[ she waves off his comment about the socks with a hand, though she does rise to her feet. the movement isn't fluid, and it's clear she's still struggling with the wound, but she feels better. in more ways than one. because: ]
The cold feels good.
[ as she wraps her arms around herself, because she is cold -- but it's bracing, rather than pushing her further into darkness. but instead of moving back toward the door that leads belowdeck, she steps forward, closer to the ship's ledge, so she can take a proper look at the sea. something she hasn't done, yet.
it seems to stretch on forever, though in the dark, inej can't see much. but the ocean is calm, passive, gently pushing them along to their destination.
for the first time in a long time, freedom feels . . . tangible. ]
I am still glad I met you.
[ she isn't entirely sure why she says that, her eyes still on the waves, her hair surely a mess in the occasional gust of wind. without him, she would be dead. and with him, she might still wind up dead. but at least she would die on her own terms.
the thought prompts a soft exhale before her lips twitch into a faint smile, a silent understanding with herself, as she rubs some warmth into her arms, glancing up at him. ]
[ As she gets down from her little perch, he doesn't reach out to help, knowing how she felt about physical contact. There's also that sliver of understanding the need to do something by oneself. He still watches carefully, just in case she wobbles or looks like she's going to need someone to brace her.
She doesn't though, moving to stand by the edge of the ship and peering out onto the ocean. The lantern only illuminates so much, but the lap of the waves against the ship's sides can be seen, light flickering over the water. It catches on the free locks of her hair, too, blown by the soft breeze coming off the water. He wants badly to brush it away from her face, tuck it behind her ear.
And just like every other urge, he quashes it. ]
I'm glad I went back. [ He says, staring out at the water. There hadn't been much doubt that he would go back to the Menagerie, not after that first encounter. But he hadn't been 100% sure he could convince Haskell to put up the kruge.
In the end, he'd won his argument. As he should've known he would. Haskell might bluster and bluff but he loved kruge just as much as the next Kerch native. And Kaz had known where to leverage that.
He turns his attention to Inej as she rubs at her arms—she must be cold, wearing just a thin linen shirt. Hesitating, he pulls his coat off, draping it over her small shoulders. ]
Might as well. [ Nina might start looking for her, after all, and he'll make sure she gets back to bed. ]
[ his comment sparks a softer smile, and inej is about to turn toward the entrance below deck when he slides his coat around her shoulders. it positively dwarfs her, and inej is stunned for half a moment. clearly not expecting the gesture. when was the last time any man had been a gentleman to her? never, really.
but she soon tugs it closer, tucking her nose into the collar, savoring the warmth from it having just been wrapped around kaz. and maybe it carries his specific scent, too. which is calming in its own way.
she turns toward the door, and her typical grace is hampered by both her own weakness and the long coat. her foot soon catches on the wool, and she stumbles half a step before throwing out an arm to steady herself, a startled laugh escaping.
[ She tugs the coat closer and he smiles a bit, glad that she'll be warmer in it. It's also a little ridiculous on her, considering their height difference, something that she points out after they've started to head back down. Because she stumbles on the hem, briefly, quick reflexes letting her catch herself before she ended up falling face first.
He thinks it's the first time he's ever seen her so clumsy, which prompts a similarly startled laugh. ]
Inej, treasure of my heart, would you like me to hold your train?
[ There's no way he could help himself from the amused jab. ]
[ what a crushing relief it is, to have him be his annoying, frustrating, arrogant, charming self. she had been paralyzed, for half a moment, when he left the bedroom earlier that day, that she had ruined it. whatever it is, with them.
but, no. they were fine. just as they would always be fine. with some bumps along the road, to be sure, but they would always be fine.
that being said: ]
No.
[ with a slight huff, as she pauses to slide her arms into the coat proper, so she can at least grab the hem of the coat herself . . . but her the arms of the coat just sort of flop over her hands, as her arms aren't long enough to fill them.
why she had to befriend a bunch of giants is beyond her. ]
I survived Oomen, and I shall survive a set of stairs.
[ she somehow manages to say it rather primly, given she looks absolutely ridiculous, though she does use the railing for stability on her way below deck, carefully feeling out the stairs with her toes as she steps forward.
falling down the stairs is sure to rip open her wound, and she has already given nina enough grief. ]
[ In all honesty, the coat is pretty ridiculous on her, since she's completely dwarfed by the excess fabric. He's at least a head taller than her, probably a bit more, with wider shoulders. As she puts her arms into the sleeves properly, he thinks it's maybe a little cute, especially with how it flops over her hands. ]
Zenik would haunt us both if you tripped.
[ He watches her carefully as she gathers up the cloth and starts down the stairs, using a railing for once. They both reach the bottom and as she passes under the lantern that's hooked near the end of the steps, he feels a familiar twinge of greed. Her hair is caught in the collar of his coat, some of it spilling over where it's gone free. And despite how much bigger it is, she wears it with as much grace as she does everything else. Really, he'd lent it because she was cold but he thinks he likes it on her a bit more than intended.
Ah.
Something to think about. Later. Or hopefully not at all, because he shouldn't be so distracted by how she's wearing his coat.
And yet.
When they get to the surgeon's quarters, he quietly opens the door and holds it for her, noting that Nina still appears to be dozed off in the corner. ]
[ she doesn't notice any attention paid to her, though she does offer him a small smile, at the opening of the door. and she's about to shrug out of the coat when she realizes that she's still pretty cold. and kaz said he was going to go inside, too - so surely he wouldn't mind if she kept it for the night?
at any rate, she hesitates by the door before reaching out to gingerly brush her fingers against his, her hand still mostly encapsulated by the coat. ]
Good night, Kaz.
[ it's said quietly, barely heard among the waves, before she gingerly steps into the room, doing her best to move silently with the coat to avoid waking up nina, who was indeed still asleep in the corner.
it takes half a moment to shrug out of the coat, folding it neatly on the bed before she pushes herself back up into it, sliding underneath the blanket before tugging the wool coat over her, too. it's warm, and snug, and she soon burrows her way underneath both to (finally) have a peaceful sleep. ]
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no subject
Date: 2021-01-30 02:36 pm (UTC)The cold feels good.
[ as she wraps her arms around herself, because she is cold -- but it's bracing, rather than pushing her further into darkness. but instead of moving back toward the door that leads belowdeck, she steps forward, closer to the ship's ledge, so she can take a proper look at the sea. something she hasn't done, yet.
it seems to stretch on forever, though in the dark, inej can't see much. but the ocean is calm, passive, gently pushing them along to their destination.
for the first time in a long time, freedom feels . . . tangible. ]
I am still glad I met you.
[ she isn't entirely sure why she says that, her eyes still on the waves, her hair surely a mess in the occasional gust of wind. without him, she would be dead. and with him, she might still wind up dead. but at least she would die on her own terms.
the thought prompts a soft exhale before her lips twitch into a faint smile, a silent understanding with herself, as she rubs some warmth into her arms, glancing up at him. ]
Are you coming inside?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-30 06:03 pm (UTC)She doesn't though, moving to stand by the edge of the ship and peering out onto the ocean. The lantern only illuminates so much, but the lap of the waves against the ship's sides can be seen, light flickering over the water. It catches on the free locks of her hair, too, blown by the soft breeze coming off the water. He wants badly to brush it away from her face, tuck it behind her ear.
And just like every other urge, he quashes it. ]
I'm glad I went back. [ He says, staring out at the water. There hadn't been much doubt that he would go back to the Menagerie, not after that first encounter. But he hadn't been 100% sure he could convince Haskell to put up the kruge.
In the end, he'd won his argument. As he should've known he would. Haskell might bluster and bluff but he loved kruge just as much as the next Kerch native. And Kaz had known where to leverage that.
He turns his attention to Inej as she rubs at her arms—she must be cold, wearing just a thin linen shirt. Hesitating, he pulls his coat off, draping it over her small shoulders. ]
Might as well. [ Nina might start looking for her, after all, and he'll make sure she gets back to bed. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 03:05 am (UTC)but she soon tugs it closer, tucking her nose into the collar, savoring the warmth from it having just been wrapped around kaz. and maybe it carries his specific scent, too. which is calming in its own way.
she turns toward the door, and her typical grace is hampered by both her own weakness and the long coat. her foot soon catches on the wool, and she stumbles half a step before throwing out an arm to steady herself, a startled laugh escaping.
the laugh hurts like hell, truthfully, but: ]
This is a dress, not a coat.
[ and even as a dress, too big. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 03:36 am (UTC)He thinks it's the first time he's ever seen her so clumsy, which prompts a similarly startled laugh. ]
Inej, treasure of my heart, would you like me to hold your train?
[ There's no way he could help himself from the amused jab. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 02:56 pm (UTC)but, no. they were fine. just as they would always be fine. with some bumps along the road, to be sure, but they would always be fine.
that being said: ]
No.
[ with a slight huff, as she pauses to slide her arms into the coat proper, so she can at least grab the hem of the coat herself . . . but her the arms of the coat just sort of flop over her hands, as her arms aren't long enough to fill them.
why she had to befriend a bunch of giants is beyond her. ]
I survived Oomen, and I shall survive a set of stairs.
[ she somehow manages to say it rather primly, given she looks absolutely ridiculous, though she does use the railing for stability on her way below deck, carefully feeling out the stairs with her toes as she steps forward.
falling down the stairs is sure to rip open her wound, and she has already given nina enough grief. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 04:22 pm (UTC)Zenik would haunt us both if you tripped.
[ He watches her carefully as she gathers up the cloth and starts down the stairs, using a railing for once. They both reach the bottom and as she passes under the lantern that's hooked near the end of the steps, he feels a familiar twinge of greed. Her hair is caught in the collar of his coat, some of it spilling over where it's gone free. And despite how much bigger it is, she wears it with as much grace as she does everything else. Really, he'd lent it because she was cold but he thinks he likes it on her a bit more than intended.
Ah.
Something to think about. Later. Or hopefully not at all, because he shouldn't be so distracted by how she's wearing his coat.
And yet.
When they get to the surgeon's quarters, he quietly opens the door and holds it for her, noting that Nina still appears to be dozed off in the corner. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 05:09 pm (UTC)at any rate, she hesitates by the door before reaching out to gingerly brush her fingers against his, her hand still mostly encapsulated by the coat. ]
Good night, Kaz.
[ it's said quietly, barely heard among the waves, before she gingerly steps into the room, doing her best to move silently with the coat to avoid waking up nina, who was indeed still asleep in the corner.
it takes half a moment to shrug out of the coat, folding it neatly on the bed before she pushes herself back up into it, sliding underneath the blanket before tugging the wool coat over her, too. it's warm, and snug, and she soon burrows her way underneath both to (finally) have a peaceful sleep. ]