[ the laugh sparks an instant brightness in her eyes, and she settles back against the wall, brushing back her hood so she can see him properly. she hasn't seen or heard him so happy in . . . well, ever. pulling off such a thing has clearly made him believe he's on cloud nine.
maybe it was alright, then, if she loved him. it's hard to feel otherwise, in moments like this. ]
Of course they didn't.
[ obviously!! as she gently swings her feet, the crane high enough off the ground that her toes don't quite scuff the floor boards. rubber soles hardly make a noise, padding her steps to avoid any disgruntled dogs. ]
You really can break into every lock.
[ she says with no small amount of warmth, glancing in his direction, arching her eyebrows a little. a compliment for a compliment. ]
[ Of course they didn't. He has to agree, because he's been victim to her silence. Well, not just that, but her lack of presence—no sound, no scent. It was unnerving, the first time.
Now it only leaves him disgruntled when she decides to let him feel her particular silence. Usually when she's irritated.
There's none of that here and now, not for either of them. He feels too buoyed by their success to let anything dampen it. At least, temporarily. ]
Shiny new locks like to stick. [ They're somewhat of a rarity, especially one of Van Eck's make and model. It's a lot of money to spend on security.
He pulls his gaze away from the window to turn it towards her, noting she's pushed her hood back. She's close, too. Not uncomfortably so; much like their distance on the roof of the Slat.
There's a strange temptation to close the gap. But he doesn't, his mouth curving conspiratorially instead. ]
Can't get every lock though. At least one requires two sets of hands.
[ ah, she knew he would have a reason, and it prompts half a laugh as she watches his expression. he absolutely has to have that last word, even over something as silly as a harmless dig over a lock.
still: ]
Something tells me you will figure it out with just your own two.
[ she almost leans over to bump her shoulder into his, but she stops herself. he has never touched her unless necessary, to boost her up or grab her in the rare street fight where someone gets close enough to her to have a shot. and she hasn't exactly touched him, either. the move feels too . . . much? which feels silly. ]
You promised me dinner, not an empty restaurant, by the way.
[ as she tilts her head toward more empty crates tucked into a corner, dusty tables that once held patrons pushed against the wall. ]
[ He's never had the chance to take a crack at it. In theory, he could probably think of some solutions for it. But he'd have to do some reading. Maybe when he had time, which he doesn't always have much of, these days. At least not for anything that doesn't make the gang some money.
Still, there's something thrilling in knowing she has that kind of faith in his skills. ]
Taste of victory not filling enough? [ He cocks and eyebrow but then grins, not able to keep the ruse up for long. ] The watch will be out of this area soon, we'll go get your dinner then.
[ Mostly he just wants to avoid any law enforcement asking about the leather tube he's carrying about. It's not exactly easy to hide. ]
[ that comment earns a proper laugh, which almost surprises her. it's rare that she's so -- well, loud, even though her laugh really isn't that loud. but the taste of victory - as if that was ever enough to survive in this city.
still, she does lean over to pluck the tube from under his arm, leather sliding against the wool of his coat as she catches it in a hand. ]
Well, if the taste of victory is enough, then I imagine you won't mind donating this to charity.
[ her tone is wry, as if she knows better than that. ]
My retirement fund, for one, is looking a little sparse.
[ Her laugh isn't all that loud. But he so rarely hears it at this pitch, unfettered as it is in the dark of the building. Warmth blooms in his chest, threatening to make it to his face. It's startling in its intensity and he's glad for the relative darkness they're sitting in.
Still, he can't help the little smile he gives her in return, her laughter infectious and her comment amusing. ]
Cut it any way you like, Inej, but Ketterdam would consider us charity cases.
[ But it's altogether given up on the people who live in the Barrel. Well, not live. More like scrape by, mostly.
He cuts a quick glance out the window, though his tone is wistful despite his alertness. ]
[ she supposes that much is true, that ketterdam considers them charity cases. though to be a charity case, inej thinks someone would at least have to know your name. most people don't know hers, just the wraith.
sometimes, that's a good thing. the girl she was died a long time ago. the girl she is now is someone to be feared. that has to count for something, in the end.
she does pause, though, at that. one day, it won't. and inej silently pushes herself off the crate and onto her feet, turning to hand the tube with the painting in it back to kaz. it's far easier for him to hide it in his coat than it is for her. she tries to leave as little a silhouette as possible, which involves not having clothing with a ton of pockets. ]
What do you think that looks like? Ketterdam respecting us. Or not being a charity case.
[ it's almost impossible to consider, really, as she makes her way out of the rendezvous point, slipping into the dark alleyway with a tilt of her head in his direction. he's in a good mood; she may as well push it.
and, she decides to continue with half a laugh, tossing him a slight grin as she slides her hands into the pockets of her jacket, choosing to take the slow path, with him. ]
Kaz Brekker finds his person, settles down, lives the rest of his life in domestic bliss.
[ the words tread down a dangerous path, but -- maybe it wouldn't be so bad. him knowing. or maybe it would. who knows. ]
[ He takes the painting back from her, sliding it back into the deep pocket on the inside of his coat. In shadow, it'll be hard to see. If the watch managed to wrangle them into the light, though, it would be difficult to hide.
They won't be caught, though. He's sure of it.
Hopping off the crate, he rebalances easily and joins her as they make their way out of the abandoned restaurant and towards the street that'll lead them to dinner. It's not too far. ]
The merchant council would have to get their heads out of their asses first. I wouldn't count on that this century.
[ They like to cater to the merchers and middle class. It didn't matter that plenty of commerce and taxes were paid up collectively by the gangs in the Barrel. They were just dirt on a shoe to sneer at. ]
I'll take them recognizing they've got a wolf on their doorstep if they aren't going to show respect.
[ Better fear than nothing at all. They've grown comfortable. He's seen where that gets people—Haskell being one of them. He had a building falling down around his ears and a gang that was as feared as a bent spoon.
That's changed in the past few years. Because he'd been willing to take risks, even if he had to drag Per Haskell kicking and screaming into his schemes.
Her next comment has him snorting derisively. She was so observant and yet, this. ]
Oh yes, the monster of the Barrel ending up with a modest home and flower boxes in the window. Don't be a ridiculous podge, Inej.
[ with an arch of her eyebrows in his direction, ignoring the insult and the dramatics as they walk, amused at the snort. kaz brekker might call himself a monster, but inej knows differently. there are little bits of light in there, peeking through. typically whenever they're alone, and almost never when other people are watching.
it hasn't escaped her notice that he instinctively grabs the door for her to pass through first, rather than walking on through like most of the other men in this part of town. ]
But I suppose you are right.
[ with a slight sigh, though just in case kaz brekker thinks that inej ghafa is caving to his pessimism, she adds: ]
I think we both know you are not going to have a modest house.
I can help you. Echoes around in his head, the words as stark on his wrist since the day they first appeared. They haven't gone hazy or jumbled or wiped away, like they do when someone's soulmate is gone. So whoever it is, they're still out there.
Again, he thinks of the possibility of it being the girl next to him, her steps lighter than a cat's. And her persistent optimism, despite everything.
No, that's impossible. She would deserve better.
He could ask, throw her words right back, but he finds he can't pull the trigger. Not knowing is somehow easier. ]
They're in for a nasty surprise, poor sod. If the Barrel doesn't get to either us first, at any rate.
[ He fully intends on surviving because he's made it this far. Because he has revenge to carry out and he won't have that stolen from his fingertips.
But there's always the possibility someone with longer fangs will decide he's a threat and decide to put him six feet under. ]
No, I'm going to build a miniature palace in the middle of the mercher's neighborhood. Just to annoy them.
[ for someone so brilliant, he was so stupid. so he still did not know. because inej can tell, when kaz is lying, or hiding, or lying by omission. most days, anyway. and he's not, now.
he also doesn't ask her, something that makes her lips twitch into a faint smile as they walk, her hands burying a bit deeper into her jacket. he wants to remain in the unknown, which suits her just fine.
she, as always, keeps her secrets close to her vest. ]
No one is going to get to you.
[ she says first, because to do that, they would need to get past her. and inej has a hard time envisioning anyone capable of doing something like that. they would have a knife to their throat before they could breathe their first insult.
past that, though, her tone shifts to thoughtful. ]
How many rooms?
[ amused, at the thought of kaz living next door to someone like van eck. the council would certainly hate it. ]
[ It's true—someone would be hard pressed to even come close to him. Not only because he usually sees it coming or has planned for it, but there's also Inej. Who weirdly (or perhaps not) has his back with most things. It's a guarantee they won't see her coming.
Still. A possibility. ]
Not easily or without a fight.
[ From either of them. She's proven time and time again that she's a survivor, like he is. ]
Twenty-five? Thirty? It'll obviously depend on the amount of acreage. I'll make them all garish and put complicated locks on all the doors. If the merchers complain, I can just say I was imitating their style.
[ Which is, quite frankly, hideous in most aspects. Who needs that much velvet everywhere? Do they like having their hair stick up in every direction from the static it passes? ]
[ the thought of kaz brekker (who wears one color, which is black) living in a garish nightmare of a house is enough to bring a grin to her features, shaking her head slightly. she doubts he would live in one, but she doesn't doubt for a moment that he would build it out of spite. ]
Thirty.
[ with a soft click of her tongue, in mock disapproval at the wastefulness. inej is nothing but practical. who on earth needs thirty rooms? inej barely uses the one that she has, and it isn't even hers. ]
Saints knows whoever you wind up with will need the patience of a goddess, if you are going to decorate the entire house in blue velvet out of spite.
[ because regardless of his pessimistic grumbling, there is someone for everyone. even if he is too blind to see her. maybe one day he will.
she pushes that thought of her head as they near dinner - simple, out of the way, open twenty-four-seven. cheap and generally populated by those of their ilk, thieves and conpeople who need a quick bite to eat. but the eggs and toast are delicious, and their waffles are top notch. kaz had promised her dinner . . . which is turning into more breakfast, at this hour of night. whatever. it counts. ]
Should we get it to go and eat on the roof?
[ she asks, thoughtful, as she glances toward him. ]
Just for that, I'm making it thirty five. Some will be the size of a broom closet but it'll be excessive waste in the style of most merchers.
[ Does he think he'll ever need that many? Absolutely not. He's content with his attic room, despite it being three floors up. But he'd needed the quiet and to make a very direct point to the rest of the Slat's inhabitants: he wasn't an invalid. There were certainly some days he had the tinge of regret for being so stubborn. Namely when a storm started blowing in from the harbor. It made his knee ache something awful.
But that just meant once he did get up the stairs, he could grumble about it in peace. ]
Or a god, you never know. [ That's a thing. He has eyes and ears. And he's been living in the Barrel long enough—here people don't care nearly as much about who they're sleeping with. They don't have to be preoccupied with producing heirs or whatever awful leash the merchers have decided to hang themselves with. ]
Why stop at blue? I could have the gamut. [ Thinking about it makes him cringe, just a bit. So awful. ]
[ there's a soft snort, at that. thirty-five. what a brat. but as he continues, her eyebrows arch a little, surprised. or maybe not. she supposes she's never asked what his preferences were.
maybe because she's never really envisioned him with anyone else but her. ]
I always wondered what Geels' first words were, to you.
[ she muses, as she pauses outside the restaurant door, glancing over the outdoor menu. she doesn't bother answering about her preferences concerning dinner - she wants to eat on the roof, so she will. ]
No wonder you keep it so closely under wraps. The scandal that would be, the future of the Dregs running off with the Black Tips.
[ There's a moment of silence, but only just a moment. Then he's slanting a look at her that clearly says are you kidding? when she mentions Geels.
Of all people. ]
As I recall, something about me being a narrow faced rat. [ And as she reads over the menu: ] I should ship you to middle of the harbor for that.
[ Ugh. His stupidity alone disqualifies him from any running. ]
No, I'll let you eat your weight in it. [ The cream that usually ends up on her waffles could sometimes put the spires of Ghezen's church to shame. He's stopped wondering where she puts it all, considering she's usually hopping across rooftops and scaling sheer walls. ]
[ the comment narrow faced rat sparks another laugh, and she grins up at him, eyes bright. both that he's annoyed (or, at least, fake annoyed) and that he threatens to ship her to the harbor, something they both know that he will never do. ]
Luckily, I can swim and keep your secret at the same time.
[ somewhat primly, though her grin betrays the pointed statement, and she steps past him to move toward the ordering window, knowing kaz's order without asking. he's woefully unadventurous, though he will eat whatever is in front of him. like most barrel folk.
she will, however, add a strong coffee. mostly because he's irritable, now (even if in jest). ]
[ She laughs again, the sound bright and sunny. Warm. It's hard to stay annoyed, despite the fact that she'd put an awful image in his head regarding Geels. Normally, he would be sour about it but the high from the heist and well, her good humor, is keeping his mood in the positive. ]
That I don't doubt.
[ He's never worried about her keeping secrets. Even if he sometimes jibes her about it. She always keeps it close to the chest, lips sealed.
After she orders, he steps up next to her to pay for dinner–he did say he would. They end up waiting a bit and once they have their food, head a winding way back to the Slat. Mostly so they could avoid the areas where the watch tended to pass through. Just because they had been in the clear earlier doesn't mean they were staying that way. A troop could always loop back. ]
I figure Van Eck's annoyance will drop off after a few months. It'll be easier to find a fence then.
[ they make their way back to the slat, and once she's situated, she unwraps her meal. it's really more dessert, at this point, but strawberries and cream were delicious at any time of the day. she glances over at him, arching her eyebrows a bit. ]
You think he is going to forget about this in a few months?
[ inej doesn't sound so sure, but - then again, van eck is ridiculously rich. he could probably just buy another dekappel. and she tucks into her waffles a bit, cutting into them with great purpose. ]
[ They get back to the Slat without much fanfare. Most of its inhabitants are sleeping, considering the late hour. Despite the Barrel being full of night life, the Slat does tend to start to wind down two bells after midnight.
The two of them quietly make their way to his room and then onto the rooftop. His leg is feeling decent enough that he hadn't needed to use his cane as much to go up the stairs, so they only creaked a modest amount. Once they situate, both of them dig into their dinner with relish. Her waffles are piled high with strawberries and cream, a usual staple. His are fairly plain in comparison, with syrup, butter, and a dusting of powdered sugar. Usually he doesn't have too much of an appetite but he's worked one up—for him, anyway, which means he isn't just picking at his food. ]
Not forget. I just doubt he'll be pouring as many resources into looking for it past the three or four month mark.
[ Which could potentially give him a window to start asking around for buyers. ]
Another merch, a collector most likely. Or one of the matrons of the pleasure houses.
[ Rollins, even. Though Kaz doesn't think this is to his taste. Not nearly gaudy enough. ]
[ it's said dryly, as she takes a bite of her waffle, careful to not leave a single dollop of cream behind. she can see most of the staves from their perch on the rooftops, and the menagerie is just as hideous as it always is.
part of her wonders about the girls that might still work there, that inej had known. she had kept to herself, for the most part, but tried to offer kindness in a place where there was not much to the girls who needed it. or the ones that couldn't survive.
the thought pauses her to pause, her fork still partway in her mouth before she swallows the bite of waffle she had taken, settling her meal in her lap. ]
Do you really think this city will see us as anything but what we are one day?
[ as she glances over at him, the question genuine. ]
[ Ugh, so tacky. Ostentatious looking patterns, fitting for that horrible woman. She craved the attention and the appearance of wealth. It was just nice wrapping paper over a core rotted through.
He tilts his gaze to Inej as she goes quiet, looking for any sign she might be remembering something from that awful place. They don't talk about, not really. More like they talk around it. He's never asked her anything about her time there and she's never offered more than was necessary.
Still, he doesn't want to send her down that mental track. ]
Ketterdam bows to two things: money and fear.
[ Most of the time, money begets the fear because those with wealth could get away with so much. Could do so much more. ]
People put crushed glass on their sills, thinking it'll stop the Wraith. So, you tell me.
[ And that's in such a short period of time. He locks his gaze with hers, steady and confident. ]
[ that comment prompts a slight upward curve of her lips, at that. it is true, that gangs have decided to take to spreading glass on rooftops and windowsills, to prevent her from coming in. as if that would stop her from scaling a building.
it makes her feel safe, honestly. protected. people like heleen had no sway over her, anymore. she may not be as feared as heleen, but inej is certain heleen doesn't want her arriving on her windowsill in the middle of the night.
the thought is satisfying, and she meets his gaze, expression thoughtful, before she takes another bite of her waffle. ]
That is only half of what I am talking about.
[ though the certainly seems less . . . wistful, maybe? and she considers continuing on that path, before deciding to disregard it. ]
I will never understand how you are so tall when you eat less than the crows on your windowsill.
[ as she finishes off her plate, scraping it clean, as per usual. ]
[ Though she doesn't seem to want to elaborate, moving onto the next topic with ease. Which is to bother him into eating more. The usual. ]
The harbor doesn't spit up short shadows. [ And he's ridiculous, as usual. It's not a total lie, to say the harbor was how he was born. The person that crawled out of it certainly hadn't been Kaz Rietveld.
Though realistically, he thinks he might take after his father. Hard to say, since he'd been nine when he passed; his memory of him is always someone much bigger. ]
I subsist off of pigeon tears and the anguish of merchers.
[ she just tosses him a knowing look, at only half, because she knows that he knows that she changed the subject for a reason. and she rolls her eyes a little, at that - the harbor, as if that's really where he came from. ]
So you say.
[ on both counts, setting aside her empty container to rest her arms on her knees, turning her gaze back to the city, her braid falling neatly against her back. ]
Pigeon tears may not be enough. Probably why you still have a limp.
[ but she tosses him a slight grin, a sidelong glance. clearly meant as a joke, and nothing serious. ]
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no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 12:20 am (UTC)maybe it was alright, then, if she loved him. it's hard to feel otherwise, in moments like this. ]
Of course they didn't.
[ obviously!! as she gently swings her feet, the crane high enough off the ground that her toes don't quite scuff the floor boards. rubber soles hardly make a noise, padding her steps to avoid any disgruntled dogs. ]
You really can break into every lock.
[ she says with no small amount of warmth, glancing in his direction, arching her eyebrows a little. a compliment for a compliment. ]
Even if it does take you forever.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 12:46 am (UTC)Now it only leaves him disgruntled when she decides to let him feel her particular silence. Usually when she's irritated.
There's none of that here and now, not for either of them. He feels too buoyed by their success to let anything dampen it. At least, temporarily. ]
Shiny new locks like to stick. [ They're somewhat of a rarity, especially one of Van Eck's make and model. It's a lot of money to spend on security.
He pulls his gaze away from the window to turn it towards her, noting she's pushed her hood back. She's close, too. Not uncomfortably so; much like their distance on the roof of the Slat.
There's a strange temptation to close the gap. But he doesn't, his mouth curving conspiratorially instead. ]
Can't get every lock though. At least one requires two sets of hands.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 12:51 am (UTC)still: ]
Something tells me you will figure it out with just your own two.
[ she almost leans over to bump her shoulder into his, but she stops herself. he has never touched her unless necessary, to boost her up or grab her in the rare street fight where someone gets close enough to her to have a shot. and she hasn't exactly touched him, either. the move feels too . . . much? which feels silly. ]
You promised me dinner, not an empty restaurant, by the way.
[ as she tilts her head toward more empty crates tucked into a corner, dusty tables that once held patrons pushed against the wall. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 02:21 am (UTC)[ He's never had the chance to take a crack at it. In theory, he could probably think of some solutions for it. But he'd have to do some reading. Maybe when he had time, which he doesn't always have much of, these days. At least not for anything that doesn't make the gang some money.
Still, there's something thrilling in knowing she has that kind of faith in his skills. ]
Taste of victory not filling enough? [ He cocks and eyebrow but then grins, not able to keep the ruse up for long. ] The watch will be out of this area soon, we'll go get your dinner then.
[ Mostly he just wants to avoid any law enforcement asking about the leather tube he's carrying about. It's not exactly easy to hide. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 01:45 pm (UTC)still, she does lean over to pluck the tube from under his arm, leather sliding against the wool of his coat as she catches it in a hand. ]
Well, if the taste of victory is enough, then I imagine you won't mind donating this to charity.
[ her tone is wry, as if she knows better than that. ]
My retirement fund, for one, is looking a little sparse.
[ given it is hopelessly in the red. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 02:15 pm (UTC)Still, he can't help the little smile he gives her in return, her laughter infectious and her comment amusing. ]
Cut it any way you like, Inej, but Ketterdam would consider us charity cases.
[ But it's altogether given up on the people who live in the Barrel. Well, not live. More like scrape by, mostly.
He cuts a quick glance out the window, though his tone is wistful despite his alertness. ]
One day it won't. Come on then, we're clear.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 06:26 pm (UTC)sometimes, that's a good thing. the girl she was died a long time ago. the girl she is now is someone to be feared. that has to count for something, in the end.
she does pause, though, at that. one day, it won't. and inej silently pushes herself off the crate and onto her feet, turning to hand the tube with the painting in it back to kaz. it's far easier for him to hide it in his coat than it is for her. she tries to leave as little a silhouette as possible, which involves not having clothing with a ton of pockets. ]
What do you think that looks like? Ketterdam respecting us. Or not being a charity case.
[ it's almost impossible to consider, really, as she makes her way out of the rendezvous point, slipping into the dark alleyway with a tilt of her head in his direction. he's in a good mood; she may as well push it.
and, she decides to continue with half a laugh, tossing him a slight grin as she slides her hands into the pockets of her jacket, choosing to take the slow path, with him. ]
Kaz Brekker finds his person, settles down, lives the rest of his life in domestic bliss.
[ the words tread down a dangerous path, but -- maybe it wouldn't be so bad. him knowing. or maybe it would. who knows. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 06:53 pm (UTC)They won't be caught, though. He's sure of it.
Hopping off the crate, he rebalances easily and joins her as they make their way out of the abandoned restaurant and towards the street that'll lead them to dinner. It's not too far. ]
The merchant council would have to get their heads out of their asses first. I wouldn't count on that this century.
[ They like to cater to the merchers and middle class. It didn't matter that plenty of commerce and taxes were paid up collectively by the gangs in the Barrel. They were just dirt on a shoe to sneer at. ]
I'll take them recognizing they've got a wolf on their doorstep if they aren't going to show respect.
[ Better fear than nothing at all. They've grown comfortable. He's seen where that gets people—Haskell being one of them. He had a building falling down around his ears and a gang that was as feared as a bent spoon.
That's changed in the past few years. Because he'd been willing to take risks, even if he had to drag Per Haskell kicking and screaming into his schemes.
Her next comment has him snorting derisively. She was so observant and yet, this. ]
Oh yes, the monster of the Barrel ending up with a modest home and flower boxes in the window. Don't be a ridiculous podge, Inej.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 07:00 pm (UTC)[ with an arch of her eyebrows in his direction, ignoring the insult and the dramatics as they walk, amused at the snort. kaz brekker might call himself a monster, but inej knows differently. there are little bits of light in there, peeking through. typically whenever they're alone, and almost never when other people are watching.
it hasn't escaped her notice that he instinctively grabs the door for her to pass through first, rather than walking on through like most of the other men in this part of town. ]
But I suppose you are right.
[ with a slight sigh, though just in case kaz brekker thinks that inej ghafa is caving to his pessimism, she adds: ]
I think we both know you are not going to have a modest house.
[ sir. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 07:13 pm (UTC)I can help you. Echoes around in his head, the words as stark on his wrist since the day they first appeared. They haven't gone hazy or jumbled or wiped away, like they do when someone's soulmate is gone. So whoever it is, they're still out there.
Again, he thinks of the possibility of it being the girl next to him, her steps lighter than a cat's. And her persistent optimism, despite everything.
No, that's impossible. She would deserve better.
He could ask, throw her words right back, but he finds he can't pull the trigger. Not knowing is somehow easier. ]
They're in for a nasty surprise, poor sod. If the Barrel doesn't get to either us first, at any rate.
[ He fully intends on surviving because he's made it this far. Because he has revenge to carry out and he won't have that stolen from his fingertips.
But there's always the possibility someone with longer fangs will decide he's a threat and decide to put him six feet under. ]
No, I'm going to build a miniature palace in the middle of the mercher's neighborhood. Just to annoy them.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 07:25 pm (UTC)he also doesn't ask her, something that makes her lips twitch into a faint smile as they walk, her hands burying a bit deeper into her jacket. he wants to remain in the unknown, which suits her just fine.
she, as always, keeps her secrets close to her vest. ]
No one is going to get to you.
[ she says first, because to do that, they would need to get past her. and inej has a hard time envisioning anyone capable of doing something like that. they would have a knife to their throat before they could breathe their first insult.
past that, though, her tone shifts to thoughtful. ]
How many rooms?
[ amused, at the thought of kaz living next door to someone like van eck. the council would certainly hate it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 08:42 pm (UTC)Still. A possibility. ]
Not easily or without a fight.
[ From either of them. She's proven time and time again that she's a survivor, like he is. ]
Twenty-five? Thirty? It'll obviously depend on the amount of acreage. I'll make them all garish and put complicated locks on all the doors. If the merchers complain, I can just say I was imitating their style.
[ Which is, quite frankly, hideous in most aspects. Who needs that much velvet everywhere? Do they like having their hair stick up in every direction from the static it passes? ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-25 10:55 pm (UTC)Thirty.
[ with a soft click of her tongue, in mock disapproval at the wastefulness. inej is nothing but practical. who on earth needs thirty rooms? inej barely uses the one that she has, and it isn't even hers. ]
Saints knows whoever you wind up with will need the patience of a goddess, if you are going to decorate the entire house in blue velvet out of spite.
[ because regardless of his pessimistic grumbling, there is someone for everyone. even if he is too blind to see her. maybe one day he will.
she pushes that thought of her head as they near dinner - simple, out of the way, open twenty-four-seven. cheap and generally populated by those of their ilk, thieves and conpeople who need a quick bite to eat. but the eggs and toast are delicious, and their waffles are top notch. kaz had promised her dinner . . . which is turning into more breakfast, at this hour of night. whatever. it counts. ]
Should we get it to go and eat on the roof?
[ she asks, thoughtful, as she glances toward him. ]
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Date: 2021-01-25 11:48 pm (UTC)[ Does he think he'll ever need that many? Absolutely not. He's content with his attic room, despite it being three floors up. But he'd needed the quiet and to make a very direct point to the rest of the Slat's inhabitants: he wasn't an invalid. There were certainly some days he had the tinge of regret for being so stubborn. Namely when a storm started blowing in from the harbor. It made his knee ache something awful.
But that just meant once he did get up the stairs, he could grumble about it in peace. ]
Or a god, you never know. [ That's a thing. He has eyes and ears. And he's been living in the Barrel long enough—here people don't care nearly as much about who they're sleeping with. They don't have to be preoccupied with producing heirs or whatever awful leash the merchers have decided to hang themselves with. ]
Why stop at blue? I could have the gamut. [ Thinking about it makes him cringe, just a bit. So awful. ]
It's your dinner.
[ So, they'll eat wherever she wants. ]
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Date: 2021-01-26 12:10 am (UTC)maybe because she's never really envisioned him with anyone else but her. ]
I always wondered what Geels' first words were, to you.
[ she muses, as she pauses outside the restaurant door, glancing over the outdoor menu. she doesn't bother answering about her preferences concerning dinner - she wants to eat on the roof, so she will. ]
No wonder you keep it so closely under wraps. The scandal that would be, the future of the Dregs running off with the Black Tips.
[ she pauses for half a moment. ]
Whipped cream or no?
[ :) ]
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Date: 2021-01-26 12:38 am (UTC)Of all people. ]
As I recall, something about me being a narrow faced rat. [ And as she reads over the menu: ] I should ship you to middle of the harbor for that.
[ Ugh. His stupidity alone disqualifies him from any running. ]
No, I'll let you eat your weight in it. [ The cream that usually ends up on her waffles could sometimes put the spires of Ghezen's church to shame. He's stopped wondering where she puts it all, considering she's usually hopping across rooftops and scaling sheer walls. ]
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Date: 2021-01-26 12:57 am (UTC)Luckily, I can swim and keep your secret at the same time.
[ somewhat primly, though her grin betrays the pointed statement, and she steps past him to move toward the ordering window, knowing kaz's order without asking. he's woefully unadventurous, though he will eat whatever is in front of him. like most barrel folk.
she will, however, add a strong coffee. mostly because he's irritable, now (even if in jest). ]
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Date: 2021-01-26 03:11 am (UTC)That I don't doubt.
[ He's never worried about her keeping secrets. Even if he sometimes jibes her about it. She always keeps it close to the chest, lips sealed.
After she orders, he steps up next to her to pay for dinner–he did say he would. They end up waiting a bit and once they have their food, head a winding way back to the Slat. Mostly so they could avoid the areas where the watch tended to pass through. Just because they had been in the clear earlier doesn't mean they were staying that way. A troop could always loop back. ]
I figure Van Eck's annoyance will drop off after a few months. It'll be easier to find a fence then.
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Date: 2021-01-26 05:26 pm (UTC)You think he is going to forget about this in a few months?
[ inej doesn't sound so sure, but - then again, van eck is ridiculously rich. he could probably just buy another dekappel. and she tucks into her waffles a bit, cutting into them with great purpose. ]
Who do you think would buy it?
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Date: 2021-01-26 06:57 pm (UTC)The two of them quietly make their way to his room and then onto the rooftop. His leg is feeling decent enough that he hadn't needed to use his cane as much to go up the stairs, so they only creaked a modest amount. Once they situate, both of them dig into their dinner with relish. Her waffles are piled high with strawberries and cream, a usual staple. His are fairly plain in comparison, with syrup, butter, and a dusting of powdered sugar. Usually he doesn't have too much of an appetite but he's worked one up—for him, anyway, which means he isn't just picking at his food. ]
Not forget. I just doubt he'll be pouring as many resources into looking for it past the three or four month mark.
[ Which could potentially give him a window to start asking around for buyers. ]
Another merch, a collector most likely. Or one of the matrons of the pleasure houses.
[ Rollins, even. Though Kaz doesn't think this is to his taste. Not nearly gaudy enough. ]
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Date: 2021-01-26 09:35 pm (UTC)[ it's said dryly, as she takes a bite of her waffle, careful to not leave a single dollop of cream behind. she can see most of the staves from their perch on the rooftops, and the menagerie is just as hideous as it always is.
part of her wonders about the girls that might still work there, that inej had known. she had kept to herself, for the most part, but tried to offer kindness in a place where there was not much to the girls who needed it. or the ones that couldn't survive.
the thought pauses her to pause, her fork still partway in her mouth before she swallows the bite of waffle she had taken, settling her meal in her lap. ]
Do you really think this city will see us as anything but what we are one day?
[ as she glances over at him, the question genuine. ]
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Date: 2021-01-27 01:13 am (UTC)[ Ugh, so tacky. Ostentatious looking patterns, fitting for that horrible woman. She craved the attention and the appearance of wealth. It was just nice wrapping paper over a core rotted through.
He tilts his gaze to Inej as she goes quiet, looking for any sign she might be remembering something from that awful place. They don't talk about, not really. More like they talk around it. He's never asked her anything about her time there and she's never offered more than was necessary.
Still, he doesn't want to send her down that mental track. ]
Ketterdam bows to two things: money and fear.
[ Most of the time, money begets the fear because those with wealth could get away with so much. Could do so much more. ]
People put crushed glass on their sills, thinking it'll stop the Wraith. So, you tell me.
[ And that's in such a short period of time. He locks his gaze with hers, steady and confident. ]
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Date: 2021-01-27 01:44 am (UTC)it makes her feel safe, honestly. protected. people like heleen had no sway over her, anymore. she may not be as feared as heleen, but inej is certain heleen doesn't want her arriving on her windowsill in the middle of the night.
the thought is satisfying, and she meets his gaze, expression thoughtful, before she takes another bite of her waffle. ]
That is only half of what I am talking about.
[ though the certainly seems less . . . wistful, maybe? and she considers continuing on that path, before deciding to disregard it. ]
I will never understand how you are so tall when you eat less than the crows on your windowsill.
[ as she finishes off her plate, scraping it clean, as per usual. ]
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Date: 2021-01-27 02:15 am (UTC)[ Though she doesn't seem to want to elaborate, moving onto the next topic with ease. Which is to bother him into eating more. The usual. ]
The harbor doesn't spit up short shadows. [ And he's ridiculous, as usual. It's not a total lie, to say the harbor was how he was born. The person that crawled out of it certainly hadn't been Kaz Rietveld.
Though realistically, he thinks he might take after his father. Hard to say, since he'd been nine when he passed; his memory of him is always someone much bigger. ]
I subsist off of pigeon tears and the anguish of merchers.
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Date: 2021-01-27 02:48 am (UTC)So you say.
[ on both counts, setting aside her empty container to rest her arms on her knees, turning her gaze back to the city, her braid falling neatly against her back. ]
Pigeon tears may not be enough. Probably why you still have a limp.
[ but she tosses him a slight grin, a sidelong glance. clearly meant as a joke, and nothing serious. ]
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