[While Alhaitham goes inside to investigate, Kaveh turns his attention to the gifts. He's not... braced for insults and disdain, exactly; he knows, better than he'll ever admit, that Alhaitham sees some value in his gifts and his gestures--that for as much as he teases Alhaitham about being inhuman, he has a heart like any other man, one that harbors its own fondnesses and sentiments. But old habits die hard, and Alhaitham does so love to press his buttons. Kaveh knows he can't always help the way his hackles rise on instinct, so it's better to disengage for a minute, or else he'll be the one picking a fight over nothing.
Instead, he talks to himself as he looks over the presents, which he's still a little surprised to see actually exist, even though Alhaitham truly had no reason to lie BUT STILL.
Muttered:] Why in the world would they leave these here? My office isn't that hard to find. Aha, see, what did I tell you? This one's from Miss Najia, we had the most interesting conversation about theater props last month. Did you know that--never mind, actually, you don't care. Sasani...? Who's that? Maybe it was a mistake... are you sure this wasn't left for you? I'm sure some poor souls are fooled into thinking that dealing with your personality is a fair price for looking at your face. [Kaveh you're literally dating him] Who's this--oh, of course, Pharez. This must be for helping with the--
[Oh. Alhaitham's talking to him. He stops what he's doing, looking up; immediately, he can see the shift in Alhaitham's expression, and that, really, tells him all he needs to know.
He puts the gift back down and, astoundingly, does as he's told, stepping into the office and closing the door. He approaches with wariness clear in his gaze, but it's an old, familiar thing rather any true mistrust, and he places his hand in Alhaitham's.]
with the door closed and kaveh at arm's length, haitham reaches for his other hand and draws him closer until kaveh is square in front of him. he's quiet, looking at their arms between them. it almost looks like he wasn't listening, but after a pause— ]
I do trust you. I think any reasonable person wouldn't like to be shoved out of their office, no matter the occasion.
[ he lifts kaveh's hands, drawing them together, and now it's clear that he's studying them: all the white-pink scars, the indented fingertips, the faded burn marks, the bandages. there were more of these injuries once upon a time—kaveh's technique has been polished since then—but it's clear that he's crafted something recently, even if that something wasn't necessarily his gift. haitham still holds his hands like they're precious to him, running his thumb over one of his knuckles. ]
...Thank you.
[ he lowers his head and presses his lips to the lengths of his fingers. ]
He lets Alhaitham draw him closer, though; lets him take his other hand, too, because Alhaitham is many things, but he is also someone Kaveh can trust, utterly and completely, with his most precious parts of himself.]
And since when have you ever been reasonable? Not in this lifetime, I'm sure. [But his voice is warm, as is his own gaze; he's pleased, the way he always is when he's made another person happy. Alhaitham's hands are so much larger than his own, but his grip is gentle--gentler, perhaps, than Kaveh would've once assumed him capable of being. He keeps his hands loose in Alhaitham's, relaxed in a way that would probably cause their juniors to assume they were hallucinating.]
You're welcome, of course. [He shifts one hand to cup Alhaitham's jaw.] Someone has to take care of you, you know.
[It's something he's said often, in the time they've known each other. It's a much more affectionate thing than it used to be.]
[ haitham had seen flickers of this fond gaze before the two of them got together—mostly directed at someone else. each time, haitham was silently enamored by it. even when kaveh turns that gaze towards him, the feelings blooming in his chest feel entirely new. now, they're even stronger than before.
haitham settles his free hand at kaveh's waist. he resists the temptation to kiss him, but it's clear that he would like to. (or at least it would be clear to kaveh.) ]
I could say the same for you. I know you hardly slept. I'll have to make sure you do tonight.
[Alhaitham resists, but Kaveh doesn't. He uses the light grip he has on Alhaitham's face to draw him closer, planting a kiss at the corner of his mouth. It's nothing scandalous, even though the door is closed, but he's affectionate by nature and he certainly can't resist something small when Alhaitham's looking at him like that.]
You most certainly will not! I have a deadline. [But he squeezes Alhaitham's hand after that.] I'm almost done, though. One more night and I'll make it.
[ ok since kaveh asked for it. haitham lowers their joined hands to their sides and circles his arm around kaveh's waist, drawing him closer. he kisses the hollow of his cheek. ]
[STOP. DO NOT. IT WILL NOT WORK!! NOT THIS TIME!!!]
Absolutely not. Do you have any idea how stubborn this client is? I've already had to revise these blueprints four times. Four! The only reason he's not going to do it again is because he doesn't want to pay the revision fee.
haitham releases kaveh's hand and slides his hand over the nape of his neck, gathering slips of golden hair between his fingers. he draws his head back and kisses kaveh deeply on his perfect lips, breathing in.
when he pulls away, his eyes stay closed and he murmurs: ]
You're not working tonight.
[ yes he's being unfair, but it's for good reason. ]
[HOW COULD ALHAITHAM DO THIS says local man who gets got by "this" every fucking time it happens
That is to say--Kaveh, of course, melts into it, still unused to such blatant shows of affection from his normally-stoic paramour. Especially at work, a place where he and Alhaitham are normally at their most confrontational, standing firmly opposed just like the wings of their darshans.
If someone had asked him a few years ago what kind of a kisser he thought Alhaitham would be, the very idea alone would've had him choking on his wine in disbelief. Now, he finds himself parting his lips to let Alhaitham in, tension easing out of his body where Alhaitham's hands rest, warm and secure. The longer he stays like this, the more he can start to feel how wrung-out he truly is, which is dangerous.]
Don't think I don't know what you're doing. [It's a quiet grumble, tempered by the way his freed hand has found its way to Alhaitham's waist. He butts his head lightly against Alhaitham's.] And to think, no one believes me when I tell them how conniving you can be.
[That would be because Kaveh also undermines his own arguments, just like he's currently undermining himself by not moving away immediately.]
[ kaveh's lips are pliant and sweet, the crisp taste of a peach on his breath. it would be easy for haitham to ply his boyfriend with a slow string of kisses, guide kaveh to his chair, and draw all of the tension from his body with his hands—but not now. not just yet, anyway.
a thin smile creeps on his mouth at kaveh's retort. ]
'Someone has to take care of you.'
[ :) since kaveh won't do it himself!!! he leans back to look kaveh in the eye. ]
I'll use whatever method it takes. This one yields the most results.
I don't want to hear that from a man who would happily go a month without talking to another person.
[Which is, to Kaveh, just as vital a necessity as rest and sustenance!!! He won't argue that he doesn't always take care of himself, though; that, unfortunately, is a point he has to concede. He does, however, bristle at the rest, because of course he does. He's truly just Toulouse Aristocats sometimes. (He hasn't pulled away, though.)]
What I'm hearing is that I'd better leave now and lock you out while I'm at it.
haitham is 100% unbothered by the threat. if kaveh did as he said, he would find out that he forgot his keys yet again that morning. right now, it's tucked away in one of alhaitham's pockets.
haitham lowers his hand from kaveh's neck, briefly watching how the soft strands of kaveh's hair unfurl from his fingertips. he lets his smile fall away naturally. ]
Then I'll have to return your gift. It's here in my office.
And never mind the fact that Alhaitham just said it's here in his office and would thus have no reason to wait until he got home to hand it over, Kaveh is far more focused on the more important part here:]
You expect me to believe that you bought a gift? You? The man who was threatening to throw away other people's things not ten minutes ago? Next you'll tell me the sky has turned green.
[ if kaveh left and ran home, there's no chance to give him his gift!!
alhaitham considered the idea that kaveh was surprised by the gift itself. he gave kaveh the benefit of the doubt, but he was clearly wrong to do so. ]
Those gifts aren't from you or me. They're just bothersome obstructions as far as I'm concerned.
[ ofc he doesn't care about them!! what he cares about is only kaveh. the bite in his voice fades away, and after searching kaveh's eyes for a moment, his gaze slides elsewhere.]
I've never celebrated Valentine's Day before, but I surmised that you would want to. So yes—believe it or not, I have a gift for you.
[Get outta here with that pesky thing called LOGIC
His expression is truly the most conflicted math-lady-meme.gif face, though. It's not as though Alhaitham has never gotten him a gift ever--he might not care much about holidays beyond the time he gets off work, but Alhaitham does know how to exist in a society. If it were his birthday, for instance, or some other major holiday, Kaveh would be less disbelieving, but... this is such a minor holiday. The only reason he's not shocked Alhaitham even knew what it was is that Alhaitham likes to know everything about everything.
Would Alhaitham really go out of his way to get a gift just because he thought Kaveh would like it...? (And is that a hint of jealousy he detects in that tone? No, surely not. That would be silly.)
Alhaitham looks away, but Kaveh continues searching his face, looking for answers he won't find because they've been there all along.]
Hmmm. Let's see it, then. [He's not entirely convinced Alhaitham isn't going to hand him something stupid like an invoice for his bar tab. But.]
[ is it so hard to believe that alhaitham would know what day it is, and that kaveh would inevitably give him something? it's only fair, he would say if not for the carefully curated present in his locked drawer.
(he's not jealous. of course he isn't. who's jealous? not him. why be jealous when kaveh is his already, and his gift for kaveh is undoubtedly better than all of theirs combined? he's not jealous. not at all.)
haitham finally unwinds his arms from kaveh and steps away behind his desk. he fishes out a small key from his pocket, and after he slides one of the drawers open, he pulls out a medium-sized rectangular box. the box itself is wrapped in plain white paper, and the red bow is carefully tied with small, dried stalks of pink flowers.
haitham rounds his desk and offers it to kaveh. ]
Nilou wrapped this.
[ before kaveh gets any ideas. haitham doesn't know the first thing about wrapping gifts—only that kaveh might appreciate it, and that nilou was all too happy to do it for him. ]
[Alhaitham steps away from him and it's truly like all of his puffed up cat energy comes flooding back in... he follows Alhaitham over to the desk, talking with his hands as usual.]
Why wouldn't I be confused when you've never once indulged my whims before? [*when he's never once indulged Kaveh's whims without Kaveh having to knock him over the head and force him into it, but still!!! (This isn't even true but listen Kaveh Does Not See IT hmph)] You've said yourself you see no value in things that can't be commercialized, so why would I suddenly assume you've developed a sense of artistry and romance?
[Gosh!!! He looks at this OFFENSIVE BOX--oh. It's nice. Alhaitham mentions Nilou, and Kaveh's expression shifts into understanding.]
So that's how it is. [He's assuming Nilou put Alhaitham up to this now. The world makes sense again. (Or does it? Alhaitham talks all the time about how he never does anything he doesn't want to...)] I told you you couldn't fool me. I'll have to write her a thank-you note later. I'm sure she'll give up on you eventually, but it's sweet of her to try and instill some sense of partnership in that head of yours.
[And quite frankly, now that he kinda-sorta believes that whole ridiculous story about the Great Sage Takedown (only because he got confirmation from people he actually trusts), he thinks it's kind of cute that Alhaitham has more friends now... he's more pleased about Alhaitham spending time with Nilou than he is about this OBLIGATION gift. (Stupid.)
At least that seems to convince him that this is a real gift, though??? MAYBE THAT'S A WIN... in any case, he's careful as he opens it, trying his best not to damage the lovely wrapping job. If it's something stupid meant to rile him up he might actually snap Alhaitham's spine over his knee]
[OI. Don't get in the way of his present!! He clucks his tongue, wiggling his hand out so that he can reach up and pat Alhaitham's cheek.]
Come on, don't be mad that I figured you out. You can't be good at everything. [He will not believe it! He simply will not!!] You can't even be bothered to bring me my keys once in a while and you reject my Darshan's funding at every turn, but you had the foresight to buy a gift for a holiday that's antithetical to everything you deem worthwhile? I wasn't born yesterday.
I will not! I only forget them because you have them half the time anyway! [TAKE THAT] And that's besides the point! A lack of power to hinder our progress in the future doesn't undo all the times you've gotten in our way over the past few weeks. You probably accepted the position just so you could do precisely that and only belatedly realized the work doesn't suit you.
[Kaveh's 500 wild conspiracies... ALSO DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT ON HIM, says Kaveh, even though Kaveh is the one following this subject change anyway]
[He does not calm down and in fact bristles all over again]
I am calm! [IS HE CALM? Well he's not shouting so there's that] And if they did do that, which I doubt, it's only because they don't spend any time with you. And it doesn't change the fact that you rejected our proposals!
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Instead, he talks to himself as he looks over the presents, which he's still a little surprised to see actually exist, even though Alhaitham truly had no reason to lie BUT STILL.
Muttered:] Why in the world would they leave these here? My office isn't that hard to find. Aha, see, what did I tell you? This one's from Miss Najia, we had the most interesting conversation about theater props last month. Did you know that--never mind, actually, you don't care. Sasani...? Who's that? Maybe it was a mistake... are you sure this wasn't left for you? I'm sure some poor souls are fooled into thinking that dealing with your personality is a fair price for looking at your face. [Kaveh you're literally dating him] Who's this--oh, of course, Pharez. This must be for helping with the--
[Oh. Alhaitham's talking to him. He stops what he's doing, looking up; immediately, he can see the shift in Alhaitham's expression, and that, really, tells him all he needs to know.
He puts the gift back down and, astoundingly, does as he's told, stepping into the office and closing the door. He approaches with wariness clear in his gaze, but it's an old, familiar thing rather any true mistrust, and he places his hand in Alhaitham's.]
See? You should trust your senior more.
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with the door closed and kaveh at arm's length, haitham reaches for his other hand and draws him closer until kaveh is square in front of him. he's quiet, looking at their arms between them. it almost looks like he wasn't listening, but after a pause— ]
I do trust you. I think any reasonable person wouldn't like to be shoved out of their office, no matter the occasion.
[ he lifts kaveh's hands, drawing them together, and now it's clear that he's studying them: all the white-pink scars, the indented fingertips, the faded burn marks, the bandages. there were more of these injuries once upon a time—kaveh's technique has been polished since then—but it's clear that he's crafted something recently, even if that something wasn't necessarily his gift. haitham still holds his hands like they're precious to him, running his thumb over one of his knuckles. ]
...Thank you.
[ he lowers his head and presses his lips to the lengths of his fingers. ]
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He lets Alhaitham draw him closer, though; lets him take his other hand, too, because Alhaitham is many things, but he is also someone Kaveh can trust, utterly and completely, with his most precious parts of himself.]
And since when have you ever been reasonable? Not in this lifetime, I'm sure. [But his voice is warm, as is his own gaze; he's pleased, the way he always is when he's made another person happy. Alhaitham's hands are so much larger than his own, but his grip is gentle--gentler, perhaps, than Kaveh would've once assumed him capable of being. He keeps his hands loose in Alhaitham's, relaxed in a way that would probably cause their juniors to assume they were hallucinating.]
You're welcome, of course. [He shifts one hand to cup Alhaitham's jaw.] Someone has to take care of you, you know.
[It's something he's said often, in the time they've known each other. It's a much more affectionate thing than it used to be.]
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haitham settles his free hand at kaveh's waist. he resists the temptation to kiss him, but it's clear that he would like to. (or at least it would be clear to kaveh.) ]
I could say the same for you. I know you hardly slept. I'll have to make sure you do tonight.
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You most certainly will not! I have a deadline. [But he squeezes Alhaitham's hand after that.] I'm almost done, though. One more night and I'll make it.
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Ask for an extension.
[ he's not budging. ]
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Absolutely not. Do you have any idea how stubborn this client is? I've already had to revise these blueprints four times. Four! The only reason he's not going to do it again is because he doesn't want to pay the revision fee.
[(it usually works)]
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haitham releases kaveh's hand and slides his hand over the nape of his neck, gathering slips of golden hair between his fingers. he draws his head back and kisses kaveh deeply on his perfect lips, breathing in.
when he pulls away, his eyes stay closed and he murmurs: ]
You're not working tonight.
[ yes he's being unfair, but it's for good reason. ]
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That is to say--Kaveh, of course, melts into it, still unused to such blatant shows of affection from his normally-stoic paramour. Especially at work, a place where he and Alhaitham are normally at their most confrontational, standing firmly opposed just like the wings of their darshans.
If someone had asked him a few years ago what kind of a kisser he thought Alhaitham would be, the very idea alone would've had him choking on his wine in disbelief. Now, he finds himself parting his lips to let Alhaitham in, tension easing out of his body where Alhaitham's hands rest, warm and secure. The longer he stays like this, the more he can start to feel how wrung-out he truly is, which is dangerous.]
Don't think I don't know what you're doing. [It's a quiet grumble, tempered by the way his freed hand has found its way to Alhaitham's waist. He butts his head lightly against Alhaitham's.] And to think, no one believes me when I tell them how conniving you can be.
[That would be because Kaveh also undermines his own arguments, just like he's currently undermining himself by not moving away immediately.]
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a thin smile creeps on his mouth at kaveh's retort. ]
'Someone has to take care of you.'
[ :) since kaveh won't do it himself!!! he leans back to look kaveh in the eye. ]
I'll use whatever method it takes. This one yields the most results.
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[Which is, to Kaveh, just as vital a necessity as rest and sustenance!!! He won't argue that he doesn't always take care of himself, though; that, unfortunately, is a point he has to concede. He does, however, bristle at the rest, because of course he does. He's truly just Toulouse Aristocats sometimes. (He hasn't pulled away, though.)]
What I'm hearing is that I'd better leave now and lock you out while I'm at it.
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haitham is 100% unbothered by the threat. if kaveh did as he said, he would find out that he forgot his keys yet again that morning. right now, it's tucked away in one of alhaitham's pockets.
haitham lowers his hand from kaveh's neck, briefly watching how the soft strands of kaveh's hair unfurl from his fingertips. he lets his smile fall away naturally. ]
Then I'll have to return your gift. It's here in my office.
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You're bluffing.
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[ the fact that they're arguing while holding each other ]
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And never mind the fact that Alhaitham just said it's here in his office and would thus have no reason to wait until he got home to hand it over, Kaveh is far more focused on the more important part here:]
You expect me to believe that you bought a gift? You? The man who was threatening to throw away other people's things not ten minutes ago? Next you'll tell me the sky has turned green.
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alhaitham considered the idea that kaveh was surprised by the gift itself. he gave kaveh the benefit of the doubt, but he was clearly wrong to do so. ]
Those gifts aren't from you or me. They're just bothersome obstructions as far as I'm concerned.
[ ofc he doesn't care about them!! what he cares about is only kaveh. the bite in his voice fades away, and after searching kaveh's eyes for a moment, his gaze slides elsewhere.]
I've never celebrated Valentine's Day before, but I surmised that you would want to. So yes—believe it or not, I have a gift for you.
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His expression is truly the most conflicted math-lady-meme.gif face, though. It's not as though Alhaitham has never gotten him a gift ever--he might not care much about holidays beyond the time he gets off work, but Alhaitham does know how to exist in a society. If it were his birthday, for instance, or some other major holiday, Kaveh would be less disbelieving, but... this is such a minor holiday. The only reason he's not shocked Alhaitham even knew what it was is that Alhaitham likes to know everything about everything.
Would Alhaitham really go out of his way to get a gift just because he thought Kaveh would like it...? (And is that a hint of jealousy he detects in that tone? No, surely not. That would be silly.)
Alhaitham looks away, but Kaveh continues searching his face, looking for answers he won't find because they've been there all along.]
Hmmm. Let's see it, then. [He's not entirely convinced Alhaitham isn't going to hand him something stupid like an invoice for his bar tab. But.]
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[ is it so hard to believe that alhaitham would know what day it is, and that kaveh would inevitably give him something? it's only fair, he would say if not for the carefully curated present in his locked drawer.
(he's not jealous. of course he isn't. who's jealous? not him. why be jealous when kaveh is his already, and his gift for kaveh is undoubtedly better than all of theirs combined? he's not jealous. not at all.)
haitham finally unwinds his arms from kaveh and steps away behind his desk. he fishes out a small key from his pocket, and after he slides one of the drawers open, he pulls out a medium-sized rectangular box. the box itself is wrapped in plain white paper, and the red bow is carefully tied with small, dried stalks of pink flowers.
haitham rounds his desk and offers it to kaveh. ]
Nilou wrapped this.
[ before kaveh gets any ideas. haitham doesn't know the first thing about wrapping gifts—only that kaveh might appreciate it, and that nilou was all too happy to do it for him. ]
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Why wouldn't I be confused when you've never once indulged my whims before? [*when he's never once indulged Kaveh's whims without Kaveh having to knock him over the head and force him into it, but still!!! (This isn't even true but listen Kaveh Does Not See IT hmph)] You've said yourself you see no value in things that can't be commercialized, so why would I suddenly assume you've developed a sense of artistry and romance?
[Gosh!!! He looks at this OFFENSIVE BOX--oh. It's nice. Alhaitham mentions Nilou, and Kaveh's expression shifts into understanding.]
So that's how it is. [He's assuming Nilou put Alhaitham up to this now. The world makes sense again. (Or does it? Alhaitham talks all the time about how he never does anything he doesn't want to...)] I told you you couldn't fool me. I'll have to write her a thank-you note later. I'm sure she'll give up on you eventually, but it's sweet of her to try and instill some sense of partnership in that head of yours.
[And quite frankly, now that he kinda-sorta believes that whole ridiculous story about the Great Sage Takedown (only because he got confirmation from people he actually trusts), he thinks it's kind of cute that Alhaitham has more friends now... he's more pleased about Alhaitham spending time with Nilou than he is about this OBLIGATION gift. (Stupid.)
At least that seems to convince him that this is a real gift, though??? MAYBE THAT'S A WIN... in any case, he's careful as he opens it, trying his best not to damage the lovely wrapping job. If it's something stupid meant to rile him up he might actually snap Alhaitham's spine over his knee]
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—before kaveh can get too much of the wrapping taken off, alhaitham sets his hand down over kaveh's, keeping it still.
he stares down kaveh with a serious look. ]
Hold on. I only asked Nilou to wrap this for me. What do you mean, 'some sense of partnership?'
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Come on, don't be mad that I figured you out. You can't be good at everything. [He will not believe it! He simply will not!!] You can't even be bothered to bring me my keys once in a while and you reject my Darshan's funding at every turn, but you had the foresight to buy a gift for a holiday that's antithetical to everything you deem worthwhile? I wasn't born yesterday.
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If I keep bringing you your keys, you'll keep forgetting them.
[ does haitham grab his keys by accident sometimes? yes. should kaveh have checked for them before leaving the house? also yes!! :/ (/unfair) ]
And I won't be in charge of the Akademiya's budget anymore in a few days. Submit an appeal then.
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I will not! I only forget them because you have them half the time anyway! [TAKE THAT] And that's besides the point! A lack of power to hinder our progress in the future doesn't undo all the times you've gotten in our way over the past few weeks. You probably accepted the position just so you could do precisely that and only belatedly realized the work doesn't suit you.
[Kaveh's 500 wild conspiracies... ALSO DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT ON HIM, says Kaveh, even though Kaveh is the one following this subject change anyway]
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Calm down. [ the exact opposite of the thing you say to someone you want to calm down. ]
The remaining Sages and staff insisted that I take the position several times. I only accepted because I was tired of hearing about it.
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I am calm! [IS HE CALM? Well he's not shouting so there's that] And if they did do that, which I doubt, it's only because they don't spend any time with you. And it doesn't change the fact that you rejected our proposals!
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don't mind me cobbling together characterization with elmers glue and macaroni
puts it in my mouth
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