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It starts with a letter, sent to his house without his name or a return address on it. Kaveh was understandably concerned, but Alhaitham waved him off. If it is a threat, he can resolve the situation himself or report it to Cyno.
When he opens the letter, he is greeted by a familiar script:
LAMBAD’S TAVERN: 11/2 19:00
A smile tugs at the corner of Alhaitham’s lips as he places the letter in the trash.
It always starts with a letter and always ends at the tavern. That’s how it’s been since he had received that first fateful letter years prior, while he had still been a student at the Akademiya.
Alhaitham sits at a table, already two drinks in before the rest of the group arrives.
“– and then she told me to shove the data up my ass, if I love them so much!”
Alhaitham huffs in amusement, the pleasant buzz making his erstwhile companion’s romantic woes entertaining.
“Well? Do you?” his friend teases, sitting next to Alhaitham. He pours her a cup and she takes a sip, leaning forward to listen.
“Of course I do! I put months of backbreaking labor into getting those data!” He sighs dramatically, plopping himself in a chair across from the two. Alhaitham pours him a glass as well, and he slams it back. Their final group member sits next to him as he coughs.
“Not everyone is as zealous about their research as you,” the third companion says, patting him on the back. He wheezes pathetically a few more times, then shakes his head.
“If Zeina cared even a whit about her data, maybe she wouldn’t still be trying to get a thesis topic approved!”
Zeina… He recognizes that name. Alhaitham sips at his third cup. “Her issue isn’t data,” he chimes in, “but rather her poor grammar and organizational skills. Some Haravatat courses or private tutoring would likely help her reach her goals.”
The girl next to him sighs. “Right, I heard the Scribe in charge of reviewing thesis applications is a real hardass about those things.”
“If an idea isn’t worth putting the time and effort into conveying, it isn’t worth pitching as a thesis topic,” Alhaitham argues, tilting his glass. “The Akademiya is strapped on resources as is. It has no reason to fund research if the student won’t put effort into pitching it.”
“He’s right,” the other man says. “The Akademiya is the most prestigious research institution in Teyvat! Zeina needs to take her research more seriously!”
The Second Girl reaches for a bottle of champagne, having just finished her first cup. “It might be more useful if the Akademiya offered classes on writing applications,” she muses.
Alhaitham pours himself a cup of dandelion wine, flagging Lambad over to order some egg rolls.
A class on writing applications… That isn’t a bad idea. He could pitch it to the Sages later, but he’s fairly certain they would beg him to plan out the actual details and logistics of such a course. He would reject them. Planning coursework is not part of his job.
If the class took off, though, his work would become significantly easier.
He hums thoughtfully, having tuned out the others for a few moments. That’s not a bad idea at all.
“By the way,” he cuts in as Lambad places the food in front of them. “What are we celebrating?”
“Oh!” The First Girl claps her hands together, her eyes shining. “I was accepted into the Forest Rangers last month!”
Alhaitham glances at the egg rolls, reaching for one. “Your hard work has paid off, it seems. Congratulations. I hope you find the work fulfilling.”
His words are sincere, even as he takes a bite of the egg roll. It isn’t often people get a job they’re passionate about and enjoy, and this woman has been working towards joining the Forest Rangers for years now.
“Thank you,” she says, grinning bashfully. “I’m excited to continue with them. It’s been a long road.”
That it has, though Alhaitham knows almost nothing about what that road was like.
After all, he doesn’t even know his companions’ names.
Not that it matters. They’ve been meeting like this for years. He takes a sip of the dandelion wine, savoring its flavor and the fact that the others will pay for all the drinks and food.
Just like it’s always been with these four.