... & !!!

Kaveh being distraught that the things they both depend on in the home, and the home itself, are ruined, mentioning how easily destruction can be wreaked, so all these things have fragility, whereas alhaitham views this destruction as an inconvenience to be righted in the grand scheme of things – the dichotomy of how they handle their emotions, especially in relation to each other!!!! The ruined house = their relationship metaphor is driving me up the WALLLLLL

And this dichotomy in the difference of their sentimentality, how they handle their emotions, being what upsets kaveh (at least more explicitly in the CN)?? They’re always faltering in understanding each other on this fundamental level which out of everything is the most important! Alongside the idea of ‘home’ being so essential to kaveh’s character, ofc a place he calls home being destroyed, even if just for the moment, is going to upsetting for him

Alhaitham mentioning that people can seek to change their situation, but kaveh saying AGAIN that it’s hard for people to change and that anguish is a reliable source of inspiration to him, which is essential as an artist, with art being so fundamental to him

but not only this, in regards to his and alhaitham's relationship, anguish is difficult for him to let go of in general because of how engrained it is into his person; he relies on anguish to propel him forwards so much so that it shapes him, and if he gave this up, he'd have to relearn not only himself and who he is without something so defining but also what that meant for him and alhaitham? like, can he not imagine what a relationship without tension between them would be like anymore?? HELP

no because alhaitham reaching out and understanding kaveh's position and saying that he’s genuinely happy kaveh is able to justify things for himself, the reasons why he believes the things he does, whereas before this split in their views was a source of contention for them, with kaveh giving alhaitham reasons he follows his ideals with alhaitham being unconvinced?

and the fact that he expressed this kaveh directly and doubled down on this to me really showcases these little progressions in their relationship, even if kaveh isn't ready to take this as sincerity yet. They’re at the stage where they can begin to accept the tensions brewing beneath the surface…? PLEASE I CANNOT

Alhaitham explicitly going out of his way to help kaveh through actions (wisdom being shared through incommunicable mediums is so haikaveh coded) being a skill he’s going to master?? As in acknowledging the sentiment kaveh attaches to their belongings, as in,, piecing together the house once more,, as in,, working towards the mending of their relationship!?!?!?

And kaveh frantically trying to attribute this to the transaction-based nature of their relationship but coming up SHORT for once because alhaitham is helping kaveh with his own things, like yes baby, he’s waking up finally!!!

The very telling silence as alhaitham clocks that kaveh is exhausted and kaveh correctly interprets that, this time around in comparison to the gag in previous events, alhaitham not answering him is valid since his question was arbitrary

The care and reciprocity of this interaction speaks volumes as to where they stand in their relationship, even though kaveh asserts that there is no way for them to resolve their issues, and they haven’t come close to doing so like what tighnari believed, the back and forth of alhaitham noting kaveh’s exhaustion and offering kaveh support, that once you clock out, there’s no looking back since you can’t do anything more, and your worries should be left behind, and then kaveh offering alhaitham water and proposing to cook for them, even as means of a distraction, is still so telling

When kaveh is stressed, he goes and seeks out alhaitham – the complete opposite of in alhaitham’s story quest where kaveh left multiple times during a conversation because he couldn’t take talking to alhaitham anymore. So you HAVEN’T sorted anything out kaveh?? really??

Alhaitham identifying that kaveh is nervous and kaveh confiding that, yes, he is, but alhaitham doesn’t seem to be. we go back to alhaitham’s perspective, that there’s nothing more they can do, any worrying further will only cause unnecessary trouble for yourself – directly addressing kaveh’s current concerns, giving kaveh the comfort he needs to hear

(Also ‘I don’t worry about things I cannot influence’ okay, I’m looking at you a parade of providence alhaitham, running around looking into Sachin to give kaveh some kind of closure)

them talking about the first archon quest amicably for once, and kaveh's conclusion that they're stronger!! and then immediately pivoting to how alhaitham asked him where he was the last time, like, we get it, you're stronger TOGETHER

The second time this specific line has been mentioned since earlier in the quest. The arc has fulfilled itself because this time kaveh IS here, we’ve come full circle, and now a new path opens (thank you king of invokations) <3

Also !??!?! this acknowledgement of the discrepancies in their communication is crazy because alhaitham points out rightfully that kaveh initiates their arguments, arguments which kaveh takes to heart! but then kaveh pointing out that he didn’t intend on causing an argument and that he came for a conversation emphasises that their perceptions of their interactions negatively impact their communication – kaveh believes alhaitham to have interrogated him, causing the argument, but alhaitham holds that it was kaveh who came to him looking to start an argument

Man I just think this acknowledgement is really important in contextualising their current relationship, would this have been able to happen earlier when they were constantly at odds and kaveh was more lenient in taking everything alhaitham said as a slight? I don’t think so personally

‘it’s good having me around to help out, huh?’ oh my god I love him, I love how his self-doubt has been completely eradicated, like earlier he was doubting his ability to be able to pull such a colossal feat off, but all alhaitham had to do was say ‘at least you’re here now (so you don’t have to nag me for details)’ and kaveh’s doubt disappeared LIKE MAGIC (IM NEVER GETTING OVER THIS BTW!!!)

And kaveh wanting alhaitham’s opinion on his contributions, and alhaitham OFCCC saying that they're the better off for it! jeez i wonder if that's why he was 'interrogating' you the last time,,,, also alhaitham taking the objective lens ‘as a citizen of sumeru’ to give a sincere compliment, lmao it’s so in character for him, it reminds me of how kaveh tries to compliment alhaitham but can only do it passive-aggressively

Them having a conversation at the end of the world surrounded by a sky of stars just the two of them, what in the apocalypse au is this??? I can’t believe this is real

Also I love how kaveh speaks so freely around alhaitham; like after using king deshret’s ipad, he expressed his thoughts about it to alhaitham, how it was blurring the lines between reality and a dream, to which alhaitham agreed, saying it was a novel experience, and kaveh goes ‘what is my spirit leaves my body’ and alhaitham grounds him by going ‘that won’t happen’ – I’m reminded of how kaveh was freaking out about mehrak gaining sentience and leaving him in nahida’s bday quest, and how alhaitham just went along with it. these small, earnest exchanges now really are a testimony to how their relationship has evolved over time!

When I tell you I GASPED!!! It’s been YEARS (or however long in canon idk anymore) and kaveh is still thinking about the note alhaitham wrote him in a parade of providence, “lofty ideals may provide no defense at all against nihilism, but perhaps little decisions can. By their own choice, the idealist seeks to bring happiness to all, while denying themselves the same. Thus they shall never reach even the borders of truth until they wipe away the ignorance that blinds them." And now he finally connected the dots..??? AND THE SUN STARTS TO RISE AS HE DOES SO??? SHUT

Alhaitham saying that awful things are a part of life and that sometimes they can't be stopped and other times they can, and that he and kaveh have done the best they can without detriment to themselves correlates to kaveh's self-sacrificial thinking and how he feels he has to invest himself into every situation regardless of how it plays out for him should something worse happen down the line, so kaveh linking this to alhaitham's note conveying that self-sacrificing ideals may not actually be feasible when it’s at the bane of the person holding them; instead of risking your life, doing your part can be enough to impede disaster, is like kaveh recognising the merit of this, a logic he once thought disturbing?

Also the concluding line referring to sacrificing yourself to achieve happiness for others is contradictory to this principal in the happiness for all, like um, yes kaveh please make the connection that happiness is what alhaitham wants for you!!!

Kaveh not wanting to talk about it now is and then changing the topic to the prospect of there being a future is !!! the sky lightening into morning can be indicative of there being a future in which they can discuss these things further NOOOOOO

kaveh admitting that alhaitham acts more like an upperclassman than him?? idk if this would’ve been possible for kaveh to admit in a parade of providence, it’s another kind of honest admission that might’ve been stifled by his pride, and then alhaitham’s retort about the difference in their temparement, he’s not wrong lmaoooo