timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ She's close enough that he can feel a bit of warmth radiating off of her. As he starts to gently pull the brush through her hair, he feels a similar calming effect. He's tempted to lean forward and press his face to it but he keeps brushing instead, getting all the tangles out bit by bit. ]

Probably. The netting helps. Why?

You should see the view.

[ quietly, her eyes closed as Kaz goes through her hair. ]

It will make you feel insignificant, but powerful.

[ it is (with no surprise) Inej’s favorite part of her ship. ]

You can see everything, to the end of the world.

Like the spires of Ghezen's church?

[ Though probably even better, out on the ocean. No buildings blocking the view or breaking it up along the way to the harbor.

With her braid having just been undone, there aren't as many tangles to brush through, so he ends up brushing it for a few more strokes just because he can. Because he likes the weight of it on his hands. Leaning forward, he presses his forehead to the back of her neck, her hair in the way of the skin. A little affectionate nudge before he leans away again and puts the brush away. ]

I have to change.

Better.

[ she says, a faint smile appearing as she feels a weight against the back of her neck, the small action of affection not unnoticed. and at his statement, she doesn't move. ]

Go ahead. [ and then, she continues, after a small pause. ] It makes you feel small. But in a good way.

[ it's humbling, and awe-inspiring. ]

It's freeing.

[ Really, he's not eager to part from being so close. But he does need to change out of these clothes—he's fallen asleep in a dress shirt before and it's not exactly comfortable.

So he manages to pry himself away, untucking his shirt and undressing. He pulls on sleeping pants and a shirt, turning her words over in his head. Vast and freeing. The ocean was freedom to her, full of possibility. A future she's already begun to build on.

In the morning, he'll climb up to the crow's nest. ]

Don't most things make you feel small? [ Sorry Inej, that was too easy. He flips back the covers on one side of the bed, sliding under them and trying to ignore just how close she'll be. ]

Ah, like how most things make you feel slow.

[ without missing a beat, as she tosses him a look once she feels him sink into the bed, and inej turns to settle against the pillows herself, but she doesn't slip under the covers just yet. she just sits there, stretch out her legs and crossing them at the ankles, tone dry. ]

I almost had ramps installed to make it easier for you to get below deck.

[ Her retort makes him laugh, a short and dry sound, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. Trust her not to think of his old injury as sacred, as something to avoid.

As she settles against the pillows, he turns to face her, head tilted up, amusement still clear in his expression. ]

Stairs aren't so bad. These aren't crooked, at least. [ Oh, also: ] And there aren't three flights of them.

[ there are a lot of things inej avoids, when talking to kaz. both delicately and not. but his leg has never really been one of them, mostly because it doesn't seem to bother him that much.

besides, a dose of humility is good for him. probably. but the comment about the three flights prompts a roll of her eyes as she looks down at him, unimpressed. ]

And who put your office and room on the top floor?

[ eyebrows arched, as she reaches out to gently brush a piece of hair out of his eyes. ]

Because I am pretty sure it was you.

The silence up there is worth it.

[ It's private, which is really what he wanted. But he also gets more work done without the louder sounds of the Slat echoing through the first and second floors. Not much reaches its way up to the attic.

As she reaches out, he tilts his face towards her hand, liking the casual nature of it. ]

Besides, I know someone who likes to climb through the window. [ She wouldn't be able to make nearly as many dramatic entrances if she had to knock on a door. And climbing through a first floor window is a cinch for just about anyone. ]

You had the attic before I climbed through the window.

[ mildly, as she lets her fingers run along his cheek. and she lets her hand drop next to him, giving him a knowing look. ]

And my point is that you cannot complain about a situation that you deliberately created.

[ so there!! ]

Maybe I keep it because you do.

[ He runs the Dregs now, he could have any room he wants. Possibly he could even move out, have a space that's completely his—it's not like he's lacking the funds for it. For now though, he likes it. There's space and quiet, despite the long walk up. ]

I'd rather complain about the stairs than the noise. [ He takes hold of her dropped hand, pressing his cheek to the backs of her fingers, wanting the bit of touch for once. ]

[ she allows her hand to be brushed against his cheek, and she smiles at him thoughtfully. ]

There is no shortage of noise, here.

[ it's a small space, and you hear most things. but the sound of the ocean is soothing on most nights, and tends to drown everything else out.

but after she says that, inej lets go of his hand to shift, so she can slide underneath the quilt too, turning so she can face him, her cheek resting against her pillow as she watches him.

step one is achieved, at the very least. and she remains still for a moment before she reaches out to take his hand again, squeezing his fingers. ]

What do you think awaits us in Ravka?

I don't have to concentrate on plans here.

[ Or on balancing the books for the club. He's good at numbers but trying to do them when he can hear shouting and raucous laughter can be annoying.

He lets go of her hand as she moves, a bit of nervousness spiking when she lays down and turns to face him. This feels so intimate, so little space between them; he's tempted to shift closer as much as he's repulsed by the idea. Still, he doesn't pull away when she takes his hand again. ]

I'm not even sure. Cold weather? [ That seems to be the one thing that sticks in his mind about that country. ]

Snow. Potential revolution.

[ just a standard tuesday in ravka, probably. she runs her thumb over his knuckles in thought. the sway of the ship is comforting, relaxing, soothing. it's enough to quell the nerves, about being so close. ]

Do you think the King will know we are there?

[ inej didn't exactly, you know, advertise. but nikolai (or whatever name he's using nowadays) might have eyes everywhere. you never know. ]

Hasn't it been in revolution since it's inception?

[ Even as a child he remembers hearing off-hand comments from his father about it. And once in Ketterdam, it was in the news. What didn't make it to the news he got through word of mouth, though most of it was how in debt Ravka was to Kerch. ]

Can't imagine he'll want either of us to go unknown. Someone will get word back to him. [ Whether Sturmhond—Nikolai, whatever—did anything about it was a different story. He's got other problems to tackle than to visit two teens he'd briefly met in Ketterdam.

Kaz adjusts the curl of his fingers, lifting her hand so he can brush a kiss to the back of it. He's nervous about the closeness but the want is starting to win out in increments, revulsion stamped down in favor of seeking out her touch. ]

Probably.

[ inej's people have really no love lost, for what has happened in ravka. they always seem to lose, no matter who is in charge. but ravka is home . . . insomuch as inej was born there, and traveled there, and her people still claim land there.

but as kaz kisses the back of her hand, she's distracted into a faint smile, eyes brightening. the constant testing of waters is almost exciting, now, and even she can see that kaz is slowly warming up to the idea of contact. ]

Do you feel better?

[ she asks, as she watches him, her hand still in his. ]

About leaving Ketterdam.

[ With his mind cooperating for once, he wants to push where he can. So he settles her hand on his cheek, like she'd done months before, his thumb stroking over her knuckles slowly. It's something like a build up, testing how much he can tolerate and each time getting further and further. This touch isn't quite new but him seeking it out is and he's hoping he won't feel that unwanted but familiar lurch in his stomach from it. ]

I'm here with you. [ Meaning: he'll get over it. Give him a week and he'll think about it less. ]

[ there's a tug in her chest, at the statement. and inej knows that she probably shouldn't let herself be so swayed by such a thing, but it causes a warmth in her chest, directly underneath her ribs.

so she grins a little, running a thumb over the curve of his cheek, nose wrinkling. ]

You should go to sleep.

[ it's said quietly, watching him.

but she doesn't pull her hand away, or make any move to close her eyes herself. ]

And relax.

[ for the first time in years. likely. ]

[ In the dim light, he can see the pull of her grin, can hear it in her voice when she tells him to go to sleep. She doesn't move away though, nor does she seem intent on resting herself just yet. ]

So should you, captain. [ Inej will need it more than he does, here. She's got a whole ship to look after and slavers to follow; neither are easy work. ]

Can I try something?

I will be fine.

[ so used to operating on minimal sleep in the barrel. she's positively well-rested, here. but at his question, she watches him in the low light, searching his features, curious. ]

Sure.

[ after a moment; a little less quick to agree, perhaps, than the other times kaz has asked that question. but nontheless meant. ]

[ There's a pause after his question and he can tell she's weighing her options. That she's considering what she might be asked to do.

Eventually, she agrees and he tentatively rolls closer, looping a loose arm around her middle. No skin being touched—it's safe. For him, at least. ]

Is this...? [ Too much? Too reminiscent of past memories? ]

[ it's a tenuous moment, as she watches him to figure out what he's doing. and when he scoots himself forward a little bit to loop an arm around her waist, she feels a familiar tightness in his chest.

but so far, it seems . . . fine. manageable. and she moves herself forward half an inch, just enough to tuck her forehead into kaz's chest, exhaling slowly.

relaxing, as she closes her eyes. ]

[ He's still a little tense as she shifts forward, closing the gap between them a tiny but more. She tucks her head to his chest and he waits for that telltale awfulness, for his body to revolt. Nothing comes and he breathes out the tension slowly, relaxing into this.

His chin tips down and he presses his nose to her hair, eyes slipping shut. It's about as far from the harbor as possible; she's warm and he can make out the faint beat of her heart so close to his. Any nervous thoughts that usually keep him awake seem to slide away, the comforting darkness of sleep creeping up quickly. ]

Good night, Inej. [ The words are muffled into the top of her head, slurred with the heavy pull of sleep. ]

[ it's not wholly comfortable. she has to fight down her anxiety for a bit. little bursts of memories. but ultimately, she relaxes into his arms, her fingertips resting lightly against his chest as she focuses on breathing.

it's warm. and comfortable. and safe. and as he talks into her hair, inej allows the stress and anxiety to fall away. giving herself the room to relax. ]

Good night.

[ it's murmured, comfortable.

it will take her a little bit longer, to fall asleep. but she will, lulled to sleep by the sound of kaz's breathing and the gentle sway of the ship. ]

[ Really, he doesn't remember falling asleep. It had come on so quickly, something he isn't used to. Normally, it's a struggle to get his mind to stop, idea after idea popping in. Worries and anxieties keeping him up into the night.

None of that had happened last night, the rocking of the ship and the warm line of Inej's body knocking him out clean.

What's more is he wakes up slow, too comfortable to want to move. He finally wakes to see the light in the porthole has crept across the floor, indicating they've moved from early morning. Along his back Inej is radiating heat as she's tucked in close, her cheek feeling like it's pressed between his shoulders. One of his hands is loosely curled around her wrist, her arm slung over his middle. He doesn't think she's awake just yet and frankly, he doesn't want to bother her though he knows he probably should.

It just feels. Nice. ]

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