#nikolai x david

[maidenofcrows]

I feel like we don’t really talk about David threatening to kill someone for Genya enough. I mean, yes, it’s recognized as one of his peak moments, but I mean beyond “Aw, that’s so sweet of him.”

This is David Kostyk. He’s an inventor. His whole thing is to make new things. To create. He helped fight the epitome of destruction, so what’s the point of causing more destruction by taking someone’s life? It’s not antithetical to his character, but it’s also not the first thing I would ordinarily expect from him.

But then… we do know that David is extraordinarily blunt. We know that Baghra didn’t want to teach him out of fear of what he could become. And his friends don’t even seem all that surprised when he delivered the threat (they were all fairly aggravated; I digress).

This man absolutely meant what he said, and I firmly believe that if Yuri had offended Genya one more time, they would have found the body in 78 different strategically chosen locations

[appolinyou]

Kuwei Yul Bo

A boy with a target on his back who survived against all odds

You can't hate this boy,His cunning is almost like Kaz's, and he's damn cocky for all the crap that's thrown his way. If I were him, I'd be dead a long time ago, primarily due to giving up,And he manages to survive, and live, and fall in love

And unlike many, he is an experimenter, he is not afraid to make mistakes

[everythinggrishaverse2047]

A Teacup and a Crown

Summary - On the day of his wedding, Nikolai has some fears.

Author's Notes - Gn!Reader. Rule of Wolves *spoilers* These characters and places belong to Leigh Bardugo, happy reading. As always, don't copy my work or translate my work without my express approval. Mention of blood. 1.2k words.

🦊☕️👑

Nikolai looked at himself in the mirror. Medals of honor adorning his blue sash, ending at his pocket. It almost felt silly, getting married this way. In all his royal garb, to someone he met on the high seas, on the brink of death. If Nikolai had it his way you’d be naked in the sheets of his bed together whispering your vows with nobody but the fire to hear your words. But alas, he was a king with people to please. Not that he wanted to be a king. Kings signed papers, made choices. Had to follow more definitive laws.

Now privateers. Privateers didn’t need to consult a group of wannabes on matters, privateers didn’t have to smile at their spouse from across a stupidly long banquet table. Privateers could invade slaver ships, bring supplies, act as spies. If he thought about it any longer Nikolai was convinced he might just abdicate the throne, hand it over to Zoya as he had so heavily considered. The Nazyalensky Dynasty had a nice ring to it. Then he could take you away from the maddening chaos of Ravkan royalty, and onto a ship with his most trusted friends, though he wasn’t sure he could convince Tamar to leave her wife behind. Or perhaps a new crew, to leave the others behind, trust Ravka in their hands. Nikolai looked down at his hands once more before looking up. He wondered, for only a moment, what might happen if the monster saw itself in the mirror, how it might respond. The king could feel it, stirring, always waiting to be set free. Though with no threat of battle or blood in the immediate future it seemed less eager. As long as the Darkling so too would the demon inside him. You had convinced him that everyone had demons, his was just more physically present than others the day he learned it would be with him until death.

“So long as he lives, so does the monster,” Nikolai said. 

“Yes. But even if he dies you still have demons to face,” you shrugged. “We all have demons to face.”

“Well, yours doesn’t come out for a visit with fangs and wings every so often does it?” Nikolai countered, as his fingers skimmed up your spine.

“Think of it as a bonus. An upgraded version,” you offered with a smile and laugh before leaning forward to kiss him.

“How easily you distract me with those pretty eyes and even prettier lips,” he responded. “It’s a shame, really. You could secretly run this entire kingdom by smiling and kissing me.”

“Shut up and kiss me,” you respond. 

He leaned forward. Cheek, nose, lips, jaw. “You see how easy it is?” 

“I’ll keep this in mind the next time I want something.” 

Nikolai’s eyes fell to his bed, your smell still clinging in the sheets. Sheets that were void of you last night. Genya had so rudely insisted you not share a bed the night before your wedding. Tradition is the word she used. Ironic, now she cared about it. Perhaps he would get his vengeance by declaring before the entire wedding party that he would be giving up his crown. He’d kept count. Five times since he woke up had the king thought about it. To stand up when he’s meant to give a formal toast at the reception, to celebrate Ravka and his new spouse, but instead declare a new monarch. Would Zoya turn the dragon on him if Nikolai called her to the throne instead? It was an almost entertaining thought––one cut off by a servant entering with that morning’s array of tea. The king quickly pretended to be fixing his wedding attire.

“ Moi tsar ,” the servant said with a mild bow of his head, placing down the tea tray. A tray with more biscuits than tea on it.

“Thank you,” Nikolai responded, before the servant slipped back out of the king’s chambers. The king stared at the tea before him. Perhaps an entire cup of tea would do his nerves some good. Nikolai sat down, lifting the cup to his lips slowly. He paused, before placing the fragile cup back down. He noticed the smallest bit of paint missing on it. The cup, like Ravka, was in a fragile place. Handled with care, it could support much. But the smallest wrong move, the smallest crack, could be the start of further disaster. 

After some time of staring at the cup Nikolai stood, pacing about his chambers anxiously. How long will the acceptance of Nikolai as king go on? Would people regret their choices? Could Ravka accept a Grisha queen? General Zoya Nazyalensky, or Queen Zoya Nazyalensky.

You are Ravka’s leader , the king told himself. You watched your friend die, you have faced the Darkling many times. A part of him lives with you, forever. A teacup will not be your undoing . 

Before Nikolai could follow his trail of thought farther another knock came at the door before opening. David. The king let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

“My wife wishes to inquire as to how you’re enjoying the tea,” David asked, sitting down in front of Nikolai. He was frank about matters when he felt they were appropriate. 

“You can inform her that I haven’t had any yet,” Nikolai responded, more sharply than he meant to. 

Silence filled the air for a few moments before David spoke up. “I spend a lot of time creating with you, Nikolai. Contraptions, weapons.” A pause, before David met Nikolai’s gaze. “ Things that go boom .” Another pause. “It’s been my experience that the things we take the most risk with, often have the most beautiful rewards. The risks I was willing to take gave me my wife. My family.”

Did David know what his king had been considering? Nikolai, for all his wit and charm, couldn't manage a response. His eyes fell to the teacup. 

David, ever the noticer, followed Nikolai’s gaze before indicating the carefully shaped porcelain. “May I?”

Nikolai nodded, not entirely sure where this was going.

David lifted it, examing the anterior of it before sniffing at the contents and placing it down. “Genya informs me that this is your soon-to-be-spouse’s favorite tea.” 

Your favorite tea. It would seem, Genya Safin had requested tea she knew you liked. No doubt knowing how it might calm some part of her king. An apology for making him sleep without you for one night.

David stood and Nikolais’ gaze followed. 

“Thank you, David,” Nikolai said seriously.

His comrad only smiled slightly before nodding his head and exiting the king’s chambers.

The moment he was gone the teacup was in Nikolai’s hand. The liquid went from it in an instant. It tasted like you, felt like you. The boy king could taste your lips. How many times had he kissed you, the tea flavor lingering on your lips from a morning meal? He wanted you, he needed you, like a boat needs air to sail. The teacup was quickly left on the tray before Nikolai was rushing out the door to go find you. Screw tradition and what Genya had to say about it.

[1jemmagirl22]

Okay everyone for this of my friends who have yet to see Shadow and Bone season 2 here is a non spoiler guide to every character and ship throughout the season.

Nikolai Lantsov

Alina Starkov

Kaz Brekker

Inej Ghafa

Jesper Fahay

Wylan 

Nina Zenik

Zoya Nayalensky 

Genya Safin

David Kostyk

Mattias Helvar

The Darkling

Mal 

Tamar and Tolya 

Okay, now that the characters are done, time for the ships, oh gods the ships.

Kanej

Wesper

Helnik

Zoyalai

Genya and David

Darklina

Malina

Nikolai and Alina 

[rosegoldendaydream]

shadow and bone made me a multishipper.

let me explain.

i read books. i ship mal with alina, nikolai with zoya, david with genya. right? everything is great, my ships are together.

but then!

then i watch shadow and bone. and now i ship mal with alina, alina with genya, genya with david, mal with nikolai, nikolai with zoya and zoya with alina. like, these actors really gave those characters so much chemistry!

[darjeelinh]

tell me this is not what happened

[anxiousandpessimistic]

Kaz: I'm texting Inej, i'm gonna ask her to dinner. How should i say it "Let's get dinner" or do you wanna get dinner" ? Nina: Go with "Let's get dinner" so you sound like assertive and confident Kaz : For sure Wylan: Actually no cause now you sound a little aggressive Jesper: Cause you don't wanna be the kinda guy who's like " LETS GET DINNER" like some sort of caveman Matthias: You're supposed to ask her to dinner, not tell her to dinner Mal: Just say " do you wanna get dinner?" Kaz: Perfect Alina: Actually wait, now you sound kinda like a pussy Kaz: This is tough Genya: The last thing you wanna be is like that overly masculine guy who's like " lets get dinner,on the breadwinner bitch" Darkling: Women also love assertiveness Tolya: Say "Dinner would be something i would enjoy taking you to, if you are also interested in attending the meal David: The more words the better Nikolai: Wait, say " I would like nothing more, than to take you to the finest restaurant in town, for a lovely meal that we call dinner Kaz: Should i send that in a voice memo? Zoya: FUCK THAT. Say " Dinner tonight, take it or leave it BITCH" Cause she's playing games Tamar: Sign it, seal it, deliver it Kuwei: I dont know why girls are so difficult all of the time Kaz: I'm not gonna say that Inej: Definitely don't say that

[nichyevosobachka]

Genya: Last night I found out David is a sleep talker. Nikolai: Oh, really? Genya: "The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell." Right. In. My. Ear. At 3am.

[multi-fandom-bi]

They're the standard

[allthornsnopetals]

{Hello, everyone I am allthornsnopetals, and welcome to my garden of mentally-ill fanfiction. Here you find a mix of Fandom's I write for. I am a bisexual mess of a woman, and I have no reason to not brain-rot, so here is my garden, enjoy!}

[ Rules ] [ Fandom's/Characters I write/Master lists ] [ Prompt list ] [ Writing tips found on Tumblr ]

[lissa-edem]

It seems like I enjoy "Let's bring them together" thing. Also I like to think about Alina as the main Zoyalai's shipper, according to serial.

Alina, enthusiastically: we need to make Zoyalai become a couple.

David: Zoyalai?

Genya: he was in love with you, dear. and he proposed to you.

Alina: he was. but now he has heart-eyes every time, when Zoya is next to him. Nikolai is so bad in being unobvious.

Tolya: she's gonna tear his heart apart.

Alina: no, cause Zoya likes his heart. I'm not Kaz Brekker, but I've already made a plan.

[lesbocrocker]

David holding Genya’s hand and Genya holding Alina’s hand and Alina holding Zoya’s hand and Zoya holding Nikolai’s hand and Nikolai holding Dominick’s. Is this anything.

[thatfandombitch87]

King Of Scars

*Slight Spoilers*

Let me tell you something, I have maybe 200 pages left... and I am fucking shipping Nikolai and Zoya so hard.

WHEN HE KNELT BESIDE HER IN FRONT OF A DRAGON, KNOWING FULL WELL ALL HE HAD WAS A GUN, AND THEN THREATENED THE DRAGON TO STAY BACK WITH ONLY THAT GUN, AND PROCEEDED TO STAY BY HER NO MATTER WHAT!!!

LIKE AGHHHH, LEIGH BARDUGO KNOWS WHAT SHES DOING WITH THESE RELATIONSHIPS!

I need it, pls. ALSO IVE NOTICED THAT LIKE EVERYONE IS MARRIED. TAMAR AND NADIA, DAVID AND GENYA, AND GUESS WHAT, NOW ITS NIKOLIA AND ZOYA'S TURN!

SHE LITERALLY CHAINS HIM TO A BED AT NIGHT SO THE SHADOW WHATEVER IN HIM DOESNT CAUSE HARM TO INNOCENT PEOPLE AND SHE STILL STAYED BY HIM EVEN AFTER THAT SHADOW MONSTER COULDVE KILLED HER!

I NEED THEM TO HAPPEN SOON!

[barbarianbookhoe]

I just finished King of Scars and bitches😭

My brain was trying to get used to the mood swings between chapters, like:

I'm going to read Rule of Wolves tomorrow, but I'm shitting rocks

[sixofcrowley]

shadow and bone is so serious but the fandom is so unserious i love it here

[caveatscriptor]

My unhinged review of the S2 trailler of Shadow and Bone

You are welcome.

So basically they all look way too good, and I'm itching to know how they can possibly make the lovesick darkling look bad (and if we are going to get the connection/tether scenes in the tv show 🥵)

Oh, and if we get Zoya and Nikolai interaction... I might scream into oblivion