noreasonneeded | IC/Overflow Post

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.

I think you might be.

[She always suspects it's more than just business. There are plenty of people doing truly heinous things in the name of business, and then there is Kaz having affordable housing.]

I have too. There were times when women weren't allowed to rent or buy on their own. And times when I didn't want to live with anyone.

[She knows how rough it can be on the streets. Between artists she could sometimes find herself with nowhere to go.]

You didn't live on Olympus prior to your human family's adoption?

I did for a long time. But eventually I couldn't stand Olympians. There was too much drama. I decided to stay on Earth full time.

And I probably could have just gone running home, maybe I should have, but I didn't feel like I belonged there anymore.

Sounds like that was rough.

I'm sure it was rough for you as well. We just have a bit more in common than it might appear at first.

I was fine. I can take care of myself.

Being fine doesn't mean it was easy.

I'm not saying you can't take care of yourself. You don't need to be so defensive with me, you know I'm not going anywhere.

I'm sure it isn't for many people.

No defensiveness, just an honest answer. I'm sure it would have been rougher, if I couldn't take care of myself. But I could, so it's fine. I'm not really one to wallow in the past.

[She crosses her arms over her chest. Because he has clearly dealt with everything in super healthy and reasonable ways.]

Yes, I've noticed. You're barely one to acknowledge it. Which is fine, everyone deals with things differently.

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