[Right, so. Kaveh's not actually entirely sure what's been happening at the cafe the last month but he has noticed....some things. Lynette's gone. Freminet injured. Lyney coping in a truly...spectacular fashion. Sherlock continuing to be really hissy at Wriothesley for no discernable reason.
End of the day, Lyney isn't really alone here. He has his brother, and Arlecchino, and Heizou. Even Kaveh has Alhaitham. Who does Wriothesley have for support?
That thought bothers Kaveh kind of a lot. So he waits until closing, one afternoon, and taps the man on the shoulder as he goes to count out the register.]
Hey, could you stay for a little bit, before you take off?
[Even if Wriothesley's become slightly lax in his work, the cafe's still standing. It's obvious though, perhaps, he's grown somewhat disengaged with his usual conversations and is leaving Sherlock's care to Kaveh, including the meals. Hasn't so much as left a tea cup sitting outside his room recently.]
[He's ready for another few hours at the bag, then skulking around at night to listen out for any trouble, but his thoughts are interrupted when Kaveh taps him. He turns and raises an eyebrow.]
Hmm, you could say that. I wanted to ask you about a few things, since I've been a bit...[He waves his hand to sort of skip over "largely kidnapped and distracted by an overly clingy grey cat" since. Well. Wrio's probably pretty aware of it.]
And I found a tea blend at the market the other day that sounds interesting. Orange cinammon...I haven't tried it yet, so maybe we should give it a test?
[Kaveh knows this is the equivalent of a stick-and-basket trap for Wrio.]
... preoccupied? Hehe. [He gets it; and normally, it's amusing watching the two's antics, but he's been more inclined to turn his head away. Maybe he really has been thinking about it too hard]
Orange cinnamon... right, that one fruit that looks like a Bulle Fruit. [But it tends to be on the sweeter side where a Bulle has more tartness.]
... Do you really want to test it today? Because what do you want to ask me about?
...I guess I should have expected you'd be more cautious than most people.
[Kaveh puffs out a bit of air, and shakes his head.] It's not--well, I'm not upset with you. But I've noticed you've been a little...withdrawn.
[Skipped Jill's wedding. Not looked after Sherlock as much. A little quieter. Kaveh doesn't really know Wriothesley that well, but an architect needs an eye for detail, and he maybe keeps a close eye on his employees after what happened to Azul.]
Conversations are more pleasant with tea, aren't they? [He pauses, and laughs.] Or coffee, but you definitely prefer the former, right?
Well... that makes one person. [But he supposes he hasn't upset Freminet; not that it really matters, but the kid tends to be concerned about everyone.] Not that I thought I'd upset you anyhow, but sure, I've been preoccupied.
[Because that's what some people do while being withdrawn, yes? Scowling a bit, he's about to decline... but pauses when he considers that Kaveh didn't exactly have an easy time these early months either. Sherlock withdrawing and snapping at him, Azul transforming... and he hasn't seen Bennett around recently; and while Alhaitham could handle the fallout, Wriothesley also doesn't want to be the cause of a drunken text post.]
Why, yes, conversations are more pleasant with tea. Nothing against coffee, but there are better times to have it that's not leading into the evening.
I'm afraid my sleep habits have been a disaster since I was a teenager. There's no saving them now.
[Kaveh laughs lightly, but Mehrak has already whizzed off to get the kettle going and make the tea...she's really gotten better at doing that! He's been wondering if he can teach her the steps to iced coffees by summer...
Wait, focus.]
...There's not really any reason for me to be upset with you, is there? [Kaveh shrugs, but he'll go find a place for them to sit, near the middle of the cafe. He's facing the door, so Wrio can take a seat closer to the exit. Free to go if he doesn't want this, in other words.
For a man with absolutely no experience with the criminal world, he's remarkably perceptive when he needs to be, isn't he?]
Will you tell me what's on your mind, Wriothesley?
We can only try to have some better habits as we get older. [And that’s one thing, isn’t it? He’s too old for these… pep talks and being looked after. Kaveh’s still got some good few years to try maintaining habits though.]
[Following Kaveh, he’ll take a seat, aware of where the exit is, but remaining for now. Good choice, but he shakes the thought off.]
No. Should I be upset with you? [Did you reorganize the teas without telling him? Haha, jokes.]
Sorry, Kaveh. I appreciate outright asking, but there’s not much to share. [Or he wouldn’t share that easily…]
[He's a scholar, Wrio, there's no saving his caffeine consumption, his bloodstream might be 20% coffee.]
...I don't know if I think that's true. [He drums his fingers along the table, and tips his head just to the side--just watching Wriothesley's expressions with a surprisingly calm expression.]
I can't force you, if you don't want to talk about it. But there's no need to lie, either.
I’m not lying, there really isn’t much to share. [He sits back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest as he shrugs.]
I bumped into Lyney while shopping the other day… or I guess, he bumped into me. He wanted to start something in front of the market so I led him off to save face and let him have a go. That’s it.
[Really is the short and long of it.]
He’s not doing well. Miss Lynette is gone, and he probably knows about Mr. Freminet’s arm by now. I’m just very convenient for him to vent his anger on, but it’s better than Heizou or Mr. Freminet right now.
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chiming
ironically, action
Date: 2026-04-01 05:54 pm (UTC)From:End of the day, Lyney isn't really alone here. He has his brother, and Arlecchino, and Heizou. Even Kaveh has Alhaitham. Who does Wriothesley have for support?
That thought bothers Kaveh kind of a lot. So he waits until closing, one afternoon, and taps the man on the shoulder as he goes to count out the register.]
Hey, could you stay for a little bit, before you take off?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-01 06:56 pm (UTC)From:[He's ready for another few hours at the bag, then skulking around at night to listen out for any trouble, but his thoughts are interrupted when Kaveh taps him. He turns and raises an eyebrow.]
Suppose I could. Do you need me for something?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-01 07:02 pm (UTC)From:And I found a tea blend at the market the other day that sounds interesting. Orange cinammon...I haven't tried it yet, so maybe we should give it a test?
[Kaveh knows this is the equivalent of a stick-and-basket trap for Wrio.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-01 07:11 pm (UTC)From:Orange cinnamon... right, that one fruit that looks like a Bulle Fruit. [But it tends to be on the sweeter side where a Bulle has more tartness.]
... Do you really want to test it today? Because what do you want to ask me about?
[Tea would bait him, but Kaveh's acting... odd.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-01 07:19 pm (UTC)From:[Kaveh puffs out a bit of air, and shakes his head.] It's not--well, I'm not upset with you. But I've noticed you've been a little...withdrawn.
[Skipped Jill's wedding. Not looked after Sherlock as much. A little quieter. Kaveh doesn't really know Wriothesley that well, but an architect needs an eye for detail, and he maybe keeps a close eye on his employees after what happened to Azul.]
Conversations are more pleasant with tea, aren't they? [He pauses, and laughs.] Or coffee, but you definitely prefer the former, right?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-01 07:32 pm (UTC)From:[Because that's what some people do while being withdrawn, yes? Scowling a bit, he's about to decline... but pauses when he considers that Kaveh didn't exactly have an easy time these early months either. Sherlock withdrawing and snapping at him, Azul transforming... and he hasn't seen Bennett around recently; and while Alhaitham could handle the fallout, Wriothesley also doesn't want to be the cause of a drunken text post.]
Why, yes, conversations are more pleasant with tea. Nothing against coffee, but there are better times to have it that's not leading into the evening.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 02:33 pm (UTC)From:[Kaveh laughs lightly, but Mehrak has already whizzed off to get the kettle going and make the tea...she's really gotten better at doing that! He's been wondering if he can teach her the steps to iced coffees by summer...
Wait, focus.]
...There's not really any reason for me to be upset with you, is there? [Kaveh shrugs, but he'll go find a place for them to sit, near the middle of the cafe. He's facing the door, so Wrio can take a seat closer to the exit. Free to go if he doesn't want this, in other words.
For a man with absolutely no experience with the criminal world, he's remarkably perceptive when he needs to be, isn't he?]
Will you tell me what's on your mind, Wriothesley?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 02:55 pm (UTC)From:[Following Kaveh, he’ll take a seat, aware of where the exit is, but remaining for now. Good choice, but he shakes the thought off.]
No. Should I be upset with you? [Did you reorganize the teas without telling him? Haha, jokes.]
Sorry, Kaveh. I appreciate outright asking, but there’s not much to share. [Or he wouldn’t share that easily…]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 03:02 pm (UTC)From:...I don't know if I think that's true. [He drums his fingers along the table, and tips his head just to the side--just watching Wriothesley's expressions with a surprisingly calm expression.]
I can't force you, if you don't want to talk about it. But there's no need to lie, either.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 03:15 pm (UTC)From:I bumped into Lyney while shopping the other day… or I guess, he bumped into me. He wanted to start something in front of the market so I led him off to save face and let him have a go. That’s it.
[Really is the short and long of it.]
He’s not doing well. Miss Lynette is gone, and he probably knows about Mr. Freminet’s arm by now. I’m just very convenient for him to vent his anger on, but it’s better than Heizou or Mr. Freminet right now.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 03:19 pm (UTC)From:If it were so simple, he wouldn't be so closed off, would he?
Kaveh's fingers stop drumming on the table, for a few moments, and then he sighs.]
He's doing even worse than I thought he would. Not that I'd take it much better if Alhaitham was gone, but...
[Kaveh shakes his head. Not really the point.]
It's not at all fair to you, is it?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-02 03:27 pm (UTC)From:[Might as well be death. Tilting his head slightly, he blinks.]
What’s not fair?