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[  he  smiles,  tearing  up  as  he  wraps  his  arms  around  his  husband.  ]   imagine  a  little  you  this  time ..  i  love  you.

@paradisaeas,   happy  doesn't  begin  to  cover  it.   kaveh,   i'm..   i'm  /overjoyed/..

he  estimated  about  a  month  or  so.  they'll  be  so  happy...  and  you?  are  you  happy  about  this?  

[  he  stares  at  the  ground  and  the  bandaged  arms,  eyes   burning  but  refusing  to  let  the  tears  fall  –  he  hardly  has  the  right,  after  all.  ]   this  would  be  easier  if  you  were  mad.  if  you  just  yelled  and  got  upset  like  you  should  because  i  broke  my  promise.  you've  spared  me  kindness  on  many  things  but  you  shouldn't  on  this.  (..)  ..  im  not  that  hungry.  you  can  pick.  you  should  have  that  at  least.   i..   i  really  am  sorry,  haitham..  

@paradisaeas,    i  should  be..   and  i'm  not.     you  promised  you  would  try  your  hardest  not  to  fall  back  in  to  this and  you  did,   you  swore  you  would  talk  to  me  when  a  situation  like this arose,   but  you  didn't.   i  should  be  angry,   but  i  know  that  only  makes  things  worse.   it  has  only  ever  created a  wedge  between  us.   i  don't  want  that.   (..)   ill  make  what  ever  you'd  like.   how  does  that  sound?

i  thought  you'd  be  upset,  or...  i  don't  know,  angry.  not –  whatever  this  is.  you  should  probably  be  upset  with  me.   you  couldn't  have  known  the  meeting  would  run  longer,  it's  alright.   (...)   okay.  if  you  insist.  what're  you  making?

@littleIights,    be  kinder  to  your  little  sister.   i'm  sure  she'd  like  to  see  the  phone.   of  course.   i  miss  you  both  so  much.   we  can't  wait  to  be  home.

we  are!  hey,  farah,  stop  pushing  :(   do  you  miss  us  too? 

@littleIights,    someone  sounds  excited.   you  must  be  having  fun  with  your  grandma.    papa  and  i  won't  be  gone  much  longer.   a  few  more  weeks,   mehrak. 

.... you.  haravatats.  [  quite  against  his  will,  he  tears  up  a  little.  ]   you  can  show  me  your  devotion  elsewhere  too.  in  other  ways.

@paradisaeas,   if  i  explained  the  comfort  your  lips  bring  me  when  used  to  settle  the  pain  in  my  heart  from  the  last  decade..   we  would  be  standing  in  this  spot  until  the  sun  meets  the  horizon.

wow,  is  that  it?  none  of  the  suffering  we've  endured  this  decade?  i'm hurt.

perhaps .  but  i  want  to.  you  don't  have  to  say  it  back.

@paradisaeas,    kaveh,   you..   don't  need  to  say  it.   

...  i  feel  like  i  haven't  said  it  enough,  that's  all.

..  you're  still  too  kind  to  me.  i  don't  know  why.  (...)  you  know  i  did.  i  always  do,  when  it's  with  you.  i  wouldn't  be  here  if  i  didnt.

@paradisaeas,     if  our..   sexual  encounters  can  replace  the  momentary  joy  you  get  from  alcohol,   then  i  will  continue  to  partake  in  it  and  keep  track  of  your  euphoria.    (...)    did  you  enjoy  it?

[  he  shuts  his  eyes  briefly,  as  if  that  would  shield  him  from  the  tenderness  he  tries  to  deny  in  the  other's  gaze.  ]  i  didn't  take  you  for  that  type.

is  that  so?  i  suppose  it's  best  for  us  both  if  i  cut  this  proposal  off  at  the  pass,  then... 

@paradisaeas,    oh,   so  i'm  not  free  to  reject  any  other  proposal?   this  lack  of  free  will  i  have  in  our  situation  is  quite  concerning. 

consider  it  a  proposal  you're  free  to  reject,  grand  sage.

@paradisaeas,   no  one  else  was  you.   no  one  else  could  properly  debate  with  me  over  such  trivial  matters. 

i  suppose  there  was  a  reason  i  fell  for  you  after  all.  i'm  more  surprised  nobody  else  caught  your  eye  in  all  that  time.

@paradisaeas,    i've  my  moments.   surprising,  isn't  it?

quit  removing  yourself  from  the  equation.  you're  just  as  bad!  (...)  can  we  stay  in  tonight?  we've  been  going  out  a  lot,  and  as  nice  as  that  is,  i'd  like  to  just ...  stay  in  with  you  and  order  food  up.

@paradisaeas,    and  whose  fault  is  that?   i  do  remember  their  mama   having  just  as  much  of  a  hard  time  saying  no  to  the  girls  as  their  grandmother.    you  can  choose.   what  are  you  feeling?

we're  going  to  have  some  spoiled  kids.  mm...  yes.  speaking  of  which,  what  are  we  having  for  dinner?  

isn't  one  bound  to  be  a  bit  scratched  up  in  a  tussle  with  a  ruin  grader?  fine,  fine.  stop  looking  so ... i  don't  know,  upset.  i'm  alright.

@paradisaeas,   it's  still  /bleeding/.   that  doesn't  count  as  small  at  all.   stay  where you are.   i've  medicine  in  my  bag.

...  fine.  difficult  man.  i'm  sitting  down,  here's  the  wound,  it's  only  small,  let's  go.