[ A week passes from their encounter with Van Eck on Vellgeluk. He sets his mind to the task of getting Inej back. Not only for her own sake but because he won't abide by a second more of her being in Jan Van Eck's hands. It makes his stomach turn, not knowing what she's going through. Not having her here, with the group, at his side.
If he's honest, which he only is in the dead of night when left with his thoughts, he feels like he's missing a limb. Her absence has left a gaping hole, one that everyone has been feeling keenly.
So he schemes, thinking on how best to outmaneuver a merch who has nearly every resource at his disposal. It's his major leverage but, as Matthias asks how they'll do this, he knows it's also his biggest weakness. Van Eck has picked a fight with people who understand what it is to have nothing. And in some ways, aren't afraid to have it taken from them again. None of them have legacies or estates or, in some cases, even families.
Van Eck, though, had handed his soft spot to Kaz on a platter. An heir and a very pregnant wife, tucked away.
All things considered, the rescue itself goes off...not terribly. It's chaotic, but he'd counted on chaos. The sound of fireworks ring in his ears all the way to the Weft, finally dying down once he and Inej make their way into an abandoned linen warehouse. It'd been victim to a fire relatively recently which meant no operations would be here until the real estate exchanged hands. Nor would anyone come looking for them here.
He watches Inej get settled on the leftover linen rolls and hands over the food and water he'd tucked away ahead of time. She looks pale and too thin. A week had been too long. A week shouldn't have existed, if he'd just kept his eyes on Van Eck instead of darting his gaze over to her.
Stupid, so stupid. He'll regret that moment for years to come.
Carefully, he lowers himself to the linen pile, sitting close but giving her space. ]
[ she thought her knees would buckle in relief, at seeing kaz on that bridge. because it isn't as if she had a doubt that he would come for her, because of course he would. but she wasn't entirely sure van eck would allow her to go. she had tried escaping on her own, which ended in a miserable failure, one punished by van eck chaining her to a table and threatening to smash her legs if she refused to tell him where kaz brekker was.
naturally, she kept her mouth shut. spun a panicked lie, though she had come close to showing true fear. he had grabbed her arms, pulled up her sleeves. seen the scarred mess that was left of her peacock feather, but most importantly, had seen the words on the opposite wrist. made shrewd comments, assuming that kaz was her other half.
(he was, of course. but inej had told him it was wylan, which had earned her a punch to the side of the head. worth it, though, to see the fury in his eyes and the disgusting curl of his lip.)
when kaz brings her to the warehouse, her eyes track the food and water he's stashed a little hungrily, but she knows from experience that shoving food into her mouth after being denied it for a period of time was a mistake that only ended in vomiting. it's soon disregarded, though, in kaz settling down next to her to sit.
for half a moment, she remains still at his question. but she soon scoots herself closer, to gingerly loop her arms around his waist as she folds herself smaller, tucking herself against his side.
only then does she say: ]
I told him that he would only see me one more time.
[ She doesn't eat, not right away, probably worried about it coming back up if she goes too fast. He frowns, not liking it. But she knows her body better and is also better at listening to it.
Though he can't be too upset, not when she's finally back. Soon it'll be the whole crew again, the way it should be.
For now it's just them, something he's going to relish for a bit as she loops her arms around his middle. He puts an arm around her shoulders gently, holding her as close as he comfortably can. There's an immediate soothing effect, just to have her weight against his side. ]
Dangerous girl. [ He hopes Van Eck loses sleep over that one. It's the least he deserves. Kaz has plans to do worse—ruin him completely, from the ground up. Van Eck didn't fully understand who he was dealing with. ]
Are you okay?
[ She doesn't look injured but that doesn't mean anything. ]
[ the arm around her shoulders causes her to relax whatever tension was being held in her shoulders, exhaling slowly at his comment. dangerous -- she hadn't felt it, chained to the table. terrified that van eck was going to drive that hammer directly into her shins.
kaz's second question, though, gives her pause. she feels much better, now that she has a moment to catch her breath. but to say she was okay would be a lie. ]
He kept me in chains.
[ after a moment of silence, letting her eyes close to focus on his heartbeat, which she can faintly feel against her cheek.
she would tell kaz the whole story in a moment, but for now, that would be enough to answer his question. ]
[ Her weight rests against him a little more, indicating she's relaxed some. He's learned to tell the difference in when she's tense and right now there's only a bit of residual tension. Not like earlier. Not like when he'd seen her on the bridge, that shocking moment when he'd taken note of the bags under her eyes and the rope around her wrists.
It'd nearly superseded the immense relief he'd felt at seeing her in one piece. Alive.
Now the familiar burn of anger from earlier is rekindled. Part of him wishes he had jabbed Van Eck with his own house crest, when he'd first gotten taken to broker the deal. ]
I'm going to ruin him. [ For her, for all of them. He tilts his face down, pressing his cheek to her hair, a small gesture of comfort. ]
[ the feeling of his cheek against her hair sparks a unique warmth that races through her whole being. and inej instinctively tightens her hold around his waist, treasuring it, before taking another deep breath. ]
I know.
[ she murmurs, curling her fingers loosely into his shirt. and she does - it's part of the reason why van eck was so determined to rip secrets from her. something to hold against kaz, like kaz had leverage over him. ]
I will be fine.
[ she adds, her voice soft. mostly just to reassure him. ]
[ He lets her squeeze closer, both knowing she needs the reassurance and taking his own from it. Because she's actually here and it's just the two of them. No prying eyes, no twinge of discomfort at letting himself open up. His relief is too strong to even think about any of that right now. ]
Will you? [ Ultimately, she's strong. She's made it this far, having lived through both the Menagerie and the Barrel. But just because someone's dealt with worse doesn't mean they'll automatically be alright. Because undoubtedly, Van Eck had been trying to pry secrets from her. And though he doesn't seem to have left any physical marks, aside from her loss of weight or the various bruising from her cuffs, mental ones went deeper. ]
[ that much is said with certainty, without hesitation. because van eck may have terrified her, and torn open old wounds, but she would be damned if he was going to be the one to break her. over her dead body.
which reminds her: ]
I told him nothing. [ not for lack of trying, though inej keeps that to himself. ] He tried to get me to speak by having one of my people coax me into talking, promising things that were not real.
[ effective, to most people, but inej hadn't cracked. ]
He escalated once I got out of my chains and got through the air vent. But he knows nothing about our plans.
[ If she said anything, it would be to stall. Giving little bits of information that had no real bearing on the group. It would mean losing a couple safe houses, he supposed, but that was a risk in the Barrel no matter what. Buildings didn't stay empty for terribly long, whether it was squatters or a business coming in and making use of it. ]
Suli? [ Only a little surprising, mostly in the tactic being used. Kaz had seen him when Van Eck had used him to go back and forth. To be seen and to attempt to goad him into attacking. But, he'd done his own bait and switch—making it look as though he was going to charge in there.
She details some more, explaining about getting out of her cuffs and attempting to get out through the vent. That's his girl. ]
They missed you. [ He pauses and adds: ] I missed you.
[ she isn't sure if she wants to go into more detail than that, in that moment of weakness. that urge to find connection, and a taste of home. the betrayal cut deep, and van eck knew that.
monstrous disgusting man that he was.
but at the news of being missed, she breathes out half a laugh, a wispy sound as she (somehow) tucks herself still closer, relishing in the safety and the warmth. feeling calm and centered for the first time in over a week. ]
I was gone for a week.
[ a long, awful, dreadful week, but a week nonetheless. though she is sure to add: ]
[ He just hums when she says Van Eck knows more about her than he probably should. It's not ideal but he doesn't plan on having her in a position where he can use any of that against her. ]
Long week. [ Felt like a month, every minute pulling out longer, reminiscent of molasses. He shifts his weight, leaning into the cloth under them a bit more so he can get comfortable and settle. ]
[ she's quiet, letting herself settle against his side as he sinks further into the cloth. the comments about rest and food cause her to sigh, and inej slowly undoes her arms from his waist to straighten up enough to take the bottle of water and bag of food, tugging it into her lap.
( she's still keeping herself tucked underneath his arm and mostly pressed against his side, though. )
she tugs some bread out of the bag, tearing it in half before setting into it, forcing herself to eat slowly. a swig of water is next, the coolness fresh on her throat. and once she does that, she digs around in the bag a bit more to fish out some dried meat. ]
I want a good waffle.
[ somewhat wistfully, as she sandwiches some of the meat in between the bread, to make a makeshift sandwich. but beggers can't be choosers. ]
[ He knows she wants to just stay cuddled up but she also needs to get some food and water in her. Van Eck clearly hadn't offered much, probably trying his best to get her to break. Just another thing he adds to the list of grievances.
She does grab the water bottle and the bag of food, careful to pace herself as she starts in on it. Kaz just lets her curl close while she chews, feeling some more of the adrenaline from earlier drop away. There's still plenty to do—he should probably check over by Sweet Reef. Most of a plan is in place that involves the silos, he just wants to get a little more info before he finalizes it.
But this is valuable too, patching up the ache and worry from the past week. ]
[ she swallows a bite of her sandwich, humming in approval at the idea of a waffle stand to call her own. she isn't so sure if she would be able to actually cook a waffle. maybe hire someone to make her waffles. what a thought, having employees.
all that aside: ]
Do you remember when we stole that ugly painting, and you thought I could fit through an air vent, and I said that I could not fit through the air vent, so I found another way?
[ she asks, taking another bite, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing, so she can continue. ]
I had to refuse food for a week to fit, so I was right.
[ Oh, he does remember this conversation. He'd looked her over from head to toe and asked if her hips were slim enough to go through a vent. The return gaze she'd given him had been...not angry, but potentially murderous. Then she'd told him she absolutely wasn't going through a vent.
He just figured—stupidly, in hindsight—that she could do it. She was the Wraith, after all.
As she continues, he frowns, not liking that she'd gone to such measures. But that's who they were, right? Survivors, doing whatever it took. He wishes he'd been able to get to her sooner. All the machinations had eaten up so much time. Then again, there hadn't been another good way to go about it. He'd had to force Van Eck to a trade. ]
You usually are. [ Especially if it comes to things like this. She knows her own body and its limits. Frankly, she's probably more attuned to it than he is to his broken leg.
That aside: ]
DeKappel is one of the greatest Kerch painters. [ Is the painting still ugly? A little bit. ]
[ she finishes her sandwich, chasing it with a long drink of cold water, though her lips curve upward as she drinks, given his you usually are. she supposes that much is true, though she knows (in the moment of disagreement, anyway) kaz is loathe to admit it.
there's a soft snort, though, at kaz's defense of dekappel, restopping the bottle of water to prevent it from spilling. ]
Even the greatest artists sometimes have little taste.
[ though, in her opinion, dekappel's work is . . . stuffy and suffocating, for her taste. but then again, it is very kerch. no wonder they liked his art so much. it's just as boring as they are. present company (mostly) excluded, of course.
she does feel better, with some food and water in her. she wants to finish off the food in the bag, but knows it needs to settle, first. so she sets the food aside, resuming her position tucked against his side, looping her arms around his waist. he's comfortable, warm, and most importantly, safe. no one would hurt her, here.
she's quiet for a moment or two, letting herself relax before she exhales slowly. ]
I knew he was terrible, and selfish, and cruel. Most men in this city are. [ especially the rich ones. and given wylan's preference to live in poverty with the rest of them than stay in his merch manor . . . well, here they are. ] But I didn't think he was a monster.
[ there are few people that inej would rather be dead than given a second chance. jan van eck is now one of those people. ]
It's about the apparent futility of swimming against the tides.
[ Whether he'd been commenting on the tides of the ocean or the actual Tides, no one really knew. Either way, he finds it fairly pretentious and in some ways, it's ugly. There's something about the colors, though. For a while, he told himself he'd eventually part with it. After all, the haul would be worth it, ugly brushstrokes didn't matter to collectors. He'd held onto it, waiting until Jan Van Eck would stop missing it.
Now he thinks he's grown attached. It reminds him too much of the job he'd done with Inej to get it; her laughter afterwards and the waffles they'd eaten on the roof. He never thought himself a sentimentalist but she's always brought the most surprising things out of him. ]
Not all monsters have obvious teeth. The merchers dress them up in velvet or brocade, figuring their credibility will hide the crimes. [ Van Eck is just one more in a city full of them. He tries to distance himself from those in the Barrel, holding himself above them. But he's just as bad as the murderers and thieves lurking in the alleys. Worse, even, because he's in a position of power. He can abuse it to reach his goals, leaving burned bridges in his wake.
Or so he thought, when he'd hired Kaz and his crew to break into the Ice Court. He figured no one would miss some kids from the Barrel and that he'd easily pull one over on them.
Kaz intends to make him regret ever mugging him on the street. Make him regret every breath he's drawn since he broke their deal on Vellgeluk. ]
He made a mistake. [ Or several. ] I'm going to capitalize on it.
[ she supposes that makes sense. heleen is the same way, all swathed in jewels and peacock feathers, when she really was one of the worst people to exist in ketterdam. or the world, probably.
she feels a small sting of pride, in robbing her of that ugly diamond on her throat. heleen would never forgive her for it. the thought causes a slight upward twitch in her lips, as she remains tucked into kaz's side.
still, she exhales slowly. knowing that kaz was going to rip van eck into shreds, and trusting that he would get them out of this mess. there was really no other option, but to trust whatever plan he was probably still formulating in his mind.
she curls a little closer. ]
He tried to break my legs.
[ it's quiet, as she resumes her snug hold around his waist, her eyes still closed. ]
[ There's a few moments of quiet between them. Outside, he can hear the distant sounds of people shouting greetings as they head home, groups laughing together when they pass by the front of the warehouse. It's all muted, sound dropping off from both the distance and from the building blocking most of it. Part of him feels drowsy, the adrenaline having run its course and a week's worth of poor sleep starting to creep up on him.
Really, he wants nothing more than to curl up with Inej for the rest of the afternoon and take a nap. Wishful thinking, because he has things to finish. She can get some sleep, though, and probably should, judging from the circles under her eyes.
Her words cut through the peace though, shocking enough that he feels his temper spike. He curls his arm around her a little tighter, as if trying to ward away the memory. ]
What. [ Oh, he had plans to ruin Van Eck before. Now he wants to make him suffer the worst defeat. He'll be left with nothing once he's through. ]
[ sometimes, the tightness around her shoulders makes her feel anxious. but she just feels warm and safe, relaxing her hold on him a little as she makes herself comfortable. ]
He was tired of trying for emotional manipulation, so he decided to try a hammer instead.
[ it's said tiredly; no real stranger, to men abusing her, but something about the look in van eck's eyes had made her skin crawl uncomfortably. a terror that she hadn't felt in a long time had ripped through her spine at the thought of having her legs shattered.
but she feels none of that, now. ]
I made it, and so did you. [ she murmurs, resting her cheek against his chest, to listen to his heart. ] My legs are in one piece, so you arrived right on time.
[ Of course. Van Eck was no interrogator, even if his merch status meant he brokered plenty of trades and compromises. They were just two sides of the same coin. And despite Van Eck's wealth, he didn't have the terrifying reputation. Nor did he have enough leverage, apparently.
That isn't to discredit Inej's fortitude. He doesn't doubt that Van Eck had tried his best. Worst. Whichever. ]
I suppose. [ He's not convinced. Getting there right on time would have meant she never got to the part where Van Eck threatened to smash her legs. Still, he doesn't exactly feel like arguing, too grateful to have her back in one piece. Slowly, he drags a gloved hand down her back, hopefully as comforting to her as it is to him.
He'll get back to work in a minute. ]
I have to go by Sweet Reef. You should stay here and rest up. The next few days are going to be full.
[ that sounds . . . like the opposite of what she wants. both him leaving and the next few days being full. remaining still has made her realize how bone-tired she is. a good long sleep has been something she hasn't had in . . . well, more than a week, probably.
she gently squeezes her arms around his waist. ]
Shut your eyes for half an hour.
[ she murmurs, making herself comfortable, clearly preparing to do the same herself. ]
[ Normally, he can shrug off sleepiness. He's gotten good at convincing himself to keep going. Or to do the difficult things even if he didn't particularly want. Because the work had to be done, one way or another.
It's just...he hasn't seen her in a week, which felt more like a month. There'd been a gaping ache in his chest and too many nights of little to no sleep. Which should be normal but it's never been with this much stress.
So when she hugs him around the waist and asks him to stay, he finds it hard to refuse. Half an hour, that he can spare. It's still fairly bright out and he'll be able to see what he needs to see at Sweet Reef even if he waits a bit. ]
Alright. [ He sighs out a long breath, more tired than anything else, as he shifts his leg so it's at a more comfortable angle. ] Half an hour. Then I have to go.
[ she can feel him agree before he says the words, though she curls her fingers a little loosely into his coat, just in case he decides to change his mind. she considers saying something else, like acknowledging that she understand she has to go.
but inej decides going to sleep is a better use of her time than agreeing to something pointless.
so she relaxes fully against him, letting herself drift into a surprisingly peaceful sleep. content with the knowledge that he's here. and somewhat doubtful he would actually move her in half an hour. maybe she can silently convince him of an hour instead.
it's only a few more moments before she drops into a dead sleep. ]
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rescue.
Date: 2021-01-31 09:38 pm (UTC)If he's honest, which he only is in the dead of night when left with his thoughts, he feels like he's missing a limb. Her absence has left a gaping hole, one that everyone has been feeling keenly.
So he schemes, thinking on how best to outmaneuver a merch who has nearly every resource at his disposal. It's his major leverage but, as Matthias asks how they'll do this, he knows it's also his biggest weakness. Van Eck has picked a fight with people who understand what it is to have nothing. And in some ways, aren't afraid to have it taken from them again. None of them have legacies or estates or, in some cases, even families.
Van Eck, though, had handed his soft spot to Kaz on a platter. An heir and a very pregnant wife, tucked away.
All things considered, the rescue itself goes off...not terribly. It's chaotic, but he'd counted on chaos. The sound of fireworks ring in his ears all the way to the Weft, finally dying down once he and Inej make their way into an abandoned linen warehouse. It'd been victim to a fire relatively recently which meant no operations would be here until the real estate exchanged hands. Nor would anyone come looking for them here.
He watches Inej get settled on the leftover linen rolls and hands over the food and water he'd tucked away ahead of time. She looks pale and too thin. A week had been too long. A week shouldn't have existed, if he'd just kept his eyes on Van Eck instead of darting his gaze over to her.
Stupid, so stupid. He'll regret that moment for years to come.
Carefully, he lowers himself to the linen pile, sitting close but giving her space. ]
What did you say to Van Eck? On the bridge.
[ The merch had looked distinctly unhappy. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 09:53 pm (UTC)naturally, she kept her mouth shut. spun a panicked lie, though she had come close to showing true fear. he had grabbed her arms, pulled up her sleeves. seen the scarred mess that was left of her peacock feather, but most importantly, had seen the words on the opposite wrist. made shrewd comments, assuming that kaz was her other half.
(he was, of course. but inej had told him it was wylan, which had earned her a punch to the side of the head. worth it, though, to see the fury in his eyes and the disgusting curl of his lip.)
when kaz brings her to the warehouse, her eyes track the food and water he's stashed a little hungrily, but she knows from experience that shoving food into her mouth after being denied it for a period of time was a mistake that only ended in vomiting. it's soon disregarded, though, in kaz settling down next to her to sit.
for half a moment, she remains still at his question. but she soon scoots herself closer, to gingerly loop her arms around his waist as she folds herself smaller, tucking herself against his side.
only then does she say: ]
I told him that he would only see me one more time.
[ before she slits his throat. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 11:14 pm (UTC)Though he can't be too upset, not when she's finally back. Soon it'll be the whole crew again, the way it should be.
For now it's just them, something he's going to relish for a bit as she loops her arms around his middle. He puts an arm around her shoulders gently, holding her as close as he comfortably can. There's an immediate soothing effect, just to have her weight against his side. ]
Dangerous girl. [ He hopes Van Eck loses sleep over that one. It's the least he deserves. Kaz has plans to do worse—ruin him completely, from the ground up. Van Eck didn't fully understand who he was dealing with. ]
Are you okay?
[ She doesn't look injured but that doesn't mean anything. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 11:25 pm (UTC)kaz's second question, though, gives her pause. she feels much better, now that she has a moment to catch her breath. but to say she was okay would be a lie. ]
He kept me in chains.
[ after a moment of silence, letting her eyes close to focus on his heartbeat, which she can faintly feel against her cheek.
she would tell kaz the whole story in a moment, but for now, that would be enough to answer his question. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-31 11:53 pm (UTC)It'd nearly superseded the immense relief he'd felt at seeing her in one piece. Alive.
Now the familiar burn of anger from earlier is rekindled. Part of him wishes he had jabbed Van Eck with his own house crest, when he'd first gotten taken to broker the deal. ]
I'm going to ruin him. [ For her, for all of them. He tilts his face down, pressing his cheek to her hair, a small gesture of comfort. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 12:49 am (UTC)I know.
[ she murmurs, curling her fingers loosely into his shirt. and she does - it's part of the reason why van eck was so determined to rip secrets from her. something to hold against kaz, like kaz had leverage over him. ]
I will be fine.
[ she adds, her voice soft. mostly just to reassure him. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 01:26 am (UTC)Will you? [ Ultimately, she's strong. She's made it this far, having lived through both the Menagerie and the Barrel. But just because someone's dealt with worse doesn't mean they'll automatically be alright. Because undoubtedly, Van Eck had been trying to pry secrets from her. And though he doesn't seem to have left any physical marks, aside from her loss of weight or the various bruising from her cuffs, mental ones went deeper. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 02:02 am (UTC)[ that much is said with certainty, without hesitation. because van eck may have terrified her, and torn open old wounds, but she would be damned if he was going to be the one to break her. over her dead body.
which reminds her: ]
I told him nothing. [ not for lack of trying, though inej keeps that to himself. ] He tried to get me to speak by having one of my people coax me into talking, promising things that were not real.
[ effective, to most people, but inej hadn't cracked. ]
He escalated once I got out of my chains and got through the air vent. But he knows nothing about our plans.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 02:32 am (UTC)[ If she said anything, it would be to stall. Giving little bits of information that had no real bearing on the group. It would mean losing a couple safe houses, he supposed, but that was a risk in the Barrel no matter what. Buildings didn't stay empty for terribly long, whether it was squatters or a business coming in and making use of it. ]
Suli? [ Only a little surprising, mostly in the tactic being used. Kaz had seen him when Van Eck had used him to go back and forth. To be seen and to attempt to goad him into attacking. But, he'd done his own bait and switch—making it look as though he was going to charge in there.
She details some more, explaining about getting out of her cuffs and attempting to get out through the vent. That's his girl. ]
They missed you. [ He pauses and adds: ] I missed you.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 02:37 am (UTC)[ she isn't sure if she wants to go into more detail than that, in that moment of weakness. that urge to find connection, and a taste of home. the betrayal cut deep, and van eck knew that.
monstrous disgusting man that he was.
but at the news of being missed, she breathes out half a laugh, a wispy sound as she (somehow) tucks herself still closer, relishing in the safety and the warmth. feeling calm and centered for the first time in over a week. ]
I was gone for a week.
[ a long, awful, dreadful week, but a week nonetheless. though she is sure to add: ]
I missed you, too.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 03:20 am (UTC)Long week. [ Felt like a month, every minute pulling out longer, reminiscent of molasses. He shifts his weight, leaning into the cloth under them a bit more so he can get comfortable and settle. ]
You should get some rest. And eat.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-01 04:32 pm (UTC)( she's still keeping herself tucked underneath his arm and mostly pressed against his side, though. )
she tugs some bread out of the bag, tearing it in half before setting into it, forcing herself to eat slowly. a swig of water is next, the coolness fresh on her throat. and once she does that, she digs around in the bag a bit more to fish out some dried meat. ]
I want a good waffle.
[ somewhat wistfully, as she sandwiches some of the meat in between the bread, to make a makeshift sandwich. but beggers can't be choosers. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-02 12:05 am (UTC)She does grab the water bottle and the bag of food, careful to pace herself as she starts in on it. Kaz just lets her curl close while she chews, feeling some more of the adrenaline from earlier drop away. There's still plenty to do—he should probably check over by Sweet Reef. Most of a plan is in place that involves the silos, he just wants to get a little more info before he finalizes it.
But this is valuable too, patching up the ache and worry from the past week. ]
After all of this, I'll buy a stand for you.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-02 12:21 am (UTC)all that aside: ]
Do you remember when we stole that ugly painting, and you thought I could fit through an air vent, and I said that I could not fit through the air vent, so I found another way?
[ she asks, taking another bite, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing, so she can continue. ]
I had to refuse food for a week to fit, so I was right.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-02 01:06 am (UTC)He just figured—stupidly, in hindsight—that she could do it. She was the Wraith, after all.
As she continues, he frowns, not liking that she'd gone to such measures. But that's who they were, right? Survivors, doing whatever it took. He wishes he'd been able to get to her sooner. All the machinations had eaten up so much time. Then again, there hadn't been another good way to go about it. He'd had to force Van Eck to a trade. ]
You usually are. [ Especially if it comes to things like this. She knows her own body and its limits. Frankly, she's probably more attuned to it than he is to his broken leg.
That aside: ]
DeKappel is one of the greatest Kerch painters. [ Is the painting still ugly? A little bit. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-02-02 01:36 am (UTC)there's a soft snort, though, at kaz's defense of dekappel, restopping the bottle of water to prevent it from spilling. ]
Even the greatest artists sometimes have little taste.
[ though, in her opinion, dekappel's work is . . . stuffy and suffocating, for her taste. but then again, it is very kerch. no wonder they liked his art so much. it's just as boring as they are. present company (mostly) excluded, of course.
she does feel better, with some food and water in her. she wants to finish off the food in the bag, but knows it needs to settle, first. so she sets the food aside, resuming her position tucked against his side, looping her arms around his waist. he's comfortable, warm, and most importantly, safe. no one would hurt her, here.
she's quiet for a moment or two, letting herself relax before she exhales slowly. ]
I knew he was terrible, and selfish, and cruel. Most men in this city are. [ especially the rich ones. and given wylan's preference to live in poverty with the rest of them than stay in his merch manor . . . well, here they are. ] But I didn't think he was a monster.
[ there are few people that inej would rather be dead than given a second chance. jan van eck is now one of those people. ]
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Date: 2021-02-02 02:20 am (UTC)[ Whether he'd been commenting on the tides of the ocean or the actual Tides, no one really knew. Either way, he finds it fairly pretentious and in some ways, it's ugly. There's something about the colors, though. For a while, he told himself he'd eventually part with it. After all, the haul would be worth it, ugly brushstrokes didn't matter to collectors. He'd held onto it, waiting until Jan Van Eck would stop missing it.
Now he thinks he's grown attached. It reminds him too much of the job he'd done with Inej to get it; her laughter afterwards and the waffles they'd eaten on the roof. He never thought himself a sentimentalist but she's always brought the most surprising things out of him. ]
Not all monsters have obvious teeth. The merchers dress them up in velvet or brocade, figuring their credibility will hide the crimes. [ Van Eck is just one more in a city full of them. He tries to distance himself from those in the Barrel, holding himself above them. But he's just as bad as the murderers and thieves lurking in the alleys. Worse, even, because he's in a position of power. He can abuse it to reach his goals, leaving burned bridges in his wake.
Or so he thought, when he'd hired Kaz and his crew to break into the Ice Court. He figured no one would miss some kids from the Barrel and that he'd easily pull one over on them.
Kaz intends to make him regret ever mugging him on the street. Make him regret every breath he's drawn since he broke their deal on Vellgeluk. ]
He made a mistake. [ Or several. ] I'm going to capitalize on it.
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Date: 2021-02-02 02:02 pm (UTC)she feels a small sting of pride, in robbing her of that ugly diamond on her throat. heleen would never forgive her for it. the thought causes a slight upward twitch in her lips, as she remains tucked into kaz's side.
still, she exhales slowly. knowing that kaz was going to rip van eck into shreds, and trusting that he would get them out of this mess. there was really no other option, but to trust whatever plan he was probably still formulating in his mind.
she curls a little closer. ]
He tried to break my legs.
[ it's quiet, as she resumes her snug hold around his waist, her eyes still closed. ]
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Date: 2021-02-03 01:15 am (UTC)Really, he wants nothing more than to curl up with Inej for the rest of the afternoon and take a nap. Wishful thinking, because he has things to finish. She can get some sleep, though, and probably should, judging from the circles under her eyes.
Her words cut through the peace though, shocking enough that he feels his temper spike. He curls his arm around her a little tighter, as if trying to ward away the memory. ]
What. [ Oh, he had plans to ruin Van Eck before. Now he wants to make him suffer the worst defeat. He'll be left with nothing once he's through. ]
I should've gotten there sooner.
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Date: 2021-02-03 02:42 am (UTC)He was tired of trying for emotional manipulation, so he decided to try a hammer instead.
[ it's said tiredly; no real stranger, to men abusing her, but something about the look in van eck's eyes had made her skin crawl uncomfortably. a terror that she hadn't felt in a long time had ripped through her spine at the thought of having her legs shattered.
but she feels none of that, now. ]
I made it, and so did you. [ she murmurs, resting her cheek against his chest, to listen to his heart. ] My legs are in one piece, so you arrived right on time.
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Date: 2021-02-03 11:33 pm (UTC)That isn't to discredit Inej's fortitude. He doesn't doubt that Van Eck had tried his best. Worst. Whichever. ]
I suppose. [ He's not convinced. Getting there right on time would have meant she never got to the part where Van Eck threatened to smash her legs. Still, he doesn't exactly feel like arguing, too grateful to have her back in one piece. Slowly, he drags a gloved hand down her back, hopefully as comforting to her as it is to him.
He'll get back to work in a minute. ]
I have to go by Sweet Reef. You should stay here and rest up. The next few days are going to be full.
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Date: 2021-02-04 12:28 am (UTC)she gently squeezes her arms around his waist. ]
Shut your eyes for half an hour.
[ she murmurs, making herself comfortable, clearly preparing to do the same herself. ]
Whatever you are scheming can wait half an hour.
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Date: 2021-02-04 01:06 am (UTC)It's just...he hasn't seen her in a week, which felt more like a month. There'd been a gaping ache in his chest and too many nights of little to no sleep. Which should be normal but it's never been with this much stress.
So when she hugs him around the waist and asks him to stay, he finds it hard to refuse. Half an hour, that he can spare. It's still fairly bright out and he'll be able to see what he needs to see at Sweet Reef even if he waits a bit. ]
Alright. [ He sighs out a long breath, more tired than anything else, as he shifts his leg so it's at a more comfortable angle. ] Half an hour. Then I have to go.
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Date: 2021-02-04 01:42 am (UTC)but inej decides going to sleep is a better use of her time than agreeing to something pointless.
so she relaxes fully against him, letting herself drift into a surprisingly peaceful sleep. content with the knowledge that he's here. and somewhat doubtful he would actually move her in half an hour. maybe she can silently convince him of an hour instead.
it's only a few more moments before she drops into a dead sleep. ]