[ with a small shake of kaz's shoulder, before he leaves the office to move down the hall, collecting the bag of food and the tray of espresso. juggling both in one hand, he sends a quick text to sofia letting her know he's going to be home late before asking his secretary to send a dozen roses to the school where sofia works. softening the blow of what he's about to do, tomassen thinks.
and, of course, it was wednesday. a perfect day for flowers.
that done, he re-enters the office, closing his door with a nudge of his foot before setting the bags on his desk. ]
So.
[ as he sets the americano down in front of kaz, made to his specifications. ]
Jesper told me Inej was rather taken with you at that bar.
[ now that he has kaz trapped by the prospect of perhaps taking up this case, he can now fully interrogate. ]
[ Tomassen gives his shoulder a friendly (teasing) shake and Kaz sighs, annoyed. But only just a bit. There's a faint, private, more genuine smile at the jab as his father exits the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts for a bit.
The Rollins case had not been easy by any means, for either of them. But, he'd made it out of it with parents who cared. Who patiently supported him through the absolute worst of his meltdowns. And while it had frightened him to let the vulnerability shine through, to be known again, he's ultimately glad they have this. That he can be jibed about his bad habits, his odd tics, with a good humor.
He's shaken from his swirling thoughts as Tomassen comes back in, takeout bag rustling before they're set on a clearer spot of his desk. Kaz appreciatively takes the americano, sipping it before setting it off to the side so he could help dig their order out of the bags, utensils and sauces getting doled out. ]
You should know by now that Jes exaggerates everything. [ Rather taken? She'd been friendly enough and hadn't decided to lose his number. Nothing more, nothing less. ]
Just because we met in a bar like you and mom did doesn't mean we're destined.
First of all, your mother took pity upon me in a bar when I was at my most pathetic and granted me the blessing of her presence.
[ as he settled into his chair, tugging his own food closer to him to begin mixing in the requisite sauces. unlike sofia, his penchant for spicy food is pathetic, and so he's a little lighter than what's probably normal. ]
Second, a bar is a perfectly lovely place to meet someone, and third, it doesn't need to be destined, it can simply be fun. In summation --
That's funny, her side of the story is very different.
[ He says, knowingly amused, as he opens his food container and dumps more sauce on than Tomassen did. Having grown up with Jesper as a friend, his tolerance is much higher for the spicier flavor profiles of Zemeni fare.
That aside, he knows his father is joking about being pitied. Somewhat. After all, he continues to look at Sofia like she'd hung the moon and the stars in the sky. Not that he blames him; Sofia had held a patient hand out, repeatedly, even when Kaz had aggressively batted it away. She'd told him she wanted him to be happy and eventually, he'd believed her. Had let her coax him into hugs when he'd simultaneously craved nothing more and felt the choking nausea that came from it.
So, he knows how much his parents would do anything for each other, showing it in their everyday interactions. Whatever pity there may or may not have been...he hasn't been privy to. ]
Or, more likely, she felt completely neutral and forgot about deleting my number.
[ At this, he shrugs, not wholly bothered. He's aware of what he's like—being friendly and charismatic is Jesper's role. When left to his own devices, he's too intense, too severe, too harsh. His sharp tongue has been curbed a bit, but it's still there. ]
Women don't bother putting your number into their phone in the first place if they don't like you.
[ wisely, as he takes a bite of his dumplings. he doesn't recall if sofia got his cell phone number before or after they got married. but he supposes they were a different case. ]
It's not a bad thing; at the very least, you've made a new friend. [ of which kaz has few and far between. he has his little cohort, but he's glad to see it expand a little, even if it is just one person. ] She sounds like a lovely girl. Have you set up a bedroom for her, or is she moving to a hotel?
[ Maybe she did, to appease Jesper. Or maybe she'd felt the social lubrication enough to do so in the moment. There's a handful of other reasons he can think of, all of them beyond because she liked him.
Jes has said that kind of thinking is depressing but, Kaz disagrees. It's just realistic. Things rarely went optimistically. And it isn't as if he's interested in her that way. Inej is a friend, albeit a new one that he'd gotten along with faster than anticipated.
Besides, even if he were: it's not like she would return those feelings. Nor does he think they'd even be welcomed. She is, after all, dealing with having run from Heleen. From the touch of unwanted hands of disgusting men.
No, he thinks their relationship will remain as it is. ]
I suppose. [ Inej is oddly tolerant of his quirks, taking them in stride with the same ease Jesper does. ] She's flat broke and has a bird, I doubt a hotel would be suitable.
[ He gives his food a stir, letting it cool a bit. ] And if Heleen is anything like Rollins, she'll be watching the hotel check-ins.
[ Annoyingly, she seems resourceful. And spiteful enough to do so, contract paid or not. ]
I'd planned on asking her what she wanted to do; she's only been staying for the past few nights. [ When they both thought this would be a more temporary thing. ] If it comes to it, I could clear out the room my office is in.
[ he repeats, looking amused, fishing out another dumpling from his container. kaz had always taken to the menagerie that lived at the manor better than most human beings, so he isn't too surprised that he's allowed a bird into the apartment too. ]
Well, I doubt Sofia would mind giving her a room if she needs one. Or if you get sick from having a roommate, but clearing out your office sounds like a plan. It would be a safe place for her to stay while she gets on her feet, assuming you aren't too bothered by it.
[ He confirms, with a shrug. ] It's not mom's iguana, at least.
[ Not that Kaz had a problem with Biscuit, though he knows Tomassen's relationship with the reptile is tenuous. As if Biscuit senses his hesitation and fucks with him because of it. ]
Might not be a bad idea; I'll ask how she feels about it. [ His mom would know better how to reassure Inej, after all. To his father's gentle inquiry though: ] So far, not really. She's quiet, her bird rarely shrieks, and she doesn't ask me annoying questions about the cane.
[ god, biscuit. sofia was lucky that she was the perfect woman, because he wouldn't be caught dead within fifty square miles of biscuit otherwise. he considers that for a moment as he dips a dumpling further into the sauce collected at the bottom of his container, filing that away for later. ]
She's Ravkan?
[ curious. ravkan girls aren't unheard of in the sex trade in ketterdam, but most of them don't fall into the seedier brothels like heleen's. much less ones religious enough to know more than a handful of the ravkan saints. ]
Far from home. [ wheels are turning. she must be on register with the immigration office, but those papers are likely fabricated. something else to fix once he sinks his teeth into the file. ] Poor girl.
[ he heaves a sigh before he sets his container on his desk. ]
She need to get back into her apartment? I can have a court order to open it by tomorrow morning.
[ As Tomassen seems to contemplate, he digs into his food, spooning the saucy rice and meat mixture onto the spiced bread. Jesper would make fun of him, for being such a neat freak–the bread was meant to be the spoon, on this dish. Mostly, he doesn't want to drip on himself or his father's desk when there's not overmuch space.
(Ok and maybe he is a neat freak). ]
Suli. [ Kaz corrects, knowing there's a distinction. The Suli live in Ravka and are technically considered citizens. But, they aren't typically viewed as such, culturally or in law. Ravka's new king, Nikolai, had made a particular point of mentioning that being something he would rectify. Whether that would happen...well, they would see. It's not as though the Ravkan throne has ever had enough stability to make promises like that.
Hence why a missing Suli girl, trapped in a shady contract, all the way out in Kerch, hadn't set off any alarm bells within the nation she'd come from. He makes a face at this, mouth pressing into a thin, unhappy line. ]
I can ask. Don't know how much she still needs from it. [ And if she did, he'd volunteer to go with. At the very least, send Jesper with her. Heleen might comply just to look like the picture of a rational landlord but, who knows what she would do to toe that line. ]
[ catching up took a bit longer than he had thought, but it was a good talk. enough information to pass on to sofia. given it was so cold and beginning to snow, tomassen (gently) bullied kaz into letting him drive him home. and once that was done, tomassen settled in to read through the file.
it was sickening. enough to turn anyone's stomach, and tomassen had read through hundreds of pages of autopsy reports and torture techniques for kaz's trial. poor inej, a thirteen year old girl, in a place like the menagerie? it was enough to want to burn the building to the ground.
it was a bit past dinner when tomassen entered through the front door of the manor, exhaling a long sigh as he shook the snow out of his hair. the bag of documents is quickly deposited on the couch of the front foyer as he shrugs off his coat and scarf, hanging them up in due course. he can smell food in the kitchen, and after taking off his shoes to ensure snow doesn't track through the house, he meanders his way there.
seeing sofia heating up some type of leftovers is enough to make some of the stress of the deal vanish instantly. he's about to ask what she ordered when he instead chooses to slide his arms around her waist from behind, pressing a kiss to her neck in greeting, sighing to himself.
[ Having heard back from Kaz earlier in the day about dinner, she's blissfully unaware of his meeting with Tomassen.
Well, mostly. She knew they were having lunch, but hadn't really heard anything about it beyond that. Something niggled in the back of her mind, as if sensing an important event was coming down the line. With a half a day still to teach, she put it from her mind. Tomassen would tell her, if it were important.
So, she goes on with her classes. And when those finish up, she packs up, heads home, and grades a stack of papers. By the time she gets through the work she wanted to finish, it's encroaching on dinner. As well as when Tomassen usually steps through the door. She stretches and goes to reheat leftovers–hutspot and some bread that just goes straight in the oven.
While she's idly stirring the contents of the pot, she hears the front door open and close, the muffled sounds of Tomassen setting his things down. Which is very soon followed by the circle of his arms, snug around her waist. Sofia smiles at this and the kiss at the back of her neck, momentarily pausing her motion. ]
My son? What has he done now? [ After all, Kaz only typically gets lumped onto her lap in such a way when he's done something quite frustrating or aggravating to his father. As though to soothe the annoyance, she places a hand over one of his, thumb slowly drawn across his knuckles. She would kiss him but, he does have her quite stuck in place at the moment. It would be remiss to deprive him of holding her as he is. ]
[ her touch is soothing, and tomassen tucks his face into her hair a final time before he decides he needs to stop being a menace. so he sighs and straightens up, giving her a final squeeze before pulling away enough to settle his hip against the nearby counter. ]
Met a girl in a bar.
[ dryly, letting his eyes rove up and down sofia. something he does every time he sees her, and he makes a noise of approval as he reaches out to tug loosely on the sweater she's wearing. ]
I like this one. [ it hugs her in the right places. ] -- anyway, he met a girl in a bar, and wants me to play hero, again. Said girl might be coming to dinner this week.
[ Truthfully, he's not being so much a menace as to completely stop her from stirring the hutspot. Even with one hand occupied, she still has freedom of motion with the other. So, she lets him continue holding her, enjoying the warm press of him along her back, something inside her relaxing. She's sorely tempted to lean into the embrace—there will be time for that later. Soon enough, he lets her go to settle with a hip against the counter. ]
Did he now? [ Her eyebrows go up, both surprised and delighted by this news. Sure, she knows there's more beyond that. There usually is, with Kaz. Their son is a very complicated young man and always has been.
Still, she's glad he's meeting people. Just a few years ago, he would've adamantly opposed any attempt.
At the touch to her sweater, she smiles, casting him a sidelong look that clearly says I know. ]
Hm, I see. [ There's a bit of a warning bell going off in her mind, with how he's phrased that. She goes quiet, slowly stirring the stew, mentally fitting some puzzle pieces together. ]
How bad is it, Tom?
[ Girl or no girl, Kaz never does anything by halves. Nor has he ever asked something like this of them flippantly. ]
[ he grins a little, at sofia's expression, but is soon melts into something somber as sofia begins to piece together the puzzle. he mulls it over a bit before reaching over to gently take the spoon out of sofia's hand, reaching around her to turn off the heat so he can push the stew to the side. it looks about done, anyway. ]
I, ah -- [ he begins, as he collects a potholder from the counter to open the oven with, collecting the bread sofia had thrown in there to warm up. ] I was thinking this afternoon about -- [ placing the loaf on a nearby cutting board to cool enough to cut into, tomassen sets the potholder back on the counter, closing the oven door. ] I always wanted a daughter.
[ he's already been through this grieving process -- with sofia, without sofia, what the plague robbed them off, etc. so it's not said with any real sadness or despair, just a simple statement of fact, as he dusts off his hands. ]
I wanted one, and I've always had this lingering thought of what she would be like, if she existed, but -- Sofia, reading that. [ and he gestures vaguely toward where he had deposited his things in the foyer, lips pursing together into a thin line. ] Reading what that girl -- scraping the surface of what that girl went through, I'm glad I have a son, because I would be in prison. I might still wind up in prison, because --
[ he's getting ahead of himself, and he stops before exhaling slowly, resting his hands on the counter. ]
She was bought by Heleen van Houdon when she was thirteen. Contract was signed by a child who couldn't understand Kerch.
[ he drums his fingers against the countertop, frowning. deep in thought. ]
Currently living on Kaz's couch, nineteen, now. Was left to freeze to death after she refused a client at the Menagerie and couldn't pay her rent.
[ His expression sobers up relatively quickly and she gets out of his way as he turns the stove off, moving the pot off the burner. He's fussing, in order to formulate his thoughts. She lets him, stepping over to the nearby cabinet to pull out the plates and bowls, setting those at their respective spots at the table. As the clatter of silverware stills, he speaks up again and she's now the one to lean on the counter, listening intently.
It's no surprise when he admits to having wanted a daughter. In the intervening years since she'd found out about her inability to bear children, they've gotten better at saying such things out loud. As if exorcising the grief it had caused them. And now, a decade into having raised their very unruly and unexpected son, the pain's easier to let go of.
Still, her brow furrows as he continues, expounding on that particular thought. That having a daughter would've come with a whole slew of other worries. She's aware, of course, the differences in what she'd worried about growing up even in the relative safety of Shu Han as compared to her brothers. There's been a reason she'd pursued self-defense courses. Why she'd gone so far as to get her black belt, unwilling to be unprepared should anything ever happen.
But, as he digs in deeper, clearly upset, she knows not every girl has had her fortune. She has eyes and ears, has known that terrible things can happen to the most vulnerable—young girls, especially. Yet, it's one thing to be aware of and quite another to be confronted with the disgusting details. Her own stomach twists at hearing the age; thirteen. Thirteen, an age where she should have been at home, having sleepovers with her friends and dreaming of all the things she could be when she was older. Instead, she'd been bought by a cruel woman and grew up in a place where she didn't understand the language. Which was just the start of the horrifying tale she understands is beyond what he's telling her.
Reaching over, she sets a hand on Tomassen's shoulder, slowly and gently running her palm along his upper arm. ]
If you end up in prison, I would be right on your heels. [ After all, Tomassen would successfully murder Heleen for her crimes and she would make sure her empire burned. For having the audacity to exist and for making him go to such lengths. ]
You're taking the case.
[ It's not quite an inquiry, nor quite a demand. She knows why he's bringing this up, though. ]
I'm not afraid of Tante Heleen. She is a coward who preys on young people; I doubt she knows how to handle competent adults.
Edited (Hanging html tag oops) Date: 2024-09-03 05:24 pm (UTC)
[ her touch is soothing, and tomassen focuses on it while sofia speaks. he exhales into a breathy laugh before he straightens up, catching her hand in one of his own to tug her into a loose hug, his lips at her temple. ]
I am. [ in a murmur, kissing her temple before shifting to kiss her forehead. an arm slides around her waist, holding her close. ] I'm afraid of her. Her money, and influence, and how she has nothing she cares about except the thing I intend to go after.
[ it would be hell. worse than rollins, if he were honest. the thought of putting sofia through that again was unacceptable -- but so was leaving inej out to dry. too many men had disappointed her; he was loathe to be another. the thought cements something in his mind and he presses another kiss to sofia's forehead, in reassurance. more for his own, than anything else. ]
If I take the case. [ if, as he mulls it over. ] You could go to Shu Han, with your mother. Could bring Kaz, too. It would be warm, and you could take the sabbatical you deserve. [ and she would be safe, and out of harm's way, for the most part. ]
[ At his gentle tug, she steps through, looping her arms around his shoulders. Clearly, he needed the reassurance and she wasn't about to deny him. ]
Rollins had money and influence. [ She begins, drawing the comparisons. Heleen, though, didn't have a blood legacy she cared about. Nothing else was in that shriveled heart of hers except a physical greed; for her businesses, her money, the power it granted her. There were things she would consider doing that, Sofia thinks, Rollins would never have done, even at his most desperate. Because in the end, he had to contend with raising a son who would see what his father did. What his father had become, if even for a brief moment in time. The shame kept him in line, despite how much it had felt like he had none.
Tante Heleen has no such boundaries holding her back, except maybe her reputation on the line. Parasites like her, though, could always find their kin, even with her social standing in shreds.
Sofia gives him a small squeeze, hand tilted down to trace the subtle outline of his shoulder blade through his shirt. ] There is always something that will make a person crumble.
[ And that thing for Heleen–they just don't see it, yet. ]
If. [ She repeats, a slim brow raised. ] I'm not going to Shu Han like some soldier's wife, to anxiously, helplessly, await news with a ten hour time difference.
[ And she already knows Kaz would never agree to such a thing, even if it seems the safest option. ]
If you take the case, we prepare with what we know could happen. [ Pulling away a bit, she cradles his face in her hands, momentarily pressing her brow to his. ] She has money and influence but, so what? Do you think she has anyone who'd sacrifice their skin for hers? Her life is empty.
[ his life is very full and happy, thank you very much, which means many soft parts to grab. more now, than before, truthfully. he feels as though it's finally whole and healed, after the plague, the infertility, finding kaz, and pekka rollins. it's been content and at ease. predictable, even.
but his protest is feeble at best, especially after sofia cradles his face. because ultimately, it's an irrelevant point. it doesn't change the calculus, and so he frowns slightly, seeking some level of argument against her (predictable) refusal to stay out of ketterdam until the dust settles.
he doesn't look particularly happy about it, frown still in place as he mulls it over, turning over different scenarios in his head. any path he finds ends in the inevitable: his family will stay here, and he will be challenging tante heleen. there is no easy path, only the right one. ]
You're right. [ finally, reluctantly. though he is quick to add: ] Not about staying. You should go to Shu Han to be on the other side of the world and fret all you like but be safe, that part you are wrong about, and I am not happy about it nor happy about the idea that I would go a moment without updating you every ten to fifteen minutes -- but --
[ She says nothing at his affirmation that his life is full. Well, nothing out loud. Her hands have slid to the sides of his neck, giving him an affectionate press of her fingertips along his nape. Both of their lives are fuller than they ever anticipated. And she knows the possibility of losing even a fraction of it, after all the tears, the exhaustion—it's paralyzing.
But, she also knows the hardest thing they both have contended with is what's brought them to this conversation. In her mind, the very real fear she'd experienced is secondary to having been able to watch their son grow. To see him slowly shed his fears, to finally live again, after everything that had been done to him; it's made her immensely proud. Filled her with a happiness she never thought she'd get to have, after they learned she couldn't have children.
So, she's willing to fight whatever comes down the line. No one could touch her family without her permission. That extended to anyone her family has decided on fighting for. ]
I know you worry. [ Sofia brushes a stray curl from his brow, eyes serious and still gentle. ] But, you know where I should be is here, making sure you don't run yourself into the ground.
[ Because they both know he'd basically done that last time, external factors aside. Not that she faulted him for working hard. Still, the fact remained that he'd needed the grounding, the support, that he was unlikely to get anywhere else. ]
I love you, our son loves you, and you should know by know that neither of us will be easily intimidated or bullied.
[ his frown is still in place as he meets her gaze, but it softens as she continues to speak. and he sighs to himself, reaching up to curl his fingers around her wrists, tugging himself free only to press a gentle kiss to the palm of her left hand. ]
I know.
[ wearily; to all of it. that he knows she should be here, and that she loves him, and their little family loves him, and that he needed to keep everything in perspective. and that's even without the fact that he would shrivel up and die within the week of her not being in the same country. at that thought, he tugs her into a soft kiss. ]
I love you, too. [ in a brief exhale, resting his forehead against hers briefly before he kisses her cheek, releasing her reluctantly. ] Let me change into something not suit-adjacent, and we can eat. I've delayed dinner enough with my poor attitude. Then I can tell you about how Kaz met this girl.
[ Tomassen is by no means a stupid man; she knows that intrinsically, he knew all the things she's just gone over. But, she also knows that over certain things, he could get overwhelmed by his anxious feelings. By the very thing that had made her fall for him to begin with–his big heart. He cared so fiercely and was always prepared to protect his family in whatever way he deemed reasonable.
Just, sometimes, it wasn't altogether full of logic. Hence, the reminders.
So, she lets him extract himself from her hold, granting him a soft smile as he seems to acquiesce. ]
Go on, get comfortable. [ Sofia says, with a teasing shooing motion. She lets the comment about his poor attitude go–they've already had one disagreement tonight. ]
I await this story with bated breath.
[ Definitely happier news.
By the time he comes back out, she's portioned out their meal and draped a tea towel over the bread to preserve the heat. She's in her usual chair, idly swinging her feet as she reads through a portion of the newspaper. ]
[ it takes him little time at all to change into a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. even less time to remove his contacts in exchange for glasses, blinking a few times to allow his vision to adjust. more and more, he's wondering if it's worth it to just say to hell with the contacts altogether.
he's pretty sure sofia would not complain a bit.
so when he makes his way back to the kitchen, he definitely looks more comfortable. he presses another kiss to the top of sofia's head before he sits in his own chair, eagerly pulling the bowl closer to him. he's finding himself famished. ]
Much better. [ he says warmly, tugging the tea towel off of the loaf of bread, allowing sofia her first pick. ] I should just work in pajamas, but something about ruining my image... [ he stirs his meal quickly before offering sofia a grin. the cat who has caught the canary. ] So, Kaz's girl.
[ the real reason why they are here, okay. ]
They met in a bar because Jesper forced him into going. Girl's name is Inej -- very sweet, reportedly. Suli, as Kaz forcibly corrected me today when I accidentally called her Ravkan. Said they chatted for an hour, and Inej voluntarily provided her phone number.
[ he reaches out to grab a piece of bread, tearing it into two as he continues. ]
Inej is now living on his couch, by the way, as she got illegally locked out of her apartment and Kaz says he enjoys her company. [ which kaz did not say, but tomassen does not care, because who is going to contradict him? no one, that's who. ] Even likes her pet bird, and didn't say a word when I called her a friend.
[ True enough, he wouldn't hear a peep of complaint out of her, if he decided to permanently switch to wearing glasses. They frame his eyes nicely. And, in more recent years, have given him a certain air that she enjoys.
That suffuses her smile now, as he comes back in looking much more comfortable, only pausing to drop a kiss to the crown of her head. She graciously plucks out a toasty end piece after his gesture, dipping it into her stew with relish. As they dig into their meal, his entire face lights up with mischief and she finds herself mirroring it in a way, amused at what has certainly been a highlight of his day.
Kaz, after all, was still very prone to keeping his emotions to himself. Sofia has learned how to coax those out, to allow him space to give them some kind of voice before he bottled them up too long. Tomassen has...well, he's figured out his own way. The two of them speak a very different language than her, when it came to their feelings. So of course he has that spark of triumph in his eyes, as if he's pried a diamond up from the deepest part of the True Sea.
Which, as he starts in on what he's gleaned, maybe he has. It doesn't surprise her that Jesper had managed to drag Kaz out to the bar–the two have been friends since even before they adopted Kaz. Her son might gripe and moan about it, but, she knows he doesn't deny Jesper as much as he could.
What is most surprising, in a way, is the latter half of what Tom tells her; that Kaz had willingly ceded his extremely curated personal space to let this Inej stay over. Her eyebrows go up at this, though, she's fiercely proud of her boy for showing the kindness she knows he typically buries. ]
Of course he likes her pet bird, he always has preferred animals to people. [ They're honest, had been his answer, when she asked, about three weeks after he'd come to live with them. ] He said he enjoys her company?
[ Not that he would simply tolerate someone just to be nice. There were limits. All at once, she's immensely curious what this Inej is like. Kaz could be prickly, immovable. He didn't just let anyone in, no matter what their sob story might be. So, if he is actually considering her a friend, it would be the quickest anyone has ever won him over, she thinks. ]
[ a sage confirmation as he takes another bite of his stew. granted, kaz had said she was neat and quiet, but that was essentially the same thing, in their son's odd language. ]
He, naturally, is dismissive of the entire thing. [ as he dips his bread into his bowl, letting it soak up the flavor before popping into his mouth. ] Says that she likely just forgot to delete his number.
[ with a complimentary roll of his eyes. ]
I told him he had to bring her to dinner for Friday; we'll see if he listens.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2024-08-19 01:48 pm (UTC)[ with a small shake of kaz's shoulder, before he leaves the office to move down the hall, collecting the bag of food and the tray of espresso. juggling both in one hand, he sends a quick text to sofia letting her know he's going to be home late before asking his secretary to send a dozen roses to the school where sofia works. softening the blow of what he's about to do, tomassen thinks.
and, of course, it was wednesday. a perfect day for flowers.
that done, he re-enters the office, closing his door with a nudge of his foot before setting the bags on his desk. ]
So.
[ as he sets the americano down in front of kaz, made to his specifications. ]
Jesper told me Inej was rather taken with you at that bar.
[ now that he has kaz trapped by the prospect of perhaps taking up this case, he can now fully interrogate. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-20 03:35 am (UTC)The Rollins case had not been easy by any means, for either of them. But, he'd made it out of it with parents who cared. Who patiently supported him through the absolute worst of his meltdowns. And while it had frightened him to let the vulnerability shine through, to be known again, he's ultimately glad they have this. That he can be jibed about his bad habits, his odd tics, with a good humor.
He's shaken from his swirling thoughts as Tomassen comes back in, takeout bag rustling before they're set on a clearer spot of his desk. Kaz appreciatively takes the americano, sipping it before setting it off to the side so he could help dig their order out of the bags, utensils and sauces getting doled out. ]
You should know by now that Jes exaggerates everything. [ Rather taken? She'd been friendly enough and hadn't decided to lose his number. Nothing more, nothing less. ]
Just because we met in a bar like you and mom did doesn't mean we're destined.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-20 03:52 pm (UTC)[ as he settled into his chair, tugging his own food closer to him to begin mixing in the requisite sauces. unlike sofia, his penchant for spicy food is pathetic, and so he's a little lighter than what's probably normal. ]
Second, a bar is a perfectly lovely place to meet someone, and third, it doesn't need to be destined, it can simply be fun. In summation --
[ he points at kaz with his fork. ]
She kept your phone number. She likes you.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-20 08:42 pm (UTC)[ He says, knowingly amused, as he opens his food container and dumps more sauce on than Tomassen did. Having grown up with Jesper as a friend, his tolerance is much higher for the spicier flavor profiles of Zemeni fare.
That aside, he knows his father is joking about being pitied. Somewhat. After all, he continues to look at Sofia like she'd hung the moon and the stars in the sky. Not that he blames him; Sofia had held a patient hand out, repeatedly, even when Kaz had aggressively batted it away. She'd told him she wanted him to be happy and eventually, he'd believed her. Had let her coax him into hugs when he'd simultaneously craved nothing more and felt the choking nausea that came from it.
So, he knows how much his parents would do anything for each other, showing it in their everyday interactions. Whatever pity there may or may not have been...he hasn't been privy to. ]
Or, more likely, she felt completely neutral and forgot about deleting my number.
[ At this, he shrugs, not wholly bothered. He's aware of what he's like—being friendly and charismatic is Jesper's role. When left to his own devices, he's too intense, too severe, too harsh. His sharp tongue has been curbed a bit, but it's still there. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-21 12:25 am (UTC)[ wisely, as he takes a bite of his dumplings. he doesn't recall if sofia got his cell phone number before or after they got married. but he supposes they were a different case. ]
It's not a bad thing; at the very least, you've made a new friend. [ of which kaz has few and far between. he has his little cohort, but he's glad to see it expand a little, even if it is just one person. ] She sounds like a lovely girl. Have you set up a bedroom for her, or is she moving to a hotel?
no subject
Date: 2024-08-21 01:28 am (UTC)[ Maybe she did, to appease Jesper. Or maybe she'd felt the social lubrication enough to do so in the moment. There's a handful of other reasons he can think of, all of them beyond because she liked him.
Jes has said that kind of thinking is depressing but, Kaz disagrees. It's just realistic. Things rarely went optimistically. And it isn't as if he's interested in her that way. Inej is a friend, albeit a new one that he'd gotten along with faster than anticipated.
Besides, even if he were: it's not like she would return those feelings. Nor does he think they'd even be welcomed. She is, after all, dealing with having run from Heleen. From the touch of unwanted hands of disgusting men.
No, he thinks their relationship will remain as it is. ]
I suppose. [ Inej is oddly tolerant of his quirks, taking them in stride with the same ease Jesper does. ] She's flat broke and has a bird, I doubt a hotel would be suitable.
[ He gives his food a stir, letting it cool a bit. ] And if Heleen is anything like Rollins, she'll be watching the hotel check-ins.
[ Annoyingly, she seems resourceful. And spiteful enough to do so, contract paid or not. ]
I'd planned on asking her what she wanted to do; she's only been staying for the past few nights. [ When they both thought this would be a more temporary thing. ] If it comes to it, I could clear out the room my office is in.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-21 10:34 pm (UTC)[ he repeats, looking amused, fishing out another dumpling from his container. kaz had always taken to the menagerie that lived at the manor better than most human beings, so he isn't too surprised that he's allowed a bird into the apartment too. ]
Well, I doubt Sofia would mind giving her a room if she needs one. Or if you get sick from having a roommate, but clearing out your office sounds like a plan. It would be a safe place for her to stay while she gets on her feet, assuming you aren't too bothered by it.
[ baby steps, as it were. ]
What's the bird's name?
no subject
Date: 2024-08-22 01:18 am (UTC)[ He confirms, with a shrug. ] It's not mom's iguana, at least.
[ Not that Kaz had a problem with Biscuit, though he knows Tomassen's relationship with the reptile is tenuous. As if Biscuit senses his hesitation and fucks with him because of it. ]
Might not be a bad idea; I'll ask how she feels about it. [ His mom would know better how to reassure Inej, after all. To his father's gentle inquiry though: ] So far, not really. She's quiet, her bird rarely shrieks, and she doesn't ask me annoying questions about the cane.
[ Baby steps. ]
Lizabeta, like the Ravkan Saint.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-30 01:28 am (UTC)She's Ravkan?
[ curious. ravkan girls aren't unheard of in the sex trade in ketterdam, but most of them don't fall into the seedier brothels like heleen's. much less ones religious enough to know more than a handful of the ravkan saints. ]
Far from home. [ wheels are turning. she must be on register with the immigration office, but those papers are likely fabricated. something else to fix once he sinks his teeth into the file. ] Poor girl.
[ he heaves a sigh before he sets his container on his desk. ]
She need to get back into her apartment? I can have a court order to open it by tomorrow morning.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-31 01:03 am (UTC)(Ok and maybe he is a neat freak). ]
Suli. [ Kaz corrects, knowing there's a distinction. The Suli live in Ravka and are technically considered citizens. But, they aren't typically viewed as such, culturally or in law. Ravka's new king, Nikolai, had made a particular point of mentioning that being something he would rectify. Whether that would happen...well, they would see. It's not as though the Ravkan throne has ever had enough stability to make promises like that.
Hence why a missing Suli girl, trapped in a shady contract, all the way out in Kerch, hadn't set off any alarm bells within the nation she'd come from. He makes a face at this, mouth pressing into a thin, unhappy line. ]
I can ask. Don't know how much she still needs from it. [ And if she did, he'd volunteer to go with. At the very least, send Jesper with her. Heleen might comply just to look like the picture of a rational landlord but, who knows what she would do to toe that line. ]
[ a few hours later ]
Date: 2024-09-02 01:05 am (UTC)it was sickening. enough to turn anyone's stomach, and tomassen had read through hundreds of pages of autopsy reports and torture techniques for kaz's trial. poor inej, a thirteen year old girl, in a place like the menagerie? it was enough to want to burn the building to the ground.
it was a bit past dinner when tomassen entered through the front door of the manor, exhaling a long sigh as he shook the snow out of his hair. the bag of documents is quickly deposited on the couch of the front foyer as he shrugs off his coat and scarf, hanging them up in due course. he can smell food in the kitchen, and after taking off his shoes to ensure snow doesn't track through the house, he meanders his way there.
seeing sofia heating up some type of leftovers is enough to make some of the stress of the deal vanish instantly. he's about to ask what she ordered when he instead chooses to slide his arms around her waist from behind, pressing a kiss to her neck in greeting, sighing to himself.
home, finally. ]
Your son asked me to do something stupid.
[ it's a bit muffled, speaking into her hair. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-02 02:08 am (UTC)Well, mostly. She knew they were having lunch, but hadn't really heard anything about it beyond that. Something niggled in the back of her mind, as if sensing an important event was coming down the line. With a half a day still to teach, she put it from her mind. Tomassen would tell her, if it were important.
So, she goes on with her classes. And when those finish up, she packs up, heads home, and grades a stack of papers. By the time she gets through the work she wanted to finish, it's encroaching on dinner. As well as when Tomassen usually steps through the door. She stretches and goes to reheat leftovers–hutspot and some bread that just goes straight in the oven.
While she's idly stirring the contents of the pot, she hears the front door open and close, the muffled sounds of Tomassen setting his things down. Which is very soon followed by the circle of his arms, snug around her waist. Sofia smiles at this and the kiss at the back of her neck, momentarily pausing her motion. ]
My son? What has he done now? [ After all, Kaz only typically gets lumped onto her lap in such a way when he's done something quite frustrating or aggravating to his father. As though to soothe the annoyance, she places a hand over one of his, thumb slowly drawn across his knuckles. She would kiss him but, he does have her quite stuck in place at the moment. It would be remiss to deprive him of holding her as he is. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-02 09:57 pm (UTC)Met a girl in a bar.
[ dryly, letting his eyes rove up and down sofia. something he does every time he sees her, and he makes a noise of approval as he reaches out to tug loosely on the sweater she's wearing. ]
I like this one. [ it hugs her in the right places. ] -- anyway, he met a girl in a bar, and wants me to play hero, again. Said girl might be coming to dinner this week.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 02:44 pm (UTC)Did he now? [ Her eyebrows go up, both surprised and delighted by this news. Sure, she knows there's more beyond that. There usually is, with Kaz. Their son is a very complicated young man and always has been.
Still, she's glad he's meeting people. Just a few years ago, he would've adamantly opposed any attempt.
At the touch to her sweater, she smiles, casting him a sidelong look that clearly says I know. ]
Hm, I see. [ There's a bit of a warning bell going off in her mind, with how he's phrased that. She goes quiet, slowly stirring the stew, mentally fitting some puzzle pieces together. ]
How bad is it, Tom?
[ Girl or no girl, Kaz never does anything by halves. Nor has he ever asked something like this of them flippantly. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 04:33 pm (UTC)I, ah -- [ he begins, as he collects a potholder from the counter to open the oven with, collecting the bread sofia had thrown in there to warm up. ] I was thinking this afternoon about -- [ placing the loaf on a nearby cutting board to cool enough to cut into, tomassen sets the potholder back on the counter, closing the oven door. ] I always wanted a daughter.
[ he's already been through this grieving process -- with sofia, without sofia, what the plague robbed them off, etc. so it's not said with any real sadness or despair, just a simple statement of fact, as he dusts off his hands. ]
I wanted one, and I've always had this lingering thought of what she would be like, if she existed, but -- Sofia, reading that. [ and he gestures vaguely toward where he had deposited his things in the foyer, lips pursing together into a thin line. ] Reading what that girl -- scraping the surface of what that girl went through, I'm glad I have a son, because I would be in prison. I might still wind up in prison, because --
[ he's getting ahead of himself, and he stops before exhaling slowly, resting his hands on the counter. ]
She was bought by Heleen van Houdon when she was thirteen. Contract was signed by a child who couldn't understand Kerch.
[ he drums his fingers against the countertop, frowning. deep in thought. ]
Currently living on Kaz's couch, nineteen, now. Was left to freeze to death after she refused a client at the Menagerie and couldn't pay her rent.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 05:23 pm (UTC)It's no surprise when he admits to having wanted a daughter. In the intervening years since she'd found out about her inability to bear children, they've gotten better at saying such things out loud. As if exorcising the grief it had caused them. And now, a decade into having raised their very unruly and unexpected son, the pain's easier to let go of.
Still, her brow furrows as he continues, expounding on that particular thought. That having a daughter would've come with a whole slew of other worries. She's aware, of course, the differences in what she'd worried about growing up even in the relative safety of Shu Han as compared to her brothers. There's been a reason she'd pursued self-defense courses. Why she'd gone so far as to get her black belt, unwilling to be unprepared should anything ever happen.
But, as he digs in deeper, clearly upset, she knows not every girl has had her fortune. She has eyes and ears, has known that terrible things can happen to the most vulnerable—young girls, especially. Yet, it's one thing to be aware of and quite another to be confronted with the disgusting details. Her own stomach twists at hearing the age; thirteen. Thirteen, an age where she should have been at home, having sleepovers with her friends and dreaming of all the things she could be when she was older. Instead, she'd been bought by a cruel woman and grew up in a place where she didn't understand the language. Which was just the start of the horrifying tale she understands is beyond what he's telling her.
Reaching over, she sets a hand on Tomassen's shoulder, slowly and gently running her palm along his upper arm. ]
If you end up in prison, I would be right on your heels. [ After all, Tomassen would successfully murder Heleen for her crimes and she would make sure her empire burned. For having the audacity to exist and for making him go to such lengths. ]
You're taking the case.
[ It's not quite an inquiry, nor quite a demand. She knows why he's bringing this up, though. ]
I'm not afraid of Tante Heleen. She is a coward who preys on young people; I doubt she knows how to handle competent adults.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 10:57 pm (UTC)I am. [ in a murmur, kissing her temple before shifting to kiss her forehead. an arm slides around her waist, holding her close. ] I'm afraid of her. Her money, and influence, and how she has nothing she cares about except the thing I intend to go after.
[ it would be hell. worse than rollins, if he were honest. the thought of putting sofia through that again was unacceptable -- but so was leaving inej out to dry. too many men had disappointed her; he was loathe to be another. the thought cements something in his mind and he presses another kiss to sofia's forehead, in reassurance. more for his own, than anything else. ]
If I take the case. [ if, as he mulls it over. ] You could go to Shu Han, with your mother. Could bring Kaz, too. It would be warm, and you could take the sabbatical you deserve. [ and she would be safe, and out of harm's way, for the most part. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 11:34 pm (UTC)Rollins had money and influence. [ She begins, drawing the comparisons. Heleen, though, didn't have a blood legacy she cared about. Nothing else was in that shriveled heart of hers except a physical greed; for her businesses, her money, the power it granted her. There were things she would consider doing that, Sofia thinks, Rollins would never have done, even at his most desperate. Because in the end, he had to contend with raising a son who would see what his father did. What his father had become, if even for a brief moment in time. The shame kept him in line, despite how much it had felt like he had none.
Tante Heleen has no such boundaries holding her back, except maybe her reputation on the line. Parasites like her, though, could always find their kin, even with her social standing in shreds.
Sofia gives him a small squeeze, hand tilted down to trace the subtle outline of his shoulder blade through his shirt. ] There is always something that will make a person crumble.
[ And that thing for Heleen–they just don't see it, yet. ]
If. [ She repeats, a slim brow raised. ] I'm not going to Shu Han like some soldier's wife, to anxiously, helplessly, await news with a ten hour time difference.
[ And she already knows Kaz would never agree to such a thing, even if it seems the safest option. ]
If you take the case, we prepare with what we know could happen. [ Pulling away a bit, she cradles his face in her hands, momentarily pressing her brow to his. ] She has money and influence but, so what? Do you think she has anyone who'd sacrifice their skin for hers? Her life is empty.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-04 01:15 am (UTC)[ his life is very full and happy, thank you very much, which means many soft parts to grab. more now, than before, truthfully. he feels as though it's finally whole and healed, after the plague, the infertility, finding kaz, and pekka rollins. it's been content and at ease. predictable, even.
but his protest is feeble at best, especially after sofia cradles his face. because ultimately, it's an irrelevant point. it doesn't change the calculus, and so he frowns slightly, seeking some level of argument against her (predictable) refusal to stay out of ketterdam until the dust settles.
he doesn't look particularly happy about it, frown still in place as he mulls it over, turning over different scenarios in his head. any path he finds ends in the inevitable: his family will stay here, and he will be challenging tante heleen. there is no easy path, only the right one. ]
You're right. [ finally, reluctantly. though he is quick to add: ] Not about staying. You should go to Shu Han to be on the other side of the world and fret all you like but be safe, that part you are wrong about, and I am not happy about it nor happy about the idea that I would go a moment without updating you every ten to fifteen minutes -- but --
[ and he deflates a little, tone resigned: ]
Everything else, you're right.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-07 10:42 pm (UTC)But, she also knows the hardest thing they both have contended with is what's brought them to this conversation. In her mind, the very real fear she'd experienced is secondary to having been able to watch their son grow. To see him slowly shed his fears, to finally live again, after everything that had been done to him; it's made her immensely proud. Filled her with a happiness she never thought she'd get to have, after they learned she couldn't have children.
So, she's willing to fight whatever comes down the line. No one could touch her family without her permission. That extended to anyone her family has decided on fighting for. ]
I know you worry. [ Sofia brushes a stray curl from his brow, eyes serious and still gentle. ] But, you know where I should be is here, making sure you don't run yourself into the ground.
[ Because they both know he'd basically done that last time, external factors aside. Not that she faulted him for working hard. Still, the fact remained that he'd needed the grounding, the support, that he was unlikely to get anywhere else. ]
I love you, our son loves you, and you should know by know that neither of us will be easily intimidated or bullied.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-08 01:11 am (UTC)I know.
[ wearily; to all of it. that he knows she should be here, and that she loves him, and their little family loves him, and that he needed to keep everything in perspective. and that's even without the fact that he would shrivel up and die within the week of her not being in the same country. at that thought, he tugs her into a soft kiss. ]
I love you, too. [ in a brief exhale, resting his forehead against hers briefly before he kisses her cheek, releasing her reluctantly. ] Let me change into something not suit-adjacent, and we can eat. I've delayed dinner enough with my poor attitude. Then I can tell you about how Kaz met this girl.
[ happier news, for sure. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-18 12:56 am (UTC)Just, sometimes, it wasn't altogether full of logic. Hence, the reminders.
So, she lets him extract himself from her hold, granting him a soft smile as he seems to acquiesce. ]
Go on, get comfortable. [ Sofia says, with a teasing shooing motion. She lets the comment about his poor attitude go–they've already had one disagreement tonight. ]
I await this story with bated breath.
[ Definitely happier news.
By the time he comes back out, she's portioned out their meal and draped a tea towel over the bread to preserve the heat. She's in her usual chair, idly swinging her feet as she reads through a portion of the newspaper. ]
Feel better?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-18 11:40 pm (UTC)he's pretty sure sofia would not complain a bit.
so when he makes his way back to the kitchen, he definitely looks more comfortable. he presses another kiss to the top of sofia's head before he sits in his own chair, eagerly pulling the bowl closer to him. he's finding himself famished. ]
Much better. [ he says warmly, tugging the tea towel off of the loaf of bread, allowing sofia her first pick. ] I should just work in pajamas, but something about ruining my image... [ he stirs his meal quickly before offering sofia a grin. the cat who has caught the canary. ] So, Kaz's girl.
[ the real reason why they are here, okay. ]
They met in a bar because Jesper forced him into going. Girl's name is Inej -- very sweet, reportedly. Suli, as Kaz forcibly corrected me today when I accidentally called her Ravkan. Said they chatted for an hour, and Inej voluntarily provided her phone number.
[ he reaches out to grab a piece of bread, tearing it into two as he continues. ]
Inej is now living on his couch, by the way, as she got illegally locked out of her apartment and Kaz says he enjoys her company. [ which kaz did not say, but tomassen does not care, because who is going to contradict him? no one, that's who. ] Even likes her pet bird, and didn't say a word when I called her a friend.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-19 12:10 am (UTC)That suffuses her smile now, as he comes back in looking much more comfortable, only pausing to drop a kiss to the crown of her head. She graciously plucks out a toasty end piece after his gesture, dipping it into her stew with relish. As they dig into their meal, his entire face lights up with mischief and she finds herself mirroring it in a way, amused at what has certainly been a highlight of his day.
Kaz, after all, was still very prone to keeping his emotions to himself. Sofia has learned how to coax those out, to allow him space to give them some kind of voice before he bottled them up too long. Tomassen has...well, he's figured out his own way. The two of them speak a very different language than her, when it came to their feelings. So of course he has that spark of triumph in his eyes, as if he's pried a diamond up from the deepest part of the True Sea.
Which, as he starts in on what he's gleaned, maybe he has. It doesn't surprise her that Jesper had managed to drag Kaz out to the bar–the two have been friends since even before they adopted Kaz. Her son might gripe and moan about it, but, she knows he doesn't deny Jesper as much as he could.
What is most surprising, in a way, is the latter half of what Tom tells her; that Kaz had willingly ceded his extremely curated personal space to let this Inej stay over. Her eyebrows go up at this, though, she's fiercely proud of her boy for showing the kindness she knows he typically buries. ]
Of course he likes her pet bird, he always has preferred animals to people. [ They're honest, had been his answer, when she asked, about three weeks after he'd come to live with them. ] He said he enjoys her company?
[ Not that he would simply tolerate someone just to be nice. There were limits. All at once, she's immensely curious what this Inej is like. Kaz could be prickly, immovable. He didn't just let anyone in, no matter what their sob story might be. So, if he is actually considering her a friend, it would be the quickest anyone has ever won him over, she thinks. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-19 11:43 pm (UTC)[ a sage confirmation as he takes another bite of his stew. granted, kaz had said she was neat and quiet, but that was essentially the same thing, in their son's odd language. ]
He, naturally, is dismissive of the entire thing. [ as he dips his bread into his bowl, letting it soak up the flavor before popping into his mouth. ] Says that she likely just forgot to delete his number.
[ with a complimentary roll of his eyes. ]
I told him he had to bring her to dinner for Friday; we'll see if he listens.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: