[ His brow furrows some more as she explains that no one had ever cared before. It's unsurprising, of course. Heleen wouldn't want her girls to be able to hit back effectively. Or dangerously. Especially not to paying customers.
Which feels...gross to even think about. He also isn't sure how he feels about being termed as "caring" for doing something like this. The way he sees it, this is business. They'd bought out her contract so of course he's going to make sure she's in top shape to survive. It would be stupid otherwise. ]
That's a broad question. [ And they'll certainly cover as much as he can pass on. ] First, let's work on your stance and how to throw a punch. You want to follow through and keep eye contact. Use your top knuckles to hit, you'll injure your hand less.
[ Being near enough, he throws a punch to the air, simple enough. ]
[ he seems to genuinely want to help her. and idly, inej realizes that she probably should have been more concerned with whether he had bad intentions before she agreed to go with him. but anything was better than the menagerie. even if she died tomorrow, at least she would die on her own terms.
her eyes don't watch his fist. instead, they flicker over his arm, how his muscles tense and loosen, and then shifting down to his legs. he has to overcompensate a bit, given whatever happened to his leg, but his balance is still strong. she wonders what happened to it. she supposes it doesn't really matter.
without a word, she shifts her feet to give herself a bit more of a proper foundation. at first, she mirrors his own stance, but she seems to decide that that doesn't work, for her. so her feet move again, firm on the ground, squaring her shoulders. that feels right. balanced, good. if someone tried to push her, inej was fairly certain she could stay on her feet.
following through is something she's familiar with. you never jump unless you were willing to throw your entire body into it. and so she faces the bag again, eyes locked on the spot that she wants to hit.
she isn't a very violent person, by nature. inej can't think of a time where she was angry, before she was taken. now, she feels as if it coils around her like a wool coat that is too tight, suffocating. she has to get rid of it, somehow, in order to survive. having it cling to her would only get her killed faster.
so this time, she doesn't envision whatever-his-name-is upstairs. the irrelevant idiot who now had a broken arm. she thinks about peacock feathers and ugly jewelry and manicured fingers, and with a hiss between her teeth, inej's fist darts forward to collide with the bag, which sways a bit further than it did before now that she's putting her proper body weight into it.
for the first time in what feels like years, there's a tiny flicker of a smile that graces her features. ]
[ He can tell she's watching, studying, the weight of her gaze slightly different. She doesn't seem the type to miss much so he's sure she knows he puts more weight on his good leg, his cane serving as a third point to counter balance.
When she gets up, she imitates how he's standing, clearly finding that doesn't work out. Apart from their clear difference in height, she doesn't have a broken and badly healed leg to contend with. So she adjusts, moving her feet a bit closer and straightening her shoulders with determination. He'll ask to check her balance in a bit, though it looks like it wouldn't be easy to knock her off her center.
Finally, she takes her swing, making the bag sway with a good amount of force. She understands the follow through, which is one of the more important parts.
And maybe she's getting a little joy out of this. If that hint of a smile isn't a trick of the light. ]
Again. Get the contact directly on your knuckles. [ He shows her, this time just placing his fist against the bag, right at the angle she would need. ]
The jut of the bone smarts more. [ And protects the middle, more breakable, parts of the fingers. ]
Hit the same place and then we'll go over hitting higher or lower. [ From her height, it would be easiest for her to wind someone, but most of her hits would fall to the midsection. Useful, but not always the fastest way to get someone to back off. ] Nobody likes to get punched in the face or throat.
[ her eyes follow his hand, taking half a step forward so she can see exactly how he is placing his hand. she doesn't touch, or necessarily invade his personal space, but she's within arm's reach, now. slowly warming up to the idea that no one is going to hurt her -- at least, not without consequence.
once he steps away again, she wastes no time in striking the bag, adjusting the angle of her fist as she sinks it into the canvas. the bag sways, but inej strikes it again with the opposite hand, to build a rhythm. her hands hurt from the bruises from yesterday, but she doesn't seem to mind, or care.
for the first time in a long time, she feels in control. ]
If the purpose is using the jut of the bone to make it hurt more, why do you wear gloves?
[ she asks, catching the bag as it sways toward her again, to steady it for the next lesson. ]
[ She steps forward to look at the angle, though there's still a comfortable distance between them.
And as before, she learns fast, hitting the bag twice in succession. Her off-hand doesn't have as much force, which is to be expected. That's learnable, over time.
He's feeling nearly pleasant when she asks her question. Which immediately spoils any warm feelings. His expression goes eerily neutral, eyes dark. ]
It hurts plenty. [ The leather is the barest buffer, he's made sure to make up the difference. ]
Again.
[ She'll need to build her tolerance, after all. And he needs something to focus on besides the partially dredged memories. ]
[ his expression shifts instantly, and there's a new wall there that hadn't been present before. a crossed line, for some reason. inej isn't entirely sure why.
she had overheard stories, rumors, about dirtyhands and the gloves. claws for hands, acid burns, drenched in the blood of his enemies. other ridiculously foolish ghost stories, none of then making any sense. and, more importantly, none of those stories really align with the boy that came back to get her. so the gloves must be for another purpose.
it really isn't any of her business. and she feels somewhat foolish, for asking. it wasn't her intention to pry, but to wonder if the gloves helped in some way that she hadn't thought of. or if they had some type of trick, to help defend him more. but apologizing seems just as worthless; it was just a question. she has nothing to really be sorry for. and if the rumors are true, kaz brekker can handle an innocent question.
so (for once), inej does as she's told, and strikes the bag again in quick succession, the heavy bag swaying with the force. after about five or six punches, she begins to feel like she's figured out her best striking point. and so she begins to experiment, sliding her foot to the left as she moves, hitting the bag in motion. it provides less force, but does sway the bag -- something to consider. ]
Mmm.
[ she hums to herself briefly, shaking out her hands, curling and uncurling her fingers experimentally. the burn in her arms and the ache in her hands feels good. it makes her feel alive. ]
[ There's a palpable boundary now, one she seems to be aware of. How could she not be, after his stony reply? Part of him hates that he can't say anything about it. Not only would it go against the reputation he's built, but he isn't sure how much he can trust her yet.
And, well, it's hard to even think about, let alone find the words to describe why he can't stand to touch bare skin. It's gotten easier to ignore but, he still feels that faint pull of nausea when someone points out the gloves.
He pulls his attention away from the question though, relieved she didn't press or try to apologize. It's always worse when someone trips over themselves to say sorry.
(Occasionally it's satisfying but that depends on the person).
She strikes the bag a few more times, each hit looking fairly solid. The last one in particular was a bit creative, testing what she's capable of. They'll need some ice after this, he thinks, for her hands. ]
You'll be under most people's guard, which is an advantage; they'll have to adjust to punching lower. [ Not always easy to do in the middle of a fight. Especially if they've never fought against someone so much shorter. ]
If you angle your hit lower, you can knock the wind out of them easily. Too high and you'll hit the chest bone.
[ Which hurts but not as quickly disabling. ]
Above that will get them in the throat. It might start pushing your reach though, which will take impact out. [ At the very least, it'll make them uncomfortable. Though: ] A better way is using the heel of your hand or between your fingers.
[ He spreads his thumb and forefinger apart, creating a "v" shape. ] And strike under the chin.
[ It's weird to imitate on himself, but he does, the curve between his fingers fitting where the soft palate connects to the throat. ]
[ she listens with rapt attention, watching carefully as he holds his hands and demonstrates on himself. it makes sense -- his hand cradles his wind pipe, easily crushed with the right amount of pressure.
her hands are much smaller than his. she can't wrap her hands around someone's neck, but she could punch and duck pretty easily. quickly hitting someone and ducking out of the way seems to be the best way to handle defending herself, if she needs to.
she looks at the bag, tilting her head up a little to eye the top of it. she flexes her fingers experimentally, slowly touching the bag and mimicking how kaz spreads his fingers to test how it will feel. and, without much more warning, she strikes quickly, clocking the bag over her head with the heel of her hand, finding that to be more comfortable than spreading her fingers. ]
I could reach further with my legs.
[ it's a thought to herself, really, as she lowers her hands. and she rocks herself on the balls of her feet, testing her center of gravity before she does a neat spin, connecting the heel of her borrowed boots against the canvas bag, her balance perfect in a roundhouse kick.
perhaps the difference between acrobatics and fighting isn't so large after all. ]
[ The rhythm they had before her question has started to come back, a pleasant back and forth. She learns fast, which is good for the both of them—he isn't known for his patience. But he's mostly relieved, because the sooner she gets this down, the less she'll have to deal with creeps overpowering her.
And the Barrel is certainly full of such men.
She tests both configurations, fingers spread at first as she gets the feel for it. Ultimately, she opts for hitting with the heel of her hand. More effective for someone with hands as small as hers.
And then, of course, she tries something a little different. Like a bird finally finding its wings. She does a spin kick, balanced all the way through. Honestly, it's impressive. ]
You'll have to be careful they don't catch your ankle or shin. It'll be easier to throw you off balance.
[ She does have great balance, though, along with speed. But with only one leg planted on the ground, it'll leave her more open if she isn't careful.
Mostly, he thinks, it'll help create some distance. Which can be useful. ]
If you're going to kick, I'll see about getting Roeder down here. [ He lightly taps his bad leg with his cane, mouth quirked a bit at the corner. ] Not my area of expertise.
[ she lands back on two feet easily enough, lowering her hands to glance toward him. she doesn't return the smile, though she does take note that he's not very sensitive about his injury. good to know, that it isn't something to avoid.
at the offer, though, inej folds her arms over her chest, a slight frown gracing her features. it isn't as if kaz can teach her that, it's true, given his leg -- but: ]
I would rather continue learning what I can from you.
[ that way, if this roeder person attempts anything during her next phase of training (or whatever this is), inej can at least defend herself. and while inej doesn't really know what kaz saw in her, in the menagerie, she does get the feeling that he will keep true to his word, and not harm her.
more than she can say about the other people in this building, anyway. ]
[ Alright, no Roeder. At least not for now. He and Inej have a tentative trust, or something approaching it, and he doesn't want to break that. It makes sense to keep it to them for now—she's still new here and doesn't know who would wish her ill.
They'll get her to a place where she can actively defend herself and see where that puts them. Maybe she'll open up a bit more in the meantime. Kaz isn't asking her to be friends with everyone but at least she'll figure out who she can put a modicum of trust into.
Or who she can tolerate, anyway. Fully trusting anyone in the Barrel is a big ask. ]
Alright. Try that palm strike again, but keep your fingers curled into your hand. Makes it less uncomfortable to flex your hand back enough for that angle.
[ He spends the next hour or so having her repeat motions, sometimes having her hit the bag and sometimes not, mostly to save her hand until she gets used to it. In between, he gives her a few more spots to aim for: kidneys, knees or ankles if she's going to kick, and basically anywhere on the face but especially the eyes.
And of course, if all else fails, kneeing them in the groin. ]
If you remember at least two of those in the middle of a fight, it'll help. [ Not that he doubts her memory. But trying to keep one's head when someone is actively swinging at you is a different story. ]
[ in the beginning, she had been punching the daylights of the bag in a fit of anger. but as the lesson continues, she becomes more even-tempered and calculating. it's clear, that anger is typically not what guides her. she strikes with purpose, not in a blind rage.
as such, the hour goes by quickly, and by the end of it, inej's muscles ache. but she seems ready to keep going when kaz seems to pause, to tell her what's important to remember in a fight, and she takes the opportunity to roll her shoulders, catching her breath. ]
I will remember them.
[ she won't be caught off guard again. she rubs her hands a little, a thumb pressing into her palm. they ache, but she feels accomplished. at least now she can lash out and vanish, if need be. though she suspects no one in the crow club or the slat will try to touch her again for awhile, now that kaz brekker has made it clear that that's unacceptable.
he really has done a lot, for her. she feels a sting of guilt, for being so standoffish in the last week of being here. she feels he understands why, but it still feels wrong. he helped her without knowing a thing about her. even with being bound, he didn't need to take the risk.
so: ]
Are you hungry?
[ seems like they've been down here long enough to warrant lunch. or a late breakfast. ]
[ Truthfully, it hadn't felt like an hour. Something about Inej's quiet and determined focus had made it easy to go back and forth with her. And while having people fear him is a useful reputation to have, it's also shockingly nice to have someone who isn't edging away from him or looking at him like he might bite.
Relieving, in a strange way. Because then he could focus on teaching her and not having to work past a wall of fear to do it. He's not sure he would have the patience for it, understanding or not. She also hadn't chattered the entire time; while he's closer to Jesper than any of the other Dregs, he can only handle so much.
She stretches her hands out and he thinks about what else needs to be done, expression slightly far away as he considers next steps. Her question shakes him out of it, innocuous and maybe a little perplexing. No one's asked him that in a while. ]
Not really, but I'll go up with you. Get some ice for those hands.
[ he looks briefly confused, at being asked the question. she imagines someone with the nickname 'dirtyhands' doesn't exactly have a lot of friends. being in charge of a portion of the barrel doesn't extend itself to making friends. or living in the barrel at all, really.
still, he offers to come with her, which makes her feel a little better. it bothers her, that she feels comforted by his presence, but she's far safer with him around than by her own. at least with kaz with her, people will leave her alone. which she sorely needs. ]
I've suffered worse.
[ with a slight shrug of her shoulders, though she won't turn down ice. the quicker the swelling goes down, the faster she can continue to learn. and as she stoops to collect her loose jacket to shrug back into, she nods her head toward the stairs. ]
After you.
[ she dislikes having anyone at her back. even someone she (sort of) trusts. ]
[ While he doesn't exactly want to encourage people to think he plays favorites—which exerting this much effort for Inej will certainly get the gossips talking—he also doesn't think it's quite safe to leave her on her own yet. Even if they did just spend the last hour and a half going over how she can defend herself. She seems to tentatively trust him and his presence can ensure even the nosiest of the Dregs will stay away.
He gathers his suit coat and pulls it on, going first up the stairs. It's weird to, since he normally goes slower and therefore last. Nor is he keen on having someone he doesn't know too well at his back.
But if worst came to worst, he thinks he could best her.
Once upstairs, he swipes a kitchen towel and some ice from the freezer box, handing them over to Inej as they go to sit down. It's lunch and the hall is loud as usual, Dregs coming and going, some just passing through before heading out to work.
After they've settled down with their own meals: ]
You can trust Jesper. [ That might not mean terribly much right now, regardless. She'll really have to see for herself. ] He can't lie worth a damn.
[ settling in to eat with kaz at a table in the corner certainly attracts some level of staring. but inej does her best to ignore it, instead focusing on putting the bag of ice on one of her hands. she's about to risk a look around the room to see how many people are still staring when kaz speaks again, which causes inej's eyes to flicker toward him. ]
And that is a bad thing?
[ she asks, almost incredulous. being able to lie is a necessary skill, but knowing that someone can't lie seems . . . safer, at any rate. valuing the ability to be deceitful seems backwards, to her. the barrel hasn't quite robbed her of her sense of morality yet, anyway.
still, she lets her eyes glance toward the corner, where jesper is telling some story that is causing quite a few laughs. and he seems to notice inej's glance, as he offers her a slight wave.
she returns it, entirely half-heartedly and a little hesitantly, but it clearly has an effect -- the bright grin in her direction seems worth the ounce of kindness she's just expended. ]
How did he get here?
[ she asks, casting kaz a sidelong look. the added comment is entirely silent, but seems to be communicated just as easily with her dubious expression. jesper seems too kind to be a member of a gang. ]
[ So yes. It isn't ideal that Jesper is entirely too honest for his own good. For one, it puts him in a tough spot on what information to give him, just in case. And for another, it marks him as Not From Around Here. That's worn off a bit since he's been with the Dregs but anyone really looking would know better. He doesn't come across as a mercher but he certainly isn't someone who's spent a while in the worst parts this city has to offer.
Sometimes, Kaz envies that enough to feel sick. And then he hates it, because that carefree attitude is too familiar; echoes of Jordie when he least expects it. ]
Gambling debts.
[ The thing that's hooked so many people in. Too many unlucky hands and not all of them are sharpshooters like Jes, whose skill got him out of being left to completely fend for himself on the street. ]
[ ah, that makes sense. not in jesper, specifically, but gambling debts. she nearly asks why jesper is so frequently in the crow club offering security or support if he has a gambling problem, but that feels to cross a line. if jesper wants to tell inej, he can.
she hardly wants anyone to ask why she's here, though inej suspects most of them have figured it out.
she sets the ice aside on the table to pick up a spoon, picking through her stew before taking a bite. she hadn't realized how underweight she was and how little she was fed by heleen until she got here. it's not fancy, but it's food.
so she tucks in, focusing her attention on that. ]
You have answered a lot of questions.
[ she says after a moment, stirring her stew a bit. ]
Do you have any for me?
[ it's a tentative ask, an offer of trust. and as she takes another bite of her stew, inej adds: ]
[ She doesn't push that line of questioning about Jesper. Though he supposed if she had, he would've just told her to ask Jesper himself. Perhaps that would be too blunt for them both. It isn't that he has no interest in people's pasts—it can be useful information. But he's more keen on looking ahead, to the next job, the next step that will get him closer to crushing Rollins.
He stirs his stew, saying nothing and seeing no reason to fill the silence. Inej breaks it though, with some attempt at equity. ]
How do you feel about spying?
[ With the balance he's seen and her unnatural silence, there's no better role. ]
[ the question surprises her. she expected something personal, about her. she isn't entirely sure why. but the question causes her to arch her eyebrows a little bit, resting the spoon against the edge of her bowl. ]
It has caused more than one revolution in Ravka.
[ evenly enough, her tone dry. ]
So I could take it or leave it, depending on the day.
[ It's definitely not the question she'd been expecting. There are more personal questions he could ask, but he feels like that's opening up a can of worms. Somehow, she ended up at the Menagerie and now she's here. That's about all he wants to know about her past.
(He might also be a little nervous that asking will mean she asks even more back to him and there's so much he doesn't want to talk about). ]
Someone insulting another's hat seems to start a revolution there.
[ Poor Ravka, in a perpetual state of turmoil. ]
How about if the spying is to knock the merchers down a peg?
[ he isn't wrong, about her home country, and inej makes a soft noise of agreement, to show it. she's about to return to her stew when he asks the next question, and her eyes flicker upward to meet his gaze, her brow furrowing.
she knows what he's asking. the clients who visited the menagerie are full of coin and power, and inej remembers most of the names who requested her specifically.
ruining their lives doesn't sound like a problem to her. though, as inej scoops up a piece of potato from her bowl, she responds: ]
Barrel bosses own slaves, too.
[ as she takes a bite of her food, giving an idle shrug. pekka rollins and tante heleen were hand-in-hand, most days, though pekka considers her a competitor. or, at least, that was what heleen whined about in the halls, when she thought inej wasn't lurking around the corner. the sweet shop, after all, was right down the street. ]
You seem to be alone, in that regard.
[ she's certain per haskell views her as a piece of property and a thing to be ordered about. so he can be included with all the rest. ]
[ He didn't get this far in the Barrel without noticing. Or without forming a plan so he didn't end up in those shoes, when he was first starting out. Though he doubts anyone would've tolerated his mouth for too long.
But he also has plans for at least one Barrel boss, the name insinuated between the lines. Pekka Rollins has no idea what's coming to him. Neither does Per Haskell, for that matter. All he has to do is play his long game and wait it out. Gather enough pieces to sway in his favor. There's still too many Dregs who resent his quick ascent here, people who'd rather see him dead than being in any kind of leadership position.
Even though he's the reason their profits have turned in the past couple years. And that the Slat hasn't fallen down around their ears.
No use in being mirroring their resentment, they'll see soon enough. ]
I'm not a boss, just a Lieutenant.
[ And if there's a subtle "for now" wavering in the air, well, that's for her to pick up. ]
Haskell generally lets me do what I want, as long as it's profitable. So, spying?
[ she says in a slight quip, as she takes another bite of her food, in response to his repeated question. how impatient. but she files away much of what he says without comment.
he's ambitious. he wants out of this place just as badly as the rest of them. and he's certainly worked hard to do so, given how many people in this place fear him. he couldn't be much older than she is.
maybe there was some truth to the rumors, about his hands being so bloody he couldn't wash them clean.
still, as she finishes off her bowl of stew (far ahead of kaz, she notices), before she sets her spoon back in her empty bowl, inej returns the ice to her hand, fixing him with her gaze. ]
Starving on the streets was better than what I was doing before I came here.
[ She doesn't answer him, firing back that she'd mentioned earlier she might not answer his questions. Kaz leaves her to her thoughts, slightly annoyed but mollified for now. He picks at his lunch, turning some plans over in his head that he's been muddling through over the past week. It feels like he's close to knitting all the seams together and making it viable.
When she finishes her food, the clink of her spoon gets his attention and he returns her gaze steadily. ]
Good. [ He isn't exactly giddy, but he is clearly pleased. This opens a lot of possibilities. And maybe they can finally get a real advantage against the other gangs. Time would tell. ]
I'll pull some briefs together, so you have an idea of what's to be done.
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no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 04:25 am (UTC)Which feels...gross to even think about. He also isn't sure how he feels about being termed as "caring" for doing something like this. The way he sees it, this is business. They'd bought out her contract so of course he's going to make sure she's in top shape to survive. It would be stupid otherwise. ]
That's a broad question. [ And they'll certainly cover as much as he can pass on. ] First, let's work on your stance and how to throw a punch. You want to follow through and keep eye contact. Use your top knuckles to hit, you'll injure your hand less.
[ Being near enough, he throws a punch to the air, simple enough. ]
And keep your wrist straight or you'll break it.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 04:16 pm (UTC)her eyes don't watch his fist. instead, they flicker over his arm, how his muscles tense and loosen, and then shifting down to his legs. he has to overcompensate a bit, given whatever happened to his leg, but his balance is still strong. she wonders what happened to it. she supposes it doesn't really matter.
without a word, she shifts her feet to give herself a bit more of a proper foundation. at first, she mirrors his own stance, but she seems to decide that that doesn't work, for her. so her feet move again, firm on the ground, squaring her shoulders. that feels right. balanced, good. if someone tried to push her, inej was fairly certain she could stay on her feet.
following through is something she's familiar with. you never jump unless you were willing to throw your entire body into it. and so she faces the bag again, eyes locked on the spot that she wants to hit.
she isn't a very violent person, by nature. inej can't think of a time where she was angry, before she was taken. now, she feels as if it coils around her like a wool coat that is too tight, suffocating. she has to get rid of it, somehow, in order to survive. having it cling to her would only get her killed faster.
so this time, she doesn't envision whatever-his-name-is upstairs. the irrelevant idiot who now had a broken arm. she thinks about peacock feathers and ugly jewelry and manicured fingers, and with a hiss between her teeth, inej's fist darts forward to collide with the bag, which sways a bit further than it did before now that she's putting her proper body weight into it.
for the first time in what feels like years, there's a tiny flicker of a smile that graces her features. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 05:01 pm (UTC)When she gets up, she imitates how he's standing, clearly finding that doesn't work out. Apart from their clear difference in height, she doesn't have a broken and badly healed leg to contend with. So she adjusts, moving her feet a bit closer and straightening her shoulders with determination. He'll ask to check her balance in a bit, though it looks like it wouldn't be easy to knock her off her center.
Finally, she takes her swing, making the bag sway with a good amount of force. She understands the follow through, which is one of the more important parts.
And maybe she's getting a little joy out of this. If that hint of a smile isn't a trick of the light. ]
Again. Get the contact directly on your knuckles. [ He shows her, this time just placing his fist against the bag, right at the angle she would need. ]
The jut of the bone smarts more. [ And protects the middle, more breakable, parts of the fingers. ]
Hit the same place and then we'll go over hitting higher or lower. [ From her height, it would be easiest for her to wind someone, but most of her hits would fall to the midsection. Useful, but not always the fastest way to get someone to back off. ] Nobody likes to get punched in the face or throat.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 05:19 pm (UTC)once he steps away again, she wastes no time in striking the bag, adjusting the angle of her fist as she sinks it into the canvas. the bag sways, but inej strikes it again with the opposite hand, to build a rhythm. her hands hurt from the bruises from yesterday, but she doesn't seem to mind, or care.
for the first time in a long time, she feels in control. ]
If the purpose is using the jut of the bone to make it hurt more, why do you wear gloves?
[ she asks, catching the bag as it sways toward her again, to steady it for the next lesson. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 05:31 pm (UTC)And as before, she learns fast, hitting the bag twice in succession. Her off-hand doesn't have as much force, which is to be expected. That's learnable, over time.
He's feeling nearly pleasant when she asks her question. Which immediately spoils any warm feelings. His expression goes eerily neutral, eyes dark. ]
It hurts plenty. [ The leather is the barest buffer, he's made sure to make up the difference. ]
Again.
[ She'll need to build her tolerance, after all. And he needs something to focus on besides the partially dredged memories. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 05:47 pm (UTC)she had overheard stories, rumors, about dirtyhands and the gloves. claws for hands, acid burns, drenched in the blood of his enemies. other ridiculously foolish ghost stories, none of then making any sense. and, more importantly, none of those stories really align with the boy that came back to get her. so the gloves must be for another purpose.
it really isn't any of her business. and she feels somewhat foolish, for asking. it wasn't her intention to pry, but to wonder if the gloves helped in some way that she hadn't thought of. or if they had some type of trick, to help defend him more. but apologizing seems just as worthless; it was just a question. she has nothing to really be sorry for. and if the rumors are true, kaz brekker can handle an innocent question.
so (for once), inej does as she's told, and strikes the bag again in quick succession, the heavy bag swaying with the force. after about five or six punches, she begins to feel like she's figured out her best striking point. and so she begins to experiment, sliding her foot to the left as she moves, hitting the bag in motion. it provides less force, but does sway the bag -- something to consider. ]
Mmm.
[ she hums to herself briefly, shaking out her hands, curling and uncurling her fingers experimentally. the burn in her arms and the ache in her hands feels good. it makes her feel alive. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 06:40 pm (UTC)And, well, it's hard to even think about, let alone find the words to describe why he can't stand to touch bare skin. It's gotten easier to ignore but, he still feels that faint pull of nausea when someone points out the gloves.
He pulls his attention away from the question though, relieved she didn't press or try to apologize. It's always worse when someone trips over themselves to say sorry.
(Occasionally it's satisfying but that depends on the person).
She strikes the bag a few more times, each hit looking fairly solid. The last one in particular was a bit creative, testing what she's capable of. They'll need some ice after this, he thinks, for her hands. ]
You'll be under most people's guard, which is an advantage; they'll have to adjust to punching lower. [ Not always easy to do in the middle of a fight. Especially if they've never fought against someone so much shorter. ]
If you angle your hit lower, you can knock the wind out of them easily. Too high and you'll hit the chest bone.
[ Which hurts but not as quickly disabling. ]
Above that will get them in the throat. It might start pushing your reach though, which will take impact out. [ At the very least, it'll make them uncomfortable. Though: ] A better way is using the heel of your hand or between your fingers.
[ He spreads his thumb and forefinger apart, creating a "v" shape. ] And strike under the chin.
[ It's weird to imitate on himself, but he does, the curve between his fingers fitting where the soft palate connects to the throat. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 06:56 pm (UTC)her hands are much smaller than his. she can't wrap her hands around someone's neck, but she could punch and duck pretty easily. quickly hitting someone and ducking out of the way seems to be the best way to handle defending herself, if she needs to.
she looks at the bag, tilting her head up a little to eye the top of it. she flexes her fingers experimentally, slowly touching the bag and mimicking how kaz spreads his fingers to test how it will feel. and, without much more warning, she strikes quickly, clocking the bag over her head with the heel of her hand, finding that to be more comfortable than spreading her fingers. ]
I could reach further with my legs.
[ it's a thought to herself, really, as she lowers her hands. and she rocks herself on the balls of her feet, testing her center of gravity before she does a neat spin, connecting the heel of her borrowed boots against the canvas bag, her balance perfect in a roundhouse kick.
perhaps the difference between acrobatics and fighting isn't so large after all. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 07:16 pm (UTC)And the Barrel is certainly full of such men.
She tests both configurations, fingers spread at first as she gets the feel for it. Ultimately, she opts for hitting with the heel of her hand. More effective for someone with hands as small as hers.
And then, of course, she tries something a little different. Like a bird finally finding its wings. She does a spin kick, balanced all the way through. Honestly, it's impressive. ]
You'll have to be careful they don't catch your ankle or shin. It'll be easier to throw you off balance.
[ She does have great balance, though, along with speed. But with only one leg planted on the ground, it'll leave her more open if she isn't careful.
Mostly, he thinks, it'll help create some distance. Which can be useful. ]
If you're going to kick, I'll see about getting Roeder down here. [ He lightly taps his bad leg with his cane, mouth quirked a bit at the corner. ] Not my area of expertise.
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Date: 2020-12-27 07:32 pm (UTC)at the offer, though, inej folds her arms over her chest, a slight frown gracing her features. it isn't as if kaz can teach her that, it's true, given his leg -- but: ]
I would rather continue learning what I can from you.
[ that way, if this roeder person attempts anything during her next phase of training (or whatever this is), inej can at least defend herself. and while inej doesn't really know what kaz saw in her, in the menagerie, she does get the feeling that he will keep true to his word, and not harm her.
more than she can say about the other people in this building, anyway. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 07:56 pm (UTC)They'll get her to a place where she can actively defend herself and see where that puts them. Maybe she'll open up a bit more in the meantime. Kaz isn't asking her to be friends with everyone but at least she'll figure out who she can put a modicum of trust into.
Or who she can tolerate, anyway. Fully trusting anyone in the Barrel is a big ask. ]
Alright. Try that palm strike again, but keep your fingers curled into your hand. Makes it less uncomfortable to flex your hand back enough for that angle.
[ He spends the next hour or so having her repeat motions, sometimes having her hit the bag and sometimes not, mostly to save her hand until she gets used to it. In between, he gives her a few more spots to aim for: kidneys, knees or ankles if she's going to kick, and basically anywhere on the face but especially the eyes.
And of course, if all else fails, kneeing them in the groin. ]
If you remember at least two of those in the middle of a fight, it'll help. [ Not that he doubts her memory. But trying to keep one's head when someone is actively swinging at you is a different story. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 10:39 pm (UTC)as such, the hour goes by quickly, and by the end of it, inej's muscles ache. but she seems ready to keep going when kaz seems to pause, to tell her what's important to remember in a fight, and she takes the opportunity to roll her shoulders, catching her breath. ]
I will remember them.
[ she won't be caught off guard again. she rubs her hands a little, a thumb pressing into her palm. they ache, but she feels accomplished. at least now she can lash out and vanish, if need be. though she suspects no one in the crow club or the slat will try to touch her again for awhile, now that kaz brekker has made it clear that that's unacceptable.
he really has done a lot, for her. she feels a sting of guilt, for being so standoffish in the last week of being here. she feels he understands why, but it still feels wrong. he helped her without knowing a thing about her. even with being bound, he didn't need to take the risk.
so: ]
Are you hungry?
[ seems like they've been down here long enough to warrant lunch. or a late breakfast. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 11:16 pm (UTC)Relieving, in a strange way. Because then he could focus on teaching her and not having to work past a wall of fear to do it. He's not sure he would have the patience for it, understanding or not. She also hadn't chattered the entire time; while he's closer to Jesper than any of the other Dregs, he can only handle so much.
She stretches her hands out and he thinks about what else needs to be done, expression slightly far away as he considers next steps. Her question shakes him out of it, innocuous and maybe a little perplexing. No one's asked him that in a while. ]
Not really, but I'll go up with you. Get some ice for those hands.
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Date: 2020-12-27 11:29 pm (UTC)still, he offers to come with her, which makes her feel a little better. it bothers her, that she feels comforted by his presence, but she's far safer with him around than by her own. at least with kaz with her, people will leave her alone. which she sorely needs. ]
I've suffered worse.
[ with a slight shrug of her shoulders, though she won't turn down ice. the quicker the swelling goes down, the faster she can continue to learn. and as she stoops to collect her loose jacket to shrug back into, she nods her head toward the stairs. ]
After you.
[ she dislikes having anyone at her back. even someone she (sort of) trusts. ]
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Date: 2020-12-27 11:47 pm (UTC)He gathers his suit coat and pulls it on, going first up the stairs. It's weird to, since he normally goes slower and therefore last. Nor is he keen on having someone he doesn't know too well at his back.
But if worst came to worst, he thinks he could best her.
Once upstairs, he swipes a kitchen towel and some ice from the freezer box, handing them over to Inej as they go to sit down. It's lunch and the hall is loud as usual, Dregs coming and going, some just passing through before heading out to work.
After they've settled down with their own meals: ]
You can trust Jesper. [ That might not mean terribly much right now, regardless. She'll really have to see for herself. ] He can't lie worth a damn.
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Date: 2020-12-27 11:59 pm (UTC)And that is a bad thing?
[ she asks, almost incredulous. being able to lie is a necessary skill, but knowing that someone can't lie seems . . . safer, at any rate. valuing the ability to be deceitful seems backwards, to her. the barrel hasn't quite robbed her of her sense of morality yet, anyway.
still, she lets her eyes glance toward the corner, where jesper is telling some story that is causing quite a few laughs. and he seems to notice inej's glance, as he offers her a slight wave.
she returns it, entirely half-heartedly and a little hesitantly, but it clearly has an effect -- the bright grin in her direction seems worth the ounce of kindness she's just expended. ]
How did he get here?
[ she asks, casting kaz a sidelong look. the added comment is entirely silent, but seems to be communicated just as easily with her dubious expression. jesper seems too kind to be a member of a gang. ]
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Date: 2020-12-28 12:47 am (UTC)[ So yes. It isn't ideal that Jesper is entirely too honest for his own good. For one, it puts him in a tough spot on what information to give him, just in case. And for another, it marks him as Not From Around Here. That's worn off a bit since he's been with the Dregs but anyone really looking would know better. He doesn't come across as a mercher but he certainly isn't someone who's spent a while in the worst parts this city has to offer.
Sometimes, Kaz envies that enough to feel sick. And then he hates it, because that carefree attitude is too familiar; echoes of Jordie when he least expects it. ]
Gambling debts.
[ The thing that's hooked so many people in. Too many unlucky hands and not all of them are sharpshooters like Jes, whose skill got him out of being left to completely fend for himself on the street. ]
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Date: 2020-12-28 01:01 am (UTC)she hardly wants anyone to ask why she's here, though inej suspects most of them have figured it out.
she sets the ice aside on the table to pick up a spoon, picking through her stew before taking a bite. she hadn't realized how underweight she was and how little she was fed by heleen until she got here. it's not fancy, but it's food.
so she tucks in, focusing her attention on that. ]
You have answered a lot of questions.
[ she says after a moment, stirring her stew a bit. ]
Do you have any for me?
[ it's a tentative ask, an offer of trust. and as she takes another bite of her stew, inej adds: ]
I might not answer it, but fair is fair.
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Date: 2020-12-28 01:10 am (UTC)He stirs his stew, saying nothing and seeing no reason to fill the silence. Inej breaks it though, with some attempt at equity. ]
How do you feel about spying?
[ With the balance he's seen and her unnatural silence, there's no better role. ]
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Date: 2020-12-28 01:16 am (UTC)It has caused more than one revolution in Ravka.
[ evenly enough, her tone dry. ]
So I could take it or leave it, depending on the day.
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Date: 2020-12-28 01:34 am (UTC)(He might also be a little nervous that asking will mean she asks even more back to him and there's so much he doesn't want to talk about). ]
Someone insulting another's hat seems to start a revolution there.
[ Poor Ravka, in a perpetual state of turmoil. ]
How about if the spying is to knock the merchers down a peg?
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Date: 2020-12-28 01:44 am (UTC)she knows what he's asking. the clients who visited the menagerie are full of coin and power, and inej remembers most of the names who requested her specifically.
ruining their lives doesn't sound like a problem to her. though, as inej scoops up a piece of potato from her bowl, she responds: ]
Barrel bosses own slaves, too.
[ as she takes a bite of her food, giving an idle shrug. pekka rollins and tante heleen were hand-in-hand, most days, though pekka considers her a competitor. or, at least, that was what heleen whined about in the halls, when she thought inej wasn't lurking around the corner. the sweet shop, after all, was right down the street. ]
You seem to be alone, in that regard.
[ she's certain per haskell views her as a piece of property and a thing to be ordered about. so he can be included with all the rest. ]
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Date: 2020-12-28 02:00 am (UTC)[ He didn't get this far in the Barrel without noticing. Or without forming a plan so he didn't end up in those shoes, when he was first starting out. Though he doubts anyone would've tolerated his mouth for too long.
But he also has plans for at least one Barrel boss, the name insinuated between the lines. Pekka Rollins has no idea what's coming to him. Neither does Per Haskell, for that matter. All he has to do is play his long game and wait it out. Gather enough pieces to sway in his favor. There's still too many Dregs who resent his quick ascent here, people who'd rather see him dead than being in any kind of leadership position.
Even though he's the reason their profits have turned in the past couple years. And that the Slat hasn't fallen down around their ears.
No use in being mirroring their resentment, they'll see soon enough. ]
I'm not a boss, just a Lieutenant.
[ And if there's a subtle "for now" wavering in the air, well, that's for her to pick up. ]
Haskell generally lets me do what I want, as long as it's profitable. So, spying?
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Date: 2020-12-28 02:08 am (UTC)[ she says in a slight quip, as she takes another bite of her food, in response to his repeated question. how impatient. but she files away much of what he says without comment.
he's ambitious. he wants out of this place just as badly as the rest of them. and he's certainly worked hard to do so, given how many people in this place fear him. he couldn't be much older than she is.
maybe there was some truth to the rumors, about his hands being so bloody he couldn't wash them clean.
still, as she finishes off her bowl of stew (far ahead of kaz, she notices), before she sets her spoon back in her empty bowl, inej returns the ice to her hand, fixing him with her gaze. ]
Starving on the streets was better than what I was doing before I came here.
[ evenly enough. ]
Spying would be easy, in comparison.
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Date: 2020-12-28 02:34 am (UTC)When she finishes her food, the clink of her spoon gets his attention and he returns her gaze steadily. ]
Good. [ He isn't exactly giddy, but he is clearly pleased. This opens a lot of possibilities. And maybe they can finally get a real advantage against the other gangs. Time would tell. ]
I'll pull some briefs together, so you have an idea of what's to be done.
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