timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ As she describes it, he's trying to form a picture and coming with...not much. Something like bread, maybe. Truthfully, he never has paid much attention to the differences in sweets, leaving that particular area of expertise to Nina. ]

Like chocolate? [ It's the only comparison he can think to make, despite how infrequent he's had such a thing. Hot chocolate isn't the same as a solid bar, after all.

As they turn further into the city, he really starts to see the differences between here and Ketterdam. Mostly in the architecture, but the biggest change is the amount of color. The people of Kerch are a sober lot, generally, preferring neutrals. He kind of likes the bright shutters and painted doors here. ]

No, not that type of melting.

[ as she leans her shoulder into his, taking note of where they are. they're getting closer to a small little shop that sells blini and coffee, and has a little seating area outside. to enjoy the sun, and to people-watch. which inej is certain kaz will prefer the latter rather than the former. ]

It is like a fluffy, thin cake. With fruit on it.

[ sort of?? inej is bad at describing stuff like this. nina is way better. ]

Though I am sure you could put chocolate on it, if you really wanted.

[ Well, he's getting a slightly better picture in his head, though who knows how close it is to how the thing actually looks. He's imagining something like a cupcake but flatter, topped with fruit.

He supposes he'll find out soon enough.

At least until then, he has something to keep him busy, which is watching the people go by completely unawares. It's...nice, to not be known. To anyone here, he's just an outsider, his dark attire setting him apart. But none of them are skirting out of the way or trying to leave him a wide breadth like they would in Ketterdam. He's slightly wary, if only out of the usual worry that someone might bump into him the wrong way and leave him stunned and ill.

That seems to be happening less and less though. ]

Don't tell Zenik but I don't really care for chocolate all that much. [ She'd probably find that sacrilegious. ]

[ she can tell that he has a certain wherewithal about him, a quiet tension. it's a new place, and kaz doesn't really have any power here. which means people aren't going to avoid him simply because of his reputation.

still, inej guides them through the people easily, listening to his comment about chocolate, which doesn't surprise her. you don't practically live with someone for years and not get an inkling on what they like, and don't like. and it's never escaped her notice that kaz has typically declined offers to bring back chocolate covered waffles, whenever inej has gone to spend time with nina, after her work was through at the white rose.

still: ]

What is your favorite food?

[ curious, as they walk. ]

[ Between his natural avoidance of people and Inej's guiding skills, they make it through most of the crowded spots with little trouble. He gets a few stares from children and nosy mothers, who seem to disapprove of his clothing choices. As they go, he also catches sight of a few more pickpockets doing their work, some better than others. ]

Green apples. We had a tree, growing up. [ Jordie had taught him how to climb it and he'd spent a lot of time lounging in the lower branches. ] Da would make tarts at the end of the season.

[ He hasn't thought about that in years. ] What's yours? Besides waffles, that is.

[ His tone is teasing and he bumps her shoulder almost playfully, a bit of a smile turning his mouth up. ]

[ green apples is not the answer she was expecting, but it suits, all the same. especially the part about apple tart . . . and inej makes a mental note to herself, to track down an apple tart. somewhere.

it may need to wait to return to ketterdam, but she'll find one.

she sways easily with the bump, smile turning thoughtful. and the answer comes to her pretty easily: ]

My father makes a dish called pirogo. It is like a . . . [ and she thinks to herself, how to describe it without delving into her own language. ] Noodle casserole. It is very sweet.

[ with raisins, and cheese . . . ]

We can probably find it here, if we look hard enough. I am sure there are some of my people, working on the docks.

[ She sways towards him and he's tempted to put his arm around her waist, even if it would make walking a bit awkward. Easy enough to do when one has two working legs, not so much with his cane. Maybe when they stop, he'll be able to indulge the urge without putting them both off beat. ]

Sweet noodles? [ Nothing like that in Kerch. But then, noodles have never been a big part of their diet. It's mostly root vegetables and cured meats, things to get through their miserable winters and dreary rains. ] Between the two of us, it shouldn't be hard to find.

[ She'll want the nostalgia, the familiar taste. And he wants to try it, not one to be a picky eater. ]

They are not exactly sweet noodles, but that is the closest thing I can think of to describe them.

[ somewhat apologetically, her steps slowing as they move toward a small little shop. the air is brisk, but it is a nice day outside . . . and the tables outside are scattered with people taking advantage of the sunshine. and as inej reads the menu posted outside, she raises a finger to point in the window, toward some displays of blini, to entice people inside. ]

Those are blini. Or fake displays of blini.

[ either way, an example. and, after glancing inside, she looks up at kaz, arching her eyebrows. ]

Do you want me to order?

[ her ravkan is (way) better than his. ]

I'll find out while we're here. [ About the taste of those noodles. It had started as a curiosity and now it's a given that they'll figure out some way to get a version.

He's torn out of thoughts on how to methodically check by Inej as she comes to a slow and stop in front of a little cafe. There's a menu posted outside but he can't read any of it. Thankfully, she points out the displays in the window, which he turns to, immediately amending his mental image. Definitely not a cupcake. ]

Yes, otherwise I'm going to accidentally call someone a dog. [ He turns away from the window, glancing back to her. ] I trust your judgment, they all look good.

[ there's an upward curve of her lips at calling someone a dog before she squeezes his fingers, letting go to duck inside the shop to order, leaving kaz outside.

it's . . . odd, being back in ravka. the language flows easily, and inej feels for a moment like she never left, as she orders a couple different flavors of blini, plus coffee. it was in a port city much like this that she was initially taken by slavers . . . and inej had considered returning to os kervo with kaz, but she hadn't wanted to risk the sudden resurgence of memory.

maybe one day. but not this day, on a break, enjoying his company.

after a few minutes of waiting and coin exchanged, inej reappears outside with a tray of food and coffee, a warm smile in place before she inclines her head toward a near table. ]

Is that okay?

[ the blini smells delicious, and now that she has food, inej has realized just how hungry she actually is. ]

[ When she goes in to order, he steps off to the side, leaning against part of the low iron fencing that divides the cafe space from the street. He ends up watching people go by, letting their chatter wash over him. There's something nice about not knowing what they're saying—he isn't tempted to follow the mental cycle or to consider their motives. ]

After you. [ He gestures and follows after, pulling out a chair for her at the table. Once she's settled, he peels off his coat and drapes it over the back of his seat, sitting down at an angle so he can stretch out his leg. The first thing he picks up is the coffee, which is strong enough to smell from the tabletop. None of the watered down kind that ends up served in the Barrel. ]

Seems like this could wake the dead.

[ what a gentleman, inej thinks to herself, amused as she takes her seat. but she scoots the chair over a little, so she can people-watch the streets with him, seated next to him. and once she does that, she offers a quiet grin, at his comment about the coffee. ]

Ravkans enjoy their coffee. I believe it is considered an artform.

[ it's appreciative, as inej doles out the food. and while she does want coffee, her focus is on the blini . . . and she selects one with a dollop of cream and some type of smoked fish, rolling it up neatly to eat with her hands. and at the first bite, there's a tenuous moment where inej chews once, before closing her eyes in something of a bliss.

she hadn't realized how much she had missed the comforts of home (as close as ravka is to home) until she no longer had them in ketterdam. ]

[ It's nice, having her sitting so close, the both of them poised to people-watch with ease. He takes a sip of the coffee, eyebrows lifting a fraction at the strong taste—she's right, they do seem to take it quite seriously. Another sip and he watches her roll up the food over the rim, smiling a bit when she closes her eyes after taking a bite.

Well, if that isn't convincing as to the quality of food, he doesn't know what is.

Setting his cup down, he picks out one with strawberries, rolling it in the same fashion and taking a bite; it's fresh, the berries themselves sweet. Definitely right up there with waffles. ]

Maybe I should look at coffee imports, then.

You should.

[ amused, as she takes another bite of the blini, opening her eyes to take a look at the street for a moment before shifting her eyes to watch kaz take a bite of the blini, to sip his coffee.

he looks so different. at ease, and calm. comfortable, and content. and for a moment, inej just watches him with a small smile, her fingers curled around her cup of coffee.

she had spent so long envisioning what their life could be like that it's hard to believe that it's within her grasp. ]

[ As usual, his mind has already latched onto the idea and he idly turns over the logistics as he eats and watches some businessman book it down the street. It's an impressive feat as he dodges through the crowd, though he has a near miss with a lady carrying her groceries.

His attention is pulled away as he feels Inej's eyes on him and he glances at her, tilting his head in question. ]

Is there something on my face?

[ ah, caught. though she can tell that his mind had wandered to a plan, with his specific scheming face. so distracting him back to the present is really only for the best. ]

No.

[ as she takes a sip of her coffee, still watching him, eyes warm, fingers curled around the steaming cup. ]

Just watching you.

[ Her answer surprises him in a strange way. She always an observer– that's part of what makes her the wraith. But to have that attention specifically on him is...flattering? And also makes him self conscious.

Which means he has to cover the initial embarrassment somehow. Because what does one say to that? ]

Any astute observations?

[ she settles back into her chair with a thoughtful look, pursing her lips together. ]

You are thinking of something. Probably how to import coffee from Ravka to Ketterdam at a profit without investing a large amount of money.

[ but that's easy, as she takes another sip of her coffee. ]

You are enjoying yourself. Your shoulders are more relaxed, and your posture is less rigid. You are enjoying your food instead of eating it for the sake of eating it. You are clenching your teeth less; your jaw is more relaxed.

[ she pauses before raising her coffee to her lips, lips curving into a faint smile. ]

And your coffee is too hot; you have not touched it since your first sip.

[ She leans back and he knows he's in for something like a list. And she doesn't disappoint, though he feels that same strange mix of both embarrassment and flattery. Though there is something warm that spread through him because she's the only one who could be so accurate about him.

He shifts in his seat, angling his body towards her a bit more, watching her face. There's a faint smile on her mouth and he wants nothing more, in this moment, to kiss the curve. ]

How about now?

[ her eyebrows arch slightly at the adjustment of his posture, how his eyes search her face. and for a moment, inej almost points out that she can’t just pull observations out of nothing like a fortune teller wearing a jackal mask... but her brow furrows, as she really pays attention.

he is watching her. as he does sometimes, when they have conversations. but this is a little different. his eyes aren’t necessarily meeting hers, but are flickering down. watching her jawline, maybe? or... no, that doesn’t seem right.

it’s rare that Inej doesn’t see something, but this seems to be one of those times. but just as inej is about to tell him so, it suddenly hits her that his eyes aren’t drawn to her jaw, but her mouth.

ah.

her lips twitch, and inej sets her cup down, though her hands are still curved around it. ]

I wouldn’t want to make you blush again.

[ amused. ]

Edited (HTML!!!) 2020-06-21 02:41 (UTC)

[ As always, he knows she'll come to the right conclusion. This might be slightly more difficult. Maybe. He has no idea what his expression says right now; it feels like it's somewhat neutral.

Though he can't stop mirroring the little smile she gets when she finally figures it out. ]

Try me.

[ kaz has certain tells that inej is certain only she knows, but even he fools her, with the purposeful lies he can tell, the stories he can spin. he nearly did when kaz spun the tale of burying pekka's child alive. he's very convincing, when he wants to be.

but in normal conversations that aren't with pekka rollins, inej can tell when kaz can be pushed, and when it is a useless battle. when she can delicately nudge him in the right direction, or when she has to all but drag him, kicking and screaming, toward the right choice. she can tell when he's listening, and when he's pretending to listen, and when he wants nothing to do with the conversation anymore -- because those are three different twitches in his cheek, as he holds his tongue between his teeth.

now, though, the reason why it takes so long to figure out what she can normally collect in an instant is because she's genuinely surprised that he's thinking of her. and inej dwells on that thought for a moment, allowing it to settle around her shoulders before she closes the space between them, to press her lips against his cheek briefly before returning to her coffee, sipping it gently. ]

Maybe later.

[ xo ]

[ They've both become rather adept in speaking each other's language. The silent kind, like the minute changes in her expression when she'd annoyed with him, or when she's turning an idea over in her head. It's how he'd known her tell, in the hotel when she'd asked.

She hadn't figured out his, though he thinks now she might be able to. Now that he's showing, in fits and starts, how often he does think of her. Even if those thoughts are fleeting. Which, being in such close proximity nearly all day, she's more of a constant than anything else. What's more is he's grown to like it. The day in and day out, spending time and chatting about nothing in particular. He can already tell he's going to miss it when he's back in Ketterdam, back to his desk and schemes and running a gang without her nearby.

So he's going to soak up what he can. Like the gentle kiss to his cheek, making his smile widen by a fraction.

Maybe he should be more worried that it happened so out in the open but he can't find it in him to care. ]

Just maybe? [ Naturally, he's a pest for details. ]

[ she arches her eyebrows at his perceived impatience, allowing her own smile to widen a little in return over the rim of her coffee cup. ]

Patience is a virtue.

[ and inej tilts her head toward the rest of the blini.

they should probably get through breakfast before kaz has her waltzing down a road past the point of no return and distraction. ]

[ He huffs a laugh at her response, though he concedes to her overall point. It's still breakfast; they have plenty of the day left.

That doesn't stop him from being a little bit of a brat. ]

Preaching patience to a Barrel rat? [ He says, folding over another blini. ] You'd have better luck singing the birds out of trees.

[ But then, she probably could. The crows on his windowsill are practically hers, after all. ]

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