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timewasting2020-09-27 05:30 pm
wraithes) wrote in timewasting2020-09-27 05:30 pm
modern au kanej.
a cute gif will go here eventually.
[ it had been an eighteen hour day. multiple clients, and then she had worked the night shift at the menagerie bar in order to earn enough money to scrape by on her electric bill for the month. and, by the time she finally dragged herself back to her apartment (which is a word she uses very loosely), she discovered that the heat had not been working.
a frustrated and angry phone call with heleen later (who reminded inej that (1) she would have no life in ketterdam without her and (2) that inej still owed her money from her debt, which inej was beginning to think was never going to be paid), she fiddles with her phone, frowning across the room at her parakeet, lizabeta, who looked appropriately cold.
she didn't have very many friends, in the city. she knew nina would take her in, but she had no room to have inej stay until the heat was fixed. jesper was recently dating someone new, and that would be awkward, if she just lingered around. so, really, the only option left was kaz.
swallow her pride, or freeze. freezing seemed like a good option. but eventually, with a quiet groan, she texted: ]
Hi.
I know it's late and we've known each other for a month.
But my heat isn't working.
Do you have a spare room I can have for the night until I get it fixed?
[ and she hit send before she had time to think about it, almost hoping he would just ignore it. ]
a frustrated and angry phone call with heleen later (who reminded inej that (1) she would have no life in ketterdam without her and (2) that inej still owed her money from her debt, which inej was beginning to think was never going to be paid), she fiddles with her phone, frowning across the room at her parakeet, lizabeta, who looked appropriately cold.
she didn't have very many friends, in the city. she knew nina would take her in, but she had no room to have inej stay until the heat was fixed. jesper was recently dating someone new, and that would be awkward, if she just lingered around. so, really, the only option left was kaz.
swallow her pride, or freeze. freezing seemed like a good option. but eventually, with a quiet groan, she texted: ]
Hi.
I know it's late and we've known each other for a month.
But my heat isn't working.
Do you have a spare room I can have for the night until I get it fixed?
[ and she hit send before she had time to think about it, almost hoping he would just ignore it. ]
[ To say Kaz doesn't have many friends would be a massive understatement. He would blame the fact that he spent years of his adolescence meticulously researching law in order to get back at a certain Pekka Rollins for it—but that isn't the whole reason. Certainly, it had kept him inside and withdrawn. Not properly socialized, which meant he also was incredibly awkward around people. He also doesn't have much time for them, busy with work and the after hours.
All of that in combination with a foul temper and shape tongue usually put people off of him quickly. Jesper alone is lucky to have known him since childhood and remembers a slightly different Kaz. Maybe that's why he sticks around. Kaz certainly knows he doesn't for his sparkling personality.
On occasion, he gives in when Jes badgers him enough to come out to the bars, claiming he plans to introduce him to society. As though he's a modern debutante. Most of the time it just ends with them drunk in a corner, a few other of Jes' friends joining them.
The last time, though, he'd somehow walked away with phone number from a woman Jes had met probably two hours prior; Inej. She'd been all quiet and astute comments, dark eyes, easy smiles. He hadn't been able to look away, frustratingly. And embarrassingly, Jesper had taken it upon himself to get her number for him.
They've traded exactly one text conversation consisting of:
hey how's it going
Alright I suppose, yourself?
good
And they'd seen each other twice more in person at the bar. It's not what he'd call a friendship, barely an acquaintanceship.
So he is colored surprised when he gets a text at 2am from her, asking if she can crash. He's loathe to share his carefully curated space, mostly because he likes being alone, but he can't find it in him to subject her to the brutally cold weather when her heat's dead. He's scathing and rude but there are lines.
]
[ got a couch and blankets. address attached.
He sends her a linked map, a thumbnail preview popping up once it goes. ]
All of that in combination with a foul temper and shape tongue usually put people off of him quickly. Jesper alone is lucky to have known him since childhood and remembers a slightly different Kaz. Maybe that's why he sticks around. Kaz certainly knows he doesn't for his sparkling personality.
On occasion, he gives in when Jes badgers him enough to come out to the bars, claiming he plans to introduce him to society. As though he's a modern debutante. Most of the time it just ends with them drunk in a corner, a few other of Jes' friends joining them.
The last time, though, he'd somehow walked away with phone number from a woman Jes had met probably two hours prior; Inej. She'd been all quiet and astute comments, dark eyes, easy smiles. He hadn't been able to look away, frustratingly. And embarrassingly, Jesper had taken it upon himself to get her number for him.
They've traded exactly one text conversation consisting of:
hey how's it going
Alright I suppose, yourself?
good
And they'd seen each other twice more in person at the bar. It's not what he'd call a friendship, barely an acquaintanceship.
So he is colored surprised when he gets a text at 2am from her, asking if she can crash. He's loathe to share his carefully curated space, mostly because he likes being alone, but he can't find it in him to subject her to the brutally cold weather when her heat's dead. He's scathing and rude but there are lines.
]
[ got a couch and blankets. address attached.
He sends her a linked map, a thumbnail preview popping up once it goes. ]
[ the phone buzzes and she exhales to herself as she unlocks it, checking the message. and to her surprise, he agrees.
he lives . . . in a much better area of town. which makes sense, given how he dresses. and acts, really. but he's given her an answer, and inej texts back swiftly: ]
Thanks.
On my way.
[ it takes about five minutes, to pack a bag and put lizabeta into a travel cage, covering it with a sheet. she wraps a scarf around her neck and steps back out into the cold, shuddering once briefly to herself before she locks the apartment door behind her, slamming her shoulder against it once to make sure it actually locked. worthless thing . . .
her metro card has no money on it, so she hops the turnstile when the cop isn't looking to quickly make her way onto the next train, calculating the stops quickly as she sinks onto the chair to wait. her phone buzzes as it reconnects - a slew of texts from heleen, which inej ignores. she manages to find a few crumpled bills in her coat pocket, which she uses to pick up starbucks on her way to his apartment.
she guesses, at his coffee order. she gets coffee with some dark chocolate in it. hers is much more sweet. and soon enough, she makes it to his building, and slips inside. there is a knock on kaz's door, to reveal inej with a bag slung over her shoulder, a tray with coffee in one hand and the pet carrier in the other, looking . . . well, tired.
it's in that moment that she realizes she forgot to mention that: ]
I have a bird.
[ apologetically, her cheeks a little flushed with the cold. ]
She doesn't make much noise -- if that's not okay, I can just find a room.
[ or a hotel lobby to hang out in for the evening, anyway. ]
he lives . . . in a much better area of town. which makes sense, given how he dresses. and acts, really. but he's given her an answer, and inej texts back swiftly: ]
Thanks.
On my way.
[ it takes about five minutes, to pack a bag and put lizabeta into a travel cage, covering it with a sheet. she wraps a scarf around her neck and steps back out into the cold, shuddering once briefly to herself before she locks the apartment door behind her, slamming her shoulder against it once to make sure it actually locked. worthless thing . . .
her metro card has no money on it, so she hops the turnstile when the cop isn't looking to quickly make her way onto the next train, calculating the stops quickly as she sinks onto the chair to wait. her phone buzzes as it reconnects - a slew of texts from heleen, which inej ignores. she manages to find a few crumpled bills in her coat pocket, which she uses to pick up starbucks on her way to his apartment.
she guesses, at his coffee order. she gets coffee with some dark chocolate in it. hers is much more sweet. and soon enough, she makes it to his building, and slips inside. there is a knock on kaz's door, to reveal inej with a bag slung over her shoulder, a tray with coffee in one hand and the pet carrier in the other, looking . . . well, tired.
it's in that moment that she realizes she forgot to mention that: ]
I have a bird.
[ apologetically, her cheeks a little flushed with the cold. ]
She doesn't make much noise -- if that's not okay, I can just find a room.
[ or a hotel lobby to hang out in for the evening, anyway. ]
[ Really, she's lucky he has an absolutely irregular schedule. It's not like most people are awake at this hour, especially with it being a Thursday. Jes certainly wouldn't have heard the text, he sleeps like the dead and has a tendency to forget to plug his phone in.
(It's caused a few scares to his father, as he recalls, worried about a naive son living hundreds of miles away. Personally, it's just annoyed Kaz).
Inej doesn't live all that far, though she doesn't have a car as far as he's aware. Which means she'll take the train a few stops—about half an hour, at most. He grudgingly pulls himself away from several complicated spreadsheet, saving the work, and shutting the laptop lid. Then it's off to build a convincingly comfortable nest on the couch. Because while he has heat, the living room can get chillier than other parts of the house, being set as it is with large windows and wood flooring.
She arrives just as he's plopped the pillows down and he must make a face when he opens the door, since she says she can go elsewhere. With her bird. Of course she would have a bird.
Sighing, he steps aside to let her in, bird and all. ]
Don't be stupid, it's almost three in the morning. [ What hotel would accept a bird? Literally none as far as he knows.
The door is shut and locked behind them and he leads her to the living room where she can put down her things. ]
Bathroom's that way, end of the hall. You don't have to creep, I don't care about noise.
(It's caused a few scares to his father, as he recalls, worried about a naive son living hundreds of miles away. Personally, it's just annoyed Kaz).
Inej doesn't live all that far, though she doesn't have a car as far as he's aware. Which means she'll take the train a few stops—about half an hour, at most. He grudgingly pulls himself away from several complicated spreadsheet, saving the work, and shutting the laptop lid. Then it's off to build a convincingly comfortable nest on the couch. Because while he has heat, the living room can get chillier than other parts of the house, being set as it is with large windows and wood flooring.
She arrives just as he's plopped the pillows down and he must make a face when he opens the door, since she says she can go elsewhere. With her bird. Of course she would have a bird.
Sighing, he steps aside to let her in, bird and all. ]
Don't be stupid, it's almost three in the morning. [ What hotel would accept a bird? Literally none as far as he knows.
The door is shut and locked behind them and he leads her to the living room where she can put down her things. ]
Bathroom's that way, end of the hall. You don't have to creep, I don't care about noise.
[ the warmth causes an involuntary shiver, as the heat seeps underneath her coat, and inej follows, her steps quiet despite his reassurance of not having to be quiet. she carefully sets the carrier on the ground near the couch, feeling almost . . . awkwardly out of place, in such a nice space.
men with homes like these tend to be terrible people. but she doesn't get the crawl underneath her skin, with kaz brekker, like she does with . . . well, literally every other rich man in this damnable city that she knows. and besides, she's fairly confident she can kill him if he tries anything untoward.
maybe, anyway.
she sets the tray of coffee down on the table in front of the couch. ]
I don't make much noise anyway.
[ as she unravels her scarf from her neck, depositing the bag near the carrier, which is still covered by the sheet. and she unzips her jacket, rolling her right shoulder a bit as she shrugs out of it, wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath. her limbs ache, and she wants nothing more than to crawl into bed and go to sleep, but she knows her mind isn't going to shut off anytime soon.
it has been an incredibly long day. ]
Thank you, again.
[ she says, glancing toward him as she folds her coat in half, placing it on top of the carrier gently. ]
I brought coffee. [ she remembers, folding her arms over her chest as she glances toward it. ] I assumed you were up at two in the morning for a reason.
men with homes like these tend to be terrible people. but she doesn't get the crawl underneath her skin, with kaz brekker, like she does with . . . well, literally every other rich man in this damnable city that she knows. and besides, she's fairly confident she can kill him if he tries anything untoward.
maybe, anyway.
she sets the tray of coffee down on the table in front of the couch. ]
I don't make much noise anyway.
[ as she unravels her scarf from her neck, depositing the bag near the carrier, which is still covered by the sheet. and she unzips her jacket, rolling her right shoulder a bit as she shrugs out of it, wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath. her limbs ache, and she wants nothing more than to crawl into bed and go to sleep, but she knows her mind isn't going to shut off anytime soon.
it has been an incredibly long day. ]
Thank you, again.
[ she says, glancing toward him as she folds her coat in half, placing it on top of the carrier gently. ]
I brought coffee. [ she remembers, folding her arms over her chest as she glances toward it. ] I assumed you were up at two in the morning for a reason.
[ He gives her space to settle, though it is perhaps a bit awkward. Unlike Jes, he doesn't know how to fill the silence with comfortable chatter. Not unless she's extremely interested in finances and dealing in stock. Which he suspects she isn't.
As she moves around though, he does note she's got a soft step, barely making any noise even across the hardwood. Interesting. He can't tell if she's doing it on purpose out of nerves or if that's just how she always holds herself. It's not like he would've known from the previous times he's seen her in person—a raucous bar is going to swallow up any noise.
Perhaps it's something to ask her later. He shrugs off her thanks, not knowing how to respond. It's not exactly no problem but saying "you're welcome" feels too...entitled. She needed a space not to freeze in and he's given it to her. Whatever.
Except she brought coffee as a gesture and his brows go up, knitting together when he goes to pluck it off the table. ]
Uh—thanks. [ This is weird. And nice??? ] Had some spreadsheets to double check.
[ Why is he explaining himself? Very dumb. Making his way to the open entry, he pauses before leaving, as if a thought just occurred to him. ] I'll be out by nine tomorrow. Stay if you need, I can lock the door from my phone.
As she moves around though, he does note she's got a soft step, barely making any noise even across the hardwood. Interesting. He can't tell if she's doing it on purpose out of nerves or if that's just how she always holds herself. It's not like he would've known from the previous times he's seen her in person—a raucous bar is going to swallow up any noise.
Perhaps it's something to ask her later. He shrugs off her thanks, not knowing how to respond. It's not exactly no problem but saying "you're welcome" feels too...entitled. She needed a space not to freeze in and he's given it to her. Whatever.
Except she brought coffee as a gesture and his brows go up, knitting together when he goes to pluck it off the table. ]
Uh—thanks. [ This is weird. And nice??? ] Had some spreadsheets to double check.
[ Why is he explaining himself? Very dumb. Making his way to the open entry, he pauses before leaving, as if a thought just occurred to him. ] I'll be out by nine tomorrow. Stay if you need, I can lock the door from my phone.
[ it's very clear that he doesn't have people in his space very often, which suits inej just fine. she's almost relieved that he picks up the coffee and makes a relatively swift exit. but then kaz pauses, and inej looks up from her bag, blinking.
truthfully, she had been planning on vacating the moment he was awake, mostly to thank him again before finding another place to stay. but offering a longer stay . . . ]
Fancy.
[ with a slight wrinkle of her nose, amused, and her hand dips into her pocket to pull out her phone, which buzzes again. a text from a different number, but likely someone who works for heleen, given the ask for money. she's starting to suspect that her heat didn't "accidentally" break after all.
she only allows herself a moment of distraction as she glances at the screen before looking back up at him, with a faint smile. ]
I won't trouble you with a longer stay; I'm sure it will be fixed in the morning. [ not likely, but. whatever. ] It is an old building, sometimes the electric isn't exactly --
[ why is she talking about this at three in the morning, and she stops herself with a faint laugh before waving a hand, returning to her phone to block the number with a touch of her fingers. ]
I guess it doesn't really matter. Sorry, I -- it's late, you should sleep. Or not sleep, and work on spreadsheets or -- [ saints, inej, shut up. ] Anyway, I appreciate it.
truthfully, she had been planning on vacating the moment he was awake, mostly to thank him again before finding another place to stay. but offering a longer stay . . . ]
Fancy.
[ with a slight wrinkle of her nose, amused, and her hand dips into her pocket to pull out her phone, which buzzes again. a text from a different number, but likely someone who works for heleen, given the ask for money. she's starting to suspect that her heat didn't "accidentally" break after all.
she only allows herself a moment of distraction as she glances at the screen before looking back up at him, with a faint smile. ]
I won't trouble you with a longer stay; I'm sure it will be fixed in the morning. [ not likely, but. whatever. ] It is an old building, sometimes the electric isn't exactly --
[ why is she talking about this at three in the morning, and she stops herself with a faint laugh before waving a hand, returning to her phone to block the number with a touch of her fingers. ]
I guess it doesn't really matter. Sorry, I -- it's late, you should sleep. Or not sleep, and work on spreadsheets or -- [ saints, inej, shut up. ] Anyway, I appreciate it.
Practical.
[ And fancy, he supposes. He likes the convenience and practicality of it. No worrying about losing a key—even though he's never lost an object in his life—or forgetting to lock the door. Which he has also never done.
Alright so maybe he's anxious.
Either way, he doesn't quite leave yet, as she checks her phone with a glance. ]
Text if you're going, I guess. [ He shrugs again, this time made awkward by the fact that he's got a hand on his cane and the other curled around the coffee cup. Part of her words niggle at him, the fact that her building is old—how old, exactly? But it is late and he doesn't feel like he should be going down that particular rabbit hole.
So he leaves her to it, disappearing out of the entry and down the hall to his room, taking a sip of coffee as he goes. She's nearly got it right, which is surprising and weird. He doesn't want to think about what that says about him or her.
Naturally, it's all he thinks about for the next hour while he lies in bed, attempting to force his brain to shut down. ]
[ And fancy, he supposes. He likes the convenience and practicality of it. No worrying about losing a key—even though he's never lost an object in his life—or forgetting to lock the door. Which he has also never done.
Alright so maybe he's anxious.
Either way, he doesn't quite leave yet, as she checks her phone with a glance. ]
Text if you're going, I guess. [ He shrugs again, this time made awkward by the fact that he's got a hand on his cane and the other curled around the coffee cup. Part of her words niggle at him, the fact that her building is old—how old, exactly? But it is late and he doesn't feel like he should be going down that particular rabbit hole.
So he leaves her to it, disappearing out of the entry and down the hall to his room, taking a sip of coffee as he goes. She's nearly got it right, which is surprising and weird. He doesn't want to think about what that says about him or her.
Naturally, it's all he thinks about for the next hour while he lies in bed, attempting to force his brain to shut down. ]
[ his couch is way more comfortable than the pathetic excuse for a bed she has, and while inej is uncertain if she can fall asleep, she does so pretty quickly, curled into the warm blankets. she turns off her phone, willing herself to relax as she drifts off.
she leaves when he does in the morning, with her things -- and she offers him a warm smile and thanks before hopping the train back to her neck of the woods. it's still bitterly cold, but inej is hopeful (after some conversations with heleen on the way there) that her heat will be back on.
her hope is quickly dashed. and not only that, but the locks on her door have been changed. which is pretty illegal, she thinks. it takes a few moments for her to break into her own apartment and shove the rest of her belongings into her bag, leaving whatever else is there. she soon texts nina:
Heleen locked me out.
are you fing serious???? it's 10 degrees!!!
Can I stay with you?
nina, it turns out, is having issues of her own (something about matthias, who inej knows better to ask about) . . . so nina calls jesper, who then calls inej, and she winds up right back at kaz brekker's stupid penthouse suite. for some reason, he doesn't really seem to mind all that much. though inej doesn't tell him about the locks, or anything else. just that her heat is still broken. (which, incidentally, is still technically true.)
so one day turns into two, and then three, and inej has had more than one vicious conversation with heleen. she works odd hours (between the menagerie and the bar), but she's called out of work at the bar due to a sore and bruised arm. courtesy of the menagerie. easily covered by a long-sleeved shirt, which she's wearing as she sits on kaz's couch, exhausted and fiddling with her phone.
camping on this essential-stranger's couch is not a long-term solution to her (multiple) problems, and inej is loathe to bring heleen's fury to nina's doorstep. a boarding house might be an option . . . but she wouldn't be able to keep the bird. but she pushes that out of her mind to rest her head against the back of the couch, exhaling slowly as she takes a moment to relax in the silence, and being alone.
(for now, anyway. kaz is somewhere in the apartment, but he's left her alone, for the most part. which she's pretty grateful for.) ]
she leaves when he does in the morning, with her things -- and she offers him a warm smile and thanks before hopping the train back to her neck of the woods. it's still bitterly cold, but inej is hopeful (after some conversations with heleen on the way there) that her heat will be back on.
her hope is quickly dashed. and not only that, but the locks on her door have been changed. which is pretty illegal, she thinks. it takes a few moments for her to break into her own apartment and shove the rest of her belongings into her bag, leaving whatever else is there. she soon texts nina:
Heleen locked me out.
are you fing serious???? it's 10 degrees!!!
Can I stay with you?
nina, it turns out, is having issues of her own (something about matthias, who inej knows better to ask about) . . . so nina calls jesper, who then calls inej, and she winds up right back at kaz brekker's stupid penthouse suite. for some reason, he doesn't really seem to mind all that much. though inej doesn't tell him about the locks, or anything else. just that her heat is still broken. (which, incidentally, is still technically true.)
so one day turns into two, and then three, and inej has had more than one vicious conversation with heleen. she works odd hours (between the menagerie and the bar), but she's called out of work at the bar due to a sore and bruised arm. courtesy of the menagerie. easily covered by a long-sleeved shirt, which she's wearing as she sits on kaz's couch, exhausted and fiddling with her phone.
camping on this essential-stranger's couch is not a long-term solution to her (multiple) problems, and inej is loathe to bring heleen's fury to nina's doorstep. a boarding house might be an option . . . but she wouldn't be able to keep the bird. but she pushes that out of her mind to rest her head against the back of the couch, exhaling slowly as she takes a moment to relax in the silence, and being alone.
(for now, anyway. kaz is somewhere in the apartment, but he's left her alone, for the most part. which she's pretty grateful for.) ]
Edited 2020-09-28 00:29 (UTC)
[ The first morning sees them walking out the door together, which is an oddity he figures won't be happening again. If her landlord has gotten the jump on fixing the heat, she'll be back in her apartment and they'll settle into their separated lives again. A blip of strangeness they won't speak of.
Except apparently her landlord is more like a slum lord and is taking her sweet time with fixing the problem. There's a possibility Inej is lying—one that he dismisses somewhat quickly, after he hears a strained conversation through the bathroom door. So here they are on day three of this awkward dance. Aside from the weirdness of having someone else in his space, he doesn't really care she's here, especially not with the weather being as frightful as it is. And she'd been honest: her bird, Lizabeta, seems more keen on singing and quietly chirping than full on screaming.
Inej herself is quiet, unobtrusive, to the point where he nearly forgets she's there, finding himself staring at a closed bathroom door and having to knock because he has to pee.
It's quiet even now, as he pulls himself out of his work feeling bleary eyed, head aching because he hasn't eaten since breakfast. Hobbling to the living room, he pokes his head in, ignoring the extremely odd thought that the curve of her neck is attractive. ]
Dinner? I'm ordering noodles. [ If she wants to lump her order in, it only makes sense to offer. Besides, it doesn't look as if she wants to go anywhere. ]
Except apparently her landlord is more like a slum lord and is taking her sweet time with fixing the problem. There's a possibility Inej is lying—one that he dismisses somewhat quickly, after he hears a strained conversation through the bathroom door. So here they are on day three of this awkward dance. Aside from the weirdness of having someone else in his space, he doesn't really care she's here, especially not with the weather being as frightful as it is. And she'd been honest: her bird, Lizabeta, seems more keen on singing and quietly chirping than full on screaming.
Inej herself is quiet, unobtrusive, to the point where he nearly forgets she's there, finding himself staring at a closed bathroom door and having to knock because he has to pee.
It's quiet even now, as he pulls himself out of his work feeling bleary eyed, head aching because he hasn't eaten since breakfast. Hobbling to the living room, he pokes his head in, ignoring the extremely odd thought that the curve of her neck is attractive. ]
Dinner? I'm ordering noodles. [ If she wants to lump her order in, it only makes sense to offer. Besides, it doesn't look as if she wants to go anywhere. ]
[ she straightens at the sound of his cane, glancing toward the doorway as he leans into the living room. the offer of dinner causes her to realize that she also hasn't eaten today. ]
Sure. [ she agrees, glancing toward her phone to check her venmo balance. she hadn't bothered to send heleen her rent, seeing as she was so inclined to change her locks, so she did have something, at least. ugh, what a mess. ] Whatever you want, I can send you half.
[ paying for her own food seems like a small price to pay for living in relative luxury for the last few days, and she shifts a little on the couch to face him. ]
I'm sorry, that this is such a hassle. I didn't think it would be longer than a day.
Sure. [ she agrees, glancing toward her phone to check her venmo balance. she hadn't bothered to send heleen her rent, seeing as she was so inclined to change her locks, so she did have something, at least. ugh, what a mess. ] Whatever you want, I can send you half.
[ paying for her own food seems like a small price to pay for living in relative luxury for the last few days, and she shifts a little on the couch to face him. ]
I'm sorry, that this is such a hassle. I didn't think it would be longer than a day.
Peanut allergies?
[ He asks off-handedly, after she agrees, scrolling head tipped down as he scrolls through his phone. At this point he knows the menu, but he's trying to guess what she'll like. A reversal of the coffee choice. Why it matters to get it close to right, he isn't sure.
Well okay, he just likes being right. ]
Has your landlady given you an ETA? [ It's not resentful or accusatory, he simply wants to know. Because having her here really isn't annoying, much to his surprise. Then again, it's been three days and 2/3rds of those were working days, so maybe he's being quick to judge the situation. ]
[ He asks off-handedly, after she agrees, scrolling head tipped down as he scrolls through his phone. At this point he knows the menu, but he's trying to guess what she'll like. A reversal of the coffee choice. Why it matters to get it close to right, he isn't sure.
Well okay, he just likes being right. ]
Has your landlady given you an ETA? [ It's not resentful or accusatory, he simply wants to know. Because having her here really isn't annoying, much to his surprise. Then again, it's been three days and 2/3rds of those were working days, so maybe he's being quick to judge the situation. ]
No, no peanut allergies.
[ with a shake of her head as she returns to her phone for a moment, scrolling through her texts when he asks the next question. and she purses her lips before sighing, sounding resigned. ]
No.
[ and inej pauses, thinking to herself for a moment before sighing, getting to her feet and tossing her phone on the couch. ]
She’s angry because I owe her money. Outside of my rent, which is always paid. [ as an aside, irritated. ] I was hoping she would quit by now but she is determined to take blood from a stone.
[ and she waves it off before rubbing her forearm gingerly, drowning to herself. ]
I think I can find a new room in the neighboring building by the end of the week. So I will be out of your space by then.
[ with a shake of her head as she returns to her phone for a moment, scrolling through her texts when he asks the next question. and she purses her lips before sighing, sounding resigned. ]
No.
[ and inej pauses, thinking to herself for a moment before sighing, getting to her feet and tossing her phone on the couch. ]
She’s angry because I owe her money. Outside of my rent, which is always paid. [ as an aside, irritated. ] I was hoping she would quit by now but she is determined to take blood from a stone.
[ and she waves it off before rubbing her forearm gingerly, drowning to herself. ]
I think I can find a new room in the neighboring building by the end of the week. So I will be out of your space by then.
[ She says she doesn't have allergies, so a few more idle taps and the order's placed. A happy completion page has an animated icon of a frying pan flipping blocks up and a timer of twenty minutes underneath. Kaz repockets his phone and is about to leave her to her business when she elaborates on her answer.
There's a long stretch of silence as he turns the words over, feeling his temper spike suddenly. ]
Your landlady refuses to fix your heat because of non-rent money you owe her? [ His brows are knit together and he is...really trying not to sound as furious as he feels. He's not sure if he's succeeding. Because Inej seems to be trying to take this in stride despite how flagrantly illegal it is for that awful woman to be doing this to her. ]
There's a long stretch of silence as he turns the words over, feeling his temper spike suddenly. ]
Your landlady refuses to fix your heat because of non-rent money you owe her? [ His brows are knit together and he is...really trying not to sound as furious as he feels. He's not sure if he's succeeding. Because Inej seems to be trying to take this in stride despite how flagrantly illegal it is for that awful woman to be doing this to her. ]
[ her own brows knit together as he responds, because he’s . . . upset. which surprises her, a little, but then again, he did let her sleep on his couch. he’s clearly not a terrible person.
but the question causes her to bite the inside of her cheek, and inej lets out a slow breath. ]
It’s — complicated.
[ and humiliating, truthfully, and she feels an odd weight in her stomach as she tries to find words. ]
I was —- [ brought here against her will and heleen essentially bought her way into the country. paid for her. and now she has a debt that doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller. ] She isn’t just —- she doesn’t just own my building.
[ and she purses her lips together before glancing toward her phone on the couch. may as well be honest, though the uncomfortable tightness in her throat almost prevents the words. why is this so hard? the opinion of some random mostly stranger doesn’t mean anything, in the long run. ]
I work for her, to pay down the debt.
[ finally. ]
She owns the Menagerie. And half the — those types of houses on in East Stave. I didn’t — I missed a payment because I refused to see a certain client, and now I’m here. So.
[ she gestures with a hand, uncomfortable and on edge. almost preemptively defensive. ]
None of that is going to attach to you, no one knows I’m here.
but the question causes her to bite the inside of her cheek, and inej lets out a slow breath. ]
It’s — complicated.
[ and humiliating, truthfully, and she feels an odd weight in her stomach as she tries to find words. ]
I was —- [ brought here against her will and heleen essentially bought her way into the country. paid for her. and now she has a debt that doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller. ] She isn’t just —- she doesn’t just own my building.
[ and she purses her lips together before glancing toward her phone on the couch. may as well be honest, though the uncomfortable tightness in her throat almost prevents the words. why is this so hard? the opinion of some random mostly stranger doesn’t mean anything, in the long run. ]
I work for her, to pay down the debt.
[ finally. ]
She owns the Menagerie. And half the — those types of houses on in East Stave. I didn’t — I missed a payment because I refused to see a certain client, and now I’m here. So.
[ she gestures with a hand, uncomfortable and on edge. almost preemptively defensive. ]
None of that is going to attach to you, no one knows I’m here.
Edited 2020-09-28 02:22 (UTC)
[ Watching her struggle through the explanation is painful in more ways than one. He's never been any good at dealing with emotions, especially not with other people involved, but he isn't heartless like Jesper claims he is. Most of the time it's easy for him to treat people with professionalism and not let them any closer.
Her story, though, reminds him too much of his own. Being taken advantage of, his family's little bit of money stolen right out of his young hands. The brother he lost in the process. Rollins, who was responsible for it all.
It's infuriating, seeing someone else in a similar position. Enough that he clears the threshold of hot anger and drops straight into something more chilly, calculated. Obviously, Inej isn't the only one affected. There's more people. Young girls, probably, considering the type of work he's getting the insinuation for.
So his sudden laugh comes out cruel, sharp. ]
Even if they did, I'd like to see her try. [ Well, he knows what he's doing tomorrow morning: looking into the Menagerie's operations. How lucky it's the weekend. ]
You got a copy of that contract? [ By all rights, she should. ]
Her story, though, reminds him too much of his own. Being taken advantage of, his family's little bit of money stolen right out of his young hands. The brother he lost in the process. Rollins, who was responsible for it all.
It's infuriating, seeing someone else in a similar position. Enough that he clears the threshold of hot anger and drops straight into something more chilly, calculated. Obviously, Inej isn't the only one affected. There's more people. Young girls, probably, considering the type of work he's getting the insinuation for.
So his sudden laugh comes out cruel, sharp. ]
Even if they did, I'd like to see her try. [ Well, he knows what he's doing tomorrow morning: looking into the Menagerie's operations. How lucky it's the weekend. ]
You got a copy of that contract? [ By all rights, she should. ]
[ the laugh startles her, and at his comment, her brow furrows. just who was this person? jesper had told her that he was (1) very smart; (2) very wealthy; and (3) relatively harmless. the last part didn't seem to track with his sudden clear focus on . . . the contract?
it was so long ago when she signed whatever heleen had put in front of her that she nearly asks him what he's talking about. but her expression shifts from slight confusion to understanding. but the understanding soon shifts into something a little more guarded, and her arms remained crossed over her chest. she doesn't move an inch. ]
I have nothing to give you for helping me. I have no money, and I don't own anything.
[ it's said a little bluntly, but since inej has lived in ketterdam, she's long since learned that nothing is free. and she isn't so desperate as to give whatever is left of herself to some stranger who (on the surface) seems kind. ]
What do you have to gain by looking through my paperwork?
it was so long ago when she signed whatever heleen had put in front of her that she nearly asks him what he's talking about. but her expression shifts from slight confusion to understanding. but the understanding soon shifts into something a little more guarded, and her arms remained crossed over her chest. she doesn't move an inch. ]
I have nothing to give you for helping me. I have no money, and I don't own anything.
[ it's said a little bluntly, but since inej has lived in ketterdam, she's long since learned that nothing is free. and she isn't so desperate as to give whatever is left of herself to some stranger who (on the surface) seems kind. ]
What do you have to gain by looking through my paperwork?
[ She clams up, arms crossed and clearly guarded. Expected, if he's reading between the lines right. While he might not know her whole story, he at least knows this: Ketterdam is greedy and its people are much the same. So many are willing to step on others to get what they want and people like Inej get caught in the crossfire. ]
I don't care about payment. [ He's got enough money and could get virtually anything he wants, materially. And he isn't remotely interested in extorting her for physical favors. It actually repulses him enough that he frowns and shakes his head. ]
Let's just call it a personal tic.
[ Well, it isn't a lie. ]
I don't care about payment. [ He's got enough money and could get virtually anything he wants, materially. And he isn't remotely interested in extorting her for physical favors. It actually repulses him enough that he frowns and shakes his head. ]
Let's just call it a personal tic.
[ Well, it isn't a lie. ]
[ she watches him carefully, still guarded, with a careful frown on her face. she's good at reading people, and her eyes flicker over his face, his body language, how he holds himself. nothing in his posture or his inflection indicates that he's lying.
hiding the truth, maybe, but not outright lying. he doesn't mean her harm. it wouldn't give him anything but a headache, most likely, to help her. or not help her. she doesn't know what the point of looking at a contract is, other than make her feel stupid for signing it in the first place.
finally, though, inej sighs and turns toward her bag, stooping down to kneel as she sorts through her things. she eventually fishes out a manila envelope, which she opens as she stands, tugging out a few things. paperwork in ravkan, which doesn't seem to be relevant to what kaz is asking for, as inej doesn't hand it over. but she eventually pulls out a thick stack of paper, bound together, and she hands it over. ]
I could not read half of what I was signing, when I came here. It was four years ago. Maybe five. I don't remember.
[ after a moment, as she returns to folding her arms over her chest. ]
I don't know if that matters, or not. She never had it translated for me.
[ now that she's fluent in kerch, she has never bothered to go back through and read it. it felt pointless, when she had already signed it. ]
hiding the truth, maybe, but not outright lying. he doesn't mean her harm. it wouldn't give him anything but a headache, most likely, to help her. or not help her. she doesn't know what the point of looking at a contract is, other than make her feel stupid for signing it in the first place.
finally, though, inej sighs and turns toward her bag, stooping down to kneel as she sorts through her things. she eventually fishes out a manila envelope, which she opens as she stands, tugging out a few things. paperwork in ravkan, which doesn't seem to be relevant to what kaz is asking for, as inej doesn't hand it over. but she eventually pulls out a thick stack of paper, bound together, and she hands it over. ]
I could not read half of what I was signing, when I came here. It was four years ago. Maybe five. I don't remember.
[ after a moment, as she returns to folding her arms over her chest. ]
I don't know if that matters, or not. She never had it translated for me.
[ now that she's fluent in kerch, she has never bothered to go back through and read it. it felt pointless, when she had already signed it. ]
[ After a few beats, she seems to relent. Whatever she'd seen on his face had satisfied her enough to know he wasn't going to try anything untoward. A small relief, as he's been called inscrutable by more than a handful of people in his life. Jes says it all the time.
As she pulls out the stack of paper from her belongings, he limps over to take it. Sliding into the nearby armchair, he starts in on the first page, head tilted.
He does glance up, briefly, eyebrows raised in surprise. ]
You taught yourself Kerch? [ No easy feat. It's not like their pronunciations are simple.
His attention drops back to the paperwork, flipping to the next page. ]
People like her don't want their signees informed. They dress it up as opportunity and then they own you.
As she pulls out the stack of paper from her belongings, he limps over to take it. Sliding into the nearby armchair, he starts in on the first page, head tilted.
He does glance up, briefly, eyebrows raised in surprise. ]
You taught yourself Kerch? [ No easy feat. It's not like their pronunciations are simple.
His attention drops back to the paperwork, flipping to the next page. ]
People like her don't want their signees informed. They dress it up as opportunity and then they own you.
I read a lot.
[ it's not the whole story. she knew some kerch, enough to get by, but it isn't her native tongue. when she was brought here, inej knew enough to barely navigate a basic conversation to buy groceries. definitely not enough to understand the magnitude of what she was now embroiled in.
so she learned. and read books, and magazines, and listened, and forced herself to talk to whatever disgusting bag of puss that came into the menagerie. she would never be taken advantage of again because she no longer understood something.
he's beginning to pour over the paperwork, and something in her itches -- curiosity, maybe. and inej moves a little closer to sit on the couch, tucking her feet underneath her. sitting next to him, sort of -- the armchair is near the couch.
most of what he says makes sense, except: ]
I knew this was not an opportunity.
[ it feels like a silly thing to admit, and inej rubs her arm a little with a frown. ]
But I had no other choice.
[ it's not the whole story. she knew some kerch, enough to get by, but it isn't her native tongue. when she was brought here, inej knew enough to barely navigate a basic conversation to buy groceries. definitely not enough to understand the magnitude of what she was now embroiled in.
so she learned. and read books, and magazines, and listened, and forced herself to talk to whatever disgusting bag of puss that came into the menagerie. she would never be taken advantage of again because she no longer understood something.
he's beginning to pour over the paperwork, and something in her itches -- curiosity, maybe. and inej moves a little closer to sit on the couch, tucking her feet underneath her. sitting next to him, sort of -- the armchair is near the couch.
most of what he says makes sense, except: ]
I knew this was not an opportunity.
[ it feels like a silly thing to admit, and inej rubs her arm a little with a frown. ]
But I had no other choice.
It's impressive.
[ He says, as he flips to the next page. Learning from reading, rather than formal schooling. Granted, her circumstances had dictated it a huge priority, but it's still an admirable thing. ]
That's the other way they get you. [ His tone isn't unkind. Actually it's inching towards sympathetic, softer than usual. It's so close to what happened with him and Jordie, with Rollins taking advantage of two young boys who didn't know any better. At the very least, they'd had fluency in Kerch—though that hadn't done them any favors.
It makes Inej's situation much more angering, though.
There's silence for a few minutes as he flips through more pages, parsing the dense text solely because he's read enough law jargon over the past decade. At this point, he could probably take the bar and pass. Halfway through a page, he stops, pointing out a section. ]
Here, this is about the debt accrual. [ He folds over the read pages, setting the stack on the arm of the chair and turning it towards her. ] It's made to sound like you'll be able to work off what's owed, but you won't. The interest on it outweighs how much you pay back.
[ Dirty. And predatory. He hates it. ]
[ He says, as he flips to the next page. Learning from reading, rather than formal schooling. Granted, her circumstances had dictated it a huge priority, but it's still an admirable thing. ]
That's the other way they get you. [ His tone isn't unkind. Actually it's inching towards sympathetic, softer than usual. It's so close to what happened with him and Jordie, with Rollins taking advantage of two young boys who didn't know any better. At the very least, they'd had fluency in Kerch—though that hadn't done them any favors.
It makes Inej's situation much more angering, though.
There's silence for a few minutes as he flips through more pages, parsing the dense text solely because he's read enough law jargon over the past decade. At this point, he could probably take the bar and pass. Halfway through a page, he stops, pointing out a section. ]
Here, this is about the debt accrual. [ He folds over the read pages, setting the stack on the arm of the chair and turning it towards her. ] It's made to sound like you'll be able to work off what's owed, but you won't. The interest on it outweighs how much you pay back.
[ Dirty. And predatory. He hates it. ]
[ he speaks as if from experience, but inej doesn't ask. instead, she watches him pour over the document, her brow furrowed, wondering what, exactly, he is trying to find . . . when he turns the contract over to her, so she can read it. and she shifts a little, to lean forward so she can see the text herself.
his explanation causes inej's eyes to flicker up toward his own, uncertain, before she looks down at the words with this new understanding. she mouths the words silently to herself as she reads before she finally settles back into the couch, looking . . . well, stunned.
she's lost track, of everything she has done for heleen in the name of paying her debt. most of what she has done has been humiliating. in the beginning, inej had been forced into working solely at the menagerie. but heleen had quickly discovered inej had other uses (and an attitude problem), and forced her into doing other work. anything was preferable to the menagerie. she would rather scrub floors for hours than deal with ten minutes of interaction with clientele of heleen's. so inej seized upon any chance she got to avoid that hell. as of late, the money hadn't been enough, and she had been forced back.
eventually, inej had just gotten herself into the mindset of survival. if she gets through this day, she is one step closer to finally seizing back control of her life and leaving this city for good. it made the days spent at the menagerie pass quicker. and her work at the bar gave her the chance to talk to people she didn't hate. like jesper, and kaz, and nina.
but if what kaz says is true: ]
So I haven't paid anything?
[ a bit numbly, as the realization washes over her, her hands settling in her lap. she normally carries herself with a steeled reserve, and maybe a little standoffishness (to some people, anyway), but right now, she looks woefully young and caught off guard. ]
At all?
his explanation causes inej's eyes to flicker up toward his own, uncertain, before she looks down at the words with this new understanding. she mouths the words silently to herself as she reads before she finally settles back into the couch, looking . . . well, stunned.
she's lost track, of everything she has done for heleen in the name of paying her debt. most of what she has done has been humiliating. in the beginning, inej had been forced into working solely at the menagerie. but heleen had quickly discovered inej had other uses (and an attitude problem), and forced her into doing other work. anything was preferable to the menagerie. she would rather scrub floors for hours than deal with ten minutes of interaction with clientele of heleen's. so inej seized upon any chance she got to avoid that hell. as of late, the money hadn't been enough, and she had been forced back.
eventually, inej had just gotten herself into the mindset of survival. if she gets through this day, she is one step closer to finally seizing back control of her life and leaving this city for good. it made the days spent at the menagerie pass quicker. and her work at the bar gave her the chance to talk to people she didn't hate. like jesper, and kaz, and nina.
but if what kaz says is true: ]
So I haven't paid anything?
[ a bit numbly, as the realization washes over her, her hands settling in her lap. she normally carries herself with a steeled reserve, and maybe a little standoffishness (to some people, anyway), but right now, she looks woefully young and caught off guard. ]
At all?
[ The look on her face is concentrated, as she reads through the section he's just pointed out. It's a dense portion, with a lot of word fluff; he's given her the best distillation he can.
As she gets through that section though, it looks like her expression collapses, the realization dawning. He's given people horrible news on their finances but it's never felt this awful. Kaz isn't sure how old she is but she looks young now, fragile.
But he doesn't see the point in softening the blow. She deserves the truth, especially after being lied to. ]
Almost nothing. The wage she pays out isn't enough to close the gap— on purpose. Getting free is either a court case, which can be expensive, or the contract being bought out, which she knows is unlikely.
[ What he doesn't mention is that even if Inej managed to find a lawyer who'd be willing to do it pro bono, it was likely that her contract holder had a very tight legal defense. Purely because of this kind of nonsense. It would take years, as most litigation does, and her life would be more hellish. ]
As she gets through that section though, it looks like her expression collapses, the realization dawning. He's given people horrible news on their finances but it's never felt this awful. Kaz isn't sure how old she is but she looks young now, fragile.
But he doesn't see the point in softening the blow. She deserves the truth, especially after being lied to. ]
Almost nothing. The wage she pays out isn't enough to close the gap— on purpose. Getting free is either a court case, which can be expensive, or the contract being bought out, which she knows is unlikely.
[ What he doesn't mention is that even if Inej managed to find a lawyer who'd be willing to do it pro bono, it was likely that her contract holder had a very tight legal defense. Purely because of this kind of nonsense. It would take years, as most litigation does, and her life would be more hellish. ]
[ she hears what he says, but it takes a moment or two to process it. the years of "work" that inej thought was whittling away her debt is useless. she's essentially just worked for free. or been abused for free, is probably the better term.
she mulls that over in her head, lets it wrap around her. and slowly, piercing through the numbness is a latent rage that has been twisting around and building in her chest for the last handful of years that she has been trapped in this city. her fingers curl into fists in her lap as she stares at them, nails digging into her palm.
the two options that kaz proposes both seem worthless. she cannot afford either of them, and there isn't any real safety in ketterdam if she disobeys heleen. again. inej is surprised, truthfully, that she hasn't found out where inej is hiding, though inej was at the menagerie today. in some attempt to get back into good graces. or to just get enough money to find another room.
now, though, it seemed pointless. there was no amount of money that would satisfy heleen, so continuing to play her game seemed pointless. if death was the price for freedom, then that sounded like a good deal, to her. there was no paying out the contract, or getting free. inej would just need to run.
where, who knows. but she wouldn't be returning to that place for another moment more. and for a moment, inej considers just . . . not showing up. but something in her, like a taunt bow string, snaps.
so she forces herself to uncurl her fingers from fists, reaching over to collect her phone, unlocking it with a swipe of her fingers as she searches for heleen's number. the motion is automatic, and inej's hands are shaking faintly as she dials, but she stops herself from actually calling. instead, she sucks in a breath, trying to place out what she wants to say . . . but she soon locks her phone again.
think, inej. because acting rashly and out of anger isn't going to get you out of this situation. and once she thinks, she realizes that she doesn't really have much of anything to prove that she's paid heleen anything. venmo transactions for rent, and the contract, and that's about it. and even if inej calls heleen and tells her to go directly fuck herself, it won't fix the problem that heleen owns the rights to inej ghafa as long as she remains in the city.
most importantly: ]
She is going to have me killed if I run.
[ finally, her voice something of a soft whisper. an admission, one that inej doesn't sound too afraid by. that option doesn't sound too bad, in the face of what her life is going to be if she continues to do as she's told. ]
she mulls that over in her head, lets it wrap around her. and slowly, piercing through the numbness is a latent rage that has been twisting around and building in her chest for the last handful of years that she has been trapped in this city. her fingers curl into fists in her lap as she stares at them, nails digging into her palm.
the two options that kaz proposes both seem worthless. she cannot afford either of them, and there isn't any real safety in ketterdam if she disobeys heleen. again. inej is surprised, truthfully, that she hasn't found out where inej is hiding, though inej was at the menagerie today. in some attempt to get back into good graces. or to just get enough money to find another room.
now, though, it seemed pointless. there was no amount of money that would satisfy heleen, so continuing to play her game seemed pointless. if death was the price for freedom, then that sounded like a good deal, to her. there was no paying out the contract, or getting free. inej would just need to run.
where, who knows. but she wouldn't be returning to that place for another moment more. and for a moment, inej considers just . . . not showing up. but something in her, like a taunt bow string, snaps.
so she forces herself to uncurl her fingers from fists, reaching over to collect her phone, unlocking it with a swipe of her fingers as she searches for heleen's number. the motion is automatic, and inej's hands are shaking faintly as she dials, but she stops herself from actually calling. instead, she sucks in a breath, trying to place out what she wants to say . . . but she soon locks her phone again.
think, inej. because acting rashly and out of anger isn't going to get you out of this situation. and once she thinks, she realizes that she doesn't really have much of anything to prove that she's paid heleen anything. venmo transactions for rent, and the contract, and that's about it. and even if inej calls heleen and tells her to go directly fuck herself, it won't fix the problem that heleen owns the rights to inej ghafa as long as she remains in the city.
most importantly: ]
She is going to have me killed if I run.
[ finally, her voice something of a soft whisper. an admission, one that inej doesn't sound too afraid by. that option doesn't sound too bad, in the face of what her life is going to be if she continues to do as she's told. ]
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