Autumn Open Post

[callmeles]

Autumn Open Post As we know, I love my AUs and PSLs! I love exploring worlds and discovering how little changes can tumble and create big changes. My characters are top-leveled but feel free to add your own and let me know if there's someone you'd like! ♥

C

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inej

[withoutanet]

wraith . voice testing like whoa

[noreasonneeded]

[The canals are flooded. It’s one of those nights in Ketterdam where it hasn’t rained, it’s poured. A minute would have stuck shirts to skin, let alone several hours. Even so, the real reason Kaz heads up to finally change when arriving back at the Slat is because, despite dawn near rising, he’s still got work to do. Always.

Kaz slips off his gloves and washes his hands and arms, his face. He changes into dry clothing, a suit of course, though he still feels damp. Then sitting on his floor, bad leg extended, he takes off his boots and starts to shine them so the day’s wear and tear won’t show. Kaz cleans his own messes, so it looks like there never are any. His window’s cracked open to let in some air, the room is stale and hot from lack of use, and he swears he can smell the salt despite the harbor not being that near.

It’s raining, though.

Only one person alive has seen the Bastard of the Barrel plop himself down on the floor of his room in his socks to clean his shoes.

They’ve traded messages, of course. Even when they’re both at home in the Slat sometimes. Updates of reassurance before word of a battle reaches the other. Random jealousy pictures of food one’s having that the other isn’t. Conspiracy theories on how certain unsolved crimes happened. In many ways it feels natural when he sends one to her now.]

Your ledge is getting wet.

[withoutanet]

[ It's pouring and she's soaked to the bone but still, she doesn't leave her perch on the rooftop. Ketterdam isn't a peaceful place but she likes this time of night or rather, morning the most. Especially when it rains. She should go inside soon and try to rest while she can but not yet.

Then she gets that text and she glances down to read it quickly. ]

It's a good thing then that I'm not likely to slip.

[noreasonneeded]

Not indignant on its behalf, then?

[He had prepared with an umbrella, but it got lost. Who knows if the next one will, but of course he has a replacement. He imagines it will still be raining when he leaves again shortly. No rest for the wicked, and between the two of them, it’s him who falls into that category.]

[withoutanet]

Yes but considering how hard it's raining out here, I'm not sure there's anything even you, Kaz Brekker, can do to keep it from getting wet.

[ But, if there was something, she was sure he would do it. Because that's how he was. ]

[noreasonneeded]

Putting an awning over the outside part would create other problems, but the part of the ledge that extends inside my room would stay dry if I shut the window. I opened it to air out the space. Though if you’ll be using it to climb back inside, I’ll leave it open.

[withoutanet]

[ She doesn't respond to the text and instead, within moments slips inside his room through the said open window without a sound. ]

No awnings.

[ Not that they would hinder her at all. She studies him silently and cocks her head. ]

Going out again?

[noreasonneeded]

No awnings.

[He studies her for a moment before setting his shoe aside and rising to his feet. It's done with surprising agility, despite his leg. Finding a towel beside his water basin, he tosses it over to her before moving back to sit with his shoes. It wouldn't do much for her wet state, but it was a start.]

Work doesn't stop when the sun rises, the shadows just get cast in different directions.

I can handle it.

[withoutanet]

[ Inej nods and catches the towel that's tossed to her as she presses it to her skin. It wasn't, as he expected, going to do much considering how long she'd stood outside but she appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

She uses the towel to wring out her hair. ]

Just because there is no rest for the wicked doesn't mean you need to constantly stay awake, Kaz.

[ She raises an eyebrow just a little at his mention of being able to handle it. She didn't doubt it but perhaps she'd feel a little better if he had someone watching his back. Namely her. ]

If you say so.

[flickofawrist]

As you friend who may need an alibi, I feel I should let you know that I may kill Kaz.

As a silver lining, we know his stance on funerals so we won't have to pay for one.

[withoutanet]

Small favors.

What has he done now?

[flickofawrist]

He finally actually made a request for a meal.

Then told me that the rest of the night off was nixed, he had a job for us.

Then proceeded to use what I made as part of the con.

Then said I should be happy that what I make is finally serving a real purpose.

[withoutanet]

[ A smile tugs on her mouth because that was purely Kaz. ]

That sounds like him.

When you say it was used as part of the con, was it at least eaten by someone? Or did he use it as a weapon again?

[flickofawrist]

If he’d thrown it I would be messaging you to let you know he was already dead.

No, it was a way into the catering of an event. The host’s favorite meal, of course. The little rat.

[Kaz could have just told her what was going on, but of course not.]

I hope your evening went better than mine.

[withoutanet]

Of course it was. That's Kaz for you.

It went better than expected.

[ While she'd found her purpose out here, she missed them. Missed Kaz, and Nina, Jesper, Wylan and the others. ]

I'm sending a package at our next stop. I picked up a few things for you and the others.

[ By 'picked up' she means she likely pocketed them or maybe actually purchased one or two items legitimately. ]

[flickofawrist]

At least he’s moved on to scheme with someone else now. Or plot by himself. I know better than to ask.

Did it? I’m glad to hear that.

You’re lovely. You don’t have to get us anything, but I promise to thoroughly enjoy whatever it is. Do I get a hint?

[withoutanet]

He always has a dozen or more schemes in his mind at all times. You're doing yourself a favor by not asking.

We dropped a knocked-out slaver and an accomplice in front of a prison last night.

Only that you will thoroughly enjoy them when they arrive.

Tell me, how "fine" is everything?

Some nebulous prebooks time? What is time?

[bealufull]

The way he moves through the streets of the Barrel is with the same stilted gait that is well known by any in the darkness and shadows of the streets they call home. Most cleared from his path, never once slowing with the knowledge that no one would likely take the chance of incurring the boy's wraith. Only strangers took the chance, those visiting for the thrills that the Barrel had to offer, and they paid the price for that insolence more often than not.

Today he has a destination in mind, a darkened shop with windows blocked by heavy curtains and no sign of life through any cracks in such coverings. In his dark suit and kidskin gloves, he blends into the shadows but for the gilded edges of his cane head showing around his gloved fingers and the paleness of his face.

Though he may blend in but he's not one of the shadows. Sharp eyes never stop moving, taking in those that pass before him, but his attention is on a singular person that no one can see. Not even himself. That doesn't stop him from greeting her.

"Good evening, Wraith."

time is an illusion!

[withoutanet]

Inej is still unsure how he knows she's there but she's long since stopped being surprised. Instead, inwardly, she's started to see it as some sort of game. Although, the word game was too playful of a word for Ketterdam.

She owed a lot to Kaz Brekker, even if she wouldn't verbally say it out loud. What he's taught her so far was eons better than everything since arriving in Ketterdam.

Instead of disappearing further into the shadows, Inej slips next to him without a sound and keeps pace with him. Was she invited to this? Maybe or maybe not but she'd made a habit of following him occasionally.

Just in case.

"Evening, Kaz," she says, keeping her eyes peeled at everything around her before glancing at him. "Business as usual?"

[bealufull]

Anyone that knew Kaz, so really nobody entirely, might notice that the scowl softens. Not gone, but its not the same as it is with others. Not when she's there. Especially when he's right about his shadow there, his Wraith, the Spider of the Barrel falling in alongside of him with greetings.

"Not quite as usual, but it might be entertaining as well. You're just on time," he notes, as if he had literally done anything to invite her along but that he went out in the night. "I'll need the backdoor unlocked. I could have taken the time to purloin the key but, truthfully, I hadn't the desire to wait."

He keeps walking, making turns into dark corners effortlessly, bringing them to the back of the gambling house known as The Golden Bend.

"If you would be so kind as to open the door for me, there's something in their safe that belongs to me."

Speaking softly and yet casually as if there's nothing untoward into breaking into a gambling house.

[withoutanet]

There's a hint of a smile on her mouth when he says she's right on time. Of course, she was. He always seemed to have plans, didn't he?

Inej glances at him and nods. "Must be something important if Kaz Brekker didn't want to wait," she can't help tease him just a little. But it also meant, at least to her, that he knew she would most likely be there to help him inside.

She walks with him, her footsteps not making a sound, and spots the back of the building coming up. Inej looks at him and without another word slips into the shadows to find an opening.

It takes less than seven minutes before the door unlocks and swings open, Inej stepping back so he can enter. It was embarrassingly easy. "I expected more of a fight," she says, her voice low. She didn't crave it as much as Jesper did - always looking for a fight or something to occupy his thoughts and time - but all the same.

[bealufull]

He doesn't even look over when she slips away from him. He doesn't need to know where she went or how she was getting inside. That isn't the part that matters. All that matters is that she does exactly what he needs, she opens the door.

So he stands there by the door, fingers lightly curled against the crow head of his cane and waits. Even as the door swings open, he's already moving to step inside as if he had calculated the exact moment she would open it.

"They trust in their tiny locks and assume that since they don't know the means in and out of places that no one else does either," he says in a low voice, pitched just for her ears. "Come on. It's in the back, in the office."

The sound of the club can be heard, a distant din of chimes and bells that holds the attention of most in the building and leaves them free to roam.

"I'll only be a minute. Don't let anyone bother me."

Because he trusts her to have his back, no matter what.

[withoutanet]

Inej nods as they walk toward the back office, keeping an ear and eye out for anyone who may wander along their path.

"You got it," she says and as they get to the office, stations herself close by but out of sight. After all, she was the Wraith. She worked best when no one could see her or know she was there.

There are days and times that Kaz drives her up the wall, and there are times like this when they work so effortlessly together and when he shows his trust in her that it makes it worth it. She's not sure what he's getting out of that safe but it didn't really matter. Kaz always had a reason, she's found.

[bealufull]

All that they endure and everything they have in this world and the life they've made, and he knows that he can rely on Inej above and over anyone else. She would always be there for him, and he knew that while she was often frustrated with him, when it came to moments like these, he knew there was no questioning why he was there and what it meant to do as he asked.

Not that he was there long. The safe was nothing new, old enough that many might well be capable of cracking it so it didn't take him long.

He gets the things he needs from the safe, tucking them into his jacket. He isn't gone long before he steps out of the room, closing the door and heading out into the shadows. There isn't a word, knowing she would follow along with him, or meet him back at the Crow Club.

[withoutanet]

She watches and waits and breathes a silent sigh of relief when she watches him exit the office without anyone coming close to catching him. It hadn't taken long so she's not surprised but still, it's nice when things go in their favor.

Inej meets up with him outside of the Golden Bend. "Jesper would have been disappointed there wasn't more excitement," she says dryly but with a tiny smile.