timewasting | open post 2k4.

[ Her question has him pausing, a hitch in his step. It takes him a few moments to recover, eyes going unfocused as he turns his head towards the tulip fields he'd pointed out earlier. From here, they wouldn't be able to see it—the ground slants downwards as it runs to the lake. ]

There's a cherry tree. After Da's— [ He stops, swallowing the words. ] —after Da passed, they buried him next to her.

[ Shaking his head, he clears the image of the bloodstained field, finally returning the press of his hand in Inej's, pulling his gaze away from that unseen point. His steps resume, the soft silt of the shore filling the imprint of their soles with residual moisture. ]

Last time I was here, I found her portrait tucked in a closet. Suppose the person the bank sent to take care of the sale couldn't bear to sell it off with everything else.

[ only his mother and father. it makes sense. jordie passed while they were in ketterdam, and there is no body to bury. jordie likely has no grave at all. something she makes note of, as she lets him work through what is haunting him, giving him the chance to tell her before she pries. he does, mostly, though she catches the correction. after his father's... what? not death. something more happened, there.

at the news of a portrait, though, inej smiles before looping her arm fully through his again, hugging his arm to her as they walk. to give him a more physical tether, as they make their way. ]

Is it still here?

[ the portrait. she'd like to see it, along with whatever else is squirreled away. but unearthing those things means unearthing memories, and while she has waited long enough for kaz to bear this piece of his life to her, she knows him too well to know what pushing will do. no, it was better that kaz does this on his own. he will invite her when he needs the nudge. ]

Yeah, I stored it in the attic, under a dust sheet. The tenants know not to bother with it.

[ At the very least, it seemed the rest of the house provided enough storage that they needn't bother with the attic. Taking a deep breath of the chilly morning air, he gently nudges her side with his elbow, letting her know he was okay. Well, okay enough. Rounding the slight bend of the lake shore brings with it happier memories, sparking a slight smile. ]

Da used to toss us off that dock, on the days in summer when it would be too hot to work. [ Altogether too sweltering to be toiling away in a field. ] He didn't let us come down here by ourselves. Jordie snuck out this way with his school mates, swam across to the other shore.

[ Which wasn't too far, really. Kaz gestures to it, pointing out the foremost evergreen standing proudly amongst the cluster. ] He took the dare to climb that spruce, made it about a quarter of the way. Got startled by a squirrel on a branch and toppled right out.

open post 2k4.

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