timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ this is more than surviving causes a moment of pause, and she watches kaz for a moment as he places his hand on her knee. and the simple sentence strikes a chord in her, because she, too, has been doing nothing but surviving. from one day to the next. from one payment on her debt to the next. and finally, she can pursue life.

life means the seas, and setting people free. life means the ability to defend herself, and obtain justice. life means inej ghafa walking through ketterdam unafraid, while tante haleen scrapes together coin for food. but life also means sitting at this nameless cafe with kaz, eating blini and drinking coffee and talking about their plans for the day.

so when kaz turns to her, and says that they might as well explore, inej leans forward to press her lips against his, in a soft kiss. and once that is done, her cheeks slightly pink (because it is in public), she says: ]

I think there are more shops further down the street, here.

[ She's silent for a few moments and he takes that time to sip his (now cooled) coffee. It's good to have something that isn't watered down. To have coffee that isn't just there to drink down as quickly as possible.

Then again, that seems to be a theme being here. They can just enjoy their time without worrying about having to be somewhere or abide by any timetable aside from their own.

And he's definitely enjoying this sudden turn of affection. First the kiss to his cheek and now the one she presses to his mouth, a soft brush. He looks at her in a bit of surprise, head tilted as if to ask: what for? ]

Plan on adding to your knife collection?

It is not a collection.

[ only slightly put out, by the phrasing, as inej settles back into her chair, only offering him a small smile, at his questioning look.

maybe she can tell him later tonight, in private, what this means to her. but such things aren't supposed to be said in public, so he will have to be patient. ]

I use all of them.

[ as if that makes a difference. ]

It can still be a collection.

[ He takes another sip of his coffee, mind working on two things at the same time. There's the curiosity over what that kiss had been, aside from something impulsive.

And there's also the vague wonder at what the rest of the city will be like. ]

You're just not exactly like a collector. [ They keep things simply to keep them, rather than use anything. ]

[ the semantics cause an arch of her eyebrows, as she collects her coffee cup to take another drink. she's nearly done with hers, but doesn't seem to be in any rush to move. simply enjoying the moment, the weight of his hand on her leg. ]

I may want to add another one to my stores.

[ it's not a collection!!!!!! ]

But new clothing would be nice, too. Fresh ink.

[ inej is nothing but practical. ]

[ Well, close enough. He doesn't argue her sort of agreement.

(It's definitely a collection. One he's fed into over the past few years). ]

I could use a new vest. [ Actually, he could use a couple. For some reason, they seem to take the brunt of most of the rips and tears in fights. ] Looking for a particular piece?

Mmm... [ it's a noise of consideration, as she thinks on what she's looking for. ] No, I do not think so. I just want one from here. [ from ravka, from home.

but at kaz's suggestion, her lips purse together into a smile that looks suspiciously like she's trying not to laugh. ]

In fuschia?

[ she won't let that go. ]

[ That he can understand– the clothes in Kerch aren't exactly the same all over. Shirts were definitely cut differently in Lij and coming to Ketterdam had been a bit of an adjustment.

Not that he intends to go back to wearing anything he used to. But he understands her desire to have clothing from her homeland. ]

Absolutely not. [ Bright colors are not for him. Well: ] Maybe a tie.

[ a laugh escapes at the absolutely not, and inej rests her chin in her hands, to watch him as she tries to envision what he would look like even in just a brightly colored tie.

. . . her imagination is not quite that good. but: ]

Maybe green.

[ thoughtfully, wrinkling her nose in thought. ]

I think green would be possible.

[ and not make him look terrible. ]

Not lime green.

[ Though perhaps that isn't a thing here as much as it is in the Barrel. He hasn't seen anyone on the street wearing it just yet; the patterns and colors are different. ]

Another green, maybe. [ Something he'd be willing to try. Kaz finishes his coffee and pats her leg, reluctantly withdrawing his touch. ] Ready, then?

An olive green.

[ a more muted shade, and inej nods once before she rises to her feet, offering out her hand so he can both stand and take it in his own.

today was going to be a good day, she could feel it. ]

Or an emerald, if you feel like being obnoxious.

[ obnoxious for him, anyway. ]

[ Olive green, that's do-able. His knee-jerk reaction still has him not wanting any color aside from a dark red. But he is in a different country with different sensibilities. It could be interesting.

As she stands, he takes her hand and gets up, leaning a bit towards her simply to steady himself. He grabs his coat, pulls it on, and then plucks his cane up from where it's leaning against the table edge. ]

We'll see.

[ it's a lovely afternoon out, all things considered. she spends about an hour in a clothing shop run by a lovely suli woman. truthfully, it's less the clothes and more the fact that inej can speak her own language with another person that takes so long. but kaz doesn't seem to mind . . . though inej is suspicious that that has less to do with inej speaking suli, and more that he had an interest in what she wore.

but she allows him to escape that without embarrassment. she even buys a dress, though that's less because she wanted it and more because the suli woman coaxed her into it.

so -- with clothing in tow, and a new knife, they return to the room. and inej is lying on the bed, still wearing what she wore out that day, but sans shoes, toying with the new knife she purchased as she speaks to the ceiling: ]

Should we order food to the room?

[ for dinner.

she's not feeling particularly inclined to leave the room again. ]

[ Truthfully, he can't remember the last time he had such a relaxing afternoon. There's been times in Ketterdam, sure, where he's had an hour here and there to himself. But since taking over the Dregs, those moments have been few and far between. And any time he ends up with, he usually thinks about work or things adjacent to work.

So. It's nice, not only doing something so ordinary, but also spending time with Inej all the while. They find the shop run by a suli woman about five storefronts deep and he knows almost immediately that they'll be here a while. It turns out he's right and he doesn't mind, enjoying listening to Inej chatter away with the older woman in suli, the language musical and pleasant.

There's also the matter of Inej being convinced into trying on a dress. It's a relatively long dress but he gets a glimpse of her legs and it's...distracting. As they leave the shop, he might leave the suli woman a little extra. Even if Inej never wears the damn thing again, it was worth it.

He's still thinking about it, idly, as he flips through a book he'd picked up– general information about Ravkan history– when her question pulls him out of his concentration. ]

Unless you feel like going out. [ His gaze flicks down to her bare feet and how she's completely flopped back onto the bed. Something says they'll be staying in. He shuts his book and comes over, sitting almost right next to her. Almost. ] Which somehow, I don't think you do.

[ she shifts slightly, to watch him move to sit near her, and inej tilts her head back to look at him properly, wrinkling her nose. ]

The night life tends to be loud.

[ which isn't necessarily new, for either of them, but there is thief loud and there is sailor loud. and inej is far more accustomed to one than the other. she thinks she's been talked into bar-hopping with her crew twice, and inej had regretted it both times.

mostly because they tend to end in fights, and there is nothing inej finds more infuriating than a grown man attempting to punch her in the face and being upset when he loses. ]

Too much drunks, too little money.

[ sailors. what can you do. ]

I think I would have more fun here.

Edited 2020-06-23 01:49 (UTC)

[ The way she wrinkles her nose tells him nearly enough, though she elaborates and it makes sense why she'd want to stay in. A port town like this is not quite the same as Ketterdam's harbors and gambling halls. More regular sailors than a mix of clientele.

And they are quite loud. He can always pick them out when they come into the club. ]

I can find out what the hotel has available. [ Though, he'll get to that in a second: ]

Fun like? [ Ok, color him curious. ]

[ the question causes an arch to her eyebrows, as she settles the (sheathed) knife on her stomach, the blade flat.

truthfully, just lying around and doing nothing sounds more fun than exploring the night-life of the city. but being asked for specifics (which, you know, inej should know by now to expect that) causes her to actually think about what to do. ]

Eating dinner in pajamas.

[ which sounds super fun. ]

Planning out tomorrow . . . ordering dessert. Falling asleep early.

[ literally anything but hanging around with drunkards. ]

All right. Dinner and dessert. In pajamas.

[ It's a deal.

He gets up from the bed, intending to check with the hotel staff on acquiring those first two things. ] Any requests?

[ as he moves, inej gets up with a swing of her legs, getting up with ease now that there is a plan. And she fishes out some pajamas, ducking into the bathroom to change, but not before: ]

Whatever you want.

[ and the door closes, so she can change.

she had promised to make him blush, and inej herself feels the need to push herself a bit further. to test her own comfort level. and so she tugs on a loose shirt for a top, but a pair of loose shorts for bottoms. still modest and covered, inej thinks, but it’s more skin. More vulnerability.

( it’s also somewhat warm in the room, so she knows she’ll be more comfortable, anyway. )

so once she does that and folds up her clothing, inej peers into the room, and seeing it safe, steps out of it. admittedly a little more tentative than nights past, but pushing forward is the only way to go. ]

What did you get?

[ She leaves it in his hands and he has to think it over before realizing he wasn't sure what they had. It's not like he's familiar with the food here.

As she goes into the bathroom to change, he slips his shoes back on, off to check with the desk on what's what. Thankfully, he doesn't have to worry about a lack of Ravkan understanding– probably a side effect of it being a hotel in a port– as one of the people down at the desk speaks Kerch. There's a slight accent but it's easy enough to work through.

Once the order is in, he makes his way back to the room, overlapping with Inej coming back out from changing and getting ready for bed. He's by the shut door, leaning his cane nearby, and he freezes when he looks over at her. Because that is just. A lot of skin. ]

Um. [ What did he get? Does it matter? Kaz swallows, feeling a bit of a blush creeping onto his cheeks. ] Curry?

[ it's this bizarre mixture of self-conscious and emboldened, as he clearly quasi-stammers his way through what he ordered for dinner. belatedly, inej realizes she probably should have ordered given she knows three languages compared to kaz's one (and a half). but he seems to have managed just fine, and so inej moves to the bed, to sit back on it, crossing her legs underneath herself.

not quite brave enough to stretch out again as she had before, but. you know. she's getting there.

most importantly: ]

I told you so.

[ knowingly, as she reaches up with a finger to tap her own cheek.

she made him blush. :) ]

[ She moves and it snaps him out of his daze. Well, just enough that he isn't left staring at her, speechless, for too long. As he steps away from the door, shrugging out of his jacket: ]

I can't complain about being proven wrong. [ There's the added bonus of her looking so relaxed and content, which is always nice to see. While she gets comfortable, he goes through the motions of undressing and redressing. His concession to the warmer room is short sleeves and pants in a lighter fabric. Soon enough, he joins her on the bed, gaze flicking down to her half-bared legs as he leans back. ]

[ she grins a little, and though she averts her eyes for his undressing, she does seem to be more comfortable. more relaxed. and she remains where she is when he sits down, watching him thoughtfully before she scoots herself to sit next to him, folding her legs once more once she's shoulder to shoulder with him. ]

Today was a good day.

[ which feels like an obvious thing to say, but it's really the first time in a long time that inej can remember enjoying the day without anything really weighing on her shoulders. even in the fallout of the van eck job, in the tenuous weeks between nina leaving and obtaining her ship, had been miserable in that she didn't really speak to kaz.

vacation feels nice. as does relaxing. she should probably do it more often. ]

[ When she scoots next to him, he relaxes, now so used to her leaning against him that he doesn't feel an ounce of nerves or nausea. He curls a loose arm around her waist, something he's been wanting to do all day. They'd been moving around too much, going in and out of shops, trying on the occasional pair of pants or a shirt.

But like she says: a good day, to which he hums his assent to. ]

Seemed like you had a good conversation with that shop owner—Kinjal?

[ the arm around her waist is becoming a comfort, and inej leans her head against his shoulder. comfortable to relax while they wait for the food to be brought to their room.

at mention of the woman, inej makes an amused noise, closing her eyes to soak up the warmth and the feeling of his arm on her waist. ]

Kinjal. [ it's a subtle correction of emphasis on the syllables, drawing out the ah sound just a little. ] She wanted to know whether I was visiting with the caravan. And once I said no, she had sixteen follow-up questions.

[ but she doesn't sound too bothered by that, her lips curving into a faint smile at the thought. ]

She mostly wanted to know why I was in town with a rich man from Kerch.

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