The momentary eye contact makes his skin crawl, avoidant gaze trailing to the documents.
β¦ When was the last time he ate? He hadnβt thought about it in some time, but he didnβt π§π¦π¦π hungry.
"Ah, I wouldnβt want to intrudeβ I can get something down at the marketsβ¦ But thank you."
"βThey?β"
Oh, Archons⦠was he being dragged to some odd potluck? A grimace spreads before he can catch himself, but he plays along all the same.
Sighing, he takes the spot beside the other, hands settling in his lap. Ugh.
"Iβm not very hungry. Waiting isnβt an issue, reallyβ¦β
β¦β¦ Are you some kind of ghost doctor?
"β¦ You thought I died?"
Says the boy who disappeared forβ¦ a while. But in his defenseβa round trip to the nationβs edge is difficult!
Staring down the other, a small crease in his brow.
βI thought you didnβt like stewβ¦β
As more and more voices fill the room, Zandik retreats inward. He picks at the corners of his nails, leg jittering with an incessant tap, tap, tap of his heel.
βFriendsβ (though, heβs not even sure if he can call the other thatβ acquaintances? Pity-filled strangers?) ought to endure for each other.
πππ£πππ
πππ£πππ
πππ£πππ
πππ£πππ
πππ£πππ
The question makes him tense, red eyes darting to the edge of the tableβthe wall, a chair. Anywhere that can hold his avoidance.
Unbearable as the silence is⦠uncertainty stirs, teeth catching his lower lip.
βUhβ¦β
Well. Itβs not as if they can expel himβ
βI thought the ruins in the south might -
- be worth visiting.β
"Kaveh made it. Says it's his mother's recipe. Nothing much I can do to stop him once he's started."
Alhaitham's eyes stop for a few seconds on the boy's, then blinks and gazes away, back to the document he's redacting.
"Of course I didn't think you died. Welcome back."
"Oh, you are alive."
Passes a page of his book.
"There's stew in the pot, if you are hungry."
"Come on, nobody will notice if there's a bit less in the pot. Our friends bring each a dish of their own so there's always leftovers."
Funnily enough, he was alone at the table at the moment.
"They'll take a while. Sit. Eat something, please."
Pats the empty seat beside him.
Oh, my. Sounds like you have a cold.
Alhaitham is a bit of an asshole, sometimes. Like just now.
He was completely miserable, hating every second spent sitting outside, watching over the food and the seating space.
Now he just dragged another person into that same misery, just to keep himself in adequate company.
What an asshat. Β»
