Date: 2020-12-30 08:10 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (leather)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
I'm not Heleen.

[ Though admittedly, it is a bit hard to take a knife to oneself with any accuracy or swiftness. He wouldn't be in a rush to cut out the crow and cup from his arm on his own, though he'd prefer it to someone potentially touching him. ]

There's a sharp enough knife somewhere among the Dregs.

[ His first choice would be the medik, but that meant spending coin. And with Haskell already heated, he wasn't going to push further.

It had to be someone who kept their knives both clean and sharp on the regular. Couldn't be a little boot knife, like the one he carried. ]


Try the kitchens.

Date: 2020-12-31 04:30 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (what)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ The furrow in her brow indicates that she seems to think he's joking or messing around. That he isn't taking her want seriously. He is, though, wanting to give her the best option she has at the current moment. While the kitchen staff aren't his most trusted—that number is extremely small, mainly just Jesper and that changes—they also haven't poisoned anyone or pocketed food when they shouldn't have. So, decent enough.

And importantly: they keep their utensils clean. The kitchens were probably the cleanest spot in the Slat at any given time. No one wanted to invite a hoard of rats or insects, after all.

After a beat, she seems to understand he isn't pulling her leg and relaxes. Though her question surprises him a bit. ]


A walk. [ His leg could use the stretch, he's been standing still around the club for most of the afternoon. ] And waffles.

Date: 2020-12-31 05:53 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (huddle)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ It wouldn't be as fast, going street side. He's timed it, how quickly she can make it somewhere and back, when she uses the rooftops. Astonishing quickness, not only cutting out the foot traffic but also in just how assured she is in leaping to the next spot. If he didn't know better, he'd think she could fly.

At any rate, he could really use that walk, long way or not. A welcome stretch for his leg and a way to burn some of the energy under his skin. He waves off her hand, using his cane to help lever himself back to standing. Her balance is near impeccable so he isn't worried about tugging her off it.

More that he just doesn't want to touch. Gloves or not. A familiar wariness that warns him away unless absolutely necessary. ]


We'll take a different route. There's one that cuts behind the dress shop.

[ Because he's slowly teaching her the map of Ketterdam, something she didn't get with Heleen. It didn't hurt to know several ways to get to the same place.

When they get down from the roof and the three flights of stairs, he notes that Haskell's office door is closed—lucky them. He'll deal with that after dinner. ]


You should have something to protect yourself. [ He says, once they're headed in the direction of the waffle place. ]

Date: 2020-12-31 09:06 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (rare)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ In the couple weeks she's been shadowing him, she's gotten used to keeping pace with him. Just fast enough to stay by his side without slowing or having to speed up from lagging behind. Admittedly, it's strange having someone at his side, rather than sticking behind him—most of the Dregs do that, whether from respect or fear. But a growing part of him is finding he likes that she's not most Dregs and probably never will be. ]

That's big, for him. [ Those pearl handled revolvers of his were extremely cherished. The fact he had entrusted them to Inej, even for a few moments, says a lot.

Though perhaps something similar would be out of the question for her, as she goes on to say the kickback had nearly knocked her off her feet. A flicker of a smile curls the corner of his mouth as he pictures it. ]


Not exactly subtle weapons. Won't do for a spider.

[ She's supposed to be quiet, not making a racket. Besides, Jesper is the only person he's ever seen hit anything accurately. ]

Something less bulky; there's brass knuckles. Or knives.

[ Both easily tucked away. ]

Date: 2021-01-01 01:31 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (leather)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
They're important.

[ Specifically to Jesper. He doesn't know the story but he has a feeling it has to do with family. An heirloom or something. It occasionally makes him wish he had something from his family.

But then, it wouldn't do to have something so prized, so easily snatched. ]


The brass fits over your fingers as interconnected rings. And the tops will have reinforced metal.

[ But, that might prove a challenge: ]

Your hands are probably too small for anything other than a custom fit.

[ Those rings are usually pretty wide, it wouldn't be comfortable to wear. Or be effective. ]

Knives are more easily hidden and wielded.

[ He casts a sidelong glance at her as they pass under a lantern, scrutinizing and seeming to be satisfied after a moment. Yes, knives will do nicely for a spider. She's quick enough and it won't be difficult to jab under someone's guard. ]

I'll have you try a pocket knife, tomorrow.

Date: 2021-01-01 04:28 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (Default)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
I could shatter his kneecaps at any time.

[ Any of the Dregs could probably stick Per Haskell if they tried hard enough. ]

But neither of us will. [ Most likely, anyway. At least for him: not yet. Maybe one day, if the time comes up and it fits into his plans. And if Haskell gets in his way.

For Inej, he has doubts that she'll stab Haskell or try and take his tongue out. It would have her sent back to Heleen so fast if she didn't manage to kill him.

And then her choices would go back to Heleen or the harbor. ]

Date: 2021-01-01 04:17 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (think about it)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Maybe it is ill advised to hand her a knife so soon after arguing with Haskell. But he had intended to have her be a spider and any good one doesn't run about unarmed. Not to mention that walking around in the Barrel without some protection is a laughable concept. He's not going to have her survive the Menagerie only to have something similar happen in the street because she couldn't defend herself.

They lapse into silence after she agrees and he starts thinking about what she'll need to know in the upcoming days. Where to hide one, how to easily take it out if needed, keeping them clean and sharp. How to disable versus how to kill. Though how she'll react to actually killing someone is—well, he sympathizes with that future moment. It's a shock. ]


No, there's one in the Lid. [ But it's out of the way and a long walk. He doesn't usually end up over there, most schemes being involved in the Barrel or fleecing rich merchers in their own territory. ]

Next door is a bakery Jesper swears by.

[ He's not sure why he's telling her this, but it seems innocuous enough. ]

Date: 2021-01-01 09:19 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (leather)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
What do they have?

[ There's likely something similar, right? Jesper had told him about these griddle cakes they had in Zemeni. They were flatter than the ones he's heard about, nearly paper thin and stuffed with fruit and cream.

Hearing about it had made him nostalgic for his father's apple tarts. Despite Ketterdam having a bevy of dessert shops and bakeries, he still hasn't found any that replicated that same tart.

So maybe he understands Inej, just a little. Even if he doesn't count Lij as home. ]


Little Ravka will have it. Out by the Ravkan embassy, in the Zelvar district.

[ There's a cluster of embassies, just catacorner from the Church of Barter. He almost never needs to go over there; stadwatch tends to be more vigilant in those areas. ]

Remember the Church from last week? Close to there. You can see the government flags flying.

Date: 2021-01-02 01:46 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (triumph)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
Plenty of Ravkans sought asylum here when the war broke out.

[ So she may very well find something Suli near the embassy. He can't imagine the Suli were too keen to stay in the war zones, especially not when there were grisha involved.

Then again, Ravka is a big country, they might've been able to travel around certain spots and avoid most of it. Something like that wouldn't be possible in Kerch; it's why their navy is as strong as it is, preventing landfall should the Tidemakers fail to prevent an invasion.

No one's attempted anything in a long time, though. Whether it was because they didn't want to tangle with the Kerch, who also controlled a large portion of trade, or they simply had no interest in expanding borders. Though, the only two it would make sense for would be Ravka or Shu Han, whose land percentage already tripled—at the very least—that of Kerch's. Ravka also didn't have the infrastructure to keep itself together, let alone attempt to annex a neighbor. And Shu Han, well, they tended to keep to themselves. ]


We can pay a visit in a few days. [ Tomorrow will be too busy, after spending time teaching her. But he knows he has something approximating a day off coming up, if Haskell doesn't decide to revoke it out of displeasure. ]

Date: 2021-01-02 07:55 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (Default)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ She goes quiet for a bit, maybe thinking about what she could find there. Or maybe needing time to decide—if her anxieties were anything like his, after he'd crawled out of the harbor—there could be something she's worried about. Or someone. Heleen, so far as he knows, sticks to the area around the Menagerie, so he doesn't foresee her going there.

The Menagerie's clients, though. They could be anywhere. He doubts she's forgotten any of their faces, just like he'd etched Rollins into his memory.

As they round the corner to the waffle shop, she answers and he doesn't question it. The Ravkan quarter will still be there if she decides she wants to change her mind. ]


Going to be more adventurous today?

[ She'd gotten the same thing he did here, last time. Even though both he and Jesper offered to translate the choices. ]

Date: 2021-01-03 02:13 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (what)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Inej picks up the menu, a small divot appearing between her brows as she concentrates on the words. She knows some, mostly from him and Jesper over the past couple weeks. And while he knows it was basically learn Kerch or have an even tougher time in the Menagerie, it's still amazing she managed to learn a foreign language while at that horrible place.

So, if she never learns to read it, he doesn't care really. But she seems determined to, bit by bit.

Her head comes up from the ink on paper, gaze clearly watching someone as they make their way from the end of the counter. Kaz follows her line of sight, strangely amused by her wanting the most ridiculous (and sweet) thing on the menu. But she doesn't appear to be joking. So a waffle piled high with cream, chocolate, caramel, and strawberries is what she'll get.

As for him, he tends to get the same thing, no frills. He orders for them both and pays and while they wait: ]


Sweet tooth?

Date: 2021-01-03 02:41 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (leather)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Her remark is so fast and cutting, it's almost shocking. He feels like maybe he should discourage her, not wanting his carefully curated reputation to suffer because she's decided she's going to sass him back when there could be people listening.

On the other hand, he doesn't want to add to her traumatic experiences. Not to mention: there's something oddly refreshing about it. ]


No, I don't like sweets.

[ Too much hot chocolate and quince candy reminds him of Jordie, when they hadn't known any better. Or long hours spent learning to shuffle cards, savoring the occasional cocoa the barman had given out of pity. A shadow passes over his face then, there and gone, before he shakes himself out of it. ]

If your teeth fall out from overindulgence, that's your prerogative.

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