>> 019 | kaveh is the frank to alhaitham's bill

[philonoist]

[ there exists within a corner of the Ashavan Realm a bland, nondescript building tucked away into the corner of a quiet city that, for the most part, went unnoticed by visitors and natives alike. with nothing to denote the manner of business that was conducted within it was easy to overlook the structure in favor of the more colorful stalls and shops that lined the streets leading away from it, eager merchants looking to turn a quick mora doing their best to lure anyone who might have even a smidge of interest in something adventurous or new.

but, as is the case with most things, there was more to it than meets the eye.

formally, it was known as the Desert Rose and touted as a "pillowhouse" for the prestiged upper class. while the location was certainly nothing remarkable, it was discreet - which was probably more important than aesthetics for potential clients. the sheets were clean, the workers attractive and ready to serve and certainly worth the extravagant amount of mora one paid for their services. it had been in business for several years already and things were well enough that it looked to be in business for several years more - or at least for as long as their clients were entertained.

speaking of clients...

news spread fast in a city as small as this one. the acting grand sage had been something of a rare occurrence, but his visit was always marked with anxieties and anticipation. even though the few courtesans he'd had private appointments with had all claimed how boring he was, the details never went beyond that. gossip about such an important client was not to be tolerated, and with the threat of being let go looming over their heads it was unsurprising that many chose to hold their tongues when it came to matters regarding Alhaitham.

it certainly didn't help that he didn't pick the same courtesan two visits in a row. perhaps he was simply sampling the wares, or maybe he, in turn, had been bored by them - but whatever the reason tonight was Kaveh's turn. the instructions were simple:

await me in your chambers before the clock strikes seven. leave all the candles lit.

and literally nothing else. no requests for a specific outfit, no oils, nothing. on the plus side - he's definitely punctual, since it's scarcely before the bell starts chiming that there's a knock on the door, sharp, crisp and leaving no room for doubt. he's arrived. ]

Comments

[unpaidrent]

[In the nation of wisdom, there's a sort of culturally pervasive lack of appreciation for the arts. An artist has to climb their way through more hurdles than the scientifically brilliant, and Kaveh had found that even after graduation there was less forgiveness for error even in the mathematically inclined field of architecture. Debt just seemed to accumulate.

Despite his current line of work, Kaveh still takes pride in it. Since his days as an artist, he has always worked very hard to ensure the happiness of his client, which is why he absolutely hates the kind of instructions he receives from the Acting Grand Sage: lacking entirely in specifics. With someone as important as Alhaitham, of course he wants to impress him, but with nothing to go off of he is already getting a headache imagining the unpaid hours he'll spend fumbling to please him and correct mistakes.

Where does he begin? The others certainly weren't sharing.

In the end, he chooses all his own personal preferences to prepare. Clean from the bath, he scents his skin in saffron and rose, binds his hair back in a combination of braiding and clips, and dons one of his more comfortable outfits. The white cloth leaves his chest and back open bound together by connection chains at his shoulders and tucked closed by a sash on his slim waist. His trousers, a deep red, are loose and light.

He was still picking his earrings out when the knock comes, and Kaveh turns to look at the clock as he closes the clasp on the back of the earring he was currently fixing on his ear. Seeing that he's out of time, he curses quietly, putting the other earring into his ear as he strides across the room to place a coal into a censer.]

Come in, the door is unlocked.

[To Alhaitham's one specification, Kaveh had followed exactly. Every candle, hanging lantern or set upon shelving, was lit to illuminate the room. The numerous lights cast a warm flicker across the décor, illuminating colorful draping and patterned rugs, and deepening the shadows from the canopy shading the large bed in the back of the room.]

Is it to your liking?