Date: 2021-04-26 10:46 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (wh–)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ They balance each other out in a lot of ways. He's used to being more objective with things, with looking at it from every angle to make sure he didn't miss anything. It made it easier to formulate plans or heists, fitting all the pieces together.

Inej is guided by her emotion. Something he scoffed at for a long time before realizing how strong of a person it made her. That she could still want to share and show those things despite what was done to her.

And maybe he's more than a little warmed in knowing she's angry on his behalf. He glances up when she huffs out a breath, a small smile quirking the corner of his mouth. ]


My pathetic sellswords now. [ They'll see how long that lasted. Maybe he'd be able to build them up like he did with the Slat.

She asks if he wants his ribs bandaged and he can feel the chill of hesitation. It would be smart, considering the beating he took. But would it be too overwhelming?

He thinks about earlier, the warm relief under his skin and nods, not trusting his voice. ]

Date: 2021-04-27 02:40 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (thinking)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
Harsh. [ His tone isn't though, softened at the edges from being here with her and her alone. And from her small smile, the gentle way she brushes his hair out of his eyes. There's a brief moment where he draws back when she sets her fingers on his cheek but it's a knee-jerk reaction, one he relaxes on.

There's another temptation to touch her, to fold his hand over hers. To lean in closer and finish what he'd started earlier in the Geldrunner's bathroom.

The tension breaks, though, and it's back to business. Important business, honestly, even if he wants to shrug it off and carry on. A little patching up before they head back is something they have time for. ]


Wrapping is more critical. I don't need to be pretty to face off with Van Eck. [ Even if the idea of stripping is giving him a bit of a cold sweat. Still, it would take him twice as long to do it on his own–turning even a little is enough to make him hiss in pain.

Using the desk as leverage, he pushes himself up and gingerly shrugs his coat off. And then his gloves and shirt, something he's done in front of Inej plenty of times. It's both comfortable and uncomfortable this time; their dynamic has shifted. It's also a slower process than he wants it to be, finding it hard to lift his arms too high with all the bruising down his side. ]

Date: 2021-04-27 08:30 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (i have some points)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Valid concerns, definitely. Most of the Dregs aren't nearly as fastidious as he is. He knows their more disgusting habits, for the most part. Still, he has to prioritize and she's letting him, giving him space as he shrugs his top off.

With a little maneuvering, they're echoing the Geldrunner in full. It makes sense to do it this way, considering the difference in their heights. But there's something under the near painful self-awareness. Well, he supposes it's always been there but, the greed got a taste and now it's desperate for another.

Like a Grisha on parem. Get a grip. ]


I know. [ Not all of him is convinced, too many bad habits screaming at him to walk away. He'd seen what a little pushing could do, though. Knows that Inej fights through something similar anytime someone gets into her personal space too much. So he does take her hand after hesitating, fingers curled loosely around hers. Nausea sticks at the back of his throat and he swallows it, focusing on how much everything stings, on her gentle urging. ]

I'll do it. [ Too much misery bubbles up when he thinks about that much contact, has a feeling the stickiness of the balm would make it even worse. He's gotten this far, he doesn't want to backtrack so quickly.

So he does let go of her hand to take the jar, a strange sense of something missing fluttering in his chest when he breaks the contact. It's thrilling and terrifying, like jumping from one roof to another.

Thankfully, applying the salve takes more of his attention away from it. There's still an awareness because how could he not be, but his hands have something to do. And, well, it does hurt more than expected in a few spots. Nothing clears the head quite so well. ]

Date: 2021-04-28 03:34 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (small smile)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Having clawed his way to here, he's used to pushing himself. Staying up and doing recon, working late into the night to finish the books, fighting a seemingly impossible amount of people. Not like he took a particular pleasure in what amounted to detrimental habits, but they were all things that needed to be done. No one else would step up, so be filled the space. Or saw that it was going to be necessary.

So while his current plans for taking down Van Eck don't involve him fighting any more people, he's braced himself for the possibility. It probably won't end well, considering how much he hurts right now, but he wouldn't back down easily.

Still, it is tempting to get bandaged up and just. Rest. There's basically no time for it, but tempting all the same. ]


Hm? [ He finishes with the salve in time to glance up and catch her dry smile. It's not an expression she wears often and he feels a different temptation to lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth. ]

A bit of insult to injury for him, at this point.

[ They did get past all the safeguards for it. And while Van Eck has plenty of power, he also has more to lose. More places he can't keep an eye on or control. ]

Date: 2021-04-29 10:06 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (did i stutter)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ She says it with such a casual tone but he knows it for the threat she'd make a reality. It never fails to make his heart speed up, warmed by a faint sense of pride and maybe something else. Maybe he's got a few wires crossed. ]

I'm going to take everything from him. [ Not just a painting. But the payment they're owed, his lands, his respect from the council, his life. Not in the same sense Inej is insinuating, though he isn't opposed. He just wants him humiliated first, shown for exactly what he is.

All those thoughts tumble to a halt as she starts putting the bandage on, that first touch sending a small tremble through him. She isn't in contact with any of his skin but he can feel the brief points of warmth from her fingertips as she goes. It's almost too much. It's not enough.

She leans in to loop the cloth around his back and he inhales shakily. As always, caught between wanting to close the gap or staying still. ]


I couldn't stop thinking about how you snuck up on me for a few weeks.

[ Truthfully, the memory is as clear now as it was then. But he'd puzzled over it during those weeks, trying to figure out how, whether he'd been distracted or she had actually been that silent.

Nor could he forget the way his pulse had spiked from the brief fear. The shot of adrenaline from being taken by surprise. ]

Date: 2021-04-30 06:22 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (it doesn't make sense)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ It's just like her, to take on a challenge and beat it. Heleen had done everything in her power to break her determination and independence. In some ways, it worked, those claw marks left deep. But he knows she hasn't let that stop her. From learning to outdo the bells to now, feared in the streets as the Wraith. ]

You still took a chance.

[ He never took Heleen up on her offer because he knew he couldn't. Then, even the mere idea of touching skin made him feel ill. Even without that, he thinks he might've still said no. Heleen trapped her girls and he didn't want any part of that.

Inej tightens the bandage and he winces, just a bit, bruises definitely tender with the pressure. With one more loop, she finishes, the bandages laying flat and secure around his ribs. He smooths one hand over them, out of them pure habit, nodding at her handiwork. She smiles when she leans back and he wants to trace the slight curve, always liking how her face lit up with the expression. ]


This will do. [ Should keep him in one piece for the next day at least. ] We should head back.

[ There's still so much to do. But he selfishly wants to spend a little more time with just her, the world shut off from them. Especially if things don't pan out. This could be their last chance.

So he hesitates, not wanting to leave the bracket of her knees, this closeness of not quite touching. ]

Date: 2021-04-30 09:32 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (small smile)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ Neither of them move for a brief moment. Inej does first, though, straightening up on his desk, clearly determined. In doing so, she closes the gap between them more. His pulse is loud in his ears, a familiar surge of greediness under his skin.

He doesn't have a chance to worry about the past or water dragging him down. Not when she leans in and gently brushes her lips across his, a touch that's there and gone. When she pulls away, he lets out a shuddering sigh, feeling his face heat at how little had done so much. ]


It's an idea. [ Before he moves, he traces his thumb across her knuckles. A parting gift, a possible last touch till all this is through. He steps out of her space then, taking hold of his cane to hobble into his room and pick out a fresh shirt. ]

Date: 2021-05-02 03:04 pm (UTC)
ketterdamn: (words are hard)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
Maybe. [ His answer is amused, as he pulls a shirt out and sets his cane aside to pull it on. He can feel her eyes on his back, though he's attempting to ignore the stare in favor of getting dressed.

It's a slow process, since he lifts his arm up too quickly on the first go, inhaling sharply at the sudden pain along his side. The second try is slightly better, though the aggravated bruises are throbbing under the bandage. Eventually, he gets both shirtsleeves on and is bracing himself to straighten the collar out.

Inej solves that for him, instead, her small fingers sliding under the collar to make it lie flat. She tugs the front straight, palms smoothing over the material to rid it of creases. He wants nothing more than to lean into it, feeling a sudden and dizzy rush of warmth. Instead, he remains still, letting her finish with the buttons. ]


In a minute. [ The final touch, after he makes sure he's at least presentable with his clothes. At the moment, he's a bit distracted thinking about how this resembles something out of a dream.

When his shirt's buttoned, he ticks the tails in carefully and then pulls on a coat with the same measured pace. It would be relatively easy to get a healer to deal with this, but he needs people to believe the fight happened here. ]

Date: 2021-10-20 03:28 am (UTC)
ketterdamn: (wh–)
From: [personal profile] ketterdamn
[ She steps into his space again when she tugs his coat straight, making sure the lapels laid flat and the shoulders weren't bunched up. It's harder to feel the warmth of her hands through two layers but the pressure is enough. Really, he shouldn't like it, not after the beating he took—everything aches.

He craves it, though, despite everything. Feels that same urge to let her keep going, to fold himself in towards her and shut out the rest of everything.

There's work to be done, however. And Kaz Brekker does not leave loose ends. ]


I'll take the alleys. [ Now that the Dregs are squared away, he won't have to dodge Haskell's ire. There are other gangs but he and Inej know the paths that will circumvent their territories. Or will at least let them pass mostly unnoticed.

At her sharp reminder, he nearly sighs, going to pick the jar of salve back up again. Limping over to the small mirror near his dresser, he carefully applies some of the balm to his face, wincing occasionally when his fingers pass over a cut. It stings worse than the ones on his chest—face wounds always did. ]

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