timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ 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. ]

It will catch on the knife against my right thigh if you do that.

[ she says idly, as she takes another bite of her dinner, reaching out to pour another glass of wine. May as well finish the bottle. ]

And this dress was expensive, so you had better not ruin it, darling.

[ At that comment, his eyebrows shoot up and he slides a furtive glance towards the bit of her lap he can see. Of course she wouldn't be without her knives. They were practically undergarments at this point.

She follows it up with such a confident chiding that he feels an unexpected bit of heat warm his face as much as it coils in his gut. Ah. He loves when she gets like this. ]

I'll be careful. Like picking a lock.

[ she grins a little, at his glance, shifting her attention back to her dinner with an amused look. ]

Someone likes to make enemies.

[ as she finishes the last vestiges of food on her plate, setting down her fork to return to her glass of wine, amused. ]

It would be stupid to leave the house without at least one, wouldn't it?

[ you never know when someone might decide to test their luck. ]

But I would appreciate being careful, so I don't need to replace the dress.

I don't enjoy making enemies, some people are just never going to learn.

[ It's easier to cut to the chase where they don't get along. Instead of trying to keep up some farce that ends up in enemy territory, ultimately.

Also, he simply cannot abide stupidity. ]

You say that as if I mind. [ He likes the knives. She's dangerous and he likes the physical reminders, even if it's unlikely he'll forget.

Her fork is set down and she reaches for her glass as he finishes dinner, enjoying how quiet everything is. It's not that he dislikes the Slat—how could he, it's home—but dinner is usually a noisy affair. Unless they make it up onto the roof. Then it's high enough to drown out the sounds of people and distinct conversation. ]

We can't have that.

[ Though he would buy a replacement in a heartbeat.

The waitress comes back over, seeing them starting to wrap up, and clears plates away, inquiring about dessert. She leaves a menu behind when she goes off to tabulate the check, just in case. ]

If you want death by chocolate, better say something now.

[ as the dessert menu is left behind, inej picks it up to flip it over, eyes scanning it over with some interest. unlike kaz, inej does rather like sweets . . . but there's not much on the menu that he would be interested in eating. aside from maybe the fruit tart, if you take the chocolate off of it. ]

Hmm . . .

[ thoughtfully, before she puts the menu back down. it is nice and quiet, in this place. and it's nice to just take their time and not feel the need to rush, or have to climb up three flights of stairs to the roof to find some peace. not that inej minds doing that, of course -- but this is nice, too. ]

If we want something, we can order it to the room.

[ that seems to be like a nice compromise, given he's not going to eat any of this. what a sad life he leads, not liking sweets. somewhere, nina is rolling her eyes so hard they very may well just fall out. ]

[ Not much one for sweets, he lets her look the menu over while he sips the rest of his wine. The businessman has gone already, table wiped down and re-set. The family is still there and while he can't hear what's said, it has the 5 year old laughing with childish too-loud delight.

He's never really thought about kids or even starting a family, but he supposes he could see the appeal in that little glimpse. ]

You're sure? Don't rush on my account. [ If she wants to indulge, it's fine. He knows she's more tempted by sweets than he is, something he's never heard the end of from Nina. ]

I am in no rush.

[ in reassurance, as settles back in her chair, reaching out to run her fingers along his arm once. mostly just to touch, but also to let him know that she's telling the truth. ]

I've had enough to eat, and if I want something later, I can always get it. It is fine.

[ besides, the first thing she saw was chocolate covered strawberries, and that sounds like a good late night treat, rather than something to eat immediately after dinner. ]

[ The touch to his arm convinces him and he slides the menu towards the edge of the table. There's only a small lapse before the waitress comes over with the check and takes away the empty water glasses. He spends a few moments calculating how much to leave and once the server picks up the bill, he tells her he doesn't need change.

They're left fully to their own devices and now that dinner has settled a bit, he wants nothing more than to cuddle Inej. And maybe kiss a bit. Or do other, more adventurous things. Really, they've been getting better. ]

Ready? [ He asks, after standing, offering her a hand up. She doesn't need it but it feels right anyway. ]

[ she smiles, at the offered hand, and she places her hand in his, rising to her feet easily before she interlaces her fingers with his, squeezing gently. ]

Ready.

[ warmly, as she gently rests her shoulder against his, letting him lead the way. ]

This place is so peaceful.

[ she says after a moment, as they move up the stairs, to get to their room in the far corner. it's nice, to have a lovely dinner and just walk up to their room . . . something that can't really happy in the slat without being interrupted fifteen times from point a to point b. ]

It's like it's removed from the chaos of the rest of the world.

[ Her shoulder leans against his and he takes an easy pace back to their room. After all, there's no rush, even if there's a flare of anticipation under his skin.

There's something nice about this too and he wants to hold onto it. It's rare the two of them can just have dinner and go up to his attic room without interruption. Whether it's Dregs socializing or asking questions, the two of them end up stopped along the way.

Here, they're just normal people. Well, as normal as they got. ]

News takes time to come out this way. Ketterdam hears it first, being on the coast. Belendt has a delay of half a day, the areas around it—varies. [ The pros and cons of a quiet town like this. ] Depending on the news, Lij wouldn't hear anything from the city for a week.

[ So definitely quote removed. He can't say he disagrees with that fact right now, it's giving them a chance to rest.

Coming to their door, he unlocks it and gestures for her to go first, following in after. He sheds his coat and hangs it, feeling warm from the wine. ]

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