royal_musings | Autumn Open Post

The railing isn't perfect. It's been repaired and patched up several times, thanks to rowdy shenanigans in the Slat. Kaz thinks on it idly as he heavily walks down the steps, this one creaking one way, another step creaking differently. Everywhere there's character, worn yet withstanding. Kaz is infinitely proud of the home he's built. It still has work to be done on it, though. Miles to go. What doesn't in his life? Everything feels like a constant work in progress. He's not certain he could exist in any other way.

Jesper predictably is at the bottom first. "Railing on the second floor landing is loose." Kaz of course greets the other man not with pleasantries but something that needs to get done. Kaz doesn't have an off switch. "See if you can look at it tomorrow." It's getting cold in these fall months and he shrugs on his coat, his leg a little stiffer than usual thanks to the turning weather. Opening the door, he lets Jesper pass through first before falling in step at his side once they're out of the house. The Barrel is alive and bright, pulsing with promise and pain. "I'd say we could have just gotten takeout, but I know you wither without people contact. And I want to see what this place looks like." Anything new in his city has Kaz's curiosity.

"Course, boss," Jesper says, shrugging on his coat as he passes through the door.

He's used to the way Kaz operates and doesn't take it personally. He'd noticed it earlier in the day himself and knew it was a matter of time being Kaz mentioned it to him.

"I wither and wilt without the attention of the masses you're right," Jesper agrees with a grin as they walk toward this new place. "Glad you thought of it because Korean fried anything sounds great."

"Prouder than a peacock, I suspect you both share tailors." The banter comes easily, and in truth, Kaz enjoys it. He knows there's more to Jesper than his theatrics, but he also knows that Jesper darts and dodges around deeper compliments just like Kaz does when his heart is mentioned. Tonight is a night not to put his friend on the spot, but to just enjoy the evening. Even if he won't admit to enjoyment being a priority.

A nod of agreement is his response to Jesper's enthusiasm on the Korean food. Anything spicy and fermented and crunchy is hard to beat, and while Nina has the finer taste buds in the crew, neither he nor Jesper will wax on about the nuance of a mung bean. Jesper and his appetite are the next best option. "I'd like to see what they're doing. Make sure the business is above board, or below it in a way that could benefit us." Which isn't any of what's been said, but what Kaz has to frontload.

He promised Inej to do better. That he'll at least try. The alternative is that Jesper might move on with Wylan sometime soon and leave him in the past. A boss he was friendly with, rather than a friend who happened to have been a boss. Kaz's jaw works, and he finally manages, "Your day was okay? Other than not tending to the railing already."

Baby steps.

"We do but don't tell the peacock, the tailor likes me the best," Jesper snarks good naturedly with a grin.

The time he spends with Kaz after everything they've gone through is one that he enjoys. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it prior but there's a difference to their friendship now and Jesper likes it. And he enjoys eating without waxing poetic about this herb or that ingredient. "Hopefully whatever it is, they're doing it good so they can stay around a while."

Jesper shoots him an amused look. "That almost a personal question, Kaz. It was fine. Checked on the tables and my contacts, fixed one of the pipes in the kitchen and had an early lunch with Wylan. I'll get the railing done either later when we get back or in the morning."

"What schemes and heists have you been planning then?"

“What if the tailor also told the peacock he likes him best?” Kaz can’t help but question with his lopsided smirk, just to be a little shit and plant that seed. “You know in Ketterdam everyone likes to play what sides they can, especially if a large tip is involved.”

Of course he’ll wax on about profit and behavior even when discussing peacocks.

Kaz’s face betrays nothing as Jesper points out that he’s asking a personal question, because the other man isn’t wrong. Thankfully it doesn’t earn Kaz too much ribbing. At least not right now. Kaz gives a crisp nod following the details. “Good. It sounds at least partially productive.” Jesper can likely guess which parts Kaz wouldn’t find worth one’s time.

“There’s an upcoming function at the Fjerdan embassy that will occupy my time. And Lantsov’s guard dog has been angling for a meeting.” General Zoya, he means. Reaching out when they reach the restaurant, he opens the door for them to slide inside, the spicy scents already making his mouth water and stomach rumble.

"And that bastard peacock would have other things to offer the tailor too, the bastard," Jesper says with a sharp laugh. Because a peacock's feathers would make a pretty penny at any shop in Ketterdam.

Jesper can absolutely guess which part of his day that Kaz thought was productive. And it's not like he's even wrong about it but with Wylan in his life now, he thoroughly enjoyed those moments with him. Shared with him. And they could be just as productive in many ways. Though not in ways that Kaz would think of as productive, no doubt.

He nods at that and steps inside after Kaz opens the door. The smell alone makes his mouth water. "What is she wanting, you think?"

There's a few glances and they're given a wide berth by the clientel, even on neutral territory Kaz Brekker is a known entity and approaching him is a gamble few feel worth taking. The hostess though doesn't seem perturbed as she waves them to a table. Kaz hooks his cane on the back and sits, not taking off his coat. He knows better than to get comfortable, in case he ever needs to make a quick exit. "My guess? She needs something stolen. Something of great political importance and dear to the survival of Ravka." His tone is entirely mocking at the patriotism and dramatics. "Something that royalty and military can't show their hands getting dirty with, but they're entirely fine outsourcing."

Jesper notices, of course he does but he doesn't comment when people give them a wide berth. He settles on the otherside of Kaz and shrugs off his coat, setting it next to him, getting comfortable despite the probability of needing to make a hasty exit.

He considers that and nods. "That adds up," he agrees with a little smirk. "Hopefully it's something exciting and fun to steal."

Kaz opens his mouth, then closes it, because nobody listens to him when he tells them to not get comfortable. Nina's already told him many times that's not how people can nor should function. He'll just be the ball of stress for them, and give a smug look during the times when his refusal to chill pays off for him during a surprise attack.

"The payout better be worth it too, or else why have royalty in one's back pocket."

He slides a menu towards himself, glancing over it. "We can get appetizers." The fried chicken wings look good and he's starving he's coming to realize. His gloves will be sticky, but it'll be worth it. When the waitress comes he remains silent, shoulders slightly hunched, letting Jesper schmooze first before making the initial order of the wings and some Soju to drink.

With a faint gesture he lets Jesper what if any appetizer or drink he wants. Once the waitress moves on he reaches out to play with his napkin, folding it into a small square as he admits, "Things have gotten a little monotonous though, haven't they." Maybe he is hungry for a larger challenge, too.

Autumn Open Post

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