timewasting | OPEN POST 2020.

[ 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. ]

[ it's quiet, mornings on the ship. and inej is used to a peaceful routine, and often wakes up early, with little sleep. but she feels comfortable and warm, and she faintly recognizes the feeling of kaz's hand around her wrist.

but as she slowly stirs into consciousness, there's a movement against kaz's back as inej draws in a breath, exhaling slowly, her eyes blinking open slowly.

realizing that she's sort of entangled with him grants pause, but inej is honestly too comfortable to really give a fuck, and so she allows her eyes to close again, sighing to herself.

the crew would be fine for another ten minutes. ]

[ He thinks he feels her shift from sleep to some modicum of wakefulness. There's a little hitch to her breath, easy to pick out in the silence of her room, that sounds like she's been drawn out of the deeper sleep.

But she doesn't move. Instead, he hears (and feels) her quiet sigh as she settles in again. So he lets himself drift off, relaxed in her loose hold. It's strangely comfortable like this, with her pressed so close, and he wonders why he was nervous about it at all.

When he wakes again—how did he seriously fall asleep?—it's to the sound of boots in the hallway, the hardened heels echoing off the wood. He smooths his hand along her arm, something like a gentle nudge to wake up. ]

Inej?

[ the touch to her arm causes her to wake up a bit more fully, and inej blinks to herself before she removes her arm from kaz's waist, pushing herself up a little bit. her hair is a bit all over the place, in the morning, falling around her shoulders. and she looks a bit confused before she looks down at him, brow furrowing. ]

-- what time is it?

[ puzzled. ]

[ Immediately, he misses having her arm looped across his middle. Funny how fast he'd gotten used to it. She sits up though and he can't suppress the amused smile that curls the corners of his mouth—her hair is all over the place, tangled from sleep. There's a pillow crease across her cheek and it's adorable.

At her question, he reaches for the bedside table, turning his watch face towards him. ]

Half past seven.

[ inej catches that amused smile, and she narrows her eyes slightly, about to ask what's so funny . . . when he tells her what time it is. and she seems to take a moment to process that, put two and two together . . .

and she groans to herself, pushing the hair out of her eyes. ]

I am late.

[ it's said somewhat accusingly, because it's obviously his fault that she slept in. and so inej swiftly undoes the covers that are tangled around her legs, shifting to comb her fingers through her hair a few times to attempt to tame it into something that resembles neatness.

she'll dwell on the fact that she actually slept later, and feel very proud of herself for being able to do so, but for now: ]

I am supposed to be on the deck by now --

[ augh, forget her hair. the bed is shoved against the wall, bolted securely, and inej had slept against the wall. kaz had taken the more open end of the bed, which meant that he was the thing that stood between her and getting ready for the day.

pausing in combing out her hair with her fingers, she surveys him. ]

You are not in a rush.

[ it's an observation. analyzing her exits.

wondering how cooperative he is going to be in this adventure. ]

[ All at once, she's in motion, sitting up fully and throwing the covers off. He shrugs off a chill from the suddenly vacated space behind him, feeling the urge to be indulgent and to curl right back up into the same position again.

Too bad she really does have somewhere to be. ]

Do I need to be? [ It's an honest question as he finally levers himself up, angling his legs off the bed so she can get off the bed. If she needs him somewhere, he'll pull himself together and meet her on deck. If not—well, he's already halfway up. And he isn't sure he'll be able to get back to sleep, not with so many thoughts starting to spin about how they'd spent the night.

Though while he's somewhat cooperative in letting her go, he does stop her briefly when she scoots to the edge of the bed, looping an arm around her middle and pressing a cheek to her shoulder. It's a quick thing, despite how much he'd tempted to keep her there. ]

No.

[ easily enough, as she scoots to the edge of the bed to grab a fresh shirt and her boots -- but kaz loops an arm around her waist to pause her, resting against her shoulder. and inej pauses, but before he pulls away entirely, she ducks her head slightly to press her lips against his, in a brief kiss.

she lingers only for a second, pressing her forehead against his for another second before inej grins, eyes bright before she moves to stand, grabbing a shirt from a drawer and her boots from underneath the bed.

and, finally, in collecting her hat: ]

You are on vacation.

[ so, really, in spite of inej threatening to put him to work for the entirety of the trip, kaz can do whatever the fuck he wants. ]

Edited 2020-06-12 18:11 (UTC)

[ He expects her to move on a soon as he starts to pull away, being as late as she is. Instead she surprises him with a quick press of lips, her forehead leaned against his after. Startled, he doesn't know how to react beyond a widening of his eyes, heart feeling like it does a small flip.

And maybe like he's had the wind knocked out of him. Because she grins then, bright and toothy, tugging her hat on over top her loose hair and it's just. Too much? Not enough? Saints, he doesn't want her to go up to the deck just yet. ]

I seem to recall someone threatening to make me pull my weight. [ The words come out slightly faint at first, as he pulls his mind away from the very distracting sway of her getting ready for the day. ]

[ she's tugging on boots while he figures out what he's doing today, and once kaz finally does say something: ]

I seem to recall someone telling me they were eager to follow orders.

[ as she finishes tugging on her boots, and shrugs into a jacket, arching her eyebrows in his direction. ]

I think one day of wandering the ship and enjoying yourself will not kill you.

Is that an order?

[ He asks, leaning back on one of his elbows, clearly amused by this back and forth. The smirk that would normally be present is tempered by his distracted gaze.

Or maybe that should be focused? Because once she's done dressing, he clearly looks at her from head to toe; she's every bit a ship captain. Except one thing. He sits back up, leaning toward to adjust her jacket collar so it laid flat.

There. ]

[ she’s about to tell him yes when Kaz sits up, straightens the collar of her jacket flat against her collar, and inej rolls her eyes slightly at his attention to detail before reaching out to gently cup his face in her hands, leaning forward ...

... only to let go, her smile returning as soon as it left. ]

It is.

[ and inej turns to the door, but on her way out, she calls over her shoulder — ]

Have fun!

[ Her suggestion, as usual, is a good one. He ends up spending a few days doing...not much, if he's honest, aside from watching the ocean go by and the crew go about their business. There's a delicate dance of making sure he doesn't get in the way but he manages it and the crew stops throwing nervous glances in his direction.

Openly, at least.

Soon enough though, he isn't interested in remaining idle and starts learning where he can help out. Kaz learns about rigging and how to tie off a rope, the fastest way to release one at a moment's notice. It's not easy work—not much is, he's learned—but it's interesting and keeps his hands busy.

As well as his mind, which is the more important thing to distract. Because being in such close proximity to Inej has taken a different feeling. No longer is he filled with avoidance or the instant revulsion at the thought of touching her. Or even to let himself show the little bits of affection. Instead, it seems to be rapidly swinging in the opposite direction, as if his body wants to make up for all the years he avoided being near people.

She doesn't help, occasionally pulling stunts like she did that first morning, getting close and leaving him wanting. He looks forward to those precious hours when they retire for the night and the first light of morning when he can watch her get up and ready herself for the day. They've developed a comfortable rhythm for both, though he can't deny his interest in seeing if he can push a little further. A test to see how much they both can now tolerate.

Which is why, as they start to settle in for the night, he doesn't face away as he changes out of his shirt. ]

Arriving tomorrow afternoon, right?

[ it's been . . . nice. pleasant, even. testing boundaries, and slipping into a new way of life. falling asleep with her head on his chest is soothing, now, rather than anxiety-inducing. the thrum of his heartbeat and the sway of the waves . . .

this night, though, the energy of the moment feels different. he doesn't turn away, as he tugs off his shirt, and inej's fingers pause on the buttons of her own for only a moment before she watches him, thoughtful. ]

If we are lucky, and the weather holds out.

[ and she forces herself to continue to unbutton her shirt, to reveal a tank top underneath it. her fingers miss a button, but she focuses to finish, shrugging out of it. ]

The clouds are a mystery, today.

[ Plenty of times in the past, he's changed right in front of her, shrugging out of his shirt without a second thought. He'd just never considered what she might think of it, might think of him, though that mindset has certainly changed. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches her watching, her own gaze thoughtful. But he doesn't fully turn his head to look, not sure if she would be okay with it.

After all, it's one thing to look at someone else and another to be looked at. He doesn't mind her eyes on him and could easily see where it might make her uncomfortable if he did the same in return. There's a flutter of movement though, and her unbuttoned top slides off her shoulders. This time, he does glance over, night shirt in hand, eyes sweeping her face to her neck and shoulders, admiring the slant of them. She looks even smaller without the shirt, the tank top underneath more closely fitted, though he knows she's strong enough to break a man's hand.

He stops staring and pulls his sleeping shirt on, toeing his shoes off and unbuckling his belt. ]

The clouds are a mystery every day. [ To him, at least. He's starting to get a hang of telling the weather patterns but sometimes it's hard to tell. Both Inej and Specht seem to have developed an uncanny sense from their time aboard ships, knowing when the clouds indicate rain or a particularly bad storm—even on days where the sky is so blue it's blinding.

As nonchalant as possible, he tugs his trousers off and pulls on a more comfortable pair, resolutely keeping his focus on the task. ]

Is the port very big?

[ she's noticed; his eyes lingering. it used to cause an odd crawl across her skin, but now, it almost feels . . . nice? because there's a difference, she's learning, between kaz's affections, kaz's watching. because kaz values her, and treasures her. loves her? inej isn't sure. but it's slowly becoming normal. pleasant. nice.

but at the comments about the clouds, inej's lips twitch into a slight grin. ]

You can learn. [ amused, as she leans back to reach for a longer sleeved sleep shirt, tugging it easily over her head. ] And the port is reasonably sized, I think. It is busy -- plenty to do.

[ and steal, if kaz is super bored and wants to pickpocket the rich. ]

We can at least get fresh food.

[ which, inej is sure, is sorely missed. ]

I intend to.

[ Not much escapes him, after all. He's had to teach himself a lot of things over the years, including cards and lock picking. Learning weather patterns from people who already have a head start will be a much less rocky curve.

She leans back to grab a sleeping shirt and he idly notes the arch of her body, feeling that familiar temptation to put a hand on her waist. It remains even after she's tugged her shirt on, though he thinks that's a side effect of sleeping so close to her. Truly spoiled. ]

It's been a while since I've been a tourist. [ Kaz says with a faint note of nostalgia as he comes to sit next to her on the bed. ]

I don't think I've ever been a tourist.

[ she muses to herself, as she tugs her hair out of the shirt, to begun undoing it. she watches him as he sinks onto the bed next to her, thoughtful for a moment as she really thinks to figure out what being a tourist would feel like . . . ]

When I was younger and traveled, I was always working. [ but seeing new places, while she was with the troupe, was exciting. so she supposes that might count as being a tourist. ] And most of the travel I've done after that hasn't been in my control.

[ with the menagerie, and then with kaz. not that kaz ever forced her to do anything, but it was never really a choice, when she did work for the dregs. she needed to pay her debt, and she would do whatever was needed in order to do so. ]

So this will probably be my first time.

[ as she shakes out her hair a little, with a faint smile in kaz's direction -- though she's still working. and she's been here before. but this time, she's free to explore at her leisure. ]

[ His memories of first coming to Ketterdam are still easy to pull up. Days spent walking around the city with no real plan, being amazed at how big all of the buildings were. Then he'd felt at once free—no bed times, no restrictions—and afraid. Jordie had only be a few years older and neither of them had known any better.

He used to wonder more what it would've been like if his father never had that accident. If the three of them had left Lij and gone to the city.

Maybe he wouldn't be here, watching Inej unbraid her hair. Impulsively, he runs his fingers through the loosened strands, twirling a wavy piece of it around between his thumb and forefinger. When he lets it go, the shape holds briefly, a small curled piece that slowly unravels back to its shape. ]

Then we'll have to make the most of it. [ Exploring a new place with her sounds ideal. It won't be them scouting out places to jump other gangs. Or the best places to eavesdrop without being seen. Just enjoying it because they can.

And because they have the means. This won't be like the early days of Ketterdam, so aware of their dwindling funds. ] Will the caravan be close?

[ He asks, leaning into her space, cheek pressed to her shoulder. ]

[ making the most of it sounds like a good plan, and she makes a soft noise of approval to herself, as kaz leans his cheek against her shoulder, resting his weight against her. ]

I am not sure. [ admittedly, finishing undoing her braid, letting her hair hang as she rests her hands in her lap, relaxing against kaz as she begins to let go of the (good) stress of the day. ] They tend to be near the port towns . . . that is where the money tends to be.

[ so: maybe? but her people tend to move quickly. but as she thinks about those pleasant memories, something else occurs to her: ]

I am sure someone will come find me, once word of the Wraith docking spreads.

[ so they'll find out soon enough. ]

[ She lets out a soft noise and he's always glad to hear it, likes those little bits of concrete proof that something has gone right. Soon after, she relaxes, hands in her lap, and he slowly sweeps a palm down her arm. He stops at her hand, idly brushing his thumb across her knuckles and the light impressions of delicate tendons. ]

Money and people more desperate to spend it. [ As they both know well. Sailors don't dock for long periods, which means they're quite enthusiastic about their indulgences when they are on land. ]

What is it like? Traveling all over with them? [ Despite his move from Lij to the city and his general flexibility with new developments, he's always had a more permanent foothold in places. Going from one place to another and staying on the move—he isn't sure he could do it. ]

[ the touching causes her to lean closer, resting her weight a bit more against kaz's side. it's a subtle move, and a lazy one; she's tired, and she can already feel sleep pulling at her.

at his question, a faint smile appears. ]

You meet a lot of people, and see a lot of places. The countryside, and the different cities along the coast. It's wonderful.

[ freedom. ]

I am not sure you would like it, though. [ mildly, as she watches his fingers move over her hand. ] No tailors for your coats.

[ and heaven forbid that happens. ]

I didn't always wear them. [ It's been a while though. His entire wardrobe was put together as a mockery of the merchers. Of those arrogant businessmen who thought themselves above the thieves and crooks of the Barrel. He wanted to prove a point: they were one and the same, no matter how they dressed it.

And in a way, it's another layer of armor. Three layers of clothes between him and anyone who might get close enough to touch. The thick wool of his coats and layered vests have saved him from the sharp edges of knives enough times.

It might not be too bad though, to shed that all and wear something different.A thing to consider when they get into port. For now though, he can take a hint with her weight leaning into his side. Kaz sits up and curls an arm around her waist before flopping back into the pillows, tugging her along with him. ]

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