way, for your relaxing, day to day needs, the Surasthana Cafe is here.]

[B. Chaos Gays; Public Menaces]

[...On the other hand, where Kaveh is, Alhaitham is almost certainly not far. A non-exhaustive list of what one might walk in and catch them doing is as follows:

1. Holding hands while leaned over the front counter, right next to the register, instead of Alhaitham actually picking up his coffee. They are likely engaged in debate.

2. A large pile of adult men cuddled up together and fast asleep in the middle of the afternoon on one of the couches. Bonus points for Kaveh being too tall for half of these and his legs dangling over the side. Maybe have Azul or Mehrak take your order?

3. They are straight up kissing behind the counter. At least it's fairly chaste but it is right in front of your muffin.

Good luck.]

[C. March Madness]

[Kaveh regularly gets new books in to stock, because it is a book cafe and new reading material is part of the point. Here is the problem; most of the sellers on Eltrut are under the (correct) assumption this cafe is 85% built to woo Kaveh's reclusive husband, and the additional (incorrect) assumption the man is a connoisseur of the romance genre. There's also the factor that the period after Dragon's Gale and up to First Tide is a very lucrative period for new romance books to come out, and so when Kaveh puts in an order for hot new releases, well...

The upshot is Kaveh now has two or three crates of newly released romance novels to shelve and most of them are of the non-human romance variety. A lot of dragons. a fair amount of bird and snake people. A bit of mermaids. A great deal of this has to go on the shelves marked EXPLICITLY not for the younger clientele.

Kaveh has sighed sixteen times in the last ten minutes. He's not impressed. He has to shelve all these. He's suffering.

Come laugh at him.]

[D. Wildcard]
[DM me or taso if you want a different starter, or just make up your own! live freely!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In contrast to Kaveh's bright and sunny smile Alhaitham is frowning a little, because no matter how much his husband wants to tease and obtain gossip it should not be at an unnecessary cost.]

No favors. [He vetoes the last option without any warning, giving a brief look to husband as he says that to show that he means it. No owing people favors for something like this!!]

[Azul raises an eyebrow, amused by Kaveh willing to try to call his bluff here. However, before he can say something about owing him a favor in the future, Alhaitham suddenly cuts in and snuffs out that option.]

Well, that's no fun. [But, he does not argue against that decision for now.] Seeing as I already get paid working for you, Kaveh-san, I suppose I should ask what kind of goods you would be willing to trade for this information.

Don't be rude, Haitham. [It's fine! He wasn't gonna offer anything bad!]

Well, accessories are the obvious go-to--tie clips or brooches, perhaps, to go with the cufflinks. Lamps, small heaters, rings...I've made hairpins that have a tracking function before, but I doubt you'd really need something like that.

Perhaps perfumes or cologne...or skincare products, Azul? There's a variety of options, here.

[He's noticed you seem to take care of your skin! You look great, young man.]

[It doesn't matter if Kaveh isn't going to offer anything 'bad' its the principle of the matter! Don't lower your standards just for the sake of a bit of gossip!

Alhaitham doesn't interrupt the conversation this time, at least, but he does shoot over a very unsubtle look at Azul after Kaveh leaves the other to make his choice. You better choose wisely, mister, or you won't know what's coming.]

[Azul has to think about it for a moment: accessories to go with what Kaveh had gotten him for his birthday not long ago are not a bad idea, actually. Neither would be getting a nicer lamp or heater for his room or for his workshop...

But then Kaveh says that about the hairpins, and Azul can't help being curious.]

You've made items with tracking functions before? Did you use magic for that, or something else?

Hmm, probably not in the sense you mean magic.

[Kaveh hums a bit, and leans a little back against Alhaitham to make a thoughtful expression, one hand to his chin.]

There are elemental crystals in this world, and circuits that can be charged with the same. Those crystals can be tuned to emit different energy frequencies, so to create a rudimentary tracking device you simply need something that can both ping at that frequency and receive it. It's not particularly sophisticated, but something simple is often more reliable.

[Alhaitham shifts himself when Kaveh leans back, making sure that his husband is comfortable (or as comfortable as one can be, considering) and that his own arms still wrapped around Kaveh's waist are firm and steady. Being this close also means that he can press his nose into Kaveh's hair and soak in his scent—that gentle, flowery smell that Kaveh was just teasing him about earlier.

...yeah, you two are free to continue your conversation. Alhaitham will just be here enjoying himself in other ways.]

I see...

I suppose having something like that could be useful... ah, not that I necessarily have anyone here I would be wanting to keep tabs on, that is, but in the event of an emergency it could still be good to have them regardless in case someone is missing.

[The people he would get those for would probably be employees for his Lounge once it opens... and Leona since he is the only person from Twisted Wonderland and it would be a hassle if the other man suddenly became hard to find once Azul needs him for something. Then again, Leona would never wear it 'cause he knows full well not to take anything from Azul without there being strings attached...]

The range on them isn't infinite, but given how often kidnappings seem to occur her, sometimes a little extra assurance is useful.

[Foreshadowing is a literary device in which--]

[Alhaitham huffs at his husband's comment, pulling his face away from the other's hair to send over a mildly bemused look.]

Is is all that's for?

[Don't pretend you haven't used it for some less than noble purposes before, senior. He knows.]

That is deeply concerning how casual you sound when stating something like that.

[The "how often kidnappings occur" comment, he means.]

Regardless, I must admit that I am interested in these accessories you've described. I don't need something like it right away, however, as I would need to determine what would be the best accessory to have that function in for the potential event that hairpins are not something that the other person is interested in wearing.

The repeated kidnappings are also deeply concerning.

[Kaveh's tone is so, so dry, but he's just elbowed Alhaitham to look at Azul, expression brightening.

Hairpins for someone, huh???]

That's certainly something I could do. And it's perfectly fine to defer this to a later date--I'm sure this one wouldn't mind having my attention back. But whoever you want to make accessories for, I'm sure I can make something to their tastes.

[Alhaitham takes the elbowing without complaint—or at least, that is what would seem like to anyone else that isn't Kaveh. He lets out another huff, but leans back in to rest his head on his husband's shoulder once more, arms sliding back to settle comfortably around his waist.

The message, at least for Alhaitham, is fairly clear: this conversation has gone on long enough, and he would like his husband back now, thanks.]

Thank you, I appreciate that, as to be perfectly honest, some of the people I would have wanted to give that to are not actually here with me in this place, but should they ever arrive in the future, it would be nice to be able to offer them.

[As for the information you wanted in exchange...]

Floyd in particular, while being someone I do consider reliable for certain matters, does have a bad habit of not coming to work or the like when he "doesn't feel like it", as well being incapable of restraining himself from being a little too overzealous in what he does get involved with, so having some reassurance that I would be able to find him in case of an emergency when one of these moods strikes him and reel him back in would be a relief.

[Attempt at dodging the topic number 2: Distract with the mention of someone OTHER than the person he is actually thinking about on this subject. But will two chaos gays be able to catch it?]

Oh? Is Mr. Floyd the person who's here? Since you said only some of the people these are for aren't here...

[Kaveh's tone is so innocent it might be hard to tell if he meant to just shoot Azul's dodge dead on the spot on purpose.

Either way he does tip his head a little, just to bump his temple against Alhaitham's. He will reward your patience soon, you fussy overgrown cat, fret not.]

In all honesty, because this world is so vast, having more ways to be able to find one another would be useful even if it wasn't dangerous...

[Kaveh's tone of voice there might fool everyone else, but it certainly doesn't get past Alhaitham, who knows all too well where the architect is going with here. But if Azul thinks he's going to reveal any of that, then he's going to be disappointed because who is Alhaitham to deny his husband a little bit of fun? Especially when it's at the expense of others for once.

So all he'll do is to hum as Kaveh bumps temples against him, twisting one of his own hands around after so that he can take his husband's hand into his own, linking their fingers together and holding it in a comfortable squeeze. He'll be nice and let his senior have his bit of fun here for a while.]

[... Shit. He shouldn't have made that comment, as it gave away that there was someone else from his world here with him at all.]

Ah... unfortunately, he is not. The only people who are here from my world are myself, and Leona-san, who is a classmate of ours from Night Raven College.

[And then, he scoffs.]

Though, he is also the sort who has the habit of not turning up where he's supposed to be depending on his mood. Unlike Floyd, however, it's more often than not sheer laziness than anything else. He behaves as if he can merely coast through life on his status of royalty and irritating good looks. As such, we don't work together well even when we have to as fellow housewardens of our respective dorms, among other things I could say about how much of a bother it tends to be trying to deal with him...

[Attempt number 3: Making sure to badmouth Leona as much as possible, because obviously he wouldn't have other thoughts or feelings about someone he hates, right???]

[Unfortunately Azul is talking to the champions of divorced before marriage. Kaveh's shoulders are shaking a little bit because he is trying so hard not to laugh. Oh Azul. Oh Azul you sweet summer octopus.]

...Still, you'd rather keep tabs on someone from home than nothing, hmm? [Kaveh does let out a small chuckle.] I know someone else who has a habit of making himself impossible to find until he turns up in the strangest places. Though I suppose in either case, the easiest way of making them easy to track down is just make an irresistibly comfortable spot for them to relax in.

[Kaveh don't shake your shoulders so much because your dear husband is still resting his head on one of them. Not that Alhaitham can really blame him, since its also just as hard to tamper down his own surge of amusement. Just show your whole ass hand there, Azul, why don't you.

But with that being said, it doesn't stop him from wrinkling his nose at Kaveh's less than subtle remark, and he gives his husband a pinch to his side with his other hand for that cheeky comment. It's not as if Kaveh himself is innocent in this! He makes the so-called 'irresistibly comfortable spots' so that the man himself can find him in the first place after all.]

[Azul squints in suspicion at this response.]

While it would certainly be more helpful having a means to find him when I am reluctantly forced to do so, Leona-san is not going to be amicable to accepting anything from me in particular, even as a gift. Just as I am not his biggest fan, so to speak, the same can be said for him not liking me as well, I'm sure, given how often we end up fighting.

[... Although, they have been fighting a lot less in this place lately, or at least not as bad as some of their past fights were...but surely that doesn't mean anything...]

[Azul you're killing him. He's going to crack a rib. Or at least he was before Alhaitham very rudely pinched them.]

...Well, I'm sure that was the way it felt for you both at home. But this is a strange place we're all in...it's very terribly lonely, to be here without a familiar face. I doubt even your Mr. Leona is immune to that feeling.

A change in circumstances has a strange way of changing perspectives. Though, Azul, isn't it possible he doesn't particularly want to accept gifts from you because you insist that even gifts must have a reciprocal price, even when you receive them?

[CALLIN' YOU OUT.]

[Honestly hearing Azul what he does (and Kaveh reframing it the way he does) is lowkey kind of interesting, since it does kind of vocalize a part of what Alhaitham has experienced in his time here. He's always been aware, of course, but its still something to recognize it from a wider perspective. This place, where he has nobody else but Kaveh to depend on... he would be lying if he said it wasn't a catalyst for a lot of the things that had since transpired between them. Even if things between them would have naturally developed as they know back home, its still different from what they have now.

Anyway, none of that really matters, because clearly Azul's problems lie elsewhere.]

At that point its hardly a gift. More like a barter and exchange.

[A debate, if you will—]

[At that, Azul blinks as if both men have said something particularly strange to try to make sense of.]

That's just how the world works: if someone does something for you, it's proper and expected of you to do something in return for them. It's only fair.

[But yes, that is in fact the reason Leona does not want anything from Azul if he can avoid it, in the event it leads him to be indebted to the octopus after thanks to Azul being Like This about it.]

[...Where does he even start with this. Alhaitham you're the egoist you sort this out--]

In this case, isn't being able to rely on one another mutually beneficial? You'd already be gaining something.

[Nah he can't be bothered.]

Not all things can be tracked in such a manner, anyway. It ends up being far too much of a hassle.

[Alhaitham says that but he has no problem picking at Kaveh... then again its Kaveh, so.]

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bullshits wildly

random bs is always fun

indeed

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