ᵗʰᵉ 𝔴𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡

@operis     ( … )      [       inej   was   used   to   remaining   in   the   shadows,   sticking   to   the   darkness   that   was   easier   to   camouflage   in   than   the   light.   what   he   was   asking   her   was   something   rare,   and   she   didn’t   know   why   the   sudden   change   was   occurring.   but   she   knew   better   than   to   question   it.   it   was   unlikely   that   she   would   get   any   straight   answers   anyway.   the   wraith   moved   forward   with   quiet   steps,   hand   lifting   to   pull   down   the   dark   scarf   that   covered   the   lower   half   of   her   face,   as   well   as   her   hood.   after   that,   her   hands   clasped   comfortably   behind   her   back,   dark   brown   hues   locked   on   the   bastard   of   the   barrel.        ]       you   wanted   to   see   me ? 

@operis    ( … )      you   don’t   say   a   lot   of   things   kaz   brekker.     [       she   mused,   as   she   turned   back   around   after   being   caught,   her   fingers   pressing   to   the   hilt   of   each   of   her   knives,   eyes   closed   in   prayer   for   the   lives   that   she   had   taken   that   day.   saints   forgive   her.      ]       your   back   was   turned.   how   could   you   tell   I   was   looking ? 

@beyondthestyx    /    UH   *TEMPTS   YOU

@silxntknives  /   OH,  don't  tempt  me...

/      my   s&b   accounts   have   been   gathering   dust

   [      she   looked   up,   her   eyes   locking   with   his,   no   longer   needing   to   speak   to   get   her   point   across.   her   gaze   drifted,   catching   the   bruises   and   cuts   that   mark   his   sharp   face,   the   remnants   of   the   fight   still   visible   on   his   skin.   she   didn’t   flinch   as   her   eyes   dropped   lower,   her   fingers   twitching   as   she   noted   the   dark   red   stain   on   his   coat.   she   inhaled,   the   breath   shallow.   ]     you   were   hurt   too…   have   you   cleaned   the   wound ?
            
            2/2

@mortrdem    ( … )       [     the   wraith   stood   silent   for   a   moment,   cloaked   in   the   hush   of   shadows   she   wore   better   than   silk.   the   dim   light   of   ketterdam   glanced   off   the   sharp   line   of   her   cheekbone,   off   the   darkness   in   her   eyes — not   empty,   not   entirely   soft,   but   with   a   trace   of   quiet   storms.     ]     I   know   you   asked   me   to   stay   away…   and   I’m   sorry.   but   saints   didn’t   keep   me   alive   just   to   walk   away   after   things   turn   ugly.   I   didn’t   want   to…   I   won’t   leave   you. 
                      [      her   eyes   lowered   to   the   wooden   floorboards,   her   fingers   instinctively   tracing   the   hilt   of   one   of   her   daggers,   sankta   alina,  as   though   it   could   offer   her   some   grounding.   in   that   moment,   inej   noticed   the   way   his   gaze   flicked   toward   the   bandages   wrapped   around   her   shoulder   and   side.      ]        I’m   fine.   everyone’s   fine.     [       she reassured   him,   her   voice   steady,   soft.     ]      you   took   this   job   knowing   what   it   meant.   so   did   I,   even   if   there   were   doubts   along   the   way.   you’re   not   to   blame.
                      [     she   wasn’t   certain   if   that   was   truly   what   haunted   him — the   bastard   of   the   barrel   was   as   unreadable   as   they   came.   but,   despite   the   layers   of   darkness   he   wore,   she   liked   to   believe   she   understood   him   more   than   most.  she   paused   at   his   suggestion   to   go   home   to   rest.    ]   / this /   is   my   home.    [   she   answered,   her   voice   firm.   ]   this   place — this   crew..   it’s   the   closest   thing   I’ve   had   to   a   family   since   I   was   stolen   from   mine.   
            
            / 1/?

BUT  NOT  ALL  THAT  GLIMMERS  IS  GOLD.      down  in  the  barrel,      shiny  things  only  mean  a  blade  drawn  and  blood  waiting  to  spill.      PRIDE  REARS  ITS  HEAD  AND  FLASHES  ITS  TEETH  IN  AN  UGLY  GRIN,      daring  the  thoughts  to  form,       for  the  words  to  take  shape.     it  had  nearly  costed  him  his  crew.
                      '  i  expected  you  to  stay  away  because  i  asked  you  to.      not  because  it  / suits /  me  and  certainly  not  on  a  whim.  ’      HE  FINALLY  ALLOWS  HIS  EYES  TO  SETTLE  ON  HERS.      a  chasm  opens  up  in  his  gut,      a  harrowing  darkness  crawling  up  his  chest.      his  gaze  flickers  to  the  bandages,      and  a  muscle  ticks  in  his  neck.      THE  BLADE  WAS  DRAWN  AND  BLOOD  WAS  SPILLED.      ‘  you  should  be  resting.      go  home,     inej.  ’

@merchlings     ( … )     [      inej’s   dark   eyes   soften   as   she   meets   wylan’s,   a   faint   smile   curving   her   lips   at   his   awkward   laugh.   she   shifted   slightly,   careful   not   to   worsen   the   injury   in   her   leg.   his   thoughts   were   correct.   her   relationship   with   kaz   brekker   was   complicated   to   say   the   least   and   even   / she /   sometimes,   could   not   fully   understand   what   they   were.   simply   an   investment   arrangement,   a   friend,   perhaps   something   more ?    he   cared.   she   knew   that.   just…   not   in   the   way   most   people   did.     ]      I   don’t   like   being   slowed   down,   not   by   wounds,   not   by   anything…   kaz   trusts   me   because   I   can   handle   myself,   no   matter   what.   I   don’t   want   him   to   waste   time   worrying   about   something   like   this.     [      a   pause.     ]      I’ll   speak   to   nina.   though   I   expect   a   lecture.   she’s   not   a   healer   in   the   strictest   sense — but   she’ll   manage.   she   always   does.    [    her   voice   softened,   a   rare   openness   in   her   tone.     ]     still,   thank   you,   wylan.   for   caring.   that…   means   more   than   you   know.

@silxntknives      ⟢    [to apply liability and inej in the same sentence, it would be wrong to do so. while kaz has never been one to be hold back his punches, wylan’s eyes flicker to the wraith in order to gain some semblance of understanding of the two and their dynamic. swallowing, a small laugh escapes—although awkward and inevitability filling the space in the silence.]      i’m sure kaz is just      ..worried about you, not that you’re a liability. at least have nina look at it,      [a hand presses into his red tresses,]       you’re not made of steel. even a wound like that makes it difficult, maybe less for you. however, just—you know..

@merchlings     (  …  )      [        she   glanced   down   at   her   leg,   her   trouser   pants   hiding   the   evidence   of   any   bandage.    her   lips   pressed   together,   taking   a   tentative   step   forward,   features   wincing   slightly.   she   knew   she’d   have   to   do   a   better   job   of   hiding   it   —   at   least,   until   nina   returned   from   her   trip.     her   back   straightened,   busying   herself   with   returning   her   knives   to   their   rightful   places.       ]       if   he   knows   that   I   carry   an   injury,   he’ll   think   of   me   as   a   liability.   I   can’t—   …   I   / won’t /   be   seen   as   such.      [      she   glanced   over   at   him,   swallowing   the   lump   in   her   throat.     ]       please,   wylan. 

@tikinis    ( … )     [       inej   met   his   gaze,   steady   and   unwavering,   even   as   the   wound   in   her   side   throbbed   with   each   shallow   breath.   she’d   never   been   one   to   indulge   in   weakness,   but   she   wasn’t   a   fool   either.   kaz   was   right.   every   movement,   every   shift   of   her   weight   threatened   to   tear   open   the   fragile   stitching   she’d   done   herself   earlier.   she   could   feel   the   heat   of   the   blood   seeping   through   the   makeshift   bandage. 
            
                     her   fingers   tightened   around   the   hilt   of   her   knife,   her   only   comfort,   and   she   closed   her   eyes   for   a   moment,   trying   to   clear   her   thoughts.   stay   still.       ]      I’ll   manage.   [      she   spoke,   voice   quiet,   yet   firm   as   she   eased   herself   to   her   feet.    ]       the   job   isn’t   finished.     [      and   she   refused   to   be   a   liability.      ] 
            

@tikinis     ( … )    [    inej   didn’t   flinch   at   the   words.   she’d   heard   kaz   say   worse.   his   belief   that   the   world   was   cruel,   and   that   the   only   way   to   survive   was   to   take   and   take   until   there   was   nothing   left   but   ruthlessness — she   knew   it   well.   but   still,   there   was   a   flicker   of   something   in   her   eyes.      ]       I   believe   in   choices.   the   freedom   to   make   your   own   decisions.  you   didn’t   just   claw   your   way   up.   you   / chose /   to   rise   from   the   dirt,   from   the   rubble — when   everyone   thought   you’d   stay   buried.   and   not   because   you   had   to,   but   because   you   wanted   to. 
            
                  [       her   smile   was    subtle — but   she   shook   her   head,   a   quiet   breath   leaving   her.      ]     you’ve   been   digging   through   the   dirt   so   long,   kaz,   that   you’ve   forgotten   what   it   feels   like   to   breathe   in   the   air   above.  

@tikinis    ( … )     [     his   gloved   hand   gestured   toward   the   slender,   curved   dagger   now   sheathed   at   inej’s   hip.   its   hilt   was   carved   with   intricate   patterns,   unmistakably   fjerdan.  it   was   a   new   addition   to   her   collection   of   knives,   and   she   was   surprised   that   he   had   even   noticed. she   knew   what   he   was   asking:   how   the   saints   had   she   managed   to   get   her   hands   on   a   grisha   hunter’s   blade   ? 
             
                 inej   didn’t   look   at   him   immediately.   she   was   crouched   by   the   window   that   she   came   through   in   his  room,   eyes   fixed   on   the   street   below   and   listening   to   the   pitter   patter   of   rain   tapping   on   the   glass.   only   after   a   beat   did   she   speak.    ]      you   know   where.   you   sent   jesper   and   wylan   into   a   net   of   drüskelle   scouts   / without /   backup.    [     she   spoke,   indicating   in   itself   that   she   had   decided   that   she   would   be   the   backup.    ]    

@canescrow    /   thank   you,   lovely !   I   haven’t   portrayed   inej   in   so   long   haha .
               &   pls   do !   < 33

*  gotta get back to rping as mr. dirtyhands fr.