[ Fortunately, his temper rarely burns, and when it does, it's a bright heat rather than a smoldering anger. Lavi's best attempts at clinging to the spark of rage fall flat within seconds of that laughter behind him, the irritation bleeding out to leave a dull, mostly self-mocking kind of frustration in its place.

It was a bit of a stretch to translate 'civil unrest' as 'you bastard, I wanted a kitten and also hate your other best friend'. He's surprised Kanda isn't running more with it, all things considered. Lavi certainly would've taken it as ammunition for teasing.

The sheepishness has its perks, at least. So caught up in the dawning revelation of his foolish behavior, Lavi bypasses the usual nerves and jitters stage when Yu drapes over his shoulders, skipping straight to comfortable acceptance.

Simple closeness and humor--it might be unusual for Kanda to be the one perpetuating it, but it doesn't diminish the sense of normalcy he gets out of it.

Normalcy, he realizes, is something he's craved desperately in the last few weeks.

Thus relaxed, if only for this moment, he tilts his head back enough to shoot Kanda a low glare, shaking his shoulder beneath that chin with a quiet huff. ]

The palmistry was totally legit!

[ Then with a smile that's half cheer and apology, he chuckles, adding a layer of reluctance to make his admission that much more dramatic. ]

But I may be taking some creative liberties with the translation.

[ Quick to move the topic along before Kanda can inquire just how many creative liberties he's taken thus far, Lavi shifts through the books again, holding up a black book with a silver crest emblazoned. Time has worn away much of the crest's details, but it reminds him almost of a rose.

He'd picked it for that reason alone. ]

This 'un is Neo-Qreshi architecture over the last three centuries. Great for when I marry someone rich and enjoy a life of luxury.

[ Also useful for breaking in. He's leaving his options open. ]