[ Oh. Kaveh is left open-mouthed and staring as Alhaitham really just lists off all the ways in which he thinks they are compatible. It's a lot to process at once, but Kaveh follows along as best as he can while still feeling slightly in shock at the utter confidence with which Alhaitham speaks.
And he cannot help the feeling of flattery, either, which his scent likely conveys. Alhaitham compliments him in ways others don't, and he is more than a little surprised that Alhaitham picked up all these things just from a brief conversation where Kaveh tried gently to turn him down, and the fact that Kaveh really isn't turned off by him. Rather the opposite, in fact, but it is Kaveh's stubbornness and some sense of morals that keeps him from going in right away.
It is the last part that really makes Alhaitham hard to ignore, though. This... is the type of relationship he wants. And that's the thing; Kaveh, for all the rejections he has doled out, is not opposed to a relationship. Maybe it's something he yearns for; he is a lonely man, but holds his independence higher than settling down with someone who would seek to train that out of him.
...gods, he's in trouble. ]
That is the most I've ever heard you talk in one go. Maybe if you turned some of that introspection on your art reviews, your observations would seem a little less stiff.
[ Kaveh clears his throat. ]
There's a new place close to campus that I've been meaning to try. Do you like Indian food?
[ In the end, Alhaitham is too happy at the slightly pleasant shift of Kaveh's scent to be too defensive over the comment about his art reviews. He's sniffing the air, catching Kaveh's scent and feeling like he's only just gotten a taste. He wants more, wants to bury his face in Kaveh's throat and breathe him in until he's satisfied, though he doubts he'll ever be.
This is going to be hard, he knows. To hold himself back, to not press Kaveh for more sooner than he is ready for. His whole body aches for even just the slightest touch from Kaveh and he already knows he's going to try to bury his nose in his own clothes when he goes home, desperate for some sort of rub off of Kaveh's scent. He's... he's really down bad for Kaveh, even if he's trying so hard to keep himself in check.
When Kaveh asks him if he likes Indian food, the implication that they would go to get the food together — Alhaitham isn't a very expressive individual but the way his body perks up a bit at that makes it seem like if he had a tail, it would be wagging. ]
I like Indian food. Are you... asking me to accompany you?
[ More! Time! With! Kaveh! That's all he wanted and now he's being given this gift. He's thrilled. ]
[ Even that small shift in his demeanor, Kaveh notices. It’s different from earlier, and it makes Kaveh’s face slightly warm, unused to this kind of attention or enthusiasm for his presence. Maybe he should second guess this, but there’s something about Alhaitham that draws Kaveh’s attention. He’s being a selfish asshole, for sure. ]
Just a casual thing. Not a date.
[ To make it clear!!! Kaveh is Alhaitham’s professor; nothing can happen. Nothing will happen, or that’s what he tells himself, even if there is undoubtedly something about Alhaitham that piques Kaveh’s interest, and his attraction.
Yes, maybe Alhaitham is Kaveh’s type. That doesn’t mean he intends to entertain this crush of his. ]
[ He knows it's not a date. He knows it's nothing more than just a professor and his student sharing a meal together. He knows that Kaveh is, if anything, pitying him in some regard.
That doesn't matter to him. It's still more time with Kaveh, more time to learn how he ticks and what Alhaitham can do in the future to make himself even more indispensable to Kaveh. He's ready for the long game of this. ]
Not a date, I understand.
[ Of course, he would want their first date to be a little more special than just Indian food, after all. ]
Should we get going now or is there more you have to do here before then?
[ The back of Kaveh's neck is warm; he doesn't usually do this. Despite Kaveh's chattering, friendly personality, he generally spends his personal time alone - unless it's at a bar. Why is he asking a student, of all people, to accompany him to a restaurant? And one who just made it very clear he intend to court Kaveh. An alpha.
He's a fool. ]
There's nothing pressing I need to do, so we can go now, if you're free.
[ Kaveh doesn't ask people out, either, and while he knows he's said this is not a date, it very much feels like he's asking for one. That's the reason his face is warm, when he sets aside the now-empty coffee cup, and grabs for his jacket. ]
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no subject
And he cannot help the feeling of flattery, either, which his scent likely conveys. Alhaitham compliments him in ways others don't, and he is more than a little surprised that Alhaitham picked up all these things just from a brief conversation where Kaveh tried gently to turn him down, and the fact that Kaveh really isn't turned off by him. Rather the opposite, in fact, but it is Kaveh's stubbornness and some sense of morals that keeps him from going in right away.
It is the last part that really makes Alhaitham hard to ignore, though. This... is the type of relationship he wants. And that's the thing; Kaveh, for all the rejections he has doled out, is not opposed to a relationship. Maybe it's something he yearns for; he is a lonely man, but holds his independence higher than settling down with someone who would seek to train that out of him.
...gods, he's in trouble. ]
That is the most I've ever heard you talk in one go. Maybe if you turned some of that introspection on your art reviews, your observations would seem a little less stiff.
[ Kaveh clears his throat. ]
There's a new place close to campus that I've been meaning to try. Do you like Indian food?
no subject
This is going to be hard, he knows. To hold himself back, to not press Kaveh for more sooner than he is ready for. His whole body aches for even just the slightest touch from Kaveh and he already knows he's going to try to bury his nose in his own clothes when he goes home, desperate for some sort of rub off of Kaveh's scent. He's... he's really down bad for Kaveh, even if he's trying so hard to keep himself in check.
When Kaveh asks him if he likes Indian food, the implication that they would go to get the food together — Alhaitham isn't a very expressive individual but the way his body perks up a bit at that makes it seem like if he had a tail, it would be wagging. ]
I like Indian food. Are you... asking me to accompany you?
[ More! Time! With! Kaveh! That's all he wanted and now he's being given this gift. He's thrilled. ]
no subject
Just a casual thing. Not a date.
[ To make it clear!!! Kaveh is Alhaitham’s professor; nothing can happen. Nothing will happen, or that’s what he tells himself, even if there is undoubtedly something about Alhaitham that piques Kaveh’s interest, and his attraction.
Yes, maybe Alhaitham is Kaveh’s type. That doesn’t mean he intends to entertain this crush of his. ]
no subject
That doesn't matter to him. It's still more time with Kaveh, more time to learn how he ticks and what Alhaitham can do in the future to make himself even more indispensable to Kaveh. He's ready for the long game of this. ]
Not a date, I understand.
[ Of course, he would want their first date to be a little more special than just Indian food, after all. ]
Should we get going now or is there more you have to do here before then?
no subject
He's a fool. ]
There's nothing pressing I need to do, so we can go now, if you're free.
[ Kaveh doesn't ask people out, either, and while he knows he's said this is not a date, it very much feels like he's asking for one. That's the reason his face is warm, when he sets aside the now-empty coffee cup, and grabs for his jacket. ]