noreasonneeded | IC/Overflow Post

No. No show is necessary. I just... like to know how things work.

[He's glad she doesn't have to enter his mind for it. Even if she's dealt with trauma equal if not worse than his with others, it's still hard and personal for him. The fact that it's just a peaceful feeling that settles over him is surprising, yet indeed comforting. He tenses at first, then slowly eases into the warmth. He can't remember the last time he felt anything like this when preparing to sleep. Either he has horrible nightmares, or he pushes himself so hard he passes out and doesn't recall a thing. He feels his eyelids drooping, exhausting settling over him without the usual bone-griding fear alongside it. Drowsily he manages.]

G'night, Stella.

[She is glad that he seems to settle into the sensation. She hears his breathing change and then she is quick to follow into sleep.

The wall of pillows ends up with her hugging them, but she maintains a respectful distance.]

[Kaz remains on his back, not tossing and turning and drenched with sweat. It's the first genuinely decent night of sleep he's had since he's been nine years old. It's a deep sleep, and when he rouses, he's disoriented. His bladder feels full and there's light shining through the windows, both clues that he's been knocked out for quite a few hours now. Sleepily he rubs his eyes and shifts up on one elbow, glancing to his side to notice Stella hugging the pillows. He quirks his lips up in a private little smile that slips off his face as fast as it appears. Gingerly he reaches over and doesn't touch her, but tugs up the blankets a little to cover her better.]

[Stella is still out cold when he wakes, though she snuggles in a little more when he pulls up the blanket for her.

She will be thrilled to learn that her magic did work for him.]

[ooc- these two are just so cute I can't stand it.]

[Kaz debates getting up to start making breakfast - he rarely eats it but he feels he owes it to her to make some. He has a heavy step however and doesn't want to wake her in the process. He settles for watching her a few beats longer, enjoying the sight of her fanned out lashes and hair. Then he takes out his phone and checks in with those who know he's alive. He issues a few orders via texting, he can't be held accountable for doing work long distance, especially while she's still asleep. Protectively he glances at her from time to time and then goes back to working.]

[OOC: They really are! A delightful serotonin boost for the weekend.]

Edited (Clarified he's texting, not being That Person talking while someone's sleeping.) 2023-10-08 00:29 (UTC)

[It doesn't take too much longer for her to start to stir. She doesn't often bother to sleep through the whole night, it's a little treat sometimes.

But she yawns and stretches before looking over, a slow, almost lazy smile coming to her face.]

You look rested.

[Her yawn is contagious and he has to stifle one of his own, a gloved hand going to his mouth. His hair is tousled, but his eyes for once aren’t bloodshot.]

I slept really well.

[The admittance comes out a little sheepishly, with incredulity woven through it. He’s not meant to sleep well, or at least, that’s what he’s resigned himself to believing. It’s part of his punishment for surviving. He honestly didn’t truly think he’d have a restful night again. While he knows this won’t be an every night event, he’s still grateful for it. He pushes himself hard, never standing still for risk of sinking, and he hasn’t realized he’s been feeding his fire with fumes and outside strife for as long as he has.]

How about you? I didn’t want to get up and wake you. The cane can get a little loud.

[She shifts to sit up against the headboard.]

I am really happy I could help.

[Brains work best when they're rested, he probably needs sleep more than he realizes.]

I slept great. Thank you, it was actually really nice to just not be alone.

[She's not had a lover in a while and she does miss the little things like sharing a bed.]

You did. I didn’t know who or where I was when I woke up, it was so disorienting. Not in a bad way, I’m just not used to it.

[She’s not wrong, Kaz Brekker never gets enough sleep even when he should. It makes a moment like this all the more meaningful for that.]

I guess by nature you’re a pretty social person. [He can imagine loneliness hitting her hard when it happens.] I’m glad though that me being a log in the bed was nice for you, too. And that I didn’t get up before you woke up.

Since you are awake now though… how does coffee sound? Tell me you have coffee. And that it's not decaf. If it's decaf we need to have a talk.

It's always so strange to wake up somewhere different for the first time.

[Especially if you slept well.]

I am. Though it has been some time since I've had any sort of romantic partner, so my bed has been empty.

[She nods.]

I do have coffee and it is not decaf. Because I'm not a psychopath

It really is. This is one of the nicer experiences where that's happened.

[Studying her, he gives a little nod. Just because he's never had a romantic partner doesn't mean he can't imagine what it's like, and why she might miss it.]

Instead of just getting a cat, you got a Kaz.

[He's not above teasing himself sometimes, too.]

Good to know. I can make some coffee if you want to freshen up. [A beat.] Not that you need freshening up. [He's very bad at this.]

You're a bit like a cat. I worry about some of the things you're eating, and you'd hiss at me if I tried to pet you.

[She is willing to tease him too. Bit with the utmost fondness.]

I can guarantee my hair could use a bit of assistance right now.

[It is a rather fluffy mess.]

I'll meet you in the living room in a minute.

[That earns a look of amusement from him. He’s glad that she’s comfortable enough to tease him.]

I eat fine, you should only worry if I start coughing up hairballs.

[Her hair looks perfectly fine to him, but he gives a nod and slides to the edge of the bed. He rises with a stretch, limbs popping, before grabbing his cane.]

I’ll get well acquainted with your coffee pot in the meantime.

[He limps out to her kitchen, rummaging around and finding the coffee along with mugs. He also finds ingredients to make a quick breakfast scramble and sets himself to work at it.]

[OOC: If Stella wouldn’t have those items in her fridge, just lemme know and I can definitely edit out the last part. :) ]

I'd get you some hairball paste.

[He can be very funny and she is greatful to get to see that side of him.

The joint popping sounds so rough for someone as young as he is and it does make her wonder how much damage he's sustained in these short years.

She isn't long in the bathroom, just long enough to empty her bladder, comb her hair and brush her teeth. And while she's there she can start smelling both the coffee and food being made.

She makes her way back to the living area.]

Now you are going to spoil me, making me breakfast.

[A lot of damage to be sure, but there's a resilience to Kaz despite that - or perhaps in part because of it. And while she's kindhearted to care, the aches and pains don't bother him too much right now. He's rested, about to have coffee with her company, and then humiliate the people who tried to kill him - Kaz Brekker doesn't do cheerful, but he's in as good a mood as he can get.

He glances over at her when she enters, shifting so she can look in the pan to see what he's doing.]

It's pretty simple. Thought I'd ask you before adding any spice.

[It's just eggs, onions, cheese, and peppers right now, but if she's a fan of spice he's not above adding some hot sauce to it, too.]

I didn't go hairball crazy with it.

[She has admiration for his continued persistence despite everything. And he still has a level of kindness to him that is often absent in people who have suffered greatly.]

I don't mind a bit of spice. It smells really nice.

[It's simple, and that is usually what she prefers in the mornings anyway.]

You said you have a goat stomach, I'm sure there's a tin can around here somewhere if you need a snack.

[He goes a little less on the salt and adds in some dashes of hot sauce then, along with the black pepper.]

Don't put it past me. I'll eat anything as long as it's not poisonous. Nina gets very annoyed when I just say everything is 'fine' and shovel it in. I can handle the basics in cooking, though. I grew up in a very 'eat or be eaten' situation, so I learned to fend for myself.

How about you, how are you at cooking?

You learned to just eat what was edible. That makes sense.

I'm pretty good at it, I just tend to lack the motivation to cook for just myself. I eat a lot of salad on my own.

Essentially, yeah. I'm not above eating anything. [There's a very long pause.] My brother used to get me these omelets from cart stands. I can't make an omelet for shit, but if you find them in the financial district of Ketterdam, you should try one.

[Coming from the country, omelet stands had sincerely fascinated Kaz and Jordie had indulged him, more than their finances should have allowed. Still. He'd just been a 13 year old kid trying to make his little brother happy.]

I get that, yeah. You're better than me with making salads. I eat snacks or food on the go a lot. Food stalls or quick diner trips. Or whatever's in the pantry.

[She keeps being gifted these tiny glimpses behind his walls and each one feels like Christmas morning.]

If I want to make you nostalgic in the morning, I'll make an omelet. What's your favorite thing to put in them?

[She isn't surprised to find that he just eats whatever he can find while working.]

Some of the food stalls around here are fantastic. I grab something on the way home from the university pretty regularly.

Just cheese is fine. Though what we're having is good, too. Onions and peppers. Did you teach yourself how to make them, or have you been muse to a chef?

[He's sticking to happy memories right now, but it's absolutely more than he's shared with just about anyone.]

Yeah, Ketterdam being a port city pays off in really good global food. I'm not surprised you do, I'm guessing you're pretty tired by the end of teaching for the day.

I have been a chefs muse once. He had one of those fancy three star resturants. But omelets I mastered on my own.

[The happy memories are a good start. She quite likes hearing them]

Depends on how the classes go. Somedays the students really make you question why you teach, other times they're wonderful.

Well, schemestress of omelets, can I trust you to put the scramble on some plates while I pour the coffee? And maybe run to the bathroom before I actually drink any of it.

[He moves to gather two mugs for their drinks. Pouring the coffee in he leaves his black, though he realizes he doesn't actually know her preference. They're normally together at night, when Stella as a reasonable person doesn't chug coffee like Kaz does.]

What do you put in yours?

I think I will somehow manage that.

[She is already grabbing plates and dishing out some breakfast.]

Two sugars.

[He does display an impressive caffeine tolerance.]

I figured you'd want it sweet.

[The sugar is already on hand as he puts two into the cup. As for displaying an impressive caffeine tolerance - impressive, or severely questionable? Either or.

He sets the mug down beside her on the kitchen counter and pretends to linger watching her as she dishes it out to make sure she's doing it right.]

Just gonna leave that onion hanging right there in the pan then, are you?

[He gives her a very innocent look.]

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