timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ 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. ]

[ the first thing she does when she gets inside their room is dip down to unlatch her shoes, slipping out of them quickly to have bare feet on the carpet. the shoes themselves are actually rather comfortable, but it feels nice to be free of them. particularly after a few glasses of wine and a lovely dinner.

alas, her extra inch of height is now gone. but she soon moves close to him, to stand on her toes and slide her arms around his neck, with a warm grin. ]

Hi.

[ she murmurs, before pushing herself up for a gentle kiss. which is, as always, a careful artform because she is so much shorter than he is, but she manages. mostly by tugging him down an inch or two to meet her halfway. ]

[ He has time to hang his jacket and set his cane aside before she loops her arms around his neck. There's an equally warm smile curving his mouth when she says hello and he sets his hands on her waist, tugging her a bit closer. ]

Hey.

[ Then he's ducking his head down for the kiss eagerly, now warm all over. He breaks away only because he drops his hands further, to the backs of her thighs, lifting her the short distance to the bed. There, he leans in to kiss her again, his palm settled at the side of her neck. ]

[ she's about to suggest that they go to the bed when he shifts to lift her up. the movement sparks a soft laugh, returning the kiss earnestly as she's set on the bed, hands finding his face as she runs her thumbs over his cheeks. ]

Have I told you that I missed you?

[ she murmurs, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. ]

Because I have.

[ Her hands on his face pause further kisses, which is fine by him for the moment. He always likes when she does that—it feels like he can't turn away. Not that he wants to, really. ]

I could stand to hear it a few more times.

[ He smiles a bit, running his hand down her side to her hip. Tipping his head forward, he leans his forehead to hers briefly. ]

I always miss you when you go. As soon as you step back on your ship.

[ Is that pathetic? Kaz supposes it's ok if she knows that's how he is about her. ]

[ he leans his forehead against hers, and inej grins to herself before she gives him another kiss, running her thumb along his cheek. ]

I think about you every day.

[ quietly. sometimes it's so all-encompassing that it's painful. it's when it gets to that point that inej knows she needs to return to ketterdam, to rest, to rejuvenate. and, most importantly, to see him. ]

I am whole again, when I come back to you.

[ He returns the kiss, gentle, turning his head a fraction to press another to the palm of her hand. And then one to the inside of her wrist, right over the pulse point. ]

I worry about you every day.

[ Of course, he thinks of her without the worries, but those are the most pressing. All that open water—how could he not? There is the worry too, about her getting injured. But those pale in comparison to the possibility a storm will just capsize the ship. None of her skill could do a thing about it. ]

I am too. [ They are their own people but she is his better half. She's everything good about the world, even if she has a right to be furious with it. He kisses her then, words failing with just how much she means. How grateful he is that she comes back, that little smile of hers turned in his direction.

(If he were the type, he would've teared up over it.)

Instead, he'll kiss her, the kiss going from soft to something deeper, passionate and eager. ]

[ maybe it’s the wine, or the fact that they’re away from the chaos of ketterdam, or that they can finally just relax, but inej is loose-limbed and warm, grinning into his kiss.

intimacy is still hard. or, at least, parts of it is. they’ve made an incredible amount of progress, and inej feels that familiar itch under her skin, a warmth and a need for him to be closer. and she feels somewhat adventurous, tonight.

maybe it’ll be a good night. or not. either way, she’s determined to make the most of it until it’s no longer fun.

so she returns the kiss just as eagerly, a little breathless once she pulls away just enough to press her lips against his cheek, to catch her breath. ]

Mmm...

[ it’s a soft noise, with a smile pressed against his cheek. ]

I like you.

[ quite a lot, as she slides her hands to his chest, to idly undo a few buttons on his shirt.

just a few. ]

[ There's always a subconscious gauge, when they do this. Checking in with himself to make sure he doesn't just push her away. Seeing if he can catch the warning signs before it gets too bad.

He's also learned enough of her tells that he considers those too, waiting for that straightening of her spine or the tension that shows up in her shoulders.

Neither of those things are happening now; both of them are relaxed as they can ever be. Whether it's being in a new place or the privacy, he can't say. Perhaps it's a combination, with the drinks helping them along. Whatever the case, he simply feels light and warm all over when she pulls away, lips brushing his cheek. ]

I want to make you feel good. [ He murmurs, tilting his head to kiss her jaw. His hand slides from her hip further down her leg, fingertips searching out the knife he knows she's hidden. It's a smaller one, no less deadly in her hands, and he finds it halfway down her thigh. There might be a small noise he makes when he does, the knowledge of it being there sending heat through his gut.

Reluctantly, he pulls away after he feels her start to unbutton his shirt. He finishes what she started, untucking the tails and leaving it open as he carefully drops to his knees between hers. The skirt of her dress has hitched up now that she's sitting and he starts by running his hands up her shins, gaze pinned to hers. ]

Tell me if you want to stop.

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