Work Text:
Picking up the paper and crumbling it in his hands, Kaveh let another failed idea fall onto the floor. Bunches of paper littered all around his desk. There was a waste bin by his side but he was far too consumed by his work to make sure the papers made it in. He was burning the midnight candle, the dwindling flame of the candlestick set on his desk illuminated his work area. Kaveh tapped his pen against the paper in rumination before hearing a familiar noise.
"Beep boop?"
Mehrak floated over to Kaveh's side, the panel on its front turning to its worried expression.
"I know, I know it's late," Kaveh said as he looked up at his robotic companion. "But I need to get this done! Just let me-"
"Beep!"
"But-"
"BEEP!" Mehrak interrupted, switching to its angry expression.
"Ugh, fine. You're right, I'll go to bed." Kaveh sighed as he pushed himself back in his desk chair. He stood up and put away all his supplies, leaning over to blow out the candle once he was done.
He arched his back slightly and stretched his arms out, alleviating his stiff muscles after sitting at his desk for so long. Kaveh let out a long yawn, his sleepiness suddenly hitting him like a load of bricks. His eyes could barely stay open as he slid the barrettes out of his hair and started to undo his braids with his fingers. With his silky blonde hair resting upon his shoulders he turned towards his bed. Kaveh climbed in under the covers, feeling his eyes go heavy as soon as his head hit the pillow.
It only took a minute or so for Kaveh to fully fall asleep. Usually, he would be kept up for a bit by the glow of his Akasha terminal illuminating the room. But Kaveh was so consumed by his work that he didn't notice when the earpiece turned off, signaling the permanent shutdown of the Akasha system.
Kaveh could slowly see a scene materialize around him, becoming lucid in a dreamlike state.
A lush green rainforest appeared before him, crystal clear water flowing down a long winding river. Despite being in the middle of nature the area seemed deathly quiet. As the large area became more clear, one sight in particular caught him off guard.
"Is that… me?"
Like he was a god watching from above, Kaveh could see himself standing in the middle of the forest. The tall man almost seemed lifeless standing there, as if waiting for a command.
"I should probably find my way out of here"
Kaveh began to walk forward down a dirt path, with his consciousness observing from afar. It was like he was trying to control a puppet with a set of tangled strings. Except this puppet had its own whims, any commands coming from his puppeteer subject to fall on deaf ears.
Trees and plants seemed to appear before his eyes as he went deeper into the rainforest. It felt like he was walking for ages, following down the straight and narrow path until he came to a dead end. There was a tall cliff with a waterfall flowing down the side, the massive stream of water not even making a sound. Beside the river was a large patch of grass, flowers scattered across the ground. In the middle of the field was a large tree, its long branches creating an overcast. Just underneath the tree, someone was sitting on the grass, someone unfamiliar.
"A girl…?"
Her bright red hair shined in the sunlight that leaked through the tree’s leaves above her. She had a crown of flowers set atop her head, made of flora seemingly picked from the ground around her. With a couple of crowns set to her side, she seemed to be in the middle of making another, her nimble fingers weaving flowers by their stems.
Kaveh stood silently as he watched her, his body feeling frozen in place. He was left in awe from how serene she looked, like she was one among the flowers blooming from the earth. She was the pure embodiment of beauty. Kaveh couldn't bear to disrupt such a beautiful scene, despite his consciousness screaming at him to step forward. Finally, the girl looked up from her lap, a soft smile spreading across her face.
"Oh, hello!" She said cheerfully. "Are you lost?"
"I-I don't know… are you?" Kaveh responded.
"Wow, way to go there Kaveh, real smooth…"
The girl held a hand up to her mouth and giggled softly. "No, I came here to make a few flower crowns. Actually… Do you think you can come help me out with something?"
"Oh, of course," Kaveh walked closer to the tree, looking down at the girl before sitting on the grass across from her. As much as he wanted to avert his gaze he found himself entranced by her sparkling aquamarine eyes. "I'm Kaveh by the way, what's your name?"
"My name is Nilou. It's very nice to meet you, Kaveh!" She smiled as she set down the flower chain she was working on in her lap, picking up one of the completed crowns beside her to show off. "There's going to be a festival set to take place at the Grand Bazaar. I've been preparing for it by making these flower crowns but-"
"You made this? The craftsmanship is exquisite! It almost looks like something you'd buy straight from a merchant. I've always loved artisan accessories such as these."
"You idiot, don't interrupt her like that!"
"Yes, I did! It took me years of practice to get them to come out like this. But I wouldn’t go as far as calling it art…"
"Hey, don’t try to sell yourself short now," Kaveh gently took the completed headpiece from Nilou's hands, holding it close to his face as he examined it. "I can tell how much love and care you put into making these. You took the beauty of nature and crafted it into something truly unique. That… is what I consider a work of art."
"That’s very sweet of you, Kaveh. Thank you," Nilou said with a smile, soaking up the praise. "Although, the one thing I've always struggled with when it comes to making these is sizing. With crowns for women, I can just use my head to make sure they fit. But when it comes to crowns for men I can never get them right, they always come out way too big. So I was wondering… if I could use your head as a model?"
Yes, of course, he would. How could he not? Kaveh felt himself drawn to this girl from the moment he laid eyes on her. He would do anything if it meant he could be in her presence. Besides, what else did he have to do in this vacant rainforest? It was like he was meant to be here with her. As Kaveh continued to get lost in his thoughts he became oblivious to the awkward tension that hung in the air from his silence.
"Dear Archons, say something!"
"Ah, Yes- Sure. I'd be glad to help." Kaveh fumbled, his cheeks glowing red from embarrassment.
"Great! I just need you to turn around for me," Nilou said as her eyes lit up in excitement, seemingly oblivious to how much of a fool Kaveh was making of himself.
Kaveh quickly turned around in his spot and sat so that his back was facing toward her, relieved that Nilou couldn't see his flustered expression. He set down the floral headpiece in his hands, placing it delicately on the grass.
Nilou got on her knees and moved a bit closer, taking the flower chain she was previously working on and holding it against the curve of his head. Her fingers brushed against his hair with feather-light touches, sending a chill down Kaveh's spine. "Hmm… I just need to make it a bit bigger."
She pulled the flower chain away from around his head, holding it close to her face for examination. She then made quick work weaving more flowers onto the chain, picking them from the area around her.
Kaveh looked down at the ground, dozens of colorful flowers scattered among the grass before him. He grazed his fingertips over the foliage, feeling the soft delicate petals interspersed with prickly blades of grass. Pinching the stem of a light purple flower with his fingers he plucked it from the ground. But as he held the plant up to his nose, he couldn't smell anything. Kaveh couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, only for him to perk up again as he heard Nilou's voice.
"Aaand done!" Nilou said as she held up the completed headpiece, adorned with red and orange flowers. She quickly got up from the ground, moving and kneeling on the ground in front of Kaveh. "Now let's see how it fits!"
She held the flower crown from above and lowered it onto Kaveh's head. The headpiece fit perfectly on him, staying in place without feeling too tight. Nilou leaned forward a bit more, fixing the strands of blonde hair that the flower crown displaced. Kaveh could feel his heart race as her fingers brushed along his bangs.
"Well?" Kaveh asked as he let out a light chuckle. "How does it look?"
Nilou kept her eyes focused on Kaveh as he sat before her, taking in every detail. How the red flowers on his head brought out his scarlet eyes. The way his lips curled into a nervous smile as he noticed her staring at him. Words escaped her as she got lost in this view, only able to mutter under her breath. "...Like a masterpiece."
"Huh?"
"You told me earlier that the flower crowns I make are works of art," Nilou explained. "But to me, art is alive, it lives and breathes. Like a dancer moving across a stage, or a singer serenading an audience. The human body is like a canvas, a medium for expression. The colors I see painted before me are like nothing I've ever experienced. That crown on your head, the final brushstroke, it completes you."
Nilou's smile grew wider with a soft look in her eyes. Her smooth skin glowed in the sunlight, and pink blush dusted upon her cheeks. She leaned in a bit closer to Kaveh, just enough so he could hear her whisper.
"You look beautiful, Kaveh. Just like a masterpiece…"
Kaveh's breath hitched in his throat, rendering him speechless. His face felt like it was on fire, nearly the same color as his wide red eyes. Every word she said was like music to his ears, swimming around in his head like an open sea. But his eyes could only hold back the waves for so long before…
"Are you… am I… crying?"
Tears slowly started to stream down Kaveh's cheeks, soft sobs escaping his lips. Despite his best efforts to push this sorrow down, just as he always did, he simply couldn’t. He quickly brought his hands over his eyes, concealing his face and trying to keep his tears from falling down onto the ground. Kaveh felt pathetic, like an absolute disaster of a person.
"Kaveh? What's wrong?" Nilou asked as she leaned back a bit, giving him room to breathe.
"N-nobody's… ever been… so nice…" Kaveh muttered in between cries.
Nilou's heart split in two, wanting nothing more than to take his tears away. She shifted herself over on the grass, sitting in a kneeling position. With her hands on his shoulders, she slowly brought Kaveh's head down so it was resting in her lap. He moved his hands away from his eyes to see Nilou leaning over him with a warm expression.
"Shh," Nilou said as she brushed his bangs away from his eyes. "Let yourself cry, let it all out."
"But," Kaveh’s voice cracked as he choked back tears. "I don't want anyone to see me like this…"
"It's okay, crying is natural. Our emotions are like the weather, there will always be gloomy days. But after all the rain, after all the tears… the skies will be even brighter. I want to be here with you. Let me help you through the storm."
Kaveh cried even louder, his vision blurred as more tears welled up in his eyes. Before they could travel down over his cheeks Nilou took her thumbs and gently wiped them away. Her delicate touch was enough to heal his aching heart, at least enough for the tears to subside. His cries grew silent, only the sound of shaky shallow breaths could be heard between them. Kaveh relaxed his body, feeling the grass tickle his back from the opening in his shirt.
His head fit so perfectly in Nilou's lap, like it was where he belonged, his home.
Kaveh sighed in relief, letting all his troubles wash away. He stared up at Nilou as she loomed over him, a lock of her red hair partially obscuring her face. His hand reached up towards her face and carefully brushed the loose strands of hair behind her ear. Kaveh let his fingers linger against her cheek, feeling her smooth skin beneath his calloused hands. He could feel the warmth radiating from her cheek as she blushed from his touch.
"Nilou…" Kaveh whispered, his thumb lazily gliding along her cheek. "Can you promise me something?”
“Of course,” Nilou said as she leaned in a bit closer.
“Promise me that I’ll be able to see you again…”
Nilou didn’t need to say anything, the smile that spread across her face spoke a thousand words. A smile that broke down the last of Kaveh’s inhibitions, letting loose a wave of desire.
He lifted his head slightly, using his hand on her cheek to gently pull her face closer. Nilou let her eyes flutter closed as she let him close the distance. Her hand settled on the back of his head, her fingers weaving into his hair as she pulled him in. Their lips were mere inches apart, Nilou’s warm breath hitting his skin.
From the corner of his eye, Kaveh noticed the color being sucked out of his surroundings. Once lush green grass became a muted dark gray. The assortment of flowers spread throughout the field started to blend together. The monochrome scenery only made Nilou stand out more to him, her blue eyes glowing like the moon.
The gasp that escaped Nilou's lips sounded like she was letting out her very last breath. Kaveh squinted his eyes as static clouded his vision, making the monochrome scenery become even more of a muddled mess. He fought to hang on to his last shred of consciousness. But right as his lips were just barely brushing against hers.
Everything went dark in an instant.
Kaveh shot straight up in his bed, the fast motion making his head spin. His body was drenched in a cold sweat with a shiver going down his spine. He let his mouth hang open slightly, just enough to catch his breath. It was only after his heartbeat steadied that he noticed the sound of beeping filling the room.
Mehrak lay flat on the desk across Kaveh's bed, a green light flashing along with each beep. With a grumble, Kaveh dragged himself out of bed and pressed a button on his toolbox to turn off the alarm. Mehrak's face lit up, a happy expression quickly turning to one of worry as it saw Kaveh's disheveled appearance.
"I know, I must look awful," Kaveh said as he brushed his hair away from his face. "I barely got any sleep, I had such a weird dream-"
Kaveh quickly fell silent in disbelief. A dream? He hadn't dreamed since he was a child. In a nation of wisdom and rationality, the ability for one's mind to slip into the abstract realm of dreams was treated with admonition. For many adults in Sumeru, the fact that they couldn't dream was worn like a badge of honor. A badge that Kaveh felt was ripped away from him.
This shame was made even worse as flashbacks of his dream came back to him. How his consciousness could only watch powerlessly as he made a fool of himself. The way his tears flowed so freely, being unable to force them down no matter how hard he tried. He knew holding in these emotions wasn’t good for him, but it was all he knew. This made the sense of relief deep inside him feel so foreign. Surely the comfort he received from that girl also helped with lifting that weight off his shoulders.
Yes, that beautiful girl. Even as the details remained fuzzy the image of her remained crystal clear. Who was she? Surely a benevolent beauty like her couldn't be real. Was he really that desperate for companionship that he invented a whole person inside his head? He was nearly ready to rip his hair out as these thoughts buzzed around his head.
Kaveh let out a long sigh as he slipped out of his sleep clothes and got dressed. He sat in front of his mirror as he styled his hair. As he brushed his bangs to the side he was reminded of how that girl ran her fingers through his hair. His red hair clips reminded him of her silky long red hair. Everything reminded him of her. Once he was fully put together he pushed open his bedroom door and made his way to the kitchen.
Alhaitham sat at the kitchen table, a coffee mug in one hand and an open book in the other. He didn’t even need to look up from his reading to sense Kaveh shuffling into the room.
Kaveh grumbled as he picked up the coffee pot off the counter and poured himself a mug. He didn’t even wait for his drink to cool before taking a swig, letting the molten liquid run down his throat.
“Morning to you too…” Alhaitham said as he set down his mug to flip the page in his book.
As he swallowed down his coffee Kaveh leaned against the kitchen counter and let the room fall silent. The tension in the air and incessant clamoring in his head nearly drove him mad. Alhaitham was honestly the last person he would go spilling his secrets to, but who else did Kaveh have? He took a deep breath and gripped the coffee mug tightly. "Hey, Alhaitham… when was the last time you had a dream?"
"Last night," Alhaitham answered, his eyes still glued to his book.
"What? You too?" Kaveh quickly sat down at the kitchen table across from his roommate. He sat there in disbelief, that Alhaitham of all people would be able to dream.
"Hmph," Alhaitham folded the corner of the page and closed his book, setting it down on the table. "Seems my theory might just be correct."
"What theory?"
"That the Akasha terminal was impacting the ability of Sumerians to have dreams. The Akasha system shut down yesterday and the both of us just so happened to have dreamed last night. Unless… your naivety has let you dream well into adulthood?"
"Hey! Are you calling me childish? You got some nerve saying that to your senior of all people."
Alhaitham couldn't help but roll his eyes, not surprised that the logic behind the situation flew over Kaveh's head. Or maybe it was a blessing in disguise, as Alhaitham really didn't have the mental energy to explain the recent events surrounding the Akasha terminal. Before he could butt in with a retort, Kaveh's tirade continued.
"If you think you're so much better than me, you must have dreamt up something truly profound, no? So go ahead, enlighten me."
"I'll do nothing of the sort." Alhaitham blurted out, his eyes shooting daggers as he stared down the architect. "What I dream about is none of your business."
"Oh come on, if you're going to hide it like that it'll only make me more curious! I'll tell you about mine if you tell me yours."
"Fine. But not a word about it leaves this house." Alhaitham warned. He drank down the last of his lukewarm coffee as if he was stalling for time. Once his mug was empty he let out a grumble, keeping his eyes lowered as he stared into the empty cup.
"I dreamt that a pita pocket was eating me…"
Kaveh slapped his hand over his mouth, trying to muffle the sound of him snickering. The angry mortified look on Alhaitham's face only spurred him on, his chest nearly ready to burst. It wasn't long before he slammed his hand down on the table and erupted into a fit of laughter. "Are you serious? Oh, that's rich…"
"Shut up!" Alhaitham scolded. "We made a deal, so spill. What happened in your dream?"
Kaveh took a couple of deep breaths to quell his laughter. His amusement was replaced by anxiety as the memories of his dream, memories of her, came flooding back to him. He wrapped his hands around his coffee cup, letting the warmth of the ceramic mug radiate against his hands. "So… there was this girl-"
"If it's going to be one of those dreams I don't want to hear about it," Alhaitham interrupted.
"Let me finish!" Kaveh snapped back, the grip on his coffee mug tightening. "I was in a rainforest and I met the most beautiful girl. She was so kind to me, it was like she truly understood me. But just as we were about to kiss the dream ended."
"Hm, what did this girl look like? Did she tell you her name?"
"She had bright blue eyes, the loveliest smile, and gorgeous red hair. I think she said her name was… Ni- uuh- ”
“Nilou?”
Kaveh’s breath hitched in his throat. Yes, Nilou. Surely this wasn’t just a lucky guess, the way Alhaitham smirked at him made it clear that he knew he was right. Yet Kaveh couldn’t wrap his head around it. He leaned forward in his seat, only able to mutter a single word. “How?”
“Well, I just so happen to know a red-head girl named Nilou who lives here in Sumeru. I doubt your brain randomly made up a separate person with all those same qualities. The chances of that are astronomical, it had to be her.” Alhaitham explained.
“Dear Archons, she’s real?” Kaveh groaned as he buried his face in his hands. What was this supposed to mean? Were the two of them fated to meet in reality? How could he face her after all that happened between them in his dream? It felt like the universe was setting him up to fail once again. But even with these doubts, Kaveh knew he had to meet her. “You got to tell me where I can find her.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? To chase some girl just because you saw her in your dream?”
Kaveh lifted his face from his hands, his roommate’s cold stare piercing into him. Of course, Alhaitham wouldn’t understand, nobody would. But there was one person who he knew would understand him. Nilou. Everything in his dream felt too real just to be a fabrication in his mind. Deep down he knew that the girl who appreciated art and beauty the way he did, who soothed and healed his deepest wounds, was out there. Kaveh couldn’t let this slip away, to be sentenced to a life of wondering what if.
It didn’t matter if there was a chance his dreams would be shattered before his eyes, it was a risk he was willing to take. Besides…
“We made a promise,” Kaveh said as he stood up from his seat, his voice filled with conviction. “We promised we would see each other again. So if you don’t tell me where I can find her right now I’ll tell the whole Akademiya about your little run-in with that pita pocket-”
“The Grand Bazaar.” Alhaitham blurted out, his nose already buried back in his book. “She’s a dancer for Zubayr Theater.”
Without another word, Kaveh chugged down the rest of his coffee and turned to head to his room. But before he could leave the kitchen, a sound stopped him in his tracks.
Alhaitham cleared his throat, trying to catch the architect's attention. He took a quick glance from his book to assure Kaveh was listening to him before looking back down. His eyes went out of focus, the text on the page becoming a blur. For Alhaitham, being candid with his emotions felt like pulling teeth. Logic intercepted anything that came from the depths of his heart. So he opted to offer encouragement to Kaveh in the only way he knew how. “I trust you won’t make too much of a fool of yourself…”
Kaveh’s face softened, hiding a smile as he kept his back turned to Alhaitham. “I know, I won’t.”
He quickly made his way down the hall and into his room. Mehrak’s face lit up as Kaveh entered the room, expecting to be picked up from the table. Kaveh gave it an apologetic look before rummaging around for his wallet, once again forgetting about taking his keys.
“Sorry buddy, you’re staying home today. I’ll be taking off from work… although the deadline for that revision is in a couple of days,” Kaveh furrowed his eyebrows as he went deep into thought. After a moment he shook his head, pushing any thoughts of work out of his mind as he got ready to leave.
Kaveh finished getting himself ready and headed out of his room. Once he was out the front door he made a beeline to the Grand Bazaar, the caffeine in his system invigorating him as he started his journey down the Sumeru City streets.
The Grand Bazaar was bustling with life as dozens of people gathered around the various merchants selling their wares. Laughter and merriment echoed through the enclosed space. Today was one of many small festivals that the Zubayr Theater liked to host throughout the year. While some did have meaning behind them, others, like the one taking place today, were thrown for the sole purpose of bringing people together and spreading joy throughout the Bazaar.
The doors leading down to the Bazaar were left wide open, letting the commotion from inside leak out into the streets. Kaveh made his way through the tunneled pathway and into the Bazaar. He nearly froze on the spot once he realized the sheer volume of people crowding around inside. But he wasn't going to let this become an obstacle in his pursuit, not now that he was already here. He shook his head as he started walking down the main pathway, scanning around the area for any signs of Nilou.
Admittedly Kaveh felt a bit awkward walking around the festival alone, seeing couples and groups of people walking and talking amongst themselves. He tried to appear busy by browsing through the various street stalls. Kaveh almost slipped into a mindless daze while walking along until something stopped him in his tracks.
A little girl was standing near the trunk of one of the small trees planted inside the Bazaar. She hid her face in her hands as she quietly wept to herself.
The poor girl was standing there all alone, not a single person walking by seemed to pay her any mind. Kaveh was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend why anyone would ignore a child clearly in distress. He didn’t even need to think about what he should do, he was already walking up towards the little girl.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Kaveh asked softly as he got down on one knee, making him eye level with the crying girl. "Are you hurt? Did you get lost?"
The girl pulled her hands away from her face to peek at Kaveh before staring down at the ground. She shook her head in response as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.
"It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I just want to help you feel better, that's all. My name is Kaveh, what's your name?"
"K-Kumari…"
"That's a very pretty name. Now, what's got you so sad, Kumari?"
"I…" Kumari said as she sniffled back her tears. She kept her eyes lowered and clasped both her hands together, bringing them up to her chest. "I wanted to buy a new doll at the toy stall, I saved up all my mora for it. I made sure to keep it all safe in my pouch, but when I got to the stall… my pouch disappeared."
"It disappeared?"
"Mhm, I must have dropped it somewhere. But no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find it."
Kaveh turned his head from side to side to scan his surroundings. With so many people coming and going through the Bazaar, it would be near impossible to find a tiny pouch of mora. Chances were that someone else already found it and pocketed the money for themselves. Kaveh thought for a moment before turning to look at Kumari. "How much mora did you have?"
"Uhm… 10,000 mora."
Ten thousand, that was exactly how much mora Kaveh had on him right now. It wasn’t all that he had but it was a decent chunk of it. He knew he would only barely scrape by on his rent and debt payments if he spent all this mora at once. But he didn't care, he knew he had to help this little girl in need.
"Hm, I'll tell you what, I'll buy that new doll for you. Don't worry about paying it back or anything like that, it's my gift from me to you. What do you say?"
Kumari quickly lifted her head, her eyes lighting up and a smile spreading across her face. "You'd really do that? Thank you!"
“You’re welcome,” Kaveh stood up and gestured his arm out to let Kumari lead him to the toy stall. “After you.”
Budding with excitement, Kumari grabbed onto Kaveh’s sleeve and pulled him toward the toy stall. The architect nearly stumbled over his own feet as he was dragged along. Once they were at the stall the merchant gave the pair a wide smile. “Welcome! See any toys you like?”
Kumari looked over the three plush dolls that were set on display. It didn’t take long for her to pick one, pointing to a doll with long brown hair and a purple dress. “This one!”
“Ah, an excellent choice! That will be 10,000 mora,” The merchant said as he handed the doll to Kumari, keeping his other hand out for Kaveh to give him the mora. “Thank you for your patronage!”
“Of course,” Kaveh said as he feigned a smile, trying not to look too troubled as he slid his empty wallet into his pocket. But any feelings of regret quickly washed away as he saw Kumari flash him a wide excited grin.
“You’re the best, Mr. Kaveh!” Kumari said as she held her doll out at arm's length, showing it off like a grand prize. She fell silent for a moment before her eyes lit up with an idea. “Uhm can I ask for another favor?”
“Well, I’m kind of out of mora now so-”
“No no, it’s not that,” Kumari looked up at Kaveh with a shy expression, “You have really pretty braids so I was wondering… if you can braid my doll's hair like that?”
Kaveh’s chest swelled with uncontainable joy, letting it out with a chuckle. The little girl’s request was nothing short of adorable. How could he say no to her? Besides, he paid good money for that doll, he wasn't just going to leave its hair looking all plain and boring.
"Of course, I can. Come, let's find somewhere to sit," Kaveh gestured his hand for Kumari to follow him as he led her away from the stall.
He brought them to a stone ledge surrounding an area where small trees and abundant flora were planted. Kumari gave Kaveh her doll as she prepared to sit. She stood with her back facing the ledge and held onto it with both arms, lifting herself up and settling down on the stone surface. Kaveh sat down and placed the doll on his lap like it was a delicate creature that needed to be handled with care.
Kumari watched in awe as Kaveh's nimble fingers went to work, combing through and weaving the doll's thin yarn locks into braids. Kaveh almost got lost in his work when something from the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"Look, Mr. Kaveh!" Kumari said as she held out a light purple flower, her legs swinging from the ledge excitedly. "It's purple like her dress! You should put it in her hair!"
Kaveh's mouth hung open slightly as he carefully took the flower from her, a strangely familiar flower. He held the plant up to his nose, this time smelling its subtle floral aroma. Oh, how he wished he could smell the red flowers that adorned the crown that Nilou made for him. He quickly blinked himself out of his daze. "Yes, I think that would look lovely."
He carefully slid the flower into the doll’s hair, weaving its stem into one of the braids. Once he was done Kaveh handed the doll back to Kumari. She smiled as she took in her doll's new hairstyle, long intricate braids with the purple flower adorning it. Kumari could barely contain her excitement as she hugged the doll close to her chest. "She looks perfect! I can't wait to show Miss Nilou."
"Nilou?!" Kaveh thought to himself, only realizing he said it aloud when Kumari gave him a curious look.
"Mhm, she’s my friend. She's the best dancer in all of Sumeru! When I grow up I want to be a dancer just like her," Kumari explained. "Have you seen her dance before?"
"No, but that's why I'm here," Kaveh swallowed the lump forming in his throat before continuing. "...To see her dance."
Archons, how could he forget the reason he came here? While this little detour distracted him from his anxieties, it didn't stop them from coming back in full swing the moment he heard Nilou's name.
It's not like this kind of thing has never happened before. In fact, it would be strange if Kaveh went a whole day without getting caught up in other people's affairs. Even if his generosity usually went unrewarded, that didn't stop him from helping others in need. But this time luck was on his side, he now knew someone connected to Nilou. However, he had to tread carefully.
"She's going to be dancing today for the festival, right?" Kaveh asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Do you know what time she's set to perform?"
"Hmm…" Kumari tapped a finger to her chin as she thought to herself. She let her eyes wander and looked around the Bazaar, noticing groups of people heading toward the stage. Kumari quickly jumped down from the ledge and held on to her doll tight. "Oh! It looks like she's about to perform right now!"
"Right now?!" Kaveh blurted out as he nearly fell off the ledge as Kumari tugged at his sleeve.
His heart pounded incessantly in his chest as he was dragged closer to the stage. The large wooden platform was empty, filling Kaveh with uneasiness and uncertainty. This was it. On that stage, he would finally see the girl from his dreams, the girl of his dreams. His stomach twisted into knots just thinking about it.
Kumari was able to weasel her way to the front of the crowd, letting go of Kaveh’s sleeve and holding up her doll so that it could "watch" the upcoming performance.
Once Kaveh realized how close they were to the stage he instantly clammed up. With his mouth going dry he could barely lower his voice to a whisper. "M-maybe I should go to the back of the crowd… I don’t-"
"But Mr. Kaveh you said you wanted to see Nilou dance," Kumari said as she looked up at him. "This is your first time, so I wanted to make sure you have a good view."
Kaveh's expression softened, causing the Kumari to return his smile. The sweet innocent gesture was enough to soothe his nerves. He knew he couldn't run off and hide, not now. This was where he needed to be, to face the girl who gave him solace in his slumber.
With a relieved sigh, Kaveh placed a gentle hand on the little girl's shoulder. "Thank you, Kumari…"
"Attention, Attention please," Mr. Zubayr called out from the stage.
The clamoring and chatter from the audience fizzled into silence as they gave their attention to the director.
"We at Zubayr Theater would like to thank everyone for coming to this festival…" Mr Zubayr spoke with a strong confident voice, making it evident he rehearsed these lines beforehand.
For Kaveh, the director's speech went in one ear and out the other. The anticipation was eating him alive. The longer the speech dragged on and on, the more jittery Kaveh got. But after what felt like an eternity, the director said his closing words.
"...And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for. A performance from our lovely Nilou!"
The audience began a round of applause as Mr. Zubayr walked off the stage and Nilou took his place. Kaveh let out a nervous breath, his whole body going frozen as she appeared before him. She walked across the large platform with grace, keeping her eyes forward and her head held high. The audience slowly ceased their claps and cheers as Nilou got into position.
"Psst," Kumari whispered as she tapped his arm. "Isn't Ms. Nilou really pretty?"
"She's beautiful…" Kaveh breathed out, his eyes glued to the stage.
The spotlights pointed to the center of the stage made the gold accents all over Nilous apparel sparkle. Her long red hair flowed elegantly in two thin ponytails, just barely revealing the tattoo etched on the small of her back. And atop her head was a flower crown adorned with a variety of big beautiful flora.
Kaveh gave in to the compulsion to pinch the side of his thigh with his fingers. It hurt, he wasn't dreaming, this was real, Nilou was real.
And she was exactly as ethereal and elegant as he imagined she would be.
Music began to echo throughout the Bazaar, a soothing delicate tune that was sprinkled with hints of energy. Nilou slowly and steadily moved her arms around her in the air, her eyes following her hands intently. She bent her back slightly and brought her leg forward, holding a pose until the music burst in intensity, prompting her to leap and twirl across the stage.
Kaveh watched in stunned silence as he took in every move, every detail. The way her skirt flowed and swished around her body like ocean waves. The way her every step felt calculated yet expressive. Kaveh could get lost in the pure artistry of her choreography if he wasn't already lost in her delicate form. To think he deprived himself of experiencing these performances for all of these years. Kaveh couldn't get enough, he could be her audience for eternity.
Nilou gracefully moved to the center of the stage with long slow steps. She took a second to steady her breath before spinning in place, almost like a cyclone. Her energy was infectious, especially for the children who could barely stay still as they watched the spectacle before them.
Her fast spinning slowed down into calm graceful twirls. Nilou took this opportunity to take in the audience, seeing the awe and wonder of the people within the crowd. But there was one person in particular who caught her eye. A tall blonde man in the front row, staring up at her with glistening scarlet eyes.
Kaveh's breath hitched in his throat as the two of them locked eyes. It was only for a split second yet it was enough to leave him breathless. He could see Nilou's cheeks glowing bright red, her eyes widening as she stared back at him. While Nilou was in mid-twirl she stumbled over her own toes, her stance wobbling slightly before quickly steadying herself again. It was like her mind went blank, just for the very moment they caught each other's gaze.
To Kaveh, it felt like that split second was in slow motion. The world around him faded to a blur, and the music blaring from the stage dwindled to a murmur. But he knew this time he was awake, blessed with the image of a goddess only one could dream about.
He couldn’t deny it, it was love at first sight.
As the music's tempo slowed down, so too did Nilou's movements. Her arms swayed and her hands reached and grasped towards the audience. She kept her eyes closed as she settled into her final pose, only opening them again once the audience erupted into applause and cheers. Kaveh joined in with the crowd, keeping his eyes fixed on Nilou as she looked over the audience. Kumari laughed joyously as she held out her doll towards the stage, moving its arms back and forth to look like it was clapping.
A wide smile spread across Nilou's face as she took in the crowd's enthusiastic response. She held onto the edges of her skirt and gave a respectful curtsey before walking towards the wings of the stage, slipping off away from view.
Once the audience started to die down Mr. Zubayr returned to center stage. He placed a heart on his hand with a smile stretching from ear to ear. "Such a wonderful performance! There will be more acts from our theater's talented performers as the festival goes on so be sure to stick around!"
The rest of the crowd began to disperse into the Bazaar. Kaveh's eyes wandered around his surroundings before gazing down at Kumari as she stood beside him.
"Wasn't Nilou's dancing amazing?" Kumari asked excitedly as she squeezed her doll to her chest.
"It sure was…" Kaveh chuckled. As infectious as the little girl’s enthusiasm was, he knew he had to keep his mouth shut, lest he start gushing over Nilou's performance.
"I knew you'd love it! Come on, Nilou usually hangs around the Bazaar after her shows, let's go say hi!" Kumari said as she grabbed onto Kaveh’s sleeve again, only this time he matched her pace as she led him around the Bazaar.
Nilou sat on a wooden bench in a quiet corner of the Bazaar, away from all the energy and commotion of the festival. Beside her were a few flower crowns, similar to the one that sat atop her head. A warm smile spread across her face as she chatted with one of her fans, giving them a crown before they went on their way back to the festivities. She turned her head to see Kumari rushing toward her with a blonde-haired man trailing not too far behind.
“Miss Nilou!” Kumari called out as she ran over to stand at Nilou’s side.
“Hello, Kumari! It’s so good to see you,” Nilou smiled. “Are you having fun at the festival?”
“Yeah! I even made a new friend. This is Mr. Kaveh, ” Kumari said as she glanced up at the man beside her. She then held out her doll, turning it around so its braids were on full display. “He got me a new doll and even did her hair for me!”
“He did? Her hair looks so pretty,” As Nilou examined the doll she reached out and ran her fingers gently over the flowers braided into its hair. She then glanced up at Kaveh, who stood with a sheepish expression. She gave him a warm smile, watching as his apprehension slowly started to melt away. “It’s nice to meet you, Kaveh. Any friend of Kumari’s is a friend of mine!”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Nilou,” Kaveh replied, his cheeks going red as he got lost in her smile. His mind scrambled for anything else to say, anything that wouldn’t make him look like a fool. But as his eyes wandered to the flower crown on her head, flashbacks invaded his mind.
“Well, I’m so glad you and your new friend came to see me,” Nilou glanced up at Kaveh and nodded before setting her gaze back on Kumari. She picked up two flower crowns, placed a small one on Kumari’s head, and fixed it in place before handing her a bigger one. “The other day your mom said she wanted one of my flower crowns before they ran out. Why don’t you go give this to her for me?”
“Okay! I’ll see you later, Miss Nilou,” Kumari said as she tucked her doll under her arm and held her mother’s flower crown delicately in her hands. She then glanced back up at Kaveh and smiled. “I hope I can see you again too, Mr. Kaveh.”
“Of course, next time I come here I’ll make sure to say hi,” Kaveh said reassuringly.
Kaveh watched as Kumari ran off, joining the crowds of people walking up and down the Bazaar. Was this his cue to leave too? No, it couldn’t be, not after he’s already come this far. He turned around, ready to convince Nilou to let him stay, only for him to freeze as a giggle escaped her lips.
“Ah, Kumari can be quite the bundle of energy,” Nilou said as she looked up at Kaveh, patting a spot beside her on the bench. “I’m sure she had you running all over, why not take a seat and relax for a bit?”
"Well, if you insist," Kaveh said as he sat down on the bench. He let out a relieved sigh as he settled into his seat. On the other side of Nilou was a singular flower crown, the last one left after she just gave away. "You're lucky Kumari came when she did, otherwise you wouldn't have any crowns left to give to her mom."
"Ah, that wouldn't have been a problem. I could always make some more after the festival. I just…" Nilou's fingers nervously fidgeted with one of the embellishments on her skirt. Yet the smile that spread across her face was warm and genuine. "...thought it would be nice to talk for a while, just the two of us."
In an instant all of his anxieties, every last worry Kaveh had leading up to this moment seemed so trivial now. Nilou’s sheer presence was enough to quell every nerve in a way that felt so familiar. He was well past the point of pleasantries, Kaveh needed to show her the depths of the heart he shamelessly wore on his sleeve.
"I was hoping you'd want to chat. After I saw you… dance, I just had to come meet you. Your performance was truly captivating, it was like," Kaveh leaned his head back, letting the warm breeze flow through his hair. "It was like each of your movements was a brushstroke, painting upon a canvas and creating a work of art before my eyes."
The soft gasp that escaped Nilou's lips was unmistakable. Her cheeks were nearly as red as the hair that framed her face. As Kaveh lowered his head he couldn't help but drink up the sight of her. It almost looked like she was about to cry. But Kaveh was prepared to brave the storm.
Instead, her smile grew wider, her hands clasped together and pressed against her chest. "I've never had anyone say something so beautiful about my dancing. Thank you… it means so much to me."
"You're welcome. You know, someone once told me that art is… alive, living and breathing just like you and I. Nothing embodies this more than the art of dance, no?"
"I couldn’t agree more," Nilou's eyes shifted to her side, gently picking up her last flower crown and holding it up in her hands. "Please, I want you to have this. Can I… put it on you?"
"Of course, you can," Kaveh smiled as he bowed his head forward slightly.
Nilou leaned forward with the flower crown in both hands, lowering it onto his head. As Kaveh lifted his head up slightly she retracted her hands, only for her to reach towards him once again as his soft smile melted away her apprehension. She carefully fixed his hair back into place beneath the crown, his blonde locks feeling like silk against her fingers.
Kaveh could tell she was holding back. From the way she reluctantly pulled her hands away. How her mouth hung open, ready to spill the words that hung on the tip of her tongue. So badly did he want to pull her into his arms, right then and there. But he couldn’t risk ruining this moment, even if there was a small chance she would have welcomed his embrace. Slow and steady wins the race, after all.
"Nilou…" Kaveh spoke softly, leaning in slightly and inhaling the faint floral scent of her perfume. "If you're not busy, would you like to spend the rest of the festival with me?"
"That would be lovely," Nilou stood up from the bench and held her hand out, waiting for Kaveh to take it. "This is your first time here at the Grand Bazaar, yes? If so, I'd love to show you around."
"Great, then I'll have you lead the way," Kaveh replied as he gently took Nilou's hand into his own before standing up from the bench. He looked down at her and nodded his head as he was ready to go.
Nilou closed her eyes for a moment and flashed a wide smile, squeezing his hand before walking him through the Bazaar.
The tactile feel of her hand in his sent a shiver up Kaveh's spine. The sounds and smells mixing through the air were enough to give him a surge of adrenaline. Everything felt so clear, so real. Nothing could pull him away from this moment, away from her.
His life no longer felt like one long cruel nightmare. Like an oasis in the middle of a vast harsh desert, there was a glimmer of hope. Hope that one day he could feel his lips pressed against hers without their world fading to black.