Bylers aren't wrong, the duffers are. Mike is gay.

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

I’m ngl drawing this made me really sad 😭