indigently | 𝒪𝓅𝑒𝓃 𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓉 🏛️

Ah, ah no it's not that I'm

I'm not, I just

[ Archons, he is terrible at this— ]

I just don't want you to misunderstand and think I am badly off..

Of course I don't. There is a reason why you are called the Light of Kshahrewar.

I heard you were falling on hard times so I figured you could use some assistance.

[Stop being stubborn and take the offer!!]

[ Wait, she heard what?! Archons preserve him, he can feel the panic building in his chest. ]

Madam?? Who told you I am falling on hard times????

No one. I just happened to hear rumors within the halls, that's all.

[...]

I apologize, I didn't realize it was something you didn't want others to know about.

[ Gods, that's even worse! People know, and they're spreading it around as if it's everyone's business... Kaveh's reasonably sure he can feel his heart seizing in his chest. ]

No

No it's not that, I

[ Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. ]

Senior, if you hear it again, can you... please just tell them it's not true?

Fear not, your secret shall be safe with me! Should anyone speak up, I'll be the first to know that such rumors about your junior are unfounded! Although....

[Oh dear, did she go a little too far?]

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. I wouldn't have asked if it was troublesome.

[ Ugh. He hates this. He hates that she knows, he hates how nice she's being about it... ]

Thanks... Senior. I'll keep that in mind. And I sincerely appreciate your discretion..

It's not a problem and besides, it's what I do! I have to help my juniors whenever I have to.

Otherwise, I don't think I would be able to forgive myself. No one shall be starving under my watch!

[Granted, she has her own issues but...........]

Now tell me, what would you like to eat?

...Thank you, Madam Faruzan.

[ He still hates this. But he can't just turn her down— ]

Um... lately, I've really been craving tahchin.

That seems simply enough to make, I can prepare and have it be ready by tonight.

Of course, I am assuming you still want to come by.

[Because grandma wants to help you out!!]

...Yes, of course.

It would be my pleasure.

Splendid! Tell me what time you are done and I shall have it done in no time!

My last meeting for the day will be done in just an hour. That's quite soon..

Wonderful! I think I'll have the food ready by then!

Feel free to show up to my house whenever you are done!

Okay. I'll see you at your place then.

[ And show up Kaveh does, despite the fact that every last part of him is insisting that he run away and pretend the whole conversation with Faruzan never happened. Perhaps the only thing stopping him from doing so is the fact that he knows she would chase him to the ends of Teyvat if she felt he was keeping something from her— which of course he still is.

So he knocks on the door, holding not wine but a fresh bottle of sharbat— despite his love of the former, it seems disrespectful somehow (and also he has no interest in getting drunk enough to spill the rest of his woes to his senior when she knows too much as it is). ]

Madam Faruzan? It's Kaveh.

Edited 2023-08-13 11:58 (UTC)

[Meanwhile, here Faruzan was trying to set everything up! Granted, she didn't know if Kaveh would enjoy her cooking or not as she hadn't had much time for herself lately. Between trying to get a class started and researching various other things, it was a miracle that she managed to have enough money to buy the ingredients she wanted!

Granted, she had to wonder if she might have pushed him a little too far. She only heard of him before the tournament and knew of his issues from rumors. But the least she could do was help him out, right? So when she heard a knock on the door, she wasted no time. As she opened it, she flashed a smile before gesturing him to come inside.]

Ah, Kaveh, welcome! Please make yourself feel welcomed here!

[ In the end, it's not going to matter to Kaveh if Faruzan's food is sent from the gods, or from the Abyss. The truth is that, despite the awkwardness and embarrassment inherent in the whole thing, he's immensely grateful that his senior cares enough to pay attention to his troubles.

Besides, he's sure she has worries of her own. Maybe he can find a way to help her, too.

He offers a small smile when she opens the door, a nod of acceptance and gratitude, and he holds out the sharbat for her. ]

Thank you. I brought a drink. I'm not sure if you enjoy sharbat greatly, but I know it's... something of a classic. [ It's the politest way he can find to say "years and years old". He knows that Faruzan isn't backward about coming forward when it comes to her history, but the word still feels impolite. And despite his occasional reputation as something of a loud troublemaker, he's genuinely not— ]

Either way, it will go well with dinner.

[In return, she raised an eyebrow. Here, she was simply doing it as a way to help her junior out. Not after losing her own family, she didn't want others to feel as though she didn't care. It was the opposite really, even if he had a weird way of showing it.

And yet, she wasn't prepared for him to do something in return. Even with his wording, all she could do was chuckle a little. Waving her hand in front of her face, she found it rather amusing.]

Ah, thank you, you sure know how to treat your elders well! What polite manners you have!

[She said before making her way toward a table and gesturing for her guest to sit down. Once she did so, that's when she went back to the kitchen to get things ready.] Now tell me, has your day been well?

[ Despite himself, he smiles at the compliment; as embarrassing as this whole debacle is, he prides himself on being respectful towards his elders (even if he's forever bemoaning the lack of respect he gets from his own juniors). He sits as instructed— even if he thinks he should offer to help her out in the kitchen— and frowns as she asks how his day has been.

How has his day been? There's been a walk of shame after a night that was nowhere near rough enough for his liking, an argumentative client, a check-in from Dori's people that felt almost like a threat, and then a truly bewildering conversation—

...Mm, he's not going to share all of that. And so Kaveh smiles, the expression a little thinner than he might otherwise like. ]

It's perhaps simplest to say that it's been eventful, [ he replies, eventually. ] What of your day, senior?

[As she gathered the dishes and placed them down, she raised an eyebrow at his expression. Oh dear, did she say the wrong thing? Perhaps she did given his bad luck as of late. With a sigh, she decided not to push it.]

Eventful, you say? All I could hope is that it wasn't too difficult for you.

[And she'll leave it at that. If he wishes to continue, he could. But as she gave a pause, she pondered to herself.]

As for my day, I spent most of the day trying to research what is the newest trend. I was rather surprised that most people would much rather learn about cats than reading literature.

[After setting up the dishes, she went back to grab her pot.] Youngsters these days are interesting.

[ He doesn't catch her raised brow— probably for the best, lest he feel guilty about worrying her. Thankfully for both of them, her subject change is smooth, and Kaveh finds himself laughing, shaking his head. Yes, he's well aware that she's been trying to find out what the so-called "youngsters" are into, a result of his own encounter with her questioning. But her findings make him shake his head. ]

Cats are wonderful creatures, but a good book is nothing to sneeze at either. On the other hand, I'd argue that balance is important, lest you turn out like certain people of mutual acquaintance. Perhaps you're asking scholars who are simply tired of being forced to pore through book after book for their theses?

[ A pause, and Kaveh tilts his head a little, curiosity written over his expression. ]

Madam Faruzan, is it too rude of me to ask why you have so many concerns about modernity? People respect you for your experiences, and I don't think anyone would judge you for not knowing something...

[Once the pot made its way to the table, she had to stop and stare at Kaveh. He was right, there were people who wouldn't care if she didn't know much about the modern world. If anything, they would be impressed that she managed to live this long with how advanced everything was compared to how she lived.

With a sigh, she shook her head.]

No, it isn't. It's simply me trying to understand how people are as I wish to get to know them better.

[After losing her family and friends, she just wanted to know how she could connect with others again She had spent far too long in her studies to really pay much attention to her family and now that they were gone? It just served as a reminder to keep those who she cared about closer. Regardless, she gave a smile.]

Now that is a far simpler answer than you would expect, no?

[ ...

It's true: Madam Faruzan's answer is not what Kaveh expected; it's far from it, and it makes his heart ache with grief and shame. In his desperation to keep his own secrets, he's been so fast to shut down her questions, to shy away from anything she might ask him... and all she seeks is to know people better, to understand them.

He's been so terribly selfish.

He manages a smile in response, although it trembles on his lips for a moment until it strengthens into something proper. ]

I haven't exactly been helpful with that, have I? And you've been so kind as to treat me to dinner... [ A breath steadies him, allows him to continue. ] In that case, senior, you may ask me anything you want. Even if I've already refused to answer it. I'll answer honestly.

[ Guilt is dangerous. But... she already knows the worst of his secrets, at least to some degree. ]

[It was the pause that made Faruzan raise an eyebrow or two. Was it really that surprising she wanted to get to know people better? Granted, she knew that her approach wasn't the best but it doesn't mean that she didn't care.

She just wanted to find a way to connect with others after nearly a century of being trapped in the ruins.]

Oh nonsense, there isn't anything you have to apologize for. You feel as though you have offended me when there is none!

[That and she already heard the worst from others anyway. Either way, she gave a chuckle or two before waving the dish above her to let it cool down.]

Any reason why do you feel the need to do so?

Why I feel the need to open up? [ There's no hiding the slight strain to his smile as he shakes his head. At the very least, his discomfort distracts him from the way Faruzan waves the dish above her head to cool it, something that might otherwise make him raise his brows in confusion. ] It's not that I'm worried I've offended you. If I had, you wouldn't have invited me over. But....

[ He shrugs. ]

It's hard to explain, but I feel as if I second-guessed your intentions. I was too busy protecting myself to seek to understand why you were asking those questions of me. And... one good turn deserves another, wouldn't you say?

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