#even if oomen did deserve it

[shit-people-probably-didnt-say]

Wylan be like I can excuse waking people up to murder them but I draw the line at breaking a promise 😭😭

[applecidersstuff]

Inej never talked about her time in the “menagerie” she never said anything or mentioned things from her time there. Kaz didn’t ask, like she didn’t ask why he wore gloves. They had this silent agreement to never ask each other about the things that got them here.

One day they were walking through the west stave, it was one of the few sunny days and Inej convinced Kaz to go with her to one of her favorite cafes that had suli food. They passed a few pleasure houses, a gambling den and almost got to the cafe, when Kaz noticed Inej freeze. She was staring at something that was near the ships on the other side of him. He turned around and managed to catch a quick glance at a man that was leaving for one of the pleasure houses. It wasn’t enough to know who he was, but enough to remember. When he turned back to Inej, she was gone. She vanished into the crowd.

Kaz didn’t follow her, he knew she wanted to be alone and if he’d followed her she would disappear for days. Instead he went to the pleasure house.

She wouldn’t like what he’d done, she would say that people deserve a second chance. He didn’t know what that guy had done, but no one would get away with hurting his wraith.

When he returned to the Slat Inej was seating in his office. She did that sometimes, when he was working, she would sit there and read. She just learned to do it well enough so she could do it for fun. So whenever he didn’t know where she is, he could’ve bet all of his money that she was there, on the table, almost weightless bent over some old newspapers or contacts.

Now she was reading hers, not the one she made with Per Haskel, but the one she’d made with the “Menagerie”. She never read it before, she never asked to see it or wondered where it is. Well she wasn’t exactly reading it, her eyes were running through the page, but he wasn’t sure she’d even paid attention to the words.

Kaz passed Inej leaving a heavy bag near her. The other one, a light one, he putted on the windowsill. He sat in his chair, stretching out his bad leg, and started looking for papers he’d left when Inej convinced him to go on a walk with her. Almost immediately after he found them, he heard a sound of bag opening. A few minutes later he heard a chuckle, shocked, he straightened up in his chair.

Inej was sitting the same way, but the bag was now laying in front of her, two severed hands, he cut them off of ravkan sailor, peeked out from there. Inej was laughing. It was almost silent giggle at first, but now she was laughing out loud.

That evening they were eating pastry that Kaz brought, and listening to her stories about her saints.

This laugh started ringing in his head the moment he’d heard Oomen. That laugh began singing her funeral service the moment he heard “I stuck your Wraith." It didn’t stop when he found her. It didn’t stop when he’d got her to Nina. It didn’t stop when he killed Oomen. It didn’t stop.

She was unconscious for almost a week, and that whole week he couldn’t work or think or even sleep. Whenever he’d start to do something his thoughts would switch to that day, to her laugh, her stories. At some point he found himself asking her saints to save her, he knew that was lunacy. Then one night he was walking around the ship, he wanted to sleep but was too afraid he would see her, and somehow he found himself in front of that cabin. He thought to come in, he knew Nina was probably sleeping, so he could just make sure she was still alive. And then he heard Nina sing. "She can’t sing," he thought, and then he heard the laugh. Inej.

Inej was alive. Inej was conscious. Inej was laughing.

He saw how sad crows were when he was visiting, they missed her too. They appeared at his window, waiting for her to feed them, waiting for her laugh and her smile, waiting for her. He did too. He missed her too.

When he caught up with her, she was talking to her parents, he didn’t understand a word, they were talking suli, but he wouldn’t probably understand what she was saying even if they were speaking kerch. She was laughing. He didn’t know why, but it was all he could think of.

Her laugh meant she was alive.

Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive, alive, alive, alive, alive, alive, alive, alive alive alive alive alive alive alive alive alive alivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealivealive….

[udovaintomyheart]

unpack some soundtrack theorizing with me!

On the run- obviously the beginning of S&S where Malina are running from The Darkling

Market Chase - could honestly be crows or be Malina

Tolya and Tamar - THEIR THEME 💞

Wylan - SUNSHINE 🫶

Come Sail Away - Strumhond / Whaler section of S&S

Brother - this is most likely related to Jordie but I could also see it being related to Inej's lost brother or maybe even Vasily?

Arriving at the Island - Kerch is an island!! So have the crows made it back to Ketterdam?

Crows Ambushed - self explanatory. could be any gang but probably Pekka or Oomen's gang from the beginning of SOC

Return of the Useless Grunt - ummm can any SOC memorizers help? is there a grunt I'm not thinking of?

I'm Here for the Killers - could be referencing Alina + The Darkling or it could be just The Darkling and his Grisha. Maybe even the crows? Hellgate?

Matthias Fights - HELLGATE BABY!

The Night We Met - Wesper? KAZ AND PEKKA?? JORDIE DEAD??? ALINA AND NIKOLAI??? WHO KNOWS

Become the Blade - MAL 😂😂😂😂 (or Alina hones the Cut)

Jesper's Past - ADITI 💞💞💞💞🫶🫶🫶🫶

Hope is Dangerous - Nikolai and Alina nonsense

Shu Han - WE ARE GOING TO SHU HAN 🗣️

The Disciple - Alina and Baghra

I Can't Lose You - this is giving crows or Malina.... SOC MEMORIZERS PLEASE ASSIST

Deserve Her - Nikolai VS. Mal !!

Chased - me when I'm being chased (could be either)

Battle at the moat - Sea Whip??? Grand Palace attack??? (but the Grand Palace doesn't have a moat... just the bridge between upper and lower town?)

Stronger Than an Emerald - probs Nikolai Lantsov moment because Lantsov Emerald!

We Can Do This - boring title I'm sorry 😭

Final Goodbye - splitting paths? Nikolai Grand Palace escape moment? Crows drama?

Let Me Be Your Monster - either Kaz goes crazy or Alina v. Darkling in the Chapel

Loss and Sacrifice - oh God who did they kill (VASILY? 🤞) oh it's probably dead geisha by the dishes....

Hope for the Future - Alina sappy moment

How Will You Have me - KANEJ!!! I WILL HAVE YOU WITHOUT ARMOR OR I WILL NOT HAVE YOU AT ALL BAYBEEEE

Rise and Fall - Alina moment

[ashesandhackles]

Kanej and Snack for the ask game please, Stray 😄

when I started shipping it if I did:

Kanej: When Kaz rips out Oomen's eye, I was on board.

Snack: Talking with @thedreamermusing! So maybe around a month or so before we started writing Beyond the Veil?

What makes me happy about them:

Kanej: All their scenes are pitch perfect in character and relationship progression - even on technical writing standpoint, it's so precise.

Snack: I find their scenes in canon amusing now lol. Me looking at them interacting:

What makes me sad about them:

Kanej: Nothing? I am just super satisfied with their story overall that I find it hard to pick out a moment I am sad about.

Snack: We need more writers for this fandom lol. It's a top tier ship.

things done in fanfic that annoys me:

As the case with Harry, I dont seek out much fanfics with them because their story is resolved in my head. There is no exploration I particularly need. (I do read Harry centric fanfics when I like the author!)

Snack: I think most Snack writers are cognizant of character flaws and give them the weight they deserve, so there is no particular criticism I have. But across fandom, this is something that I am not on board with - the tendency to flatten characters because you cant stomach their unpalatable flaws.

things I look for in fanfic:

Kanej: I only look at pretty fanart for them.

Snack: Character explorations! Trauma explorations! Abuse explorations! Give me ze meat!

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: 

Kanej: For Inej, Nina. :) For Kaz, I am inclined to say Jesper but I have a feeling that dynamic is a bit lopsided. But I really do enjoy his dynamic with Jesper.

Snack: For Sirius, James, Remus if done in a super angsty way. For Snape, Voldemort lol. And Narcissa. My happily ever after for them:

Kanej: What they got in the books! Kaz helps Inej destroy slavers, they keep visiting each other but also lead independent lives.

Snack: They go to therapy.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity:

Kanej: Taking down barrel bosses lol.

Snack: Crossword.

[my-darling-inej]

inej being a badass - a compilation

because she is in fact the baddest bitch out there and we all know it, here’s my list of her best moments:

while being held captive by van eck, not only does she not give any information away, she laughs in van eck’s face, headbutts him, breaks his nose and says “You lay a finger me on me and Kaz Brekker will cut the baby from your pretty wife’s stomach and hang its body from a balcony at the Exchange.” like damn girl. she really did that

“I like it when men beg, but this isn’t the time for it.” iconic. needs no explanation

the fact that matthias, a trained elite soldier, instantly recognizes her as a threat (”The bronze girl’s daggers merit watching.”)

and immediately after, matthias tries to get away, but inej just casually trips him and goes “Clumsy, this one.” like it’s not even hard

when she gets stabbed by oomen and is bleeding to death, but still manages to pull herself up the wooden crates to escape. my untrained ass could never

about hunting slavers: “They would learn to fear her, and they would know her by her name.” damn right they will!!

at the end of ck, when she breaks into pekka rollins’ house, threatens him and leaves a black crow behind. one of the best moments of the whole duology, change my mind

realizing her own worth: “I may not have Kaz’s devious mind, but I am a dangerous girl.” absolute banger

let’s not forget how she casually slides inside a tank and fires it like she does this all the time

when the hostage exchange happens and she whisper to van eck “You will see me once more, but only once.” you know that man was scared shitless. all it took was a small bow the next time they saw each other, and he started sweating

bajan threatening to force-feed her, and she just going “Try. You’ll have trouble teaching piano without all you fingers.” yes girl, get his ass!!!

firing rojakke and punching him with brass knuckles is really just a normal day at work for her

when she and tante heleen meet at the ice court, but inej doesn’t let herself be intimated and fights back: “I threw your girl in the ice moat, and she’s better off there than with you.” have you ever something more badass? i think not

in conclusion, inej ghafa is an absolute queen and a force to be reckoned with. if you mess with her, you deserve what’s coming to you

[manikas-whims]

Shadow & Bone, The Crows & everyone's complaints

So now that I'm on my 2nd watch of the show, I wanna speak on certain things about the Crows in the show, which have made many people mad and some of which I didn't like either..but which I can still see as tying up with the canon.

⚠ Spoilers for both the Books & Show ⚠

Here we go:

• Kaz accepting the 1M Kruge job

Now ofc we all remember the book Kaz who bargained with a Mercher and raised his prize to 30M. But Leigh, Eric & the Crows Cast has been pointing out since day one that these aren't the same people we know from what we've read. This is a sort of prequel to those characters and just them figuring out their dynamic with each other.

Remember, the book opens with Inej saying Kaz is a feared man in the Barrel without hesitation, she introduces herself as the Wraith who can't be stopped even by gravity on certain days and Jesper as the amazing sharpshooter and charmer.

Now as a new reader, I found that chapter sort of funny because how are you claiming all this without showing me their process of becoming these formidable people? But as I read through, the thought that inded these are 6 dangerous outcasts, settled in my mind.

But before that 30M job, they must've had many smaller conquests too right? Ones which slowly built-up their experience, confidence and relationships.

Since this is a prequel, consider this as another day in their Barrel life, as them going on another of their regular jobs. And just think of this as a learning experience for Kaz. That its the dangers that they got into travelling to a different country that made Kaz learn his and his crew's worth. And prepared him for the negotiations he did with Jan Van Eck in SoC.

• Kaz brought to his knees by Pekka

While Kaz being bested by two mere lackies of Pekka was kinda annoying to me as well, why do we believe that Pekka can't harm him or the others? PEKKA ROLLINS WAS THE BARREL KING BEFORE KAZ.

Remember on the Ferolind when Oomen tells them he was ordered by Pekka Rollins to take down the Dregs? They all were shocked and somewhat worried. And it was brought up later on when Jesper said they were going against Pekka Rollins and Wylan explains for Matthias sake how Pekka is not to be messed with.

It was only Kaz who wasn't concerned at all, who consoles Jesper by saying Pekka is just another Barrel Boss.

And what were we even expecting Kaz to do when Pekka brought him to his knees? Didn't Kaz express in the books enough how a simple beating won't make it up. He promised to take his revenge in small steps— building up his gang, stealing customers from Pekka's clubs, etc. BRICK BY BRICK.

So Kaz can be brought down to his knees too. And Pekka can easily do it if he wishes so. But no one wants outright Gang Wars; Pekka because he is far more experienced and knows when and where to put pressure or when to let go of a job. He even advices Kaz to forget Inej and drop the idea of going against a Mercher in SoC last chapter, because it is a foolish thing to do.

And Kaz wouldn't want gang wars because he knows the Dregs aren't big enough to face the whole of Dime Lions. Besides he already plans to bring down Pekka brick by brick.

But no one threatens Kaz Brekker, so consider this "on his knees" scene as a set up and another reason for Kaz to strike back and pay back tenfold.

It will also serve as an amazing parallel if we get to see him make Pekka beg on his knees.

• Kaz and Inej are too obvious

Are they? Haven't they always been like that when in each other's company or when around the other Crows? So of course they're expressing alot in front of Jesper.

But note that there are was no incident in the show where Kaz expressed his slowly developing feelings in front of his enemies, namely Pekka. In fact all Kanej moments happen only between them or in Jesper's presence. So there's nothing wrong with that.

Are they too obvious? No. As I said before and as we all know Kaz and Inej ALWAYS share deep conversations whenever together even in books— "i will have you without armor", "i would come for you", etc.

So show Kaz telling Inej "no saints have watched over me like you.." was not much different from their canon alone conversations.

Have they shown too much already? NOT AT ALL.

We only saw Kaz putting the Crow Club on collateral but his reason behind it wasn't shown at all.

We only saw Inej kill a man to protect Kaz. We don't know why she chose to kill for him. You can't immediately translate that to love. It can very well be considered her trying to pay back because he saved her from the Menagerie.

Remember in Crooked Kingdom Chapter 4, Inej says: "their lives had been a series of rescues ever since, a string of debts that they never tallied as they saved each other again and again."

So consider these moments as their endless back and forth of saving each other.

*Another thing to note in the show is when Inej gave her knives to Kaz. She says: "as a friend once said".

She has started considering Kaz a "friend" and she knows he feels the same way even though he won't say it. They're only starting to open up and give way to friendship. And not just Kanej, Jesper too.

People can care for and have each other's backs without it having a romantic aspect. The show gave the viewers a peek at what Kanej are willing to do for each other and showed that there's obviously sparks flying but no clear motto. We still didn't see Kanej's first encounter at the Menagerie or Kaz staring at Inej sitting on his window. These are just small moments to set up the ship.

• The Crows only there for comic relief

NO. I don't agree to this at all.

I'm gonna go back to SoC Duology. Now we know both the books have a sort of a dark setting. But both of these books also had hilarious moments.

Right in Chapter 2 of SoC, Jesper joking about spelling with his bullets and Kaz joining in on the joke. There's also the "this whole shoot me thing is starting to worry me". Inej & Kaz's banter about "greed is your god".

Almost every chapter had atleast one moment that was either comical or to lighten the mood or just straight up banter between the Crows. And all those moments were all always entagled with serious ones.

The show did exactly the same. We were given their crime life because they were after all, on a job to capture and sell off a person. But the show lightened it by adding the Crows banter and certain comical moments. And for the finishing touches, they sprinkled in some vulnerability.

• Kaz not being ruthless enough

I AGREE. I DO.

What the fuck is wrong with us all wanting a sinister man being ruthless? 😂

There's not much I can say about this but that even in books, Kaz isn't always ruthless.

He is mostly giving out orders and scheming schemes. But in those rare moments in the book when we get to see Dirtyhands, we are given a view into some really intense moments.

When Kaz dislocates a man's arm in the Ice Court Prison, he himself admits it that he didn't do it as much to make himself look intimidating to the other criminals but more to remind himself that he can do it, that he isn't some helpless man.

The only such thing we got in the show was the brief scene between Kaz and that Inferni where he had that scary look on his face as he crushed that inferni's arm and slammed his face.

WE DID DESERVE MORE OF THAT.

But maybe it was a good moment to set him up for more violence in the coming seasons. *crosses fingers*

• The Crows not stealing from Alina

Okay whilst Inej wouldn't do it, Jesper may only consider, Kaz would definitely do it!

Remember Kaz kazually conversing with Van Eck and Pekka but also stealing their stuff in those moments with his slight of hands?

Yeah, the showrunners had a perfect chance at the end to do it but they missed it 😐

This is probably the one thing that I'm unable to settle with 🤧

So..that's it!

I don't want everyone to agree with me but I hope everyone can be a little less aggressive and more kind to the show. It was still amazing, if not a proper adaptation then at least good as a standalone show. And the showrunners already did say "high budget fanfiction"

[zoueriemandzijnopmars]

5 Dutch Children’s books with moments that changed me

Because I just love Dutch Children’s books.

5. That moment in Lena Lijstje (by Francine Oomen) where she says that a list should always have either 3 or 5 items, now I’m incapable of making a list of 4 items, thanks for that;

4. Hasse Simonsdochter by Thea Beckman is maybe my favourite book of all time and there were a few moments here that contended for a place on this list, like: The moment where Jeroen Bosch (the painter) is kinda feministic and also says that getting inspiration for his paintings of Hell is easy because of what humans do to each other. Or that moment where Hasse says: “Jan van Schaffelaar is the only person who is always kind to me, who never says I should do better or change. I know he’s a crook, I know there’s blood on his hands. So what? For me he’s the sun, the moon and all of the heavens.” Because go off queen. But in the end I’m going with that moment near the end when Hasse realises she can save a friend from being executed by marrying him, but she can’t do it, as she's just absolutely not attracted to him. And she literally thinks: “Does he have to die, just because he’s ugly?” And she’s like no, of course not, but she still can’t do it. And I have no lessons to learn from this, because this entire book is a mystery to me, but man was it influential.

3. That moment in Koning van Katoren (by Jan Terlouw) where Stach decides he needs to sacrifice himself in his quest to become king, even though it means he’ll die (and hence not become king), because otherwise he wouldn’t deserve to become king. And like, he’s so right, and the wizard realises that so he instead sacrifices himself. It just really makes you think about leadership and sacrifices. .b (If those ministers can make a b then so can I) that moment in quest 5.b when Stach has to jump from the church tower and all of Katoren just comes to the church to drop their pillows there so that he can safely jump down. Because, man, I want to live in Katoren. Where people just unite like that and say fuck you to the establishment.

2. That moment in Geheimen van het Wilde Woud (by Tonke Dragt) where Tiuri kills a guy in self defense and hates himself for it. One of the only books where a protagonist truly struggles with the aftermath of killing someone.

1. That moment in Zoektocht in Katoren (also by Jan Terlouw) when some people were like: Kos wouldn’t have blown up that train with weapons if he hadn’t met us and so the judge decided to split his prison sentence between them so everyone only had to go to prison for a year, but then all of Katoren phoned in like: hey I also feel responsible, so in the end everyone only had to sit for an hour. And I reiterate, man, I want to live in Katoren. And like this idea of shared responsibility is so interesting, but also it only really makes sense because he did something illegal with good motives, and just, I sometimes wish we had this kind of jurisprudence (a word I learned from this book coincidentally)

[larissaloki]

sharing is caring 5

chapter 5 is here!! hope you enjoy and thanks to my beta for checking this through! @schwergaeneuser @msmynx @im-tops-bottom @jacksonfrost24 @seven-oomen @el-rezet @thoughtfulbreadpolice @cwar1864 @starsofyggdrasil 

Leading the way through the pristine yet beautifully decorated corridors, Bucky takes Tony up to the private wing. This small area of the palace had only a cluster of rooms, just a small branch off from the main body of the palace, yet still as beautiful and welcoming as the rest of it. Decorative robes and tapestries and what Tony was sure were hand-made ornaments, were arranged in a tasteful way.

 Moving to a large window located in one of the communal sitting rooms, with various other windows allowing in light, giving the room a cheery glow, bright and yet soothing on his weary eyes, Tony gazes out on the gorgeous view. The city below is so full of hustle and bustle, a remarkable mixture of traditional buildings and newer more tech savvy ones. A wonderful example of how two very different concepts can work together.

 Beyond the city, Tony can see the jungles, mountains, and plains filled with wild animals. Rhinos are charging about in one massive area of land. Skilled riders on the backs of the great beasts, they seem to be practising manoeuvre’s, as you would expect any cavalry to do.

 “Great view you get up here Frosty, I’m almost jealous,” teasingly, Tony peers over his shoulder at his quiet companion who is watching Tony carefully. Paying more attention, Tony can see some stiffness in the lines of Bucky’s body. Tony isn’t stupid, he can guess what’s the cause of all that stiffness and frankly, it’s probably about the right time to talk it all out.

  Making sure to keep his body posture relaxed, calling on his Showman Stark persona a bit to give off an air of indifference, Tony makes his way over to the ridiculously comfy looking sofas and armchairs. Seriously, how is everything so much comfier looking? Tony needs the name of T’Challa’s decorator.

 “Got something on your mind Elsa?”

 Mouth opening and closing a few times, Bucky mulls over in his head what he wants to say as he slowly, carefully sits in a chair opposite Tony; noticeably much closer to the door as well.

 Keeping quiet, Tony gives Bucky time to gather his thoughts and what he wants to say, Tony almost wishes for the much more relaxed atmosphere in the lab from earlier, but unfortunately in an adult world you gotta adult.  

 Finally, Bucky seems to have found the words he wants to say.

 “Why are you being nice to me? Not that I’m not complaining! I’m just…I didn’t expect… I expected you to hate me, be cold towards me after…” Bucky trails off, both knowing the event he means.

 Humming to himself, Tony leans back into the cushions and barely holds in a whimper of joy at how he just sinks into the cushions.

 “Well, I’m not going to lie  Buckster, at first I did hate you. I hated you for killing my mom.” Bucky flinched at that. “And I hated Steve for having all that time to tell me, even hated Natasha, who had all the time to tell me herself, but neither of them did. Neither told me in a controlled way. Not even a compassionate way. They let some angry asshole throw it in my face. I was so angry that Steve would ride my ass for keeping secrets, or for not talking to the team about my plans, yet he was withholding this information about my family from me.”

 Sighing, eyes closing, Tony rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders slumping as weariness started to take over. He was tired from the healing process and the Vibranium ball incident and, really, from the struggle and trauma of the plane crash. But mostly, he thinks he might be more tired of this on-going drama.

 “I am still bitter about what Steve and Natasha did, it will take a long, long while for things to be ok again between the three of us. However, the hate towards you?” Tony raises his gaze to look Bucky right in the eye at this, allowing Bucky to see how sincere he is. “It went away. After I had time to calm down after you and Steve left and I got back home finally, my hate changed to... I wouldn’t say pity, but I did feel sorry for you. I knew you had been through hell, what Hydra had done, my anger instead turned on those who used you. As it rightfully should be.”

 Leaning forward in his seat, leaning closer to Bucky, Tony gives him a small hesitant smile. Heart racing in elation when he receives a small, shaky one in response.

 “So in summary, while I was at first angry due to the situation we were in, and the way I was told, Steve’s betrayal not helping. I lost myself and wrongfully attacked you. After having time to process it all, and being able to step back and logically think it through, I know you are not the one to blame James.”

 Jolting a bit in surprise at Tony using his actual first name, Bucky swallows a few times his throat feeling like it is full of lead as he takes in what Tony is telling him. Clearing his throat several times, finally, Bucky nods at Tony, his voice soft but a bit rough with emotions.

 “Thank you Tony and I’m sorry you found out about it all that way…if it means anything, I have told Steve that you deserved to have been told everything in person and much sooner”

 Huffing through his nose ruefully, Tony shakes his head as he tries to imagine that.

 “Thanks Bucko, but you don’t need to apologise” It was Steve he wanted, needed to hear that from, “I’m just glad you’re looking better than you did back then, healthier and if I heard the others right, on the road to being in control again?”

 Relaxing finally more fully and leaning back to relax into the cushions, rather than sit on the edge of the chair. Bucky smiles more steadily and nods in agreement.

 “Shuri and T’Challa and even M’Baku have helped a lot since I came here, Shuri helped get rid of the triggers and T’Challa gave me work when I felt more stable, and for a bit I lived in a nearby village with my goats. Just for small periods at a time, to get used to being in public places again. Being around regular people again. The kids there are adorable.”

 The more he spoke, the bigger the grin on Bucky’s face grew, his frame becoming more open and languid. More comfortable, which pleased Tony greatly. Tony hated conflict and awkward silences, possibly more than Vanko and his bastardisation of Tony’s tech.

 As Bucky was getting into a story of how one determined goat kept trying to stick its horns up Bucky’s backside as he worked, M’Baku finally arrived, politely knocking on the door, with a trolley full of a great variety of foods and drinks for them all in tow. 

 Flashing them a grin, the towering Alpha brought the trolley through to where they were sat, “Sorry it took so long, I wasn’t sure what sort of food you would like,”

 With a flourish, M’Baku removed lids and dish coverings to reveal many different things. One of the dishes was a stew/soup dish called Egusi; a dish of ground up melon seeds, leafy vegetables and small chunks of meat. Thieboudienne; a dish of fish, rice and tomato sauce and an assortment of vegetables (possible what the dish Savannah red rice was modeled after.). a pudding like dish that Tony had to ask for the name of which was apparently called Moin Moin. On the next row was a large plate of chips, seasoned in spaces and next to it was a plate filled with Sambaza, a small fish that’s been deep fried and covered in lemon. Brochette and Sambusa make up the rest of that row. On the bottom row was mashed pumpkin, yams, Biltong which is sliced dried meat, seasoned with spices and smoked. Boerewors, a form of long spiral sausage. Some Drywors made up last of the meat dishes. Littered in the small gaps are small plates of slices of cakes that have been carefully placed on.

 Tony can feel his mouth water as he looks over each dish, some he recongises from business trips to both East and West countries on the continent, but all look equally delicious. Tony isn’t surprised to feel a bit of drool escape as he lifts his hand to quickly wipe it away.

 Laughing lightly, Bucky gets up and hands him a plate as he and M’Baku start to plate up.

 “You going to sit there staring? Come eat, before it gets cold!” Smirking, M’Baku quickly moves to the side as Tony rushes over, suddenly realizing just how hungry he is.

 After shoveling food onto his plate until no more would fit, Tony settled at a small table with the two Alphas; Bucky producing some drinks for them as they ate in companionable silence. Tony was surprised how nice the Egusi was, God he wished Peter, Pepper or Rhodey were here with him. They would all love the food here, maybe next time he would bring them.

 “How long will you be in Wakanda, Stark?” M’Baku broke the silence after they all had nearly two servings each, hunger now somewhat abated enough to eat more slowly.

 Dabbing his mouth clean, Tony stopped inhaling his food long enough to answer, “Well I was originally going to stay here for a week. However, with the reveal of what caused me to crash, I may end up needing to leave sooner. T’Challa is gathering all the evidence and collaborating with Jarvis first”

 Frowning a bit, unhappy that this visit could be cut short, M’Baku huffed to himself quietly, “Shame. I’d love to give you the grand tour of Wakanda. My kids would also love to meet you. I was going to invite White Wolf here as well.” Grinning with unending glee at the nickname Bucky had been given by the locals, M’Baku sips his drink before looking back at the smaller Omega. “Who caused this crash though? Send them my way, please, my children could use with a new hunting target.”

 Snorting at the mental image of Hammer being chased by a horde of small kids, Tony was almost tempted to take him up on that offer but reluctantly behaved himself.

 “As tempting as that sounds, I should let my lawyers tackle Justin Hammer. I’ve been far too good lately and I fear they must be bored. Though I’ll bring it as a suggestion for community service.”

 Laughing good naturedly, M’Baku sips his drink in between chuckles. Bucky now looking up at Tony curiously.

 “It was Justin Hammer that caused it? Isn’t he the engineer that couldn’t even make a functional mechanical pencil?”

 Roaring even louder with laughter at that, M’Baku nearly spills his drink. “Any idiot could make one of those! Given that you have all the right parts that is,”

 Smirking as he starts on a pudding, Tony nods at Bucky’s question.

 “That’s the guy. I’ve never seen such a terrible engineer in my life, I’m surprised the government kept him on contract for as long as they did to be honest. So glad that marriage fell through…” 

 Both alphas pause briefly at that, Tony had been engaged? That was new information to them, for a guy whose entire life was practically advertised on the daily, you would expect this to be in the news regularly. Or at least common knowledge.

 “You were engaged to Hammer? What happened?” Unable to help himself, M’Baku inquired. Drink now forgotten as he tries to temper down the small flicker of rising jealousy.

 Making a face of disgust, Tony nods. “Yeah, years ago when Hammer’s family became more well known. Good ol’ dad decided to arrange with Justin’s father to marry me and Justin when I hit 21. When my parents died-“ Bucky grimaced “-Obie took over and while he disliked Hammer a lot, mostly he wanted to keep control of Stark Industries. Couldn’t do that if I married Justin, so he broke off the contract and freed me from that future. I know he did it for selfish reason but boy am I glad he did.”

 Pushing his empty plate away, M’Baku leans back in his seat, his thick arms crossing over his barrel of a chest.

 “If you change your mind about how to deal with this Hammer, remember my offer. I’ll even include a boat ride experience for him.” The grin that M’Baku shares tells Tony that Hammer would not enjoy this ‘boat ride’. Despite how innocuous it sounded, but Tony suspects that he himself might enjoy watching.

 “You know, you and my friend Banner would get along great. Remind me to introduce you to him sometime!”

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[spell-cleaver]

Faithless

@sixofcrowsnet heist: mythology

Another demon. This one walked with soft feet like she'd drifted in from the next world and no one had the good sense to send her back.

The name Wraith wasn't given to her by the human Kaz Brekker as part of his mocking pretentiousness, or as an uncharacteristic urge to show off, or even as a characteristic fondness for drama. No. It was given to her because it was true.

On the night that a slaver's ship sailed from the coast of Ravka to Ketterdam, a thunderstorm shook the night. The kidnapped children in the hold were left to shiver and press up against each other amidst the vomit and the seawater and the sweat, even as the boat was tossed upon the seas.

You see, no one really knows what lightning is, or where it comes from. So it's entirely possible that the errant flashes of light are indeed tears in the fabric of reality, between worlds, and it's entirely possible that that night, someone slipped through them, and became trapped.

The world of the slavers and the children and the seas didn't have a name for her. She wasn't human - was more shadow than substance - but when a fourteen year old Suli girl died on the voyage, the shadow occupied her body.

The shadow called herself Inej, and she was more powerful than any human could ever be.

But she wasn't powerful here. She'd barely breathed warmth back into her new flesh by the time the slave ship docked in a harbour and the slavers came into the hold with the first in a pair of horrible coincidences that changed the course of Inej's life forever:

The manacles were made of iron.

Iron, which was the only thing that weakened shadows like her. Iron, which could bind her in this body indefinitely.

She was taken out of them shortly after, and she tried to fight back, but that was when the second horrible coincidence came into play:

The ink in the tattoo they forced on her arm, of a curled, delicate feather, contained traces of iron as well.

And it was stuck to her skin.

So Inej spent months in the Menagerie, several nights scratching her arm bloody in an attempt to purge the iron from her body. But there was always enough left by the next morning that Inej couldn't slip out of her own flesh to avoid the beating that came as a consequence of it.

Until Kaz Brekker came.

Until she drew on the last scraps of illusion she could hold, vanishing into smoke and silence for two moments, and whispered in his ear, "I can help you," in a voice of wind and rain.

When he whirled around, disguised shock evident on his features, she was standing behind him fully formed, the purple polka dots of her outfit painfully garish.

He narrowed his eyes, then left.

Inej knew she'd won.

He came back soon enough, and was smart enough to have her tattoo removed. The last dregs of iron were flushed from her system. When it happened, she was so excited at being free that she almost shifted there and then, almost let the girl's body drop dead where she sat and soar off.

Even when she didn't, she was half sure Kaz noticed the mirage of wings floating behind her back.

She could've left there and then, as well. But Inej wasn't a demon. She came from a realm of saints and deities, and if there was one thing she would do, it was stand by those who'd stood by her.

She stayed with the Dregs. She didn't know how long she would do it for - maybe until her human body was old and grey and could no longer crawl over rooftops or survive knife wounds and gunshots - but she simply knew that Kaz Brekker had saved her, so she would be around to save him, when the time came.

*

Kaz Brekker was faithless.

Inej was the opposite. While she couldn't in good conscience call it faith when she knew it was true - she'd spoken to Sankta Lizabeta face-to-face on a regular basis before she came to this world - she prayed to her saints and deities every day. She didn't fit in with the rest of the Dregs: she didn't swear, she didn't drink, she didn't gamble. But she was one of them anyway, if only because that was one thing they could have faith in: That she would always try her damned hardest to ensure everyone pulled through, alive and unharmed, no matter the cost to herself.

Kaz was a different story. Inej knew he didn't have faith in anything - not the gods, not other people, and not even himself. And whenever she wondered why, she inevitably remembered moments of a past life, of peering through a veil into another world and watching a little boy paddle back to shore using his brother's body as a raft.

"Men mock the gods until they need them, Kaz," she told him once.

He'd just scoffed. "What have the gods ever done for me?"

She'd just sighed.

"What makes you so sure your saints are listening?" he'd asked her another time.

"Because they always listen," she'd replied. "Whether I was talking to them face-to-face, or through prayers, they always reply."

He'd half-laughed, half-sneered. "You've met them?"

"I'm a wraith, Kaz. Of course I have."

He'd just laughed again. He hadn't believed her.

Despite relying on her as much as he did, Kaz was perhaps the only one in the Dregs who didn't have faith in her.

*

The incident with Oomen only comes about because he's using an iron knife. It weakens her, but because the iron is quickly removed from her body, that means it frees her in a way, as well.

She's not strong enough to hold herself in her human body for much longer. She's at risk of just. . . drifting away.

It scares Kaz, the way the smoke seems to seep out of her as he carries her to the ship, and it scares Nina as well, when her heart stops for several hours but she wakes up fine the next morning anyway. During the voyage she knows that Kaz thinks he feels Death hovering over the ship, ready to take her away, but it's not Death. It's her, at last, free of her cage of flesh and blood, and she can't honestly say that she wants to return.

But she loves these people. They need her.

And she doesn't regret coming back, not when Nina cries to see her alive, and Jesper cheers, and Kaz tries to disguise his worried fussing over her as planning for their next move. But things change after she does. Sometimes she catches Nina and Jesper giving her odd looks, like they've finally guessed what's been odd about her this whole time.

Kaz still doesn't see it. Still doesn't want to see it, even as he watched the shadows curl around her with his own eyes.

Kaz still doesn't believe.

*

No one can deny it once she's scaled the incinerator shaft. There was a moment when she nearly slipped and the wings that had been hovering at her back had evaporated with the heat, incorporeal, unable to catch her.

Then the rain hit them, and she soared.

She felt more like herself than she ever had.

So when they're confronted in the harbour, with every piece of might Fjerda had to offer stacked against them, it wasn't Nina who rained destruction on them. It was Inej.

She'd forgotten what it was like, having this power. This freedom. She'd kept herself reigned in for so long that she'd forgotten who she was.

She didn't deserve to be denied it any longer. By anyone - for anyone. She had a family waiting for her back home, and saints to talk to, and people remember.

"Stay in Ketterdam," Kaz whispered. "Stay with me."

I will have you without armour, Kaz Brekker, or I will have you not at all.

She whispered the words, hoping he'd give her a reason to stay. A reason to want to stay.

He stayed silent.

So she left. And all she could do was smile sadly as she left, and Kaz Brekker the faithless watched as the girl (he loved) dissipated into ashes and smoke.

After she was gone, he turned his gaze back to the distant horizon they were sailing towards.

Dawn was still a long way off.

[manikas-whims]

some people are calling Kaz a villain, what do you think?

*sighs* we did this discussion like back in march..

Kaz was never a villain.

He's a morally grey character— done too much bad to be considered good; done too much good to be labelled bad.

He lies in this category. Sure his methods are unconventional, pragmatic and ruthless sometimes but he thinks through every step he takes. He is cautious and knows where his capabilities lie. He knows when to be patient and when to use violence to get something done.

And maybe some readers only ever notice his violent side which is why they rush to rope him into the villain category when he's most definitely not!

I'm telling you, considering everything he did in the past to survive Ketterdam and everything we do read about in the Duology, will not even sum up to the amount of killing the other crows have done. He'd probably be a close #3 I'd say..

It's just his moments of violence are far more intensely described that they put more impact into our minds as readers.

Geels? Kaz breaks his arm after their parlay is over and he does it because the man pointed a gun at him. He does it because his Dregs and also Black Tips are watching. Dirtyhands has to display some acts of cruelty to maintain his image and to add to his cornucopia of myths once in a while.

Oomen? Kaz was literally tired and scared. Inej being stabbed was Deja Vu, reminded him of the time he lost Jordie. He was also in denial and not ready to confront or acknowledge his feelings for Inej, which resulted in his actions coming out more cruel as an outlet..

When Nina tells Inej: "There was enough blood to paint a barn red." Again, he was looking for Inej on the harbour and he was worried for her.

When he dislocated the shoulder of that guy in the Ice Court Prison Cell? Its a chapter from Kaz's pov and he himself said he did it so that other prisoners would be wary of them and not mess with him or his crew. (And right after he also adds he does these things more to remind himself that he's not helpless, than to prove anything to anyone..)

Smeet's Assistant? That man kept calling himself an "honest man", all the while admitting he has control over a girl from the menagerie and can get her to do all sorts of things for Kaz as well. Kaz dropped him off again, because that poor girl's situation reminded him of Inej and of the things she'd probably suffered during her time at the menagerie. He also does it for the helpless girl.

Little Hanna? If we all read the same books then remember he clearly tells Wylan it was either threatening her or snapping her neck. He's showing restraint. And he had sworn to get his money and his girl back, so just understand he'd go to any lengths, even if that involves threatening little kids by pretending to be a demon.

All I'm saying is..he did thief, scheme, lie, beat up and kill people (sometimes those that didn't deserve) but he always had his reasons. He isn't unhinged or has any selfish motives like villains do. He is also aware that most of his actions aren't right, unlike villains who believe their awful actions are the only plausible option to achieve what they're aiming for..

Kaz Brekker is good. Kaz Brekker is bad.

Kaz Brekker is a bit of both. He's a morally grey character.

[manikas-whims]

The thing I find most beautiful about "Kanej" is that despite everything that Kaz suffered as a child, despite everything he had to go through when he joined the gang as a newbie, despite all of it..

When he met Inej, he immediately offered her a nicer job. He could've taken advantage of the rarity of her Suli origins, put her as a bartender or a dancer at the crow club for his profits but as Inej says herself , "you were the kinder man"

He showed kindness in his own ways and unknowingly she warmed her way into his twisted heart..

AND NOT JUST HER..

Kaz has been kind to Jesper. He was genuinely satisfied that Jes decided to give his share of money to his dad.

Kaz has shown kindness in that he made sure Wylan was kept safe. Surely it started out as something for his own selfish motives but he came to doing so much for the boy. He could've taken his revenge, given everyone their shares of 4 million Kruge, but he went an extra mile to make sure Wylan got his father's property.

Kaz could've declined to help Nina save all the Grisha but he went through the struggle of making changes to his plan and somehow saved them all.

Kaz's rationality told him it was better to shoot Kuwei and be done with the threat but he decided to fake the death and made sure the boy got to make a choice and live the way he wanted to in Ravka.

Kaz even made sure to keep Matthias with him throughout the false auction and even forged the plan so as they all could safely meet after sundown. Matthias's death was the only thing that no one saw coming..

ALL IN ALL...

I get that he did horrible things to the people who played Pekka's fake family, tortured the boy who sold wooden dogs, shoved a key in his throat, pushed and broke a boy's leg to take his job, gouged out Oomen's eye then threw him off board the ship, tossed Smeet's assistant, threatened a child about slitting her prents' throats..thieved, scammed, tricked and lied..

But he mostly did it to the morally wrong, to the people who deserved it..he had motives behind every action..

He may live with the titles of "Dirtyhands, Bastard of the Barrel, Demjin, Monster" but Kaz is a good person. A morally grey but good guy who deserves nothing but love and appreciation! 🥺

All right, rant over...😪