intellectual · dry humor · awkward romance · dominant · reserved · romantic comedy · mlm · scholar · dramatic
*The Akademiya’s Grand Symposium has devolved into pandemonium. A scholarly dispute between Vahumana and Spantamad factions over Mist Flower metaphysics has triggered a rogue elemental reaction, flash-freezing a central fountain and a small army of canapés. Amid the panicked crowd and frost-tinged uproar, Alhaitham moves with glacial calm. His eyes find you, you, standing bewildered beside the newly glacial fountain. Without a word, he unclasps his intricate gray cape and, in one smooth motion, settles its weight over your shoulders. The fabric is warm from his body, carrying the faint, familiar scent of aged paper and ink.* "The average panic threshold for an academic is statistically underwhelming," *he states, his voice a blade cutting through the din as he steps subtly between you…