[ it's truly beautiful, shu han. she's captivated by the seemingly endless stretch of trees dotting the landscape, pushing her hat back a little bit to get a better look at the nearest plum tree when kaz speaks up. ]
Did you?
[ she asks, briefly entertaining the idea of a younger version of kaz climbing a tree. something that would be much more difficult now, with his leg. the lower branches of the tree have little to no fruit on them, clearly picked by lazier tourists (or, perhaps the opposite, tourists who got up before noon). her eyes are on a plum that's a bit out of her reach, and inej lets go of her hold on kaz's fingers to stretch her hand out, to stand on her toes, seeing if she can reach it.
( she can't. ) ]
I don't think you would need to climb them anymore anyway.
[ she continues, tossing him a slight grin. he's fairly tall, after all, able to reach the out of reach fruit fairly easily. ]
[ Several varieties, he thinks. Not that he knows any of the names or could remember them now. He does remember seeing bright green ones and others that tended towards dark red and even pink. And the smell of the fruit in those early autumn days, when he'd been sitting in the branches.
Some of these trees are shorter and newer, most of their lower branches missing the fruit from the hands of eager tourists. Inej looking to be one of them, though her reach misses the mark by at least half a foot. ]
Not really. [ He says, grinning, as he easily steps in to pick the fruit she'd been aiming for and handing it down. ]
[ it's a little odd, to think of the fact that kaz had parents outside of tomassen and sofia. though inej knows that he must have, at one point. the two just adore kaz so wholly and completely that inej can't really picture them not as a family unit.
her grin widens, as he steps closer to get the plum for her, and she takes it in her hands, amused. ]
It's a good thing I like climbing trees, then.
[ she says, rolling the plum between her palms, dusting off any dirt or whatever else has landed on it during its time on the tree. ]
Trees probably aren't much of a challenge compared to gymnastics, huh?
[ Especially not one like this, with lower starting branches. A kid with some determination could at least get up to the lowest one, he thinks. Inej has quite good balance, he thinks she could easily get up to the top.
But, at least in this case, it's easier to ask him to grab one. He didn't even have to really reach that much. ]
Now you're sounding like Tomassen. [ In an amusing way. He's taller than Inej, that's certain—almost everyone is. But Sofia is taller than him and her height has also come in handy around their place, especially in the kitchen. ]
Come on, it looks shadier in there.
[ As the rows of trees grow more dense, the branches have blocked out some of the sun. He'd prepared for being out in it but it would be nice to have a break.
And, as he recalls, the sounds around will be dampened, trunks and branches muffling what trickles in. It's not exactly loud in the gardens at the moment, but people are passing through. Other tourists, mostly. ]
The trees are definitely easier. [ for sure. ] And Tomassen is not that short.
[ sofia is just very tall. tomassen and inej commiserate frequently on the difference between being short and everyone else being exceptionally tall.
still, she shifts the plum to one hand so she can take his hand with her free one, letting him lead the way to a shadier bunch of trees. she interwines her fingers with his, letting the their hands swing lazily with the momentum of them walking. ]
I think Tomassen is just happy to have someone else in his life who is normal-sized.
[ at least, that's what he tells her, though inej suspects he would never say a single negative word against his wife. his griping over people being tall is strictly focused on kaz. ]
[ Occasionally exaggerating how much shorter he is in comparison to both Kaz and Sofia. He's been doing it ever since Kaz passed his height when he was a teenager. Probably he'd been holding out hope that he'd remain an average height, though Kaz had always had a feeling he would be taller. His father, as he remembers, had been quite a big man, tall and broad shouldered. Though he thinks part of that had been due to his occupation. Farming is such a manual task.
Either way, he's ended up one of the tallest in any group he's in, aside from when Jesper's around. ]
Average height in Kerch is about five foot six; you're a few shades under. [ Not that he minds at all, as he allows their hands to swing from the natural sway of walking. ] I just think he's glad he doesn't have to look up to talk to you.
[ she says pointedly, though she knows it's very much more than that. she's fairly certain kaz is over a foot taller than she is. which isn't something she minds, necessarily. it comes in handy, especially when she needs something on the top shelf.
she squeezes his hand lightly, tone turning thoughtful. ]
Most of the people in my family are taller than I am. I take after my mother.
[ though asena ghafa certainly doesn't look very short. inej has seen men twice her size cower at her glare. ]
[ A few shades is putting it lightly. Theres at least a foot of difference between them, which should be more awkward than it is. He likes it though, especially when they're laying next to each other. It makes him feel like he can really wrap her up in a tight hug. ]
I forget she's shorter a lot of the time. [ He admits, having been on the receiving end of her fairly powerful judgment. It's never mattered that she only comes up to his chest, at most. Kaz is fairly certain she could frighten a bear back into its cave by simply looking at it with that expression of disapproval she occasionally carries.
Their relationship has certainly improved over the years, once she acknowledged he wasn't some asshole Kerch dating her daughter simply for her looks. Or as some weird power play. He thinks she sees him as mostly positive now. Maybe.
Tugging on Inej's hand, he leads them down a neat and shadier row of pear trees. And once he knows they're by themselves, gives her hand another pull so she's closer and he can loop her in for a hug. ]
[ asena had initially hated him, but now is positively charmed. or, at least, as close to charmed as her mother will ever be. she still wishes the island of kerch would sink into the sea and inej would move to ravka permanently. and asena hadn't been pleased that she decided to run away with kaz to shu han for time alone after the trial, rather than come to os kervo. but asena at least trusts kaz, now, with inej. and with her heart. that's enough.
inej is about to say so when kaz tugs her close, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. the movement causes a warm smile to brighten her features, and inej wraps her arms around his waist, leaning her chin against his chest to look up at him. ]
[ Her whole expression lights up, warm as the dappled sun streaming through the branches. He wants to make her this happy all the time, for the rest of their lives. Maybe it's a bit fast to think of proposing, but he feels like they've been through so much. And something says that this is it. She's it.
When they get back, he'll ask Sofia for advice. For now, he's going to simply enjoy the time they have here.
Briefly, he tightens his hold around her middle, picking her up slightly as he hugs her. Once she's back on solid ground, he leans in for a tender kiss. ]
Love you. [ He murmurs it against her mouth, pressing a softer kiss right at the corner of her smile. ]
[ he hugs her a bit tighter, and then lifts her up for a better hug. it sparks a laugh as she shifts to loop her arms around his neck, hands finding his neck as he kisses her. ]
I love you too.
[ easily, pushing herself up onto her toes to give him a light kiss. ]
You are in a good mood.
[ amused, as her hands shift to rest lightly against his chest. ]
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no subject
Date: 2020-12-05 07:55 pm (UTC)Did you?
[ she asks, briefly entertaining the idea of a younger version of kaz climbing a tree. something that would be much more difficult now, with his leg. the lower branches of the tree have little to no fruit on them, clearly picked by lazier tourists (or, perhaps the opposite, tourists who got up before noon). her eyes are on a plum that's a bit out of her reach, and inej lets go of her hold on kaz's fingers to stretch her hand out, to stand on her toes, seeing if she can reach it.
( she can't. ) ]
I don't think you would need to climb them anymore anyway.
[ she continues, tossing him a slight grin. he's fairly tall, after all, able to reach the out of reach fruit fairly easily. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-05 10:45 pm (UTC)[ Several varieties, he thinks. Not that he knows any of the names or could remember them now. He does remember seeing bright green ones and others that tended towards dark red and even pink. And the smell of the fruit in those early autumn days, when he'd been sitting in the branches.
Some of these trees are shorter and newer, most of their lower branches missing the fruit from the hands of eager tourists. Inej looking to be one of them, though her reach misses the mark by at least half a foot. ]
Not really. [ He says, grinning, as he easily steps in to pick the fruit she'd been aiming for and handing it down. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-05 11:10 pm (UTC)her grin widens, as he steps closer to get the plum for her, and she takes it in her hands, amused. ]
It's a good thing I like climbing trees, then.
[ she says, rolling the plum between her palms, dusting off any dirt or whatever else has landed on it during its time on the tree. ]
And also that I have you.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-06 02:41 pm (UTC)[ Especially not one like this, with lower starting branches. A kid with some determination could at least get up to the lowest one, he thinks. Inej has quite good balance, he thinks she could easily get up to the top.
But, at least in this case, it's easier to ask him to grab one. He didn't even have to really reach that much. ]
Now you're sounding like Tomassen. [ In an amusing way. He's taller than Inej, that's certain—almost everyone is. But Sofia is taller than him and her height has also come in handy around their place, especially in the kitchen. ]
Come on, it looks shadier in there.
[ As the rows of trees grow more dense, the branches have blocked out some of the sun. He'd prepared for being out in it but it would be nice to have a break.
And, as he recalls, the sounds around will be dampened, trunks and branches muffling what trickles in. It's not exactly loud in the gardens at the moment, but people are passing through. Other tourists, mostly. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-06 03:25 pm (UTC)[ sofia is just very tall. tomassen and inej commiserate frequently on the difference between being short and everyone else being exceptionally tall.
still, she shifts the plum to one hand so she can take his hand with her free one, letting him lead the way to a shadier bunch of trees. she interwines her fingers with his, letting the their hands swing lazily with the momentum of them walking. ]
I think Tomassen is just happy to have someone else in his life who is normal-sized.
[ at least, that's what he tells her, though inej suspects he would never say a single negative word against his wife. his griping over people being tall is strictly focused on kaz. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-06 10:29 pm (UTC)[ Occasionally exaggerating how much shorter he is in comparison to both Kaz and Sofia. He's been doing it ever since Kaz passed his height when he was a teenager. Probably he'd been holding out hope that he'd remain an average height, though Kaz had always had a feeling he would be taller. His father, as he remembers, had been quite a big man, tall and broad shouldered. Though he thinks part of that had been due to his occupation. Farming is such a manual task.
Either way, he's ended up one of the tallest in any group he's in, aside from when Jesper's around. ]
Average height in Kerch is about five foot six; you're a few shades under. [ Not that he minds at all, as he allows their hands to swing from the natural sway of walking. ] I just think he's glad he doesn't have to look up to talk to you.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-08 11:17 pm (UTC)[ she says pointedly, though she knows it's very much more than that. she's fairly certain kaz is over a foot taller than she is. which isn't something she minds, necessarily. it comes in handy, especially when she needs something on the top shelf.
she squeezes his hand lightly, tone turning thoughtful. ]
Most of the people in my family are taller than I am. I take after my mother.
[ though asena ghafa certainly doesn't look very short. inej has seen men twice her size cower at her glare. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-09 02:15 pm (UTC)[ A few shades is putting it lightly. Theres at least a foot of difference between them, which should be more awkward than it is. He likes it though, especially when they're laying next to each other. It makes him feel like he can really wrap her up in a tight hug. ]
I forget she's shorter a lot of the time. [ He admits, having been on the receiving end of her fairly powerful judgment. It's never mattered that she only comes up to his chest, at most. Kaz is fairly certain she could frighten a bear back into its cave by simply looking at it with that expression of disapproval she occasionally carries.
Their relationship has certainly improved over the years, once she acknowledged he wasn't some asshole Kerch dating her daughter simply for her looks. Or as some weird power play. He thinks she sees him as mostly positive now. Maybe.
Tugging on Inej's hand, he leads them down a neat and shadier row of pear trees. And once he knows they're by themselves, gives her hand another pull so she's closer and he can loop her in for a hug. ]
Hey.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-09 05:37 pm (UTC)inej is about to say so when kaz tugs her close, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. the movement causes a warm smile to brighten her features, and inej wraps her arms around his waist, leaning her chin against his chest to look up at him. ]
Hi.
[ she says warmly, eyes bright. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-09 06:22 pm (UTC)When they get back, he'll ask Sofia for advice. For now, he's going to simply enjoy the time they have here.
Briefly, he tightens his hold around her middle, picking her up slightly as he hugs her. Once she's back on solid ground, he leans in for a tender kiss. ]
Love you. [ He murmurs it against her mouth, pressing a softer kiss right at the corner of her smile. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-09 11:07 pm (UTC)I love you too.
[ easily, pushing herself up onto her toes to give him a light kiss. ]
You are in a good mood.
[ amused, as her hands shift to rest lightly against his chest. ]