noreasonneeded | IC/Overflow Post

[She entirely doesn't have to become a Crow, Kaz has other people in his life who are in a similar situation.]

I don't think I've ever had anyone write me a letter, unless leaving me Post-It notes on what to add to the grocery list instead of just writing them on the grocery list counts.

Really? You know I'm going to send you a letter now, right?

It may be just nonsensical scribbling, but I'm doing it.

Really. Who would send me a letter? I'm not counting job offers from overseas.

Do you have a doctor's handwriting?

People you know who took an overseas job?

It's not the most beautiful handwriting but it's mostly legible.

[His brow furrows a moment trying to figure out who she means. Lantsov and Alina always lived overseas. He has one Crow who is now living on the seas, though.] You mean Inej?

Ah, so it'd be intentional scribbling. Dare one say doodling.

Not in particular, just anyone.

[Because he's probably known people who have moved away, or so she would assume.]

Now my doodles are truly awful. They are proof that I am no artist myself.

There aren't actually that many people in my life, past or present.

[Kaz has kept an incredibly small circle around himself. For many years there wasn't anyone after his father and Jordie died, and then he cracked open a window for Jesper and Inej, with Nina and the other Crows trickling after. It's only been in recent times that he's befriended others in Ravka. There are a few Dregs members whom he's friendly with like Anika and Pim, but they're so far lifers like he is with the gang.]

I'm decent at sketching. Not great but I can get a blueprint or mugshot out if I need to. There's no creativity to it, though. I just use it for planning missions.

[His creativity comes out in the heist details itself.]

[She nods]

I guess you really aren't the most sociable and friendly person.

[Stella likes the challenge of him. Of slowly creeping her way into his life.]

Will you draw me like one of your mugshots?

[That frank but true observation earns a little smile.]

'Like a drawer full of bees' someone once said. I think that's pretty accurate.

I can if you want, but I'm really not an artist. It won't have flourishes. I prefer to show creativity in other ways.

Hmm, I can see why that would be the comparison. I think you're more of a hedgehog, very spikey outside, but sweet and squishy underneath.

[Yes, she did just call him 'sweet and squishy' and she has no regrets.]

Mostly with plotting?

I don't know about sweet, I drink a lot of bitter coffee. You and your port might have to handle that adjective on your own.

Yeah. I like puzzles and figuring out how to solve them. A lot of my jobs end up in that realm.

So just squishy then? That's the option you're sticking with?

[Though she likes being called sweet.]

If you weren't in charge of a gang you'd be a good detective. Sorting out puzzles.

I don't know about squishy, either. I haven't yet grown a middle-aged belly.

[That is clearly the sort of squishy she was talking about, he's not at all being obtuse on purpose.]

You're not the first to tell me that, or something similar. The King of Ravka said I'd do well being in charge of security if not for the pesky fact nobody sane should trust me with their treasury.

[He gives a little shrug.]

Gang life suits me, anyway.

Edited 2023-10-10 17:52 (UTC)

Sticking with squishy.

[Yes, exactly that squishy.]

But the real question is what would you do with the royal treasury?

[It does suit him, even if she would prefer a less dangerous and illegal occupation. But technically all of her magic is illegal as well.]

And here I've always been told I cause one to need a stress ball, not that I am one.

With Lantsov's? Nothing. It's practically empty, even if he likes to pretend otherwise.

You could be both.

Ok, what about a treasury with actual money in it?

Next you'll be telling me to dare to dream.

If anyone helped me, they'd get a cut of it. The rest would go into current and new business enterprises.

You don't want me to fill you with positive affirmations? I really thought you'd go for them.

[Get him some motivational posters, everyone loves those.]

You want to become a gold hoarding dragon basically.

I prefer spite to positivity, really keeps a person going and motivated.

Not at all, hoarding gold would be just sitting on it. There's no point in that, it's not even accumulating more wealth or opportunity. Investing the gold into current and future business ventures however is just practical.

Will you not eventually run out of spite?

But would you do anything good with the money? Like feeding hungry kids or something?

I haven't yet. Miles to go, brick by brick.

Haven't you heard? There's nothing good in me, I sold that a long time ago to make a better deal.

[Kaz Brekker not only offers to buy out indentured servant contracts for everyone in Ketterdam, but he provides tenant housing that's actually well-made and affordable, and zero children are on his streets hungry or selling drugs. He's been the one that fell through the cracks and while he won't brag about it or feel the need to defend himself, his business ventures speak for themselves. He's no saint, but he doesn't swindle people like he was.]

You're still young.

That's not what I've heard about you. There are so many stories, it's a complicated thing to piece together.

[And few of them mention the good. Though she did have a student on scholarship who lived in one of those flats; it was the first time she heard one of her students mention him.]

I could be ninety and I'd still be young to you.

I won't pretend that's not by design. The more stories swirling around, the harder you are to pin down by your enemies.

You will always be young to me.

[And sometimes that will bother people she is close to. Watching themselves age while she doesn't.]

But I'm not an enemy. One of my students lives in one of your flats, she was telling someone how it's the only place her mom could afford, but that it's nice.

I could be ancient at heart.

[It doesn't really bother him. While not quite as long-lived as Stella, Grisha can live for centuries. He's gotten used to the idea that Nina and Jesper might age much slower than him going into adulthood. He also doesn't really see himself living to old age given his lifestyle, but that's a topic he tends to avoid.]

Ah. Remind me to put a clause in my housing contracts against outside compliments.

[He's not serious.]

I'm no hero, Stella, and I don't want to be. Meeting needs and providing people opportunities inspires loyalty. It's just good business sense.

... and I've been homeless.

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