[ he watches the crow's head turn in his hands, letting his eyes focus on the scuffs, the marks, the detailing. it's a habit he's catered to over the last few years, watching the evolution of the marks he left. the edges he could create. at inej's comments, he makes a thoughtful noise, like how she does have a point despite how out of place even the idea feels. ]
Scaling walls will be more difficult with...all of that. [ you know, in case she needed that reminder. but then she says ready and kaz turns - easily, naturally, catching eyes with her as she gives him the small smile and he gives her a small, quick nod. of course, said in only the silent way they can share.
except then the moment passes, and kaz can tell there is something more. something in the way she steps forward towards him. it prepares him enough to not be caught entirely unaware when inej's next words come - lift your shirt, i need to touch you, to test what i have been given. he understands, in a more clinical kind of way, the sort of context that would be needed for this. he knows, in that clinical sort of way, how jesper would react. how nina would. but inej steps towards him with her arms crossed over her chest and kaz has to fight to keep himself from stepping away.
instead, his eyes do grow a bit colder, his jaw tense. he knows she is asking, but the entire ask is. more than he was expecting. ]
What are you testing? [ his voice is a bit lower than it was just moments prior, a bit rougher. instinctively, his hand has tightened around where he is holding his cane, though there is absolutely no intent to use it. rather, he feels his body simply react to the idea, the smell of the harbor, the slick feeling of-
he swallows, his eyes still on inej, the voice in the back of his head reminding him. the boat, the deck, i will have you unarmored or not at all. kaz remains standing where he is, hands at his side. ]
no subject
Scaling walls will be more difficult with...all of that. [ you know, in case she needed that reminder. but then she says ready and kaz turns - easily, naturally, catching eyes with her as she gives him the small smile and he gives her a small, quick nod. of course, said in only the silent way they can share.
except then the moment passes, and kaz can tell there is something more. something in the way she steps forward towards him. it prepares him enough to not be caught entirely unaware when inej's next words come - lift your shirt, i need to touch you, to test what i have been given. he understands, in a more clinical kind of way, the sort of context that would be needed for this. he knows, in that clinical sort of way, how jesper would react. how nina would. but inej steps towards him with her arms crossed over her chest and kaz has to fight to keep himself from stepping away.
instead, his eyes do grow a bit colder, his jaw tense. he knows she is asking, but the entire ask is. more than he was expecting. ]
What are you testing? [ his voice is a bit lower than it was just moments prior, a bit rougher. instinctively, his hand has tightened around where he is holding his cane, though there is absolutely no intent to use it. rather, he feels his body simply react to the idea, the smell of the harbor, the slick feeling of-
he swallows, his eyes still on inej, the voice in the back of his head reminding him. the boat, the deck, i will have you unarmored or not at all. kaz remains standing where he is, hands at his side. ]