#Alina Starkov's parents

[stromuprisahat]

siriuslyobsessedwithfiction:

And if they're not bigots, that means they raised Alina not to be a bigot, which means she would accept Sasha as a person and not some creature from the start, which means she would at least talk to him before running away when Baghra told her a boogeyman story, which means none of the shit show after that would happen, and Grisha would finally be free and Ravka would prosper under new rule, which means *smashes keyboard*

stromuprisahat:

@siriuslyobsessedwithfiction And even if she got scared and ran, she'd have a reasonable place to go. "Mrs. Starkov, please, put the pan down, I only want to talk to Alina."

Had everything gone according to his plan and Alina had not been an orphan, how do you think Aleksander would have dealt with having in-laws?

At first he'd try to charm them- it's easy way to get on Alina's good side.

Then it really depends on their worldview and personalities.

Assuming they're both otkazat'sya, he'd probably treated them the same way he does others he doesn't want to offend, perhaps he could grow fond of them, if they're Grisha-friendly and reasonable.

He'd definitely try not to get too attached- they'll die soon anyway.

There's quite a potential for self-reflection and/or hilarity.

If they're warm and loving, yet not delusional, he might realize avoiding loss by avoiding attachements makes his life poorer.

He might learn to care for himself a little. His mother taught him how to survive, but living and enjoying life didn't quite make it into his vocabulary. I'd like to believe seeing his soulmate treated differently might make him re-evaluate his stance.

There's also the contradiction between familial relationship and actual age. There WILL come a moment, when the terrifying Black General becomes "young man".

I truly hope they're just ordinary kind people, not some bigots. Sasha deserves family, who'll bully him with love and affection.

[tea-books-and-reviews]

[witchthewriter]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞

Women who are caught between worlds, or between who they are. Both light and darkness are within them. Do they stay within their safe confounds, or branch out and find adventure? These women are challenging traditional norms and societal standards. They’re strong, and fierce, while upholding their femininity. 

𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑦 𝑃𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑒

𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑖

𝐴𝑟𝑤𝑒𝑛

𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑆𝑤𝑎𝑛

𝐴𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑜𝑣

𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑎 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑘

𝑆𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑒 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑛

𝐹𝑒𝑦𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛

𝐴𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎

[steponmeinejghafa]

Beautiful Girl in a Broken World (TW)

Summary: All your life you have felt powerless against Aleksander. But when he takes things too far, you finally find your voice to stand up to him. Genya attempts to belittle herself, but you don't let her.

Genya Safin x fem!morozov!reader

Word count: 4.3k

Warnings: Crying, fighting, mentions of sexual abuse, toxic parent.

Note: You're adopted, so it doesn't get weird, I swear. And I don’t remember the catacombs scene word for word, so bear with me :’) also, y/n has a certain amount of selective mutism.

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Ever since you were a child, you had been a very quiet, gentle, and agreeable person. So quiet that you could slip out of a room of three people, unnoticed. So agreeable that you would commit a crime for anyone who you held close to your heart. So gentle that you couldn't bear to even think of raising your voice at anyone who made you feel bad.

Aleksander, your father, took these abilities for granted the very moment he realised how you could benefit him.

He kept you like a secret weapon, unleashing you carefully, using your abilities to his advantage. He gifted you to the Queen as her aide and deputy lady-in-waiting. He was twisted enough to use you as bait for the King, allowing him to do as he pleased with you as long as it meant Aleksander would remain General.

You couldn't say no as his rotten lips went over your skin, you couldn't push him away, because fear for yourself froze you in place, and fear of angering your father made all reason simply vanish from your mind.

Naturally, when the King tired of you, your convoluted father gave him Genya.

Sweet Genya who talked to you every day after you both helped the Queen prepare for her evenings. Kind Genya who always made sure you weren't left alone at mealtimes or during lessons. Beautiful Genya who had all the boys after her, because of her wavy auburn hair and unique amber eyes.

You were furious to find out what he had done. Till date you can remember the white-hot fury that had coursed through your veins as Genya arrived sobbing at your room the first night the King had forced himself on her. The way your skin prickled, your body threatening to unleash unforgiving darkness upon the land as you saw the blood on her thighs and clothes.

However, you still felt guilty about how you couldn't confront Aleksander about it. Still felt angry at yourself for being powerless under his heavy, dark-eyed gaze. Still felt so hopeless because the words died in your throat that day before they could escape your lips.

"What is it now, Y/n?" He had asked as you approached him timidly the next morning.

"Father, I heard that Genya had gone to the King's rooms last night," you had said, trying not to mumble.

"Yes," he had hummed, "She is my spy, Y/n. That doesn't concern you. Your time to serve as a spy for me has passed." With a wave of his hand, he had then dismissed you from the room.

You had wanted to tear out your father's eyes, wanted to scream how could you do this to her, to me? But you couldn't.

So here you were, outside your father's chambers while he punished Genya for deserting him on the other side of the door. Tears ran down your cheeks like rivers from your eyes, as you pounded on the door with your fists, your normally quiet voice raised to a shrill shout, calling out for your father to stop, calling out to Genya to see if she was okay.

He pulled the door open sharply and caught you around the collar, dragging you inside the room.

Your heart stopped in your chest.

Genya was weeping with her head buried in her hands, kneeling on the floor, quaking with fear. Black blood seeped from between her fingers as her shaky hands tried tailoring her wounds shut. You made a move to go to her, to put your arms around her and comfort her, but Aleksander held you back.

"Keep her in the cell," he said scathingly. "Tomorrow everyone will see her face. Everyone will be reminded of the consequences if they dare to try and double-cross me."

"No!" Genya screamed. It broke your heart.

You struggled against your father's iron grip weakly. "Father, no, please don't do this, I'm begging you!"

"Silence," he said sternly, as if you were just some otkazat'sya who he couldn't bother listening to, and you did just that.

Another win for him. Typical Y/n.

"Come," he said, beckoning you to where you knew he was keeping your grandmother.

Baghra. You adored her from the moment you had met her all those years ago. She didn't show it much, but you knew she adored you back. A rare phenomenon in her case. Aleksander had imprisoned her, just to work on another amplifier so he could defeat Alina.

"Sit down," your father ordered the moment you entered the room.

"Baghra," you whispered, trying to get her to look at you. "Grandmother."

She did look at you, finally, and gave a small nod of understanding towards you.

The guards had set up a second cage beside hers, and in that, they stuffed Genya. You made a noise of protest, but it was too soft for them to hear. You made eye contact with her and your e/c irises said it all.

I'm sorry.

You hoped she wouldn't look at you with loathing, hoped she didn't hate you now. Hoped that she knew how much you loved her, and that you would try your hardest to be heard, try to be a crack of thunder in a storm instead of just a gentle breeze on an autumn evening.

She looked at you like she always had, with warmth and adoration. Her blinded eye, too, somehow held that expression. It vanished, however, the moment the Darkling looked at her.

"Put out your foot, Y/n," your father ordered. You frowned and did just that, but you didn't see the mallet coming.

Aleksander nodded at the nearby guard, who took the mallet and swung it down onto your shin, shattering the bone with a sickening 'crunch'. You felt red-hot pain sear through your body, and cried out, clutching your leg gingerly.

"Why would you do that?" You screamed, shocking everyone in the room. No one had ever heard Y/n Morozova ever raise her voice. Hell, some of them thought you were mute. "I didn't do anything!"

Aleksander gestured at a Heartrender standing at the door, ordering him to extract some of the bone shards from underneath your skin.

"Hold her down," he ordered the guards. You thrashed about as much as your pain-riddled body would allow, sobbing uncontrollably. Both with pain and betrayal.

"Aleksander, stop this madness!" Baghra exclaimed as the Heatrender readied himself to remove the shards from your leg. "She's just a child!"

"A girl of nineteen is hardly a child," said the man with as much emotion as a teabag, speaking over your cries and screams of pain, as well as Genya's pleading voice. "Her bones are as valuable as yours, since she has some Morozova blood within her, and she is thus an amplifier."

"Do I repair the rest of her leg, General Kirigan?" Asked the second Grisha who had come in with the Heartrender.

Dismissively, Aleksander nodded, and the Healer set to work. However, with the missing chunks of bone, he said, "I'm afraid she will need a cane for the time being. If the cast doesn't work and she feels pain after the next one week, it means she'll have to use the cane for the rest of her life."

"No matter," shrugged your father.

How could he?

You waited till the Healer had fixed you up as best as he could, trying your best to ignore the pain which was still very sharp in your leg.

"What in the name of the Saints do you mean 'no matter', Father?" You scowled. "Does the fact that I'm a cripple now mean nothing to you?"

"Broken things are more fragile even if you fix them," said Baghra. "You know this, Aleksander."

"Y/n," Aleksander's voice was gentle and kind. He always did this. One moment he was the best father in the world, all kind words and sweet smiles, and the next, he was a monster in a man's body, watching as a stranger shattered his daughter's legs. "Think of how powerful we would be-"

"No," you said softly.

His gaze hardened. "No?"

You shook your head, "I'm done with your games, Father. This," you nodded at your leg, "This was the last straw. I cannot walk properly anymore. You mutilated the girl I love, and put my grandmother through things far too violent to recount. I loved you, she loved you, and Genya trusted you."

He rolled his eyes. "Where are you going with this?"

You knew you couldn't attack him. It would risk unleashing the nichevoya. So you used your words instead.

"Are you so oblivious?" You whispered. "All my life I have agreed with you, done as you asked. I let a man violate me in unspeakable ways, just because I did as you asked. You have used me, you have used my Genya, and you have used Baghra. You are a disgusting man, Aleksander Morozova. A disgusting man, son, father, and general.

Did you feel nothing when I came to you with blood on my nightgown, crying about the King? Did you feel nothing, when I said I didn't want Genya playing your spy?" Your eyes brimmed with tears. "Did you feel nothing when that guard smashed my leg and broke it like a stick?"

"Sacrifices for power," he sighed. "You are too young to understand."

"Age and eternity have made you emotionless," you shook your head. "They have stripped you of your ability to love, to cherish, to feel. You sacrifice to fill that void, you sacrifice because you know that alone, with your sins, you are not enough."

You felt fear seize your body when he caught you by the collar again and threw you nearly clean across the room.

"Learn your place, girl," he seethed. "I am your father. Never speak to me that way again."

You struggled to get to your feet, leaning against the nearby wall. Anger kept within for too long bubbled up within you, heating up into white-hot fury.

"My place, Father, isn't something you can dictate. This isn't Fjerda, this isn't the medieval times. I am a woman, a girl, a daughter. I have stayed silent for too long, letting you do with me, with others, as you please," you clenched your fists, darkness cloaking the room threateningly. "So, Father, do you ever want to say you're sorry? Will you try to make amends? Try to be a better person?"

"Quite the speech," he raised a brow. "But I am powerful, and no one will stop me from getting my Summoner. Especially not you."

He took you by the arm firmly and led you out, not caring that you were limping and hopping terribly. Genya cried out for you, begging him to be gentle, but with no avail.

"Stay in your room," he seethed, shoving you inside your room none too gently. "I have business to attend to."

You waited till he closed the door, and collapsed on your bed, screaming bloody murder into the pillow as you cried.

--Time Skip--

Night had fallen, and till then only one guard had knocked on your door to give you food.

"Cripple," he spat in Ravkan, making you nearly use the Cut on him in anger.

Your father hadn't returned yet from his twisted expedition, and you decided it was high time you broke your best friend and grandmother out of jail.

You knew that the guards deserted your corridor at exactly nine-thirty for patrol rounds. Quietly, or at least as quietly as you possibly could be, you snuck down the corridor to the room where you knew they were.

You slipped inside the room, and knelt in front of Genya's cage, breaking the lock with all your strength. It was rusty from lack of use, and came apart with the barest of snaps.

She avoided your gaze and covered her face with a hand, shrinking away from your touch. She didn't want you to see her this way. You found it odd, but shrugged it off. Naturally she wouldn't want to see you. You were the Darkling's daughter. She had no business looking at you the same.

"Please, get yourself to safety," you said quietly, moving away from her.

You felt hurt that she seemed to think you were like your father, that she seemed to fear you just as she feared him. You turned to Baghra's cage and broke the lock as well, feeling a little twinge of happiness on seeing her smile slightly.

You knelt in front of her like a knight would kneel before his King, ignoring the pain in your leg, and said, "I'm sorry for how my father has treated you. I'm willing to pay for his sins, I swear on it."

Baghra touched your shoulders gently, prompting you to rise. "Don't take accountability for Aleksander's sins, child. This was his choice, and he must pay for it. You are not defined by his actions, because you have proved time and again that you have tried your best to rebel against him."

You scoffed a laugh, helping her up. "I can hardly call cowering and giving unheard suggestions 'rebellion'."

"You'll understand what I mean with time, my dear," smiled the woman. She looked at Genya, who had laid waste to the table, save the bottle of amplifier which she now held in her hand.

You three escaped just barely, because your limp slowed them down. You apologised profusely along the way, and when they paused for a rest, you scoured for a branch which could double as a cane for you temporarily. When you did, walking became a thousand times easier. The entire journey, Genya didn't speak to you or look at you. Whenever you moved close to her, she'd scurry farther down the path, muttering to herself.

'I'm not like him,' you wanted to say. 'I'm in love with you, Genya, I'd never do anything to hurt you.'

But of course, the words didn't come.

Finally, you three came upon the hideout where everyone was. Genya was tackled in a hug by Alina, while you hung back, standing behind Baghra timidly. You knew you wouldn't be welcome there.

"Baghra," Alina said with relief, moving over to her. However, the second she did, the woman moved forwards to reveal your quietly standing figure.

Disgust painted everyone's faces and you saw people draw weapons, or, in the case of the Grisha, put their hands up defensively.

You didn't say anything.

Alina's piercing gaze was enough to make you want to shrink into the walls, and you nearly cowered with fright when she readied herself to attack.

"Alina," you were shocked as Genya spoke up. "She's harmless, don't worry."

"She's about as harmless as a viper," scowled the girl.

“Alina, trust me, she’s not like him,” said the redhead. “She’s the opposite.”

You put your hands up in surrender and shook your head, "I-I'm nothing like my father, I swear."

"I vouch for that," Baghra said with a nod.

"Fine," sighed Alina. She nodded at your leg, "How'd that happen?"

You cleared your throat and willed yourself to speak louder. "My father. He smashed my bone with a mallet to use as an amplifier."

"Saints," she scoffed, "That man is a psychopath. Tamar," she looked at the Heartrender, "Please see to it that she has a proper cane, and do help ease the pain a bit."

"T-thank you," you stammered, nervous of the girl who's eyes were no more scathingly trained on you. They were soft with concern, as she smiled slightly and nodded.

"Come on then," the Shu girl grinned, taking you by the arm gently. "Let's get you patched up better."

You nodded and followed her out, while Genya went to tend to Adrik.

Twenty minutes of excruciating pain later, your leg was mostly healed, but given the way it had been broken, they said there was close to no chance for your complete recovery.

A Fabrikator named Viktor fashioned a cane for you from the branch you were using. It was jet black, of course, with an intricate design of roses etched into the wood from the handle till the bottom which had a cap of silver on it.

You thanked him and Tamar smiled at you.

“Truly, you are unlike your father,” she said.

You blushed shyly and softly replied, “I’ve never found cruelty to be my area of expertise.”

Tamar patted your arm and helped you up, making sure you were putting your weight on the cane and not your leg.

You went to check on Genya, who, upon seeing you, fled from where she was sitting in front of Adrik, helping heal his hand.

“G-Genya?” You called out after her, your voice barely raised at all as you limped after her with as much speed as your leg would allow. “Please wait a moment, please.”

You both stopped dead in your tracks, when you ran into the Queen.

“You!” She gasped. “Guards! Guards!” She cried out, looking around frantically for them, her pale hair fluttering around her face.

She caught Genya by the wrist and seethed, “You both will pay for what you did! You monsters!”

“Please-please leave her be,” you pleaded, limping closer to the Queen, resisting the urge to beat her senseless with your new cane.

“Well,” she glared at Genya, “At least now you look like what you truly are,” she turned to you, “And you deserve to be crippled, you repulsive girl.”

“I-“ you faltered. You deserved it, didn’t you? You tried not to cry, as you gathered your thoughts, saying, “Please let her go,”

Genya yanked her arm out of the Queen’s grip, having had enough.

“Ask me how I did it,” she said, with venom in her voice. “How we did it.”

Your heart leapt. She mentioned you in passing, that was good. Perhaps she didn’t hate you after all.

“What?” The woman was baffled.

“Ask. Me.” Genya said forcefully. The queen made a nod as if to ask, and the redhead continued, “Y/n made the poison. She wanted her revenge anyway. So, I put it on my body, for weeks. So that every time he touched me, every time,” her voice lowered to a hesitant whisper, “he kissed me, he would take a little bit into himself.”

“All he had to do was stop coming to her bed,” you softly added in.

Seething, the woman replied, “He was your King,”

“He brought it on himself,” Genya spat.

“He took advantage of innocent girls, girls who couldn’t fight back, because he was our King,” you limped forward to stand beside Genya, mustering up courage to look the Queen in the eye. “It was because he was our King, we were terrified to speak. Because no one would’ve believed us. And even if they did, they couldn’t do anything about it. So do you blame us, your Highness, can you blame us, for taking matters into our own hands?”

“Oh? The Darkling’s mute little puppet girl speaks,” scoffed the queen, making you shrink back with shame. That tone stung you hard. Where they never took you seriously, where people only saw you as a pushover who had no voice. “You both are monsters, murderers.”

“Madraya,” Nikolai’s smooth voice was a saving grace in this fight.

“Nikolai! You heard them, arrest these murderers!” She said, looking at her son.

He looked horrified. “No,” he shook his head. “Not after what I heard.” He looked at her with disbelief on his features. “Both of them were under your protection.”

“They are servants,” she scoffed in disgust. “And the cripple is a puppet for the enemy!”

“And you, the Mother of Ravka,” he said. “Your subjects were to be like your children. All of them,” he placed a hand on your shoulder and brought you forward. Your eyes stayed riveted on the ground. “And Y/n? Just by being here, she has shown that she is no puppet for the Darkling.”

The Queen huffed and flounced off, skirts billowing around her as she did.

“Thank you,” you nodded and moved back, when Genya turned to leave.

“I’m sorry,” said Nikolai.

“It’s not your fault,” said Genya, as she walked away.

You limped after her, calling out her name in vain. However, you cornered her at last in her rooms.

“Saints,” you panted, your leg aching horribly. You leaned your cane against a wall and tried catching your breath. “Saints, that hurts.”

“Y/n, please leave,” she said, packing up a bag for herself.

“No!” You said, annoyed. She looked at you at last. “No, Genya, I won’t leave.”

"Why not?" She scoffed. "Look at me, Y/n."

"I always am," you said. "I am always looking at you, Genya."

"Are you, now?" She laughed drily. "Honestly, Y/n, you don't have to pity me, alright? We aren't on the same boat, if that's waht your thinking."

"I have always thought we were oceans apart, Genya. With you all confidence and kindness, while I shrank away from the slightest word spoken to me," you said, your e/c eyes shining in the dim light, making it look like they had stars in them. "But that didn't stop me from loving you."

She looked at you incredulously, "Loving me?"

"Yes," you smiled, limping over to her hesitantly. "Since the day we met, I never stopped loving you. And this day is no diffferent. Scars or no scars, you, Genya Safin, are stronger than Grisha steel, and more beautiful than anyone I have ever encountered. You are a beautiful girl in a broken world, and-and if anything, your scars make you more beautiful in my eyes. It would be my honour to say that I am yours, Genya."

She stepped closer to you, taking your hands in hers. "Can you bear waking up to a scarred old face beside yours every morning?"

"It isn't something to bear, because burdens and problems are what we bear. This is no problem. It is a trophy, a symbol of your victory and strength, my Genya," you smiled. "I understand if you wouldn't want me, though."

"Why wouldn't I want you?" She asked. You were too oblivious, in her opinion. Had you forgotten the nights you both slept together, wrapped up in each other's embrace? The times she'd kiss your forehead to make you feel better? The times she hadn't denied it when people asked her if you and her were a thing?

"I am a cripple now, Genya," you accepted it with a shake of your head. "You protect and care enough for people. I don't need you doing that for me, because it would just add on to your own personal burdens.”

Genya came closer to you, taking your hands in hers. Her seeing eye was a deep gold in the dim light—a shard of the setting sun sparkling with love.

“Have you never noticed that I am in love with you?” she asked, making your heart leap. “Do you know how many times I’ve kissed your forehead, wishing it was your lips? Wishing that we could embrace with just the sheets between our bodies?”

“Um…” you felt yourself lean on her palms slightly. “Sorry,” you nodded at her hands clasping yours a little tighter now, with the weight on them. “But why did you run from me?”

“Don’t be sorry,” she smiled sadly. “I ran because I thought that you would find me ruined now, with this.” She touched her fingers gingerly to her scars.

“Never,” you shook your head, shifting your weight to put more on your good leg, so you could hold her face in your hands. “My Genya, you should never think you aren’t the most gorgeous woman on the face of this planet, because Saints alive, I have never seen a woman so kind, loving, and caring as you. It shows on your face, and it only makes you more breathtaking.”

In the dim light, you saw her blush, just the barest dust of pink under her skin.

“That’s probably the most you’ve spoken in your whole life,” chuckled the redhead, leaning into your touch. It startled you, and in turn, made you blush a rather unsubtle red.

“I-um,” you tried pushing out the words which wanted to leave your lips so desperately, but all you could do as she stepped closer to you was exhale softly, “Genya…”

“That’s the first time you’ve said my name that way,” she smiled, looking up at you slightly as her hands rested on your waist. Her gaze skirted down to your lips and to your eyes as she asked, “May I?”

Your heart leapt, the words struggled again. You nodded wordlessly and she tilted her head up, pressing her slightly dry yet soft lips on yours. The words came again as you both stood there in the dingy underground room, just kissing.

Your heart pounded in your chest, your thumbs stroking her cheeks as you prayed to all the Saints that your palms weren’t sweating. You wanted this moment to last, this first kiss to extend into forever. The world faded around you, the panic of your father’s attack, the fear you felt in front of the Queen, all forgotten as you focused on Genya.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

The words didn’t come, they failed you again. But you didn’t mind this time.

You smiled against her lips, and kept your e/c eyes riveted on her as she pulled away, her face finally cracking into a large, bubbly grin.

You let your hands fall from her face and held her hands in yours, trying not to giggle.

“Did we just do that?” She asked.

Wordlessly, you nodded, folding your lips into your mouth as a loud, childlike giggle threatened to escape your lips.

She leaned up to kiss your cheek and whispered in your ear, “Perhaps we could work on your voice sometime?”

“Um,” you nodded your head and asked, “Would-would you help me?”

“Of course, Y/n,” she smiled.

“I-I’ll speak a hundred words a minute for-for you,” you said, out of breath suddenly. “It will just take some time…”

“We have all the time in the world, my love,” she brushed her thumb gently over your bottom lip, causing a shudder to go down your spine.

You took her hand and kissed it gently, before pressing another kiss to her cheek where her longer scar was.

“All the time in the world,” you repeated with a smile.

She nodded and took your hand, holding it while you grabbed your cane and the both of you walked out of the room, back to where the others were.

As the torchlight cast long shadows on the wall, and you sat beside her silently while the others gave strategies on their next move.

Ever so often you would glance at Genya, who wore a thoughtful look on her face. The dim torchlight fell from behind her, highlighting her profile in gold.

‘Why have you condemned her to suffer such hardships?’ You silently asked the Saints. ‘Why do you make every effort to make her suffer?’

The answer was a simple one, which you could practically hear those damned Saints reply.

Because fate isn’t kind to those who have beauty like hers.

Because she is a beautiful girl in a broken world.

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This one was so sad to write- but I hope you enjoyed it! I am accepting requests, so feel free to send over an anonymous idea or send me a dm <3

[seventfics]

There are many things that I liked about this new SaB season, and many things that I did not. One of the changes that I appreciated that added layers to the story was the integration of another living saint: Sankta Neyar.

yes, we saw a glimpse last season of what the Darkling has historically lived through, and what the toll of outliving everyone you know, over and over again, does to you. we know that the curse of immortality and infinite loneliness are what tie the Darkling and Alina's fates together, more than anything. it's a crucial part to their characters to explain their actions, thought processes and obsessive behaviors.

but Sankta Neyar! she directly, thematically, counters both of them!

"Hundred of years I closed my heart (...) What a safe way to live. What a small way as well."

She's calling the Darkling's way of living is safe. it's the way his mother taught him to live, of course. to be cynical, apathetic, cut off from your heart. when he loves, it's weakness, so he doesn't really let himself love. he obsesses, and maims, and lashes out at the people that disappoint his expectations. it makes him even more isolated.

Sankta Neyar could've easily been another Darkling mirror with this alone, and yet:

"When you allow yourself to be blindsided by love, two worlds make a universe. (...) And I will see him through his days."

An immortal person with a mortal love. this is who Alina would one day be. if only she could accept that it's alright to love someone and lose them. her own naive greed are why the season ends the way it ends, with Mal leaving in search of himself, now that she's taken his power and left him feeling hollow. her committing merzost to bring him back, her trust in that they will come together again, is not so different from what the Darkling is capable of for her. only, instead of closing her heart, she's super-glueing it to someone else. she refuses to let him go! it makes her unpredictably dangerous.

with Sankta Neyar there, we are shown balance: someone who will live every day to the fullest with her love, while still guarding herself and being distrusting of other people's intentions. it's possible to live forever and not lose yourself in the process. incredible! if only the Darkling and Alina had some immortal other than Baghra for influence!

[grishaxverse]

I WASNT AFRAID OF YOU ALINA I WAS AFRAID OF LOSING YOU

[keira63fic]

The Parent Trap (2/?)

Irina Morozova and Keyen Starkova meet at Camp Kuya and become sworn enemies. However, when their antics land them in the Isolation Cabin, though, they discover their identical looks are more than just a coincidence.

The Darklina Parent Trap AU

[lost-in-men-of-letters-bunker]

My Family: How many times have you re-watched Shadow and Bone Season 2?

Me: Yes.

My Family: That's not an answer.

Me: Yes.

[mercutiotakethewheel]

Slice of Life and Love

For @femmefangirl​ who prompted: Just some fluff. I need happy Sapphics. (The fic did end up kind of angsty ngl, but I promise the sapphics are still very much deliriously happy together).

Fandom: Grishaverse

Pairing: Zoyalina

Rating: T

Wordcount: 2604

Summary: Zoya's birthday is coming up. And considering the amount of espionage it took to figure that one out, Alina wasn't all that surprised at the detective work planning her party involved. When it comes to the cake, though, it turns out the smartest girlfriend in the world prizes will not be rolling in. 

ao3 link

Oftentimes, being with Zoya was like pulling teeth. Not in a bad way, per se. She knew what she was getting into when she started dating her. She liked that about her. Enjoyed the challenge, even. Saints’ knew not-for-the-faint-of-heart and tough-nut-to-crack might as well be the text on either side of her calling card.

It was almost like a game. If Alina wanted something from her, and she knew it wasn’t something she’d admit free-of-charge, she either paid the toll, waited her out, or tricked her way past. If it was knowledge she was after, that often meant playing detective about it. Her favorite color? A predictable blue and the result of playing the most purposefully obtuse, obnoxious detective in all of Ravka. What did she want to do with their day off? Guess until she struck gold. What was the title of that book she wanted? Should’ve noted when she asked about it, dumbass. Now it was up to her to casually walk by the store with her and watch her eyes as they went. Then race in before she could buy it for herself. Flowers, food, etc.

So, when her birthday rolled around, which in it of itself took drastic, ethically dubious measures to find the date of (i.e., asking Genya), Alina felt prepared to play it the same old way.

It was supposed to be a surprise, afterall. Wasn’t like she could risk asking her about it anyway.

Unfortunately, Genya also didn’t seem to be a person she could ask. At least as far as cake flavors went.

Apparently, Little Palace birthday cakes had in the past come in the standard plain yellow, wherein they rarely made it far without having heads shoved into them. Also, apparently, Zoya had a reputation for leaving amid the birthday singing before anyone brave or stupid enough could try to shove her own head into the cake.

So, Alina made the executive decision to throw a private, just the two of them kind of affair.

Gifts she already had figured out. Blue wrapping paper. The Song was a given. Decorations obtained from a stash in the Grand Palace with the rest made herself.

Which brought her again to the cake.

Zoya didn’t care much for chocolate. She liked it, but mostly enjoyed it flavored with something else. Vanilla was in much the same situation. Toffee seemed like an option, but then again Alina had never really heard of toffee flavored cake. After adopting the ice box, and the subsequent excitement over ice cream, she knew Zoya favored strawberry ice cream.

But as far as fruits went, she preferred citrus. To the point of no competition. Her tea was always lemony. Her breakfast always came with an orange and if they happened to walk under the fruit trees, an orange was what she was sure to pick up.

So. Orange-glaze it was.

Alina grinned to herself triumphantly, swerving towards the kitchens.

Let the smartest girlfriend in the world prizes trickle in.

~

When it came to dragging Zoya into doing things, there were two sure fire methods. The first was wheedling. Which worked well and good for the average Oh no, the trees look so scary tonight, won’t you hold my hand variety of situations. And which, theoretically, if she was in David’s habit of making and testing hypotheses, followed that if she claimed there was a big hairy, scary spider in their room, would land her in their room for her surprise party.

But Alina was not afraid of spiders. Which was, stupidly, common knowledge.

So things fell to the more straightforward method.

Demands.

“Put this on,” Alina said, tossing a blue silk blind fold into Zoya’s lap.

Turns out bossy women liked it when other women were also bossy. Who knew?

Zoya raised her eyebrow, smirking, as she dropped the report she was working through. She raised a tsking finger. “In the middle of the war room?”

“No, not like that,” she rolled her eyes. “Just put it on.”

Zoya rolled her eyes back, but did as she said. “What are you up to now?” she groused.

“It’s a surprise,” she said, reaching down to pull her up from her chair. She couldn’t help the beginnings of an excited grin from blossoming across her face. Giggling lightly to herself, she threaded her arm into the crook of her elbow and pulled her forward.

“You know, now it really sounds like we’re—”

“Hush, come on,” Alina said, pulling her away from one set of heavy wooden doors, recently painted over along with the interior of the last general’s quarters, and towards another.

White with gold trim, though they’d been talking about re-painting it into something that more suited both their tastes.

Pulling on the handle, she swung the door open with one hand, unthreading her arm to gently push her through the doorway. Following shortly behind, she shut the door behind them, watching Zoya as she reached up for the knot of her blind fold.

“No,” she whined, rushing forward. “Let me.”

Stepping forward, she rocked on to her toes, briefly cupping the warm brown skin of her cheek before pecking her softly on the mouth. Reaching up, she made short work of the knot, ignoring it all together to pull it up and over her head.

“Surprise,” she said, still breathing her girlfriend’s air. “Happy Birthday!”

“Who told you it was my birthday?”

Alina scowled, repeating herself louder. “Happy Birthday, Zoya.”

The birthday girl in question crossed her arms, cocking her kefta-clad hip. “And a very happy un-birthday to you.”

Flipping her off with a shake of her head, Alina pulled a chair out for her. She gestured for her to sit, which she did, plopping down as dramatically as possible. Her hand, though, darted up to squeeze hers, still holding onto the chair-back.

Smiling to herself, she dropped a kiss onto her hair and turned around to grab the stiff-papered hat she’d made her off their desk. She plopped it onto her head, pulling the string around her cloud of black hair and chin.

Zoya scowled, but the angry storm goddess affect was somewhat ruined by the equal opposite squished-down circus clown effect the conical hat provided.

Cackling to herself, she darted off to take care of the cake.

Three-tiered and glistening with white-icing dribbling down the sides, it looked as good as she hoped it might taste. Which it would. The kitchen-staff had never failed her before. Picking up a silver knife, she pushed it into the center of the cake, watching the icing crack and the sponge strain downwards against the pressure before the tension gave and the knife sank into plush orange.

“So,” Zoya started, “how was your day?”

“Good,” Alina shrugged. Then snorted. “Be better if Kuwei would quit trying to set Baghra’s old hut on fire and if the other students would try a little harder too. Oh,” she added, pulling the knife free to wave it around in the air for a brief moment, “and if you and Nikolai would stop bickering through our whole meetings.”

“Poor baby,” she snarked back. “Probably wouldn’t have to bicker with him if you all would just back me up for once.”

“You know how Nikolai is,” Alina shrugged. “I don’t see anything wrong with him taking a little more time before making a decision like that.”

“He’s the king, Alina,” and she could hear the exasperation in her voice. “Sooner he gets married, sooner he pops out a kid. And the sooner he does that, sooner the succession line will be stabilized and people will be less tempted to poke around about his parentage.”

“Hmm,” she said, plating one thick slice, soft yellow flesh laying on its side. Moving that one out of the way, she started on the next slice.

“Besides,” Zoya groused. “I think he does it out of pettiness. Still bitter I stole his first betrothed.”

“Make it up to him. Find him a new bride.”

“I’m trying.”

Chuckling, she dropped her second slice onto a plate. With a retort on her tongue, she scooped up both plates in her arms and turned around, cake jiggling slightly as she went.

Finally facing her, Alina had a front row seat to the way she instantly froze upon catching sight of the cake, mouth straightening into a thin, hard line.

“What?” Alina asked, following her gaze down. “Should I have gotten something else instead?” Rats, she thought. Guessed wrong.

Looking back up, she considered offering to go snatch some pastries instead. She was still frozen, though. Completely still, hands white knuckled around her chair arms.

Alina blinked. Deer in headlights was decidedly not a Zoya trademarked theatric.

No, much more along the lines of an expression she’d seen once or twice on her face and never much wanted to see again. Shit.

Dropping the plates back on the desk, Alina approached her, laying her hand, hopefully comfortingly, on her arm. “What is it?” she asked. “You really don’t like it?”

This, at least, seemed to break whatever stupor she was in. “Of course I fucking like it,” she said, voice angry and brittle, swiping moisture away from her eyes. Her head was turnt, face concealed by her hand, half-shrunken into her kefta.

Alina felt her heart drop into stomach. “Oh, baby,” she muttered, crouching down beside her. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s obviously not.”

“Leave it alone,” she snapped, pulling her arm out of her hold, curling up in the far corner of her seat.

“Ok,” Alina said, blinking, standing back up. “We don’t have to talk about it, obviously. Not if you don’t want to.” Backing up from her seat, she leaned against the table instead, crossing her arms behind her back. “I’m sorry though, if—”

“My mother used to make me this cake.” Zoya blurted out, and she felt her mouth snap closed. Mother? Alina had never heard anything about a mother before. “Ok. Are you happy?” She looked at her and away, jaw clenched. She crossed her arms.

“Oh,” she said, slowly. Frankly, she’d been under the impression her mother was dead. Like hers. Or had given her up when she’d presented as Grisha or something. Sure, she’d heard about her aunt, met her flowers. The niece’s too. But no mother. Or father, for that matter. “Ok,” she nodded, “no cake, then.”

“No,” Zoya said, waving her hand in the clearing the air motion. “Let’s eat the fucking cake.”

Alina raised her eyebrow.

“Please,” she huffed. As if that was the point.

She looked at her for a long hard moment, but did, indeed, turn back to grab the cake. Handing over the plate, she watched Zoya just stare at it for one long hard moment, nostrils flared, death-gripping her fork. Before she stabbed into it with a violent thwunk, tearing off a chunk of sponge. She shoved into her mouth, chewing fast and angry and barely giving herself enough time before she tore off the next chunk.

Alina reached for her own slice, slowly cutting into it. Brining a bite to her mouth, eyes still on Zoya, she was barely able to hold back a moan. Bad timing, obviously, but the cooks really had outdone themselves.

Zoya’s eyes darted up, pausing, roiling storm blue eyes pinning her into place. “Delicious, right?” She looked away. “It was always my favorite.”

“Right,” Alina said, waiting for more.

Zoya shrugged. “She used to make it for me. Not very often, but on special occasions, this is always what she made.”

“Like your birthday?”

“No,” she said. “Whenever I did something good. When I’d made her happy, made her forget for a second what a disappointment everything’d turned out to be. Meant I was good, and I was her perfect, pretty girl, and that things were okay right now. Meant I was okay.”

She shrugged again.

“Zo,” she murmured, setting down the cake. Getting up, she perched on the chair arm instead, opening her arms up. An offering, if she wanted it.

Dropping her own piece, Zoya wrapped her arms around her, sniffling into her stomach. She wrapped her own around her, squeezing her shoulder.

“You’re always good, Zoya. Perfect, even.” Pulling her head back, she looked at her, vehement. “You’re always doing things that are good. That’s just how your heart is, Zo.”

“Shut up, Starkov,” she muttered, hiding her face back in the folds of her coat.

Alina rolled her eyes. “None of that,” she said, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

“The only time I was ever good for my mother, she was sending me away,” she growled, muffled by thick blue fabric. “Nearly pulled it off, too. Proud mother of a child bride.” Saints, Alina mouthed, absently rubbing her back. “Liliyana had to intervene. And what does madraya do? Nothing. Just sat there and watched.” She chuckled mirthlessly. “That’s when my powers showed.

“Course, then Liliyana took me here. And she got the pretty penny out of it. Not her. So, ha.”

“Oh, milaya. I’m sorry.”

“Eh. Whatever. I ended up okay, didn’t I?” She pulled back, drying her eyes out. “Besides, it's not your fault.”

Alina tilted her head, squinting. “Eh, this kind of is,” she said, nodding to her stupid, stupid idea.

“No, it’s nice to have it, really. I haven’t in a really long time.” She scooped up her hand, lacing their fingers together. “I really do like it, you know,” she said, looking at her out of the corner of her eye. “Thank you. Really.”

Alina half-smiled, playing with her fingers. She nodded.

“Most parties involve presents,” she said, clearing her throat. Coyly sniffing, she added, “In case you didn’t know.”

Snorting, Alina nudged her. “Ok, ok. Tell me you know I love you first?”

Zoya sent her a dead-pan, exasperated look. “Yeah, yeah,” she said. “I love you too.”

“Good,” she said, sliding off of the green-and-gold embroidered arm. Walking off to where she’d stashed the gifts, admittedly messily wrapped, she pulled them out from behind the sofa, picking them up by the ribbon.

“Come here,” Zoya said from behind her, grinning shakily when she turned around. Eyes still slightly bloodshot. She patted her thigh.

“I think it’s supposed to go the other way,” Alina teased.

“Please, I’m the birthday girl,” She said, raising her chin haughtily. “It goes however I want it to go.”

Barking out a laugh, Alina acquiesced, dropping herself and the gifts into Zoya’s lap. Fluttering her lashes at her, she wrapped an arm around her shoulders and handed her the first gift. A small box, coated in pastel-paper and uneven creases.

Holding it up to her ear, Zoya shook it lightly. “Ooo,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “What could it possibly be?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you find out?”

She did so, slicing at the adhesive with her fingernail. Undoing one side, she slid out the white box and popped it open, revealing a silver chain with an engraved lightning bolt on the end.

Biting her lip, Alina watched for her reaction.

Smiling, Zoya handed her the chain, reaching behind her head to hold her hair up for her.

Grinning, Alina took it from her, securing the clasp at the back of her head. Cupping her cheek, she went in for a kiss.

Zoya seized her kefta, hauling her against her. Her other arm snaked against her waist as she kissed back with all the fervidity of an angry wasp.

All for all, it was a pretty good birthday party. Or, at least a pretty good first shot at one.

[pikawhooo]

Doom Upon The World

A/N: This is a series I’ve already started and posted here. Decided to bring it here as well, maybe it’ll break my writers block? Here to hoping! Eventually all chapters available there will be brought over here once re-edited. Would love to hear any thoughts, ideas, criticisms ya’ll have!

Pairing: Aleksander x Alina

What if Baghra’s motives for separating Aleksander and Alina were far more… sinister?

I’d had plans for the Sun Summoner for hundreds of years. How to control her, to use her against our enemies, and yet… It all seemed to disappear when she finally came into my life. Alina Starkov. My Sun Summoner. My equal. My other half. I'd never truly understood the concept of soulmates until her. I hadn’t realized how much of myself was missing until she had been quiet literally dragged into my life.

Previous Chapter Next Chapter Chapter Index

Chapter 3: Fear

But Aleksander would protect me, I knew that like I knew the sky was blue. It frightened me how certain of it I was.

"Aleksander…" I breathed, pulling against Bahgra's hold. The old woman was stronger than she looked however, and I felt strangely weak. There was a horrid feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

But Aleksander would protect me, I knew that like I knew the sky was blue. It frightened me how certain of it I was.

I wanted- needed- an explanation, something to reconcile the two dueling versions of him in my mind. There was the Black Heretic, a man they said created the Fold out of greed, a demon who doomed hundreds to fates worse than death, something evil, something to be feared. Someone I felt so far from knowing. Then Aleksander. The Black General. The Darkling. The man who saved my life. Fearsome to be sure, but no monster. He wanted what was best for his people, defended them ruthlessly. He wanted somewhere safe for them, after so many years of pain. How could they be one and the same? I thought I was beginning to understand him.

I needed to be free of the old woman's punishing grip, needed space to calm my racing thoughts, to make a decision. If I was wrong about him, what was I dooming myself to if I stayed? And what if I wasn't? I’d never felt as comfortable as I did here, in the Little Palace. It wasn’t just the material comforts, it was the people. The Grisha had overwhelmingly accepted me as one of their own, didn’t care that I was a Half Shu orphan. Nearly everyone I’d met had a similar, or worse, story. But that didn’t matter anymore, because we weren’t alone anymore. We are Grisha. It felt so freeing to finally have a people and a place to call home. Could I risk losing that? Did I want to?

You are not alone. I couldn’t help but remember his eyes as my fingers closed around his wrist and my light burst out to push his shadows away. They’d been filled with such gentleness and relief it made me want to kiss him, comfort him, love him. I shook my head quickly, forcing the thoughts away and tried to tug free again.

But Bahgra refused to break her hold. I didn't want to hurt the older woman, but an inky fear was creeping up my spine. Somethings not right. Perhaps I could blind her just enough to release me? But then what? What would I do? Run? Stay? I certainly was not going anywhere with her, but where else could I go? I couldn't worry about that yet. I drew my hands together, as much as I was able, and willed my light forward. Nothing came. Not even a flicker. I tried again, my breathing quickening in fear. Nothing. I couldn’t even feel it.

Aleksander's eyes had snapped to me, a strange emotion I’d never seen in his eyes. Fear, I realized, even as my own panic set in. Why couldn't I call my light? It should be too easy, Baghra was an amplifier, same as her son. All it took was a touch from Aleksander and I could summon as easily as breathing. All I felt now was weak.

Bahgra's grip was tight- too tight -and strong, and she pulled us another few steps back. Aleksander mirrored our steps quickly, a few stray shadows drawing even closer, though not enough to gain the old woman's attention.

"I can't-I don't... what is going on?" I didn't know who the question was directed at. I tried to quell the panic, though not very successfully, my heart was racing and my breathing labored. I wanted to pull away, wanted to call the comfort and protection my light would provide. But still nothing came. I could hardly move, hadn't felt this weak since before I came to the Little Palace, before I started using my powers regularly. Hadn't realized how much my light felt like part of me, until I couldn't touch it. It felt unnatural to be without it.

"I've told you already, girl. You are leaving." Baghra's tone had sounded concerned in the beginning, spinning her tale of how evil her son was, how he only wanted to manipulate me. Now it was cold, filled with venom. Her shadows curled closer around us. They felt nothing like the shadows Aleksander had summoned before, these felt oppressive, like they wanted to smother me, suck the very light from me. I tried to yank away again, but the old woman's grip would not yield.

Thankfully I heard what sounded like footsteps, approaching quickly. I tried not to breathe out a sign of relief, unsure if the two Shadow summoners heard them.

"No. She is not. Let her go, Mother." Aleksander practically growled as Ivan and Feydor appeared behind their general, pausing to assess the situation. Baghra eyed them warily, searching for any signs of the Heartrender pair using their gifts.

I nearly jumped when a tendril of shadow wrapped itself around my free wrist. I forced myself not to react further, not daring to look. Though it was cold to the touch, it still elicited the same electricity as its master's touch always seemed to. Aleksander. The shadow squeezed my wrist in what felt strangely like comfort, the pressure surprisingly soothing. Its like I could feel his hands again, steading me, calming me, filling me with power and surety. My light was at the tips of my fingers again, and I nearly cried in relief. The loss of my powers, even for those few moments, made me feel so empty, so vulnerable. Like all the most important parts of me were missing, and I decided quickly that I never wanted to feel that way again, never wanted to be without them again.

While Baghra's gaze remained fixed on the Heartrender duo, I carefully formed a dull sphere of light in my free palm. As they came to a stop a few steps behind Aleksander, I lashed quickly out at the old woman, pulling on all my borrowed strength to brighten my golden light into a blinding hot white. The sphere missed Bahgra's face by mere inches, distracting her enough that I could finally wrench free. I stubbled back away from them quickly, my powers surging back fully and I threw out another ball of blinding light, brighter than the last, at the ancient woman. When the light died out, Baghra was gone.

"Do not let her get far." Ivan and Feydor were quick to action, hurrying past, deeper down the dark tunnel, leaving us alone. Now what am I going to do? I looked anywhere but him. I rubbed my newly freed wrist, noting the bruise already forming. I could feel Aleksander watching me, and when he took a small step toward me I glanced up at him.

"Alina." He stepped closer, reaching out to me. I couldn't help taking a retreating step back, still unsure. He looked almost hurt, before schooling his expression into an indifferent mask, dropping his hand. His shadow slid away from my wrist, returning to its place at its masters side. I forced myself not to reach for it, my fingers twitching against the urge. Already missing it's strangely calming pressure around my wrist, the safety and calm it had sparked was fading away, leaving only the fear and pain.

But I couldn't let myself get distracted. I had to know the truth. Had to know if had been all a manipulation, if he had truly planned to take my power for his own. If he had truly cared for me at all. If this was just some game to him.

"Is it true? What your mother said about your plans for the stag, your plans for me." I couldn’t keep my voice from trembling. An unfamiliar pang of guilt hit me after I spoke, but was gone as quickly as it had come.

"Can we discuss this elsewhere? It’s not safe here anymore." Aleksander asked, hesitantly coming closer again, and I forced myself not to flinch away again. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. It was not a terrible idea, though it would certainly be much more difficult to escape, if need be. Was that still an option? Could I be safe with Baghra out there? Would he even let me go? I did not know what the old woman wanted from me, but it was certainly nothing good. Was here any better? What did Aleksander really want from me? Even though I knew I was safe with him, that did not mean he couldn’t betray me. Keeping me safe did not mean keeping me free.

"Fine. But I want answers."

[euphoniumpets]

Always noticed you | Nikolai Lantsov x Starkov! reader x Kaz Brekker | PART TWO

Summary: after running away from Nikolai, the crows got a message to find you and not long after, you got to meet dirtyhands where they convince you later to help them and find the sword from the neshyenyer while kaz brekker is not trying to fall for you.

Warnings: violence and angst, mention of Kaz's ptsd and phobia.

A/N: here's part two and part one can you read it here!

Not long after the crows recieved the message from the prince and the Sun Summoner of finding you, the crows didn't waste a second to begin their search. However, Kaz had not the slightest idea of finding you for the first time in his life, but to their luck, he found you.

Nikolai had begged them to find you, knowing that if people knew that the Sun Summoner's sister was outside far from the grand palace and out or reach from their protection, he didn't want to think that would happen if you were in danger because of him.

Tolya and Tamar had offered to go and find the crows while looking for you and the sword of neshyenyer.

After packing your things in the spinning wheel and then leaving off without leaving a note, you found yourself in Shu Han. You knew that your mother was from Shu Han however, you got a little information from your parents when you were younger. You didn't knew about much of your past ever since you and Alina was sent to the orphange.

Shu Han was a beautiful place. A place filled with color and different food that you enjoyed during your time. It was at that point you realized that you missed venturing out the unknown while you tried to survive for your sister.

You knew that if you wasn't there, you wouldn't bothering them and the people wouldn't know that you are the Sun Summoner's sister, but you were wrong.

After strolling in the market, you found yourself running from your life after hearing that they wanted you to get through the Sun Summoner and the prince.

You were panting hard, trying to dodge the crowd at the market while not trying to bump into their stuff while trying to find a way out. You didn't know where to go next and you were terrified.

The next thing you knew, you were in a dead end. You sighed before turning around slowly and saw the men surrounding you. You, however, raised your fist and prepared for a fight as you tried to remembered the leassons that Zoya gave you back at the little palace.

However, a knife was suddenly thrown behind their backs and you saw some of them collapsing to their knees and to the ground. You furrowed your brows when you saw a familiar face approaching and knocked the man out with his cane.

''Huh, on point, actually,'' You breathed out and gestured toward the men.

Kaz only gave you an amusing expression as he always did. ''Did you really expect us to be that low?''

''You are gangsters and from what I recall the last time we met each other, you are the brains for the crows and the one who kidnapped me and my sister,'' You remarked as Inej, Jesper, and two familiar faces appeared but you didn't knew the second female next to them. You assumed that she was also a heartrender because she took down one of the men. You ignored how Kaz rolled his eyes toward your remark.

''Nice throw,'' You commented to Inej, making her smile at you before you. Upon noticing, the gang surrounded you in the dead end, making you thinking that they were there to bring you back to the spinning wheel.

''Great, here to kidnap me again?'' You asked and turned to Kaz. ''They want you back, I'm only here to do the job,'' Kaz responded, making you sigh. Of course, you had expected that Nikolai would beg the crows to bring you back to the spinning wheel before the general found you.

You knew that you could take care of yourself and weren't to let him take you back. ''Then, good luck of catching me again,'' You spoke, turning on your heel before Kaz placed his cane in front of you to stop you.

''I wouldn't do that if I were you,'' Zoya announced herself, making you roll your eyes at her.

''Wait,'' You heard his response and you turned to look at him. ''If you're not going back, then you're going with us,'' He responded and you looked at him with a frown. ''We're looking for the sword of neshyenyer, and we need your help,'' Inej spoke and you scoffed.

''With what? With my useless talent?'' You questioned.

''You're not useless, you are a map maker, aren't you?'' Kaz asked.

''I was,'' You corrected him. ''Then you know the story behind it and the information we could gather,'' Kaz replied.

''So, are you in?'' You heard Jesper asking you, making you sigh heavily and drop your shoulders in defeat.

''Yes,'' You replied and rolled your eyes as Kaz smirked slighty and dropped his cane.

-

Kaz Brekker was not the one who believed in saints of love. No saint was ever there for him during the fire pox and when Jordie died and he stopped believed in love at the moment when he fell for Inej.

Falling in love was a dangerous to him and if people knew (more like his enemies) his weakest spot, his work would be destroyed. He had tried to build something ever since Kaz Brekker was born since Kaz Rietveld wasn't capable of doing it.

When he met you, it was an odd time. He had seen you, even when Alina was put out first and he noticed that you were always in the background when no one else noticed. He noticed the smallest thing when he first saw you back at the little palace when they announced the Sun Summoner existed.

After all, to him, you were easier to read.

He saw something back there in your eyes, the longing love for the general, the sneaky glances between you went unnoticed by everyone, everyone except for him. The pain in your eyes could be seen by him and he knew at the moment you loved the general, but the general had already chosen your sister.

He could somewhat relate because your story was the same as he had with Inej. The longing of someone was crawling deep inside of him but when he confessed his love for her, Inej didn't felt the same.

The guilt of oversharing his feelings for someone that didn't share the same suffocated him and it took months for him to get over it.

That was the last time when he saw you after seperating through the Fold. He had asked you to come with them back to Ketterdam, but you said to him maybe another time when times were calmer and when Alina had taken the Fold, then maybe, you would be there with him.

And when he had gotten the note from the prince to find you, he couldn't help but to feel excitment to see you again after being seperated for months.

To him, you weren't useless. He saw something in you that many didn't see clearly. You were intelligent and knowing the routes of the maps was making it easier to them to find the sword of Neshyenyer.

All of you headed back to a cafe in the market as Kaz had informed the plan. ''The Neshyenyer? Sankta Neyar's blade?'' Nina asked with disbelief on her face as she looked at the group.

You were also surprised by the news as soon Kaz had read the letter that Nikolai had sent him. You figured it out that Nikolai had also written to him that they would find you before anyone else did. ''So, you haven't forgotten what you were taught at the little palace,'' Zoya remarked and looked at Nina.

''Just your loyalty to Ravka,''

''Ravka? Or Kirigan? It didn't take him destroying a city for me to question my loyalty,'' Nina replied. ''So, now that we all know that you two have history,'' Jesper cut in and looked between them.

''What's the payment for this job?'' Jesper asked.

''Name your price,'' Tolya responded. ''It matters that much,''

''Obviously,'' You responded and rolled your eyes and crossed your arms above your chest. ''Is that the Lantsov crest?'' Wylan asked and looked at the letter that Nina held. ''You know because it's hideous,'' You remarked as Zoya looked at you with a deadpanned look.

''Prince Nikolai requested your services to bring back her,'' Tolya remarked and pointed at you. ''And to find the sword and deliver the sword to Alina Starkov in East Ravka,''

''She's returned?'' Nina asked.

''As has the Darkling,'' You spoke. ''With an indestructible army of shadow monsters,'' You informed them.

''Then what are you doing here instead to be with your sister?'' Nina asked you with a concerned expression.

''It's complicated,''

-

Not long after Zoya and Tolya tried to bargain their price to the Crows and they walked in seperated ways to prepare to find the sword. You trailed over your glass at the bar, lost in your thoughts as you didn't hear the footsteps from behind.

''I'm not going back, not after we have found the sword if that's what you're thinking,'' You spoke when you noticed Zoya stood next to you, signalling the bartender to give her the same drink as you had.

''If that's what you're thinking, you know I'm not going easy on you then,'' Zoya commented. ''Whatever happened between you and prince Nikolai, you need to let it go,'' Zoya responded.

''I know how hard it has been, but life's at are stake here,''

''You may think that I'm harsh, but face it, Y/N, he loved you, maybe he still does, but at one point, we all need to pick sides at the end,''

''I'm not taking anyone sides here,'' You argued. ''Then you have to at one point, this is war, get your head together,'' Zoya replied.

''You're right,'' You replied with a sulking expression as Zoya looked at you with wide eyes. ''Whatever happened between me and Nikolai, it's not worth it,'' You responded and turned to face her.

''So, you're over it?'' Zoya asked with an eyebrow raised.

''I know it's going to be hard, but i try not to care,'' You responded before she shrugged her shoulders and took the alcohol and held it up. You grabbed your glass and clinked it before you drank the alcohol burning in your throat.

Not far from the bar, Kaz had his eyes lingering on you from the distance as he promised to himself that he would try to be the better man but he can't do that when the demons inside of his head.

-

ngl struggled to write the last part but i hope you guys enjoyed of ''kaz'' version of y/n. might write a part three soon!

[stromuprisahat]

Hi! I was reading your post about Alina and I just asked myself a question. How, in your opinion, the Show creators created their discrimination against Shu? Because I just notice something: are they trying to show racism because they are of a different ethnic group or xenophobia because they are from the country they are at war with? Not that it changes it's discrimination and all, but I think it could tell a lot about how they perceive the world they have recreated from the book because sometimes I have the impression they had forgotten that the country is at war for a lot of time. Same, I wonder how Alina can be half shu. Like how could their parents meet and fall in love in this context for example. Because people have never taken well when a couple was formed between countries at war, etc. Anyway, I hope my english is not too bad.

They were trying to make the viewer sympathetic without delving into whys. After second season, we can be totally sure, since they completely dropped Alina's Shu storyline, except for one rather stupid mention about visiting Ahmrat Jen. War with Shu Han is non-existent, since Zoya & co. can parade around its cities freely- Ravkans and Grisha alike.

In my opinion it's a waste of perfectly good forbidden love... I mean... over ten years later and I'm crying almost everytime I hear Forbidden ~Friendship~. Make it into half decent romance between mama and papa Starkov and I'd cry my eyes out for them and their little girl.

All of that's sacrificed for shallow portrayal of simple colour-coded hatred with no deeper reasoning than looks.

I'm also pretty certain Alina isn't the only product of such mésalliance and since military service is one of few possible career options in Ravka, she won't be unique enough to bully so hard only because of her face. Yeah, there will be some assholes, but why give her more reasons to turn against Ravka?

That said, Alina's changed ethnicity would work even better with the original reason she's an orphan- her parents died during border skirmish in books. Picture two people falling in love despite the odds, facing disapproval left and right, making home near borders, where there are others like them, but in constant danger one of the sides could attact any time... even better if we admit Alina knew about her light, was warned by her parents about using it, since they heard rumours about Shu treatment of Grisha (aka why stay on Ravkan side of the line), then one day, she disobeyed... the day their village got attacked and although she wasn't found by the raiders, her subconsciousness blamed herself for their deaths and she forgot about her Light until the Fold...

[manyfandomocs]

Grishaverse OC Introductions

Alright here we are, possibly the most ocs for a new fandom I’ve had but I can’t help it it happened this way. Big shoutout to @randomestfandoms-ocs for helping with faces and also just hearing me talk about these guys the past couple days (also tagging @daughter-of-melpomene and @dancingsunflowers-ocs since ik they have grishaverse ocs)

Anastasia Beketov (Summer Bishil FC), The Darkling ship. Named for Sankta Anastasia, she was raised under the same ideals of selflessness and kindness. Except until the test. She was Grisha, and then she was leaving her family behind for the Little Palace to train for the Second Army. Anastasia was a Heartrender, able to control people and that power was an exciting one to have, if dangerous. She rose in the ranks, becoming a very skilled and valuable member of the Second Army. Valuable enough that she got the attention of General Kirigan, Aleksander, as he wished for her to call him. And soon they were spending more time together, which turned to late nights and though Anastasia did still believe in the power of the Saints, she wasn’t going to deny the power the General had over her as well. When the Sun Summoner is found, an orphan by the name of Alina Starkov, she is prepared to keep her place with Aleksander through whatever means necessary.

Casimir Dubovskoy (Bradley James FC), The Darkling ship. Ever since he was a boy, Casimir wanted to serve in the Second Army, just as his parents had done before him. His mother was a Squallor and his father was a Healer, and though it had been the hope he would take after his mother, he didn’t. But Casimir didn’t let that bother him, taking his training at the Little Palace quite seriously, until he could heal just about any wound. Still, it wasn’t enough to complete his other goal, become closer to the General. He was enchanted with the man, but so were many others in the army and a healer, no matter how talented, couldn’t easily become close to him. That is until the Sun Summoner.

Mikhail Morozova Balinski (Richard Madden FC), Mileva Kalugin ship. Mikhail was an Inferni, a talented Inferni though not one that was very high in the Second Army, not that anyone would say he hasn’t tried. The Grisha all know how, more than almost any other soldier, Mikhail wanted to be seen by General Kirigan to no avail. The others weren’t sure why, it just seemed as if he was indifferent to the Etheralki. But the Sun Summoner threatens to change things, and maybe one way or another, Mikhail will get his father to notice him.

Anatoly Morozova Kirigan (Thomas Doherty FC), TBD on ship I’m feeling like 3 options right now. Being a Shadow Summoner was a lonely life, that’s what Aleksander always told him. But Anatoly never really felt lonely, he had Aleksander, he had Mikhail in private, he had the other Grisha at the Little Palace, it may have been hard to be one of the few to control what he can, but he made the best of it. So to the public, he was Anatoly Kirigan, younger brother of the feared and respected General. In private, he knew his father was planning to expand his power, they just had to wait for the time. And when Alina Starkov is found, he must learn what it truly means to be the Darkling’s heir

Mileva Kalugin (Lily James FC), Mikhail Balinski ship. Mileva wasn’t built for war, that’s what most of the Grisha at the Little Palace believed. She was too kind, too helpful, it was no wonder General Kirigan tended to pass her over. She was a Tidemaker, she could have been a little better with her powers but she was still good, and she was more excited than anyone what it could mean when the Sun Summoner was brought to them, the end of The Fold, the beginning of a new age for Ravka, if only it were that easy.

Dimitri Chanov (Logan Lerman FC) Jesper Fahey ship. Dimitri Chanov did not belong in the Barrel. He was kind, too kind, and too positive. Anyone that saw him believed him to be an easy mark, which is what Jesper thought when he showed up at the Crow Club. But Dimitri wasn’t easy, he was perceptive and quick and as soon as Jesper looked away for a moment, Dimitri was gone. Of course, he was still there, just looked a little different. A little change in the face and Jesper didn’t know where he was. Which was a fun game for Dimitri, one that he liked to play anytime he visited the Crow Club and saw the man. Until the day he finally spoke to Jesper, when he learned there was more charm to the sharpshooting gambler than he expected, and Jesper learned what a Grisha who could change appearances was doing hiding out in the Barrel

Liliya Grankin (Alexandra Dowling FC), Nina Zelnik and Matthias Helvar ship. Durasts weren’t really fighters in the Second Army, which was fine with Liliya, she may have wanted a chance to better defend herself but she was very content staying in the workshops at the Little Palace, one who had few friends aside from a Heartrender named Nina. The girl visited her every now and then, and she always enjoyed the company, until Nina went on a special mission, and then they didn’t hear from her. Liliya wasn’t sure what happened, but she had a bad feeling so, against her better judgement and against others warnings, she escaped the Little Palace to look for her. Who knew she’d find her with a (admittedly handsome) drüskelle along the way

Dušan Stanek (Brenton Thwaites FC), Nikolai Lantsov ship. Dušan knew he could have had a good life, the son of a wealthy merchant, he could have had a safe and moderately wealthy life. But Dušan didn’t want that. He wanted to do more, see more, and that led him to the sea. He worked on a few ships, but his goal was the Volkvony. Everyone had heard of Sturmhond, and that was the man Dušan wanted to follow. It took time, but he managed to get aboard. And Sturmhond was even more charismatic than he imagined.

Ulyana Palkin (Bruna Marquezine FC), Nikolai Lantsov ship. Ulyana was not usually considered a nice Grisha. She focused on her training, her life as a Tidemaker so she can help the general and Ravka. It was her greatest honor in life, even if it meant she didn’t make a lot of friends. But when the Sun Summoner, Alina Starkov, came to the Little Palace, she managed to get through Ulyana’s barriers to become friends. Which proves useful when it’s revealed their own general wants to expand the Fold, and along the way Ulyana meets the most annoying and reckless prince in existence.

[the-witch-of-woods-beyond]

genuinely going to murder the next person who says they hate a character for being a “crybaby” because LITERALLY what do you mean????? what do you mean that the CHILD (because it usually is) who has lost EVERYTHING can’t cry without being ridiculed by the fandom?????

elena gilbert lost her parents and was suffering with depression and survivor’s guilt even BEFORE the supernatural came into her life and she was hunted and treated like an object and DIED, clarke griffin lost her dad and her mum and her childhood best friend and her DAUGHTER and everyone she ever loved and on top of that was blamed for EVERYTHING she did to save her people when she was still only 17, alina starkov was dragged into a war she had no place in and had no idea how to control her power only to have it taken from her when she finally accepted it by the man who was manipulating her and then fought him with everything she had and killed him and saved her country and THEN LOST HER POWER AGAIN for “greed”, eleven hopper was experimented on in a lab her entire life and escaped and had no idea how to function in society and opened herself up only to lose her father figure and thought that she was a monster because of everything she'd done to protect her friends.

what do you mean you looked at these characters and so many others like them and called them weak and weepy and said they “annoyed you” because they dealt with their grief in a realistic and messy way like ANYBODY WOULD. and you all know that if you went through even a third of their pain then you would be even worse!!!!

[steponmeinejghafa]

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Hi there! I'm Anne, and I see you've stumbled upon my humble corner of he internet. Below is a masterlist of all my imagines, to make searching a bit easier!

Requests are: Open [✔] Closed [•]

Rules: 1. No smut for the boys because I am canonically a lesbian <3 At most I will write fluffy stuff for them. 2. Only parental/platonic/sibling imagines for Wylan because he is my precious gay child. 3. No age gap, no incest (because yuck wtf), absolutely NO teacher x reader, however 'legal' it may be. 4. Only tame kinks in smuts (Like praise, degradation, choking at most. Mommy kinks to a definite minimum.) 5. I am hopeless at poly imagines and relationships so please- don't-don't ask for them.

Character lists below the cut <3

Zoya Nazyalensky

Miniseries

First Bench Pt.1

First Bench Pt. 2

First Bench Pt.3

First Bench Pt.4

First Bench Pt.5 (TW)

First Bench Pt.6 (Coming Soon)

Fluff

Touch Starved

After Hours

Hot Chocolate

A Little Too Much

Smut

Angst

Parent

Alina Starkov

Miniseries

Fluff

I’m Here

Serial Cuddler

Sick (Coming Soon!)

Smut

Angst

Dear Alina

Parent

Little Disturbance (Darklina)

Malyen Oretsev

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Aleksander Morozov

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Little Disturbance (Darklina)

Genya Safin

Miniseries

Fluff

Smut

Angst

Beautiful Girl in a Broken World

Parent

Nikolai Lantsov

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Tamar Kir-Bataar

Miniseries

Fluff

Smut

Angst

Nadia Zhabin

Miniseries

Fluff

Smut

Angst

Kaz Brekker

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Jesper Fahey

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Wylan Van Eck

Miniseries

Parent/Platonic/Sibling

Inej Ghafa

Miniseries

Face In The Crowd Pt.1

Face In The Crowd Pt.2

Face In The Crowd Pt.3

Fluff

Smut

Angst

Parent

Nina Zenik

Miniseries

Fluff

Just How You Like It

Dance With Me

Smut

Tease

Angst

Parent

Matthias Helvar

Miniseries

Fluff

Angst

Parent

Little Crow Series

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Ships (Child!reader)

Malina

Genyadavid

Zoyalai

Work Break (Coming Soon!)

Helnik

Kanej

Tamadia

Wesper

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[hiraeth-witch-11]

The Greed of Men Part 2

Warnings: mentions of violence, The Darkling

Word count: 1200ish

“How were you missed by the testers?” That’s the first question he asks you. Not entirely what you had expected.

“The same way Alina did. I taught her how to do it. All it takes is a little pain to fool most testers.”

“You kept her from me?” The Darkling asks in carefully controlled anger.

“I didn’t know what she was, just that she felt different. I kept a young girl from being sent off to war,” you correct.

“But you knew what you were by then. Didn’t you?” It’s not a question.

“Yes.” You began summoning somewhere around 6 or 7, old enough to know about Grisha, too young to really understand. Your parents did, though. They seemed to think beating you would get rid of the ‘Black Heretic’s Corruption’. It didn’t. Instead it made you sneaky, controlled, hyper aware of the people around you and resistant to pain. You learned to use your summoning in small, less noticeable ways. You could pick a lock without moving your hands, tie a note in a rope you couldn’t see, stitch torn clothing to appear temporarily mended. You could even sink yourself into the shadows and out of sight. 

“How long have you known?” A question you don’t want to answer.

“Since I was a child.”

“And your family? The people you were born to, did they share the same ability?

“No.”

“Surely someone would have spread the news of a new shadow summoner not of my line. You hid from my testers, but how did you hide from the rest of Ravka?”

“Carefully.”

“Are you being willfully obtuse or are you just dimwitted?” The insult is said evenly, testing the waters.

“It would be so much easier for you if it was the latter. Wouldn’t it?” You grin.

“Too easy, I suppose,” he murmurs. “How did you come to arrive at the orphanage?”

“I ran away from home at 12. Living on the streets was dangerous. I chose the safety of the orphanage until I aged out.”

“Why did you run?”

“Why do you think?” You snap. He raises an eyebrow both in question and warning. “A Shadow Summoner born into a non Grisha family who lived their life within sight of the fold? I was lucky they didn’t burn me the moment they first saw me summon.”

You’re grateful he doesn’t continue to pry, you don’t know how much you could stand to tell him tonight. Instead he asks a question that fills you with shame. One of the rare things in life you regret. “Does she know?”

“No, I plan on telling her tonight. Granted that you hold true to your word, of course.” You really shouldn’t be taunting a man who has decades of summoning practice on you. You honestly don’t know how old he is, rumor has it he’s over a century. His face is young, but his eyes have a depth to them you haven’t seen before. 

The Darkling pauses to think for a moment before saying, “No. It could be advantageous to keep your summoning secret for the time being.”

“I’ve kept it a secret from her for long enough. It’s bad enough that I told you first, she’s going to be livid.”

“Be that as it may, having the element of surprise may help you keep her safe. Would it not?”

“Don’t you pull that manipulation bullshit on me, Shadow Man. Unless you give me a specific reason and a timeline, I am telling her tonight.”

The Darkling glares at you, likely for both your attitude and nickname for him. It’s honestly one of the more attractive ones.

“Give me a week. I would like to appraise your capability for myself, in private. At that point, we can discuss whether or not to tell the younger Ms. Starkov and, consequently, the rest of Ravka.”

“Tell me what happened to the letters Mal and I sent and it’s a deal,” you counter.

“They were read and burned.” He’s direct and emotionless.

“Read by whom?” Your voice is almost a growl. Saints, this man is a piece of work.

“Me.”

“So you read me begging my baby sister to let me know she was okay, for months, and didn’t allow any communication to get through?” Your voice is a viper’s hiss, the warning before a strike. The room darkens and you aren’t sure which of you is causing it this time.

“It would have been a security risk to allow communication between the three of you.” He’s unphased. You’re angry, abnormally so. Usually you have a tight grip on your temper, but you have spent months trying to get to your sister. Weeks of searching for news, only to find out she’s been presented at the Grand Palace upon arrival. You had tried to get into the Little Police the official way multiple times and you had been denied. At this point, Soldat Sol was becoming an increasing noise in the ears of the people. You chose to take some time evaluating the threat before you essentially turned yourself over to the most dangerous man on the continent. You had killed to protect her, taking out the most vile of the cult, the ones who would see her sacrificed to the fold. You would do it again in a heartbeat. You had little remorse for people who would so easily harm a child. Alina may be of adult age, barely at that, but she was still so young and naive to the ways of the world.

“Bullshit, Darkling. You wanted her isolated, no friends but the ones you allowed her. You wanted her to come to you, before anyone else. I heard about the ambush and your dashing rescue on the way to Os Alta. I wouldn’t be surprised if you arranged that to make yourself her hero,” you spit.

The Darkling’s shadows fill the room. His dark feels different from your own, but familiar in a way you can’t place. You can still see him through the dark and you watch him stalk towards you. You hold your ground and show no fear. You know he won’t kill you. That would ruin whatever trust he’s built with Alina. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of your fear.

“I have never and will never put Alina in harm's way. I have protected her from the King, the court, radicalists, fanatics, and assassins. She has been fed, sheltered, and taught. Her wasting sickness healed. In all honesty, what can you do that I cannot?”

He’s within arm’s reach, staring down his nose at you, but his towering form doesn’t deter you as you answer, “I can keep her safe from you.”

You were surprised he had let you go so easily after that. Alina had been biting her nails when you opened the door. The Darkling announced his decision to let you stay, adding that he would like to take some time to get to know the Sun Summoner’s sister and that he would come to you tomorrow afternoon. Alina was excited to share everything with you and she chattered well into the night about her new friends, her lessons, her squaller arch nemesis, and the heart render she had yet to make smile. You were exhausted from the day, but you couldn’t interrupt your sister. She looked so healthy, so bright. Like she held the sun under her skin. She was happy, you realized. You would do anything to keep her like this. If anyone deserved to live a good life, it was her.

If you want to be put on, or taken off my taglist, feel free to tell me!

@kayhi808, budugu