#aleksander morozova icons

[xadenviolct]

okay, so I've officially started my process of iconing s2 of S&B, because I was told that a certain site already had some good caps up.

thanks, cap-that.com, for being so quick on the caps. (My other sites that I normally get caps from don't have them up yet, and I know it's been less than a week, but I want icons hah.)

because, I mean... scars :)

[aleksanderscult]

The way Alina's light blends with Aleksander's darkness, the way he looks at her and the way they hold hands.

They were destined to meet and fall in love with each other and the antis can scream whatever they want.

Bardugo, fuck this ship up through your annotations and you'll see me in your walls. 🙂

[dagmarschwz]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Darkling × Amalia

[paradise-bi-the-dashboard-lightt]

Hi!! I’d like to request an Aleksander Morozova icon with the bi flag and heart doodles please! Thank you! 💕

Sure! Here you go, your icons are under the cut. Thank you for requesting :)

Requests are still open if anyone else would like some icons!

[argentangelhelps]

320 ICONS OF BEN BARNES IN SHADOW & BONE SEASON 2

all icons are free to use with credit to @argentangelhelps !

you may edit to your liking (add borders, psds, textures ect)

do not use for : celebrity/real person rps or paid commissions, everything else is up to user discretion. (don’t make me change this rule)

they are edited (sharpened) in ps, however they are meant to be used under the psd of your choice! if you choose to use them as they are they should work just fine! they are 100px & 75px square and do not come with any borders.

all screencaps used come from https://screencapped.net/ i did not make them, i just cropped them into icons.

FACECLAIM INFO : ben is white & jewish

TRIGGER WARNINGS : blood, kissing

the zip file is free to download on my PAYHIP!

LIKE OR REBLOG IF YOU SAVE OR USE!

[saintlopezlov3r]

Aleksander Morozova🖤

Shadow and Bone

“Fine, make me your villain.”

[moonlightmoors]

The Darkling's just a repressed theater kid fr

[fandomele]

I was making a big Christmas pack of headers and dash icons from Shadow and Bone (specifically from photos of its cast. You try to find pictures of Kaz smiling!) but I was hit by a headache, so I'll post 'part 1' and HOPEFULLY as soon as I get better I'll make part 2 but for now you get the alina-mal-darkling combo + a wild inej and jesper appearing.

below readmore other icons from these:

[maimingaffairs]

Hello Hello! I finished reading Shadow and Bone a month ago, and just finished watching it on Netflix yesterday. While scrolling the Darkling x reader tag, I found your blog, and I must say it's so cute! I absolutely adore it! Can I request a cute little Darkling x Fem Reader? Reader is seven months pregnant, and some random Grisha insults her infront of the Darkling and he goes wild. THENNNN when training people, she kinda gets into a fight and uses her powers on someone? Basically Reader being iconic for lord knows how long. Anyways, I hope you can write it and please take your time! <33 THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

hi anon... as per usual this was a late night project so I apologize for the quality.. but i love u for requesting this <3333 also no zoya hate… i just didn’t feel like making up someone else so my poor baby got chosen to be the mean girl.

warnings: a little bit of zoya slander (but we love her)

word count: 2.1k

Fiery (aleksander morozova x fem!reader)

-

Aleksander was never one for public displays of affection. It was never something he was interested in, even once it had been common knowledge that you two were married. Other than a hand hold or a little kiss on the top of your head, most of your touches stayed between the two of you. 

That was, until you became pregnant.

Once you two had found out that you were expecting, he took every chance he could get to hold onto you and pull you closer in front of everyone. 

Your morning had started like every other morning had for the last seven months of your pregnancy. Aleksander would wake you a while after he’d been awake and ready for the day, and he’d sit with you in his arms on the edge of the bed for a long time, not saying a single word. You two stayed like that for almost twenty minutes, and finally, when it was time to get up, he placed a soft kiss on the side of your face and helped you out of bed. 

“I have meetings to attend today. Would you care to come along?” He asked softly and looked down at you while you pulled your nightgown off. 

“Oh, perhaps. I wouldn’t want to miss out on your company.” You hummed, and it was true. You didn’t care for being away from your husband often. 

Normally he wouldn’t ask you to join him, but ever since you’d become pregnant, he didn’t like to let you out of his sight. You knew it was because a deep worry plagued him, a worry that was nearly as ancient as him. The fear that something could happen to you and his unborn child prompted him to keep you at his side at all times; and really you couldn’t complain. 

He brought your dress over to you and helped you pull it on before he laced it up and you let out a content sigh. 

“Always so kind as to take care of me.” You teased and leaned back against his chest when he finished lacing your dress up. 

“How could I not? You can’t even hardly touch your own toes. Speaking of, sit. I’ll put your shoes on for you.” He hummed and you obliged, sitting down on the chair nearest to you. He went off to find your shoes and came back a moment later with them, sinking to his knees in front of you. He gently eased the shoes onto your feet and you let out a little sigh. 

“I want to stay in bed with you all day.” You said quietly and he looked up at you with a frown. 

“My love, I promise we will have a day to just ourselves as soon as possible. You are more than welcome to stay here if you want.”

“No. It worries you. I can always tell.”

He responded with a little nod and then he finished tying up your shoe before he stood and held his hands out for you. 

You took them gently and he pulled you to your feet before pulling you into a gentle embrace. 

“Have I told you recently just how happy you make me?” He asked softly and then pulled away from you just enough to look down at your face with a smile. 

“You might have. I hope that I, too, have mentioned just how elated I am to be with you.” You replied and his smile grew. He moved down to kiss your nose once before he clasped your hand in his and tugged you towards the door. 

“Come, let’s get a move on. The day cannot begin without us.” 

-

You sat around a table with Aleksander and a handful of other Grisha while your husband stood, pointing at various places on the map. You weren’t really listening to him.  You didn’t have to be in on this meeting, but he insisted that you come, so instead of paying much attention, you instead laid your hands against your abdomen. You smiled contently when you felt a little kick against your torso and you laid your hand down over it. 

Aleksander must have noticed you feeling for the kick, because he trailed off and reached down to lay his hand over yours. You looked up at him with a smile and he leaned down to place a kiss on your hairline before he pulled his hand back and continued on speaking. 

“You see, if we go around-“ 

“Excuse me. Why are you in here if you’re just going to sit and distract The General?” A sharp voice rang out, interrupting Aleksander and drawing your attention to her. 

A Squaller you recognized as Zoya sat with her arms folded primly against her chest and she eyed you with a certain contempt.

“I beg your pardon?” You asked incredulously and pushed your chair away from the table. 

Aleksander placed a hand on your shoulder gently and then he cleared his throat. 

“My wife is here because she is a very talented and powerful Inferni. She sits on my council along with the rest of you.” He explained coolly. But Zoya didn’t take this as the end of the argument. 

“Right, but we all know that’s not true. I mean really. You sit up in here and distract him and everyone else, don’t you have a life outside of following this poor man around?”

You stood up from the chair abruptly and opened your mouth to speak but Aleksander beat you to it. 

“Enough! How dare you have the nerve to insult my wife? In front of me, as well. You are dismissed, Zoya.” Aleksander said, in a clipped tone. 

“Oh, come on! If it were anyone else you wouldn’t care, General. But just because she’s knocked-“ 

Aleksander slammed his hand down on the table and then pointed up at Zoya. 

“Leave while you still have tongue in your mouth. Stay, and I’ll cut it out and make you wear it on a chain around your neck.” He hissed and everyone at the table instantly looked down at their laps, avoiding any eye contact with the seething general. 

Zoya looked taken aback and she scoffed and stormed out of the room, and you could hear her stomping footsteps all the way down the hall. 

“Does anyone else have anything to say before I continue?” He asked lowly, his voice back to the cold and pleasant tone it normally was. 

Everyone shook their heads and he let out a sigh, nodding once before he pointed back down to the map.

“As I was saying…” he began and you slowly lowered yourself back down onto the chair, holding your stomach as you did. 

You huffed in annoyance and scooted back in, not paying attention to the rest of the meeting. 

A while later, Aleksander placed his hand on your shoulder and offered you a hand to stand up. You took it gratefully and stood up with yet another angry huff. He briskly led you out of the meeting room and you opened your mouth to speak but Aleksander shushed you quietly. 

“I know, sweetheart. I know. She will be dealt with.” He assured you and you shook your head. 

“What the hell? She will be dealt with? I ought to deal with her myself! She can’t act that way!” You sputtered hotly, and you heard your husband laugh quietly.

“Aleksander! This isn’t funny! Stop laughing.”

“You’re right, it’s not. But you’re just so cute when you’re angry like this.” He teased and you rolled your eyes and then gently moved away from him. 

“I’m supposed to oversee the training of the new Infernis today. There were a few brought in.” You stated and he nodded once. 

“I will join you, then. After I check in on David. Will that be okay? Can you manage for just a few moments without me?” He asked and you simply scoffed. 

-

Sure, at the time, it seemed like you could manage a couple of Infernis that couldn’t seem to make work of the Small Science. 

And you could- really- but it was Zoya that you personally couldn’t handle. 

She made a point to talk over you every time you opened your mouth, and you couldn’t help but wonder where Aleksander was and when he’d make good on his promise that she would be dealt with. 

You stood silently next to Ivan and watched as a few other Inferni stepped in to help out the newcomers and you tapped the stoic man’s arm.

“Will you find The General for me?” You asked him quietly and looked up at him. 

He simply glanced down at you and then shook his head.

“The General has asked me to stay with you while he’s away.”

“I can take care of myself.” You remarked and you could’ve sworn you saw a little smile on Ivan’s lips. 

“I know, y/n. I’m sure everyone within the palace knows.” He replied in a monotone, but you didn’t miss the amusement in his eyes. 

You went to point it out before a large gust of wind sent you crashing into Ivan’s side. He grabbed you firmly and held you on your feet so that you didn’t fall and you both turned your attention to Zoya who looked smugly at you. 

“Sorry, y/n. You’d think I would’ve noticed you considering you’re… looking rather large these days.” 

Your jaw almost fell to the floor, but you didn’t want to give her the satisfaction, so instead you stared coldly at her and you shook your head. 

“And you’d think that perhaps you would’ve learned some couth living here in a palace but apparently not.” You snapped back at her and her eyes narrowed angrily. 

“Oh please, the only reason you’re here is because you-“ 

You had enough of her and you raised your hand and sent a wave of fire towards her. She scrambled backwards to escape it and fell into the dirt and you walked towards her angrily, flames still engulfing your hands. 

“Because I what, Zoya? Do tell.” You rasped angrily and she held her hands up to send a gust of wind at you again, but you simply threw another cluster of fire down at her and she rolled away to dodge it. 

You leaned down over the girl and grasped onto the lapels of her kefta, tugging her upwards a bit. 

“You speak like that again to me and I will show you no mercy. You don’t have to like it but I am married to The General. Whatever past you have with him is just that; a past. Your jealousy changes nothing.” You spat down at her and then let go of her kefta. 

You dusted off your own and then you eyed her with contempt. 

“Get off of the ground and go clean yourself up. You’re covered in dirt.” You snapped and watched as the girl pushed herself to her feet and stormed off in anger and embarrassment. You let out an exasperated sigh and you placed your hands down on your stomach, feeling the gaze of everyone in the training yard hard on your back. You spun around and everyone shifted their eyes away as quickly as they could and your eyes landed on Aleksander who stood next to Ivan. 

A little amused smirk tugged the corners of his lips up and he watched as you approached the two of them. 

“You are going to over-exert yourself and then what?” Aleksander scolded you, but he wasn’t mad. In fact, he chuckled under his breath after he spoke and you rolled your eyes. 

“Well, someone had to deal with the insolence and the back talking, if it had to be me then-“ 

You didn’t get to finish before he was approaching you and gently grabbing your wrists, pulling you in for a gentle kiss. 

“Let me stick to the punishment of my army. However, I think I can look past this, just this once.” He teased and you leaned against him with a sigh. 

“I mean, it was amusing. You getting so angry while with child. It was like watching a furious toddler. You’re so cute and feisty.”

You rolled your eyes and then let out a little giggle. 

“You could say… fiery.” You teased. 

“That was hardly funny.” He replied.

But again, you could have sworn you saw Ivan smile.

[batmanlovesnirvana]

— The name he buried

pairing : the darkling | aleksander morozova x sun summoner fem!OC

tags : some of my fave grishaverse accounts on here @stromuprisahat @aleksanderscult @is-today-tomorrow-in-nz @kasagia & @devoted-people-hater who asked to be added on the tags <3

words : + 2,6k

notes : sooo here’s a little snippet from my fic ‘Solar Børealis’ that I’ve been nervous to share (lol)... It’s one of the first scenes I wrote between Aleksander and Sunna, inspired by the iconic lines: “What should I call you? You must have a name. Everyone does.” and “Slaves do not have names.” (thanks to @black-rose-writings for the reblog and @yototothelalafell-deactivated20 for the original post!). Would love to hear what you all think, and if I managed to keep the Darkling true to canon. Hopefully he doesn’t feel too OOC!!! :) I apologize for any mistakes; English is not my first language.

THE FOREST lay in a veil of mist, hushed in a way that made every sound seem sacred.

The only break in the silence was the steady rhythm of hooves pressing into the damp earth, a soft pulse that echoed between the towering trees.

The air carried the scent of moss and rain, cool against their skin as they rode in a shared silence that stretched on, heavy yet unspoken.

Sunniva's eyes wandered toward him—the Darkling—General of the Grisha. His presence was unnerving in its quiet intensity, his expression unreadable, his figure almost blending with the deep shadows that clung to the forest floor.

Standing atop his black horse, he appeared as though he were a living part of the darkness itself, all sharp lines and mystery. His black cloak draped around him like the night sky, merging seamlessly with the world around him, making it impossible to discern where he ended and the shadows began.

It unnerved her—the way he seemed so ethereal, so impossibly perfect, as if sculpted from a dream she couldn't wake from. His beauty was unnaturally precise, a handsomeness that stirred something within her that she could neither name nor understand. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, ashamed of the thoughts that fluttered unbidden to her mind.

Mammá would have scolded her, a disapproving frown creasing her brow. “Don’t stare at strangers, Nana,” she would say, her tone gentle yet firm. “It’s not proper for a Fjerdan lady.”

Yet, even when her eyes fell, they were drawn back to him, as if compelled by an invisible force. It was like trying to resist the pull of the moon over the tides—a futile effort, a gentle surrender.

Her curiosity gnawed at her, sharp and restless, refusing to be silenced by the quiet.

Finally, she spoke, her voice soft yet cutting through the stillness, "What should I call you ?" The question hung in the cool air, fragile yet persistent, one she'd longed to ask since their first meeting. "You must have a name. Everyone does."

The Darkling didn't look at her, his gaze fixed ahead as he guided his horse through the narrow trail. His silence lingered so long she wondered if he would answer at all.

"Slaves do not have names," he said at last, his voice low and cold, but there was a weight to his words—a bitter edge that struck something deeper.

Sunniva blinked, taken aback by the statement. "Slaves?" she echoed, her dark brows furrowing. "You're no slave."

"Not now, perhaps," he replied, his tone as smooth as ice, though she detected a flicker of something beneath it. "But I was born into a world that would have seen me bound, powerless, just like them." He glanced at her then, his eyes like storm clouds on the verge of breaking, dark and turbulent, yet gleaming with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "I broke those chains."

She stared at him, her heart pounding harder. "And now you bind others in them?"

He laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "Is that what you think, little saint? That I revel in control? In power over others?"

Sunniva stiffened, straightening her back as she shifted her position in the saddle. The way he uttered "little saint" made her feel small, insignificant. Instinctively, she brought her thumb to her lips, nervously biting the corner. But she wasn't about to retreat. "Well," she lowered her hand, as if suddenly remembering herself, "you rule through fear, don't you?" Her brows arched in challenge.

"Fear," he murmured, a faint smile curling at his lips, "is a tool. It maintains order, where kindness would invite only chaos."

"And what would you invite?" Sunniva countered, her pulse quickening. "What do you really want?"

The horses slowed, and the Darkling pulled his to a stop. He dismounted smoothly, his black cloak trailing behind him like a shadow. She hesitated, but followed, her boots sinking into the soft moss of the forest floor.

He stepped closer, his presence a looming shadow that consumed the silence between them. He towered over her, her head just reaching his broad shoulders, but she stood firm, crossing her arms in a silent attempt to show she wouldn’t be intimidated. His long fingers, adorned with silver rings, brushed the edge of her sleeve, the touch so light it almost felt unreal—yet it was enough to catch her breath.

His gaze, sharp and searching, roamed over her as the sunlight pierced through the leaves, turning her pale hair into threads of spun gold. His eyes lingered on the beauty mark beneath her eye, where her dark brows stood in striking contrast against her fair skin, and then settled on her eyes—deep green, like the heart of an untouched forest after the rain, harboring secrets she hadn't yet revealed.

She was a creature of contrasts—fragile and fierce, light and shadow intertwined. She looked like something otherworldly, a Saint made flesh.

And though he knew he should resist, the pull was irresistible—magnetic, a force beyond defiance. It ensnared him, hypnotic and inescapable.

Foolish boy, his mother’s voice echoed in his mind, but he silenced it. Her beauty—the gentle curve of her high cheekbones and the way the sunlight danced around her—made her seem untouchable. The lavender scent that clung to her was both intoxicating and haunting, lingering in his senses. Yet, there she stood before him, flesh and blood. Real.

"What do I want?" he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. His eyes drifted lower, tracing the scattered beauty marks along her neck before his hand rose to her chest, gently clasping the pendant that hung there. The sun-shaped charm caught the light, and his rough fingers moved over it with surprising tenderness, as though it held some profound significance.

"I want to change this world, Sunniva," he said, his tone tightening with fierce determination. "I want to tear it apart and rebuild it. I want to make Ravka safe for us—for the Grisha. To end its endless wars, to protect it from the chaos that constantly threatens to consume it. So no one ever has to suffer like we have."

She met his gaze, her heart hammering. "We?"

For a moment, something flickered in his grey eyes—something almost vulnerable, but just as quickly, it vanished. He stepped back, the distance between them sharp and sudden.

"I've lived too long to believe in naive dreams," he said quietly, his voice colder now, the warmth from moments before slipping away. "But you—you're still searching for hope in a world that has none."

Sunniva clenched her fists, holding herself back from moving closer. "Maybe hope is all some of us have left." Her Fjerdan accent, still softly woven through her voice, was like a distant melody—one that resonated with him, haunting and beautiful, as if it carried the weight of an ancient song.

The general looked at her for a long time, something unreadable passing over his features. Then, without another word, he turned back toward his horse, leaving her standing in the stillness of the forest, the tension between them thick enough to drown in.

Sunniva watched him mount again, her heart in her throat, pulse racing, but she couldn't leave the conversation unfinished. Not now.

She stepped forward, her voice more sure than she felt. "You didn't answer me! What should I call you? You have a name, don't you?"

The Darkling, still mounted, turned his head slightly. His eyes flicked back to her, the shadows around him seeming to deepen. "Names are for those who seek to be known."

"And you?" she challenged, her gaze steady. "You prefer to remain a mystery?"

A ghost of a smile played at the corners of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps you're not ready for the answer."

Sunniva's jaw tightened. She was tired of his evasiveness, of the way he danced around everything while making her feel like she was always one step behind. Stepping boldly closer, she crossed her arms and lifted her chin in defiance. "Try me," she challenged, then added, "or should I keep calling you Wrönche?"

For a long moment, he said nothing, simply watching her with that intense gaze of his, as though weighing her very soul. The silence stretched on, charged with the tension that had been building between them from the moment they'd first met.

Then, finally, he dismounted once more, the air between them crackling as he closed the space.

"I was born Aleksander," he said softly, the name slipping from his lips as if it were a secret long buried. His eyes locked onto hers, dark and unreadable. "But that name belongs to a boy who died long ago."

Sunniva's breath caught.

Aleksander.

It sounded so... human, so unlike the shadow he had become. She had expected something else, something distant, something cold. But this—this was a piece of him that felt real.

"Aleksander," she whispered, almost testing the name on her tongue. It felt intimate, strange. "Is that why you hide behind the Darkling? To bury that part of yourself?"

His expression hardened immediately, the softness vanishing in an instant. He stepped closer, his towering presence making the air feel thin. "Do not presume to know me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I am not someone you can save with a name."

Sunniva stood her ground, though her heart pounded against her ribs. "Maybe not. But I think you're someone who wants to be saved, whether you admit it or not."

The Darkling’s chuckle was low and dark. “Saved, she says,” he muttered, as if the very idea amused him. His gaze flickered over her, assessing. “What makes you think I need saving?”

Sunniva didn’t flinch. “Because no one chooses to live in shadow unless they’re trying to escape something.”

His smirk faded slightly, his jaw tensing. “You know nothing of what I’ve endured.”

“Maybe not,” she admitted, her voice soft but unyielding. “But I see the way you carry it—like a weight you refuse to set down.”

His eyes darkened, the forest seemed to dim with them. “You speak of things you don’t understand.”

“I understand more than you think.” She stepped forward, daring to close the distance between them. “You think power will fill the emptiness, that control will erase the pain. But it won’t. You can’t outrun it.”

His jaw clenched, and for a split second, she thought she saw something raw flicker across his face—anger, perhaps, or pain. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

He leaned in, so close she could feel the chill radiating from him. "Hope is a weakness, Sunniva," he whispered, his voice like a dark wind curling around her. "It makes you soft, it blinds you to the reality of this world. You think you can change me? I've outlived hope."

"Maybe you have. But I haven't." Her throat tightened, but she refused to look away. "You're a pessimist—"

"No, realist." Aleksander's eyes bore into hers, the tension between them so thick it was suffocating. He was so close now, his breath brushing against her cheek, the scent of earth and something ancient lingering in the air. For a moment, she wasn't sure if he would push her away or pull her closer.

"Realist?" she scoffed, her voice trembling with defiance. "You've given up hope. That’s not realism, that’s surrender."

Aleksander's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as he stepped closer, the air between them crackling. "Hope?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hope doesn’t win wars. Hope doesn’t keep our people safe. Power does."

She lifted her chin, refusing to back down. "And what about peace? What about all of this—" she gestured to the world around them— "Is this your idea of protection? Of safety?"

"I already told you Sunniva. I want to make Ravka safe for us. For Grisha," he said, his voice lowering, thick with frustration and something deeper, almost pleading. "I want to end Ravka’s endless wars, stop the bloodshed, and protect it—protect us—from those who would destroy us."

"And at what cost, Aleksander?" Sunniva's voice softened, the fight slowly draining from her. "How far are you willing to go?"

His gaze flickered with something unreadable, his face hardening into resolve. "As far as I have to."

The weight of his words hung between them, thick and unyielding, as if they had pushed a wall between them. Sunniva could feel the gravity of his conviction, the depth of his determination, and it chilled her to the bone. He wasn’t the type to back down—not when he believed so completely in what he was fighting for.

Then, just as quickly, he stepped back, the tension releasing like a snapped thread. Aleksander turned his face away, looking toward the trees, shadows playing across his sharp features. His voice, when it came again, was quieter, almost resigned. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"I'm not afraid of you," Sunniva said, though the words felt like a dare.

His dark eyes slid back to hers, his expression unreadable. "You should be."

Sunniva’s frustration boiled over, her voice trembling with barely controlled anger. “I don’t even know why I care,” she spat, her voice tight. "This isn’t my land. Not my country. Not my people." She took a step toward him, her hands shaking. "But your soldiers—they came through my village. They took my brother, took others… and what for? They destroyed everything. My family, my home, my life—shattered, because of your people."

Aleksander’s gaze hardened. “Your brother was drüskelle, Sunniva. A killer of Grisha. He hunted us—”

“You can justify my brother. Fine. He fought in your war. He made his choices.” She cut him off, her voice rising, raw. “But what about my sisters? My parents? They weren’t part of your war! They weren’t drüskelle. They weren’t hunters. They were just… they were just living their lives, Aleksander! And now they’re gone, all of them, because your men—your war—came to our doorstep and swallowed them whole!”

He opened his mouth, but her words were relentless, spilling out faster than he could respond.

“My parents didn’t even know what a Grisha was! My sisters? They were just children. They didn’t care about the war, they didn’t care about your power, or the politics that go with it. But you sent your soldiers, and now they're gone. I’ve lost everything, and you expect me to stand by your people? Your country ? To trust you?”

Aleksander’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before he regained his composure, his voice low and fierce. "I didn’t order their deaths, Sunniva. I ordered the capture of the drüskelle. Your brother was one of them. Do you understand that? They hunted my—our people. They hunted me.”

“And what about the rest?” she demanded, her voice cracking. “What about my sisters? My parents? You may not have ordered their deaths, but they died all the same. Your war—your quest—it stole them from me."

“And what about the Grisha who died before your family? Your village? The centuries of torture and persecution?” Aleksander’s voice was tight with fury, his jaw clenched so hard it seemed his teeth might shatter. He was seething, each word a flame, burning through the cold between them.

Sunniva stayed silent, unable to find an answer, her throat tightening around the emotions she could no longer voice.

He stepped closer, the barely contained rage in his eyes flickering with something else—something deeper. “I didn’t choose this war, Sunniva. The drüskelle choose it the moment they came for us. I am trying to build a world where no more innocents—Grisha or otherwise—have to live in fear. Where your family, your sisters, would still be safe.”

Sunniva let out a bitter, broken laugh, shaking her head. "Safe? You think you're building a world where people like my family would be safe? No. You're just replacing one kind of fear with another. You’re trying to control everything. Maybe you think it's for some greater good, but all you're doing is leaving more destruction in your wake.”

His gaze turned cold, resolute. “I’m doing what I must. For Ravka. For the Grisha. Whatever the cost is.”

She stared at him, tears burning in her eyes, her voice barely a whisper. “You’re destroying lives in the name of saving them.”

For a moment, something flickered in his expression—regret, or perhaps the weight of his own choices—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. His voice was steely again. “If I don't, who will? The Grisha have been hunted for centuries. You think peace will come without a price?”

He swung back onto his horse, the leather creaking beneath him, but the tension was unmistakable—his jaw clenched tightly as before. Running a hand through his thick, dark hair, he ruffled it absentmindedly, the cold distance between them quickly returning as he resumed the mantle of leader.

Sunniva's chest tightened, her heart racing in her throat. “But what if it’s too late for all of us?” She pressed on, “What do you plan to do?”

The silence felt suffocating, the questions lingering in the air pressing down on her as she wrestled with the enormity of their situation.

His gaze shifted to the horizon, where dark clouds gathered ominously, casting a shadow over the landscape. “What needs to be done,” he declared, his tone firm yet lacking warmth.

Frustration bubbled within Sunniva, and she huffed in annoyance, angrily brushing the tears from her cheeks.

When he turned to her, the coldness in his expression was as stark as ever, and in that moment, she recognized the depths of his burden—the weight of loss and horror etched into every line of his face.

But before she could organize her thoughts or find the right words, Aleksander’s sharp retort cut through the air like a blade. He glanced back at her, his face set in a cold, unyielding mask, making it clear that he had no intention of softening his stance.

"You think I don’t understand loss? I’ve watched my people slaughtered for centuries. You’ve lost, yes. But so have I. So have most of us. Don’t you dare lecture me on the cost of war."

Sunniva’s breath hitched, her voice cracking with fury and grief. "You think your loss gives you the right to take everything from everyone else? You think that justifies all of this? You think it makes you different from the ones you claim to be fighting?"

His jaw tightened, eyes narrowing. "I’m not like them. I’m saving my people, my country."

Her laugh was bitter, hollow. "At what cost, Aleksander? You’re not saving anyone. You’re just creating more graves."

His eyes flashed, but instead of responding, he turned his face toward the trees, his voice icy, a final warning. "Again Sunniva, you don’t know what you’re asking for. And you don’t understand the burden I carry."

She took a step back, her voice trembling with finality. “Maybe I don’t. But I won’t carry it with you.”

For a long moment, he said nothing, his back to her, his grip tightening on the reins. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp and cold, cutting through the air like frost. “Then don’t.” He spurred his horse forward, his words hitting like a lash. “Spare us both the trouble.”

She flinched at the harshness in his tone, but he didn’t look back.

Sunniva stared after him, her heart heavy. She was angry at him. At herself. At everyone.

The weight of it all pressed against her chest, suffocating, relentless. Maybe he was right, and that was what hurt the most. Each breath felt like a battle against a truth she didn’t want to accept, a truth that gnawed at her insides and wouldn’t let go.

Neither uttered another word as they rode through the forest, the silence colder than Ravka's harshest winds.

Yet, Sunniva couldn’t shake the sense that the battle wasn’t over.

She had seen Aleksander—just for a fleeting moment—beneath the darkness, beneath the icy armor of power and fear.

And now, she couldn’t let him slip away.

I didn’t know how to end it … and like I said, this is just a snippet :) I’m probably going to change/cut things later

Børealis : references the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, often seen in high-latitude regions.

Wrönche : Darkling (a term used by the Fjerdans/Drüskelle during the forest scene in the first episode)

[xadenviolct]

thanks to cap-that.com, I continued making more Darkling icons from s2 of Shadow and Bone. From episode 2 this time:

I'm really liking how they're turning out, even if the lighting in this show sucks half the time, and I have to do a lot of PSD tweaking...

[aleksanderscult]

Favorite Darkling fanarts

Since this fandom has such talented people, I thought to share with you my favorite Darkling fanarts! (for my favorite Darklina fanarts here) And maybe you too might discover some new drawings of him.

(I'll give credits of every drawing and picture to the respective artist of course 🖤)

(Credits to @nirusky)

The blueprint. The most iconic. The one which gives me the most book!Darkling vibes because there is a certain mystery and magic on it which I absolutely love. The way the pool of darkness comes out of his hands, the facial expression, are all 😚

(Credits to @morgana0anagrom. Go check her drawings by the way. She's talented af!)

Another famous one. The poise, his smirk, the glow in his eyes, the depiction of his power coiling around him. Sexy. Iconic.

(Credits to @morgana0anagrom)

This one reminds me of the Darkling the most. Thanks to his boyish look and how the artist made his features so perfect. Actually this is how I imagine him when he appears again and again through the tether on S&S (don't know why).

(Credits to @morgana0anagrom)

Isn't he the moment or what? 🫴

Takes you back on his attack on the final chapters of S&S:

“Stand down, Alina,” said the Darkling.

His cool voice echoed through the chapel, cutting through the noise and chaos.

“Stand down, and I will spare them.”

(Credits to @morgana0anagrom)

The Russian vibes that comes from it 😩🤌🏻

(Credits to @staciaches.art on Instagram)

“At the head of the table was an ornately carved, high-backed chair of blackest ebony, and upon it lounged a figure in a black kefta, his chin resting on one pale hand.”

If that drawing doesn't remind you this quote. That moment.

(Credits to zzombiecat)

(ALSO THE OUTFIT DESIGN AND CLOTHES!!)

Incredible and he's sooo accurate to the book.

(Credits to RinaMintaArt on DeviantArt)

The clothes! The poise! The smirk!

(Credits to RinaMintaArt on DeviantArt)

One of my most favorites. I just LOVE the vibes and colors from it. And he looks so accurate to the books again.

Also, can we acknowledge how the Darkling has the best aesthetic? The solar eclipse, the black and gold and gray colors that are always associated with him, the vines, flowers, trees and wild animals that are carved to his doors and chambers *chef's kiss*

(Credits to RinaMintaArt on DeviantArt)

The cold and ruthless look on his face. Again the colors!

[dagmarschwz]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀BEN BARNES × ELIZABETH LAIL

[lukey-pookie-hughes43]

Vee's recs

a collection of my fav fics

Hope you enjoy and please give these writers lots of love

Letters to you - series - @mackenzielovee ICONIC. Period.

Broken hearts club - series - @beyonddmythoughtssworld it's wonderful. Simple.

@forevermoreharrington. The whole blog. Luc does amazing at getting the perfectly fluffy everything and her blurbs are AMAZING

@softcoremaybank my love, Chloe. She is an amazing writer and captures this great feeling in her work that you don't see very often (for me at least) and it's wonderful

I Love You, R.C - short blurb - @lilminchii - so good if ur about to fall asleep (like me) and you just need a bit of fluff to make your dreams better <333

Whole ass masterlist - @sunraies amazing shit right there

Shadow And Bone

Aleksander Morozova

Are there still beautiful things? @myhairpintrigger - He and Reader have been friends since they where children and have walked the earth together since then. They always thought that the love they have for the other is just friendship, but boy where they wrong...Their friendship takes a hit during the whole Alina in the Little Palace time...Reader knows about the plan to expand the fold and is all for it, she just really doesnt like Alina....Anyway, during the events on the skiff when Alina runs, Reader and Aleksander get separated and believe the other to be dead...They go on to free Grisha on their own. After some time they meet and in the heat of the moment he kisses her...They finaly confess their feelings...After that they go on to win the war...After they win they get crowned King and Queen and bring peace to Ravka, but expecialy to the Grisha... sorry about the really long summary but I just copy/pasted the request from the og post

Dad!rafe is great and this is a mother's day fic <333 - @hotchsstuff - great writer with great fics

More to come!

Or u can just search vee's recs on my blog and find them <333

[cheremorte]

#CHEREMORTE — to cherish death

Independent & private multimuse ft. characters from (YA) literature, videogames & more. Cherished by Bubbles. 25+. Formerly known as dearestdeaths. Sporadic activity until further notice. Rules & character information to be found under the cut.

RULES

INTRODUCTION. if you've made it this far, you're probably wondering why I suddenly changed blogs without any notice on my old blog. The truth is: I locked myself out like a silly little goose. So here I am once again, and hopefully this time for a longer period.

FOLLOWING. As per my previous blog, I made this one to enjoy interactions with people I've been writing with for a long time. That doesn't mean I'm not open to new interactions, but I won't be begging for any and I will not be following first. That being said, if we know eachother, hey!

ACTIVITY. This blog will be low activity due to being a new mom. I am, however, always available on discord for plotting and/or short threads.

DASH. I don't really care for aesthetic, I don't use icons and I couldn't care less about what you do, so long as you cut posts and don't use too many spaces between words in replies to me.

TRIGGERS. I tag basic triggers and any triggers you ask me to tag. Format: "trigger" tw. This blog may contain mentions of incest (as prevalent to the world of ASOIAF, not to be romanticized), violence, depression, crime. Any type of bigotry or discriminatory behavior is not welcome.

MUN. My name is Bubbles, I'm 26. I'm ethnically and religiously jewish, autistic and a mom. Life is a lot and RP is a hobby, not a jobby.

MUSES - WIP

ZELDA. Canon Character. The Legend Of Zelda (video game). 117 - 120.

THE OUTSIDER. Canon Character. Dishonored (video game). 4000+.

RHAEGAR TARGARYEN. Canon Character. A Song Of Ice And Fire (book-based). Verse Dependent. [ rhaegar fought valiantly. rhaegar fought nobly. rhaegar fought honorably. and rhaegar died. ]

BRYNDEN RIVERS. Canon Character. A Song Of Ice And Fire (book-based). Verse Dependent.

NIKOLAI LANTSOV. Canon Character. Grishaverse (book-based). Verse Dependent.

ALEKSANDER MOROZOVA. Canon Character. Grishaverse (book-based). 400+.

DA JAEHWAN. Own Character. 5000+. Vampire. [ you dangle on the leash of your own longing ; your need grows teeth. ]

SHERALITH OAKWIND. Own Character. The Elder Scrolls (video game). 34.

SABINE CALLAS AKA VIPER. Canon Character. Valorant (video game). [ blood on your hands ; as though it stops there. ]

[darklinaserver]

Season 2 Blog Spoiler Policy

there will be a one-week grace period from the show’s release before we start reblogging/queuing new content from the season

everything will be tagged #season 2, if you would like to blacklist that tag to avoid spoilers (we’ve been using this tag for all s2 trailer/interview content, and will continue using #season 2 for all the new gifsets and art etc that contain s2 content)

if you’re not familiar with how to filter content on tumblr, instructions are under the cut (tumblr’s built-in blacklist is REALLY robust):

on mobile: go to your own blog > settings gear icon > general settings > filtering

on desktop/browser: click on the person icon > settings > scroll down to “content you see”

filtered tags: this will filter out the exact tag on either a reblog or that op used. if you add season 2 you will not see posts that we reblog tagged sesaon 2. if you add shadow and bone, or sabedit, or grishaverse, you will not see posts where the op tagged it that

sabedit, shadowandboneedit, grishaverse, shadow and bone are great tags to blacklist to avoid seeing spoilers via gifsets. even if people you follow aren’t using those tags, tumblr will still block it as long as the op did.

post content filtering: this will filter out posts that have your word/phrase anywhere in the post—including urls. if you add darklina, you will not see a single thing we post because it’s in the url. if you add aleksander morozova, you will not see an untagged text post that says “aleksander morozova is a weird horse girl”

this is great for catching posts where op did not use any tags at all

TO SUM UP OUR SPOILER-AVOIDING TIPS:

filter the tag season 2 to avoid seeing anything we reblog from season 2

filter the tags sabedit, shadowandboneedit, shadow and bone, grishaverse, character names, ship names, etc, to avoid seeing content where either the op or the reblogger used those tags

filter post content as needed for those instances where op/reblogger didn’t use any tags/didn’t use any tags that you filtered