Uh… [ Momentarily distracted, she looks up at the ceiling and listens to the song before she laughs and shakes her head. Sable and Karel are singing at the top of their lungs with Karel purposefully messing up the words. Unsurprisingly, Wylan has a good ear for music, even when it's not loud and clearly played beside her. ] Yes. They love to sing when it's a quiet, boring night.
[ Sometimes Inej joins them, and she would've tonight if a certain someone hadn't wished to talk about a Zemeni ambassador. That was much more important than singing about one hundred beer bottles sitting on a wall and it somehow morphing into two hundred before winding back to fifty-eight. ]
You should teach them new songs, Wylan. If Kaz can spare you. Mahika's been trying to learn the flute. Karel says she's quite bad at it, but… I think she's getting better. She just needs a good teacher.
I suppose there isn't always much else to do on a ship other than sing and play cards. I don't know if I'd make a good teacher... but I could perhaps try. Depending on how busy things are here when you're docked. Not that things aren't fine here! Things just get busy, you know? I mean, of course you know.
[ This time when Inej speaks, she deepens her voice as though she's about to scold him. Instead, it's clearly playful—and she imagines she already knows his response. ]
Will you let Wylan come out and play when we're at Ketterdam?
[ Inej can't help but laugh. Kaz says that, and yet, she knows he'll be there with bells on. She wants to believe he will be. Even if he intentionally delays his inevitable arrival at the harbour, she knows he'll be there with the Crows.
It's best to let him have this. ]
Kaz is busy. Most likely scheming. Has he worn his scheming face recently?
[ Wylan hums and taps his fingers against his chin. ] Hmm. Not that I've seen lately—and I see his face quite a lot. He's always here, asking me for things. Not that that's particularly a bad thing, it's just… no scheming, Inej. Not for a while.
Oh, good. That means I haven't missed it. I'd be heartbroken if I missed Kaz's scheming face.
[Kaz wouldn't be asking Wylan for things if it wasn't part of a scheme, but much like Inej let him have his refusal of playing, he lets her have this right now. There's no need to argue that Kaz Brekker and schemes go together like fish and water.]
We miss your face too, you know. Bets were made on whether you'd get a pirate tattoo.
[ Despite the instinctual lurch in her gut at the mention of a tattoo, Inej's voice is warm. ] Is that so? And who bet that I'd get one?
[ Inej doesn't think to tell Wylan that a tattoo isn't in her future, perhaps ever. He doesn't know, and she's fine with him not completely knowing. Sometimes it's freeing to be around someone like him who only knows her in the after of being freed of that final cage.
The fact that Kaz says nothing about it tells her he's coincidentally on the same page—not that Inej ever thought Kaz would come to her defence. She doesn't need him to. ]
Jesper, I assume. [ She sighs heavily, intentionally dramatic. ] He's always betting against me.
If it helps, Jesper's bets usually end... well, not always in his favor. [It's the kindest way Wylan can put it. He glances over at Kaz then curiously.] Do you have any tattoos? Other than the Dregs one. [Wylan hasn't seen it on Kaz but he assumes the man has one.]
Why would I have another tattoo? [Which doesn't answer the question, but it's the answer given.]
I would assume for the same reasons lots of people get tattoos.
[ She thinks of the R on his bicep and how Kaz continues to carry Jordie with him wherever he goes. That's a story that belongs to him, even if she'll happily safeguard it. While she knows Wylan won't push, she doesn't want the conversation to linger awkwardly on Kaz. He's made his feelings about his other tattoo known. ]
If you want to get one, Jesper knows a good tattooist. She's very good. I think she did a tattoo for Specht before we left.
[ Wylan hums. ] I'll need to think about it. I'm not quite sure what I'd want to get.
[ She suspects it'd be something simple like a very small musical note or a letter or symbol. Wylan doesn't strike her as the type to cover himself in pictures. ]
A musical note? One of your formula things?
[ He chuckles. ] "Formula things", Inej?
[ She purposefully sighs heavily. ] I can't know everything all the time! There'd be nothing left for any of you to know.
[Kaz hasn't yet shared what the R stands for specifically, hasn't pulled out the Rietveld name from where it plunged into the harbor and died. Perhaps one day, but that time is certainly not right now.]
That's very generous of you, leaving some knowledge to spare for the rest of us. I'll think about it.
You know more formulas than you think, though. They're used all the time, not just in a lab. Most people just don't put a scientific name to it when they use them.
Now I can see why Kaz puts you to work. You're very wise for a chemist.
[ He's very wise, period. It gives Inej something to think about, especially on the days and nights when they're at sea with nothing to do but play silly children's games to keep them entertained and she doesn't wish to use the communicator to take up even more of Kaz's time.
There's a roar of laughter from up above and a stampede of feet. ]
Just make sure you take breaks. Don't let them touch any of your things. I'd like to come back and see all eyebrows intact, including yours.
[ Inej hums loudly before she takes off, inspired by Wylan. She keeps her feet light on the wooden planks but still purposefully loud so both of them can hear her. When she opens the door to her quarters, the singing's louder.
And once her crew spot her, they cheer. Some of them are a little drunk, but Inej doesn't have it in her to scold any of them. The night's pure black, but it reminds her nothing of the suffocating Fold. ]
Wylan's here—
Hey, Wylan! [ And there's an uproar of warm laughter. ]
And Kaz.
Kaz! [ Thankfully, his short name hasn't inspired a series of chants as it had when Specht had mentioned him on a rather drunken night like this. There's no risk of blushing, either. ]
Wouldn't it be great if he could compose us our very own song to sing when we're not drunk?
[ Her proposal's followed by cheers and a loud insistence that they're not drunk at all. Not unless it's on life and the sea. ]
What do you think, Wylan? Every pirate has a song, and we don't have one at the moment. No one's going to take us seriously without one.
Oh, um… hi, everyone. [That welcome was louder than he’d anticipated. Wylan is used to not being the center of attention. He glances over at Kaz, who remains quiet. Which isn’t surprising. Wylan’s come to know that Kaz doesn’t talk much when he’s not around a select intimate few. Even when he's around the Crows, he's not the best gabber like Nina and Jesper. It often takes directly talking to him to get an answer, otherwise he simply observes. Kaz has turned to face the table, looking over the lock project they've been working on together. Wylan knows though that he's listening. There's no time of day that Kaz isn't hanging on Inej's voice, even when he's annoyed at what she's saying.]
Oh, no, no I don’t think I’d be very good at that. My songs aren’t that good. I could, um. I could ask around Ketterdam, though. There are some very talented musicians and artists in the city.
[Wylan sidles up closer to Kaz, respectfully not touching, and whispers.] Watch your fingers. That latch is so small it might be tricky even for y-
[A click is heard, cutting through his warning. Seeing Kaz's face he adds wryly.] You don't have to look so smug about it.
I can't help always being right.
Edited (Home sick and felt like adding details. YOLO.) Date: 2023-04-24 06:25 pm (UTC)
Your songs are good, Wylan. We'd love it if you'd do it for us. Otherwise, it's just going to be some song where we sing "Aye" over and over, and that's not very good.
[ Take pity on them, Wylan.
It's a little difficult to hear them over the noise of her crew, which has grown louder since she'd first heard them singing in her quarters, but Inej stays outside, liking the light breeze against her face. She likes that there's a possibility Wylan's lab's window is open, and they're glancing at the same night sky as she is.
Inej sighs heavily, although when she speaks, her voice is fond. ]
You’re very sweet. … let me see if I can put something together that’s worth singing. [He’s very hard on himself so it will likely take many comforting words and cuddles from Jesper and others for him to not throw every version into the fire.]
Ah, yeah… he’s, um… helping me. He’s being very helpful? [Wylan is a terrible liar but he’s trying not to get his boss in trouble with his… Inej.]
I’m not fiddling with potions.
... chemicals. [Technically.]
Formulas. [Kaz shoots that back with such spite after the correction that Wylan has to laugh.]
You two teaming up together is a menace, you know.
I’m not touching any potions, chemicals, or formulas. I’m touching my requested prototype to make sure it’s working. [The lock mechanism, he’s not going to specify it though when there are other people around who might hear him. Even if they are busy drunk singing in the back.] I do need to test it to ensure it’s functioning to my standards.
And is it?
There’s no such thing as perfect Wylan, which means there can always be improvements. … it’s not bad, though.
[ Not perfect, even though Inej suspects it's close to being as much. Kaz has never been one for encouraging words. Tough love is his way, and it'd taken Inej a long time to begin to understand he layered his softer declarations amongst the prickliness. ]
Not to speak for Kaz, obviously. I know nothing about locks.
[ Of all the things she can break into, a lock still holds her up. ]
Thank you. Even if you don't know anything about locks. [ Wylan's quick to add, clearly to Kaz: ] And you... knowing about locks. Uh, if there's anything I can do to change it to better meet your standards...
I need... [Kaz raises his hand, making the universal gesture of writing to indicate he requires paper and pencil to jot down suggestions.]
Oh, right! ... did you forget the word for pen and paper just now? [He can't resist asking as he rummages around to hand over the items to Kaz. It's strange to even think of Kaz having human moments like that, and Wylan isn't sure it actually happened just now. Still, it's funny to imagine.]
I most certainly won't forget you asking me that. [Maybe. He'll take it to his grave, though.]
Yes, boss. [His tone is twinkling as he slides the paper to Kaz. Kaz doesn't write out but draws what he wants from Wylan. He's not a terrible sketcher, so it's become a system that works for them.] So Inej, visit any exciting new cities lately?
[ Kaz definitely forgot the words. Inej covers her snicker. ]
We went to Udova. We picked up a couple of people from a ship who'd been stolen from their homes there. They didn't want to come to Ketterdam, so we took them home.
[ "Picked up", like her crew didn't save them from a life of slavery. Sometimes Inej prefers to use softer language, and it's not because she's speaking to Wylan. Sometimes she needs to use it for herself.
The singing grows softer as Inej closes the door to her quarters. While she much likes being out on the deck, speaking about this requires some tact. It feels too private, and it's not something she wishes to incidentally sour the mood of the crew. ]
The people there are really nice. I think you'd like it. There was a flautist with the prettiest flute. One of the villages really loves to tell their stories with songs.
Sable got word that there was another slaver ship that had left a few days before we arrived. I don't know if we'll catch them, but we might on their way back. We might visit Ivets, just in case, and then come back to Ketterdam.
[ Inej is very aware that Kaz is listening, and given their conversation about him having business outside of Ketterdam, she supposes this is his unofficial word that she'll be returning soon. ]
[Kaz does make a mental note of the rough timeline she’s given, so he can try to work his business around it and not miss her.]
That does sound lovely. There’s actually a music festival coming up in Ketterdam in a few weeks now that it’s near summer. [Wylan doesn’t fully trust that half-smirk that comes to Kaz’s scheming face when he mentions it, but thinks better on pressing that for now.] I’m going to try and make Jesper go with me. [A beat, then because he’s figured out that one has to actually address Kaz to get him to talk and not wanting the man not to be included…]
How your hands handle locks, Kaz, you should try picking up an instrument sometime. I bet you’d be great at the piano, or string instruments. Music’s like math, it’s a great hobby.
I don’t need another hobby.
That would imply you have a hobby to begin with. Work doesn’t count, right Inej?
[ But that won't stop Kaz from trying to prove them wrong. She knows that he has hobbies, though. His magic tricks for one. She thinks he's starting to collect hats, even though he'd pass that off as a Jesper thing. ]
I hope we can make it in time. I think we had to work through the last music festival. But Jesper will go with you! He'll pretend that he doesn't want to, but he loved dressing up at the last one and I do remember him leading a dance.
Jesper danced? [ Wylan chuckles incredulously. A part of Inej wishes Jesper was there to dispute the fact, but perhaps it's best Wylan have this little secret to use for his bidding. ]
My lips are sealed. I'll dance with him as long as it's not in the center of the dance floor. [He doesn't want that much attention.] I haven't heard whether it'll be a work date or not. [He looks at Kaz for that.]
It will be.
And you were going to tell us when?
When the time was right. Otherwise I'd spend the coming weeks answering all the questions you'll come up with in the meantime.
... Fair. I did have follow up questions. I'm still going to enjoy it with Jesper, though. Plan in dance time for us.
After you do your part you two can waste time however you want.
[ Not that that's going to persuade him to look at the music festival as anything but a cover. Sometimes Inej wishes that he'd let himself take pleasure in things, but she can understand why he doesn't. Dirtyhands can't show vulnerability and can't risk being seen enjoying himself. ]
We'll dance, Wylan. Whether it's during the festivities or at the end when they're packing up. And if I'm days late, we'll have our own music festival. Jesper can sing.
[ And she can avoid missing out. It's the one thing she resents about being at sea. She misses them. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:01 am (UTC)[ Sometimes Inej joins them, and she would've tonight if a certain someone hadn't wished to talk about a Zemeni ambassador. That was much more important than singing about one hundred beer bottles sitting on a wall and it somehow morphing into two hundred before winding back to fifty-eight. ]
You should teach them new songs, Wylan. If Kaz can spare you. Mahika's been trying to learn the flute. Karel says she's quite bad at it, but… I think she's getting better. She just needs a good teacher.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:18 am (UTC)[ This time when Inej speaks, she deepens her voice as though she's about to scold him. Instead, it's clearly playful—and she imagines she already knows his response. ]
Will you let Wylan come out and play when we're at Ketterdam?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:26 am (UTC)[His response mimics Wylan's to cover his bases.]
In which case you can take the whole house out of my hair for awhile.
Or you could... [Seeing Kaz's expression he shifts his answer.] Right yeah absolutely not come play with us.
The only things I play are people and trick decks.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:38 am (UTC)It's best to let him have this. ]
Kaz is busy. Most likely scheming. Has he worn his scheming face recently?
[ Wylan hums and taps his fingers against his chin. ] Hmm. Not that I've seen lately—and I see his face quite a lot. He's always here, asking me for things. Not that that's particularly a bad thing, it's just… no scheming, Inej. Not for a while.
Oh, good. That means I haven't missed it. I'd be heartbroken if I missed Kaz's scheming face.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:47 am (UTC)We miss your face too, you know. Bets were made on whether you'd get a pirate tattoo.
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Date: 2023-04-24 11:03 am (UTC)[ Inej doesn't think to tell Wylan that a tattoo isn't in her future, perhaps ever. He doesn't know, and she's fine with him not completely knowing. Sometimes it's freeing to be around someone like him who only knows her in the after of being freed of that final cage.
The fact that Kaz says nothing about it tells her he's coincidentally on the same page—not that Inej ever thought Kaz would come to her defence. She doesn't need him to. ]
Jesper, I assume. [ She sighs heavily, intentionally dramatic. ] He's always betting against me.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 11:14 am (UTC)Why would I have another tattoo? [Which doesn't answer the question, but it's the answer given.]
I would assume for the same reasons lots of people get tattoos.
How very mundane then of the populace's majority.
Mundane sounds nice, actually. Some of the time.
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Date: 2023-04-24 11:31 am (UTC)If you want to get one, Jesper knows a good tattooist. She's very good. I think she did a tattoo for Specht before we left.
[ Wylan hums. ] I'll need to think about it. I'm not quite sure what I'd want to get.
[ She suspects it'd be something simple like a very small musical note or a letter or symbol. Wylan doesn't strike her as the type to cover himself in pictures. ]
A musical note? One of your formula things?
[ He chuckles. ] "Formula things", Inej?
[ She purposefully sighs heavily. ] I can't know everything all the time! There'd be nothing left for any of you to know.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 11:44 am (UTC)That's very generous of you, leaving some knowledge to spare for the rest of us. I'll think about it.
You know more formulas than you think, though. They're used all the time, not just in a lab. Most people just don't put a scientific name to it when they use them.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 12:07 pm (UTC)[ He's very wise, period. It gives Inej something to think about, especially on the days and nights when they're at sea with nothing to do but play silly children's games to keep them entertained and she doesn't wish to use the communicator to take up even more of Kaz's time.
There's a roar of laughter from up above and a stampede of feet. ]
Just make sure you take breaks. Don't let them touch any of your things. I'd like to come back and see all eyebrows intact, including yours.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 12:33 pm (UTC)And once her crew spot her, they cheer. Some of them are a little drunk, but Inej doesn't have it in her to scold any of them. The night's pure black, but it reminds her nothing of the suffocating Fold. ]
Wylan's here—
Hey, Wylan! [ And there's an uproar of warm laughter. ]
And Kaz.
Kaz! [ Thankfully, his short name hasn't inspired a series of chants as it had when Specht had mentioned him on a rather drunken night like this. There's no risk of blushing, either. ]
Wouldn't it be great if he could compose us our very own song to sing when we're not drunk?
[ Her proposal's followed by cheers and a loud insistence that they're not drunk at all. Not unless it's on life and the sea. ]
What do you think, Wylan? Every pirate has a song, and we don't have one at the moment. No one's going to take us seriously without one.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 12:41 pm (UTC)Oh, no, no I don’t think I’d be very good at that. My songs aren’t that good. I could, um. I could ask around Ketterdam, though. There are some very talented musicians and artists in the city.
[Wylan sidles up closer to Kaz, respectfully not touching, and whispers.] Watch your fingers. That latch is so small it might be tricky even for y-
[A click is heard, cutting through his warning. Seeing Kaz's face he adds wryly.] You don't have to look so smug about it.
I can't help always being right.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:18 pm (UTC)[ Take pity on them, Wylan.
It's a little difficult to hear them over the noise of her crew, which has grown louder since she'd first heard them singing in her quarters, but Inej stays outside, liking the light breeze against her face. She likes that there's a possibility Wylan's lab's window is open, and they're glancing at the same night sky as she is.
Inej sighs heavily, although when she speaks, her voice is fond. ]
He's away from the food, isn't he?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:26 pm (UTC)Ah, yeah… he’s, um… helping me. He’s being very helpful? [Wylan is a terrible liar but he’s trying not to get his boss in trouble with his… Inej.]
I’m not fiddling with potions.
... chemicals. [Technically.]
Formulas. [Kaz shoots that back with such spite after the correction that Wylan has to laugh.]
You two teaming up together is a menace, you know.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:36 pm (UTC)[ Although, she supposes Wylan's right. He's so fun to tease, too. He takes it in stride and seems to enjoy it, even if she suspects he's blushing. ]
Although, Kaz, you really shouldn't be touching the potions and chemicals. What if you actually do lose your eyebrows?
[ Knowing Kaz, he hardly cares about that. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 10:45 pm (UTC)And is it?
There’s no such thing as perfect Wylan, which means there can always be improvements. … it’s not bad, though.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 11:01 pm (UTC)[ Not perfect, even though Inej suspects it's close to being as much. Kaz has never been one for encouraging words. Tough love is his way, and it'd taken Inej a long time to begin to understand he layered his softer declarations amongst the prickliness. ]
Not to speak for Kaz, obviously. I know nothing about locks.
[ Of all the things she can break into, a lock still holds her up. ]
Thank you. Even if you don't know anything about locks. [ Wylan's quick to add, clearly to Kaz: ] And you... knowing about locks. Uh, if there's anything I can do to change it to better meet your standards...
no subject
Date: 2023-04-24 11:14 pm (UTC)Oh, right! ... did you forget the word for pen and paper just now? [He can't resist asking as he rummages around to hand over the items to Kaz. It's strange to even think of Kaz having human moments like that, and Wylan isn't sure it actually happened just now. Still, it's funny to imagine.]
I most certainly won't forget you asking me that. [Maybe. He'll take it to his grave, though.]
Yes, boss. [His tone is twinkling as he slides the paper to Kaz. Kaz doesn't write out but draws what he wants from Wylan. He's not a terrible sketcher, so it's become a system that works for them.] So Inej, visit any exciting new cities lately?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 05:10 am (UTC)We went to Udova. We picked up a couple of people from a ship who'd been stolen from their homes there. They didn't want to come to Ketterdam, so we took them home.
[ "Picked up", like her crew didn't save them from a life of slavery. Sometimes Inej prefers to use softer language, and it's not because she's speaking to Wylan. Sometimes she needs to use it for herself.
The singing grows softer as Inej closes the door to her quarters. While she much likes being out on the deck, speaking about this requires some tact. It feels too private, and it's not something she wishes to incidentally sour the mood of the crew. ]
The people there are really nice. I think you'd like it. There was a flautist with the prettiest flute. One of the villages really loves to tell their stories with songs.
Sable got word that there was another slaver ship that had left a few days before we arrived. I don't know if we'll catch them, but we might on their way back. We might visit Ivets, just in case, and then come back to Ketterdam.
[ Inej is very aware that Kaz is listening, and given their conversation about him having business outside of Ketterdam, she supposes this is his unofficial word that she'll be returning soon. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 10:01 am (UTC)That does sound lovely. There’s actually a music festival coming up in Ketterdam in a few weeks now that it’s near summer. [Wylan doesn’t fully trust that half-smirk that comes to Kaz’s scheming face when he mentions it, but thinks better on pressing that for now.] I’m going to try and make Jesper go with me. [A beat, then because he’s figured out that one has to actually address Kaz to get him to talk and not wanting the man not to be included…]
How your hands handle locks, Kaz, you should try picking up an instrument sometime. I bet you’d be great at the piano, or string instruments. Music’s like math, it’s a great hobby.
I don’t need another hobby.
That would imply you have a hobby to begin with. Work doesn’t count, right Inej?
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 10:26 am (UTC)[ But that won't stop Kaz from trying to prove them wrong. She knows that he has hobbies, though. His magic tricks for one. She thinks he's starting to collect hats, even though he'd pass that off as a Jesper thing. ]
I hope we can make it in time. I think we had to work through the last music festival. But Jesper will go with you! He'll pretend that he doesn't want to, but he loved dressing up at the last one and I do remember him leading a dance.
Jesper danced? [ Wylan chuckles incredulously. A part of Inej wishes Jesper was there to dispute the fact, but perhaps it's best Wylan have this little secret to use for his bidding. ]
Don't tell him I told you his secret.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-25 10:59 am (UTC)It will be.
And you were going to tell us when?
When the time was right. Otherwise I'd spend the coming weeks answering all the questions you'll come up with in the meantime.
... Fair. I did have follow up questions. I'm still going to enjoy it with Jesper, though. Plan in dance time for us.
After you do your part you two can waste time however you want.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-26 09:38 am (UTC)[ Not that that's going to persuade him to look at the music festival as anything but a cover. Sometimes Inej wishes that he'd let himself take pleasure in things, but she can understand why he doesn't. Dirtyhands can't show vulnerability and can't risk being seen enjoying himself. ]
We'll dance, Wylan. Whether it's during the festivities or at the end when they're packing up. And if I'm days late, we'll have our own music festival. Jesper can sing.
[ And she can avoid missing out. It's the one thing she resents about being at sea. She misses them. ]
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