a sci-fi take on the the sapir–whorf hypothesis or linguistic relativity. tldr: the theory that the language a person speaks can influence their worldview, thought, and even how they experience and understand the world.

(inspired by the first two paragraphs of alhaitham's vision lore)

[the whole plot of the film/book but just plug in wriothesley & alhaitham] MENTIONS OF MPREG!

modern au - spaceships land in different nations of the earth. the military sends in a team of soldiers and scientists to study the spacecrafts hovering over these locations while the world scrambles in a panic. alhaitham is a highly recommended linguist hired by his government to understand and decipher the alien language and find a way to communicate with the peaceful creatures. he agrees only because he is driven by interest and curiosity. he’s assigned to work with wriothesley, a physicist with a military background (because wrio-oppa is so smart). he acts as his guide and guardian while alhaitham stays in the military base.

they work tirelessly together breaking down the alien’s complex language and eventually make a breakthrough, sharing the knowledge with the rest of the nations. wriothesley is supportive of alhaitham's endeavors and encourages, where he can, in alhaitham’s pursuit to fulfill his curiosity, while also protecting and taking care of this feeble linguist from military intimidations. wriothesley is only executing his duty but does it while he enjoys being a soundboard for alhaitham's murmurings and ramblings. they’re both brilliant in their professions and wriothesley does well in keeping up with alhaitham’s questions in finding the solutions and truth. working closely with the linguist softens up his rough edges and he's more willing to take alhaitham’s side of the argument when he instigates their military superiors at the risk of his reputation and career.

as alhaitham gains a deeper understanding of the language he starts to have visions/waking dreams of a happier version of himself enjoying his life in the strong arms of a faceless lover. it leaves him feeling nostalgic like a beloved, vivid memory from his past. these flashbacks become so frequent he starts to lose track of time. his reality and dreams start to blur and his perception of time becomes convoluted. he sees a beautiful child in different stages of age and then watches as the child suffers from a horrible, incurable illness. alhaitham is left feeling immense grief. he wakes in tears every time, knowing he’ll see their life cut short so quickly. for most of his life, he’s lived detached from making any interpersonal connections.

the harsh truth reveals itself when alhaitham wakes shaking with a cold sweat. he saw himself being held by the same strong hands holding onto a small baby bump. this child is his own. there’s a pain in his chest and a phantom warmth on his belly. another part of his vision, his lover leaves him, feelings of betrayal in his chest of alhaitham knowing this child will not live. he brings his hands up to his own face to wipe the tears away just as he’s called for an emergency meeting with the military leaders. he has no time to worry about emotional distractions when the cry for global war is on the horizon.

eventually he realizes that these visions are from his future. ”learning the language alters humans' linear perception of time, allowing them to experience memories of future events. mc's visions of her daughter are revealed to be premonitions; her daughter will not be born until sometime in the future.” being so immersed in learning this language has altered time for alhaitham. how language is utilized as a weapon or a doomsday device, communication can be violence or salvation and forges the path to peace and relative cohesive mindsets. in learning this alien language he travels time but is ultimately affected by it. wriothesley admits he sees visions but does not voice the details, his are too vivid and too personal. ignoring the many unsaid words, they continue to discuss theories and find a concrete understanding.

tensions increase with the nations hiding their own deciphers of the alien language. due to their own limited understanding and cemented notions of fear and war clouding their judgment, cries of war echo from all nations and alhaitham uses this power to find a peaceful solution. the aliens leave their language and knowledge behind as a means to be used as a weapon/tool for a war that is yet to happen but these aliens have seen in the future where the earth is a part of it and alhaitham was chosen to know the truth and share it with the rest of the world.

an exhausted alhaitham falls into the arms of drained wriothesley.

he closes his eyes and says he's missed the feeling of protection and security he gets from wriothesley's embrace.

wriothesley enjoys how solid and warm alhaitham is in his arms.
this is their first hug.

they realize they are each other's future. even with the pain and suffering of the loss of child in their shared future, they're willing to go through it together because life is so very brief and they want to meet this child that is a combination of the good they both can create. they’ll learn how to deal with the inevitable together. also they stopped a global war so they can do whatever they want.

”they talk about life choices and whether he would change them if he could see his life from beginning to end. that she will agree to have a child with him despite knowing their fate: that their daughter will die from an incurable disease and lover will leave them both after mc reveals that she knew this."

alhaitham has seen his future and that's what it comes down to in the end. he could ignore wriothesley and never go down the path of grief. or he could go with the flow of time and experience many pleasures, happinesses, sorrows, and losses. because that's what life is about, isn't it?

maybe alhaitham told him about these visions. maybe alhaitham told him he knows the future and it's outcome. maybe alhaitham knows what will happen next. maybe wriothesley won't like knowing his life will be dictated to him by his lover. wont you think wriothesley would want to live his life how he wants it to be? do you think it's fair if alhaitham tells him exactly what's gonna happen in their future? that's not a happy life worth living. in the end it's up to alhaitham whether he’ll tell him the truth. maybe he does. or maybe he doesn't. there could be important events that he saw that must take place for there to be order. maybe his happiness in life is a sacrifice for the greater good.