#Baghra you cooked some good shit

[aleksanderscult]

Alina admiring Aleksander Morozova's beauty.

That's it. That's the tweet.

[goatsandgangsters]

episode 8: hm. interesting. 

here are all the liveblogs together in one place 

I’m going to cry by the end. the only question that remains is, will they be the cathartic tears of a well-done tragedy, or will they be tears of rage because they slandered my man (NARRATOR VOICE AFTER THE FACT: IT WAS NEITHER, THEY DID NOT CRY AT ALL) 

I’m waiting for my dinner to cook rn before I start and saying it now: since the last one ended with Aleksander wounded by the Cut on his back, this episode should open with an upward shot and then younger Baghra coming into frame saying “Aleksander…” and then wideshot reveal of a young boy with his leg almost Cut clean off, soaking wet and unconscious in the snow at the side of a lake. I’m saying it now, so that if it doesn’t happen, you can all be like “oh yeah they totally should have done that” and if my some miracle this does happen, you can all take me to Atlantic City to win my fortune tonight

I’m not going to Atlantic City tonight but I should be, because I’m right

ANYWAY KAZ GIVING NIKOLAI HIS CANE. kaz giving a) a mobility device that he genuinely needs and symbolically even more b) something that is very much part of his persona that he has crafted as a way of hiding anything that would be perceived as a weakness by others, to an injured person he BARELY KNOWS. this is somehow the most strikingly intimate gesture that has ever happened, ever, at any point in the entire grishaverse. Kazolai lives!!!

I REALLY LIKE Nadia and Adrik squalling together!

am I gonna get to see Nikolai deepthroat a shadow tendril at any point in this episode or—

“Make them redraw all the maps” is a really good character-specific line, I like it

this is all happening……… very early in the episode. what, uh, what’s left? WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?????

“THE WORLD DOESN’T NEED A SAINT TO PROTECT IT, IT NEEDS A MONSTER” THANK YOU!!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT “MAKE ME YOUR VILLAIN” SHOULD BE READ AS A PROMISE, NOT A THREAT. A PROMISE TO ALWAYS DO THE HARD THING, ALWAYS BE HATED, ALWAYS TAKE THE FALL, ALWAYS BE REVILED. BECAUSE IF HE’S NOT THERE TO BE THE VILLAIN, SOMEONE ELSE WILL NEED TO BE SCAPEGOATED

me, pausing the episode: “make me your villain” should be a promise. me, unpausing the episode: “let me be your monster” oH. SEE. WE’RE DOING THE THING I JUST SAID.

me sitting here in a state of shock because every single word coming out of Aleksander Morozova’s mouth is everything that I have ever wanted him to be allowed to say in canon. HERE IT IS. THE REAL MEAT OF DARKLINA ARGUMENTS. I have written an entire 100k AU of Ruin and Rising juST TO LET THEM HAVE ARGUMENTS LIKE THIS. this is exactly the shit I have ALWAYS WANTED canon to let him say

hold on, I need to pause for a bit. the aforementioned dinner I was cooking has been sitting next to me getting cold because I completely forgot it was here.

after the beginning of episode 6, I asked Kara point blank, how sympathetic is his death scene. and I agree with the answer that I got which was, better on his end, not as much from Alina, and I was sort of prepared to Hate That. but I will say. I liked that more than I thought I would? I am disappointed that I didn’t get Alina stabbing him and then holding him in her arms and sobbing on him while he dies, because I think that is BEAUTIFUL poignant death and frankly it’s a damn shame we aren’t going to get to see these two phenomenal actors do that.

more than that, I’m disappointed I didn’t get to hear “don’t let me be alone” or “someone to mourn me” because those two lines FUCKING DESTROY me every goddamn time. I did quietly moan “nooooo” at the “blue sky” and start to tear up. but I will say, I didn’t cry? and his death in Ruin and Rising DID make me cry. so, could have been more gutting (in a good way) than it was, but I still think it gave him a fair shake about it? mostly because every single line of pre-death dialogue is EXACTLY what I have ALWAYS WANTED and what I have written entire lengthy fics specifically to explore. so that’s my two cents. intellectually I agree with him, emotionally I should have Felt More. it all seemed a little anticlimactic. 

also disappointed that I’m not going to see Nikolai deepthroat a shadow tendril. come on, that’s a VERY necessary part of canon. (my darkolai jokes aside, it IS important though. how’s king of scars gonna…… have scars? what, are they just gonna be METAPHORICAL?)

what the fuck are we doing for the next 50 minutes?????????

I did think for a moment they were going to do the brave thing and leave Mal dead. but I am…… curious to find out what exactly is Off. bc something is Off.

the twins sitting with Nikolai and his broken little “Dominik…” W E H   :((((((((((((

so we really never put Paddy and Ben on screen at the same time, huh. I won as a Dominikolai, But At What Cost

“Once the world stops looking at her with gratitude, they’ll start to wonder if she’s outstayed her welcome” oh my god are we actually doing an “Alina is unfairly vilified despite her trying her hardest, thus causing her to realize what smart people (me) have known all along: That The Darkling Was Right” arc?

OH COME ON WE CAN’T HAVE KILLED DAVID THIS EARLY. WHAT THE FUCK. UNFAIR. but also. like. until I see a body……………. oh, no, we’re seeing Ring Designs, he’s dead. fuck. you don’t gutpunch like that for someone who’s alive. PROVE ME WRONG I HOPE, BUT.

Really thought Nikolai was about to deliver a eulogy, not a motivational speech. Give me a single, single darkolai crumb, I beg of you. Nikolai standing there keeping vigil is ALL I’M GONNA GET I GUESS

THERE’S A BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. IF YA KNOW, YA KNOW!!!!

okay but what the fuck are we doing for the next 30 minutes

SDFGHDSKGJSDFHGKJDSHG I KNOW NIKOLAI HAS SOMEONE ELSE STANDING IN FOR STURMHOND WHILE HE’S BUSY BEING KING, BUT IS THAT PERSON REALLY GONNA BE MAL? oh uNEXPECTED, that’s fun

Mal wanting to go off on a journey of self-discovery without Alina is not something I expected, but I actually like that we’re addressing…. how Mal has no existence in the narrative outside of Alina and we decided to say “what if we actually tackle that and do something with it.” never would have expected it, I’ll be honest I think it’s a good move? I do think leaving Mal dead would have been The Bravest Choice to really drive home the notions of cost and sacrifice, but this is an interesting tact to take

awwwwwww Kaz quietly looking into what happened to Inej’s brother. “MY BROTHER IS NEVER COMING BACK, YOURS STILL CAN” OH I’M IN PAIN. OH SHE PRAYS FOR JORDIE, OH. how is THAT the moment that finally got A Tear To Fall and not. you know. The Death of My Fave or The Funeral of My Fave?

ohhhhh Kaz is trying SO HARD, he is trying! so hard!

I’ve never been on Inej’s side with the “have you without armor” if I’m honest. but they both did that scene SO well. Freddy in particular really is the absolute stand-out actor this season

I CANNOT BELIEVE MAL IS THE FAKE STURMHOND. WEIRDLY I LOVE THAT?? AND INEJ IS COMING TOO?????? OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY, THAT’S A GROUP! That is a GROUP!

I fucking love the jaunty nautical score every time we have Volkvolny things going on

I DID JUST LAUGH MY ASS OFF A MAL IN THAT COAT. he does not suit Gaudy and Camp the way nikolai does. he does not pull off that look 

oooooh Inej on the rigging oOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH MMMMMMM THAT SHOT OF INEJ ON THE RIGGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OKAY NIKOLAI WEARING BLACK WITH THE GOLD SUNBURST TRIM IS. DO YOU HEAR THE COLLECTIVE FUCKING CHEER OF APPROVAL FROM EVERY SINGLE DARKOLAI WHO HAS EVER WRITTEN A SUN-SUMMONER-NIKOLAI FIC??????? THAT IS. OKAY!!!!!!!!!! ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ……I may need to edit the, uh, graphic that I made for my Sun Summoner Nikolai AU whenever I have a solid chunk of chapters finished and can commence publication (currently it’s like 20k words, but I want to have the first five chapters fully finished before I start posting)

Wendy I am kissing you on the mouth. MY ONLY DARKOLAI CRUMB, AND IT’S FASHION.

The Apparat’s robe, however, is an abomination. it looks like a Bruins jersey.

oh he’s so fucking cute I love him, I love him, “a strong opening salvo” Paddy’s been great all season but the way he’s maneuvering through witty charm and an intellectual chess game with the apparat is His Most Nikolai Scene To Date, His Best Performance, Peak Nikolai Lantsovism, I am so proud

oh I see, it’s the wound. alas, no deepthroating required. OH I SEE. okay good, I’m glad we’re still getting some form of demon!nikolai, even if it didn’t require sucking shadow tendrils to achieve it. and so my throat goat nikolai lantsov hopes have been dashed upon the rocks—

AWWWWW THE FIGUREHEADS ARE LEANING ON EACH OTHER FOR SUPPORT

“Genya and Zoya are my escorts” I would not have used the word escort, because I am now…. in a very different place. anyway. the hair colors are wrong, but these three are giving PowerPuff Girls though obvi Zoya should be Buttercup

anyway, saying this very belatedly, but THANK GOD ALINA DIDN’T LOSE HER POWERS. you just CAN’T do that. You Cannot Do That. there is NO way to make that work and not have it be awful so I’m glad they just got rid of it

HDFJGKSDHFG HIS LITTLE WINCE GETTING WHACKED ON THE SHOULDER WITH THE THING. anyway I’m feelings about My Boy, good for him, he looks good as king. I mean, right now he looks like a doofus wearing Sankt Grigori like this and the whole getup, but. you know what I mean.

OH DO WE HAVE A PAREM ADDICT IN THE AUDIENCE, THIS LOOKS LIKE WITHDRAWAL. YEP!!!! WE DO HAVE PAREM!!!!!!

WELL THIS IS A MESSY FUCKING CORONATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OOOOOOOOOOH CUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

literally me watching all these people die: oh god this is such a political nightmare for nikolai, what a headache

ALINA CORRUPTION ARC ALINA CORRUPTION ARC ALINA CORRUPTION ARC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hehgosghoehg oeheehehehehehehh oho oho her heh eh ehehehehehehehhe

that was an anticlimactic episode overall, but GOOD FUCKING SET UP AT THE END THERE FOR MORE!!!!!

I think overall, I’m very happy with this season? in some ways I’m disappointed because they gave me NOT ONE SINGLE THING from what I was expecting/looking forward to? but I also still liked what they gave me instead??

I should have cried though. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t cry. I wanted them to let Ben rip my heart out a little more. “Someone to mourn me” doesn’t... work if Alina’s not crying even though it’s the line that CARVES MY HEART OUT OF MY CHEST, but a “don’t let me be alone” would have set me crying just as much. I DID WANT TO CRY A LITTLE BIT, IN THE GOOD TRAGEDY WAY. and I just didn’t cry. it was still a very sympathetic death scene and I think all of his dialogue was like FINALLY! SAY THAT!!!! but. I mean. I did want a boy, brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity. don’t let me be alone. and then he was gone. 

show death = politically and philosophically better. book death = more emotionally devastating, in a good way. trade-offs I guess???? I really did want to feel more. at least it WAS sympathetic at all, I was worried they were going to take away his right to a sympathetic death scene. but it lacked emotional oomph. 

thank fucking christ they didn’t take away Alina’s powers. you just can’t do it. there is no way. that’s the only real part of her book ending that I think CANNOT work. surprised they broke malina up though, didn’t see that one coming. but I like that Alina doesn’t..... abdicate responsibility and fuck off. it just wouldn’t have fit with this story or this version of the character 

I’m mulling it over still. I DO FUCKING NEED A SEASON 3, STAT. I think there are things that I wanted but I did not get. but there were things that I dreaded that did not happen. and there were things that I didn’t know to even want in the first place that I liked? I liked it more than season 1 by a lot, though. I think it was a lot stronger, and the storytelling itself felt sturdier. 

[sanktnikolais]

Fool Truth

A/N: yep this is an old work to cover up the fact that i haven’t been able to write anything new ;-; so have this for now

set in the same universe as this other fic

Word count: 2176

Nikolai is tired of hearing his father's nonsense about his need to get married every time he sees him. So when the universe allowed his father to reprimand him about marriage again, Nikolai is able to say an excuse that would get him out of the situation and put him in a more complicated one.

Nikolai was ready to bolt from the battlefield.

          To hell with dessert, he thought, and yet his feet were still planted on the ground. Even after years of being away from their household, he could say he had missed their old, grumpy cook Baghra's chocolate mousse cake. 

          Maybe he should try holding on a bit longer, but one look from the man at the head of the table was only making running look like the most reasonable choice. 

          He braced himself over his father's next words, all too aware of what they would be. 

          "I've been talking to one of our partners yesterday," Alexander Lantsov started, his tone neutral as if he was delivering a monologue during one of their board meetings. He gave Nikolai an expectant look. "She's agreed to introduce you to her daughter."

          Nikolai felt his jaw tick in annoyance. He had expected this from his father; it was already old news. If there was one thing he got from him, it was stubbornness, and it was one of the rare times Nikolai hated inheriting that same trait. 

          Alexander continued to stare at him, and Nikolai could feel the gaze getting heavier with each second. 

          "Don't you ever get tired of trying to set me up with random people?" He put down his fork beside his plate as gently as possible even when slamming it down was inviting. "Because I'm exhausted, dad. Just drop it."

          The atmosphere in the room grew darker, the tension in the air crackling like electricity. Nikolai should have declined coming here, but his mother had insisted and she was sometimes the only one who could make the household a bit more bearable for him.

          He looked over to his older brother from across the table, seeing the amused smirk on Vasily's lips as he toyed with the glass of wine in his hand. Being the eldest came with a life perk; he was free to do anything he wanted and as he pleased. Whether it's scandalous or the barest minimum for their company, he would still be the favorite one. 

          Where his brother was pertained as Perfect Vasily, Nikolai was always Nikolai Nothing. Someone who would never appease his father's expectations of him. 

          So much for being the unfavorable second son. 

          Nikolai leaned back in his chair, already losing his appetite. He regarded Vasily with a nod. "Why won’t he be the one you introduce to your partner's daughter?" he said. "Besides, isn't he the one who will inherit all this? I think it's better for him to get married for a potential merging, and I see no benefit for anyone if I were to be engaged to someone of a big name."

          Alexander huffed in disbelief as if he just said the stupidest thing in the world. "You still don't get it, do you?" he said, his voice dropping to what it could sound was a threatening one. “I’m doing this for your own good.”

          “Oh, wow. Really now?” Nikolai’s voice had already risen, and it earned a look of warning from his mother but he didn’t bother acknowledging it. The rush of blood in his ears was raging. “My own good or for your own? As far as I remember, Lantsov Trading’s image wasn’t looking so good because of a certain scandal in one of the famous clubs in the city.” 

          Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vasily shift uncomfortably in his seat and Nikolai basked in the triumph of seeing his perfect big brother squirm. He fought the urge to smirk. 

          “Now tell me,” he goaded, not knowing where his confidence of talking back to his father was coming from, “is it for mine, or for your own image?”

          “Hey,” Vasily snapped. “Watch your mouth, Nikolai.”

          But Nikolai was having none of it and gave his older brother a pointed glance. “Shut it, I’m not talking to you.”

          The look of shock on Vasily’s face was priceless and Nikolai would have etched it in his mind if it weren’t for his anger taking over. He turned back to his father, whose face was now twisted into a full scowl as if he could lunge at Nikolai anytime he wanted to. Nikolai thought he could try to poke the beast out of its cage a bit more and see where it would go. 

          He put on an easy grin, the kind that he knew ticked at his father’s patience. “Please enlighten me, dad.”

          “You are no use in this family if you’re just going to continue your hobbies and not focus on doing important matters—”

          “Like trying to live quietly without you breathing down my neck and forcing me to marriage?”

          Alexander was visibly fuming, and Nikolai had to commend him for holding back. “You will not disgrace our name with your lack of achievements,” his father growled. Nikolai felt the words sting at his pride but he didn’t dare let it show. “Comply, else I will cut you off.”

          Nikolai chuckled humorlessly. Finally, something that makes sense. He put his hands up and shrugged. “Then cut me off. I’d gladly take it, father.”

          This somehow drained the last of his father’s patience because the old man almost threw the table up when he stood, his expression darker than the stormy sky. “You will comply whether you like it or not—”

          “I’m already married.”

          Everything went silent. Even breathing wasn’t even audible, as if everyone just decided to hold their breaths or some invisible force had forced them to stop breathing. 

          And for Nikolai, he might as well have stopped breathing. Panic overwhelmed the anger in his mind.

          Shitshitshitshitshit—

          The only thing keeping him from going insane and bolting off from their old home was the look of utter shock on their faces. It was one of the rare times they gave him their full attention, and Nikolai felt bitter when he realized it was a blatant lie that would make it happen again.

          But it didn’t change the fact the words he had just blurted out of control.

          You’re an idiot, Nikolai, an all too familiar voice echoed in his head, and for once, he found that he agreed with it.

          Another long moment passed. Nikolai’s legs were already shaking violently from under the table but he refused to break eye contact with his father. Doing so would only make his lie more uncertain than it already was.

          “What did you just say?” Alexander asked him when he finally found his voice. His grip on the table became impossibly tighter. 

          The calmness in Nikolai’s voice surprised even himself when he replied, “I said I’m already married.”

          “Since when?” his father asked in disbelief. “And to whom?”

          Nikolai was already expecting that question, and yet he still didn’t have anything to cover up for it. Who would he say? It wasn’t as if he had anyone that was convincing enough to be his girlfriend, let alone his wife. He had just dug his own grave with his recklessness and his family would see him lay rest in it. 

          You should’ve run when you had the chance, Lantsov, he silently berated himself as he continued to rack his mind for an answer. 

          Apparently, his distress didn’t go unnoticed by Vasily, as Nikolai could feel his gaze on him, and when he turned, he saw the first signs of a smirk on his older brother’s lips. If there was another thing Nikolai hated from his brother, it was Vasily always seeming to see right through everything. 

          Maybe he should just say something snarky enough to make them drop the subject—he didn’t owe them an explanation, not after treating him like he didn’t belong to their lives. He could just tell them to give up and leave it at that. He wouldn't mind another argument that would follow if it means straying from the current subject. 

          But of course, knowing his family, they wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted.

          Vasily huffed, catching everyone’s attention. He almost looked like he was about to say something more when Nikolai’s ringtone blared. 

          With a startled glance down his pants pocket, he slowly got his phone. The caller ID at the top of the screen glared at him in big letters.

          Attorney Grumpy. 

          A thought suddenly formed in his head. He hesitated for a second when he realized he was going to get himself killed with the idea. But he figured that if he was going to die either way, he would prefer it to be by her hand.

          Nikolai put on his usual grin. “Look,” he said, waving his phone up for emphasis, “she’s actually calling me.” He slid the answer icon to the right and put the phone to his ear, trying to keep his hand from shaking. He mustered up his most cheery tone. “Yes, dear?”

          A beat, and then, “Are you still in that family dinner and somehow gotten drunk?” Zoya asked incredulously, and Nikolai had to fight off a wince from hearing her tone. He opened his mouth to reply, but it seemed like she already knew his answer. “Because I’m not fixing your shit if you ever do something beyond compare. But I would make an exception if it involves punching your brother.”

          Her statement made him laugh genuinely, and the looks his family was giving him only became more curious. “What’s up?”

          “I’m crashing over tonight.” 

          He waited for another moment before answering something that would surely be the reason for his death later. But he had to keep up the pretense going. “I know that all too well, dear. Don’t worry, I’ll be home soon. No need to miss me that much.”

          Zoya didn’t answer him right away, and he could already imagine the scowl on her face as she processed his words, and she was most likely thinking of the ways to murder him too. “Lantsov, what the fuck are you blabbering about?”

          One of his legs was already down the grave, and Nikolai sent a silent prayer to any deity who could hear him. Please protect me from her wrath later. He tried to smile, but he was sure it looked more of a grimace. “Yes, dear. I’ll be home in a bit.” He risked a furtive glance to his older brother, who was still looking at him quite suspiciously. And to sound more convincing, he went along with his instincts and blurted, “Love you.” 

          Then he ended the call before he could be given an earful of curses that would send his mother to a dead faint if she would ever hear it. As he put his phone back in his pocket, he could feel his heart beating erratically in his chest. Whether it was over his nervousness over the mess he’d thrown himself into or the last words he told Zoya, he didn’t know. 

          When he turned his attention back to his brother, he found that Vasily had his eyebrows raised as if he still didn’t want to believe about Nikolai’s married status. Nikolai challenged his brother’s look with his own, and a moment later, Vasily huffed and shook his head.

          Alexander glared down at Nikolai, a mixture of rage and confusion in his eyes, but it was the former that overwhelmed his gaze. “Who is she?” he asked, his tone demanding and angry. Nikolai suddenly felt nervous for no reason. His gut told him that there was something bad about to happen. An angry Alexander Lantsov wasn’t a man to be messed with, and Nikolai had just taunted the beast out of its cage. “And why didn’t you tell us?”

          A wave of protectiveness washed over Nikolai, and he glared back at his father as he said, “So you can break the marriage before it even happened? I don’t think so.”

          He grabbed the napkin at the side and used it to wipe at his hands before standing up. He was as tall as his father, but the old man always had the power to make someone shrink under his gaze, but Nikolai didn’t let it faze him.

          The scowl on Alexander’s face deepened. “Where are you going?” 

          “Why, home to my wife, of course. She’s waiting,” replied Nikolai with a sneer, and he could already sense the last remains of his father’s patience dwindling with the way he gripped the table again. But Nikolai was disappointed when Alexander didn’t decide to act out on it. Politely, he said, “Thank you for dinner.”

          With a final smile in his mother’s direction, he walked out of the dining room without as much as a glance back. When he felt that he was finally out of their sight, he let out a relieved breath. But there was still no denying that his hands were trembling as he got out of the mansion, and it wasn’t from the cold.

          What had he just gotten himself into?

          Nikolai shook himself out of his daze. At least he was out of their tight hold around his neck.

          For now.