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Kaveh stands before two tapestries that would, to the uneducated and untrained eye, appear to be exactly the same save for their coloring. To the left is a sapphire blue, and on the right is a russet red. It would seem, then, that his deliberation would be on which color he prefers, or suits whatever place or object he’s intending on decorating with this.
For Kaveh, however, it’s much more complicated than that—because Al Haitham has less sense for interior design than a snail, and the snail would at least listen to reason. (Presumably.)
It pains Kaveh to have no other choice than suffer as his junior’s housemate. Truly, he is suffering every day. But until he can finally find his own housing, he will make his current abode at least livable. And that means properly decorating the sitting room, because the junk that Al Haitham tries to pass off as decoration is an affront!
Which brings him to the seemingly identical tapestries. It’s not simply about color. Whichever choice Kaveh makes will determine not only the color scheme, but the mood of the room. Does he go with silver threading, or the bronze? The blue has fringe at the end, while the red is tied off in leather knots. Subtle differences that constitute two separate worlds.
Kaveh has been agonizing over this for the better part of 15 minutes. Daunting as this choice is, he fails to notice a presence slide up next to him, veiled head looking between him and the tapestries in pleasant curiosity.
“Having trouble deciding? I completely understand, they’re both beautiful tapestries.”
The voice draws him from his thoughts, and he turns to the speaker with a polite smile.
He does a double-take.
Standing beside him is an ethereal beauty, draped in blue silks, with gold accessories dripping off slender wrists and her delicate neck. From the veil flowing down her hair two decorative horns protrude, making the woman all the more eye-catching.
“Beautiful,” slips from his lips like a sigh. “The tapestries—yes, the tapestries are beautiful. I can’t decide on which to buy.”
The woman nods, turning her attention to the tapestries in question. “Whichever you choose will determine the color scheme of the room.”
“Yes, exactly! That’s precisely what I was just thinking. If I make a bold choice, I may have to redecorate everything.”
“That would be a lot of work.” She smiles in sympathy, and Kaveh feels his heart skip a beat. “What color is the room now?”
“Green, mostly,” he answers, scorn clear in his voice. “My roomma—I mean, the previous resident chose the decorations, not me. This is the first of my many contributions to liven up the place.”
“Green is a popular choice in Sumeru City.” She laughs easily. “Blue would make the room calmer and cooler, if you’re looking to relax. But the red would be a nice accent and brighten up the atmosphere.”
It’s intelligent and educated advice for interior design, and spoken simply, casually. He couldn’t have said it better himself.
Kaveh thinks he may be in love.
“Which would you choose?” He asks, a bit breathless, hanging onto her every word.
“Hmm.” She considers this seriously, tapping her chin with a finger. “Well, if I’m being completely honest, I’d choose blue. It’s my favorite color!” To demonstrate, the woman gestures down to her blue silks.
“Beautiful,” he says again. Then he coughs abruptly, adjusting the collar of his shirt. “It suits you.” Trying desperately to ignore the blush blooming on his cheeks, Kaveh turns to the tapestries. “Blue. Yes, a wonderful color. Relaxing, as you said. Archons know the house could stand to relax more.”
He waves down the merchant, then flashes his new companion a grateful smile. “Thank you for your help. If it hadn’t been for your guidance, I may have been here all afternoon.”
“It’s my pleasure!” Her answering smile is wide and blinding, innocent and kind and all the things the world should be. This image will play over and over again in his mind all night, but for now, he merely gulps and tries to steady his voice as he tells the merchant which tapestry he’d like to purchase.
After counting out the necessary mora for payment (it only hurts a little) he says to her, “If you’re not too busy, I’d like to get your opinion on drapery. Regular curtains are not the same as—”
But the woman is gone, the space she previously occupied now empty, not a trace of her left behind. He quickly scans the crowd, but to no avail. Like a shooting star, she shined brightly, beautifully, then disappeared in a wink. Now that she's gone, Kaveh doesn’t try to hide his disappointment, slumping against the counter, one hand threading through his hair.
“Just my luck! I find the love of my life, and she’s gone before I can ask her out.”
“Um, sir?” The merchant calls hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“Are you going to take your purchase?”
Kaveh rolls his eyes. “Ugh, yes! Can’t you give a lovesick man a little sympathy?” Nevertheless, he takes the rolled up tapestry with a smile, then makes his way through the market in a daze. The merchant watches the Light of Kshahrewar walk away with a shake of his head.
It’s not until later that night that Kaveh realizes he never even got her name.
“I didn’t even get her name ! Can you believe it?”
“Yes. It’s not the first time your shortsightedness has gotten the best of you.”
From where he’s wearing holes in the carpet (he’ll have to replace that too) from walking back and forth across the room, Kaveh spins on his heel and glares hotly at Al Haitham.
“Oh, please! At least I have a shred of romanticism in me! You wouldn’t know how to court someone if your life depended on it.”
His roommate is unmoved. His eyes stay trained on the book in front of him, and he flips to the next page.
“Are you even listening to me?!”
“You’ve been talking in circles for half an hour, just like you’re walking in circles. If you have something new or valuable to say, I’ll listen. If not—” He taps on his headphones, making direct eye contact with Kaveh as he flips the switch to mute.
Kaveh scoffs and rolls his eyes. He’s used to Al Haitham’s piss poor attitude. Normally such a callous response would send him into an argument, but not today. Not when a brand new, gorgeous handmade blue tapestry hangs in the room.
She was right. It provides a relaxing atmosphere. Staring at it now already steadies Kaveh. He takes a deep breath, then sighs wistfully.
“I wonder where she is right now… what could she be doing? Is she thinking about me too? Does she wonder how the tapestry looks?”
“She probably has better things to do.”
Kaveh nearly jumps out of his skin. He whirls around and scowls at Al Haitham. That jerk—of course he would listen in if it meant belittling him.
“You can keep your opinion to yourself!”
“If you’re not here to speak with me, then leave. There are other rooms you can pine in.”
“You—why don’t—ugh, forget it! I won’t sully the new purchase with another senseless argument.”
Kaveh stomps out of the room, but as he passes the tapestry he runs a hand against the fabric and thinks of her.
Naturally, the tapestry alone isn’t enough to rectify the damage Al Haitham has done to his house. Kaveh, being the gracious and charitable person he is, returns to the market a few days later in search of a vase or two to liven up the dull end tables that defile the sitting room. He’s thinking of something vaguely floral and blue… perhaps Padisarahs?
He’s a few steps away from the stalls that have ceramics on display when a bright, musical laugh tickles his ears. His heart stops and he sucks in his breath.
He would recognize that laugh anywhere, no matter that he only heard it once, briefly, on that fateful day in this very market.
It’s serendipity, Kaveh thinks, a beatific smile gracing his face. The wind blows gently on this warm, sunny day, making the moment he turns and lays eyes on the woman of his dreams all the more poetic and meaningful.
His lips part in an easy laugh, greeting following after. “Oh, it’s y—”
The words die on his tongue. His mouth tastes of ash.
For the goddess is engaged in conversation with none other than his wretched, terrible roommate.
“ Al Haitham, ” he fumes, fingers curling into tight, angry fists. His vision blurs red.
The good-for-nothing scribe says something undeniably insipid and boring , yet it makes the woman laugh. There is no amount of agony to describe how Kaveh’s heart shrivels in his chest at the sight and sound.
“That should be me! ”
A few patrons turn their heads at his protest, but he pays them no mind. Kaveh steels his resolve and marches over to the duo. He refuses to let his roommate, his junior, ruin his chance with the (future) love of his life.
Al Haitham spots him before she does, but he says nothing to announce Kaveh’s arrival, his stare cool and condescending.
No matter. Kaveh clears his throat loudly, stepping up beside them. “Hello, Al Haitham. Fancy meeting you here—I didn’t know you cared for interior design?”
Before he can reply, Kaveh turns his attention to the smiling redhead, and graces her with a smile of his own. “Oh! We met before, didn’t we? You helped me pick out a tapestry.”
Inwardly, Kaveh pats himself on the back for how smoothly he delivered the line.
“We did! Are you happy with the tapestry? Are you here to buy more things for your room?” She asks. Kaveh swears he sees the stars themselves in her eyes, and all of his previous irritation with Al Haitham fades away beneath her charming smile.
“He’s been staring at it all week. Sometimes he even speaks to it.”
…until he opened his mouth, that is. Kaveh takes a deep breath and attempts to reign in his annoyance. He can’t lose his cool before he’s had a chance to propose—rather, get her name, and maybe ask her out to coffee.
Kaveh coughs, trying desperately to fight off a blush. “I believe what Al Haitham is getting at is that I greatly appreciate the character it lends to the atmosphere. It was dull before.”
The woman, bless her soul, either notices nothing amiss or tactfully does not comment on it. “I’m glad to hear that! I hope whatever you’re here to buy today lightens up the room even more.”
A perfect segue. Fate decided to deal him a helping hand, it seems. Kaveh nods and says, “Actually, I would love to get your opinions about some vases I wanted to look at.”
“Have you explained which room exactly you’re decorating?” Al Haitham cuts in, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised.
Kaveh prays to all seven Archons for lightning to strike the scribe where he stands. He sends him a sharp, acidic smile.
“The sitting room, of course.”
“Of whose house?”
“I don’t see why that would be in question.” He hisses through gritted teeth, glaring in warning.
Something like a smirk is growing on Al Haitham’s face, and Kaveh knows that whatever comes out of his mouth next will utterly ruin him. But before any damning words are spoken, another angelic laugh interrupts them.
Kaveh blinks and turns to glance down at the woman. She has a dainty hand covering her lips, her eyes creased in laughter, shining brightly as they regard him.
“Sorry, it’s just, you’re hilarious, Kaveh. In a good way!” She quickly adds, her free hand reaching out to grip his arm in reassurance. “A really, really good way.”
Birds sing. Flowers bloom. Everything is right in the world, because she has just paid him a high compliment, and Kaveh’s heart is beating so hard it might break free from his chest.
“Forgive me,” he says, breathless, “I don’t believe I’ve gotten your name yet.”
“It’s Nilou, of Zubayr Theater.” Her hand drops from his arm as she does a curtsy. “Have you been to one of the performances held there?”
“Not yet, I’m afraid, but I would like to very much.”
“Well, if you’re free, my next performance is in two days. I can save you a spot up front?” She offers, her smile tentative and hopeful, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.
Kaveh swoons. “O-of course! I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Great!” Nilou brightens up and claps her hands together. “It’s a date.”
The world comes to a screeching halt. “A wha—”
“See you then,” Nilou continues, then rises onto the tips of her toes and places a feather-light kiss on Kaveh’s cheek. She leaves him standing there, eyes blown wide and one hand touching the spot she blessed him on, as she saunters away, humming softly to herself.
Kaveh stares after her, utterly besotted.
“I’m in love with her,” he says.
“You’re ridiculous,” Al Haitham replies, but his voice doesn’t carry its usual derision. He eyes love-struck Kaveh, then chuckles and shakes his head. “Just be sure not to bring your date back to my house afterward. I already invited Cyno over.”
That’s enough to pop Kaveh’s bubble of absolute bliss. He turns to Al Haitham, scandalized. “Excuse me, without asking me first?! Where on earth was I supposed to go?”
Al Haitham shrugs. “It doesn’t matter now. Nilou seems to like you. Maybe she’ll be the one inviting you over.”
And with that, the scribe turns and starts walking away, though this exit does little to entrance Kaveh. No, he instead huffs and jogs to catch up to his roommate, reproach on his lips.
“I do not need you speculating on what me and Nilou may or may not get up to! Stay out of my business.”
In the end, Kaveh ends up forgetting what he came to the market for: vases. It matters not, for the sitting room already looks livelier when the two return home. A change of perspective, perhaps, or maybe it’s the knowledge that he has Nilou’s performance to look forward to.
And many, many dates in their future.