[ at first, the conversation is easy. he talks about the harvest, and how a family now currently lives in his old family home. she can picture it, almost; while her people are not necessarily farmers, she knows the type of satisfaction you get by living in congruence with the land. it was hard work, but honest. meant to put food on your table, and nothing more. she's about to ask whether or not the current residents have continued the farm when kaz stops talking, suddenly.
she can feel it, really, more than see it. his breath hitches suddenly, an almost imperceptible motion. his muscles tense, and inej pauses in stroking his hair to look down at him, to see him staring into seemingly nothing. then, just as quick as the moment comes, it is gone with a shuddered breath, continuing his thought. or, at least, finishing with something other than shutting down completely, drawing her in closer.
she frowns to herself, wanting to pry. after what, exactly? but she has known kaz brekker long enough to know that was there was a time and a place to pry, and as he was volunteering information of his own accord, it felt like a poor place to poke. so instead, inej smooths her hand to the back of his neck, then down his shoulders, a comforting sweep of her palm. ]
Still with me?
[ it's a quiet check in, smoothing her hand back up his spine to his shoulders, then to his neck. ]
no subject
she can feel it, really, more than see it. his breath hitches suddenly, an almost imperceptible motion. his muscles tense, and inej pauses in stroking his hair to look down at him, to see him staring into seemingly nothing. then, just as quick as the moment comes, it is gone with a shuddered breath, continuing his thought. or, at least, finishing with something other than shutting down completely, drawing her in closer.
she frowns to herself, wanting to pry. after what, exactly? but she has known kaz brekker long enough to know that was there was a time and a place to pry, and as he was volunteering information of his own accord, it felt like a poor place to poke. so instead, inej smooths her hand to the back of his neck, then down his shoulders, a comforting sweep of her palm. ]
Still with me?
[ it's a quiet check in, smoothing her hand back up his spine to his shoulders, then to his neck. ]