#anya x ivan

[rainebowevee]

mildly spicy (but mostly angsty) art under the cut

[NIGHTMARE]

[where-are-blog1]

I think that we can all agree that at some point in anime or manga or webtoon when we see this sexy character and we literally fall in love with that character and then we look at the main character and we think and we say out loud or mentally "If the main character won't end up with this sexy character I'm going to riot".

[pastellmochi]

hiiiiiiie im sal or nessie or knickknack im a they/them AND LET’S BE BEST FRIENDS TOGETFHER !!!!!!!!!! 🫶🫶🫶

PLEEEASE INTERACT ESPECIALLY YUMES/SELFSHIPPERS ND ARTISTS W OCS !!!!!! mwah

i ♡ : enstars , creepypasta , ouji and lolita fashion , selfshipping and ocs (including yours!!) , mouthwashing , vs ambivalenz , μ's , pokemon , paradox live , afterl!fe , 18trip, on-air! , on-air! survival chat , handead anthem , angel beats , soul eater , wonderland days , twisted wonderland , bad movies , purrfect tale , idols in general <333

IM ON ARTFIGHT twt and here !!!! at saltedbreez 🫶🫶🫶

KENTA MIKOSHIBA , DEATH THE KID , AND AYATO NAOI ARE MY DARLINGS EVER !!!!!!!!!!

MORE F/OS + ND OTHER INFO UNDER THE CUT !!!!!!

ALSO LIKER OF !!!! splatoon , ohshc , alien stage , persona , dungeon meshi , kirby , charisma house , hxh , guilty gear , tekken , vocaloid , drag race , princess tutu , naruto , twd !!!

SMOOCHES ♡ kenta mikoshiba , death the kid , ayato naoi , tetora nagumo , shinobu sengoku , frankenstein’s monster , arven , kieran , ruggie bucchi , izumi sena , junpei yoshino , ryuji sakamoto , kai satou , cheren , seiji shishikura , neito monoma , x virus , eyeless jack , hinata aoi , shin tsukimi , midori takamine , pokkle , millard nullings , kenji yamaguchi , yuri briar , hotaru kisaki , billy the kid fgo , testament , kafka oguro , taki ibuki !!! ♡

MAY OR MAY NOT LOVE mafuyu asahina , mizuki akiyama , megumi fushiguro , karma akabane , asano gakushu , kantaro misuji , yusuke kitagawa , rimicha , hangyon , yui komori , okuda minami , ace and deuce , junpei iori and chidori <33 , yosuke hanamura , hermione , izaya orihara , luka …

im a former genshin liker , xiao , bennett , dahlia , ga ming , chongyun , xiangling , yoimiya , albedo and razor all are in my heaaarts ♡ !!!!

MY BEST BESTFRIENDS naruto , sol badguy , sasuke , revali , shoto todoroki , yuga aoyama , vil schoenheit , riddle rosehearts , idia shroud , kotone shiomi , joker (PERSONA!!!!) , patty thompson , liz thompson , natsume sakasaki , sharpay and eyan evans , may , hyuna , mizi , sua , till , ivan , aba and paracelsus , akko kagari , ryu natsume , kantaro misuji , haruka sakurai , rin hoshizora , hanayo koizumi , honoka kousaka , callie and marie , sora harukawa , swansea , daisuke , anya , ann takamaki , ace and deuce , tk , shiina , everyone in vs ambivalenz and angel beats , bridget !!!

I LOVE MELLO , NICO YAZAWA , ELPHELT , SAYORI , HAPPY CHAOS , AND ROOK HUNT BEYOND DEFINITION !!!!!!!!!

MY FAMILIAL F/Os lily hoshikawa , rin kagamine , len kagamine , kalluto zoldyck , killua zoldyck , alluka zoldyck , nanika zoldyck , sylvie ashling , molly blyndeff , sojiro sakura , morgana , soichiro yagami , sayu yagami , sachiko yagami , pit kid icarus , grim , team rocket , gladion , lillie , ticci toby , jeff the killer , judge angels , bloody painter , clockwork , ben drowned , smile dog , nina the killer , slenderman , splendorman , jane the killer , gekiyaku , kazehiki , L , matt , near , hoodie , masky , lost silver , sayaka miki , vil schoenheit , yukan no shonen !!!

DNI !!!!! kanata shinkai , cater diamond , solomon obey me , wanderer , cyno , and wataru hibiki selfshippers !!! there's also more, aka doubles of my friends !!! please ask to share , most im okay w but def ask for kenta ayato and dtk !!! im really iffy / uncomfy w sharing but i can make some exceptions 4friends<33 i wanna make friends… dni basic dni criteria !!! dni proshippers !!! dni hh/vivziepop/dsmp fans !!! dni kentareo shippers … or you ship kenta with anyone please tag it4me okay thats all THANKS FOR READIIIIIING 🥺🥺🥺‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[myscalesofjustice]

Genderbent names for Spy x Family:

Loid: Locke. It’s the German word for “I lure”, and “loid” refers to a lock picking technique. May as well name femme Twilight after the lock. The nicknames her ass-in-law comes up with are Lolo and Locksie.

Yor: Still Yor. It’s an original name, so there’s no reason it can’t be masculine.

Anya: Ivan or Vanya. Ivan is the equivalent “staple Russian name” for boys, and Vanya is the short form.

Franky: Still Franky, maybe Fran. If that’s the best alias Franky could come up with, I doubt any version of him would do better.

Yuri: Yulia. It’s written as Yurya in Japanese, so there’s hardly a difference.

Damian: Daphne. Greek for laurel, a symbol of fame and victory. Demetrius’ counterpart would be named Drusilla.

Becky: Bobby. I thought it sounded almost like “bomb”.

Handler: Severin. As elegant as Sylvia, and it means “severe”.

Fiona: Finn. The name still means “white frost”, and I’m not messing with that.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, August 21st

PRINCIPAL WOOD: You're doing the best you can with what you've got. BUFFY: They're not all gonna make it. Some will die, and nothing I can do will stop that. Willow walks out the back door onto the porch, arms full of weapons. She freezes when she sees Principal Wood. WILLOW: Oh, hi. Hey. Well, Buffy, I—I see that our preparation for the school-pep-dance-cheer-drill contest are coming along. (to the potentials) Bring it on!

~~Get It Done~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Almost Ready by badly_knitted (Buffy, Angelus, PG)

Gratification by The_Crazy_Knight (Buffy/Giles, E)

mundane things (and a crossword puzzle) by GothamstreetCat (Wesley/Lilah, T)

Willow + Dean + Fate by Lyl (Willow/Dean, SPN xover, M)

Ken's Warning by rhodrymavelyne (Buffy/Angel, Angel/Kenneth Irons, Witchblade xover, Not Rated)

[Chaptered Fiction]

And Then There Were Two - ch. 1 by Murderpart1 (Vampire Willow/Willow, Not Rated)

Willow and Harry are BFFs - ch. 1-4 by Lyl (Willow, The Dresden Files xover, T) COMPLETE

Finding peace Pt. 12: Desperate (Spike x y/n) by itsalwaysteatimeinwonderland (Spike/reader, unrated)

A Tumble in Time - ch. 2 by thedoppleganger (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Mysterious Destinies - ch. 4 by EnchantedWillow (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

East of Nevada - ch. 18-19 by Blissymbolics (Buffy/Spike, R) COMPLETE

Reclaimed - ch. 11 by Holly (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) COMPLETE

Against All Odds - ch. 11 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

In The Dark With You - ch. 33 by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Collision of Universes - ch. 10 by AragornIIElessar (multi xover, FR15)

Old Fashioned Romance - ch. 13 by calikocat (Xander, Captain America xover, FR21)

Healing After Heaven - ch. 26 by Kate (Buffy, Highlander xover, FR13)

Birds of a Feather - ch. 1-3 by Maxine Eden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

In The Dark With You - ch. 33 by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Spiked - ch. 15-17 by Maxine Eden (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Blood and Fame - ch. 6 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

To All We Guard - ch. 21 by simmony (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Photo collage: Happy Birthday James 🥳🎂🎈🎁🎉 James Wesley Marsters August 20,1962 by nellarw95 (James, Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: [Spike smoking] by isevery0nehereverystoned (Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: fuffy sketch of That Scene by chelseabeecreates (Buffy/Faith, worksafe)

Artwork: Pose is based on the painting Ivan the Terrible and his son... by aa-arttss (Buffy, Kendra, worksafe)

Artwork: faith lehane - drawing from last year by stateofdreaminn (Faith, worksafe)

Manip / Wallpaper: I never get tired of doing that by revello-drive-1630 (Angel, Jenny, worksafe)

Moodboard: Cander moodboard 🫶 by zeroandvoid (Xander/Cordelia, worksafe)

Theme set / Headers / Icons: buffy summers tumblr theme set: header image & 2 icon options by strangergraphics (worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy Meme: [1/5 Songs] Goodbye to You - Michelle Branch by lovebvffys (Buffy/Spike, Tara, worksafe)

Gifset: user @kyliafanfiction asked - wesley or lilah The game face? ... by gothamstreetcat (Lilah, worksafe)

Gifset: BUFFY SUMMERS + braids & pigtails by clarkgriffon (Buffy, worksafe)

Gifset: Anya Jenkins + Outfits (Season 7) by clarkgriffon (Anya, worksafe)

Gifset: BUFFY SUMMERS + "love" by clarkgriffon (Buffy, ensemble, Bangel, Spuffy, worksafe)

Cartoon: [Image description: Preview panel for the comic strip at the link below. Willow works at a desk computer...] by paulgadzikowski (worksafe)

Cartoon: [Image description: Preview panel for the comic strip at the link below. Dr. Weir of Stargate: Atlantis and Buffy Summers] by paulgadzikowski (worksafe)

Collage: BUFFY THE FRICKEN VAMPIRE SLAYER EVERYBODEY fashion by soponge-meringue (ensemble, worksafe)

Collage: Collage #56 by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe-ish)

Collage: Collage #57 by thedecadentraven (worksafe)

Collage: Collage #58 by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Collage: Collage #59 by thedecadentraven (Spike, worksafe)

Collage: Collage #60 by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Collage: Giles and Jenny by sunflower1109 (Giles/Jenny, worksafe)

Collage: Spike and Drusilla ❤️‍🔥 I adored their twisted love by sunflower1109 (Spike/Drusilla, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Season 3 spoilers- Consequences by five-bi-five

Next Generation [books] by SalRomanoAdMan1

Angel Fashion Part Two by theoverlookedoneedits1997

The Freshman [and Living Conditions and The Harsh Light of Day recap] by mothmans-wedding-photographer

PODCAST: Episode 70: Hero (w/ Dean Jurhs) by Gym Was Cancelled: A Buffy Podcast

[Recs & In Search Of]

ISO: tatirps seeks Spuffy RP partner [roleplay]

Fic Rec and gifset: countdown to iwry 2024 — iwry2023 reader's choice fic: i can't remember by methemermaid recced by iwillrememberyoumarathon

ISO: Past-Throat-6788 seeks Songs About Tara and Willow for a future video edit

ISO: IllusionixCromwell seeks S2 fix-it ideas as part of Writing in a Black Trans Woman as the second Slayer for S2 fanfiction!

ISO: exitstateleft seeks D&D player feedback on Clement for tabletop RPG

[Community Announcements]

Thursday prompts: TV Show Titles by comment_fic

[Fandom Discussions]

[Buffy in The Body] by an-organism

i actually think i dislike wesley's presence on angel more than i dislike xander's presence on buffy at this point. by lesbianmarrow

The thing about Buffy is that it's been thoroughly established that she doesn't do casual sex. by housedyke

it’s sad that faith is in jail and therefore not on my television screen this season but ... by lesbianmarrow

buffy wasn't even trying to fix spike she just made him want to get fixed. accidentally. by mattholicguilt

Ok is it like unpopular opinion in the btvs fandom to think that Cordelia should end up being angel's dom? by ironnorth

[Xander and Anya sex head canon] by dykemarcille

I started writing a fake engagement Buffy/Spike fic to inflict domestic situations on them ... by housedyke

POLL: Vampire Media Guys Round 25: Spike or Riley Finn? by vampirewrestlinglover

POLL: Vampire boss battle: who would win? [Spike] by glorf1ndel

POLL: AO3 Femslash Top 100: Round 2 [Willow x Tara] by ao3femslashtop100-tournament

POLL: AO3 Femslash Top 100: Round 2 [Buffy x Faith] by ao3femslashtop100-tournament

New Wave Buffy Funko Pops by Priceless and flow

Favorite Buffy cast member guest roles by ALeaves1013

[Angel and Spike accent talk] by Scopeburger

Chicago’s Getting an Official ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Pop-Up [temporary Buffy themed bar restaurant] by Bwleon7

Cross Necklace [Buffy wearing it in the show changes over time] by Expert_Restaurant985

Chappel Roan [songs] in Buffyverse by The-Graceful-Demon

Xander's lecture about Riley by NecessaryClothes9076

To This Day, Buffy's opening is one of the best on TV [credits and first scene both discussed in comments] by Cailly_Brard7

Who owns the licence to Buffy Comics now? by justagreatdane

Buffy had a rare opportunity to retire and live a normal life. Was Giles irresponsible for not pointing this out? by iceswordsman

Where can you buy the new buffy funko pop figures? [link in comments] by sleepycow13

Angel is not it by hotandfrightened

Order of Taraka Police and Inmate [that tried to kill Buffy and Faith played by] same person? by Practical_Scale8071

Couplet: Angel vs Wesley by foreseethefuture

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Juliet Landau on X: "This has never been done before! Photo Op with the Terrible Trio!" [Angel, Dru, Darla]

Article: 21 of the most highly anticipated kisses in TV history [Spuffy] by EW

Article: Chicago’s Getting an Official ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Pop-Up by Eater Chicago

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Join the editor team :)

[livewireprojects]

Got the idea to draw this cause I need to explain shit at some point. Also want to mention I made a mistake drawing the baby cause she's not meant to be born yet.

You can find a bio for the tall guy here(LINK) but pretty much this is Ivan, @tay-likes-toons's OC meant to be Dimitri's husband. Ivan is a quiet man living in a small village that does wood work, he's currently wondering what's going on due to Edred possessing his wife when Dimitri was off doing his job in London. Ivan was the one that gave Dimitri the outfit he has on right now, it was Ivan's old outfit & Dimitri needed new clothes when he transitioned.

Below is an explanation for the baby

The baby's name is Anna Petrovka but she's usually called Anya, in fact her name was Anya for a while before it was turned into a nickname.

Below is the first pic I drew of her

Anya started off as an idea of what a Dimitri x Emma kid would look like. Dimitri would go on to raise her while traveling preforming his magic shows.(Though at one point raising her with Winston & Emma) She'd become his little assistant doing simple things like have people pick from cards.

As of now Ivan is her father & Dimitri is one month pregnant with her when he got possessed. By some miracle it seems like the pregnancy has been stalled while in the cosmic realm considering Edred & the others haven't aged 4 years when Winston said it had been 4 years inside the cosmic realm when Emma returns. The pregnancy has resumed after leaving it though so who knows what will happen with Edred as he deals with Dimitri's pregnant body.

Though she helps her male mom as his assistant, enjoys his magic tricks & loves her mom Anya is a daddy's girl. She enjoys spending time with him, listening to him read to her & eating his cooking as Ivan is good at cooking & Dimitri can't cook past really easy stuff like toast or frying something over a fire.

Her design would later be used as inspiration for Dimitri's design for before he transitioned. Said design is also now inspiration for Anya's adult design.(She doesn't have one yet the design just shows what Anya could look like in the future)

[look-at-the-soul]

Names (for secondary characters)

A/N: is it just me or someone else struggles with finding names for characters sometimes? I feel like there are times where I repeat them no matter how I try 🤭 so I thought of making this list, feel free to add your own suggestion or use as part of any of your stories! 🥰

You’ll fin them under the cut:

Female:

Anya

Ava

Azul

Barbara

Blue

Celine

Charlotte

Danielle

Dion

Debra

Georgette

Isla

Isabella

Jennifer

Lianne

Lydia

Lydiette

Violet

Maria

Mel

Mia

Nina

Rachel

Sarah

Sasha

Olivia

Penny

Kenya

Male:

Arlo

Alexander

Andrew

Damian

Dean

Edward

Henry

Ivan

Jack

James

John

Jona

Joshua

Kian

Kevin

Matt

Mike

Nick

Oisin

Patrick

Ray

Sam

Tim

Tony

Zach

(I’ll continue to add more as I think of anything else and attach this to my masterlist) 🤗 x

[ao3feed-twiyor]

Put all your attention to me syon boy!

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/eKR1FPf by Sammi_dami Anya enjoys more of her time at Eden when Her and the Desmond became a thing. (A couple) Or The most popular couple at Eden (who still didn’t have a pda violation for some reason) gets clingy too much. Words: 1580, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English Fandoms: SPY x FAMILY (Manga), SPY x FAMILY (Anime) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M Characters: Damian Desmond, Anya Forger, Becky Blackbell, Ewen Egeburg, Emile Elman, Loid Forger | Twilight, Yor Briar Forger | Thorn Princess, Benedict Ivan Goodfellow, Bill Watkins Relationships: Damian Desmond/Anya Forger, Becky Blackbell & Anya Forger, Damian Desmond & Ewen Egeburg & Emile Elman, Loid Forger | Twilight/Yor Briar Forger | Thorn Princess Additional Tags: Romance, Couple, Lovers, Fluff, Eventual Smut, Imperial Scholars, damianya, damian is a simp, Damian Desmond Loves Anya Forger, Aged-Up Damian Desmond/Anya Forger, Aged-Up Character(s), Love, Humor, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, no beta we die like Demetrius understanding of people read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/eKR1FPf

[rosemary1315]

Okeanov Couples

[Update: October 28, 2023]

I draw my oc couples from my own story "Okeanov" again, after I haven't them for a long time.

Ivan Okeanov x Tomoyo Umiwa with 2 Ivan's child, Anya and Nikolai Elbert Wattson x Dao Wattson with Elbert's nephew, Matthew Brigham Seiji Umiwa x Millicent Dawson with Seiji's older sister, Tomoyo Leonardo Concetto x Georgina Aston with 3 Leonardo's adopted child, Iris, Petunia and Lily

[best-character-named-x-poll]

Best Character Named X Poll

I'm doing a series of "Best Character Named X" polls where all the characters have the same first name but are from completely different media, feel free to send in name/charcacter suggestions, I'm posting one poll a day. New polls scheduled for 1:30PM GMT everyday.

If your favourite character is not included in the poll very sorry i have either never heard of them or actively chose not to include them as theres only 6 characters per poll. Characters will only count of that is their first name, surnames do not count. Official characters in canon only, please do not submit OCs.

Round 369: Jonas

Round 370: Claudia

Round 371: Aiden

Round 372: Cynthia

Round 373: Oscar

Round 374: Mabel

Round 375: Randall

Past Polls

Poll Ideas under the cut

Names that I have a complete list for*

George, Diana, Andy, Nora, Angel, Judy, Jo, Miranda, Pearl, Jamie, Tam, Klaus, Luna, Delilah, Juliet, Celia, Katya, Minerva, Ebony, Miriam, Percy, Bianca, Amara, Cleo, May, August, Matilda, Jared, Kendra, Liesel, Fitz, Aurora, Ramona, Orion, Kala, Madeline, Anastasia, Kit, Marian, Lena, Polly, Cora, Leah, Irene, Laurel, Hilda, Valentine, Joe, Skye, Walter, Marissa, Hope, Oberon, Lorna, Ace, Calvin, Bridget, Ulrich, Roger, Stella, Lenore, Wanda, Winona, Hannibal, Newt, Dorian, Dorothy, Una, Marnie, Mirabel, Olympia, Toby, Chip, Fern, Axel, Gil, Bo, Rue, Leslie, Agnes, Luther, Sally, Delia, Richter, Scarlet, Ray, Nigel, Selina, Harley, Blue, Perry, Duke, Tao, Cornelius, Wendy, Apollo, Celeste, Summer, Esther, Cole, Kieran, Melody, Haley, Prudence, Azrael, Lauren, Pauline, Darcy, Lee, Red, Stuart, Octavia, Tsukasa, Esme, Ella, Riley, Pyrrha, Rupert, Orlando, Blair, Ike, Yukari, Tanya, Briar, Amber, Akira, Irma, Marlene, Trixie, Harriet, Letitia, Koichi, Katrina, Echo, Annette, Nami, Dale, Nina, Carina, Lance, Yuki, Donatello, Puck, Callie, Moe, Hunter, Poppy, Titania, Melinda, Jackson, Sunny, Dee, Freya, Caeser, Sasha, Zain, Edith, Candy, Raiden

Names I have an incomplete list for (welcome to send character suggestions)

Richter, Yasmin, Chase, Tina, Rudolf, Melvin, Melissa, Adele, Adeline, Jem, Dolores, Jude, Ginger, Bellamy, Jacob, Reese, Nemo, Addison, Adelaide, Candace, Abraham, Ragnar, Destiny, Hero, Drew, Wallace, Jean (feminine), Cheryl, Shane, Tegan, Matthias, Liam, Ellis, Dennis, Josie, Mike, Bailey, Eden, Giselle, Suki, Keith, Wilfred, Blaine, Pam, Brianna, Sabine, Roman, Kalina, Mindy, Monet, Zara, Marcus, Elias, Mira, Glen, Farah, Faith, Enid, Ross, Antoinette, Elodie, Mallory, Kay, Renee, Willow, Albert, Howard, Oswald, Clem, Jace, Howell, Rowan, José, Christian, Ravi, Dev, Valerie, Norma, Tristan, Jolene, Yumi, Sakura, Carol, Carrie, Casper, Septimus, Rosalind, Rosamund, Rosie, Rosa, Gerald, Geraldine, Gerard, Ariel, Ariadne, Anya, Ida, Rocky, Mal, Solomon, Sol, Vera, Vincent, Nolan, Sage, Jojo, Calliope, Roxy, Roxanne, Silver, Noel, Noelle, Stacy, Lloyd, Alba, Virginia, Eva, Amos, Petra, Marla, Dante, Gretchen, Rhydian, Russ, Tate, Tatum, Morris, Ambrose, Doug, Grant, Graham, Aaron, Ivan, Paris, Doris, Rain, Sora, Wayne, Helga, Garth, Constantine, Sonny, Courtney, Jamal, Niall, Cecil, Cecilia, Cat, Katherine, Ophelia, Laurie, Lori

Feel free to send more suggestions

*subject to change, you can still submit a character if there is no strikethrough if you think theres a character that its an absolute crime i dont add. Please don't suggest anything for the names with a strikethrough as they are polls that are already in my queue waiting to be published.

[rainebowevee]

[paintedgrilledcheese]

OOOOO how fun!

@oscarsgallery @tired-sayaka-ada @doakarma @city-of-c0rpses

Not me having some kinda type... Who shall I tag? I think I wanna tagggggg... @mybugsmybugsmybugs @mexicangela @lunar-years @biscuitboxpink but no pressure!! I just thought it would be fun!

[randomnessunicorn-imagine]

Can i have some headcanons with Nyotalia Russia having a crush on another female?

{ Wow, that’s the firsttime I receive a nyotalia request after one year. }

🌻 ANYA BRAGISKAYA 🌻

She is the big sweetmommy.

She’s very sweet andkind, she does not act like the psycho yandere everybody would think becauseAnya is very loving. All her love is for her S/O.

At first, she treatsyou as her little and precious child, as if you were one of her sisters, maybea more little sister and she has always dreamt to have a little sister sinceshe only has brothers and one of them is a Belorussian psycho. Anya freaks out everytime she looks at him but, luckily, you are here to bright her lonely days.

Yes, Anya feels very aloneand sad in her enormous and solitaire house, she has everything she can dream,she is like a princess but she has nobody with whom she can share all of this.What the sense of having the world if you still live alone? What the sense ofpossessing everything when you don’t possess love?

She always smiles,appearing happy and glad, but she’s very blue and cold inside. She’s colderthen her own country and she’s sick and tired of this. She wants to change, shewants a chance and she wants you to be her chance to be happy.

Yes, she made so manymistakes in her life because of her boss or awful events and now she’s sorry,she understood her mistake and she knows people hate her. They can’t love the monstershe has been –and maybe she still is- but she wants to get rid of that monster,she does not want it to be her anymore.

You don’t care abouther past and you just see an affectionate and sweet woman who wants to be loved,accepted and forgiven. Anya deserves a chance and you’re here for her.

Of course, Anya doesnot realize the affection she feels for you is true love, she thinks it’ssomething maternal and not romantic but with time she will understand she trulyloves you more than her own life.

Well, this can cause troublebecause her boss would never accept it, because not only you are a human butyou are also a woman and so we cannot say it will be easy.

I guess, it will be asecret and Anya does not want you to be hurt or see you suffer and so she willkeep acting like an affectionate sister but you know she only wants to protectyou.

But she does not wantto protect you only from her boss but also from her brother Belarus becausethat boy is weird and aggressive, he’s obsessed with Russia and he would makeanything to have her.

What if Belarus findsout he has a rival. This won’t be a party for you, maybe a party made of bloodand guts (yours) and so it’s better to keep the secret. Everything is already amess.

By the way, when thetwo are alone and she can enjoy your company with no pain in the ass, she’svery sweet –more than her usual. She’s like a big teddy bear and she lovescuddling with you nearby the fireplace. It’s her favourite hobby and she woulddo it all the day.

Her brother Ukraine thinkyou and Russia are adorable and he’s a true shipper and supporter, Ukrainealways helps you and he acts like a big brother with you, too. His house is alsoyour house and when you can’t see Russia, he always invites you at his farm andyou’ll be sure, he will fill you with fraternal love –and Ukraine is actuallyvery happy seeing his sister Russia finally happy-.

[winterkoya]

just enough

aleksander morozova x wife!oc , aleksander morozova family au , aleksander morozova x original female character

summary: Alina’s arrival at the Little Palace forces Irina to realise she might care about her husband more than just enough

warnings: angst, fluff, mentions of smut

part two , part three , part four , part five

masterlist 

***********

“Anya! Eric! Come back here!” Irina called, running after her youngest children, two toddlers that were determined to avoid their bedtime and instead chose to make their mother chase them through the Little Palace. 

“You have to catch us first, Mama!” The five year old girl giggled, running alongside her younger brother. 

Irina was racing across the main hall, she was only five steps away from grabbing the hand of the three year old boy, when she saw something that made her stop so abruptly she almost fell. Her husband was there, giving strict orders to the guards arround them, alongside a pretty, although scraped, young girl. ‘Alina’, she thought. That must be the girl her husband had written to her about. The Sun Summoner he had recently saved from the merciless hands of the drüskelle. She looked up towards Aleksander. He was back home. 

Her marriage with General Kirigan wasn’t a fairytale one. As the daughter of the King and Queen of Ravka, she had been asked to marry the leader of the Second Army as a peace offer between the citizens of Ravka and the Grisha. Aleksander hadn’t been too happy about it either, but he knew he wasn’t in the position of bearing the consequences of being unwise– or selfish. It was either marrying the pretty, dutiful girl or gaining another enemy the Grisha could not yet afford to fight. He would destroy the Ravka nobility when the time came to it. 

“Moya tsarévna.” The guards chanted when she approached them, lowering their heads as a proper greeting for a member of the royalty.

Irina straightened her posture and placed her blonde hair behind her ears, acknowledging the welcoming with a kind smile and a slight head bow. She was a princess. Being the epitome of grace and exemplary manners was her job, after all. 

“Princess.” Alina said, courtsing. 

“Lady Irina is just fine.” She replied with a small laugh, helping the girl back up. “You must be Alina, Alina Starkov, is that correct?” 

“I– I am.” Alina stuttered, admiring the woman’s gentle features.

“I gather you’re a cartographer. We have a wonderful library here, should you be interested in continuing with such a delightful craft. Ivan,” she called, looking over her husband’s shoulder, “make sure Genya attends her. She’ll help you get settled for now, and ready every morning.”

“Thank you.” Alina said, wholeheartedly. 

Irina smiled back at her, but then she heard the sound of tiny footsteps dashing towards them, and so she quickly extended her hands to grab the hands of the two toddlers running between them. 

“Got you!” She laughed. “Now, you must go have a bath, both of you, and after that is bedtime for you little monkeys. And no more running away, is that understood?” She said, kindly, but sternly. 

“But Mama we want to play–

“Children.” Aleksander’s voice echoed through the hall, in a grave tone– but not mad. He had yet to speak angry words to his children, and he wasn’t planning on doing so anytime soon. “Do as your mother tells you and go to your room. Now.” 

The kids, who barely had time to smile due to their father’s arrival before realising he was actually scolding them, finally calmed down.

“Fine, Papa.” They both chanted, not trying to escape their mother’s hold anymore.

Irina looked up to Alina’s face, smiling. “It was a pleasure meeting you, I hope we see more of each other soon.” With one last glance towards Aleksander, she left towards the dormitories, with two little heads walking by her side.

“Why doesn’t Kira have to come with us?!” Anya complained. The five year old was so much like her father, not only in looks, but in personality as well. Anya didn’t ask, she demanded.

“Because,” Irina answered, putting a strand of the girl’s brunette hair behind her ear, “your older sister has already taken her bath and is now waiting for you, in your bedroom.” 

As Irina said this, the three of them entered her husband’s war room, where the only two entrances to the kids’ room and her room were. She found Kira, her seven year old peacefully reading in her bed, with her nightgown already on and her golden hair neatly tucked into a braid. 

“There you are!” Kira smiled, jumping from her bed. “I just heard a guard saying that Papa is here, is that true?” She asked, looking at her mother with hopeful eyes. 

“Yes he is,” she said, as her kids started to giggle with happiness, “and I’m sure he will come soon to wish you all goodnight, but first you two need to have a bath.” 

“But Mama, we want to play with Papa first!” Anya protested.

“Play with Papa! Play with Papa” little Eric started to chant, following his sister’s whines. 

Irina once again lost control of the two toddlers as they started to dance around the room singing about all the things they wanted to play with their father. Irina was tempted to let them get away with it and just call it a night, she was too tired after the long day she had had with them.

“No one gets to play with Papa unless they’re bathed and with their nightgowns on.” Someone said behind them. Irina turned around to see Aleksander standing against the doorframe with a small smile on his lips. The three kids jumped off their places and ran to meet their father, who seemed happy enough to see them. 

Irina knew she was lucky. She might be stuck in a loveless marriage, but she knew she had got it easy: Aleksander had never done as much as raising his voice against her, he had never spoken ill of her behind her back or taken a mistress. In bed, he always asked for her consent first and afterwards he would always hold her against his chest until she peacefully drifted to sleep. He made sure other grisha respected her and severely punished anyone who disregarded her. He did everything a husband was supposed to do for his wife. Except for loving her.

His demonstrations of love were scattered and superficial: had only ever gone as far as a kiss on her temple after making love, holding her hand in a room full of people he didn’t trust, or the three ‘thank you’ he had whispered to her after giving birth to their children (which had almost felt like a promise of love. Almost.) Hardly something more than that.

But Irina had learnt to be okay with it. And so what if her life wasn’t the fairytale she had always dreamt about? She had three children she adored and a husband to share that love with. She was grateful for their mutual respect every single day. He liked her just enough, she liked (loved) him a little bit more than what she considered wise. The important point being, they liked each other enough. Saints knew most of her friends would call themselves fortunate if their marriages were anything like hers. She didn’t have one thing to complain about. And yet, sometimes, she found herself wanting to hear her husband saying he loved her more than anything else.

Irina smiled at the way Eric was sitting on his father’s shoulders, and how Kira was trying to explain to him the book she had been reading, loudly speaking as to raise her voice above her siblings’ screams. Hating to be the bearer of bad news, she yelled, hoping someone would pay attention to her , “Anya, Eric, you have played with your father enough, now please go to the bathroom.” Irina pleaded, taking the boy in her arms. 

Her husband saw what a hard time his wife was having trying to get the kids to behave, knowing he was mostly the cause of the children’s distraction, and so he decided to help her:

“Tomorrow we can keep on playing but only if you do as your mother says and go have a bath.” Aleksander said sternly, which managed to get the two kids walking towards the bathroom on their own. 

“Thank you.” Irina muttered, grateful for his help. She leaned towards him to help him out of his kefta. “I’ve been running after them for like an hour…you could use a bath as well, you know. To clean the journey off.” She added, partly because she knew how long he had travelled to get home, and partly because of the smell coming from his coat.

“I think I’ll get on with that.” He agreed, walking in the opposite direction, towards their shared room. 

Irina bathed her kids, making sure that they were properly cleaned and washed. She let them play a bit, allowing them to splash water all over the floor, and then she tucked them in bed. She kissed all of them goodnight and as she was turning all the lights off, she heard Kira’s voice. “Mama, what about our story?”

“We went riding today, then you’ve had your lessons, we visited Grandmama… aren’t you too tired?” She chuckled. 

“We’re never too tired for a story!” Anya giggled. 

“Okay then,” Irina gave in, sitting at the end of Eric’s bed, “you shall get half a story today.”

“Why half a story?” Kira asked, as she and her sister jumped from their beds to go lay beside their brother.

“Because this is the story about a boy who fell in love with the moon, and then he took something from her. Something that has yet to be found” 

Kira laughed warmly at that, for the girl loved stories more than anyone else has ever loved stories. 

“Once upon a time, many, many years ago,” Irina started, “the moon had a voice. A beautiful voice, so serene that could make even the most stubborn children go to sleep, and yet so alluring that could convince people to declare their love for someone. At night, just before bedtime, everyone would climb to their roofs and tell the moon their biggest secrets, or to ask her for advice. Because the moon had been in the sky for such a long time, she was wiser than the sun and the stars, (who were a little silly, so it was mostly mischievous kids who talked to them, asking their advice on how to create chaos.)” Irina narrated, tickling the three of them, resulting in their giggles.

“And as many years ago, a boy named Jex fell in love with the moon. He would find the tallest building everywhere he went just so he could be the one speaking closest to her. He told her about his day, and in return the moon would tell him about all the secrets hidden in the sky. The way certain stars could help him find the path home when he was lost, how shooting stars were actually messengers bewteen suns (and that’s why they’re such show offs) , and how, if he focused hard enough, he could find particularly chatty stars who liked showing stories.

 (“Are those constellations, mommy?”, “Almost, Kira. Constellations are the ones that recite poetry, easier to spot in the sky but much more difficult to understand; chatty stars merely tell stories.”) 

“And then suddenly, one night, she wasn’t there. The moon hadn’t come out. Jex spent a whole night and a whole day crying, until, on the second night, he saw her again. The moon had returned. But he was so scared of losing her once more, he thought he could ask the moon for a present, something that would remind him of her even during the nights she wasn’t there. And so he talked to the moon, and the moon told him that she had nothing to offer but her voice as a gift. And so one night, following the moon’s strict instructions, he trapped her voice inside a jar his mother had made for him. And so the next day, he spent it entirely listening to the moon. It wasn’t until the next night he realised what a big mistake he had made. Because you see, the moon had only taught him how to trap her voice, not how to return it. So Jex carefully took care of the jar, so afraid to drain the moon’s voice forever that he would only listen to it when he was desperate for some advice, or desperate for some company. And then, when he was very, very old, he hid the jar in the brightest star in the sky, hoping that, someday, someone would be able to return the moon her voice back.”

“But Mama, why is it half a story?” Kira, the only one that was still awake, asked her. 

“Because, legend says that if you know the right star, and you ask her to return the moon her voice, she will gladly give it away, should she find you worthy of it.” 

“Mama, do you know how to talk to stars?” 

“No I don’t malyshka, I don’t think anyone knows how to anymore.” Irina said, faking disappointment. “Perhaps the rivers, or the seas. But they’re difficult to talk to, they’re far too stubborn.”

“Maybe Papa knows.” Kira whispered. “Because he knows how to speak to the shadows, maybe he can ask them to speak to the stars for us.”

“Maybe.” Irina whispered back. “But, we will have to ask him tomorrow. Now go to sleep, we have a big day ahead. Learning to talk to stars is no easy job.” She kissed the girl on her temple, and left towards her room.

Irina was startled to see her husband waiting for her, under the doorframe of their room.  “Saints, you scared me.” She laughed, closing the door behind her. 

“I apologise,” he smiled, “I was waiting for you so we could go to bed.” He lied, not willing to admit he was listening to her story. As someone who has lived a hundred lives, there weren’t many things in the world interesting enough to intrigue him. He had heard every song, read every book, and most certainly knew every tale by heart. But somehow Irina always managed to come up with a story that lured him enough.

“So,” Irina said, taking her dressing gown off, looking forward to Aleksander telling her about last day’s events, “is it true? Is Alina truly the Sun Summoner?”

“She is.” He said, taking his place on the bed, tucking the bedcover over his bare chest.

“How was it?”

“It was splendid.” He said, his vision lost behind beaming memories. “It was the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever seen.” He looked at her with an apologetic look on his face. “One of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen.” 

“Well, I’m happy everything turned out alright and that she got here unharmed.” Irina smiled. “By the way, why did Ivan and Feydor arrive here so much later? Are they fine?”

“I had Alina ride with me.” He explained. “I figured no one would dare attack her again with me by her side. Protecting her has to be my– our biggest concern now. She’s the answer to all of our problems.”

“Their problem or yours?” Irina said in a small voice, failing to look at him in the eyes. 

Aleksander stared intensely at his wife, taken aback by her comment. It wasn’t usual for her to remark about such a matter. She usually liked to pretend he was nothing but a normal grisha, leader of the Second Army, yes, but mortal. And he was happy to play along, to spare her mind as well as his.

And so he decided to simply brush aside her comment, not only to avoid a difficult conversation, but because he had learnt the bad way how much of a toll it took on him to think about his wife’s mortality, not that he would ever confess that to anyone. He realised he also was the happiest when complying with Irina's little game.

“As a matter of fact,” he said, hastily changing the subject, “ your mother and father have asked us to meet them in the Grand Palace for a small… demonstration of her powers.” Aleksander added, with a small trace of disgust in his voice. He was probably the only person who disliked the King and Queen more than Irina herself.

“Oh, no.” She whined, covering her face with her hands. “Can’t he just take your word for it?”

“Irina, you know I’m the last person whose word the King would trust.” 

“I know, I’m sorry. I was just looking forward to spending the day with the kids instead of having to get them ready for such an event. And I prefer a two week notice before having to meet my parents.” 

“They don’t have to come.” He sighed. “You don’t have to come either, if you don’t feel like it.” 

“I do have to go, I’m the princess and your wife. It’s my one job.” She looked at him. “You’re right, we could leave the kids here, though.” She added, biting her lip. “But I’m just… scared to leave them alone. Even more now with Alina here, knowing how many people are after her. I just feel more at peace when you’re here as well.” 

Aleksander glanced at her with a sympathetic look on his face. “I’ve already told you, even when I’m not here, my guards have strict orders concerning your safety. And, as much as I hate the old bat, Baghra is here too. No one would dare touch them. I’ve made a vow to protect you and them and I don’t intend on breaking my promise.” 

“Thank you, Aleksander.” 

“It’s my job.” 

Irina leaned over to kiss him, an action very much welcomed on his side. He might not love her, he told himself, but he wasn’t fool enough to reject a kiss from the prettiest woman he had ever laid his eyes upon. She left one last kiss on his cheek, and stroked his face with her soft hands.

After that, each turned their lights off and proceeded to try and get some sleep. Irina rolled over and rubbed a hand on his arm, which he grabbed and put over his chest. It was their routine now. One of the small love gestures Irina was very grateful about. Feeling safe, it didn’t take long for her to fall into a deep, dreamfree sleep. 

• • •

Morning was a typical affair for Irina. Aleksander was no longer in bed when she woke up, as usual. She washed her face and put on comfortable clothes just in time to see Eric scuttling towards her. 

“Good morning mayo solnishko .” She greeted him, with a big kiss on his cheek. “Let’s go get breakfast, shall we?” Irina lifted him over her hip and darted towards the war room, where she was surprised to find General Kirigan and his right hand in. The two abruptly stopped talking when they saw her come in. “Good morning.” She said, hesitating on whether to smile or not.

“Lady Kirigan.” Ivan saluted her. He then softened his gaze to look at the toddler in her arms. “Hello there, Eric.” Ivan was a man of few words, Irina knew as much, with a stern face, but he had always been kind to her and her children. He always offered to watch over them whenever she was busy planning an event, and for that she was very grateful. 

“Hi.” The little boy answered with a tiny voice. 

“Someone’s shy this morning,” Irina chuckled, “you must be sleepy still.”

“Lady Kirigan, do you want me to call for breakfast?” Ivan offered. 

“No, that’s all right. I’ll go down myself, you don’t need to worry. I don’t want to interrupt your business. Please,” she said, “go on.” 

Irina had barely exited the room when she heard Aleksander’s voice. “Make sure Genya arrives at Alina’s bedroom early. I want Alina to be perfect today.” 

“I thought Alina wasn’t in control of her powers yet.”

“She isn’t. But she has me.” General Kirgan answered, smugly. “Make sure to tell Genya she has a black kefta made. Not for today’s demonstration of course, but I doubt this is the last one she’ll have to do.”

“But sir, no one else is allowed to wear that colour.”

“Because no one else is the Sun Summoner, Ivan.” He declared. “I want her and everyone else know that I’ve finally found an equal partner.”

Irina felt her stomach twist at her husband’s words. ‘Hunger’ she thought. That she was probably just hungry and that’s why her stomach felt so upset. Embracing Eric with a little more strength than before, she headed towards the kitchen.

• • •

After making sure all of the kids were playing under the safe care of Lilia, a healer that occasionally babysat her children, Irina went towards her room to change into a proper attire. 

She was stunned to see her husband already dressed, ready to go to the Grand Palace. He was wearing his black kefta, and he looked as handsome as always. 

“Oh, you’ve already changed.” She commented dryly, glancing towards the dress Genya had left on the bed for her. It was a beautiful, midnight blue gown that matched her eyes. 

“I have to go make sure Alina is ready for the demonstration. I’m escorting her to the palace.” He said, while helping her get out of her clothes. Irina felt that hideous twist on her stomach again. “I’m going down now. Why, is something wrong?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“No, of course there’s nothing, I just… I thought Alina wasn’t able to use her powers yet. Are you sure a demonstration now is wise?”

“She can’t, that’s right, but it’s not a problem. I’ll be her amplificator.” He answered, stressing that last word in a weirdly alluring manner.

“Oh.” Irina might not be grisha, but she understood enough. And she knew what an intimate moment the amplification could be. She pursed her lips and covered her body with her undergown. 

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” He asked her, with an intriguing look on his face. It wasn’t like his wife to be so rigid. 

“Of course I’m feeling right.” Irina blurted. She turned to let Aleksander help her button the back of the dress. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re just helping Alina.” She added, in a small voice. 

She heard her husband snort a mischievous laugh, as if he had found something entertaining about her comment.

“What?” She snapped. 

“Radnaya, are you jealous of Alina?” The General asked, with a cocky smile on his face, which made Irina feel her heart flutter. 

Irina tried her best to put on a disbelieving look on her face. Was she? Could that upset feeling in her stomach be due to jealousy? 

“Oh, please,” she lied, briskly smoothing her dress, as to try and hide the unsettling feeling growing on her chest, “you and I both know we’re way past feeling jealousy for one another.” 

“Is that so?” He teased her, letting his fingers linger around her collarbones after putting a beautiful diamond necklace on her. 

“Yes.” She lied again. “You can spend all the time with her attending to her, helping her, whatever. I couldn’t care less.” 

He suddenly stopped caressing her skin, and backed away a few steps. Irina tried to figure his expression out, but she couldn’t put any name on it other than uncomfort. When in fact, he was trying to hide his hurting as much as she was trying to hide her caring.

“Fine.” Aleksander said, upset. What he thought to be harmless and lustful teasing between the two had turned into the first real bicker they’d had in some time. “I’ll go down and escort Alina, if you excuse me.” 

“You’re excused.” She murmured. 

Aleksander left with heavy steps, leaving her all alone with a heavy heart while she put on her heels. How dare he tease her about such a thing? Most importantly, how dare she break the unspoken agreement her husband and she had made all those years ago about caring just enough about the other?

She couldn’t feel jealous. Because being jealous meant that she cared. That she cared more than what she was willing to admit. All those years of convincing herself that her husband could never hurt her, because she would never care enough. But there she was, feeling like a fool for upsetting Aleksander with such emotions that –as unreasonable as she realised they were– had made her snap in a completely uncharacteristic way for her. Was it really a young girl all it took for her to realise she might care more than ‘just enough’ about her husband? 

Thankfully, a knock on the door saved her from dwelling on such poisonous feelings. “Ivan?” She exclaimed. 

“Lady Kirigan, sorry to disturb you. But the General has asked me to escort you to the palace, since he’s busy getting the event ready.” 

“Oh yes, thank you, Ivan.” She stood up and intertwined her arm with the grisha’s. He walked her around the castle, until eventually they walked past Alina, accompanied of course by her husband. They seemed to be eagerly discussing words that she didn’t get to hear. Irina glared at her husband, but she still managed to give a kind and genuine smile to Alina. Poor girl didn’t have to suffer the consequences of her insane –and completely unfair– jealousy of her. “Good luck.” She whispered to her. 

Ivan walked with her towards the Grand Palace, where they announced her arrival, followed by everyone bowing their heads to greet her. She climbed up the stairs to where the King and Queen were sitting. 

“Mother, father.” She addressed them. 

“Hello, Irina.” They saluted back, as she stood behind her mother. “And where is that husband of yours?” Her mother asked mockingly. “Unattending you, now that he has a new toy to play with?” 

“Mother,” she sighed, “yes. He’s escorting her here. As the leader of the Second Army, it’s his job. And she’s not a toy, mother, her name is Alina. And she’s the Sun Summoner. The one that will free us all. Give her the respect she’s due.” 

“Well, I guess we’ll see about that.” The Queen stated, as the main doors opened, to let Alina and General Kirigan, followed by their army of grisha, into the salon. 

Aleksander proudly stuttered alongside the young girl, who was wearing a golden laced veil over her face. The grisha behind them stopped on their tracks while the two of them approached the stairs. Aleksander nodded at the girl, and Alina shoved the veil back, allowing the Queen and King to see her face. 

“I thought she’d be taller.” Out of all the meaner things her father probably had to say, Irina was happy he chose such a harmless one. 

“I thought she’d be shu.” Of course it would be her mother who put the poor girl on the spot like that. Irina glared towards her. “Well, I guess she’s shu enough. Tell her.. Oh, I don’t know, good morning.” The Queen added, motioning towards the translator behind her. 

“I don’t actually speak shu,” Alina said, defensive “your Highness.” 

“Then what are you?” 

Irina could see the confusion and fear on Alina’s face, struggling to find the answer that her damn mother had made her. 

“She is Alina Starkov,” General Kirigan stepped in, in an attempt to save her from the humiliation, “the Sun Summoner, moya tsaritsa.” Irina was happy he had done that, since she felt bad enough for the girl. “She will change the future. Starting now.” 

He raised his hand to summon shadows, immersing the room on what it looked like the inside of a dark veil. The room was so dark, Irina could barely see what was in front of her. But she could see enough. Her husband was so close to Alina, his lips were almost brushing her ear. He whispered something to her, and then offered his hand to her. 

The second he touched her, a thousand beams of light emerged from her, so bright that everyone in the room had to either squint their eyes or cover their face. The two of them were left inside a massive orb of light, so glaring that the King had to stand up to believe his eyes.

As soon as Aleksander dropped Alina’s hand, she stopped glowing and the room was filled with nothing but natural light and a soaring round of applause. “Bravo, bravo!” People were exclaiming. 

“How long will she need?” The King asked eagerly.

“Destroying the Fold will be no easy feat.” The General said, walking around the girl. “She alone may not be able to do it. She will remain with me at the Little Palace to train… undisturbed.” He looked at her wife, so quickly that no one could possibly notice. But Irina did. Was he enjoying making her suffer?

Irina’s stomach twisted again at her husband's words, trying to remain indifferent in front of him. When will she be able to free herself for the monster that was growing in her?

“Then train her quickly.” The King threatened him. “Our wars have been a noble pursuit, but this chatter from the West about becoming a sovereign nation, that needs to stop. The sooner we are one country again, the better.” 

“Agreed,” the General said, “moi tsar.”  He proceeded to grab Alina by her hands and whisper something to her that Irina did not hear. He smiled at her, turned around and stormed towards the exit. 

Irina felt her heart drop. Wasn’t he going to escort her back into the castle? She glanced around, but Ivan was nowhere to be seen. Fine. She didn’t need a prince to help her walk down some stupid steps, damn all the protocols that had made her life miserable since she was old enough to speak. She proudly lifted her dress high enough to stop it from touching the floor and headed down on her own. She kept her vision towards the front, to avoid seeing the pitiful stares directed at her from other members of the court, and gracefully left the Grand Palace. 

Once inside the Little Palace, she stormed towards her shared bedroom, and not even the nanny saying the kids were down in the kitchens making a mess stopped her from facing her husband. Her blood was boiling. She could deal with jealousy. She could deal with him flirting with other women. What she was not willing to deal with was disrespect. They didn’t need to love each other, they didn’t need to do as much as liking each other, but they both would always have the decency to respect each other. They would never make the other one look like a fool in front of others. That was their pact. And he had broken it. 

“You couldn’t even help me down the stairs?” She mumbled, once she entered their room. She hastily threw her heels off her feet, and walked towards him to help him out of his kafka. 

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I knew you were still upset at me, I didn’t want to bother you.”

“That’s no excuse and you know it.” She spatted. 

“Oh I do apologise, I didn’t realise you needed help walking down a couple of steps.” He hissed. 

“Saints, Aleksander, you know this isn’t about the stupid stairs. Of course I can manage a couple of steps on my own. It’s about the gesture. I’m a princess, my one and only job is to wait until someone holds my hand and escorts me down. You made me look like a fool back there. You couldn’t bother to help your wife back into the castle because you were too focused on helping Alina.” 

“Alina again, what’s your problem with her? She’s the Sun Summoner Irina, of course she’ll get all the help she needs, from me or any other grisha in this palace. Why are you so bothered with that?”

“I am not bothered with that, of course I’m glad Alina is getting help, and I want nothing more than for her to feel comfortable here, I just… I…

“Oh Irina, would it just kill you to admit you’re jealous of Alina?”

“Yes! Yes it would kill me, Aleksander!” Irina gasped, her eyes covered in a gleam that could only mean tears were about to roll down her cheeks. “My whole life I’ve been nothing more than the fool princess who dreamt about a life out of a fairytale. But this is the real world, so instead I am the fool that agrees on an arranged marriage because it is my duty and I am the fool that pretends to be happy about it every single day for the sake of my children and my honour. But I refuse to be the fool that falls in love with someone who will never love her back.” 

Aleksander resented the words coming out of his wife’s mouth. Out of all the things he had ever thought of calling her, the word fool had never crossed his mind. She was fierce, because from the day they were married, she had kept her unspoken bow to remain faithful to her duties. She was a loving mother and a caring wife, and the kindest person he had ever met. She was smart, and unafraid to speak her mind in favour of the ones who didn’t have a voice. She was gentle, yet witty; her words could disarm men with the same agility his shadows slaughtered them. She was uncommonly bubbly and didn’t mind laughing at herself. 

He wouldn't call her perfect, but simply because shadows were the only thing he considered worthy of being described as perfection. At night, however, with her naked body against his, during those blissful seconds when the overload of emotions forced him to be truthful to his thoughts, he considered her to be a pretty good contender.

It started with an unconscious smile on his lips after one of her jokes, with the yearning to see her eyes become half moons every time she laughed, with the sour feeling of loneliness every time he travelled. It wasn’t until he found himself missing her in one of his journeys that he realised he might be falling in love with her. So he quickly made sure to step on such weakening feelings, and he grabbed the word love and locked it away, without realising he had merely hidden it behind the pretence of caring, as an unintended way to protect himself. Because caring led to disappointment, but loving… loving led to losing. And he had learnt the hard way that he didn’t like losing.

“You are so sure of that?” Aleksander said, closing the gap between them. 

“Y– yes.” Irina whispered, letting the tip of her nose touch his. 

“My darling, have I really been such an awful husband you can’t even phantom the thought of me having feelings for you?” He murmured against her ear. Irina closed her eyes, and he did so as well, feeling the wetness of her tears on his cheeks. “Wouldn’t you believe me if I told you that every day I get to call you ‘my wife’ I am thankful for that, and that I am grateful for the children you’ve given us and that there’s no one else I would rather come back to?”

“I do believe all of those things, Aleksander” she whispered against his lips, “because out of all the things you mentioned, you didn’t mention ‘love’”.

“Some words are more meaningful when taken for granted.” He said, brushing his lips against hers. 

‘Not this,’ Irina thought, ‘I really want –no– I really need to hear you say it.’ But it was too late. She had already given in to her husband’s gentle caresses, to his intoxicating touch, as she always did. Because if her husband couldn’t say he loved her, she was happy enough pretending this was his way of showing her.

********

author’s note: thank you for reading! i just finsihed watching shadow and bone and i had to write this! should it become a series? i appreciate all feedback <3

[meinu-darling]

We’ve seen Ivan x Amelia, could we see Alfred x Anya?

Nyo!Russia x America

Two adorable darlings in a cliché anime falling trope

Btw i enjoy drawing these two bbs ( Ú////Ù) ♡

M-my heart <3

[SHIP REQUESTS OPEN IN TUMBLR]

Any ship is accepted /-\♡

[fireandspiceland]

Hi, very shy anon here who has had this NSFW headcanon about the NA bros for a LONG time now but has been very embarrassed to share it until now because I just have to get it out.

I always got the feeling that APH America and Canada have a major mommy kink, especially they LOVE someone with big titties they can just suck on to their heart’s desire (bonus points if those titties are lactating cuz of course they’d have a lactation kink too).

Alfred would definitely be more rough when he sucks and you’d have to remind him to not be so hard when he bites down on your nipples.

Matthew would be the sweet baby boy who would treat your titties with love and care and be as gentle as possible.

Okay, I need to go chug some holy water now.

Aww don't be shy! There's nothing you have to be embarressed about. I have a similar headcanon actually tho I tend to give america more of the mommy kink in general and canada more of the tit fixation because *cough cough* ruscan <3 and both Ivan and Anya have the strong tits gene.. you can find at little bit of canada sucking on nyo russias tits here btw :)

I agree that alfred is definitely the rougher one out of the two and matthew is more into savouring the moment, but both is good isn't it? Alfred can be reprimanded and his head yanked back and you know he's just into that as well and Matthew probably enjoys it when you beg him to go at it harder. I love how the last part of your ask sounded like some x reader stuff btw. I might use that for inspiration I hope you don't mind.