#Rejects: Aleksander

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TRANSMISSION 01

[TRANSCRIPT BEGIN

. . LOADING . . .

USER ID RECOGNISED: ALEK

ALEK: “Is this thing recording? Silvana?”

. . .

ALEK: “I'll take that as a yes. Hello. I am- shit, the bot's gonna spell it wrong-”

. . .

ALEK: “You won't? Great. No need to get hostile. I am Aleksander. I've got too much free time. The Doc's off doing… Grove knows what, and I'm bored. While the wifi here is shit, and accessing the internet isn't easy, I was assured the transcripts of these recordings would make it... somewhere.”

ALEK: “So… feel free to ask me anything, I guess. It's not like I've got anything better to do until the Doc comes and finds me again for whatever the hell she needs this time.”

ALEK: “uhhh…. End transmission.”

USER ID LOGGING OFF: ALEK

END TRANSCRIPT.]

[OOC: hey hey! This is a RP blog focusing on the older brother of one Oliver Rivera - who's blog can be found @hotcocoaCEO !

My Name's Lífþrasir, I use fae/faer pronouns primarily. My blog is @confusedgeckotree

This is for fun and may be a bit slow to update!

If you're curious, the URL is binary(I translated manually with my ASCII chart) for ALEK!

Aleksander is not traveling with the other rejects. He is... debatably aware of them?]

[stromuprisahat]

Echoes of Darklina

Six of Crows- Chapter 18

Kaz's chapter became more interesting than expected.

“Why would you care what I think?” He looked genuinely baffled. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I do.” And then he kissed me. It happened so suddenly that I barely had time to react. One moment, I was staring into his slate-colored eyes, and the next, his lips were pressed to mine. I felt that familiar sense of surety melt through me as my body sang with sudden heat and my heart jumped into a skittery dance. Then, just as suddenly, he stepped back. He looked as surprised as I felt. “I didn’t mean … ,” he said.

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 13

“... The people curse my name and pray for you, but you’re the one who was ready to abandon them. I’m the one who will give them power over their enemies. I’m the one who will free them from the tyranny of the King.” ... I gave a single shake of my head. He slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 21

... The moment his lips met mine, the connection between us opened and I felt his power flood through me. I could feel how much he wanted me—but behind that desire, I could feel something else, something that felt like anger. I drew back, startled. “You don’t want to be doing this.” “This is the only thing I want to be doing,” he growled, and I could hear the bitterness and desire all tangled up in his voice. “And you hate that,” I said with a sudden flash of comprehension. He sighed and leaned against me, brushing my hair back from my neck. “Maybe I do,” he murmured, his lips grazing my ear, my throat, my collarbone. I shivered, letting my head fall back, but I had to ask. “Why?” “Why?” he repeated, his lips still brushing over my skin, his fingers sliding over the ribbons at my neckline. “Alina, do you know what Ivan told me before we took the stage? Tonight, we received word that my men have spotted Morozova’s herd. The key to the Shadow Fold is finally within our grasp, and right now, I should be in the war room, hearing their report. I should be planning our trip north. But I’m not, am I?”

Shadow and Bone- Chapter 14

Why did you go to Alina? Yuri buzzed away. Why seek her out? To reclaim his power, of course. The universe wanted to humble him, to force him to appeal to a pair of pathetic orphans like a beggar on his knees. Why did you go to her? Because with her he was human again.

Rule of Wolves- Chapter 21

“I want you to know my name,” he said. “The name I was given, not the title I took for myself. Will you have it, Alina?” ... “Yes,” I breathed. After a long moment, he said, “Aleksander.” A little laugh escaped me. He arched a brow, a smile tugging at his lips. “What?” “It’s just so … common.” Such an ordinary name, held by kings and peasants alike. I’d known two Aleksanders at Keramzin alone, three in the First Army. One of them had died on the Fold. His smile deepened and he cocked his head to the side. It almost hurt to see him this way. “Will you say it?” he asked. I hesitated, feeling danger crowd in on me. “Aleksander,” I whispered. His grin faded, and his gray eyes seemed to flicker. “Again,” he said. “Aleksander.”

Ruin and Rising- Chapter 9

[greensaplinggrace]

🔥s&b

darkling fans are the og antis actually. every time I see an anti post I remember an analysis I’ve already seen written by a fan of his that is not only more critical, but better at it. they’re usually more accurate to his character, to the text, and to the other characters as well. they’re usually harsher on the darkling, and they’re always incredibly efficient pieces of character analysis. I have never seen better and more accurate hate for the darkling than from the people that actually like him.

send me a 🔥 for an unpopular opinion (x)

[nowlying]

how something so terrifyingly powerful could sound so frail with chained limbs linked to the floor of his cell—a sin of his father, one he must now bear along with many others. he listens for the voice in aleksander’s head now, the one matching the truth of his words. so much rage must be set underneath his skin—but blame was towards the alchemists. simon’s jaw clenched as he turned the lock on the door, the metal clink sounding off into the darkness. his stomach lurched with what he saw. never had he felt any empathy with those who were given a chance at immortality, until a page from his past is ripped out and placed in front of his eyes. this… boy turned to man… a fragile shell of who he once was. simon felt his chest grow tight with an old ache. he swallowed hard and went to aleksander’s side.

❛ you remember me… even though it has been so long. ❜. he leaned down and aided the darkling to his feet. ❛ come see the world now as it is unmade… you will not recognize it. ❜ simon unchained darkness and bid it welcome into the light of the new world. he would feel the pain of knowing that the sinner had perished while he rotted away, and simon wondered who would carry those sins now and if it should be him. it should be him. ❛ my father is dead. ❜ simon lets his words settle into aleksander—he wants him to feel them reverberate through him like a shock. ❛ the petrification disease would have killed us all… and then the puppet frenzy would have ended us… ❜ simon inhaled sharply, ❛ i have created an elixir to evolve humanity, and i am at the peak of becoming more than my father saw in me now. ❜ simon’s eyes fill with fervor as he glances back at aleksander, ❛ you have already surpassed humanity… you have become akin to a god… and you have been made to suffer inside a mortal prison. ❜ simon’s eyes fell down to the ground and that pain in his chest returned. ❛ you must have hate for me… somewhere inside of you… you must have… ❜

darkness had eaten the sun long ago — a darkness that had been in him since birth, this engulfing darkness that emanated from him, seeping from every inch of him, devouring light in its touch. his mother had warned him of trusting strangers, had warned him of the alchemists — his madraya...  his mind lingered on her for a moment, trying to recall her face,  her name,  her scent.  she was long gone,  like the sun, she had been devoured. he knew nothing but midnight - black,  it had become him.   

the footfalls echoed throughout pitch black,  a low growl emitting from his throat,  he felt feral in a sense,  yet calm still. a familiar voice calming the raging waves of his emotions. ❛ s.... simon? ❜ he whispered, voice soft, his face twisted with scars from wounds never mended.  hearing his true name, something etched into his heart, a promise to never forget it, left him near breathless. pushing himself to his feat he controls the darkness, absorbing it into himself, the room immediately brightening,  his ankles and wrists still shackled, eyes abyss black, glinting with unshed tears. ❛ you... have come for me? — you have come to release me? ❜   

[lilu787788]

I’ve been thinking a lot about why some younger viewers seem to express such intense hatred for Aleksander, and even for those who love or support him. It’s something I notice more and more often — this aggressive, almost moralistic rejection of morally grey characters like Aleksander. And I don’t think it’s just about disliking him. There’s something deeper going on in how fandom spaces function today.

A large part of it, I believe, comes from the way stories are consumed online now. Platforms like TikTok or Twitter encourage fast takes, simplified narratives, and black-and-white ideas of who is “good” and who is “bad.” People aren’t always interested in nuance anymore. It’s easier to reduce someone like the Darkling to a red flag or a toxic man than to sit with the discomfort of a character who does morally questionable things, but also loves, suffers, and fights for a better life for the Grisha and all of Ravka. Grey areas are not trending. Moral certainty is.

I’ve also noticed a dominant narrative — the girlboss versus let’s say villain storyline. Those young people want Alina, Zoya, Genya to “free themselves” from him, and in doing so, they erase what was truly complex, painful, and layered between them. The romanticization of strength often forgets that real strength can come from understanding, not just rejection. And sadly, if you dare say you understand Aleksander or believe he had genuine feelings for Alina, you’re suddenly accused of romanticizing abuse. There is no space for symbolic storytelling or fictional dynamics that aren’t meant to mirror real-life healthy relationships.

Another issue is the casual misuse of psychological terminology. Words like “manipulator,” “gaslighter,” and “grooming” are thrown around without understanding their meaning. These young fans just follow the crowd and, like a frenzied inquisition, throw accusations. Aleksander is a character shaped by centuries of trauma, loneliness, and war. But instead of examining that, some people just diagnose him in fifteen seconds on TikTok and declare him irredeemable. It’s lazy, dishonest, and more importantly, it shuts down real conversation. I also think some people need to feel like they’re on the “right side.” If they hate the Darkling, they can prove they’re morally superior. In my opinion, that points to low self-esteem. It makes liking him feel like a flaw, or worse, a crime. In some fandom spaces, it turns into a ridiculous purity contest.

And if your interpretation doesn’t fit the mainstream narrative, suddenly you become a bad person. It’s such a toxic dynamic, especially when fiction is meant to give us a space to explore difficult things.

Honestly, I think many misunderstandings around Aleksander come from people who’ve never had to think deeply about war, power, or survival. People don’t relate to the Darkling just because he’s charming or a tragic figure. A A lot of us understand him because we know what it means to live in a world shaped by conflict — to watch systems collapse, to see the innocent suffer while leaders look the other way. And even if not, basic human empathy and emotional maturity, combined with historical knowledge, allow us to see more and, most of all, to avoid jumping to judgment. We don’t behave like an angry mob with pitchforks ready to burn someone at the stake. On a side note, I’ve been thinking about doing a post that points out how some parts of the fandom — especially certain Crows, Zoya, Nikolai, Genya, and Malina fans — act a lot like the Drüskelle.

Aleksander is not a villain. He is someone forged in blood and fire, who made impossible choices in a world that gave him none. People who have studied or lived close to the realities of war know that moral clarity is a luxury. He also fought for people who were hunted, tortured, erased. He refused to stand by while Grisha were murdered, burned at the stake, dissected like lab animals, or sold into slavery. And even though his methods became brutal, his cause was never about selfish gain. It was about protecting people like him in a world that never would.

Loving the Darkling is about recognizing the complexity of someone who stood between oppression and survival. It’s about understanding that some stories aren’t clean, and some leaders don’t have the luxury of kindness. Aleksander’s tragedy is that he knew he had to become a monster to stop the world from killing his people. And whether you agree with him or not, that kind of narrative deserves respect, not shallow rejection.

Fiction should be a place where we can explore those hard truths. Not everything is meant to make us feel safe. Some characters exist to make us think, not just to give us flashy action scenes or quick thrills. Let people explore stories the way they need to. Let them love the characters who challenge them. You don’t have to agree. Sometimes it’s just fiction and sometimes it’s the way we try to understand our own shadows.

[marvelmusing]

Conflict of Interest

Part of the Our Souls AU

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader

Summary: The second Prince of Ravka shows an interest in you, which causes division between you and your dæmon. Aleksander offers you some comfort and advice.

Warnings: mentions of anxiety

My Masterlist • Series Masterlist

There’s a touch of worry in your stomach, as your eyes wander through the crowd of people surrounding you. Fabian is out of sight - an uncomfortable and unfamiliar experience for you. There isn’t any pain, so he isn’t currently in danger or under any threat, but you don’t like not being able to see him.

Then, there’s the somewhat familiar sensation of Fabian being touched by another dæmon. Some of the tension leaves your shoulders. He must have spotted Aleksander and wandered off to greet Andromeda while you were talking to some of the older scholars.

But when you manage to find your dæmon, he isn’t coiled around the familiar form of Andromeda. Instead you find another fox dæmon, larger than Fabian, rubbing against him. Embarrassed by the behaviour of your soul, you hurry over and scold him in a low tone.

“Fabian, come here.”

A man places his hand on your forearm placatingly.

“No, leave him be. I don’t mind.”

Turning to look at the man, your eyes widen and your body burns in mortification.

“Moi tsarevich.”

He makes a dismissive gesture.

“Please, call me Nikolai.” His mouth quirks into a charming smile before you can offer any sort of protest. “I insist.”

The second son of the king, Prince Nikolai, is a known patron of education and knowledge, as well as travel and exploration. He has returned from his recent visit to Novyi Zem with golden hair and sun-kissed cheeks.

After giving him a small curtsey, you tell him your name and he inclines his head in a formal greeting before he looks down at your dæmon, still pinned between the paws of his own.

“Fabian. A handsome name for a handsome dæmon. Did your parents name him?”

Hoping he can’t see the heat spreading painfully over your face and down your neck, you shake your head.

“My father’s dæmon named him.”

“How lovely.”

Curiosity has your gaze flickering down to the prince’s dæmon. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot the smirk that spreads over Nikolai’s features which makes you far too bashful to grasp the courage to ask for his dæmon’s name. He leans closer, dipping his head down to inform you.

“His name is Reynard.” When you turn and frown at him, he adds, “My dæmon.”

“Oh,” you stammer, flustered by his sudden proximity. At this distance, your eyes are level with his lips. “It’s a very nice name.”

His smile softens, as if your fumbling response is akin to an eloquent compliment.

“Thank you.”

Reynard’s fur is longer than Fabian’s, glossy and sleek as he spins dizzyingly around your dæmon before he pounces on him. They both roll around, tussling, and embarrassment prickles over your skin.

Nikolai asks you about your work and you stumble over your words as you attempt to hold a conversation with him. It’s hard to focus on anything when his dæmon is paying such attention to your Fabian. It makes you squirm, heat burning painfully through your body and you begin to fear that he can see how your heart is pounding.

Suddenly, the haze clouding your mind dissipates, replaced by an anxiety that weighs on your lungs. Fabian scampers away from Reynard, though he doesn’t retreat between your legs like he usually would. Instead, he seeks the safety of someone else.

“Lord Morozova,” Nikolai says with a dashing smile. The sight of Aleksander feels like being doused in cold water. He gives the prince a curt nod in response, his eyes moving slowly between the two of you.

“Your highness.”

The tension between them is palpable and you struggle to breathe clearly, hindered by your sudden anxiety caused by Fabian’s uncharacteristic rejection. Staring at your dæmon’s amber eyes, you feel a stab of hurt as he remains hidden behind Aleksander’s legs, finding refuge with him and Andromeda.

“I’m sorry,” you stammer. “I need some air.”

Aleksander murmurs your name softly, his voice filled with concern as he reaches for you, but you wave away his hand distractedly. There’s a tug on your heart, a sickening lurch in your stomach, as you walk away from your dæmon and when the distance becomes painful Fabian is forced to follow you out of the ballroom.

The two of you retreat into an empty room, away from the sounds of the party.

“What were you thinking - messing around with his dæmon like that in front of everyone?” you hiss in frustration as you close the door behind you.

“In front of Aleksander you mean,” he remarks bitterly, not even looking at you as he stalks further into the room. He turns back, directing his next words accusingly. “Did you even notice how Reynard was holding onto me?”

In all honesty, you hadn’t been able to focus on anything except holding onto Nikolai’s attention, even if it made you sick with nerves.

“You play like that with Andromeda,” you reason.

“I know Andromeda. I don’t know him.”

“I thought you had gone to him.”

“He grabbed me.”

That makes you pause, guilt settling in your stomach.

“I didn’t realise.”

“Because you like Nikolai,” he accuses.

“No I don’t,” you snap defensively.

The silence rings between you both. Fabian knows you’re lying, but you don’t want to admit it out loud. Nikolai is charming and you had been too distracted by his attention to notice your poor dæmon’s distress.

Sighing, you slump back against the wall, sliding down slowly to settle on the floor. It takes some nudging, but you finally manage to encourage your stubborn dæmon into sitting in your lap. He doesn’t look at you, even when you drape your arms around him.

“I’m sorry, Faby.” He huffs, turning his head further away from you. “I’m sorry for ignoring you.”

“And?”

“And for lying to you.”

He turns to face you.

“I don’t like him.”

“The prince?”

He nods.

“Then I won’t leave you alone with them again.”

There’s a knock at the door and Aleksander’s voice is low as he murmurs your name questioningly. For a moment, you stay quiet, but the sound of Andromeda scratching against the door has you reaching for the handle.

As you open the door, Aleksander steps forwards, his eyes flickering over your features as he examines your expression.

“Are you alright?”

He looks down at Fabian, who moves quickly towards Andromeda. She nuzzles her nose against his carefully, to ensure she doesn’t overwhelm the two of you.

“We’re going home,” Fabian says, which makes you look down at him sharply. It might not have crossed your mind to leave the party, but deep down you long for your bed. He turns his head, looking up at you pointedly and you nod in agreement.

“We’re going home.”

“Can I walk with you?” Aleksander asks.

“Aren’t you staying at the party?” He shakes his head and you frown in concern. “The Little Palace is on the opposite side of the city to the university.”

“I know.”

“Aleksander-”

“I want to see you home safely.” He glances down at Fabian again, before he adds, “Both of you.”

Fabian lifts his head up, licking at Aleksander’s fingers affectionately. He turns his hand slightly, allowing his fingers to smooth over the top of Fabian’s head before he responds with a fond scratch between his ears.

Warmth fills your chest, easing into your body at the sight of Aleksander with your dæmon. It’s a stark contrast to the anxiety you felt around Nikolai.

“Shall we?”

You nod.

The moment the door is opened, the sounds from the ballroom return to you and the world comes crashing down on you again.

Aleksander keeps his hand on the small of your back, his palm warm even through your clothing as he guides you towards the door. The night air is cool against your skin and a shudder rolls through your body. Subconsciously, you find yourself being drawn closer towards Aleksander, seeking his warmth.

The two of you stay in silence as you walk through the streets, but you can see him glancing at you occasionally, his lips parted as if he is about to speak. He doesn’t, and the lingering nerves from the party continue to run beneath your skin as the silence goes on. Until you can’t stand it any longer.

“What is it?” you ask him.

He regards you for a moment, as he seems to contemplate something.

“I want you to be careful around Prince Nikolai.”

“Why?”

“Have you heard of Braiker’s theory of dæmon manipulation?”

A small smile tugs at the corner of your lips, as it always does when you’re reminded of Aleksander’s genuine interest in your chosen field of study. Then you give his question some thought. Braiker’s theory suggests that a person could purposefully used their dæmon to influence someone else’s perception of them - that contact between dæmons can even cause an attachment between the humans.

“Yes, of course,” you say, looking at him with a small frown. Aleksander raises a brow pointedly at you, with brings your thoughts to a halt. “I- He wasn’t. Was he?”

“There’s no way of knowing for certain. But I would keep an eye on his dæmon if I were you.”

Immediately, you glance at Fabian with worry as he weaves his way along the pavement beside Andromeda. Guilt has you gnawing at your lower lip, you had abandoned him in that ballroom. Aleksander draws his arm around you, tucking you into his side. The momentum causes your temple to bounce against his chest and you leave it there, soaking in his comfort.

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Aleksander assures you.

“It doesn’t feel like it.”

Sensing your distress, Fabian turns his head back to look at you.

“I’m not mad at you,” he says.

Fabian’s love for you is unconditional. But there are moments when you fear that your own soul might one day grow to hate you.

He turns back, weaving his way between your legs, coiling himself around you. Instantly, you bend down and take him into your arms. He nuzzles into your chest, nosing his way up your neck before licking affectionately at your cheek and you bury your face into his fur.

Aleksander rubs your back comfortingly and he seems to be itching to touch Fabian. But he doesn’t. Despite the darkened streets, you’re still in public after all.

When you reach the university, Aleksander remains by your side, even as you walk through the quiet corridors and up to your rooms. He only hesitates when you enter, turning back to look at him. Self-conscious, you lower your gaze and struggle to find the right words to coax him inside. Andromeda sits on the threshold, looking up at her human counterpart.

With Fabian still in your arms, you fidget with his ear, smoothing the fur between your thumb and forefinger in a self soothing motion. Swallowing hard, you draw up enough courage to ask,

“Would you like to come in?”

Aleksander nods, stepping forwards into your quarters. They aren’t as grand as his. The first room is a small study which you have filled to the brim with books. Through the next door is your bedroom, which has a tiny bathroom adjoined. Despite its size, it is the only home you’ve ever had for yourself and you take pride in it.

As you make your preparations for bed, Aleksander lights the fire, stoking the flames to warm the room for you. Once he’s done, he sits down on the armchair in the corner of your room and Fabian makes himself comfortable in Aleksander’s lap. Meanwhile, Andromeda stretches herself out on your bed.

Every time you walk by Andromeda, you offer her some sort of comforting touch - a scratch behind her ears or a pat to the head. Aleksander strokes his palm down the length of Fabian’s body and soon your dæmon is rolling over, offering his soft underbelly for affection.

When you settle at the head of your bed, Andromeda sits beside you, nuzzling affectionately at your face which makes you laugh softly, squeezing your eyes shut as you press your face further into her fur. Aleksander smiles softly as he stands, scooping Fabian up into his arms. He lowers your dæmon into your lap, placing a gentle kiss against your forehead.

“Good night,” he murmurs.

“Will you stay?” you ask in a whisper. He hesitates visibly and you can already hear his response. If he stays the night, someone will see him leave in the morning, and the rumours about you will never cease. “Just until I fall asleep.”

Aleksander stares at you for a long moment, his gaze flickering between your eyes before he nods. He sits down at the end of your bed, shuffling closer when you move towards the headboard. When you begin to wriggle under the covers, he holds your quilt for you, before tucking you in himself.

Fabian buries himself against your chest and you subconsciously begin to thread your fingers through his fur. Andromeda settles down by your side as your dæmon closes his eyes.

“Tell us something,” you murmur quietly. She tilts her head at you.

“About?”

A shy smile tugs at your lips and your eyes flutter sleepily as you murmur,

“Aleksander.”

She gives you a fond look, crossing her paws in front of herself as she settles comfortably to consider your request.

“What do you know about his grandfather?”

“Not much.”

“His dæmon was a stag. When he settled, they had to alter all the doorways in the manor because his antlers meant he was too wide to move from room to room.”

A soft laugh escapes you at the thought of a stag wandering through a lavish mansion, butting his antlers into every doorway.

“What form did his grandmother’s dæmon take?”

“A hare.”

“A very woodland themed family.”

She hums in agreement.

“Aleksander loved his grandparents dearly. They were better parents to him than his mother ever was.”

“His mother’s still alive,” you state cautiously. Aleksander doesn’t talk about his family very often, but you know his relationship with his mother is difficult. Andromeda nods slowly.

“She is.”

“What’s her dæmon like?”

“He’s a vulture.”

“Oh,” you say softly. Vultures are scavengers, they sit solitary at the edge of society and feed on whatever scraps they can wrangle for themselves. Someone with a vulture dæmon is typically self serving and preys on weakness. A stark contrast to Aleksander’s soft spoken yet fiercely loyal dæmon. “Does he speak?”

“Not to humans. If he talks to a dæmon it’s usually only to share a cutting remark or an insult, in my experience. I don’t even know his name.”

“Cassian,” Aleksander says quietly. Both you and Andromeda turn to look at him. “Baghra’s dæmon,” he clarifies at the sight of your confusion. “His name is Cassian.”

“He sounds horrible,” you remark.

Aleksander’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, as he stares into the space between you. He rubs at the back of his hand in a repetitive manner, his thumb circling over a particular patch of skin.

“After Andromeda settled, Baghra increased her efforts to drive us apart. Whenever I reached out to touch her, Cassian would bite my hand.”

“I don’t remember that,” Andromeda says in a low tone. He strokes her head firmly, a sombre expression on his face.

“It was either me or you. I couldn’t let her hurt you.”

She turns her head, licking his fingers in a rare show of outright emotion towards her human. Aleksander continues to stroke his hand down her body, his eyes fixed on the way her fur moves. Firelight flickers over them both and your eyes grow heavier with each passing moment.

Aleksander turns his head, his gaze falling onto you and he smiles softly at the sight of you fighting sleep.

“After my grandparents died, I inherited the manor.” He leans forwards, reaching for Fabian. He strokes your dæmon slowly. “We could go there together, away from prying eyes. It’s at its most beautiful in the springtime.”

His hand traces over Fabian’s spine, his fingertips dipping into every notch of bone. It fills your body with pleasurable tingles that makes your thighs shake and a haze creeps over your thoughts.

“I’d like that.”

Aleksander smiles indulgently, his voice lowering to a low whisper.

“You would?”

You hum in affirmation. Then a frown creases at your brows.

“S’not fair.”

His smile widens as he tilts his head at you.

“What’s that, darling?”

“You can’t stroke Fabian like that and expect me to stay awake.”

He chuckles fondly, his other hand brushing delicately over your cheek.

“My soft, sleepy girl. You need your rest.”

Defeated, you bury your face into your pillow with a pout puckering at your lips in protest. Fabian’s breathing is already becoming even as he begins to fall asleep and soon you will too. Aleksander brushes his hand over your hair gently, while his other hand strokes between Fabian’s ears. He leans forward, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“Sweet dreams. Both of you.”

-

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch @jane-arthur @ilikefictionmen @budugu @watersquirtpewpewboomm @mysweetlittledesire

S&B Tag List: @motheroffae @daddymaster21

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211 @wooya1224 @seronsalk @acehyacinth

OS Tag List: @the-sweet-psycho @aoi-targaryen

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny @two-unbeatable-beaters @idohknow @vaguekayla @the-desilittle-bird

[prettiestb4byd0ll]

Pretty Songbird || Aleksander M.

A/N: I watched snakes and songbirds and had this ideas stuck in my head ever since i saw it last week, idk if it's gonna be a series, if you have any ideas pls tell me!!

WC: 1311 Warning: Fem!Reader, the moon summoner trope, not proof read so i take credit for mispelling or mistakes..

Alina sighed as herself and Mal walked into a busy club to get away from their pursuers.

“It should be too crowded to notice us in this crowd, just keep the hood on.” Mal whispered to Alina as they moved closer to the stage where others stood, waiting for the performer. 

“Want something?” 

Alina turned and nodded as Mal gave a quick nod before walking to the bartender.

As alina went to stand near a corner of the crowded club she bumped into another young girl. “Aww, sorry..” “Ah, i’m sorry.”  They both apologized to one another.

“It’s alright, just a throbbing but it’ll go away with a drink.” The girl brushed it off and gave alina a smile. 

“You look familiar..” Alina felt her heart drop, as the expression the girl made was of realization. “You’re her aren’t you?” Alina tensed up and lifted her hand in case she need to summon to stop the girl from doing something.

“It’s alright, your safe here, i just recommend the further booth over there if you don’t want to draw attention..” Alina followed the girls direction and saw an empty booth and nodded at her. “Thank you..?” She waited for a name.

“Y/n, i’m a performer here tonight.” She smiled and pointed towards the stage were drunks and many excited people stood waiting.

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

People whispered to one another as they noticed the brooding, darkling who was accompanied with other grisha, they all had looks of distaste on their faces as they scanned the club. 

Alesksander’s attention jumped as two women in front of him talked about the performer. 

“Is it true she can summon?” 

“Rumors say she can but was sick during her testing and got dismissed.” 

Before any of them could provide aleksander with information, a young woman, dressed in a loose blouse and what looked like the first army pants.

“Based on all the chatter I could hear from back there, I assume it’s about myself?” You grinned as you scanned the crowd.

A mixed of positive responses came from the busy club.

Aleksander noticed how each of his grisha searched the crowd.

“Aww stop it, i’m blushing!” You playfully waved to the crowd before turning to the band who waited for your sign to play.

As the band started up, you danced around the stage a bit.

“So if you don’t know, i wrote this many, many, many years ago when i was stuck as a showstopper for tow men on each side of the fold, one more then the other..” You referenced to your pants before raising an eyebrow.

Aleksander wasn’t surprised, zlatan of course wouldn’t share a summoner with anyone, especially the king and aleksander.

“Can’t take my charm,

Can’t take my humor,

Can’t take my wealth, cause it’s just a rumor.

Nothing you can take was ever with keeping.

No nothing you can take was every worthing keeping.”

As alina listened to your singing she glanced around the room and froze as she spotted aleksander and the other grisha in the club.

Alina subtly nudged mal who popped up and ushered alina through the crowd to leave quickly.

As you took a breath, you felt yourself stop for a moment, as you took note of the dark eyes of the darkling.

“Thinking you’re so fine,

Thinking you could have mine.

Thinking in control, thinking you can change me, maybe rearrange me.

Think again if that’s your goal.” 

You stomped your boots at each sentence, making the crowd cheer.

Through the small break of your singing, you held strong eye contact with the darkling, from what zlatan had told you, he was saving you from the general who had “tossed your abilities aside” those were the only words you believed from the first general, you had tried to get test when you were a teen but got reject when you said you could summon.

“Can’t take my sass,

Can’t take my talking.

You can kiss my ass,

Then keep on walking!

Nothing you can take was ever worth keeping,

Oh, nothing you can take was ever worth keeping.” You stared him down while continuing to sing.

Zoya scoffed as she followed your and aleksander’s gaze to one another. 

Aleksander looked away from you to look at the sour expression on her face.

“She’s insulting you to your face..” 

“I know..” He responded, his eyes moving back onto you which your eyes were closed as you finished the song.

“Nothing you can take from is worth dirt,

Take it cause i’d give it free, it won’t hurt.

Nothing you can take was ever worth keeping..”

As you finished the crowd cheered making you grin and gave a bow before walking to your bandmate and motioned for behind the stage before exiting, they band continued to play as you left.

Aleksander hadn’t noticed zoya rambling on how disrespectful you were, he piped up as you left the stage. “I’ll be back.” He told zoya before walking outside the club.

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

You quietly exited from the building and leaned against the building.

You were now screwed, after many blissful years away from zlatan and kirigan it had to come crashing down.

Being upset you got up and kicked the tins in the back alley of the club.

“That was quite the show..” You jumped at the general’s voice.

“General kirigan..” You greeted, walking to pick up the fallen over tins. 

“You worked under zlatan?” He questioned, making you chuckle. 

“What made it obvious? My clothes or the song?” You asked, putting the lid back on before turning to his figure.

“He rarely sent letters to the palace grounds to let us know of anything.” 

You scoffed, knowing where he was trying to lead the conversation.

“Bullshit, don’t play like you never knew about me, I stood in front of grisha testers and was denied a retest because of my ability, each test is shown in front of you, in your lap to see the newest grisha!” You walked closer to him as you went on.

“Nice try to play that card but the only words I ever believed from zlatan was that you tossed me aside.” You brushed past the darkling and went to enter the club again but was stopped by him grabbing your wrist in a tight grasp and pulling you back to face him.

“You could train in the little palace with others, be with your own kind.” He tried to convince you.

“You missed that train where I wanted to fit in with others badly, I will not be trained to replace your little sun summoner.” You ripped your wrist form his grasp and walked back into the club.

Aleksander stood by himself in the alley, shocked you had decline his offer.

After he collected himself he walked into the club to collect his grisha.

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

Weeks had passed since the incident at the club.

Aleksander hadn’t been expecting a meeting with the king, he was confused at the sudden arrangement.

“Tsar.” Aleksander greeted as he entered his war room.

“General.” King Pyotr greeted, letting aleksander step in further before continuing. 

“Is there a reason you called upon me?” Aleksander questioned.

“When you were visiting ryevost, did you happened to see this girl?” The king unfolded a drawing of the singer he had a conversation with weeks ago.

“She’s rumored to be a moon summoner, if anything, everyone’s after her. And i believe she’ll do good here in the little palace under your control.” He continued, aleksander studied the poster.

“I’ll send grisha to find her…” The king smiled and nodded in aleksander’s direction before getting up and leaving.

Once gone, aleksander picked up the paper to admire your beauty. 

“I’ll find you, songbird..” He muttered as he read over the paper.

Y/N Y/L/N  - GRISHA - WANTED BY KING PYOTR AND GENERAL KIRIGAN.

[taragreenfield]

Adding to this post because I remembered something else.

During their conversation over the meal, Alina asks Aleksander how old he is. He says "120, give or take", and while it's considerably less than his actual age, it makes Alina aware of their giant age difference.

Then Alina mentions him being a living amplifier and asks him if it worries him that Grisha might use his bones to make themselves more powerful. That would be a good opportunity to milk some sympathy out of Alina and say that it does indeed worry him and hint at related trauma. That's what a manipulator or groomer would do. Trauma-baiting, self-pity, that's where they thrive. What does our boy do? He says no and changes the topic. (Missed opportunity 1)

He asks what kinds of stories Alina heard about him. Alina mentions him "gathering Grisha from over the world" and he contradicts her, saying that he doesn't need to gather them - they come on their own, because the rest of the world is even worse for them. Sadly, it wasn't a lie.

Then Alina mentions that he's considered the strongest Darkling in generations. Another opportunity to play on Alina's feelings and accept this compliment in a favorable way and maybe flirt a little? What does Aleksander say? "I didn't ask for flattery". He didn't ask for flattery, guys. Imagine telling a girl you are allegedly trying to seduce "I didn't ask for flattery" when she says something complimentary about you. (Missed opportunity 2)

Then Alina tells him that one of the serfs said Darklings are born without souls; he doesn't react much, just says "I doubt that serf is the only one who thinks so". A good manipulator would have acted hurt and probably asked Alina if she also thinks so, forcing her to confront her perception, making her feel bad for him, and allowing a little vulnerability, but he doesn't. (Missed opportunity 3)

As you can see, the chances to manipulate Alina's feelings were coming right into his hands, and he managed to drop every single one of them. He seems like the kind of guy who has no idea how to deal with the emotions and shuts down every time the conversation gets a little too close to uncomfortable emotional stuff. For someone who is supposed to be a good manipulator, Aleksander can be used as an example of how NOT to manipulate someone. The pattern of his behavior is not manipulation—it's avoidance. He rejects any opportunity to become closer to someone he's allegedly "seducing" or "grooming".

[sad-outsider]

Hello! My name is Sylvia and I want to ask you. What kind of parent do you imagine The Darkling to be? Do you think he would be a good father or not?

Hello.

This is actually a difficult question, because we don't know Aleksander's canon attitude towards children. There is also the question of interpretation - show!canon or book!canon the Darkling.

If we are talking about book Aleksander, then it is difficult for me to imagine him as a father, but then again, maybe he would want children from Alina. I know that in the fandom there is an opinion that book!canon the Darkling did not want to have children, from Alina or not, but I tend to disagree with this opinion, at least for the reason that we do not know his canon attitude towards children and family. However, even if he wants to be a father, it is far from a fact that he will cope with this role. He is a very traumatized character, he has many inner demons, not to mention the consequences of Baghra's toxic upbringing. In order to become a good father, he needs to deal with his problems, and this is not so easy. Otherwise, he will inevitably repeat his mother's toxic upbringing model, that is, he will be emotionally unavailable, cold, will isolate his child from peers and instill in him that he is above others and will possibly even use the child as a weapon if he is Grisha. If the child turns out to be a otkazat'sya… there is a high probability that Aleksander will reject him, no matter how sad it is😞

As for the show! Aleksander, he seems less traumatized and more open to me, although there are problems here too. I can imagine him as a caring and loving father, although again there are concerns in the event that his child turns out to be a otkazat'sya or mortal, because he already has the painful experience of losing mortals.

I hope I was able to answer your question. Feel free to ask more questions, I am only happy to answer them😉

[theweeklydiscourse]

Nerfing the Villain: An analysis of the Darkling’s attack on Novokribirsk

I reject the attack on Novokribirsk as a culmination of the Darkling’s supposed master plan and his evil aspirations. So I wanted to talk about why I don’t feel compelled by this moment, despite the fact that it is brought up several times as a point of contention in discussions about the Darkling’s evil deeds.

When you read this chapter of Shadow and Bone or watch it happen in the show, it is communicated to the viewer/reader that the attack on Novokribirsk served as a demonstration of strength. In the show, we see a soldier directing Zoya to steer the ship to a position of visibility, explaining that they will need an audience. This, coupled with the attendance of foreign diplomats, reinforces the idea that the attack is meant to be seen and functions less as a military maneuver and more like a political strategy. Similarly, the book implies this purpose through Alina’s observations of the ship’s passengers

But this plan is flawed on two fronts. Firstly, the fact that the Darkling has been established as an adept strategist and general who has led the Second army for generations and thus, has a great deal of experience and expertise. Secondly, this maneuver is an act of senseless violence that has no pretext and is counterproductive to the Darkling’s goals.

And just like that…the Darkling got lobotomized by the narrative

Aleksander Morozova has been characterized as an intelligent and cunning individual from the moment he first appeared in the text. Alina's narrations frequently ponder over his inner workings and demonstrates a perception that he is both highly strategic and calculated when it comes to his planning. This perception is strengthened by the added fact that Aleksander is roughly four centuries old, having spent his long life involved in the military and politics as a Grisha general. With this in mind, the reader can gather that he is a skilled and competent leader with countless years of experience and so we assume that what he does will follow a logical path (even if it proves to be ruthless).

So how do we make sense of the attack on Novokribirsk? To examine this moment in full, we must start with how the text explains the purpose of it.

"This must be why the Darkling had delayed our trip into the Fold. He’d needed time to assemble the proper audience, witnesses who would attest to his newfound power. But just how far did he intend to go?" (Shadow & Bone, pg. 207)

Here, we see Alina's assessment of his plan. In summary, Aleksander has invited Fjerdan ambassadors, a delegation from Shu Han, Kerch tradesmen, as well as a representatives of the Crown to demonstrate the might of the Fold. He intends to use Novokribirsk as a site for his demonstration and unleash the fold upon the city to make his point to his audience. The ultimate goal of this act is explained as a threat to the nations bordering Ravka, as well as the current leadership of Ravka itself. The Fold becomes a weapon of mass destruction and lends Aleksander leverage over the nation on his terms.

“I think you understand me now. There are no Ravkans, no Fjerdans, no Kerch, no Shu Han. There are no more borders, and there will be no more wars. From now on, there is only the land inside the Fold and outside of it, and there will be peace.” (Shadow & Bone, pg. 213)

However, when you take a closer look, it becomes apparent that Aleksander should be smarter than this. He should be the kind of leader that would have the foresight to see that this plan would massively backfire if he ever did something so senseless. It would be like if the USA dropped a nuclear bomb on Los Angeles or New York to intimidate other countries into submitting to them, completely counterintuitive and lacking awareness of how the public would react. Decimating a city in your own country as a demonstration of might, especially without any pretext or warning, is not an intelligent strategy under any circumstances. Yet, Aleksander makes his speech confidently, as if what he did was a sound strategy.

For one, Novokribirsk is a densely populated trading port and has a population that is mainly composed of Ravkan civilians who are not at war with Ravka. If his goal was to showcase the Fold's overwhelming strength, why not unleash it on a Fjerdan or Shu town/city? You know, the countries that Ravka is actively at war with?

“They’re your own people!” I cried desperately. (Shadow & Bone, pg. 210)

Aleksander committing horrible acts of violence is fine, but only if it aligns with his previous strategies and end goal. Senselessly slaughtering civilians en masse is not a strategy that fits in with that idea, and it is obviously counterintuitive to what he wants to achieve. Also, Aleksander is already feared or despised by a large portion of the population and does not have the majority of Ravka on his side, so how could this possibly help him? Getting onto the throne is one thing, but staying on it is a completely different game. Brute strength can only hold out for so long, and it doesn't help him to commit a random act of violence in this context.

"They ran, and I saw their fear, heard their screams as the black fabric of the Fold crashed over the drydocks and the village like a breaking wave. Darkness enveloped them, and the volcra set upon their new prey. A woman carrying a little boy stumbled, trying to outrun the grasping dark, but it swallowed her, too." (Shadow & Bone, pg. 212)

It’s difficult to believe that a person with as much experience as the Darkling would not be be able to foresee that this act of violence would elicit a visceral negative response from the majority of Ravkans. We could imagine that the nature of this plan was to instill fear into the hearts of the masses, but no ruler can govern on fear alone and it’s pretty important to have people on your side if you want to stay in power. As such, killing civilians with no clear justifications, motives, or pretence becomes an effective strategy at getting everyone to hate your guts.

The incoherence of this moment is the reason why I reject it as a legitimate culmination of his character motivations and arc throughout the book. It feels distinctly disconnected from the goals he was purported to have, so when other characters like Nikolai and Zoya lay into them for it, I don’t feel remotely compelled by their words because it didn’t fit in at all with his character.

[aleksanderscult]

What kind of "Alina" did Aleksander want?

I've seen so many different people in this fandom give their own opinion about how did the Darkling wanted Alina to be.

Did he wanted her meek, weak and obedient?

Did he wanted her strong and powerful?

So I took the liberty of creating this post to analyze this issue through his own words, thoughts and actions.

I know how popular the "Aleksander wanted her submissive by the way he put that collar around her" theory is but it doesn't really stand because:

A) we will never know how things would turn out if Baghra didn't approach Alina that particular night but it actually seems that he wanted to take her with him to the north.

“The key to the Shadow Fold is finally within our grasp, and right now, I should be in the war room, hearing their report. I should be planning our trip north. But I’m not, am I?”

He couldn't keep the truth from her forever so at some point of that journey he would definitely spill the beans to her.

B) he forcefully put the collar around her throat because she showed resistance at the worst possible moment. The Darkling had already set the wheels in motion: the King was slowly getting sick and the whole country (and most importantly, their enemies) would know it (so he had to work fast before anybody got any ideas of siege, rebellion or war) and he himself would have to show his true colors and plans. By having Alina slip away and act all dramatically with Mal was a blow to his plan and stomach since not only he had Alina as an enemy now but he fell for her so her rejection hurt him on a personal level.

(that weekend MUST have been the worst of his life)

He didn't want her to take that power unwillingly:

Or steal her powers in a violent manner:

He had little time and little patience. He worked his ass off for centuries and tolerated so much bullshit from the monarchs. He wouldn't allow her to foil his schemes. But it's also interesting how his feelings got in the way too and, therefore, acted impulsively.

But! How did he want her?

Well, the very fact that he grew up around a very strong, powerful and stubborn woman is an answer by itself. Baghra's influence definitely played its part if you look at this from a psychological point of view.

“It seems that most men are after a significant other that will essentially replace their mum.

A recent study by eHarmony has found that 64 percent of men are in a relationship with someone who shares significant personality traits with their mother. Fortunately, it’s totally normal from an evolutionary, psychological standpoint.”

Many studies have shown that plenty of men and women search a partner that resembles their mother and father respectively.

It wouldn't be surprising if Aleksander was the same given how many centuries he spent with his own mother and how much of an influence the latter was to her son in his childhood.

There is an abundant amount of proof in the books that Aleksander wanted Alina to be strong, powerful, to embrace her true self and believed that there was more to her.

He thought of her as someone like him and could see himself in her, no matter how much Alina denied it.

Baghra raised him to value power, so seeing Alina shy away from it is strange and peculiar to him. She has the chance to change everything and she seeks things that are beneath her. Aleksander can't fathom that because he doesn't believe that she's meant for something as simple and pathetic as this.

He chastises her for the choices she makes and the wishes she has. She was destined to shine and be seen and here we are watching a girl trying to hide her potential.

If Aleksander wanted her submissive he would be glad to see her state in the beginning of S&S. She's weak, right? So a perfect victim to have that can't fight him back. But, in fact, he's furious, disappointed and unsurprised with her state.

Aleksander never wanted her meek or weak. He even admired her stubborness:

(there is a sense of admiration and annoyance here)

BUT he never wanted that stubborness and ferocity to be directed against him:

He even thought of her better than the men that surrounded her and believed that they couldn't measure up to her power:

The aftermath of their battle in the chapel is extremely interesting because we see the Darkling showing a genuine admiration for her powers and how quickly she (sort of) mastered them:

It also seemed that he showed understanding for the fact that she wanted to keep her freedom. Now that was a very good reason to fight him in his eyes. Since the Darkling himself believed in freedom and fought for it.

And, of course, he offered her a throne at his side. He didn't mind sharing power as long as she wasn't an obstacle to his plans.

He strongly believed in equality between them and according to the author he envisioned a future with her:

In order to have someone to keep your power under control then that person needs to be as powerful as you.

And then we have him at his most vulnerable state confess that he didn't lie about equality after all:

He talked about equality again and again. His disgust and anger every time he saw her weak from not using her powers was prevalent as well as his admiration every time she used her powers to their fullest.

The only thing in which he found her inferior to him was her knowledge of power. Which is understandable since Aleksander had much more time to understand it, study it and use it.

In RoW, his anger and disappointment for her state continues.

So:

1) He believed that she could rule as Queen and her life in hiding is not right for her.

2) He believed that she was meant to be powerful and strong and stood by that statement many times.

3) Didn't consider her life a worthy life at all.

The only character in the Grishaverse, the one that people keep saying that she wanted her weak, was the only one that wanted the opposite for her and considered her fate disgusting, wrong and tragic.

His plan of having Alina on an equal stand beside him continued in this book as well:

Which means that he wasn't lying when he said that he didn't intend to make a slave of her.

And of course her stubborness was a trait that he found annoying and admiring at the same time. It showcased how strong-willed she really was:

So according to his own thoughts and words, I would say that Aleksander actually admired her fierceness and determination. It showed strength and he found it attractive. In fact, it probably even enhanced his conviction that she was the right partner for him.

But he didn't want that hostility to be directed against him and his plans. Which is not weird at all because what kind of person would like someone to screw up his goals.

In conclusion: Aleksander was actually the biggest fan of "powerful Alina".

[stromuprisahat]

The climax of Malyen's two-person blame train

Siege and Storm- Chapter 18

Starting here, I've analysed Malyen's outburst about losing Alina to her importance. I've saved the end for new post, because Aleksander gets dragged in the middle of it, and uses it accordingly.

Ironically, his tantrum only makes Alina feel so lonely she unwittingly reaches out to Aleksander.

And he turns it against her, slightly twisting the facts she doesn't know how else to interpret.

Why is he immediately offended?

Alina's obviously struggling with something, why isn't he worried FOR her? Why only bark "What?" and draw conclusion she's somehow treating him unjustly? They've just discussed she has a lot on her shoulders, but when she doesn't melt as soon as he kisses her, she's rejecting him?!

Even his body language is aggressive.

How can someone, who claims he ~cares~ about Alina as a person, jump to conclusions so quickly?! And force their view, as if they already agreed on it.

He only cares about how will he look if she dumps him.

Reading it over and over- All the time I was standing there, going on like a fool.- the wording makes it sound as if he weren't speaking just about his declaration, but more generally.

Cunty cunt pokes the wound while fresh, entangling it with his own words to make sure Alina remembers he's always right.

Another unfunded conclusion.

It's funny how it's always Alina unable to control her pussy. It never occurs to him she might realize he sucks and dump him without another man involved.

... hoping that you’d miss ME enough to tell them all to go to hell. "Supportive" boyfriend, hoping his girl will get sick of her duties enough to abandon everything AGAIN, and run off with him, because nothing matters more than him.

*giggling*

He just can't shut up, can he?

(Where else isn't he able to shut up?)

Alina finally finds the courage to tell him about her hallucinations, and Malyen demonstrates, why was she reluctant to tell him in the first place.

This is one of many reasons, why I don't believe Alina's "happy" post-R&R. The only close person she has left is Malyen, who:

a.) Hated her being Grisha, so how could he ever get even close to getting a whit of understanding of what was taken from her.

b.) Hates the Darkling being as much as mentioned. He has no clue what's binding him and Alina together, and never wants to hear about any of it.

c.) Just the fact he basically calls Alina Darkles' whore, and a month, two later it doesn't occur to him she might still harbor illicit feelings for him.. there's a new guy, right?! She totally forgot about that first one...

And he doesn't even let her finish a damn sentence.

He doesn't care what's wrong. He doesn't care what's going on. He doesn't care about Alina's feelings. She didn't fall over his neck, all excited, wet and willing, so she doesn't want him. She's just leading him on. Humiliating him... HIM, HIM, HIM...

Funny, how Alina's either whore, or a pathetic inexperienced virgin (derogatory, if you didn't notice), depending on what's easier to shame her with.

And Alina takes all the blame and necessary work on herself.

Alone, she falls apart. Shaky not only due to her duties, but lacking support of the only person she lets close.

Awww, when they comfort the other...

No, but I think this is genuine. On one hand Aleksander wants Alina for himself, but he also realizes the amount of pain she'll have to weather as long as she feels "so strongly" and clings to people, who can never understand her. Or in SOMEONE's case don't even want to.

[greensaplinggrace]

🔥for Genya Safin? 👀

anytime anybody attributes genya's decision to remain in the grand palace entirely to the darkling, they do her character a major disservice. they erase her depth, her traumas, her agency, and some of the key, defining points of her personality, her relationship with choice, and her driving motivation. not only that, but in large part, when people "excuse" genya from this decision, they are couching their reasoning in terms of perfect victimhood and female infantilization. I have never seen an analysis of this scene pushing all of the blame onto the darkling that did not in some way shame imperfect victimhood and moral ambiguity in women.

we lose a lot of good character analysis when we refuse to engage with women's choices as their own. people like to strip them of consequences or agency in order to blame others for their actions, because to admit women are capable of being imperfect victims or people with darkness in them or people that make bad choices or unreasonable decisions - like any person would - is to engage in a level of nuance that fandom rejects. you flatten these characters into perverse caricatures and you fetishize their victimhood without accounting for the reality of such trauma, and in doing so you brush aside the ugliness of the situation and you scrape out everything that makes the victim a person and you replace it with a doll you can easily defend.

genya made a choice. it was not the darkling's choice, it was her own. what happened in this situation was a very fascinating intersection of character motivations and personalities in a situation that highlighted their greatest traits. it is baffling to me that people like to flatten this scene when it is by far the most interesting one out there - imo anything between aleksander and genya is interesting because they are so similar, but I digress.

you have two very practical and goal focused characters in the same room together. you have the darkling give a young girl an ultimatum - strike one: this is a mark against him. he should not be giving children of this age any ultimatums when they are too young to be making such decisions. but he is a general and they are his soldiers and he is a character whose motivational focus is idealistic at the rejection of the individual. he is a) practical, and b) opportunistic - so this scene is a fascinating look into these aspects of his character.

then you've got the darkling engaging with genya. he is relating to her and he is sympathizing with her. people love to mark this as either full manipulation or complete non-manipulative empathy. but realistically, it would be both. it is very likely the darkling understands what genya is going through and is very sympathetic to it. it is very likely the darkling would not push her further to remain in the grand palace if she chose otherwise. but he is practical, and he has certain goals, and he respects genya's strength of character. he is also one of the only characters fully aware of the political climate, and one of the only politically savvy characters on the side of the grisha.

genya remaining in the grand palace is the best decision, in his mind. to remove her would put the grisha on the backfoot. to remove her would put the grisha at a disadvantage in the political climate, and it would instead give the king leverage over them. she is also useful to him, because he is an opportunist, and this is the most reasonable option to him, because he is practical. so he doesn't just remove her from the situation, he gives her a choice.

genya is also practical. she is highly competent and incredibly smart. she is vengeful, she is vicious, she is ruthless, she is prideful, and she is unbelievably caring. it is fucking baffling to me that people assume she's some wilting flower that was wholly manipulated into her situation and then simply sadly endured while she wished for a better life until she could be rescued by her savior when in reality she takes an active role in her story and is the fucking symbol of quiet, ruthless, karmic resistance and righteous fury.

the decision genya makes to stay is the crux of her character. it is her defining moment. everything you can glean about her character can be directly derived from this decision that she makes. and people will just take that away from her? you're joking. let's just say she didn't choose to side with alina as well while we're at it. those scars she got were random and not the direct consequence of her own choice. those scars she has aren't symbols of her resolve and her loneliness and her compassion and the strength she must have had to spare alina knowing what the darkling would do to her. they're just there I guess - all the darkling's fault. please. I'm fucking seething.

genya has reasons for deciding to stay in the grand palace. and she remains there because she has reasons. she has internal logic and depth of character. she has a driving motive that - surprise - puts her in danger! she suffers and she is traumatized and it is because the darkling gave her an ultimatum and it is because of grisha persecution and it is because of the king's corruption and the queen's inaction. but first and foremost it is because she chose to stay. because her character - her personality - dictates it. and she is not regretful.

like you all love to make her some weeping perfect victim when she's not. you love to say she'd fold in on herself waiting for rescue when she wouldn't. you love to say she'd walk away from her goals and her motives and her care for both the individual and the masses when everything about her says otherwise. you love to make her kinder than she is, softer than she is, less practical than she is - because she is too much like the darkling in too many ways and this is simply unacceptable in this fandom. none of these female characters have depth or gray morality to you. none of these female characters have complicated relationships with their trauma and their choices to you. it's literally all just the fault of one man. and I'm sick of it.

genya fucking looked the darkling in his eyes and forgave him for what he did to her. not because she cared about him, but because she cared about herself and her recovery. in a feat of monumental strength and incredible fortitude. literally all this fandom does when they talk about her is judge the darkling. as if she doesn't at all exist beyond him. how is that in any way liberating or providing understanding for survivors like her?

send me a 🔥 for an unpopular opinion (x)

[inexplicifics]

So… will we get to see Aiden in a dress?

In With Tenderness and Nobleness, he jokes (?) with Lambert multiple times that he’d look good in a dress (and maybe a corset?), and when they’re dancing, he thinks about how fun a swoosh twirly skirt must be.

It’s given me so many fantasies! I imagine Sasha would be slack jawed in a mixture of shock, arousal, and confusion.

Would it be on a dance night in Kaer Morhen where no one bats an eye? Or, if it was during a diplomatic trip, would Aiden do it thinking Sasha would be embarrassed/scorned for having a male lover and shave so the nobles would believe Aleksander had a tall, butch female Witcher girlfriend (though of course Aleksander would tell him he loves him just as he is)? Or would he be defiantly himself, starting to feel disappointed and rejected when Sasha panics for a minute before sweeping him into the most flamboyant and scandalously romantic dance of the event?

And of course Aiden would have to have Milena show him how to hide daggers in a gown, just because he’ll need to pull them out and twirl them at some point before making them inexplicably and smugly disappear. Sasha can discover the secret of how it’s done later, when they’re alone.

Or, maybe some other scenario entirely that you would make happen with the beauty and grace you write everything?

(Sorry, overly excited rambling. Never happens in fandom! ;) )

Aiden may well end up in a dress at some point, because swishy skirts are delightful and Sasha would look so entertainingly flustered. But he'd do it for fun, not to pretend to be Sasha's girlfriend; probably at Kaer Morhen, for a dancing night.

And yes, he would finally get to learn the secret of Milena's suddenly appearing knives. He'd be so put out that he hadn't figured it out earlier.

[lilu787788]

I've been in this fandom for over two years. Long enough to notice patterns that repeat themselves and conversations that never seem to move forward. One of the things that has become impossible to ignore is the way Aleksander is treated, especially by younger often queer fans who immediately frame him as some kind of ultimate villain, a symbol of everything they want to reject. It’s not just criticism. It’s a refusal to engage with who he is at all. Aleksander is a character built on complexity. He is powerful, yes, but also burdened by history, loss, and a deep sense of responsibility. He is not driven by cruelty or ego. He is someone who has spent centuries watching his people suffer, being hunted, betrayed, abandoned. He holds onto his purpose because if he doesn’t, no one else will. That is not something to mock. That is something deeply human. But nuance doesn’t survive long in online fandom spaces. Especially not in TikTok culture, where everything has to be quick, obvious, loud. In that environment, Aleksander gets flattened into a single label: abuser, manipulator, predator. And once that label is placed, there’s no room for discussion. No one wants to hear about his pain, his motives, his love. It makes them uncomfortable, so they dismiss it. A lot of it comes from projection. Alina or the Crows is seen as a stand-in for the young queer experience—someone finding herself, fighting for space. And Aleksander is cast as the one trying to control her. But the truth is, he never asks her to stop being who she is. He sees her. He values her. He believes she has power, and he asks her to use it. That’s not oppression. That’s trust. This fandom has made it nearly impossible to say you care about Aleksander without being accused of supporting harm. And yet, many of the people shouting the loudest excuse much worse behavior from other characters, simply because it fits a more comfortable narrative. Aleksander is punished not for what he does, but for the way he makes people feel. For being difficult. For refusing to be small. It’s tiring to see him treated as a threat when he is one of the few characters who actually speaks about justice, legacy, survival. He carries everything alone because no one else dares to look at the world as it really is. He never begs to be liked. He stands in his truth even when it costs him everything. That isn’t abuse. For me? That’s strength. And I think the discomfort comes from exactly that. Aleksander is not a soft, broken man asking for forgiveness. He is whole, and he refuses to apologize for being who he is. That kind of confidence especially in someone marked as "dangerous" is seen as unacceptable. It challenges the black-and-white moral rules that many fans are desperate to keep in place. But life isn’t simple. People aren’t simple. And Aleksander, more than any other character in this story, understands that. So yes, I admire him, I love him. Not in spite of the fact that he’s complicated—but because of it. And I will never let the loudest voices in this fandom make me feel ashamed of that.

[valkyries-things]

DEVANA // SLAVIC GODDESS OF WILD NATURE, FORESTS, HUNTING & THE MOON

“She is the goddess of wild nature, forests, hunting and the moon worshiped by the Western Slavs. In the sources, she was first mentioned in the 15th century by Jan Długosz, who compared her to the Roman goddess Diana. After strong criticism from Aleksander Brückner, researchers rejected her authenticity, but nowadays it is accepted by an increasing number of researchers.”