You’re being paranoid. This isn’t some inherently bad thing. Neither one of us exactly hates your attention being on us, you know.
[It’s the kind of thing she might utterly lose the nerve to say if he was standing in front of her, but it’s true.]
We’ll find a proper map maker once we know more, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Cassandra was doing city maps when we first arrived in Cadens, I think. She might be someone to consider for that later.
It's obviously not just me being paranoid if he came to you now, is it?
Do I know that? In this instance?
[ He just accepting that she wouldn't have stayed gone once she sailed off on that ship. He's not sure he would have known that. ]
I'm not worrying. I'm planning. I told him we would do this, and I'll keep my word to him. You trust one person knowing how much we've mapped and then asking why?>
He's my best friend, Kaz. We talk. It's not as though we're conspiring against you.
You say that like worrying and planning don't go hand-in-hand for you. No one's doubting your word. We both know you're true to it.
[She sighs and shakes her head.]
First of all: I didn't say we bring her in NOW. Secondly: Mapping unfamiliar territory would be the easiest part of anything we have to come up with reasons for at all. I've been trying to study the history of these nations, wanting to see more of the world I'm reading about? Easy. And I certainly can't go alone, who better to have with me than the two boys I trust with my life?
[Kaz isn't the only one that thinks 10 steps ahead, okay? Hopefully, he can see the amusement in her for it even through this– she knows this system makes it harder, in some respects.]
I didn't say you were conspiring. Expressing dislike or uncertainty is not conspiring.
[He's being ever so careful with these conversations, not somehow responding to the wrong person but there's things being said by Jesper he's not sure how to bring us to Inej but he suspects he needs to. ]
If there had been flirting though, what would your opinion be on that?
As for bringing people in, we'll see. I don't like having others know about our plans before we have things much more into place and know who we can truly trust.
If you're exploring, we'll go with. For now I'm mapping out what's commonplace so we're not backtracking over places that have already been explored.
[ It's a joke! He actually made a joke. A bad one, and at his own expense but still.
Though he considers that next part for a few minutes. ]
And if I am courting you as well? You would still not mind and not be bothered?
[ Spell it out for him, Inej. He is not taking chances that he's going to upset either of them about this since he's still reeling on his own about this becoming a thing. ]
On which level you don't plan that? I'm still in conceptualizing on so many levels.
Though on the friends in other cities, I don't know how long we can actually wait. Or how long Jesper will wait.
Yes. I’m trying not to look like a lunatic laughing at nothing.
I suppose it will.
You know why I had to leave. My people… we don’t think of places, cities, countries as home. Our people are what make our home. My people are in Ketterdam— in Cadens, here— so that is where I would be. Leaving was never going to be forever.
I never denied knowing why you had to leave. I, of all people, understand why you had to. It's why I found your parents, gave you that ship. Your ship. Your freedom. If I could fight for you, help you, I have.
It doesn't make letting you go any easier.
And don't you dare make an investment statement in this moment. You know that is not all you are to me and never were.
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It’s only a question, Kaz. No need to assume the worst.
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It's a question borne of him coming to you about it. That makes it something.
[ So of course he assumes the worst. ]
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It’s still just a question.
What are you doing right now?
Reading something?
Crunching numbers?
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Trying to piece together some information I've been given about the land to try and start the map we'll need.
I am not a cartographer on this scale.
[ On the level needed to map a plan, certainly but not like this. ]
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This isn’t some inherently bad thing.
Neither one of us exactly hates your attention being on us, you know.
[It’s the kind of thing she might utterly lose the nerve to say if he was standing in front of her, but it’s true.]
Cassandra was doing city maps when we first arrived in Cadens, I think. She might be someone to consider for that later.
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Do I know that? In this instance?
[ He just accepting that she wouldn't have stayed gone once she sailed off on that ship. He's not sure he would have known that. ]
I'm not worrying. I'm planning. I told him we would do this, and I'll keep my word to him.
You trust one person knowing how much we've mapped and then asking why?>
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It's not as though we're conspiring against you.
You say that like worrying and planning don't go hand-in-hand for you.
No one's doubting your word. We both know you're true to it.
[She sighs and shakes her head.]
Secondly: Mapping unfamiliar territory would be the easiest part of anything we have to come up with reasons for at all.
I've been trying to study the history of these nations, wanting to see more of the world I'm reading about? Easy.
And I certainly can't go alone, who better to have with me than the two boys I trust with my life?
[Kaz isn't the only one that thinks 10 steps ahead, okay? Hopefully, he can see the amusement in her for it even through this– she knows this system makes it harder, in some respects.]
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Expressing dislike or uncertainty is not conspiring.
[He's being ever so careful with these conversations, not somehow responding to the wrong person but there's things being said by Jesper he's not sure how to bring us to Inej but he suspects he needs to. ]
If there had been flirting though, what would your opinion be on that?
As for bringing people in, we'll see. I don't like having others know about our plans before we have things much more into place and know who we can truly trust.
If you're exploring, we'll go with.
For now I'm mapping out what's commonplace so we're not backtracking over places that have already been explored.
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[The question brings a smile to her lips— they’ve both asked her now, and it’s utterly endearing.]
[Shes going to take a moment to let that sink in before circling back to the business side of things.]
Fair enough.
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[ It's a joke! He actually made a joke. A bad one, and at his own expense but still.
Though he considers that next part for a few minutes. ]
And if I am courting you as well? You would still not mind and not be bothered?
[ Spell it out for him, Inej. He is not taking chances that he's going to upset either of them about this since he's still reeling on his own about this becoming a thing. ]
On which level you don't plan that? I'm still in conceptualizing on so many levels.
Though on the friends in other cities, I don't know how long we can actually wait. Or how long Jesper will wait.
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[But she's grinning.
A joke. She must be dreaming.]
Kaz, you should know by now I'd never make a move without you. No matter what it is.
I don't know, either. But we can't be rash- and I trust he won't risk them or their safety.
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Oh I suspect it always to change, so it will be interesting to see then, I guess.
I gave you the chance to leave, to do what you wanted. We ended up here. I shouldn't assume that means something?
We'll make a plan and see it done. For our sake, for Jespers, and theirs.
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I suppose it will.
You know why I had to leave. My people… we don’t think of places, cities, countries as home. Our people are what make our home. My people are in Ketterdam— in Cadens, here— so that is where I would be. Leaving was never going to be forever.
Like we always do. No mourners.
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It doesn't make letting you go any easier.
And don't you dare make an investment statement in this moment. You know that is not all you are to me and never were.
No funerals.
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[She wonders if she could have so easily let that pass her lips if he were right in front of her.]