#matthias is still not here but he is very busy trying all the waffles in Ketterdam with Nina

[catdoingblep]

And some more headcanons for this crossover (some mentions of the temporary death and canonical/side permanent deaths):

Eleonor was from Ravka, and she was a tidemaker (and Hob fell for her with the speed of tv Jesper). Robyn was a squaller, but their story still ends the same.

Nikolai Lantsov is a very-very distant descendant of Hob. Not like anyone alive knows it except Destiny.  (Robyn was the only kid Hob was aware of, but he didn’t care for real before Robyn that much, and he had his slut period right after he understood that he became immortal) 

Wylan is Hob's favourite Crow because he reminds him of Robyn. Both in Wylan Wan Sunshine and how-about-I-push-you-in-the-canal moods.

Hob and Jesper are vibing together. And they both have ADHD in my mind.

Randall Burgess was in the Fold because his best friend needed to go throught it, and Randall wasn't ok with his friend taking this kind of risk without Randall on side. They both and everyone who was with them didn't make it.

Inej had a knife that was called Sankta Robert. She broke this during the basement rescue (she may or may not broke it trying to crack a fishball). Hob brought her a new one instead, durast made.

New knife is by Mad Hettie. She do not do all the durast stuff anymore by her own reasons (and these reasons somehow connected to Destiny), but she was owe Hob a favoir. They also have a very strange friendship because you cannot don't interract when you are two immortals in one Ketterdam.

Kaz was really interested by the devil in the basement not because it was connected with Jan Van Eck but because anyone was thinking that it is impossible to steal thing from basement. He had a lot of other plans with Jan Van Eck, but he likes the challenge.

Hob once was in the Hellgate as a prisoner for few days during his worst times after Eleonor and Robyn. He will not recomend anyone Hellgate (0/10 for service), and he killed himself really bruttaly to be thrown out as a corpse. He had a very important meeting in few weeks, so not like he had time to enjoy Hellgate accomodation.

Ethel Crips is a tailor, and Roderic wasn't aware of it, so she run away from Ketterdam and tailored her face. Did she tailor also John's face? Nobody knows.

Jordie was asking Death if Kaz would be alright. She said that he will not die anytime soon.

Dream will definitely be once (or maybe more than once) asked by some drunkards is he related to Kaz Brekker. 

Nina still becomes the Corpsewitch in this universe and sometimes she is able to see Death around when Death doing her job.

Ok, I do not make tumblr posts, but I have this crossover stuck in my brain (and I am having a hyperfixation on the Shadow and Bones rn), so…

Shadow and Bones (TV) x Sandman (TV) crossover, Hob canonically was involved in the slave trade.

Hob Gadling, the new owner of New Inn (a small Inn on the edge of Barel) and your local saint (yes, he is known as Sankta Robert, and he hates this) and fellow Ketterdam immortal in his six hundreds, is trying to live his life in the Ketterdam right after his Stranger missed their meeting.

He was away for a few years after planned meeting (you know, all this “die and return as your nephew from Novyi Zem” things) and just returned to the city when Fold was destroyed. He doesn’t want to interact with any of Barel’s gangs, because it is hard to hide your immortality when someone shoots you in the middle of the street (it happened before. Twice, actually).

He still tries to know all the local rumours, so he knows about Crows, and now his Inn is apparently the Dregs’ territory.

Meanwhile, Kaz is planning how to destroy Jan Wan Eck and heard a rumour about the devil in the basement.

So, whatever it is, Jan Wan Eck is very interested in it and spends a huge amount of money every month to cover the costs of Burgess. And the guards of the basement are so well-payed that no one can buy them. Wylan barely knows anything about it, he only knows that once his father said him that Burgess promised his father to guarantee that his next child will not be an embarrassment (in exchange for the favour that is taking away the Dream bc Alex wants to get rid of the ball). 

(Roderic Burgess was not a grisha himself, but Randall Burgess was a grisha and Burgess was already making a lot of plans for how he will monetize his grisha abilities and how he will use Randall in his barely legal plans before he died in the Fold and Roderick was stuck with useless otkazat'sya second son)

Crows think that maybe this is imprisoned healer because older Burgess was too old to be alive.  

(Alex considered himself “forced through circumstances” after his father died bc he was too afraid of both Dream and Wan Eck telling everybody that is in the basement)

So Crows start some shenanigans to break into the basement, and Burgess or Wan Yek heard about it and hires some killers to take them down. One of the killers? Corinthian.

Corinthian caught one of the Crows (Nina who cannot take him down because he was made from the dreamstuff?) in the side street, but Hob is passing by. And he doesn’t want some kid to be killed on his watch. 

Hob attacked Corinthian and killed him (obviously temporally) but got stabbed in the process. In his heart. With a knife. So Nina tried to save him, but once she took out the knife, Hob comes to life.

And this makes Hob involved in all the things that he tried to avoid because he didn’t want to simulate his death too soon (and these children already saw that he is immortal), and Crows offered him to “forget” about his secret. Price? Help to steal whatever it is in the basement. 

After this someone (Inej who will have very mixed feelings about Hob being a saint? like they already met some saints but no one was a slave trader in the past) understood who Hob is.

All this Sankta Robert stuff that Hob hates. He is not only a saint because he just died and was resurrected with too many witnesses, but he also did this during the period when he tried to destroy his own slavery business after his Stranger’s advice. So years after he was known as a patron of the slaves and the ones who were illegally detained.

The eternal reminder of his own mistakes. He is not a saint, ok? Just an immortal man who made a huge mistake and tried to do something right when he understood that a crime he did.

(And in that life, he was going with his real name for some time, so he cannot use Robert Gadling anymore because everyone knows his name as the name of the saint)

Idk what will be next but it all ended up as Hob saved Dream from the fishball and they got together trope, yes. Same story but with some extra Crows flavour.

(And after the rescue of the Dream he is very amused with the fact that mortals call Hob Sankta Robert. Like previously, he never paid attention to the life of Hob between their meetings, only to the Hob’s stories on the meetings, and Hob did not mention this so he didn’t know).

Hob also somehow “adopt” the Crows because they are just a bunch of youngsters for him. Like they’re in their twenties, they are totally kids for Hob. Have they already saved the world? Not changing his opinion, they are kids! Kaz is trying to resist this but unsuccessfully (he is not so unhappy with this as he shows).

[ronans-sepiaphotograph]

I'm totally and completely bothered by the fact that there's not enough Kaz and Wylan content so as a book junkie I'm compelled to create my own-

Kaz and Wylan, our resident scheming faces and painting:

Wylan Van Eck may not be the loudest or the most outspoken of the Crows but he was observant.

So he knew who exactly was knocking on the door on the mansion just a while after Jesper had left to get the guns serviced.

Wylan was about to start working on a new canvas when he heard the door being knocked upon as he was walking towards his room.

Kaz Brekker stood in his glory, all suit, hat and his cane as Wylan opened the door.

"Hello Kaz" "Hey merchling" "I'm painting in my room"

Kaz walked through the doors as Wylan told him where he was going. It was not a schedule but it was definitely a schedule.

Wylan would paint and Kaz would silently watch him as they quietly talked, and it helped with Jesper absent sometimes because Wylan and Kaz were both not the greatest when it came to being chatty. Sure Jesper was great company, but sometimes they wanted the quiet.

Kaz walked through and over to Wylan's room with Wylan in tow and sat on his regular seat. Yes Wylan had a seat dedicated for Kaz to sit. It definitely made Wylan more nervous as Kaz watched him.

"how are things at the slat?" "Fine, it's too noisy" "you can come over here anytime you know?" "I know"

Wylan was nervous as he pulled out the package. He had been working on it for a while now. And it was scary that Kaz would be receiving it. He didn't even know whether he would like it or not.

It was a small box, and inside were six little canvases for all of them. Wylan knew Kaz often picked up little paintings he did, thinking Wylan wouldn't notice. But then Wylan would see them tucked away in his office mantle.

So Wylan had this idea of making something for Kaz. One canvas for a Crow, a member of his family. A Crow's head (Kaz), a Knife (Inej), Waffles (Nina), a white wolf (Matthias), a revolver (Jesper) and finally a flute (Wylan). He had spent hours on the little things and Jesper had found small ornamental frame to put them into. Wylan had packed them.

He was trembling and blushing by the time he slid the package over to Kaz, who was watching him with narrowed eyes.

"what's this?" "I know you take paintings from my room so I made these for you"

Kaz gave him a look and proceeded to open it, his gloved hands neatly unwrapping it. He gave Wylan a soft smile as he looked through them. He was blushing harder now.

"Do you like them?" "One of each of us" "yeah" "Thanks Wy"

The nickname made his eyes water and he looked away, wiping his eyes. Kaz tapped his cane on the floor and Wylan immediately snapped his head up. The smile was there, faint yet present.

"why are you crying?" "Nothing, just happy tears"

Kaz put the box back and sat as Wylan left to get them waffles and coffee. He had ice-cream since he was the only one besides Inej who knew Kaz had a sweet tooth. He didn't tell anyone because he prized his life.

"do you want to try your hand at painting?" "Me?" Kaz looked confused at the question as Wylan nodded. He bit into his waffle as Kaz silently thought.

"Scheming face" "I heard that" Kaz smirked at him as Wylan blushed.

"okay then, I don't think I have the skills like you do" "I'm not skilled, it's one the few things that I'm good at. And besides without these I'm wor-"

He was interrupted as the end of Kaz's cane was jabbing into his chest. Kaz glared, enough to remind him that he was still the Dirtyhands, even if Wylan looked up to him.

"you sure you want to complete that sentence Wylan?" Wylan shook his head. "Then let's get painting"

He nodded as Kaz got up and shifted closer to the desk as Wylan found them canvased to paint on. He got water and brushes and paints and rags. He got one of the old shirts for Kaz to wear.

"wear this, won't want to spoil your suit" "always the observant one" "I heard that" "I wanted you to"

Wylan turned away as Kaz proceeded to remove his coat and turned back again when Kaz prodded him. He thought he heard a chuckle escape Kaz bit probably though he was dreaming. He opened the windows fully so he could see the gardens below and the sea. It was Blue and pristine and there were seagulls flying in the sky.

Wylan squeezed out paint as Kaz made his scheming face again as he looked through the plethora of brushes Wylan had.

"How do your even choose which one to use Wy?" Wylan chuckled as Kaz gave him a look. "You should decide what you want to paint. I usually just paint the sea on the garden on sunny days and then something from memory when the days are gloomy" "the sea sounds okay*

He helped Kaz pick a brush and then pushed a palette full of paint towards Kaz as he sat beside him, maintaining enough distance. He chuckled when he saw Kaz fumble. He figured if was probably because of the gloves that he was struggling to hold the brush properly.

"I think it's the gloves that are making it difficult" Kaz scowled at him and Wylan shut up, why had he even voiced out loud? "Sorry, I didn't mean to. It'll be fine, give it a bit of time and you'll adjust"

Kaz ignored him as he thought about it. After a silent moment lapsed, he removed the glove from his hand. It came as a surprise and Wylan didn't know whether he had the right to watch so he just looked at his blank canvas. Kaz cleared his throat.

"it's much better now" "Kaz you didn't have to, I'm sorry" "It's for my own convenience and you were right, this feels much better.

Another one of Kaz Brekker's rare smiles.

Wylan smiled at him as he got to painting himself. Kaz busied himself with watching the sea and the dipping his brush in the paint. Wylan was going to paint the sea today, just with the added memory of one particular shil sailing and floating in it. The sea always made him miss Inej terribly.

Kaz groaned beside him as he dropped the brush down and leaned back and slumped in his seat. It was rare to see Kaz so out of his comfort zone.

"How do you even do this Wy?" "It has always been my escape, when I used to stay with Jan Van Eck and try to read and write. Don't think when you're painting that's all" "that's difficult" "for you, definitely"

Kaz glared as Wylan chuckled, blushing again. Kaz had draw strokes of Blue in various shades. It wasn't bad but it was evident that Kaz had no experience painting before. He gently prodded Kaz to pick up and try again, suggesting to just think about what he was trying to paint. Kaz huffed as he picked up his brush again. Wylan noticed that he held the brush a little awkwardly which would not help at all and make Kaz more irritated and without a thought put his hand over Kaz's, briefly touching as he adjusted the brush in Kaz's fingers.

And then the realisation hit.

Wylan was going to be murdered today, in his own house, by the person he had begun to consider a best friend.

Wylan trembled and pulled his hand away but Kaz turned to him and glared daggers that made him freeze. Yep, definitely going to get murdered, he thought.

"Don't you dare move Wylan"

And because he was going to get murdered he pulled his hand away and literally ran. But Kaz was quick because obviously as Wylan felt the cane latch into his shoulder, causing him to trip. He stood frozen, not daring to turn around.

"Wylan, turn around right now" he didn't. "I won't repeat" He turned around.

Kaz stood, gloved hands on his cane as he looked at Wylan.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry-" "stop talking"

Wylan did. He felt red and not all over as he felt his eyes water. Kaz put his hand forward and Wylan prepared to die but then Kaz just squeezed his shoulder. Wylan's knees gave out as he sank to the floor, on his knees. He felt his tears drop. Kaz sat down beside him. He didn't dare open his eyes.

"Wy?" "Yeah?" "Look at me?"

He opened his eyes and looked at Kaz. He expected to see anger, hatred and every hateful emotion in the coffee brown of Kaz's eyes but there was nothing. Kaz was looking at him, face devoid of expression.

"It took me by surprise because it's been a while since that had happened" "I was thinking Kaz I'm-" "Let me finish. But you don't have to worry. It just caught me by surprise that's all. And I know you didn't do on purpose, I know you would never Wy. You're our observant demo expert. You know these things better than others" "okay. I'm still sorry, I'll make sure it never happens again" "okay. It felt weird though, like a funny weird, feeling that again"

This time Kaz did let out a brief chuckle. Wylan blushed. Had Kaz Brekker just chuckled? Had Wylan just made him laugh?

Wylan looked at him, wide-eyed and in shock as Kaz got up and hauled Wylan up. He then surprised him by giving Wylan a brief side hug. Wylan was going to die of happiness today. The reason? Kaz Brekker.

"You trust me?" "That's a very stupid question Wylan"

Wylan gave a him and Kaz nodded while sipping on his coffee. Obviously I do, he meant. Wylan smiled as he wiped his eyes.

He then carefully showed Kaz how to hold the brush properly so could paint with ease and soon they were painting in silence, except for the music of the birds chirping and the trees rustling outside. Wylan smeared strokes of Blue's and Grey's and then a ship appeared on his canvas, The Wraith in all her glory.

He watched Kaz sometimes, who had apparently gotten the hang of it. He looked so out of place yet at home. Kaz Brekker painting with Wylan in his room, surrounded by art supplies, Wylan would never forget this day.

Jesper had knocked on the door a bell ago but Kaz had refused to let him inside and Wylan left to greet him with a kiss

"Wylan Van Sunshine have you dumped me for Kaz?" Wylan slapped his arm "Of course not, we're just painting and Kaz, well doesn't want to be disturbed" "Ghezen's sake Kaz is painting?" "Yes, with me" "what did you do to him Wylan?" "Shut up, we'll be done in a while. Will you please wait for us in the dining room?" Wylan made puppy eyes and Jesper responded by kissing him briefly before he disappeared and Wylan was back to his canvas. It took him some time more to finish adding the details to The Wraith. Kaz was done before him and was watching him as usual which made Wylan nervous.

"you know Kaz? You make me nervous by staring like that while I paint?" "It's amusing to see the experts at work"

Wylan blushed again as Kaz cleaned up his desk and Wylan followed. Their paintings were put on the Easel to dry. Kaz's was an abstract things but it was beautiful nonetheless, a clash of blues and beige's and whites. It looked just like the sea. Wylan smiled as he put the canvases to dry.

Jesper was waiting for them in the dining room for lunch as they sat down. He was grinning at both of them.

"So Kaz, did you have fun painting? Wylan's face suggests you did" "Don't push it Jes" "Hah! That's means you did! I wi have to tell Inej that Kaz Brekker has found a new pasttime with Wylan Van Sunshine!"

Kaz threatened him with a knife but Jesper just laughed. They had lovely lunch and Jesper disappeared again to practice with his revolvers.

Kaz was leaving as Wylan handed him his hat again. Wylan saw the shirt peeking from under Kaz's coat but said nothing.

"See you Kaz" "I want to paint again Wy" "Really?" "yes really" "okay, whenever you want"

Kaz gave him a small smile again as he waved Wylan goodbye and left for the Slat again. He didn't forget to take the gift Wylan had made for him.

The next day when Wylan went to his office regarding work about the Council, he saw all six of the canvases promptly put on the mantle, besides one of his own paintings.

"They look good" was all Kaz said. Wylan's day was made.

[trassellynn]

Troubles

Written for @weeklygrishaprompts

Fandom: Six of Crows Pairings: Kanej, Wesper, Helnik  Prompt: “ If you're gonna sin, you might as well be original. “ Plot: Three moments where we see the Crows dealing with their troublemaker kids. In the first one, Wylan and Jesper are reprimanding (or, at least, trying to reprimand) their adoptove daughter, Lian, who made a little mess during a business meeting. In the second, Nina and Matthias' youngest daughter, Noëlle, decides to have an afternoon snack with waffles that were meant to be for someone else. In the third, Kaz and Inej's adoptive son, Adhyan, plays his father a prank.

Ao3 link HERE  

Part 1 Lian was silently sitting on her favorite armchair, biting her own lower lip, eyes to the floor. She was wearing a white bathrobe and she still smelled of tomato sauce. She knew she had crossed the line, this time. Wylan was standing in front of her, arms crossed. He looked at his twelve-year-old daughter for a while, then, he sighed: “Lian, dear, do you remember what we told you, yesterday?” “Yes,” she murmured. “You spent a week to organize today's lunch with those important people...” “And about your spy missions?” “I should have stopped them for twenty-four hours.” She avoided to look at Jesper, because she knew he was struggling to not laugh. Actually, the whole situation was very funny: her fathers and a group of rich, pompous merchants were discussing of a new, important business and, since it was a lovely day, Wylan decided to have lunch in the large terrace of Van Eck mansion. Lian, who loved spying on their guests, was listening on the roof, above their heads, pretending to be a Spider for the Dregs, but, when she tried to get off and enter home from the window below, she accidentally lost her grip and fell straight on the table, no, better, she fell straight into a huge bowl filled with stew.   The result was... well, easy to guess. “I'm... I'm sorry, Dads...” she said. Wylan caressed her long, black hair: “You could get seriously hurt, you know?” “I know...” The young man nodded, turning his head: “Jes?” The Fabrikator tried to relax his own features, approaching them: “We hope this... episode will serve as a teaching for you, honey, and... and...” He hid his face behind his hands, trying to repress a laugh: “For Aunt Eva's underwear, Mr Loomis' face is still stuck in my head! And the sauce on his glasses, I...” Lian bit her own tongue, but her father's laughter was contagious and, soon, the whole living room was filled with the sound of their laughs. Part 2 She was in troubles. Oh yes, she definitely was. She had been in troubles by the moment she stole the waffles plate, so, why not stealing her mum's toffee bag and the nut cream too? At least, she would have enjoyed a nice afternoon snack, before being caught. Hidden in the closet, Noëlle was about to take a bite at her fourth waffle, when the doors opened and the sudden light briefly hurt her green eyes. “Saints, Elle!” The eight-year-old blinked, looking at her mother's tall, glorious figure. She didn't even try to hide the nut cream and the half-emptied toffee bag, she just started to eat the waffle as fast as she could. Nina widened her eyes, taking her youngest child out of the closet. Behind her, Matthias, Aenya and Klaus were staring at the scene, half shocked and half amused. “What in the name of the Saints are you doing, Elle?” the woman said, kneeling in front of her daughter, her hands on the child's shoulders. “I'm eating,” the little, blonde girl replied, swallowing, her mouth covered in nut cream. “Those waffles were for Aunt Inej, who's coming to visit us! And... Saints, my toffees! Why didn't you just ask me to give you one?” “Because I didn't want just one toffee, mum.” Matthias hid his mouth behind his hand and ran out of the room, unable to stay serious. Nina raised her eyes to the ceiling, then, she took the waffle plate, the toffee bag and the nut cream and followed her husband. “I'm going to make some more waffles, now, but you're still in troubles, little girl.” “I know,” Noëlle replied, calmly. She could swear she saw a little smirk appearing on her mother's lips. Aenya crossed her arms, sighing, while Klaus sat before his little sister, frowning. “Elle, wasn't enough, stealing Aunt Inej's waffles? Why the toffees and the nut cream too?” The young girl shrugged: “Well... I can be scolded and punished just once, no?” Part 3 “Adhyan!” The little boy ran into the living room, hiding behind the sofa where his mother was sitting, with Little Rani on her lap. Inej shook her head: “Did you play again with Papa's documents, honey?” “No,” the little boy said, giggling. “I played Papa a prank.” Less than a moment later, Kaz appeared on the threshold, an eyebrow raised. “Adhyan, I know you're there. Come out.” The boy obeyed, a smirk on his lips. His sister let a shrill out, clapping her little hands. “Here I am, Papa,” the young Tidemaker said, pretending to be unaware. “Do you want to tell me anything?” Kaz took a few steps towards him: “Maybe you'd be so kind to explain me why was my cane hidden under your bed.” “I have no idea, Papa.” “You sure?” “Absolutely.” “I suppose it went there by itself, then.” Adhyan shrugged: “It's possible.” Dirtyhands share a quick glance with Inej, who was struggling to not laugh, then, he shook his head: “Not bad, my son. But you need to practice so much more, to be able to deceive the Bastard of the Barrel. If you want to sin, you have to be original.” “I know, I know. I'm a bit hungry, Papa, could you please take me a muffin?” Kaz frowned for a moment, then, he nodded, walking to the kitchen and giving a slight push to the almost closed door. And then... a loud splash. A bucket filled with water fell straight on Dirtyhands' head, wetting his hair, clothes and shoes. Inej's laughter filled the house, while the criminal turned to the young boy, who was staring at him with his big, brown eyes widened. For a moment, Adhyan thought he might have gone too far. Gathering all his dignity, Kaz straightened his back, cleared his throat and simply said: “Well. You're learning.”

[anarmorofwords]

Hi Ana! Did you finish Shadow and Bone? What did you think of it? Favourite bits or your peast favourites?

Xxxxxxxx

Hi darling 💕 Sorry for taking so long, I had a very busy weekend.

There's no short answer to that, so buckle up! (I'll still try to keep it concise, if you want me to elaborate on something lmk!)

I binge watched it and enjoyed it a lot, but after some consideration there are quite a few things I was dissapointed by or that I feel could have been done better. I'll start with them and move to what I loved later. My biggest issues:

(Spoilers incoming!!)

Alina glowing. (I'm sorry lol, but it looked so weird!)

Zoya. Listen, I adore this girl. She's one of my favourite characters ever. And she was done so dirty here - the actress just doesn't have that spark, it was never pointed out how powerful and respected (or desired!) she is, I hated that she threw herself at Mal and the Darkling, when book!Zoya always made a point of not doing that. Implying she used to sleep with the Darkling was so so unnecessary, and it changed their dynamic uncomfortably. Also she happily went on about visiting her family in Keramzin (it was said in RoW that she did the opposite), her reaction to the Novokribirsk wasn't powerful and convincing enough to me, basically no. Not to mention her being so gentle and defeated after the Fold. Like c'mon. She should have been FURIOUS. RAGING.

The Crows seemed infantilized and Kaz specifically was not ruthless enough. He gave up too easily, and didn't seem like the feared Dirtyhands at all.

Kanej. I actually loved many things about them (later on that), but I think they went too far with the development of their relationship. It's already painfully obvious how much he cares for her and so all their great scenes from SoC won't have much sense. Also if they showed Kaz being more indifferent and ruthless, it would be more impactful to see him starting to care for Inej later, and now it won't be that big of a deal.

Helnik storyline felt very out of place among the rest of the plot.

I don't really like what they did with Jesper - Kit is awesome, and had some great moments, but they wrote him as a cliche comic relief. Also please don't kill me, but I couldn't care less about the goat. I had that awful feeling that I've seen this "joke" so many times before, and also it got repetitive quickly.

The Conductor thing made the Fold problem look kinda stupid. Like c'mon, the country is losing soldiers and money on some stupid skiffs and here's a guy who just gets through it by train, no big deal. Also how did he build the railways there.

Now for the good parts!

David Kostyk and Genya Safin. David stole the show every time he appeared, Genya was absolutely brilliant, and their interactions had me screaming. I can't wait to see their relationship develop further. Also Genya physically fighting the Conductor, yass girl.

The visuals! Every scenery was incredible. Ketterdam's atmosphere, the palace (the Darkling's war room!!!), all the cities. Same goes for costumes. Keftas 👌

Helnik. I know what I said before, but while their storyline didn't fit into this season, it was wonderful. Danielle as Nina is absolutely brilliant, I adore her. Matthias was also fantastic (when he smiled!!! oh my) I loved their banter, and the fact that they included the "not natural" dialogue 👌

Kanej things I loved: Kaz saying there's no one like Inej, her killing to save him, the quiet respect and understanding between them.

Inej. That's it, she was perfect.

Freddy was also incredible, I just don't really agree with how they wrote Kaz.

The amplifier. I could barely look at it, hated the sight. But I think it highlighted the cruelty and price of the practice well.

Inej and Zoya fighting together!!!

Malina!!

Inej stabbing the Darkling was powerful.

Ivan and Fedyor. They were adorable and I fully expect them to casually mention they're husbands in the next season.

Waffles 🥺

Sorry for making this so long, I hope you don't mind 😂 How did you like it Rua? ^^°

[honeii-puff]

Okay so here's my take:

This doesn't necessarily mean that they didn't go to Ketterdam.

If they survived, I imagine that they'd both get jobs this time so they could get money faster and get somewhere to rent out at a boarding house.

As Kaz gets older (about 15), he would go to Ketterdam University to major in Business and bump into Jesper. Now remember, he doesn't carry all of the same traumas as Kaz Brekker, as this is Kaz Rietveld, so he and Jesper would get along *very* quickly. Kaz still knows the risk of putting money on the line, as of what happened to him and Jordie, so he talked Jesper out of going to gamble.

Now, Kaz goes back to the boarding house one night and ends up having a certain discussion with Jordie about a place called The Menagerie. Back in Lij, there were no brothels and pleasure houses, so the idea of the whole thing already screws them the wrong way. Kaz, when he was a bit younger (11-12), had days when he didn't work. so he taught himself how to pick locks in case he or Jordie got locked out of the boarding house one night, mainly so he could slip through a window. Slowly, one at a time, they (as well as Jesper; Brothels aren't very big in Novyi Zem either, so he was on board with this) sneak some of the girls out and onto a cargo ship to The Wandering Isle. One of those girls, is Inej Ghafa.

She decides to not get onto the cargo ship, wanting to be able to get back to Ravka, not The Wandering Isle.

Now, its a few months later, it's Jespers, and they're walking along the docks after having gotten a few drinks, when they see a kid that looks as if he was 12, to be crawling out of the harbor.

This is Wylan Van Eck, or, as he introduces himself, Wylan Hendriks.

Jordie automatically notices the family relation between Wylan and Jan, but says nothing, because, hey, there's probably a reason he left that out.

Jesper offers to let Wylan stay with him for a bit, as Inej was occupying the spare room in the apartment that Jordie and Kaz owned. Now, they were all in on the whole "escaping people from brothels."

A year or so later, Kaz breaks his leg falling off the roof of The Anvil while helping some boys escape from there.

And a year after that, while all of them were 16-17 (21 for Jordie), they move onto The White Rose. The first room they find themselves in belongs to a girl willingly working there to get money while waiting for a trial to get her lover out of Hellgate.

This is where we meet Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar.

Now, they had been breaking kids out of brothels for *years* now, but that was nothing compared to trying to break into Hellgate.

With his career, Jordie was one of the right-hands to a man on the Merchant Council, and decided to pull some strings, write a forgery or two, and what do you know? Matthias Helvar is released from Hellgate.

And then they all get waffles.

@lilisouless what do ya think?

I wanna know what would've happened if Jordie didn't die? Would Kaz still have met the crows- in different circumstances? Would Inej have of been freed from the menagerie?

What do u think would've happened ?

[ana-annotated]

128 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT CROOKED KINGDOM (WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!) Part 1

1. It has WYLAN’S POV

2. Jesper is one of his biggest reasons for committing to being a member of the Dregs and he knows it

3. Kaz breaks into the house of a wealthy and probably dangerous lawyer in the middle of the night but first things first, he’s gotta give the guard dogs belly rubs before robbing their owner.

4. Nina is still facing the consequences of ingesting parem and yet here she is undercover, charming this lawyer out of his whistle.

5. Wylan’s dark side just gets darker

6. Kaz having a rare soft moment and telling Wylan where his mother is buried cause he knows what it’s like to lose someone suddenly and not get to say goodbye

7. Matthias trying to understand Kaz’s sleight of hand and still failing to see how he does it

8. Matthias wishing Wylan or Kuwei would wear a hat so he could tell them apart

9. Wylan blushing at Jesper’s touch

10. Wylan Van Sunshine

11. Leave my grandmother out of this

12. Jesper’s dad is so innocent and precious and must be protected at all costs

13. Are you all students? Of a sort

14. Matthias has a little sister

15. Matthias comforting Alys cause she reminds him of his mother when she was pregnant

16. Nina whining over Matthias sacrificing her biscuits to keep Alys quiet

17. Matthias jealous of Jesper making Nina smile

18. Inej laughing in Van Eck’s face for thinking he outwitted Kaz

19. Nina expecting Matthias to rub her feet from now on whenever she wants him to

20. Matthias longing for a domestic life with Nina

21. Nina longing for the comfort of family relationships like the one Jesper has with his father

22. Jesper as a kid

23. Jesper’s mom was the sweetest most badass person ever and taught him everything he knows at such a young age

24. The WYLAN’S MOM CURVEBALL WHO THE HECK DOES THAT TO A PERSON MY POOR BABY HOW DARE JAN DO THAT TO HIM AND HER?!

25. Wylan’s motivation to get revenge

26. Kaz giving Wylan a pep talk about strength when facing a weakness

27. Matthias’s relationship with his wolf

28. Matthias pretending to be a happy go lucky Fjerdan

29. Nina having to explain every single dirty joke to him and convince him they’re not insults

30. Nina and Matthias’s first kiss being straight out of a Disney movie 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

31. Everyone points guns at each other in Ketterdam it’s basically a handshake

32. Matthias going into full military general mode and leads a two-man Grisha army in a victorious mini war against the Dime Lions

33. Kaz literally CRASHING Van Eck’s dinner party

34. Dunyasha: “I am Dunyasha, a white human blade, a ruthless assassin princess, and my sole purpose is destroying you. Prepare to feel my ninja stars.”

Inej: “New phone who dis?”

35. Colm Fahey adopting his teen gang member son’s five gang member friends

36. Nina finally getting her waffles

37. Only to realize Matthias Helvar is possible better than waffles (just barely, but still)

38. Matthias believing waffles is Nina’s one true love instead of him

39. What’s new? Nm, Nina can raise the dead to do her bidding, Inej plummeted 20 stories and nearly died at the ninja stars of some assassin chick with a huge ego, and there’s a huge gaping hole in Jan Van Eck’s dining room ceiling. Hbu? Who wants waffles?

40. They’re all crazy but Wylan realizes there’s nobody he’d rather have by his side cause the Dregs are HIS CREW

41. Kaz Ankle Breaker Brekker sliding past a pair of Van Eck’s guards and knocking them off their feet at once with his cane

42. The Crows trying to outdo each other with the highest rewards offered for their execution or capture.

43. Kaz winning that contest in a landslide

44. Nina flipping off their Wanted posters

45. Nina changing out of her Fjerdan costume with Matthias’s “help.”

46. Jesper and Kuwei’s haunting the Dime Lions

47. Little Inej stopping hearts and scaring her family to death on the high wire but wanting to keep going back on no matter what

48. Inej only falling when a net is underneath her

49. Wylan’s first impression of Jesper

50. Jesper’s flair for neon fashion

51. “Mother, father pay the rent! I can’t my dear the money’s spent!”

52. “On a dare I ate a literal trough full of waffles doused in apple syrup and almost went back for seconds.”

53. Kaz treating Jesper like a brother, even yelling at him and calling him Jordie because he’s so protective of Jesper and wants to keep him from making a mistake too big because of his gambling addiction. Seeing Jesper get carried away with his best worries him and he just wants him to be smart and not make the same costly mistakes Jordie did.

54. Kaz and Jesper arguing like brothers and then proceeding to fight like brothers while Inej, Nina, and Matthias sit around bored, waiting for them to snap out of it cause they’re definitely not going to kill each other with their bare hands, and there are bigger things to worry about.

55. Jesper’s dad breaking up the fight with a single threat

56. Jesper Llewelyn Fahey

57. I KISSED THE WRONG BOY

58. Inej and Jesper’s friendship

59. Matthias being very okay with PDA with Nina

60. Colm’s presence making the Dregs feel like kids worn out from a rowdy birthday party

61. Kuwei being a straight up savage and lying about his language barrier

62. KANEJ WOUND BANDAGING SCENE DESTROYED ME EVERYTHING ABOUT IT I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS NOR DID I EXPECT HIM TO EVEN GET HALF AS CLOSE TO HER AS HE DID

63. Kaz trying so so hard to push away all memories of his trauma to be in the moment and touch Inej and just show her how much she means to him

64. She followed him anyway

65. Kaz reclaiming his rightfully EARNED Dregs throne

66. Inej watching him kick out Haskell and kick traitor Dregs ass with pride

67. “I suggest a cane”

68. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Same thing that’s always wrong with him, he’s Kaz Brekker.”

66. Nina constantly trying to get Kaz to warm up a little, whether by joining a group hug or letting someone help bandage him up post-fight for his life

67. Colm willing to do anything to help the gang without question

68. Wylan’s cute anger at Jesper for mistaking Kuwei for him (let’s be real tho he was pretty mad at himself too for not being more upfront with his feelings since he had no Tailor to fix him)

69. Wylan getting mad at Nina for failing to mention she found a refugee Tailor that could change him back

70. Colm feeding into Nina’s waffle/food in general addiction

71. The politics in the story are so intricate and it just continues to be built upon in Crooked Kingdom. It’s detailed enough that honestly, Leigh could probably write a whole Grishaverse history textbook. It’s pretty interesting to read from everything we get from the Dregs discussing their home nations, their histories, traditions, and relations with other countries. Leigh put in so much effort to build not just an authentic country in Kerch, but an entire alternate world. Really fun to read about.

72. Wylan’s offense for Jesper not being able to tell him and Kuwei apart in that moment

73. Jesper stealing a portrait Wylan’s mother painted of him to help them reconnect once Wylan’s features are returned

74. “I told you, I like your stupid face.”

75. Jesper helping Genya tailor Wylan’s “stupid” face because he remembers it quite well

76. Jesper nearly losing it when he returns to find the boy he had fallen for at first sight has returned to his original appearance

77. JESPER KISSING THE RIGHT BOY

78. “I really hope we don’t die”

79. Colm giving an award worthy performance in front of Van Eck to rope him and the Council into falling for Kuwei’s fake indenture auction

80. Nina’s underlining threat to Van Eck for messing with Kaz, only a fool would try to scheme against Brekker

81. Colm telling Wylan that he’d be good for Jesper ☺️

82. Wylan taking an actual beating from other Dregs to make Jan Van Eck believe the Dime Lions were going to kill his son for him

83. Wylan’s on point acting making everybody in the chapel believe his father was a conniving scumbag all along

84. THE FACT THAT JESPER CAN ACTUALLY USE HIS POWERS TO AIM HIS BULLETS

85. Kaz lying like nobody’s business to the Merchant Council and everyone bidding on Kuwei to throw Van Eck under the bus

86. Kaz freaking BLOWING UP THE MENAGERIE IF THAT’S NOT A DECLARATION OF HIS LOVE TO INEJ IDK WHAT IS

87. Kaz and Inej hand holding

88. Nina pretending to be pregnant

89. Matthias believing Kaz could fake a birth

90. Genya teaming up with Kaz and Nina to fake Kuwei’s death

91. I haven’t even read the Shadow and Bone trilogy yet but I love King Nikolai and his alter ego and I can’t wait to read more of him in the series and in King of Scars!!!!!

[dying-tragedy-blog]

Modern au six of crows

Just some hcs about the dregs gang in modern times I guess

Kaz Brekker -black coffee -lock pick -honestly like the rest of them will Come in and he’ll already be inside -I’ve been waiting for you -magician -pick pockets his “allies” all the time -gloves? Yes -has a slight fear of touch -it used to be really bad but he’s Overcoming it -cane? Yes -he fell out of a tree when he was little and broke his leg so he uses his cane -plus It’s fun to hit people with - has the dregs tattoo because he loves crows and he’s an extra little shit who’s an edgelord -he’s in fights like all the time -they don’t call him dirtyhands for Nothing -so smart -has social media but only posts cryptic aesthetic shots or out of context remarks -uses his talent for evil mostly -his teachers still love him tho???? -very fascinated in psychology -and business - b o o k s -mostly crime but he’s such a closet Nerd. -you can pry Harry Potter from his Cold dead hands -hacker -loves the stars -and the moon -and Inej -has to put up with the constant -points to random crow -kaz it’s u -actually the originator of #getbrekked -will never admit it -all started when Jesper pranked him -covered every inch of his room with post stick notes. It blew up on YouTube -well the is kaz Fucking brekker -was he going to stand for that -no. -so he sets up his own YouTube account -films his first video -his revenge -he tinfoils all of jespers room. Even the socks. -the video blows up he gets tons of subscribers and his revenge -but most important from this one comment. From one account that has never been active since the tag -#getbrekked -was born. Inej Ghafa -ultimate secret keeper -knows everything tbh -the one who can just turn up out of nowhere?? -where did you come from -this place called outside -instagram queen -it’s usually loads of aesthetic shots and sunrises but every now and again there’ll be a video of her shouting parkour and chasing after a squirrel -loves to dance -jackets -hats -earrings -the best at hide and seek -only uses Snapchat for blackmail -Kaz?? Sleeping??? S n a p -keeps a photo book you can fite me on this -poems -cats -her parents took her to the circus when she was little and she fell in love with the tightrope and the acrobats -so she became great at it -really good -sometimes she does it to scare kaz -he pretends it doesn’t work but sometimes he’s so freaked out Like how are you bending your body like that??? Wtf???? -doesn’t swear -the original fricketyfrack -interested in culture history language and photography -aspiring poet -social justice - plans to start a movement when she’s old enough -tea over coffee -marshmallows

Nina Zenik -one word: queen - her and Matthias are everyone’s otp - social justice in high heels - every social media - YouTube? You bet ya - fashion hauls make up tutorials and The ever growing list of videos Featuring Matthias - likes indie music would die for Ed Sheeran - really interested in languages and fashion - she wants amazing designs to stay the same in plus sized clothes -high heels - cannot cook - at all - blew up a microwave trying to Warm up leftovers - hot chocolate and blankets - binge watching tv -somehow knows everyone??? - hey Nina - hey zoya - who’s she - oh just somebody - smart but will never revise - why revise when I can eat - grades Nina - waffles matty - red - once tried to start a band - can speak three languages Jesper Fahey - ADHD? I’m gonna say ADHD - danced but doesn’t do it seriously - mostly does it to embarrass Wylan - Jesper please - what? My hips don’t like wy - listens to shakira - huge gamer - debates - politics - he’s smart but he never tries. Prefers to argue about homework then do it - finger guns - with sound affects - 80s music - and you better believe that he once entered the classroom singing all star - constantly flirting with Wylan - freakishly good aim - hey kaz, do you bet I can throw this pencil in ninas bun from here - do it - worst and best taste in fashion simultaneously - one day it’s great. Shorts and t shirts, hats and then the next it’s lime green checkered pants. - red cowboy boots - farmer sayings - loves it when Kaz gets them - p r a n k s t e r - youtube Chanel is literally just pranks but he has so many subscribers - always puts things on the highest shelf Wylan van Eck - Wylan van sunshine or Wylan van rekt there’s no In between. - usually quite sweet and innocent but every one Knows he’s anything but. Eveynow and again these comments just slip out like - yeah that’s not the only thing Kaz wishes he could be doing - r u n - was bullied pretty bad for his dyslexia but now he just doesn’t really care??? - I’ll just draw my bullied drowning - a r t I s t - his art teacher adores him - only has tumblr to post his art work - really big on tumblr - dog person - massive nerd - superheroes?? Sign me up - amazing at chemistry and maths - puns - so many puns - you think you can beat me at mariokart? I was a lonely kid with no friends and too much free time. You will never beat me at Mario kart - fuck - watch your fucking language Wylan - sweaters - always covered in ink??? Kuwei yul bo - the odd one - he’s always there but he’s always not - the child of the group - he’s basically the weird thought you have at 4 am - not innocent - not at all - he kinda just sits back and observes - but that means he knows everything - he and Inej share so many looks - he’s a nerd in every imaginable level - him and Wylan fight over things all the time but they’re bros - has memorised the entire periodic table song - somehow has kissed more people than both Nina and Jesper - it’s 3 am and there’s a murmuring voice in the darkness - this is the periodic table nobl- - shut u p - chemistry and physics - can actually cook - rly close to matty and Nina - that one kid who purposely makes things explode - fire? FIRE - rlly bad at comebacks sometimes he just walks away

Matthias helvar - sports fan - all sports - doesn’t actually play them that much? He mostly just hits the gym - long hair - very philosophical - the mum friend - when I’m the voice of reason you know something’s wrong - can cook really well - always baking for Nina - gives the best piggybacks - everything looks so high from up here - Wylan loves it - tattoos - so many deep meaningful - he can’t go a day without saying they’re all horrible - he’s always searching for the truth - can tolerate really cold temperatures - plants - the sea - stands up for what he thinks is right - is actually how he met the crows - he was beating up some kids who were mocking someone with dyslexia - so he bears them up and when he rounds the corner guess who’s there - Kaz Fucking brekker - and so the induction starts

[megsblackfirewrites]

An Alpha Omega: Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“I’m home!” Jack shouted as he walked through the front door of the house. “Dad, you’re going to make me put on ten pounds! That smells so good!”

“Not Dad cooking,” Sarah called.

“Sarah, who’s side are you on?” Jack demanded as he dropped his dufflebag on the ground and walked into the kitchen. “Because I thought you loved me!”

Sarah smirked as she poured batter into a glass baking dish. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a bun, hiding the gray from sight. Her brown eyes were as bright as ever and she probably already knew how much laundry he needed to do just by looking at him. She placed the dish in the oven before depositing the empty mixing bowl in the sink.

“Your father’s out doing repairs on the tractor,” she said. “Left me to greet my favourite baby.”

“Aw, Mom,” he teased as he hugged her tightly. “Missed you.”

He buried his nose into her hair, breathing in her scent. She was still using that rose-scented shampoo that she’d been using as long as he could remember. Underneath it was the smell of strawberries; deodorant, no doubt; and cream. She kissed his cheek before pulling away.

“So, how’s school been?” she asked. “John said you met someone?”

“That’s complicated,” he sighed as he sat down at the table. “We’re…just friends at the moment.”

“Better start than nothing,” she smiled as she sat down opposite him. “Do you like him?”

Jack smiled as he heard the door open. Saved by the dad. He didn’t have to explain the situation with Gabriel to her. Not now, at least. Not until he got John’s opinion on everything. An Alpha knew better than anyone if another Alpha was worth giving a second chance.

“Dad! Your girlfriend’s trying to kill me with sweets!” Jack called.

“She’s been doing that since you were small; this is hardly a new development,” John replied as he walked into the room. “You look good.”

Jack turned to look at him and froze. He scented the air and frowned. That was a rather sour smell he wasn’t used to. It was like a heat scent but like the individual going through heat was incredibly ill at the same time. It was a very unpleasant smell.

“Are you…in heat?” he demanded.

“Sort of,” John shrugged. “Menopause, more like.”

“Joy,” Jack wrinkled his nose. “You smell…sort of sick.”

“I feel sick,” John agreed.

“And yet you are out playing with your tractor,” Sarah sighed.

“I was fixing it, not playing with it,” John shook his head. “Now, enough brow-beating, Sarah. Jack, living room. I want to hear about how school’s been since I left.”

Jack chuckled as he followed his father into the living room. They flopped onto the couch and curled up together, pressing their foreheads against each other as they started talking. It might have only been a few weeks, but that was more than long enough for both of them now that they had a real pack forming.

“Home sweet home,” Vanessa sighed as she dropped her bags at the front door. “Hey! Where’s the welcomin�� committee?”

Jesse came racing out of the kitchen and tackled her, squeezing her tightly. She hugged him back, nuzzling her face into his shaggy brown hair. He whimpered softly against her chest before dragging her into the kitchen where Joel was piping icing onto cupcakes.

“Holy shit,” she grinned as she sat down. “We’re getting pumpkin cupcakes?”

“Found a neat recipe online,” Joel smirked as he worked. “Figured my little darlin’s would love it.”

“You got that right,” Vanessa licked her lips. “Tom making it home?”

“No; there’s a business meeting that he has to attend,” Joel replied as he dropped some chocolate shavings into the icing. “But he promises to be here for Christmas.”

“He’d better,” Vanessa smiled before she set her arms on the table and watched her father work. “Missed this.”

“You saw me a few weeks ago,” Joel smiled.

“Not just you and Jesse,” she said. “This. This home. This city. This atmosphere. I belong here.”

“You belong anywhere you put yer mind to it,” Joel said as he put his piping tube aside. “Ain’t nothin’ special about here or Santa Fe. It’s all you, my girl.”

“Aw, you make me feel so loved,” she teased before she leaned back in her seat. “I’m just glad that I got to come home. Been…claustrophobic at school.”

“That big Alpha still guardin’ ya?” Joel asked.

Vanessa nodded. It had been hard to convince Reinhardt that he didn’t need to follow her home. It would have been awkward for him to be in a family celebration when he didn’t know who anyone was. And besides, he had his own family to go home to. She wasn’t about to force him to stay with her when his daughter was eagerly waiting for him on Turkey Day.

“Seems like a good guy; glad he got assigned to ya,” Joel smiled. “Everyone needs that Alpha friend to chase the other ones off when they’re being dipshits.”

Jesse nodded happily before he glanced at her. “Want to go for a walk?” he asked.

“When’s supper?” Vanessa asked.

“Two hours,” Joel smirked. “Go have fun. There’ll be food when you get back.”

Vanessa nodded as she got to her feet and followed Jesse to the door. He grabbed Joel’s hat off the rack and plopped it over his head, grinning as Vanessa grabbed her own. They headed down the street, Jesse all but prancing beside her as he excitedly told her about all the fun he’d had in school.

“And then Conan beat the shit out of Matthias,” he cackled. “I’ve never seen so much blood!”

“You shouldn’t be excited about that, pup,” she teased. “I almost have to worry about you.”

“Like you weren’t excited about blood and fights,” Jesse skipped along before he hopped up onto a bench. “You were a beast in high school!”

“I was an asshole,” Vanessa chuckled. “There’s a difference. But I had to be. You don’t.”

“I wish you had been born a Beta like me,” Jesse frowned. “You didn’t deserve to suffer.”

Vanessa shrugged. “Made me who I am,” she said. “Can’t say I’m mad about that.”

He sighed and walked beside her, stuffing his hands into his pockets. She heard people shouting at them, but she ignored them, wrapping her arm around Jesse’s shoulder. They stopped at a set of lights and Jesse rapid-fire pressed the button trying to get the light to change colour faster. It didn’t work, but Jesse liked keeping busy when waiting.

“Hey! Vanessa McCree! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Vanessa turned her head to regard the man grinning at her and snorted. “Last time I checked, you hated me for breaking your nose, Morgan,” she said coldly.

Morgan rubbed his neck as he followed them across the crosswalk. “Well, I mean, you broke my nose,” he said.

“And you grabbed my ass and humped it,” she said.

“Asshole,” Jesse growled.

“I was young,” Morgan shrugged. “And I mean, you got your revenge, right?”

She rolled her eyes as she kept walking. Yes, revenge. By breaking his nose. It was totally revenge; just like a dog got revenge for someone pulling their tail by biting the offender. Totally revenge.

“So, you’re still unclaimed,” Morgan commented after a few moments.

“Oh good, your nose still works,” Vanessa rolled her eyes again before coming to a stop outside the ice cream shop and leaning on the window.

She flashed the owner a two finger salute and he waved excitedly. The old Beta, Mr. Monroe, was a charming man and loved giving away free samples of the newest flavour to little kids. He was a little judgemental with new teenagers that walked into his store, but that was only because they were the ones that usually tried to steal something off the front counter. Vanessa had done it once as a joke and he’d whacked her knuckles with his ice cream scoop when he figured it out. He’d also laughed about it because she’d managed to do it right in front of him and he hadn’t realized it until she wagged the bobble head in front of his face.

“Ah, little Miss McCree,” Monroe laughed as he hobbled outside. “You’ve grown since I last saw you! How’s school?”

“Going as well as can be expected,” she replied. “Alpha-dominant course and all.”

“I’m sure you’re leading the class in grades,” Monroe snorted. “And keeping them on their toes.”

“It’s a little complicated at the moment, but I’m definitely not rollin’ over and exposing my throat to them,” she laughed.

“Yes, I heard about that,” Monroe nodded to Jesse. “You okay?”

“Little shaken, but I’ll get over it. I’m a big girl,” she reassured him.

“Nothing about being a big girl, Vanessa, my dear,” he frowned. “But I’m sure Joel’ll take care of that. Here, let me get you the ‘Unicorn Explosion’ we got in last week. Chocolate sauce and cherries?”

“Yes, please,” she grinned. “And the waffle cone, please.”

“Of course!” he laughed. “Coming right up.”

He vanished back into his store and Morgan cleared his throat. Vanessa flipped him off as she waited; she didn’t feel like talking to him just yet. Jesse flipped Morgan off as well, sticking his nose in the air to try to emulate his big sister. Vanessa still thought that was the cutest thing Jesse had ever done. Monroe returned with two cones and Jesse fished out the five dollars for both. Monroe playfully scolded them for the payment, but they both knew that it would go into the tip jar that got sent to the local Omega shelter.

“You two take care now,” he said. “And don’t you be harassing my favourite customers, sir,” he added to Morgan, glaring at him over the rim of his spectacles.

He headed back inside and Vanessa started licking at the vanilla ice cream with rainbow explosions. Morgan glared after him before shooting her a look.

“All his kids were Omegas, right?” he asked.

“Does it matter?” Vanessa asked as she dug her teeth into the top of the ice cream and bit off a chunk covered in sauce and cherries. “He’s a kind man. Very generous, self-sacrificin’, and would fight anyone that tried to cause harm to his customers.”

“So why don’t you let him mark you?” Morgan sneered.

“God, you are such an ass,” she rolled her eyes. “Maybe I don’t want to be marked, asshole; you ever think of that? Or is that too complicated an idea for your hormone-addled brain to comprehend?”

“You’re an Omega,” Morgan snapped.

“Again, glad to see your nose still works,” she replied.

“You’re supposed to want to be marked,” he growled.

She flipped him off as she pushed the ice cream around in her mouth to help it melt. “I’m supposed to want the strongest available Alpha to mark me,” she replied. “Which means you would have to grow a spine and actually fight someone for me. But you won’t because yer a coward that just hopes an Omega will fall at yer feet beggin’ ya to knot them.” She handed her cone off to Jesse and stepped forward.

She grabbed Morgan by the front of his shirt and hauled him to her face. She bared her teeth at him, watching his eyes grow wide in fear. Idiot had the nerve to call himself an Alpha when he was nothing more than a belly-crawling Omega that got incredibly lucky with the birthing lottery.

“You ain’t worth the dirt on my boots,” she growled. “So get yer ass outta my sight before I show you how an Omega treats an unworthy Alpha. Here’s a hint; you don’t hear about ‘em fer a reason.”

She released him with a shove, watching the man flee as fast as he could. She growled after him as she accepted her cone from Jesse. She licked it slowly to calm herself down as Jesse grinned after Morgan.

“I think he pissed himself,” he cackled. “What a loser!”

“Jesse,” she scolded playfully. “That’s not how we talk about an Alpha that just got his world-view flipped on its head. Come on. We still got a while before we gotta be home.”

Jesse trotted beside her, happily devouring his cone as it melted in the Santa Fe heat. He glanced at her now and then, but he didn’t say anything until they reached their hour mark.

“Van, do you want an Alpha?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Never really did. But, I mean, it’d be nice to have a partner, you know? Someone I can depend on to watch my back and care for me at my worst. And someone I can love unconditionally and care for at their worst. Maybe I’m just too much of a romantic.”

“I hope you find someone like that,” Jesse smiled up at her. “Because you deserve it. Yer the best, Van, and you deserve nothin’ less than the best.”

Vanessa smirked as she offered the bottom of her ice cream cone to her brother. He happily stuffed the chocolate filled end into his mouth and hugged her tightly. She returned the hug, holding her gangly little brother close. He was so sweet; she hoped he found someone that appreciated it.

Gabriel hadn’t been in the door five minutes before he was surrounded by his sisters and dragged into the kitchen. He was forced to sit at the island and they sat opposite him, all three sets of brown eyes narrowed. He let out a long-suffering sigh as his sisters growled.

“We made up,” he said. “We’re just friends.”

“You fucked up big,” Sombra growled.

“You’re lucky he even talked to you after the stunt you pulled,” Alejandra agreed.

“I can’t believe…,” Maria started to growl before Mama appeared behind them.

“I told you to leave your brother alone,” she scolded them. “He made a mistake and he’s dealing with the consequences. Gabi, m’ijo, you look exhausted.”

“Long trip,” he shrugged. “I could go for a nap.”

“Then go rest, Gabi,” she smiled.

Gabriel chuckled as he got to his feet. He knew a dismissal when he heard one. He hadn’t even gotten upstairs before he heard his mother scolding his sisters for ganging up on him.

“As if he needs his sisters beating up on him as well! Honestly, you’d think you were a pack of Omegas the way you three go on. Leave the poor boy alone.”

Gabriel sank down onto his bed and sighed heavily. He certainly felt like an Omega at the moment. He knew he was at the bottom of the food chain when it came to his sisters, but the fact that they’d felt the need to gang up on him when he wasn’t even through the door stung. Yes, he’d screwed up with Jack and he’d fessed up to it. It wasn’t their place to come after him for anything.

He pulled his cellphone out and scrolled over to Jack’s number. ‘You get home okay?’ he asked.

‘Yah,’ Jack answered after a few minutes. ‘Sorry if something is spelled wrong. Dad’s arm’s in my face.’

‘Cuddle time?’

‘Yus.’ Three seconds later. ‘Yes.’

Gabriel smiled. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to it. Say hi to him for me.’

‘I will. You have fun with your family too.’

‘Three sisters; I’m already low dog on totem pole,’ he texted back.

Jack sent a laughing face back and Gabriel set his phone on the nightstand. He let out another long sigh as he stared up at the ceiling. He was glad that Jack was in a good mood. He deserved it after the shit Gabriel had put him through. He really hoped that Jack did forgive him for his stupidity and that he could earn his trust once more. The thought of not having Jack in his life was depressing; he didn’t want to think about it.

So, instead, he closed his eyes and let himself drift off to sleep. He’d worry about things when he woke up and had a clearer mind.

[trassellynn]

An escape... from his own flat

Written for @weeklygrishaprompts Fandom: Six of Crows Pairings: Kaz Brekker/Inej Ghafa, Nina Zenik/Matthias Helvar, mentioned Jesper Fahey/Wylan Van Eck Main Characters: Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Nina Zenik, Matthias Helvar, Kuwei Yul-Bo (I apologise, in this fic Wylan is only mentioned 😔) Warnings: Mention of blood and injuries. Prompt: “You are the worst patient I have ever seen”. Plot:  Kaz is recovering from a bullet wound, but he doesn't want to miss an important business meeting, so he comes up with a plan to evade his friends' surveillance. (Set about two years after Crooked Kingdom). You can find on Ao3 HERE. 

Kaz couldn't believe it. He had been waiting for that meeting for weeks, it represented a huge opportunity for his business, and now he risked to lose it because of... what? A ridiculous bullet wound? He was sitting in bed, arms crossed, a disappointed expression on his face. It was so unfair, so unfair... “You look like a child who has been scolded,” Inej said, a smirk on her lips. “Come on, it's not the end of the world, the date of the meeting can be changed.” “It's not professional to ask for it!” Kaz protested. “Please, Inej... it will be just for a few hours, tonight, and the place is not far from here! And the injured leg is the lame one, I am used to walk with it!” “You're not used to walk with a bullet wound that almost killed you,” the young woman replied. “Kaz, if Helèna wasn't in West Stave, that night, you would have bled to death. You heard what she said: you need to rest. Now, I'm going to be busy until tomorrow, but the guys will be here for you and Matthias. Don't you dare to do anything stupid.” He grunted, but he still placed a quick kiss on her lips when she approached her face to his. “See you tomorrow.” “See you tomorrow...” Once she walked away, Kaz immediately started to think to a plan. “Wylan and Jes' turn starts now, then, Wylan will leave at 2 pm. Kuwei will arrive at 3 pm, but I bet Jes will stay for at least thirty minutes more, to make sure I won't try to escape... Kuwei will stay until 6 pm, then Nina will come for dinner time... we'll be alone with her until midnight...” The meeting was going to start at half past ten pm. He needed Nina to be distracted for at least ten minutes, giving him enough time to reach the place... A grin curled his lips: he knew what to do. He pretended to be grumpy and annoyed during Wylan and Jesper's turn, often insisting on the importance of the meeting and the atrocious injustice of the whole situation. He couldn't risk to look calm, his friends would have immediately become suspicious. Well, more suspicious. At half past three, during Kuwei's turn, the plan started. Kaz grabbed his cane and he cautiously limped out of his bedroom, his feet only covered by a pair of soft socks. The bullet wound on his thigh sometimes hurt, but it wasn't too bad, he was feeling much  better than the day before. He took a peek inside the room where Matthias was resting: during the fight against Count Lucien's minions, after Kaz was shot, the Fjerdan immediately ran to protect him and ended up with with a dislocated shoulder and a stab on his left side, not bad enough to kill him, but still able to keep him in bed for days. In that moment, he seemed to be peacefully asleep, so Kaz walked away as silent as possible, reaching the end of the small aisle. “Where are you going, Demjin?” asked a rough voice from the bedroom. Dirtyhands froze at his place, clearing his throat: “Kitchen. I'm hungry. Do... you want anything?” After a moment, Matthias simply replied: “I'm fine.” “Okay.” Kaz walked into the living room with the most innocent smile on: Kuwei was sitting on the sofa, studying for his new project. He raised his eyes from the chemistry book and gave the older boy a suspicious glance: “What are you doing?” Kaz widened his smile so much that the muscles of his face hurt. “I'm hungry, I'm going to prepare a little snack. Would you like... some waffles?” The Inferni studied him for a while, then he sighed: “Well, since you asked, yes, bring me a waffle with vanilla cream, please.” “As you wish.” “What about your leg?” Kaz limped to the kitchen, struggling to hide his excessive zeal: “Not a problem. I can make the waffles while sitting.” The plan was working. Kaz was feeling very optimistic, while collecting the ingredients and tools on the table. He took a peek through the window and, as he expected, Jesper was still outside, on the opposite side of the road, talking to Anika. When he noticed him, the Fabrikator smiled and waved his hand, a nice way to tell: “I'm still here, don't you dare to do whatever you have in mind!” Kaz waved back, putting a fake smile on. “Don't worry, Jes,” he thought, turning his smile into an evil grin “I don't want to escape now.” The pendulum clock in the living room tolled ten times. Kaz limped to the kitchen, pretending to be sleepy, and, when Nina, who was making some tea, looked at him with a wary glance, he yawned. “What are you doing, Kaz?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Mind you, I have no patience, tonight.” She looked very tired, her hair were tied up in a messy ponytail, her bare feet were visibly swollen and she was trying to support her huge, heavy baby bump with a hand. Kaz showed his palms, displaying pacific intentions: “It just came to my mind that Kuwei made a surprise for you, this afternoon. He asked me to tell you after dinner, but I forgot it. You can find it in the oven. Oh, wait...” He bent down, paying attention not to stress the injured leg, and he brought a magnificent plate of waffles out of the oven. Nina's eyes shone: “Kuwei did this for me?” “All for you. Waffles with chocolate chips. And look, he also made some caramelized apple slices!” The beautiful Grisha's attitude immediately changed. She looked like a child in a toy shop. “He's so sweet! I should give him a huge hug tomorrow!” “Yes, you should,” Kaz replied, seraphic. “Oh, here you are, some chocolate syrup and vanilla cream... if I may... I'll go bak to bed, I'm so sleepy...” Nina barely listened to him, she was too focused on her delicious post-dinner snack. For a moment, Kaz heard Inej's voice in his head, reprimanding him because it was very mean to deceive a pregnant girl like that. But there was not time for remorse: the meeting was about to start. He placed some pillows beneath the blankets, giving them a rough human shape, then, he wrapped a long rope around his waist and he silently opened the window... The meeting place was at the Blue Lavender, an elegant cafe near to the Emerald Palace. Kaz walked down secondary alleys, a satisfied grin on his usually plain lips: he did it. He managed to escape from the flat and was closer and closer to his goal. “Not a big surprise,” he thought. “I am Kaz Brekker. I managed to enter the Ice Court and come out of there. No one can stop m-...” A sudden weight on his shoulders made him wince, two thin legs wrapped around his waist. Then, a gloved hand covered his mouth. “What a surprise,” a familiar voice said. “Kaz is doing something stupid.” “Inej...” he whispered, once she removed her hand from his mouth. “What... what are you doing here?” The girl jumped down from his back, catching his wrist: “I knew we couldn't trust you. I knew you would have tried to take part to the meeting, disobeying the doctor's order.” “That meeting is so important, Inej!” he protested. “Please, let me...” “The meeting has been postponed, you idiot,” said another familiar voice. “Mr Rackham has a fever, he has just sent his son to the Slat to tell us. He will decide another date the next week.” “Jes...” Kaz grunted. “Why didn't you tell me before?” The sharpshooter pretended to ponder about it: “Uhm, let me think... maybe because, when I went to your flat, you weren't there. And I think you need to know Nina is furious.” “And she's right,” Inej echoed. “You have been horrible to her.” “Well, if she's so mad, maybe I should wait, before going back to the flat,” Dirtyhands replied. “Maybe, I can go to visit Mr Rackham, and...” A sudden pang of pain made him groan. The injured leg was finally answering to the stress of that day. “Saints, Kaz,” Inej sighed, shaking her head. “You're the worst patient I have ever seen. Get ready to be insulted not only by Nina, but by Helèna too.” “At least, Helèna won't raise an army of dead against me...” he commented. “Well, I hope my leg won't give us too many troubles, it will be ten minutes from here to the flat...” “Oh, don't worry about it,” Jesper said, with a cunning grin on his lips. Before he could protest, Kaz found himself on his friend's back, his legs around his waist, his arms on his shoulders. “Jes! What the fu...” “Shut up. You've lost your right to protest, you shameful liar!” The criminal opened his mouth to reply, but, then, he obeyed. He had to admit himself that, for once, he had lost a game.

[trassellynn]

Post series Wylan comforting Jesper during his bouts of restlessness/anxiety?

Hi Anon! Here we are, hope you’ll like it! WRITING TO FEEL BETTER  When he entered the house, Jesper rapidly and silently walked towards the staircase, hoping Wylan wouldn't have heard him. He didn't want to make him worry and he was terrible at lying about his feelings. Wy would have immediately noticed something was wrong with him. He had almost reached the first floor, when the redhead's voice called for him. "Hey, Jes!" The sharpshooter felt his own heart sink. He grabbed the handrail, closing his eyes and sighing. "Jes?" Jesper turned his head, trying to put a fake smile on: "Hey, Wy. How was your day?" "Good" the younger boy replied, slowly reaching him. "I received a letter from Nina and Matthias...  I waited for you to read it, but... are you okay?" "I..." an unpleasant lump started to torment the tall boy's throat.   "I need to stay alone, sorry..." He ran into his room (well... their room) and he laid face down on the bed, hiding his face on the mattress and letting a suffocate cry out, his hands clenching his thick, black curls. Those days had been horrible. And he tried, he tried to hide all his sadness and frustration, but his negative feelings eventually found a way to burst out. He thought it would have been a great idea, starting the university again, he thought he would have been able to handle studies, the training of his Grisha abilities and the business he and Wylan managed together. For the first period he actually did a very good job but, during the last weeks, he started to struggle. It was quite hard, to him, sitting for hours on a desk, trying to listen to the lesson while his mind was distracted by thousands, different stimuli and his thoughts were mostly about the training that was waiting for him in the afternoon. He followed the professor's words for the first, few minutes, and he ended up wondering what Fiona, his Materialki teacher, had prepared for him. And, after lesson, he felt guilty for having pay a little attention and his sense of guilt had soon started to affect his training. He kept on like these for days, until that afternoon, where he had an outburst and ended up arguing with Fiona. The woman was a very good teacher. She was a bit severe, but always just, and much more empathetic than she seemed. Jesper knew she was only there to help him and she didn't deserve his rage and frustration. I ruined everything, he thought. I ruined everything, as usual. I'm a disaster... “Jes...” The boy tried to wipe his tears, without changing his position. Wylan laid next to him, his hands rubbing the older boy's back. “Jes, what happened?” The Fabrikator sniffled: “I am a failure, okay? I am a pathetic, useless, incompetent being, that's what happens! I try, Wy, okay? I always try to do something good, but I always fail, I cannot help but disappoint everyone who cares about me! I am unable to follow a single lesson without getting lost in my thoughts. I am making messes during the training and I am a terrible student to Fiona! I bet she will kick me out of her class, after what I yelled her today! And she would be right! If I were her, I wouldn't loose my time with an ungrateful idiot! I... I...” He hid his face against Wylan's shoulder, bursting into tears. They hugged, laid on the bed, Wylan's hands gently caressing his hair and back. He let Jesper vent his tears and frustration for a while, then, he started talking him in a soft, gently manner. “It's a bad period, Jes... it can happen to anyone. It doesn't mean you're failing or disappointing anyone.” “Fiona was mad” the boy sobbed. “She's disappointed for sure...” “I'm sure Fiona believes in you. Like your father does. Like I do. Like my mother and our friends do. We all know the wonderful person you are, Jes. We cannot learn, if we never commit any mistake. And we wouldn't be humans. Hey, you know what? We can try a little trick Inej taught me: I'll bring you a copybook and a pencil and you'll write short letters to anyone you want. And in each letter, you will tell one or more of your painful thoughts, explaining what has happened, why do you feel like this and then adding a little positive thing. Meanwhile, I'll make you some tea.” Jesper rubbed his eyes with his hands, then, he sighed: “Okay.” It was quite easy writing the negative thoughts on the first part of the letters, while he struggles a lot trying to find a positive thing to add. Sitting at the dining table, Jesper soon filled several paper sheets. He wrote his first letter to his dad, saying how demotivate he felt about his studies, and he closed it with “But I'm happy we'll come to visit you next week.” He then wrote to Inej, to Fiona, to Kuwei, to Kaz, to Nina, to Matthias and, eventually, to Wylan. His boyfriend sat next to him, giving him gentle caresses, hugs and kisses every time Jes stopped to take a break and a tear ran down his cheek. Somehow, writing down his thoughts, imagining his beloved ones' encouraging answers and taking pleasurable sips of hot tea, he felt his anxiety fading and he struggled less to find something positive to write. “Inej, I'm happy you will come to Ketterdam next month. Fiona, I am happy because you taught me how to stop several bullets at once into mid air. Kuwei, I'm happy your training is going well. Kaz, I'm happy you finally admitted you miss Inej, last evening. Nina, I'm happy because tomorrow morning I'll eat waffles and I'll think of you. Matthias, I'm happy you and Nina are making progresses in you mission. Wy, I'm happy I have you by my side.” “Come here” he whispered, once he finished, patting on his own knees. “Come here, Wy.” Wylan sat on his lap, wrapping his arms around the Fabrikator's neck and rubbing their noses together. “Do you feel better?” “A bit” Jesper answered. “Maybe I would feel even better with this...” He gently kissed the redhead's soft lips, holding him closer, while Wylan cupped his face with his hands. “I love you...” “I love you too, Jes. And I know you will never fail me. We have each other and, every time we'll fall, we will be able to rise again together.” Jesper tried to add something, when the doorbell rang. He felt quite surprised, seeing a well built woman in her forties, on the threshold. “Fiona?” he said. The teacher gave him a polite nod: “Hi, Jes. I hope I'm not disturbing.” “Oh... no, I was... I was drinking some tea with Wylan and... do you want to come in?” “No, thanks, I have some commissions to do. But I thought about your difficulties at the university, when you have to sit at your desk and stay still for one or two hours. I knew a boy who had your same problem and he found useful having his hands busy during a lesson. That's why I brought you this.” She gave him a little, wooden cube, with little push-buttons on each face. “Let's try it and tell me if you find it useful too.” “Oh... thank you... I...” He sighed: “Fiona, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have behaved like that, this afternoon...” Fiona smiled, giving him a gentle pat on his shoulder: “It's okay. We all have bad moments. Take care. Hope tomorrow afternoon things will be better.” “Who was it?” Wylan asked, once Jesper came back to the diningr room. “It was Fiona” the sharpshooter answered, sitting next to his boyfriend. “She... she isn't mad at me... and she didn't kick me out of her class.” Wylan smiled, kissing his cheek: “See? She wouldn't lose her time with a failure. She knows you can do it.” Jesper gently caressed the younger boy's cheek, playing with Fiona's cube with the free hand. “So” he finally said. “Didn't Nina and Matthis write us? I can't wait to read some news from them...” *** A little note: The detail of the cube is a reference to one of my friends, who has Jesper as her favourite character and she identifies a lot with him.  And Fiona is a character she created.