timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

Not exactly what I had in mind.

[ Though he's aware she's caught on. And is clearly teasing. ]

Maybe we should have dinner. [ He says, a bit thoughtful, switching gears. Mischief still lights his dark eyes when he keeps going. ] Then you can be dessert.

[ Despite the bold words, there is a bit of color at the tips of his ears. This whole being forward thing is a work in progress. Even if he's pretty sure he's heard and said worse on a regular basis in the Barrel.

It's just. Different with her. ]

Hmmm . . .

[ she hums to herself in thought, considering her options, lightly running her fingers along his back as she thinks (or at least, pretends to) about his proposition.

it's always been funny to her, that he gets so nervous in these conversations with her. mostly because she doesn't see kaz as a nervous person, at all. he's very confident, and arrogant, and charming (when he wants to be), so to see any hint of nervousness is a type of vulnerability that she jealously guards to herself.

still. he did ask her something. (sort of.) so: ]

I think that sounds like the beginning of a relaxing night.

[ warmly, before she shifts to stand on her toes so she could give him a brief kiss, lingering only for a moment before she unloops her arms from his waist. ]

But I need to find my shoes, before we go to dinner.

[ shoes won't be necessary for dessert, obviously, but she's pretty sure they're needed for dinner. ]

[ It's very tempting to skip dinner once she's agreed to the whole idea. But sometimes waiting made things all the better. While he's surprisingly impatient in wanting to shower Inej with affection, he does know how to rein it in. Mostly.

So he lets her go, reluctantly as always, straightening his jacket. ]

By the corner of the bed, on your side. [ He does try to keep tabs on where shoes land. They could get in the way so easily. ] Unless you've ones to match the dress I don't know about.

I do have different shoes.

[ she says with a slight grin, though she does cross over to her side of the bed, ducking down to rifle through her bag before finding a modest pair of wedges, which she slips into. they do, indeed, match the dress, and once she’s done with that, she comes back over to thread her fingers through his, smile bright. ]

Ready.

[ and another inch taller!!! small victories are small. ]

[ Oh no, she's gone and gotten an entire outfit together. He already appreciated the fact that she'd gone out of her way for the dress—it had to be specifically tailored, she was so tiny—and done her hair up. The shoes were just a final touch.

And honestly, they're very cute, in addition to throwing him off a bit. She's taller in them and he has to adjust to the slight visible difference. He takes the hand she offers and leads them out of the room, taking care to lock the door behind them. This place is small and unlikely to have much thievery, but habits are habits.

Dinner, once they're settled, is quiet and cozy. There's two other tables of people, one with a businessman who is engrossed in a paper, the other of a small family with a remarkably well-behaved five year old. One other patron sits at the end of the cared for bar, nursing a drink and staring off wistfully as the bartender dries glasses.

Their waitress, as he finally manages to catch on near the middle of dinner, has been flirting with him from the word go. Which is a phenomenon that continues to leave him baffled. And also prompts him to kiss the backs of Inej's fingers after one of her quiet and amusing comments. Just to get the point across, for once, despite neither of them being particularly fond of public displays. At least it seems to have the desired effect: their waitress is a bit more demure next time she comes over. ]

I thought maybe that wouldn't happen this time around.

[ After all, Inej is clearly all dressed up and they're here together. Shouldn't that be obvious? ]

[ inej watches, with much amusement, as the waitress does her best. and kaz, as always, is blissfully oblivious, despite it being very obvious. and inej has her chin in her hand, as their waitress refills their respective glasses and asks kaz if he needs anything else, but makes sure to add sweetheart to the end of it.

that, it seems, is where kaz figured it out. ]

Mm, well.

[ she says, her chin still in her hand as she watches him, a slow grin appearing. it never bothers her when this happens, because most of the time, kaz and inej truly just look like they're talking. tonight, they seem to be very clearly on a date, but even then, inej could just be the type of woman to dress up for the sake of dressing up.

( she isn't, but that waitress doesn't know that. )

it usually makes her evening when it does happen, though, because she has the opportunity to tease him on something relatively harmless. ]

I suppose you can't help being irresistible, sweetheart.

[ Any time this happens, he doesn't know until it's over. And every time, he's mildly weirded out that it happened at all. It is, perhaps, a byproduct of ignoring anyone who seemed remotely flirtatious. Or maybe just because he'd always had his focus elsewhere. Dalliances had never crossed his mind, considering his issues with touch, and a relationship—even one overnight—had felt too risky even if he could get past someone touching him. Too easy for someone to get a knife between his ribs as well. It hadn't been worth the trouble.

Of course, now he seems to be paying for it. At least this time he caught on before Inej had to tell him.

But only because being called sweetheart had been such an obvious thing. It had also thrown him completely, leaving him blinking for a half second before he recovered enough to answer. People out this way didn't know who he was, which is mostly a relief. It also gives him an entirely new perspective on how he's perceived.

Which is apparently rich and cute, only one of those things he cares to attribute to himself. Unfortunately, Inej is having a time of it as usual, her chin propped up in her hand, and he feels a small flush in his cheeks when she repeats the pet name. ]

Stop that. I got it this time.

Did you?

[ she's amused, before inej decides to scoot her chair around a little. they're tucked in a quiet corner of the restaurant, away from most people, which allows them to people watch. but as she shifts her chair closer to sit more next to him, rather than across, she's close enough to gently brush her lips against his cheek. ]

You should relax and enjoy your dinner.

[ she says, running a finger along his arm before resettling in her chair, adjusting her place setting so she can still eat and enjoy his company. ]

But you are right, sweetheart . . . hm, I'm not sure that fits you very well. [ in terms of the pet name department, as she eyes him critically, picking up her glass to take a sip of her wine. ] Maybe she will change it to honey, that sounds a little closer, don't you think?

[ she'll torment him until the end of days, this is his new lot in life, now. ]

[ The initial fluster has started to wear off and he's glad they're in the corner so no one is really paying them much mind. He also can't say he's against her scooting her chair closer, a flicker of a smile turning his mouth up when she brushes a kiss to his cheek. There's even a low thrill, as she touches his arm. It's not improper, not in the least, but it is decidedly more than they usually get into with other people around. ]

Honey? [ He sounds scandalized, shooting her an incredulous look. ] I'm not some sweet thing in a jar.

[ Slightly accusatory: ] You're having too much fun with this.

[ oh, he's properly bothered, now, and inej grins over the rim of her glass, eyes bright with mischief.

she does not confirm or deny that she's having fun. instead: ]

You are right, honey is no good.

[ in something of a resigned tone, as she takes another sip of her drink. but before she can say anything else, the waitress returns to drop off their first round of food, and inej offers the woman a warm smile before saying: ]

Would you mind bringing a pitcher of water? It's a little dry in here.

[ and she offers kaz the same warm, genuine smile, eyes bright, tone completely genuine: ]

Isn't that right, dumpling?

[ xo ]

[ She agrees all to easily and judging from the look in her eyes, he knows he isn't off the hook anytime soon. Then again, it isn't often she finds something that gets under his skin that's relatively benign. As much as this is emotionally painful and nigh embarrassing.

Besides, he's in a good mood. Even if she seems intent on making him blush every color of pink. There's also the fact that he enjoys—probably too much—her expression of mischief.

He's about to agree to the request for water, swallowing his sip of wine, when she calls him yet another ridiculous name, this one much worse than the previous ones. There's certainly color high on his cheeks and ears, even as he nods his answer and the waitress goes her way. ]

That is ridiculous, I'm not something to eat!

[ Ah. Phrasing. ]

[ her grin should be illegal, honestly, as he turns scarlet and then quickly turns on her with indignation. positively scandalized. the horror. ]

I thought that was our plan this evening.

[ mildly, as she sips from her glass. ]

Or do you have a change of heart, my love?

[ she can keep going, she's got all night, baby. ]

[ At the moment, he's torn. Because her smile is so bright and he can't even pretend to be upset with her, not even if her amusement is at his expense.

She's also being particularly merciless. ]

Well, I— yes. [ Words, what are they? He's momentarily distracted by the reminder, shifting in his seat when he thinks about the hem of her dress brushing against her legs. ] I still object to dumpling.

[ He takes a sip of his wine, trying to find some zen. ] I can't take it seriously. How do people take it seriously?

[ oh, now he's pouting. and her expression softens (just a little, because he's still being ridiculous) before she leans over to gently brush her lips against his temple, amused. ]

What about darling?

[ she asks, setting her glass down, expression fond (if a bit amused, because he's pouting).

-- it's also a trap, because he calls her darling all the time (even if just in private), but inej is fairly certain he doesn't even realize it's the same damn thing as what he's currently throwing a fit over now. ]

[ He is not pouting. He is drawing the line at some ridiculousness.

(Which includes pouting. A bit.) ]

I like that one. [ And not just because he occasionally uses it. A little color comes back to his face as he keeps going, twirling his fork idly in his noodles. ] It seems more sincere than being compared to food.

[ And since this is turning out to be honesty hour: ] I like when you say that; my love.

[ The look he finally gives her is approaching shy. Admitting this is hard. But he does like being considered hers. ]

[ ah, he's taken it too seriously. and inej watches him for a long moment, waiting for him to turn to look at her before she leans over to kiss him, the movement gentle, but purposeful.

it's easy, to be affectionate hidden away in the corner, anyway. ]

You are my love.

[ quietly, shifting back into her seat to turn her attention to her own dinner. ]

Even when you take everything too seriously. [ and she pauses, cutting into her fish, before she adds: ] Pumpkin.

[ he's such a dweeb. ]

[ Ok, yes, he has taken this too seriously. Chill out, Brekker.

The kiss she gives him does go a bit of ways to help him relax, at least. Being tucked away in the corner has perks. Though if the waitress is looking in the direction, it's not like she could've missed it.

He sighs, clearly having lost control of this conversation. The corner of his mouth quirks at her last jab. It doesn't rankle nearly as much. ]

Suppose that one is fairly fitting. [ Hard exterior, weird squishy interior. ]

[ she grins a little, at that, and eats her dinner for a moment in quiet . . . but soon, she pipes up again. ]

So to be clear, you prefer pumpkin.

[ as she sets down her fork, amused as she refolds her napkin to drape along her nap. ]

In the grand list of suggestions we've gone through so far.

[ Somehow, he knows the matter isn't dropped. She's gone silent simply because there's dinner to still be had, something he turns his attention to as well.

At least he isn't surprised when she picks up right where they left off, this way. ]

It offends me less than dumpling. Darling definitely edges it out of first place.

[ He can't believe he's logically rating these. There hasn't been nearly enough wine, which he remedies with another sip. ]

I've heard too many Barrel women use honey right before they slap someone.

[ that earns a laugh, and inej shakes her head slightly, watching him with a fond look. ]

You would not hear me say a word before I slapped you, so I think you can rule that concern out.

[ though now she's wondering how many times kaz brekker has watched who knows how many women slap someone who probably deserved it . . . probably a fair few. ]

We can settle on darling.

[ in reassurance, as she reaches out to pick up her wine glass, to finish what's left with a last sip. ]

Pumpkin can be for special occasions.

Somehow, I get the feeling it wouldn't be a slap. [ Of all people, she's earned the right to deck him in the face. Maybe even a little stab.

Either way her point stands: he wouldn't hear anything before the blow. Not only because she's so quiet, but also her anger is wrapped in silence. When she's well and truly furious, anyway. He doesn't plan on getting her to that if he can help it—she's had enough anger and bad emotions in her life to be dealing with more. ]

Is today a special occasion? You did dress up.

[ He points out, as he picks at his dinner some more. ]

Not really.

[ admittedly, as she watches him push around his noodles, letting her own food sit for a moment or two to watch him, content. ]

I saw the dress in a shop, in Ravka, when we landed at port, and I thought you would like it.

[ it really was that simple. she had tried it on and had it tailored, and decided to buy the outfit to store it before she left. for no other real purpose than to wear it when she saw kaz again. ]

Tonight seemed like a good night to wear it, that is all.

I do.

[ He says levelly, perhaps a bit too seriously. Because he's already shown some of his appreciation—and clearly will show it in a more...physical way, after they're done here. ]

I'm glad you did. [ Because he knows it's not always the most comfortable for her. On several levels. Kaz does reach over, patting her knee affectionately, before returning to his dinner.

Which is admittedly getting harder to focus on, but he's making an effort. ]

Though I can't deny I'm interested to see it on the floor. [ Said low, with no chance of being overheard. ]

[ she arches her eyebrows at the comment, expression nearly incredulous. how forward. and his manners had been nearly perfect the whole meal, too. ]

Bold of you to assume you will be patient enough to see it on the floor.

[ she says under her breath, reaching out to collect her fork again, her lips twitching into a faint grin. ]

[ There's definitely a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth when her eyebrows go up. And he feels a bit more equilibrium. As much as forward comments are still a work in progress, he's at least more used to them then any kind of vulnerability. ]

Hm, you're right. [ Oh??? ] Hitched up, then.

[ He says it with an accompanying grin, before starting back in on his meal. ]

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