#poor Kaz again lol

[austajunk]

May I request please soudham with 11, 13, 41,(maybe some 47) and anything else you wanted to add in there? 🥺

It always takes, like, a full moon to get me ready to write Soudam. I like the ship, but it's hard for me for some reason. But I hope you like this fun, little fic. ^^

Triggers: Dubious Consent, Pet Play, Praise Kink, Domination/Submission, Exhibition/Public Sex and Corruption/Training.

"W-Wait! Tanaka... I... I don't t-think I can do this!"

"What senseless and cowardly bickering. Do you not understand?" Gundham hissed at him. His hands sank into his pockets, procuring a leather collar and a leash. He continued, driving his boot into Kazuichi's jumpsuit that the mechanic had just shed from his body.

The rough hand of the breeder slammed the wall beside Kazuichi's head.

"In the wild, when you lose, you are to be mounted and bred by the victor!"

"...I...I... what?!"

With his green jumpsuit discarded and kicked away behind the Hotel Mirai, the open, salty breeze of the day assaulted Kazuichi Souda's naked body. He was drowning in the humiliation already, and no one had even seen him aside from his new "master". His lanky body was out in the hot sun, stiffening already and trying to hide his shaft between his legs. It simply did not work.

It was a cool and breezy day, yet his body was hot. Perhaps it was from the constant shaking after he had removed his clothes. Although, if Kazuichi bothered to question it, it was more than likely that he melted underneath Gundham Tanaka's intense, hungry stare. Those eyes scorched him alive.

The dark, throaty chuckle made Kazuichi wince. "Ah, really?" Gundham folded his arms, circling around his slender body from behind the Hotel. "But surely, you must have realized by now the golden rule of nature itself!"

Kazuichi groaned, this time from the words that left the breeder's mouth rather than his awareness of his embarrassment. Did he always have to talk like this? Even when he was in his birthday suit?! But before he could respond, Gundham swept up daringly close to Kazuichi's front, his left hand gliding over the mechanic's throat. Kazuichi froze, his heart running wild. He begged the world, the island, and God themselves to keep anyone from seeing him like this.

Bare-assed with a cock stiffening up so close to Gundham Tanaka...

"I'm s-serious!! I don't care i-if I lost to you," Kazuichi sputtered, feeling weak in his knees. "We can't d-do this! I... I'm pretty sure it's against the-the law or something-!"

Gundham cut him off with a coy snort. "Rules?! Ha! Complete foolishness. As though someone with the power and prestige such as I would be governed by something so on level with a typical mortal!" He lowered at Kazuichi until he flinched back. Then, he softened ever so slightly. His hand slid to Kazuichi's jaw, dipping his thumb in between his lips.

"Ah--?" Flushing, Kazuichi opened his mouth for Gundham's fingers.

"Mhnnn... yes..." The "dark overlord" murmured. His thumb prodded Kazuichi's sharp teeth, even pushing his flesh into it until it threatened to cut him. "Even I had to admit you were an... interesting specimen..." He closed his eyes. Two more fingers slipped inside of his mouth. Gundham narrowed his gaze dangerously at the mechanic. "Suck."

On a terrible instinct, Kazuichi knew what he meant. He swallowed, closed his lips over Gundham's long digits, and obediently started to run his tongue over them. Between his legs, his cock gave a small twitch. The humiliation burrowed deep inside of his core, making him anxious. He wanted something to cover his skin. Some way to hide! Anything!

"That's it," encouraged Gundham in a low growl. "Watch your teeth and suck deeper." Without waiting for his new pet to comply, he slid his fingers further into Kazuichi's mouth, forcing the mechanic to produce a panicked, gagging noise. The sucking became sloppy over his fingers until Gundham released him, thoroughly dissatisfied. "Hmph. This is why I knew I had to train you. A worthless mutt like you is in dire need of correction."

"H-Huh?" With his throat tight from the treatment, Kazuichi coughed and gasped for the sweet air to refill his lungs. What the hell was he talking about? He had seriously challenged him to a fight and beaten him to... to get his hands on the mechanic for this?!

Gundham ignored his pleas. Instead, he urged Kazuichi down to his knees with a light shove. The collar was brought forth and immediately fastened around Kazuichi's neck. "Luckily, you are not in the wild... for you would not last even half a minute if you were." He locked the collar in place and attached the leashed to the ring, jerking him forward. Kazuichi fell over at once, his ass stupidly pointing right in the air.

"Tanaka, please! Wait! I can't do this..." The mechanic whimpered. "N-Not in public. I c-can't l-l-let anyone see me like this--!"

He hardly expected a sigh to follow after, let alone the soft stroke down his back. Kazuichi blinked. A kind hand ruffled his pink locks, brushing his beanie off his head. "Ah...?" He croaked, glancing back up at the breeder.

Instead, Gundham had knelt down beside him, caressing Kazuichi's backside. His hand hovered just over his ass, making Kazuichi fear that it was to strike him for his whining. However, the gentle fingers skimming the underside of his cock told him otherwise. Kazuichi shut his eyes, unable to keep the willing moans that slipped by his lips.

"Tanaka...that feels-"

"That's a good boy," grunted Gundham quietly. He bent close to Kazuichi's ear, his hot breath rising up the mechanic's neck. His cock gave a thicker pulse in Gundham's hands. "There... you're doing well. Good boy...how does it feel?"

"Ah... Ah..." Kazuichi panted. His hips twitched, inching deeper to feel Gundham's warm hands over his shaft. Just a little more... "It feels good...I..." Even the slight praise had the red crawling to his cheeks. Something about the deepness of Gundham's commanding voice lightly complimenting him made him want to curl against the ground for him if it meant hearing those words again.

'Woah... what the fuck is wrong with me?' Kazuichi brain spun in circles. 'I'm in the dirt, letting him stroke my ass! How does it feel so good-?!'

When he opened his eyes, he realized that Gundham was staring at him intently. That smirk never left his face. It only made Kazuichi hotter. He wanted to bury his head between his arms and never look up again.

"You're already drooling so much precum," he said in a serious tone. "Your stamina and drive is something I haven't seen before on my travels... hence, I must have the chance to train you for myself!"

Kazuichi tried to respond, but a tug of the leash had him nearly stumbling back into the dirt. Gundham had risen without much warning and simply yanked the leash to get him to follow. "What-?! We can't just-!" But Gundham tugged him forward without looking back even once.

--

"Heel."

Such a direct order felt like everything. It was a knife cutting smoothly through the cloud of confusion that flooded Kazuichi's mind. Gundham Tanaka really had him on a leash and on his knees, walking him like a pet out on the soft sand trails of Jabberwock Island. It seemed Kazuichi had melted into disassociating and accepting it was a dream. The warm and cushy sand beneath his hands and knees begged to differ though.

But as Gundham order, he stopped and sat. Whatever it took for this disgraceful parade to be over. His cock was burning to be touched again, but he couldn't even hide it. If he wanted to touch himself, someone could see him. He was out in the open. Exposed. Helpless.

"On your back... that's it..." Gundham eased him calmly onto his backside in the sand and carefully brushed the sand from his stomach. "Good... good... you're advancing surprisingly well..."

"..." Oh God! Why did that make Kazuichi bite his lip to keep himself from panting like a horny dog? His cock pressed against his inner thigh, hardening again for attention under Gundham's gaze.

"You're swelling up in this heat," said Gundham, inspecting him. "But still controlling yourself. I'm almost impressed..."

He patted Kazuichi's chest, letting his hand inch lower and lower. Kazuichi's eyes practically bulged. He was so damn close! He just wanted to be touched!

And when Gundham finally rested his fingers upon the mechanic's cock, Kazuichi barely registered that it was real. "You deserve something of a gift, I think." His thumb pressed the sensitive vein beneath the tip of the shaft, making Kazuichi squeal and cry out. "That's it..."

"Oh my!"

A lovely, lilting voice shattered and dragged Kazuichi back to reality. For just a few seconds, he was content to dip his head back in the sand and let Gundham whisper and stroke him off. He wanted to thrust his hips and feel the rough texture of the breeder's fingers making him paint the earth with hot ropes of his cum. Just as the words to beg Gundham to work him into a lather came to him, he recognized that voice that interrupted them.

"M-M-Miss Sonia?!"

Horrified, Kazuichi tried to sit up but Gundham's right hand kept him pressed to the ground. He could see the green loafers of the princess in the distance, having come to a stop to witness just what he and his new master were up to on the beach.

This wasn't a dream. This wasn't even a nightmare. Drenched in a cold sweat, Kazuichi realized that he was, in fact, being jerked off in front of the girl he had a crush on by his own rival. His entire body flushed. But he was still so very hard...

"Oh, I see..." Sonia said all too quickly. "I am witnessing a true breeder at work! Training his subject! How wonderful!" She cooed and put her arms together, beaming down at Kazuichi. "I must say though... I would have picked a... hm... cuter subject, but everyone deserves a chance to be tamed in the wild."

"Very wise of you indeed," chuckled Gundham, his free hand giving Kazuichi's ass a light squeeze. "And so far, he is doing surprisingly well. He has not yet stopped and begged at my legs to be pleasured. I think that earns him something for his admirable diligence."

Kazuichi's head was spinning. What the hell was all of this? Was he even on planet earth any longer?! It was then that he wondered if these two were simply operating on a level that he could never hope to fathom. And beyond that, he came to the conclusion that he was too fucking horny and needy to care.

"I-I don't care!" He cried out, bucking his hips wildly. His cock jutted into Gundham's palm. "Please touch me! I-Ill die if you don't!!! Ngh!!!"

"Hmmm..." Despite the heat and fervent desperation displayed, Gundham merely groped his pet's cock and thought in silence. Then, he opened his eyes, leaning over his subject:

"Perhaps I will let you come. Perhaps not. A master has no responsibility to give pleasure and release to a creature who is not his own subject."

Kazuichi's eyes widened. His mouth was left agape as the words socked him in the face. "Pl-Please... I just w-want..." On the verge of tears, he trembled and practically humped the air past Gundham's hands.

"Hm? Was that a swear of loyalty? To be my thrall for all of time? It did not sound like one," hissed Gundham back to him.

Underneath the deep, blue skies, Kazuichi wanted to melt away from the sun. But it was too hot to shy away now. He slipped into Gundham's grasp and moved his hips up and down to grind his slick cock into his hand. It felt so good. He could let his humanity slip just to have this sort of pleasure, to feel praised and loved. Even just to have Sonia watch him demean himself was like a cool, lightning bolt drowning his mind in a blissful euphoria.

He almost laughed giddily as he pumped his cock faster. Gundham's hand joined him, taking ahold of him and matching Kazuichi's erratic thrusts with a controlled jerk.

Heavenly minutes passed with Kazuichi writhing around underneath the hot sun, his body making lewd slaps against what flesh Gundham offered him. His new master chided him for being such an animal at his core, but he simply couldn't stop. With an arch of his back, the rush of pressure released into three hot, thick spurts of cum against Gundham's pants.

Gundham snorted as Kazuichi collapsed back into the ground. Sonia gasped, cupping her mouth and trying to get a good eye full of the mess the boys had made. Dripping in a layer of sweat and fleeting pleasure, Kazuichi curled up into the sand, still not quite sure if what was happening was reality or hallucination.

It didn't matter.

He nodded to Gundham, the tears blatant in his eyes and smearing his eyeliner. "I'm a...I'm a..." It was still so hard to say, but...

"I'm your goddamn pet, Tanaka!!"

[sixofcrowdaydreams]

Six of Crows Russian Edition

Today I found this gorgeous gem at the bookstore!

So a few years ago I moved overseas to live in a Russian speaking country. I am not in Russia, for the record. The national language here is not Russian, but it is commonly spoken in my city.

Today at the bookstore I looked for a copy of Crooked Kingdom for the cast of Shadow and Bone to sign this May when I go to A Storm of Shadows and Crows convention in Paris. I don't own a copy of SOC or KC in English and there's no chance of finding one where I live. The next best option was getting a book in the local language and calling it a souvenir of my time abroad. To my delight I found this lovely Russian edition of Six of Crows!

More stunning artwork below.

There were multiple versions of the books to choose from. The original art and the Netflix artwork were available too. The most impressive part was finding copies of the original covers WITHOUT the Netflix sticker. (Haha, suck it Netflix.) To the right, not pictured were King of Scars and Rule of Wolves.

I've never seen this cover variation before. It was an exciting find!

The Russian version I bought is illustrated by (I assume Russian?) artist Eva Eller.

I didn't see a copy of Crooked Kingdom with illustrations by the same artist at this bookstore, but it must exist. Mine was the last copy of SOC with the Russian artwork. Maybe it was sold out?

Google Translate titles the book Six of Ravens, lol. But that's just a translation error because a little google-foo showed that ворона (pronounced vorona) means crow. Interestingly, while typing the title, I learned that вор (pronounced vor) means thief. Interesting how similar the words crow and thief are in Russian. Checks out.

Above is the art printed on the side of the pages. Love how it still includes the side of the pages colored, just like the original books.

The hardcover underneath the jacket is a crow. It's not the same as pictured on the original CK cover, but it is similar. Love the messy, broken, bent feathers, yet the crow is still able to fly. Metaphor for our six characters? Absolutely!

The book was wrapped in cellophane so I didn't realize there was even more art inside! Here is the inner cover. IT'S BEAUTIFUL! The back is the same. It captures the foggy haze of Ketterdam so well.

The flaps of the book jacket are images from the inner cover. But there's a cracked texture over them that gives it a gorgeous grittiness.

The candle is the left side of the inner book jacket. Sorry the image isn't flat, I didn't want to damage the jacket by straightening it out.

The right side of the book jacket shows all the Crows!

Let's appreciate how Matthias looks snow pale and serious. Inej is taller than Nina -- she must be standing on a step stool. No clue why both of their eyes are closed, especially when Nina is the one pointing to the paper. They are lovely. Kaz has on his scheming face. Jesper is as handsome as every version of him should be. And Wylan looks bored AF because A.) he's already memorized the map he drew or B.) he can't read whatever document Kaz has in front of them. Wait, no, Wylan is making heart eyes at Jesper. All of the above can be true.

Inside is a small illustration at the beginning of each chapter, which changes with each section.

You can also see the Crow's names written in Cyrillic. Inej, Kaz, Nina, and Matthias translate easily. Jesper uses the д (letter D) and ж (pronounced like zhe) letter combination that makes his name sound like Zhesper since there is no J in Cyrillic. It's worth pointing out (again) that Wylan's name does not translate perfectly. There is no W in the Cyrillic alphabet. (As someone who also has a W in their name, I sympathize with Wylan here.) I'm no expert in Russian, but I'm pretty sure -- with the help of google translate -- that Wylan is pronounced as Oo-ai-len. Poor boy can't catch a break.

Each of the five section of the book use different chapter art. They all do an excellent job capturing the atmosphere.

The paper is so thin that you can easily see the printing on the opposite side. Not ideal for an edition that's otherwise this lovely. Oh well.

Given that Ravka is fantasy Russia, it's not a surprise to find the Grisha Verse books in Russian.

I am so excited to bring this book to Paris for the cast to sign!

[crazerk]

I can't wait for my MC to go into fully hatred mode abt kaz without knowing him, her rolling her eyes everytime someone would compliment him and say hes so wonderful. My girl is gonna mutter sum like "yeah? hes soooo wonderful he's kidnapping, buying and enslaving women, wow so wonderful. I wonder if hell make me clip and eat his toenails while im at it."

Esp since she's gonna be on the poor route? or the slave route i forgot like what it was called but yeah, she's gon be his biggest hater and then is gonna turn batshit crazy if he dares look at another woman (hurrem mode) LOL

I loveeee how hurrems first response to anything is anger lol. I think that’s what helped her survive you know? The unwillingness to be trampled upon, becoming a thorn so you can’t be hurt again.

I also think it would be hilarious for MC to go ballistic over the man she claims she despises.

[yuzuna123]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THEORY TIME!!!

Reina/Nina/Miguel/ and perhaps Eddy but i am not so sure about him - Mishima Zaibatsu after Reina takes control of it, possibly in the story DLC's that are coming.

And of course when i mention Miguel this is only a theory and speculation of mine if he is DLC, if he is, i see him joining Reina's Mishima Zaibatsu after Reina gives him a good offer to get revenge on Jin for killing his sister.

Now why i said Eddy? it was because when he was announced, he has a special intro with Nina, and according to a non canon book @acequeenking gave to me, there's ship tease between them ( they pretended to be a couple to Heihachi for awhile ) so my guess is Eddy would join the Zaibatsu for Nina, and also because he would never join a company Kazuya's in charge of.

Kazuya/Anna/Jun/Bruce - G Corp. in Jun's ending, there's a G Corp blanket, that Kazuya gave to Jun according to wiki. Well, one of the theories and interpetations i have is that after Nina deserted Kazuya, and although she was retired, Anna took over a branch of G-corp and went to find Kaz and help her friend in Yakushima. Where she found Jun and a knocked out Kaz. She then and the soldiers she had helped them set up a camp.

Seeing that some of his soldiers and friends were still loyal to him and thanks to Jun, Kazuya found the solution and power to stand up to himself after Reina took over the Mishima Zaibatsu.

Bruce is also there as he is one of Kazuya's best friend along with Anna.

Again, Bruce and Anna are only speculations IF they are DLC!

Perhaps Kazuya will live in the Mishima Estate in Nara ( as Harada stated that their clan originally resided there ) and open a Dojo too to train his second son and his students Jinpachi's style of Mishima Ryu, and how the Mishima clan was always meant to be.

Lars/Alisa/Lee - Violet Systems, this one is actually more obvious to me because we see Lars here with Alisa and Lee in the end credits.

I see them..well, becoming more accepting of G-corp after Reina takes control of the Mishima Zaibatsu and Kazuya's redeemption/recovery thanks to Jun.

Now for Jin?, I believe the poor boy would just want to live in peace lol. I see him living in Yakushima, or perhaps, if something happens to somone he deeply cares about thanks to Miguel or Reina, he goes on a Journey and becomes a shadow hero like Luke or Sasuke became in their respective franchises. Or still being that even nothing bad happens to the people he loves. To be honest, although his arc is done, I don't think Bandai will give this boy a break lol and they will continue to give him more trauma. Jin would just want peace to be honest, and nothing to do with any huge companies, considering what happened to him over the years.

[ashenberry]

lol you poor misguided child. it's pretty obvious that the kaz date is a parody of the paz date which in itself is obviously lighthearted. a romantic walk on the beach at sunset with the cheesiest sappiest dialogue. yeah very kaz. not. its not supposed to be taken seriously. why don't you think it was referenced again? seems pretty important to their character development that they were lovers no? strange it's never referenced or hinted at ever again.

[ID in ALT]

did i fuckin. forget a disclaimer in the rewritten version of that last ask. my bad maybe. my point wasnt that mgs queer rep is praise worthy its done bad. kojima women bad. my point was that going into it with "No Nuance No Subtext Unless Its Bad" is a bad mindset to go into this with especially because like. its still not good even if you acknowledge that the writers might know that their protagonists might come of a bit gay?

Like what i think the closest thing i got to praise in that was saying that yes i think its bad that strangelove was perving on cecil and paz. i think its bad to have your only lesbian character hook up with a dude at the end of the game, despite any of the watsonian explanations. I think the "only women are capable of empathy" attitude she has in the cassetes is bad. but i also think her story in the meat of the game of doing whatever it takes to talk to the women she loved again is interesting and i think you have an incomplete analysis if you just disregard either side of that.

the whole point of bringing up a date with kaz is that it was just a silly double standard to draw the line. yknow the beach scene is clearly a joke and can be disregarded it never comes up again but the coy line into dick grab is clearer then day. and like i do agree i think volgin and raikovich is when the games are at its worse it is comically bad i think its weird to kneecap yourself out of talking about that bc "pervs on dudes in the shower" bb and "womanizer" kaz somehow redeems all of metal gears sins if theyre having gay sex in that box its silly.

and i truly. honestly. do not give a shit about most of these ships. i think is a consequence of the fact that the games write devotion to a Person a Concept a Cause etc really interestingly and i truly think it was only done romantically once w/ strangejoy but i think thats why alot of characters come off Like That to most fans. anyways im sorry you thought my post was saying mgs had some banging queer rep and not just. making fun of that anons mindset when it came to critique and analysis but i also think you maybe might have skimmed my post a little

[kazscrows]

Crooked Kingdom Reread

Chapter 3: Matthias

Cornelis Smeet tipped, losing his footing, hat sliding from his nearly bald head. The boy who had run into him stepped forward, offering assistance.

The boy was Kaz, but he was not Kaz. His dark hair was mussed, his manner flustered. He kept his eyes averted, his chin tucked into his collar as if hopelessly embarrassed—a green youth, respectful of his elders.

I love when Kaz goes into acting mode™️

I need more of it

lol Kaz saying “Oh dear, I think you dropped your wallet.” like he’s a respectable lad

Matthias watched in disbelief, Smeet opened his billfold and drew out a crisp five-kruge bill. “There you are, young man. Pays to be honest.”

I’m cackling

That honest young man just robbed you of your dog whistle, put it back again, stole valuable information on one of your clients and threatened your daughter—

Matthias could not fathom it. He’d kept his gaze trained on Kaz’s gloved hands as he’d fussed over Smeet, but even knowing that Kaz intended to return the whistle, Matthias hadn’t been able to detect the moment of deception. He was tempted to drag Smeet back and make Kaz perform the trick again.

Kaz neatened his hair with his fingers and handed the five kruge to Wylan. “Don’t spend it all in one place. Let’s move.”

Please why is this so funny? I’m dying-

Kaz just keeps reaffirming that he’s secretly a demjin in Matthias eyes

But same Matthias. I’d want to see that trick a hundred times

And Kaz giving Wylan the money?

Hilarious 😂

Matthias just thought that Kaz is twice as insufferable ever since Inej got taken

He needs her 😭

He’s definitely worried about her

I wonder just how often the others will note his increasingly worse moods

They made it back to Black Veil

It was weird they already came here in the show but it was also very cool to see the cemetery

I guess it just sets it up as a future haunt for later… *ba-dum tssh* get it? Haunt.. cause.. cause it’s a cemetery—

I love that Jesper and Nina are in an argument when Kaz, Wylan, and Matthias arrive

Kaz is just like.. “now now children stop being stupid and shut up-“

He literally herds them along with his cane

Freddy please use the cane for more gestures in the future! I’m begging 🙏

“Stop gawking like you’ve never seen a girl in a dress before, Matthias.”

“I wasn’t gawking,” Matthias said with as much dignity as he could muster. But for Djel’s sake, what was he supposed to look at when Nina had irises tucked between … everything.

“Be quiet, Brekker,” Nina said. “I like it when he gawks.”

It’s your own fault they’re back together Kaz

I love Nina

And I can totally hear Danielle saying that line

Matthias knew Nina would allow herself no comfort until Inej was safe.

Aww ninej ���💕

I love their friendship

All the crows love Inej so much

Kuwei poked his head out of the huge stone tomb as they approached.

“What did I tell you?” Kaz growled, pointing his cane at him.

“My Kerch isn’t very good,” protested Kuwei.

“Don’t run game on me, kid. It’s good enough. Stay in the tomb.”

Kuwei hung his head. “Stay in the tomb,” he repeated glumly.

lol

I just like this interaction

Kaz calling anyone kid is kind of funny. Like dude you can’t be anymore than four years older than him

Poor Kuwei though

If I’m being honest I never cared much for him before I guess we’ll see if that changes after this reread

I’ve definitely been sympathizing for him more

The tomb was constructed to look like an ancient cargo ship, its interior carved into a vast stone hull. It even had stained-glass portholes that cast rainbows on the crypt floor in the late afternoon.

I had forgotten it looked like a boat so I’m glad the show got it right!

We always talk about Nina and Kaz’s sibling energy in the fandom and I love it, but I’m getting sibling energy from her and Jesper too and I’m living!

He turned his gaze on Matthias. “The Fjerdans are here too. They’ve got a whole contingent of drüskelle with them.

Oh rip I didn’t realize they knew the drüskelle were there so early

Kaz continued. “Once we have Inej, we can move on Van Eck’s silos.”

Nina rolled her eyes. “Good thing this is all about getting our money and not about saving Inej. Definitely not about that.”

“If you don’t care about money, Nina dear, call it by its other names.”

I’m probably reading way too much into this but

Kaz called Inej, Inej here.

Not the Wraith or a spider

He cares about Inej. He didn’t call her by her other names

It’s probably not meant to be read like this at all

Especially since in the next breath Kaz calls money freedom, security, and retribution to help appease Nina’s disapproval and of course to slightly mock her…

Yeah I’m definitely going off the rails, but it’s just a thought I had

Inej is his first priority though, can’t deny that one

Matthias heard Wylan murmur to Jesper, “Why won’t he just say he wants her back?”

“You’ve met Kaz, right?”

“But she’s one of us.”

Unfortunately Kaz is emotionally constipated

“Inej is part of the crew.”

“Just don’t push it.”

“Why not?”

“Because the practical thing would be for Kaz to auction Kuwei to the highest bidder and forget about Inej entirely.”

“He wouldn’t—” Wylan broke off abruptly, doubt creeping over his features.

None of them really knew what Kaz would or wouldn’t do. Sometimes Matthias wondered if even Kaz was sure.

Wylan trying to stand up for Inej is wonderful

But man this hurts

None of them believe that Kaz wouldn’t just leave them all to die if it was ever more convenient for him

I don’t believe that for a second but…

This emotional constipation is getting dangerous Kaz-

None of them trust you-

Just let them in alReAdy—

Also Jesper and Wylan talking like Kaz isn’t just right there and can’t hear them

He can definitely hear them

“Once the job is done, Kuwei—and any other convicts, Grisha, and disinherited youths who may or may not have prices on their heads—can lie low in the Southern Colonies.”

Jesper frowned. “Where will you be?”

“Right here. I’ve still got plenty of business that requires my attention.”

There he goes

Getting everyone their money and then just pushing them all away

Though Kaz’s tone was easy, Matthias heard the dark anticipation in his words. He had often wondered how people survived this city, but it was possible Ketterdam would not survive Kaz Brekker.

Some of Matthias’ thoughts about Kaz are such bangers

“Kuwei cleared his throat. “I would prefer to go to Ravka.”

“I’d prefer a pair of sable-lined swimming trunks,” said Jesper. “But we can’t always get what we want.”

I love Jesper so much

“Do you really think an antidote is possible?” Nina asked.

“I don’t know,” said Kuwei. “My father was a Fabrikator. I am just an Inferni.”

“You’re our chemist, Wylan,” said Nina hopefully. “What do you think?”

Wylan shrugged. “Maybe. Not all poisons have an antidote.”

Jesper snorted. “That’s why we call him Wylan Van Sunshine”

Ah the famous Wylan Van Sunshine quote

And wouldn’t you know it’s Jesper being sarcastic

There was a long, tense pause, then Kaz ran a gloved thumb over the crease of his trousers and said, “Nina, love, translate for me? I want to make sure Kuwei and I understand each other.”

“Kaz—” she said warningly.

Kaz shifted forward and rested his hands on his knees, a kind older brother offering some friendly advice.

The very worst older brother you could ever have

Sorry Kaz but it’s true..

I was about to say the speech he gives Kuwei isn’t so terrifying but uh.. I was wrong

It’s pretty awful actually

“You are a stolen painting, Kuwei. Too recognizable to sell on the open market, too valuable to leave lying around. You are worthless to me.”

Like.. yikes

This is why they all worry you’d leave them bleeding out in a ditch if it suited you, Kaz-

“Kuwei responded in Shu. She hesitated. “He says you’re cruel.”

“I’m pragmatic. If I were cruel, I’d give him a eulogy instead of a conversation. So, Kuwei, you’ll go to the Southern Colonies, and when the heat has died down, you can find your way to Ravka or Matthias’ grandmother’s house for all I care.”

“Leave my grandmother out of this,” Matthias said.”

No you’re definitely cruel Kaz but uh.. okay-

The grandmother comments are making me cackle though

Oh my gosh this is so perfect actually since we know that Calahan’s real grandma watches the show!

“Okay Cal, I have watched 5 and 6 and you are still in prison! 😳”

That is a real text Calahan got from his grandma about season 2 of the show

The knife that had killed Muzzen had been meant for Matthias, and the Fjerdans might well be responsible. The drüskelle. His brothers. They’d wanted him to die without honor, murdered in an infirmary bed. It was a death fit for a traitor. It was the death he had earned. Now Matthias owed Muzzen a blood debt, but how would he ever pay it?

I was just thinking about the guy they left at hellgate the other day 😬

But if the drüskelle killed a guy helpless in a prison cell it’s no surprise what happens to Matthias later…

Also I think Muzzen and Jesper must have been friends… he’s the most upset by his death

Jes was sad about Big Bolliger last book too

“There’s something else,” said Rotty. “Someone’s kicking up dust looking for Jesper.”

“His creditors will have to wait,” said Kaz, and Jesper winced.

“No,” Rotty said with a shake of his head. “A man showed up at the university. Jesper, he claims he’s your father.”

Ooh

Here comes Mr. Fahey!!

Colm! I like Colm

First | Previous | Next

[very-straight-blog]

2023 CHARACTER WRAPPED - share your top nine characters for this year. I decided it was a good challenge to remember what I was doing this year lol.

9. Sebastian Sallow

We finally got a great Slytherin character. My year started with this game - studying Hogwarts with Sebastian and Ominis was amazing.

8. Neteyam

My only mighty warrior. This boy deserved better.

7. Nikolai Lantsov

This guy charmed me first after reading the books, then after watching the series. A wonderful, complex character.

6. Kaz Brekker

As a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder, I feel this guy on a special level.

5. Coriolanus Snow

I will fight for him, this poor boy has done nothing wrong.

4. Astarion

His story made me cry, laugh, feel all possible feelings at the same time.

3. Ivar the Boneless

My beautiful, traumatized, strong boy. After the last episode of the series, I cried for another hour. His death really broke my heart.

2. Aemond Targaryen

He is the most similar to me in character.

The one an only - Aegon Targaryen!

My most beloved boy, my main obsession of this year. The character who brought me back to the fandom life, made me write things on Tumblr and feel THINGS again. The man who inspires me every day for six months now.

[ofswordsandsorcery]

My thoughts on SHADOW & BONE S2

SHADOW AND BONE SEASON 2 SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

GRISHA VERSE SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

!!!!SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT!!!!

I wrote this while watching, so it's really chaotic

Also, I haven't read any of the books in a while, so forgive me for not remembering how to correctly write the names and probably forgetting stuff :D

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED CLICK OFF THERE ARE SPOILERS HERE

Episode 1

A privateer actually, it's an important distinction

Take your fuckin shoes off the bed

TAMAR AND TOLYA FUCKING ICONIC

Episode 2

THE BOOK, IT'S LIVES OF SAITS, OH SAINTS IS IT BEAUTIFUL

"you live in a single moment I live in a thousand"

You're old as shit we get it

Nina Zenik is a fucking menace and I am SO living for it

Also, we love a queen that eats <3

Oh oh Nikolai trying to steal Mal's girlfriend i see

Tamar and Alina interaction ahsjsjsjsj

The bonding over being shu han???

Awww, i loveee themm

You are FANCY CARGO

I'M DYING

Wylan and Nikolai working together would be the end of the world as we know it

HE SAID THE LINE

HE SAID IMPROBABLE

I- I CAN'T OMGGG

I thought the girl working for Aleksander was Zoya for a sec and i was SO confused

Aww, Wylan he's beyond thrilled, he just doesn't show it love

FUTURE HUBBYYS

Jes getting his fucking hat before leaving is everything

Episode 3

Soaaring flyyyyinnn

Nikolai is one hell of an inventor

Jes and Wylan on a missionnn *in a singing voice*

Nina giving Kaz contra >>>

Ajsjyjsjsjs Prince Nikolai reveal i am jsksksjsj AN ICON, truly

You lying bastard

Whack

Even more iconic

David and Genyaaaaa

I love David

I'm still so incredibly mad

On an unrelated note: Lewis Tan is one fine man

A casting decision I actually love

Side eye to Nikolai

(sorry paddy, nothing against you, you are doing a wonderful job just really not how I imagined Nikolai to look at ALL)

Nadja meets Tamar

Brb, I'm going to turn in to a useless queer

Also, I love Aldrick

ZOYALINA ZOYALINA ZOYALINA

Fuck allies, you need a wife

I am so living for Wylan begrudgingly agreeing with Jes

Wylans horrified stare at the piano playing omg and the little flinch

"He's really good" lol

Jes is so falling in love with Wylan over his piano playing skills

That LOOK

YOU KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT THAT IS SO CUTE I'M CRYING

Uhhh, kaz inej fight lol

Let me bandage it for you even tho i am deadly afraid of touching skin

Ahhh, communication

Omg the subtle shaking? The fear in his eyes? Well done.

What's your telll?

The cane the limp, know ones ever smart enough to look for the real one????

It's not what you think??

Nina is like yeah, take your bullshitting elsewhere

Ahaaa

I LOVE seeing that friendship develop.

Shit at first dates lmao

Love you Nina

Kaz fighting scene omg

Badass.

Crow club takeover? What?

Y'all I wasn't prepared for this

So much is happening at once, help

Eww he licked the knife? Bah

Go Inej, get his ass..

THE HAIR FLIP

INEJ INEJ INEJ INEJ INEJJJJJ

BABES YOU'RE FUCKING BADASS

Wow the prayer

So much emotionnnn

Ajhsjsjsj

Vladim, what are you doing love

General Kirigan what the actual fuck

That.. Is your mom

The horror on David's face

I feel the same way tho

I HaVe a PrOPosAL

Shut up Nikolai, you're gonna get punched again and you're face is actually to pretty for that...

STOP IT. They're holding hands

I repeat THEY ARE HOLDING HANDS

This is a fucking emotional roller-coaster

I'm not going anywhere - walks away

Thanks Jes, for saying what i thought

Jesper you little fuck

Don't betray Wylan like that?

Wylan talking about how Alby isn't responsible for who his father is

Van Eck im FUCKING LOOKING AT YOU

Oh Mathias my poor boy <3 he seriously needs a hug...

What's your price? Nuh uh

Episode 4

Vasily you idiot

TAMARR <3

Razrusha'ya

Ruined? I AM NOT RUINED I AM RUINATION

Baghra the wise im cackling

I KINDA LIKE YOUR FACE?

Jes you can't just drop that casually and then move one as if fucking nothing happend????

No mourners no funerals and it's almost all of my babies

Nadjas impressed look at Tamar and her axes has me SOBBING

TOLYA WITH HIS BOOOK

LOVE

That was a long time ago

Yeah oops

Make him kneel make him kneel make him kneel omg

That whole scene is so fucking good i had to actually rewatch it multiple times before i could move on

Tolya and Tamar supremacy <3

Not The POETRYYY

Tamar and Tolya meeting the crows??? Holy shit

This has taken so many twists and turns and loopings what

You could... Come with me??

Wylans lil shrug???? I'm actually crying

Kit's acting in the confession scene? SPECTACULAR the glances, the lil eye roll before be gathers the full courage, the little waver in his voice when he does confess??

A WYLAN KISS? WHAT I DID NOT EXPECT THAT AT ALL

HELP

HELP

HELPPPPP

Maybe you need a reminder?? The laughs the giggles I'm going to spontaneously combust

Wtf kaz

I worry about you?

I can't have a weak link in my crew?

You're a bloody idiot, is what you are

Nina should kock some sense into that head of yours after what you just said you moron

I think Rollins knocked it outa ya

And king he shall be

Just not yet oops

Unhinged Genya? hell yes!!!!

Ahhh, Baghra, you sly fucker

Not Adrik

Not him

Please not him

Jesper, Inej and Nina solidarity

Jes loves the gossip so much ahahahah

Episode 5

Genya not wanting David to see her because she's afraid of what he'll think hurts my heart

Genyalina hug supremacy

Baghra said sobatchka

I'm crying. This is not the time but omh

YOU DON'T NEED FIXING

Damn right she doesn't.

Tolya looking at the bowl of food is literally me

NINA AND TOLYA BONDING OVER FOOD

NOT WHAT I THOUGHT I'D GET BUT NOW I NEED MORE, OH LORD

I'm not here for you whoops

Oh Jes, you said the wrong thing baby

Bhez Ju? It looks INCREDIBLE!!!

Tolya being like wtf is going on with you and wylan is gold

I know metal

David i love you

The gentle forehead press

What did you do to him

Tolya giving relationship advice to jesper avout wylan I'm going to cry

Nvm I'm actually already crying

Nina trying to talk to Kaz about tea had me laughing so hard

Tolya snacking all the time, we love it

Zoya honestly

Tolyas comment about soldiers, i love that

Episode 6

MAMA

I'm laughing so hard

Poor Mal

He doesn't deserve any of this

The thief is so beautiful

And she's so badass

SHE'S DOING A GRISHA VERSION OF BLOODBENDING??? THAT IS GENIUS

Lol she's giving it to Jesper

I think she knows he's a special one

Love her so much

Another Wesper kiss??? Also, Tolya's knowing face lmao

Mathias = slab of fur and i will not refer to him as anything else ever again

Episode 7

Why on earth is everyone losing their hands?

This is ridiculous

Let me introduce you to Inej - Badass of the Barrel

Uh oh is right you witch

The crows join, it's over you idiots

Not the cane, that's a sacrilege what you just did.

Sibling reunion I'm sobbing over that hug

Um, Mal u okay hun?

Episode 8

Not kaz giving his cane away what is happening???

My Man

MY MAN

MY MAN

Kaz and Tolya bonding over Poetry? Of all things? love it

Ah ah ah is that an upward lip tug i see Kaz?

Jes... Why did you ruin the moment like that?

There's six of you you morons

Just don't know it yet lovelies

Have i said i don't like Genya's eye thing? It just looks so cheap

He wants an investment lol

Kaz you fuking idiot

You actually have to say it you know

Oof, the I want- I want you

Gives me the same vibes as i love, i love, i love you

How many fucking flying ships do they have?

Nah wtf is this Inej & Tolya shit

What's with the suggestive camera angles, stop that

Actually, i like the sturmhond look on Mal

Inej on the boat taking over slaver ships

So many things i didn't think I'd see this season omg

Ketterdam what kinda fucked up, out of proportion moon do you have???

Ugh not the apparat

Fuck off already, i didn't miss you at ALL

For a man of faith...

Love you for that, sobachka

Finally a better eye patch

Zoya you actually could lol

Are we going to get a triumvirate sitch with Alina?

Omgg yesss

You finally gonna go to Fjerda huh

I AM SO LIVING FOR THE DRESSES

EXCEPT ZOYAS... WHERE'S THE SIGNATURE BLUE SILVER?

Not that it doesn't look good just...

Talk about show stopping, am i right

Well, that's a way to end the show

Additional things I LOVED

- The show name at the beginning of every episode

- The different languages >>>>

- everything Tolya does

-Patrick Gibson as Nikolai, the longer I watched the better it got

What I did NOT like:

- lots of things actually but I have decided for myself that from here I'll just see the show as something different from the books and cherish it for what it is

-David and Genya having literally five seconds before he died? WTF? David was supposed to be here longer :/

-that they put SO MUCH into this season? like so much is happening at once and then they introduce additional stuff??? Felt a little rushed to me... Like were kinda already at the point of King of Scars but at the same time the SOC plotline is so ripped apart? I am confused...

[thewingedwolf]

I broke this up bc it was getting embarrassingly long, here’s my thoughts on the crows storylines going into s2, pls be aware i ship every possible iteration of the crows together in a very romantic context, i Will Be referring to Jesper as both Kaz and Inej’s boyfriend, bc he IS DAMMIT.

anyways after all that mal talk and speaking of “clearly in love and coping with it as best he can”, I think it’s very funny that Jesper looks more like he got caught doing something embarrassing by his crush (bc that’s exactly what it is) than actually chastised by his boss for straight up abandoning his job to go gamble. he tends to look imo way more embarrassed at Kaz snapping at him in Ketterdam than he does when they’re out and about, probably bc it’s like “in front of all our friends babe? really?”

Also - jesper abandoning his job to go gamble. oh poor baby. they’ve set it up as like A Problem but it’s sort of quirky funny right now, while not being the butt of the joke either. the joke is more “kaz is annoyed by jesper’s gambling and jesper charmingly brushes it off bc he’s a goof” but Clearly, jesper gambling away their money instead of just buying coal later on is a problem.

Everyone calls Kaz boss right in front of Perr Haskell’s salad lollllll i know they do this in the book too and i think it’s just as funny

Once again speaking of “dumb bitch trying to hide his crush & failing miserably” I love that Inej is having a literal religious experience realizing a sun summoner has been born when Alexie tells them about alina, looks at Kaz in excitement, realizes he hasn’t even twitched, and goes back to being excited. Kaz meanwhile, pointedly looks everywhere But at inej until after he notices Inej has stopped staring at him, and THEN he watches her reaction. Just the biggest dumb ass alive.

Also Jesper “apparently i’m a big softie” Fahey being genuinely distressed when Alexie is killed while once again, Kaz refuses to react.

Jesper evades Inej’s unsaid question about Kaz & Pekka, then immediately asks Kaz “did pekka recognize you” so he knows SOMETHING WHY DOES HE KNOW AND WHAT DID KAZ TELL HIM.

related to that but jesper is less obviously in love with Kaz in the show, & seems ok w Kaz bossing him around bc they’re genuinely friends vs Jesper bitches waaaay more (with good reason) in the books about being Kaz’s errand boy - show!Kaz is the boss & still a big bitch, but Kaz trusted Jesper w some truth of his past OR Jesper was there when Something happened, so Jesper lets the bitchiness slide. More even footing, and i think it was a good change, esp as Kaz gets more withdrawn & erratic as Pekka’s plans start to fail, bc now jesper knows why.

Note that while Kaz is just as much of a bitch to Jesper as in the books, he also just as clearly loves him. “Watch the door” “Come along we have a new job” all these orders that Jesper follows with only mild complaining, but they’re *important* jobs that Kaz only trusts Jesper with. It’s that Kaz only trusts Jesper & Inej to watch his back, but he shows it by being the biggest bitch alive lol.

A lot of the changes to the Crows seem to be an attempt to put Jesper & Inej on slightly more even footing with Kaz. That they could leave (bc Inej has paid off her indenture to him) but choose to stay with him. That they know why he hates Pekka, or more keenly suspect the reason he hates Pekka. What i wonder is if it’s in preparation for the soc/ck storylines, where Kaz gets a lot more reckless, so the writers want him to seem slightly less unlikeable to show only watchers who don’t get to peek inside his head & see how much he loves the crows even when he’s being a dink.

OR if it’s a purposeful contrast to the Darklng - both very powerful men who love the color black & are allergic to doing the right thing, but Kaz spends half his story line trying to liberate Inej, trusts Jesper with the truth & needles at both of them, but isn’t explicitly forcing either to do something they don’t want to do. while the Darklng at every turn further undermines Alina’s power, and keeps Zoya, Genya, David, & Nina in the dark about his real motivations, & we can SEE already how guilty David, Genya, and Zoya feel about continuing to follow his orders no matter how cruel.

Once Again speaking of dumb ass bitches who can’t hide their crush, the way Nina is ready to beat the shit out of Matthias, and even then, powerless, alone, weak, and so clearly just the exact sort of threatening, seductful Grisha the Fjerdans warn against, Matthias is struck by Nina’s humanity, her point that grisha are never found innocent, her anger in the face of certain doom. they speak one (1) time and he’s like “cool time to forget everything i’ve ever been taught so i can be this weird mean lady’s malewife” aksjjdjd

the sequence of the trio with the conductor in the fold is so entertaining, the comedic timing of them all sniping at each other, and jesper walking up to kill the volcra while clutching milo, and the way he closes his eyes and trusts his abilities as a grisha to send the bullet where it needs to go. chefs kiss, no notes.

“i’d rather starve than be a traitor” is the moment Matthias really starts to understand Nina is just as human as he is, bc she’s just as stubborn and loyal as he is, but when she spits the bread back in his face is the moment i think he falls in love with her. Loyal, stubborn, and too much for Matthias to even comprehend.

Jesper being delighted by Inej’s acrobat abilities and Inej letting him shoot a gun at her face and Kaz just nopes out of that shit immediately truly the most chaotic throuple.

The deep breathing as Kaz tries to ignore the he pain and walk without a limp & all his pained noises as he’s running around, jumping up into the carriage, etc has me like “haha i do that” aksjs

something something inej always looks to kaz when Something Religious is happening because faith is something she has always shared with the people she loves, but she’s always met with Kaz’s impassive insistence that faith is nothing more than a parlor trick. but still she always looks to him to share her faith. and it’s always there, just underneath - he doesn’t feel the need to share those moments bc the only saint he’s ever looked to was Inej & despite himself, he’s eager to share those moments with her, the ones where they fight together and save each other.

Kaz being so shitty with the Darklng bc he realizes how Aleksander has mistreated & isolated Alina is so fucking good. He’s a criminal but he has like, standards lmao. A straight con is one thing, but Kaz always dislikes rich people being cruel to people they’re supposed to care about for Rich People Reasons (see: his thinly veiled dislike for Jan even pre-Jan Stealing Inej).

“You’re loud and you’re lewd” while staring directly at Nina’s mouth, get it together Matthias you’re embarrassing yourself akksjs

Kaz moves towards Inej when she’s injured like he wants to hold her up but immediately stops short & looks anxious, turns to Jesper sort of helplessly, but Jesper is already moving to help Inej, probably picking up quickly that Kaz won’t. And then Kaz just stands there looking like he feels like a shit for not helping her, no Wonder he’s so shitty with Jesper when they get to the Fold, he’s just mad about the whole thing aksjdj like “oh now you like Jes more than me huh” kaz, inej has always liked Jes more than you bc he’s more likeable

what’s interesting about kaz the whole season is that he refuses to explicitly tell inej that he will protect her from tante heleen, bc admitting that out loud is admitting a) that he gave up the crow club to protect her already and b) he loves her. so he skirts around it whenever she brings it up, which makes inej suspicious (with good reason - he owns her indenture and it makes their dynamic inherently unbalanced. he wouldn’t do it but that doesn’t meant he couldn’t do it - he has the power to sell her right back into slavery) and she brings this up, only for kaz to continue skirting around the issue. When she outright asks if he’s threatening to sell her, and he once again refuses to give a clear answer, she seems to make the decision to cut her losses & ditch ketterdam. it’s only when facing the fact that she might actually leave him that Kaz finally forces himself to open up to her - and not just open up but meet Inej on her level. Admit Alina is a sun summoner, and share in her feelings of faith, but not of faith in saints and intangible power, faith in her. And Kaz bringing that little bit of wall down convinces her to stay - she will have him without walls or she will not have him at all, and Kaz will always choose to painstakingly confront his trauma over truly losing Inej.

I like how often Matthias, similar to Kaz (and boy would they both hate that comparison lol), dances around his feelings by changing the subject and cutting the tension, and Nina (just like her girl Inej) simply refuses to let him run. I just love the way he tries to end the conversation and Nina straight up tells him no. Won’t let him make a joke about the whaler’s hut. Won’t let him take the easy way out and pretend there isn’t something between them. She forces him to admit his feelings, and to find a solution. it goes to shit immediately but the point is just like inej will not take shit from kaz, nina has her limits with matthias. and both men see they are approaching they limit, and back down to meet their girls at the level they need. i love the crows so fucking much.

“i will keep you warm” MATTHIAS PLEASE. YOU ARE EMBARRASSING YOU ME AND DJEL.

I also love the kerch sailor being like “hey you kefta wearing fuck if u don’t think kerch will go to war over a few bucks you are out of your goddamn mind” and fedyor KNOWS he’s telling the truth akskd

I could write a book about Nina and Matthias’ final scene, and the Crows final scene, the way all 5 of them have no one in the world but each other, desperate when they walk into Kerch, but certainly not alone.

[demonsfate]

ashdkfk so true!!!! You are absolutely right on everything!! Boy it is SO refreshing to read opinions like yours because I feel like many people love to bring the same thing about "but Jin created a war--" WELL. Actually! that wasn't Jin. idc what Harada says, but at least he saw the huge mistake he made and is now kinda fixing it on T8. I really like DJ but.. he's *not* Jin. But yeah, I'm not surprised someone said that about Josie :/ ... I've read other things re the female characters, especially about Xiaoyu and Asuka. Whenever someone says they're generic or smth I go "Can't read suddenly idk". As you said Tek has lots of unserious stuff. And it was one of the things that bothered me on 7 bc the Mishimas had their serious storyline while the rest were like,, for the lulz.. I don't think they even bothered to do more than that.

Also the thing you said about Heihachi took me out lmao. I wouldn't be surprised if they bring him back, SOMEHOW. But thank you! Tbh I get hyped whenever I see your posts getting hyped over T8 (if that makes sense?? my English sucks) love how you write Jin! I can’t wait for the game. Hopefully, it will be as great as it looks. I need it like yesterday lol. Btw, I'm starting to think I should go by "hype anon" or something(??)' (I'm going to stop talking now this is way too long I'm sorry! :| )

Thank you!! And YEAH - it's easy to look at a character, and poor writing, and see that it's something the character wouldn't do, and say "this isn't the character lol." But the Tek fandom just CAN'T seem to wrap that around their head!

I like DJ a lot, too! But totes, he's not Jin!

Now it seems like we now have 'em both referring to each other as different people! And well, I guess ppl forgot this - but even in TK2, we saw Kaz fighting against Devil Kaz. Which may just be seen as symbolism - but in TK4, Devil Kaz even refers to Kaz by name, asking what he's doing. (And plus Heihachi didn't recognize Devil Kaz as Kaz.) So because of this, I always saw DJ and Jin as different people - just habiting the same body. I also find this concept to be much more interesting than trying to claim DJ is just "Jin but evil!11!!1 his dark desires!!1!!!" Just because that concept if sooo generic and overused for fighting games. Mortal Kombat has their revenants which is just that, and Street Fighter as Ryu and Evil Ryu. And since I wrote in the MK fandom once - I already wrote that concept and I'm bored with it. Jin and DJ being enemies who are forced to share a body is very fascinating to me.

So, that's also why I roll my eyes when I see ppl say that TK6's writing is "justified" because DJ represents what Jin really wants. (Fuck off with thaaat.) And even if somehow, someway, Jin did go "dark." I don't see him behaving like DJ. I see Jin behaving more angrier and aggressive - but not sadistic and maniacally laughing and stuff.

Funny thing is - I actually wasn't too happy with Xiao's depiction in the Bloodline anime because I felt they made her more generic than she is in the games. XD Imo, not many of the Tek characters are "generic." Yes, they all have tropes. (Xiao's the bubbly schoolgirl, Jin's the stoic main character.) But like, many characters are built upon established tropes. It's how they're written and how they actually act with those tropes that make them unique. I really don't see how Asuka's generic. Even if she can be a bit pointless to her family's story, she can be entertaining as a character personality wise imo.

AND YEAHHH - I may also be in the minority who didn't completely hate the TK7 story like many people do. But I def agree they fucked the other characters up completely. Like yeah, I still have gripes about the TK7 story - but at least it was taken seriously. And Heihachi did stuff and was taken seriously again. (Unlike you know, in TK5 and TK6 where he has endings of him sending his family to... Space to kill them.) But my God, I finally got around to unlocking all the character endings a few months ago and TK7 probably has the worst character endings - maybe even worse than TK6 (if not just as bad. As TK6 wasn't all juvenile humor, but a lot of them was just short 30 seconds of Nothing Happening) I'd say Miguel probably had the best ending - if it didn't remind of TK6 and made me angry because of that.

I feel like they will bring back Heihachi - even just to be in the roster, and not alive. Just because even if the character is dead - players still liked his style, and therefore, enjoyed playing as him. I feel like they could pull a Kazumi, and have Heihachi in a flashback, and thus he can be in the roster because of that. Lots of people are saying "they could make clone or robo Heihachi - or even a new apprentice!" But really, I think Flashback Heihachi is most likely. Honestly, I wouldn't really mind if TK8 brought in a lot of "dead" characters as DLC. Like they're just DLC, and most Tek characters have no impact on the story anyway (LOL) So... what would be the big deal? It'd be nice to see Jinpachi or Ogre again.

Don't worry about your English! You haven't said anything that was unclear to me yet, so it's been all good! And thank you soooo very much about that!!! I love writing this character, and I love my concepts - so it's always joyful to know others do, too. <3 And I really like talking to you about the games! As said, it gives me an excuse as well to ramble all my ideas! Which is funny bc you were worried about going on to long, but now I'm going on way too long. xD

[not-bcring]

"Kokichi-" Name sounding somewhat foreign from the overlords lips, he was frazzled, near manic in his movements from the very moment the little leader walked through the door. "My mother, how did she fair when you left her? Was she well?" A bitter laugh, his phone being tossed to the bed as he ran a shaky hand through his hair and mussed it from its usual perfect coif. "What a fool question, of course she is not well. She- She would not have gone otherwise." He wasn't making much sense as he started to pace about the room, his phone being picked up, checked for a moment, and then tossed back to the bed only for the cycle to repeat a moment later. "She said not to worry, that there was no need to be with her, but she would not have gone if she was well." Scooping up the phone one last time and shoving it in his pocket, Gundham struggled for a moment with his near violent shaking as he frantically tried to put on his coat and then scarf, making it halfway to the door before realizing he wasn't wearing his boots. "I...I need to see her, you and Kazuichi will fair without me, yes? The devas, I will leave them with you as well, I do not wish for them to see her in such a state." He says that, but he didn't seem to notice the hamsters already making their way into his scarf, the little creatures knowing that the breeder needed their support now more than ever. Breaking through the panic was a sudden flash of anger, Gundham throwing a boot across the room to bounce off the desk chair when he failed again and again to zip it up. "Blasted thing! I do not have the time!" With the state he was in, it was very clear that he should not be driving, and most definitely shouldn't be alone... //i Needed something with this lol kichi should call kaz to drive cause gun is....Not Okay...... -  ✩   「 @the-ultimate-muses 」   ✩

「 ☆ 」 The day had been going pretty damn good for the Little Supreme Leader and he hadn't even made the people at Hope's Peak miserable to attain it. An oddity that brightened everyone else's day too. Instead, his chaos had been diverted outward to the poor civilians and the cops in charge of keeping them in line. Kokichi Ouma and Naomi Tanaka an unstoppable force when combined, that even death seems hesitant to cross their path. As if it knows it'll only be bested by the two firecrackers.

That's how Kokichi always thought of them, anyway... When he's around Naomi, he forgets to be careful. Hesitating in the face of danger is still an uncomfortable concept for him. Knowing that his life has value, even if it's only to his boyfriends... and maybe Naomi. But that's different and she'd bounce back quickly from anything that could happen to him. She'd still have her ACTUAL son, after all. Kokichi doesn't belong to her. He's never belonged to a mom and he never will. But Naomi is still a great friend cohort. Letting Kokichi revert back to his reckless ways, just without the actual INTENT or desire to harm himself in the process.

Not that it would matter if he did want to... because they're invincible together. Naomi Tanaka keeps up with him like almost no one ever has. She's an immortal being who doesn't know what being tired even FEELS like. Which is stupid to think and deep down, Kokichi knows it's not true. But closer to the surface, more prominently felt— alongside a desire for acceptance from an authority figure who understands his need to rebel against authority —is a need for someone immortal. An untouchable being safe from his bullshit. Dependable. Constant. What a mother is supposed to be. The inner child who needs that clings to this belief hard enough for it to bleed, claws digging into every moment spent with a cruel certainty there will be more.

A certainty that is shaken as soon as he steps through the door.

Startled by Gundham's manic movements, Kokichi quickly shuts the door behind him so no one else can witness the others lack of composure. Broken as his ramblings, Gundham still manages to get the message across— more or less —Kokichi's quick wit putting the puzzle together despite the missing pieces. When one talks in riddles as often as he does, they get adept at deciphering them. Blood running cold as his active imagination paints a horrific picture, Kokichi shoves aside the inner lies, knowing their only goal is to make things more difficult for him. With how much Gundham is struggling, Kokichi can't afford to be hindered.

While Gundham struggles to get dressed, Kokichi whips out his phone and hastily texts Kazuichi. Knowing Gundham is full of shit if he thinks he can handle driving anywhere alone— he can't even handle leaving the room on his own —he lets Kaz know what's wrong, as far as Kokichi understands it. Urging him to come to the dorm ❛ quickly as possible because- ❜ Breath catching and a yelp forcibly dying in his throat ( no easy feat, but one Kokichi has mastered ) texting is interrupted by the sudden BOOM of a boot hitting the chair. A minuscule problem when compared to the scale of what is going on, but one that causes Kokichi's body to stiffen on instinct.

Heart hammering loud enough to nearly drown out Gundham's ranting thanks to the sudden rush of adrenaline, wide eyes snap to his boyfriend without Kokichi fully realizing it. Intently focused upon the screaming man, waiting for another attack threat outburst as he warily eases away a few silent steps like a frightened animal. Only aware of his instinctive retreat when he feels the scampering of small paws on his person, Kokichi's movements come to a clumsy halt. Startling at first, nearly falling over at the unexpected contact, panic fades with a hushed exhale as a small ferret effortlessly crawls around his body to settle on his shoulders.

Long body draped across the back of Kokichi's neck as if an accessory, beady eyes are riveted on Gundham with a protective intensity. Tiny claws dig into Kokichi's shoulder, small pinpricks through his clothes serving as a constant reassurance that Jester is there. Still as a statue aside from a tensing of his muscles and eyes following Gundham's every move, Jester watches so Kokichi doesn't have to.

Guilty as that concept makes him, Kokichi can't deny that it helps.

Rest of the text is sent without issue— ❛ Gundham needs you. ❜ —Kokichi able to focus. Emitting a sigh of relief and shakily pocketing his phone, he goes over to grab Gundham's discarded boot. Shifting himself so that he's fully perched on one shoulder now, Jester keeps Gundham in his sights while the little leader's back is turned. Not facing Gundham yet— he just needs a moment, that's all —Kokichi says as he stands, ❝ Pinky is on his way. ❞ Turning around, blank expression and blunt tone offers no room for argument. Crossing the room and holding out Gundham's boot, there's no sign of hesitance or fear as he says, ❝ He's going to drive us there. ❞ 「 ☆ 」

[jahayla-parker]

Underestimated : Kaz Brekker x Reader

Summary: Three times Kaz almost tells her but ultimately refuses to admit his feelings and One time Kaz finally confesses

Warning: typical SoC/S&B warnings of violence, trauma, fights, emotional suppression, etc. , Long lol

The first time was on a late night when y/n noticed how dirty and badly falling apart his gloves were. They were resting between the two of them as she watched Kaz markup the blueprint on his desk under the dull candlelight.

She was always trying to do nice things for the other crows, so she didn’t even think twice about her decision to sneak them from his room that night and take them to be cleaned and repaired.

She knew there was something special about the gloves but wasn’t sure if the specific gloves were the value themselves or if it was just simply having gloves on him he valued.

As a result, she didn’t want to risk damaging them more by using standard cleaners on them that she would be able to find around the slat.

So, she made a plan to slip them into her sweater when leaving his room that night; a skill Inej had taught her for heists.

From there, she’d take a short trip by boat to the next island where she was sure no one would recognize the gloves.

It started off well as Kaz left his gloves on the table as he always did at night as he got ready for bed.

It was very late but she’d stayed up with him most nights so he didn’t question it.

When he returned from the restroom something felt off but upon seeing y/n had left and that her book remained on his desk, he assumed that was the cause behind the sensation he had.

He made a mental note to ensure she got it back the next night and went to bed.

It wasn’t until he woke up the next day and grabbed his cane and hat that he realized his gloves were missing.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets as to not dispel the rumors as to why he wore them, he went down the stairs without his cane.

“No cane today boss?” Jesper asked immediately.

Ignoring him, Kaz looked around his group of crows and a few close dregs.

“Where’s my g-“ he began to ask, stopping only one he saw y/n wasn’t present at the breakfast table.

“Where’s y/n?” He asks firmly, looking towards Nina and Inej.

“Wait! We’re you going to say where’s my girl?” Nina smirks

Inej smirks but rolls her eyes, “there’s no way he told her his feelings”.

Kaz glared at both of them, “that is not what I was going to say. My gloves are missing if you must know”.

Nina sighs and snuggles back into Matthias more.

Inej shakes her head, “typical, the poor girl will never know how you feel”.

“I don’t feel anything, Inej” Kaz growls.

“Sure” she rolls her eyes.

Kaz glares at her again before returning to his question, “now, where is she?!”.

Inej shrugs, “I took a nap after tracking Naxious earlier”.

“She didn’t say anything to you?” Kaz questions looking at her and Nina.

“No, maybe she just slept in” Nina suggests.

“Or didn’t want to deal with you” Matthias adds.

Kaz glares at them both but grinds his teeth as he mentally reviews their interactions from the day before to see if that could be true.

He knew she wasn’t in her room, her room being immediately next to his allowed him to feel her presence or lack thereof.

But perhaps he did something to upset her, it wouldn’t be the first time.

However this would be an extreme reaction for her; usually, he’d just get a few glares, snide comments, or the silent treatment.

Unable to find anything unusual between them last night, he looked over to Jesper who was oddly quiet.

Wylan notices before Jesper and taps him and starts pointing to Kaz.

“Something you need to say Jes?” Kaz squints.

“No” Jesper says, looking away.

Kaz rolls his eyes and walks closer, his fists clenched inside his coat pocket.

“You all expect me to believe she left here this early without anyone asking her where she was going?” Kaz says, his frustration clear in his tone.

“Didn’t need to” Jesper smirks, winking as he takes a bite of his eggs.

“Excuse me?” Kaz presses, stepping closer.

“You know, when you’re handsome and nice to her, she’ll just tell you” Jesper grins.

Kaz’s glare intensifies, “I’m not going to ask again Jesper”.

Jesper rolls his eyes, “she had an errand to run”.

“Where?” Kaz demands.

“She said something about taking the boat to-“ he begins but Kaz turns around and walks back to his room.

He puts on his other set of gloves, wiggling his fingers to loosen up the stiff leather, before he grabs his cane.

He ignores the glances and gossip from the other crows as he makes his way out of the Crow Club and to the docks.

His crew manning the harbor immediately notice his presence and turn to face him.

“I did not say to stop working” he complains, resulting in them promptly returning to work.

“Rotty” Kaz demands, the dreg in question turning to face him.

“She left about six hours ago” Rotty says, not needing Kaz to ask his question.

“Where?” Kaz presses, staring at the icy water before them.

“Newfoort” Rotty answers, tensing as he waits for Kaz’s reaction.

Kaz forces a sarcastic laugh, “I believe I misheard you. I thought you said Newfoort”.

Rotty bites his inner lip, “I did sir”.

Kaz’s hand tightens on the crow’s head of his cane as he stares at Rotty, “you let her get on a boat to Newfoort?”

“You said she was free to go as she pleased” Rotty says, regret flashing over his face right after.

Kaz forcefully sighs, but nods his head once, “I did”.

Kaz normally had restrictions as to who could use their boats and ships and where his dregs and crows could go and when. It was the easiest way to be aware of issues before they arose.

Rotty was in charge of watching their harbors for any violations and reporting them to Kaz or Inej.

Y/n was an exception; the only exception to this rule.

Kaz knew her past and didn’t want to repeat it or trigger anything for her.

She’d run away from an abusive home and ended up captured and held against her will until she fought her way out.

He could see how she’d always tried to hide how anxious she got whenever they were in confined spaces, locked in anywhere, in handcuffs or restraints, or simply having restrictions on her freedoms.

Kaz tried to keep her out of the missions where those were required as often as he could.

He also made sure to demand Rotty let her pass in and out of Ketterdam as she pleased.

He’d told y/n he would not be the one to keep her from going wherever she needed or wanted.

Yet, here he was, on the docks, ready to strangle Rotty for having followed his orders.

Kaz told himself it was simply because he needed his gloves back. But he knew better....

It wasn’t his gloves being missing that made him feel this way.

Even if it had been, he had his others on him now.

Instead, he knew it was a result of something he fought so hard to resist.

As much as he hated the feeling, he feared for y/n.

He feared for her safety, her feelings, and her life.

He would of course never say this to her, she deserved far better than him.

Someone more kind and considerate.

Someone who could comfort her, hold her hand, kiss her.

“Did she go alone?” Kaz asked, returning from his dazed state.

“No boss. Specht went with her” Rotty says.

Kaz shifts his jaw silently to hide his relief.

“Very well. See to it she returns to the slat upon her arrival” Kaz muttered, glancing at the mysterious island of Newfoort once more before turning to leave.

Y/n had intended to only be gone a handful of hours, hoping to be back and have his repaired gloves on his desk before he even woke.

However, the island was new to both her and Specht.

In fact, as far as she knew, no one in the Dregs, not even Kaz himself had set foot on this island.

As a result, navigating their way to the shop took more time than anticipated.

While Specht kept watch, she waited inside the shop, not wanting to risk something happening to the gloves.

It’d taken hours for them to fix them, but when they were done, she barely recognized them.

She smiled, handed the worker some Kruge in return, and tucked them into her pocket.

She kept her hand wrapped over the gloves as she and Specht got back into the boat for Ketterdam.

“You know, he’s going to be awake and pissed when we get back” Specht laughed, starting to row.

“Has it really been that long?” She question, looking up at the sky which had now begun to glow through the fog.

When she looked back at him, Specht was smirking.

“I don’t know why you do it” he mumbled, shaking his head.

“What do you mean?” She asks, leaning back to stretch her legs.

“Try to do nice things for him. He’s the Bastard of the Barrel” Specht points out.

“And? That means I can’t be nice?” She sighs, raising an eyebrow at him.

He laughs, “not necessarily. It just means he’s not going to appreciate it, you’ll never get a thank you”.

“I’m not doing it to get a thank you” she informs him.

“Oh, I know” Specht laughs, the smirk returning to his face.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She inquires, crossing her arms over her chest now tha they were far enough out that no one could reach the gloves in her pocket.

“You like him” Specht taunts.

“I do not” y/n states, not sounding believable in the slightest.

She’d developed a crush on Kaz long ago.

The crows knew it and would always say he returned the feelings but she knew better.

Even if she was someone Kaz would like, he wouldn’t allow himself to. No matter what Nina said about her noticing his heart flutter around y/n.

“You’re a horrible liar. I thought you were good at keeping secrets” Specht teases.

“I’ve been up for over thirty six hours, give me a break” she laughs, her cheeks flushing red.

“Fair enough. I still want to understand how you could fall for… well him” he laughs.

She sighs and shrugs, not wanting to get into it.

“Why do you care so much?” She asks, looking at the dark blue waves around them.

“I have a sister, I need to make sure she doesn’t make the same mistake” Specht says.

“Rude. But, I didn’t know you had a sister” y/n responds, gladly changing the subject.

---

Yawning as he enters the crow club, y/n grips the gloves in her pocket tightly.

“Hey! You’re back!” Nina cheers, running over and hugging y/n.

Y/n laughs and hugs her briefly, “I am, I see I’ve been missed”.

“Of course” Inej grins.

“Not nearly as much as Kaz missed you though” Jesper smirks.

“Shut up Jesp” y/n laughs, brushing off his typical comment.

“He is looking for you though” Wylan admits.

“I know. Rotty was sure to let me know my presence has been demanded upon my return” she says, rolling her eyes.

“Then why are you down there gossiping?” Kaz’s voice booms over all of them.

Each crow turns their head in his direction, Kaz standing firmly on the top step, his cane tight in his hand as he stares down at them, his eyes narrowing on y/n.

She shakes her head and whispers to the crows, “talk to you all later”.

They all mutter their versions of good luck wishes as she begins to approach the stairs.

Once she’s reached the bottom step and he looks her over once, Kaz turns and enters his room.

She sighs and follows after him.

Kaz is silent as she joins him and sits at his desk.

After a few moments of intense silence with Kaz, y/n leans back in her chair, “you wanted to see me?”

Kaz raises an eyebrow at her and nods once, “I believe you know why”.

“Because I left” y/n states.

Kaz squints his eyes and can’t hide the confusion that momentarily shows in them.

“No. I don’t care that you left “ Kaz corrects.

She scoffs quietly, “good to know Kaz”.

“Y/n” he sighs, running his hand down his face, “that’s not what I meant”.

She shrugs but refuses to make eye contact with him as she plays off how she’s feeling.

Kaz let’s out a loud sigh again, this time in realization she’s not going to help him direct the conversation.

“You are free to leave as you wish. I believed you knew that this whole time” he adds.

She simply raises her gaze until he’s able to see her eyes again.

“I will not restrict you. Not like-“ he says, unsure if he needs to it should continue.

She nods twice and curls the corner of her lips up as a small sign of gratitude.

Normally she wouldn’t be this hard on Kaz, but she’s exhausted from not sleeping in days and running around to make his life easier so she doesn’t feel too bad.

“I am not mad you left the harbor” Kaz summarizes, his eyes still trained on her.

“You’re mad I left without telling you” she suggests, tilting her chin up to look at him across the desk.

“I cannot say I was pleased by that. But no. I already stated I will not restrict you in that way” he defends, squeezing his hands together.

“Then why are you mad Kaz?” She sighs.

A million thoughts run through his head at her question.

Because she left with Specht and not him.

Because she didn’t want to tell Kaz where she was going or even that she was.

Because she did this in the middle of the night when he thought she was safe.

Because she didn’t tell any of the other crows enough details for him to know she was okay.

Because she went to an unknown island without any concern for her own well-being.

Yet, the only words he could get out expressed only the least off his concerns, “you stole my gloves”.

Y/N’s jaw drops briefly before she gives him a fake laugh, “I didn’t steal them Kaz. Saints, who do you think I am?!”

“A dreg, one of my crows. Stealing is what we do” Kaz argues, anger towards himself fueling his words.

“That’s it, isn’t it? A crow” she sighs, waving Kaz off before he can begin to speak again.

“That’s all I-... we ever will be to you isn’t it? You’ll never see us as your friends, will you?“ she says, her volume increasing as she pushes herself away from the table.

Kaz clenches his jaw as he holds back his argument about what it is he really wants, “I don’t need friends. Only the weak-“.

“Stop! I am not going to sit here and listen to this Kaz. I haven’t slept in nearly forty hours! I haven’t taken time to read the book I want to read. I hadn’t spoken to the others for more than a few minutes before you demanded I meet with you. I haven’t eaten since, I don’t even know when. And why?” She asks, palms hitting against the edge of his desk causing him to look down at her delicate hands.

“Because I’m weak. I’m weak Kaz. I’m weak because even though everyone says I shouldn’t, even though you say I shouldn’t, I care about you" she sighs.

"I’m weak because I want to hold on to some small positives in this dull world. I’m weak because I will always put others first. I’m weak because I want friends Kaz. But even more than that?” She says, her voice lowering now as his eyes return to her face.

Y/n frowns at the table before her, unable to make eye contact and yell at him at the same time.

“I’m weak because I wanted to be-. No, I’m sorry. I’m weak because I thought we were friends” she whispers, the break at the end of her sentence betraying her emotions.

Kaz swallows stiffly, clenching and unclenching his gloved hand as he debates grabbing her hand to comfort her.

“So here” she says, removing her hands from the table before his can reach towards them.

“The gloves I stole” she remarks, pulling them from her coat pocket and setting them down on the table between them.

Kaz’s eyes widen as he notices they are repaired, “y-you-“.

“Had them fixed, yeah” she rolls her eyes, “I will not ever know what they mean to you, but I knew they’re important so I had them repaired”.

“Y/n,” Kaz whispers, hating how he weak his surprise makes him sound.

“I know, I’m weak. But there, they’re fixed and this is done” she says, putting her hands back into her coat pocket.

Kaz watches as she begins to cross the room towards his door.

Unable to accept the idea of her leaving, especially when mad at him, he finally speaks up.

“You don’t understand” Kaz mutters, holding the repaired gloves in his hands tightly.

“Kaz I’m not doing this okay? I can’t keep arguing right now” she sighs, turning to face him.

“No. I am not arguing. I’m saying you don’t understand the meaning behind the gloves” he whispers, picking up his cane.

“I already told you that myself” she groans, reaching for the door handle.

“And yet, you went through all of that to fix them” Kaz says, taking a timid step towards her.

“Weak, I know. But! To be fair, I didn’t know you had a second pair” she says, pointing towards the set on his hands.

“That does not matter” Kaz says, suppressing a laugh at how quickly her demeanor changed for a split second, taking a few more steps to her.

“You want to know why I have them. But not for the same reasons as everyone else” He says, looking her over.

“I have no clue what that means, and I doubt I will. But, of course I want to know Kaz. I want to know your past, your interests and disinterests, I want to know you" she admits.

"Because I wanted to be your friend. I knew I may never know the story behind the gloves, but I thought it would be because it was too hard" she frowns to herself.

"But I realize now that I’ll never know anything about you because we won’t ever be friends” she bites her lip, shaking her head as she opens the door.

“I’ll tell you” Kaz blurts causing her to pause.

“You don’t n-“ she argues but he waves her off.

“I am well aware I don’t need to. I want to” he says, closing the distance so he can use his cane to press the door closed.

“No you don’t Kaz. You feel guilty, or whatever you tell yourself since you claim to not feel emotions. That’s something you tell a friend, and friends are for the weak “ She huffs.

Kaz shakes his head, his hair flicking the front of his forehead as he does, “I will tell you”.

“Why?” She presses, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Because you said that is what we do” he whispers.

“I said that’s what friends do” she corrects, raising an eyebrow at his simple nod in response, “and you want that? To be friends?”.

Kaz’s glance flickers to his shoes briefly before back to her and forces another nod.

Although tempted to press him to actually say it, y/n nods back, “we can be friends then Kaz, even if you don’t tell me the story”.

“I owe you-“ he argues, watching as she walks back to her seat at his table.

“You don’t owe me Kaz. All I did was get them cleaned and stitched” she laughs softly.

Kaz shakes his head, “you did more than that. You always do. I don’t owe you just for today”.

“Please” Kaz pauses, the unusual attempt to make a plea getting stuck in his throat, “let me tell you. You’re the one person I trust with this”.

Y/n sits up very rigidly in her seat as she watches Kaz hesitantly, “only if you want to”

“I do. I want you to know” Kaz says, shamefully glancing at his gloves, “I want you to know why… I can’t touch you”.

“Okay” She whispers, eyes glued on his as they look up from the floorboard to meet her’s.

Kaz takes a deep breath and sits down on the edge of his bed, closing his eyes so he cannot see her reaction to his trauma.

————

The second time was when they were discussing the plans for their next mission.

The plan was simple, y/n was to get in, analyze the situation, and get out.

Or that’s what Kaz ordered her to do anyways.

Jameson Zifran was the leader of the Legions, Ketterdamn’s newest gang.

Y/N’s mission was to get into his bar undercover as a pigeon and obtain information about who Zifran had hired to get intel on the Dregs.

Normally this would be something Inej would handle, but she was currently recovering from the last mission.

The Legions managed to find her hiding place and during their fight, they broke her leg; hence the need to find out how they got their intel.

Nina managed to repair it as much as she could, but if Inej wanted to remain the skilled spider she was, she needed to rest her leg for a few days.

Kaz was not pleased about the situation to say the least.

He was even less fond of the idea of sending y/n in Inej’s place.

Jesper had been the one to suggest it and earned one of Kaz’s signature death glares as a result.

Nevertheless, he knew she was their best option.

They needed to know who was watching Inej and how she didn’t realize it.

It was rare for someone to get the drop on Inej, and someone capable of doing so put all the crows at risk.

“Recite the plan” Kaz ordered, staring her down across his work desk.

Rolling her eyes, y/n picked at the skin on her nails, “get in, find Zifran, figure out his spider’s identity, enjoy some bubbly drinks, maybe grab a few of those gold pocket watches, and leave”.

Kaz’s stare formed into a glare as his bare hands pressed down on the table under his shoulders as he leaned towards her.

“Knock it off y/n, that’s not the plan and you damn well know it” he says, tension in his features causing a crease between his eyebrows.

Y/n smirked and looked up at him, “I know Kaz. I’m not an idiot or a child. I get in, get the identity of his spider, and get out”.

“Why do you have to do that?” Kaz groans, pressing himself back into his chair.

“Do what?” She asks, watching his body language for any hints to his actual emotions.

That was her main purpose in the crows, she was the best at the psychological components of their heists; finding someone’s emotional weakness within seconds, knowing their intimate fears, deepest desires, etc.

However, with Kaz Brekker, it was different.

Her skills allowed her to understand why he was the way he was; trauma and his body/brain putting up blocks to keep anyone and everything out for his safety.

Everyone thought he was this unjustifiably cruel, sadistic, uncaring, person; or demjin like Matthias called him.

But y/n knew better. She could see the way whatever happened in his past caused him to be this way.

To her, it all made sense. Even before she tried to understand him, she could feel he wasn’t the way they described.

Perhaps it was because he’d helped her get off the streets after managing to escape her captors.

She realized over time he likely knew who she was already and that her skills would be beneficial to his team. After all, she escaped a horde of large grown men on her own using what she knew to hit them where it hurt.

However, she could sense there was more there by the look he had in his eyes when he saw her covered in cuts and bruises the night they met.

His eyes had this look to them that signaled he wanted justice.

Kaz always called it revenge, but y/n saw it as a, slightly twisted, attempt at justice or retribution.

When Kaz opened up to her about his brother Jordie being the reason behind his desire to take Pekka down a few nights ago, she realized her long lasting assumptions were correct.

He acted the way he did in an attempt to reach whatever goal he was focused on.

With Pekka it was getting justice/revenge for Jordie, and himself, due to the betrayal and Kaz blaming him for his role in Jordie’s death.

Kaz hadn’t intended on telling anyone that story, let alone her.

He knew she somehow already saw him more positively than the others, and he wouldn’t couldn’t have that.

“Try to get on my nerves” Kaz grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I don’t think it’s called trying if it’s working” she smirks in an attempt to hide the brief hurt that flashes in her eyes at his comment.

Kaz notices and sighs but y/n speaks again before he can withdraw his remark.

“Nonetheless, it isn’t intentional. I’m just trying to not make this so intense and dramatic” she shrugs.

Kaz lowers his hand to his table and shakes his head, “you need to take this seriously”.

Y/n rolls her eyes and stands up, “I am. I know the plan. You don’t do this when it is Inej”.

Kaz’s gaze lifts from the table to her as she straightens her leather jacket.

“I do have her reiterate the plan” he defends.

“Not this many times Kaz. We’ve been in here for nearly an hour! I clearly know the plan. Why are you pushing me more than you would Inej?” She glares.

“You can’t do what Inej can do” Kaz blurts, instantly regretting it when he sees the hurt and sense of betrayal hit her.

“Then why the hell am I here why am I a dreg, a crow?” She shouts, stepping away from him.

Kaz closes his eyes tightly, he was not meaning literally.

He knew y/n was more than capable of performing at Inej’s level or above.

He just don’t want her hurt and Inej would take risks he couldn’t wouldn’t allow y/n to.

“Great answer Kaz” y/n says sarcastically, an overly fake smile on her face as she turns to him just as his eyes open.

Kaz opens his mouth to force himself to speak, unsure what words will come out, but unable to say nothing after seeing how he hurt her by his attempt to hide his feelings.

“Don’t. I know the plan Kaz. I need to change or I’ll be late” she says, opening his door and exiting.

Kaz grips the table in frustration and curses Jesper for suggesting she go in in the first place.

———

The third time was during the actual mission itself.

The plan started off well. Y/n had gotten into the private club in disguise with no trouble.

The problem was, they had no clue as to who the spider may be and the club was packed.

Y/n used it to her advantage as much as she could, blending herself in with the crowded bodies.

She pretended she’d drank too much and was overly friendly, many groups accepting her into their circles as they continued chatting freely.

It also allowed her to get closer to other groups near by and focus on their conversations without raising suspicion.

It was clear everyone thought she was too far gone to recall anything as she learned many secrets in the first few hours.

However, she hadn’t gotten closer to finding out the spider’s identity until one of the more gruff men just outside of her current huddle murmured something about someone matching Inej’s description.

Her interest peaked and she focused on his whispered words rather than those of the drunk girls surrounding her.

One of the men with her suspect laughed darkly, “oh that’s right. She’s Brekker’s bitch!”.

Y/N’s hands instinctively formed a fist at her side at the dig towards Inej but she didn’t let her face display any reaction.

If the second man barely realized Inej’s connection to Kaz, he wasn’t the spider himself.

Instead, it was likely the one who initiated the discussion in the first place.

“You should’ve seen the way she squirmed when the bullet hit her” he said, his eyes dark, “so much for being the best. She was too easy”.

Y/n bit her inner lip to keep her anger at bay as she listened to the men drone on about the situation.

She knew this would be a possibility, so much so it was part of the plan.

Most spiders, although sneaky, loved to brag about how good they were at getting intel.

Add in the fact that they had gotten to Kaz’s, the "bastard of the barrel"’s spider, and you’ve got a strong chance for cocky men to expose their actions freely.

What she hadn’t accounted for was the anger and disgust that formed in her.

The men went on about their -less than pure- intentions with Inej that night.

It didn’t surprise her that they said these things, Inej was gorgeous and the men had already said they were surprised someone “as beautiful as she was would be Kaz’s spider”.

Plus, most men in Ketterdam were less than pure or caring of consent.

However, knowing Inej’s past and recalling the look her eyes held when y/n found her that night, told her Inej knew what was about to happen had y/n gotten to her any later.

Nausea fought with her anger as if her body were deciding whether to get justice for Inej or hide away from the whole situation like she would’ve years ago.

But y/n wasn’t that person anymore.

Plus, their bragging refreshed the horror y/n felt that night.

Kaz sent Y/n to check on Inej for having missed her check in and they’d come upon a blood-covered Inej, her leg bent wrong as she was frozen on the ground, her own blade pressed to her chest.

The men were in hoods and had the lower half of their faces covered with cloth to conceal their identity.

But they were struggling with Inej to keep her from pressing her own blade into her chest to escape the situation.

The empty and dissociated look in Inej’s eyes, her severely injured body, and the weight of what she was willing to do to escape, nearly made y/n collapse seeing her best friend in that state.

Seeing y/n, they ran off quickly before she was in range to strike them as she had her sword on her but not her guns.

They’d all assumed Inej was fine when she went to check on her so she didn’t bother packing her guns.

She preferred her sword anyways but that night she regretted it.

Instead of chasing after them, she dragged Inej to a hiding place and began to apply pressure to her wounds.

She knew she’d never make it back to the slat with Inej in the state she was in so she elected to wait for Kaz to come after her when y/n missed her own check in.

She made it as far as she could, hiding them just out of sight from the spot Kaz first found y/n years ago.

She knew Kaz would check there first.

They’d established the place as a meeting point whenever a mission would go wrong or separate the two of them.

She wanted to change the meaning of the location from her traumatic experience into less triggering when she’d have to pass so Kaz suggested that should something happen this location could be a sign of her strength and how far she’d come and that should she need it, support would still find her here.

It was the first time he truly surprised her.

She’d seen his deep understanding of her apprehension to the spot and his caring intent to change it to a more positive place for her.

He of course claimed it made it easier to ensure she did her job right, but she could tell it was because he understood her.

Therefore, it hadn’t taken long for Kaz to know where to check and drag Jesper with him to track down the two of them hiding in that alley.

He knew something was wrong, neither one missed check ins.

For both of them to do so in the same night caused a huge sense of doom to form within him.

As his cane echoed down the street, y/n lifted from her position and waved them down for help.

Since then, despite Inej being on bed rest and Nina not wanting to leave her side, Inej had tried to reassure y/n she was okay.

However, tonight, the bragging men caused those emotions, concern, fury, etc. to return at an even higher volume now.

It was then that she understood why Kaz labeled it as revenge rather than justice.

She didn’t want to make it equal as justice would suggest.

She wanted to make them pay.

Make them understand not to mess with her friends/those she cares about.

Make them suffer the way Inej had.

Call it what you will, justice or revenge, either way it was the only thing on her mind at this moment.

She had to leave her weapons behind, one of Kaz’s biggest reasons for concern, but she knew how to fight without them.

She excused herself from her group and made her way to the men.

She kept up her act and fake flirted with the man she believed was the spider.

She dragged her fingers along the cusp of his sleeve as she walked past him, her intent being to get him away from the others when she stepped outside.

However, she actions exposed a ragged scar on the back of his forearm that triggered a memory she wasn’t expecting.

She hadn’t recalled it that night, her adrenaline pushing logic from her brain, but when struggling with Inej, the man’s sleeve rolled up to show a scar, that same scar.

She was correct, he was the spider, her target.

She knew she was to leave and tell Kaz; letting him deal with it.

But the burning anger in her kept her from letting him be the one to get to have revenge.

After all, he said she couldn’t do what Inej could; maybe it was time she prove otherwise.

The man easily fell for her trap and followed her outside, away from the others.

As soon as he stepped out, y/n had him pinned against the exterior wall of the club.

“What the-“ the man gasped, anger flashing in his eyes within seconds.

“You thought you’d get away with hurting her?” y/n asks, kneeing him in the groin.

The man doubles over as he curses at her, grabbing her leg to pull her down.

Y/n removes her leg from his grip and uses the same leg to pin him to the ground with a swift kick.

“Hey!” Someone shouts from the distance.

Y/n looks over and glares at the person as they run back into the club, likely to get others.

“This is over that bi-“ the spider begins, coughing slightly.

“I don’t suggest finishing that remark” she growls, digging her heel into his back.

She knows she has no chance of winning this.

Maybe if she had her weapons, or the other crows at least.

However, the mission did not allow for either of those hence why she wasn’t supposed to be doing this.

But she couldn’t help it. She didn’t know what her plan was exactly.

She didn’t know how she was planning on making him pay for what he did to Inej when she didn’t have her weapons to hurt him in the way she wanted.

She also couldn’t use her skill of understanding his psychology because she just met him.

She knew nothing about him, not his name, not his age, nothing other than what he was responsible for.

She relied on Inej’s intel on their opponents to be able to manipulate them.

Yes, she has the skill to figure things out herself as well, but it has dwindled since joining the dregs and crows.

Kaz limited her opportunities to obtain intel.

He never said why, but he wouldn’t let her get it herself, she was to only use the intel that Inej found.

She never asked him why as she could tell it was important to him so she just accepted it.

However, after what he said earlier today, she couldn’t help but think it might have to do with how she stacked up compared to Inej.

This turmoil in her brain didn’t help her already lacking focus caused by her lack of resources.

As a result, she didn’t hear when someone came behind her until she was pulled backwards.

As she turned and punched the person holding her until he let her go, all hell broke loose.

It took her a few moments to understand why other people were fighting against her attackers.

It was only once she heard the signature whipping sound of Kaz’s cane cutting through the air as he began striking the person who grabbed her that she noticed back up had arrived.

Y/n smirked and made her way back to the man with the scar, still furious but now a clearer focus.

“Y/n/n” Jesper yells, tossing her her sword before he goes back to shooting another legion crew member.

She nods once and swings at the man, instantly slicing his abdomen.

Just as she was about to draw her sword back and strike him again, she feels a bullet graze her upper arm.

She winces but as she turns to attack whoever shot her, she notices Kaz has beaten her to it, that man now in a bloody curled-up position under his cane as Kaz towers over him.

Y/n makes eye contact with Kaz as he looks towards her to check on her status, noticing his anger even as he looks at her.

"You just had to do this didn't you?" Kaz grumbles, his fear from moments ago only increasing when she was struck.

"Not the time Kaz" she remarks, turning back to her target, the spider responsible for Inej's pain.

"I told you not to do this" Kaz argues, knocking another person down behind her as more people pour out of the club.

She ignores him and digs her heel back into the spider's thigh, making him shout.

"Enough Kaz, she's right now is not the time, the plan is over" Matthias argues from somewhere off to the side.

"It is not my fault she thought she could take them on alone" Kaz remarks in frustration at her lack of concern for herself.

Y/n turns to glare at Kaz for once again insulting her, even though she can tell he did not mean it the way it came across.

She can see it each time in his reaction to her response to his remarks, but it does not stop the pain.

While she is distracted, the spider is able to grab her leg and try to pull her to the ground.

She stumbles, catching herself barely against the wall behind him as she tries to stay standing.

“Jes” Kaz growls before making some signal y/n doesn’t recognize.

Thanks to Jesper’s sharpshooting and Wylan’s explosives, it only takes about twenty seconds until Kaz and Matthias are able to drag y/n away from the scene.

Well, Matthias had thrown her over his shoulder at Kaz’s demand and was leading her back to the slat.

Meanwhile, Kaz spared her one last angry look before turning his gaze back to the Legion’s spider.

———

Nina immediately fixed up y/n’s scrapes from the fight prior to being dragged away from it.

“He’s mad” Inej says, unnecessarily wrapping y/n’s arm with cloth.

“Kaz? When isn’t he?” Y/n murmured, her frustration of being removed from the fight clear in her voice and words.

“At you? Not as often as he is at the rest of us” Inej smirks, gently rubbing the cloth until it holds.

Y/n rolls her eyes, “ Why am I here?”

“This is your home” Nina scoffs, moving towards y/n’s swollen ankle; it’s clear she doesn’t wear heels often- let alone fight in them-.

“That’s not what I’m saying Nina. We were in the middle of a fight and your brawny boyfriend literally carried me out!” Y/n says, glaring over at Matthias who is sitting silently next to them.

“I had orders y/n. It wasn’t personal” he sighs.

“Since when do you listen to Kaz’s orders without question?” She argues, pushing each heel off with her opposite foot.

“It was clear he was not asking” he defends.

“He never really is” y/n points out.

“This was different” Matthias rebuts, causing Inej and Nina both to smirk.

Y/n rolls her eyes, “I’m not in the mood for this. Think what you will, but he only did this because be doesn’t think I’m capable”.

“That’s not true y/n” inej frowns, “besides, even if so, we believe in you”.

Y/n gives her a soft smile and nod, “thanks”.

“No, thank you. You didn’t need to-“ Inej starts, her tone displaying her guilt as if she caused all of this to happen.

“Please don’t thank me. Especially when Kaz didn’t even let me actually get revenge” y/n groans, standing up.

“Besides, no one gets to hurt you,” she looks around the portion of crows currently present and adds, “any of you”.

Before anyone can respond, she walks away and up to Kaz’s room.

Y/n crosses her arms as she throws herself into his chair to wait for him to scold her or ignore her in some passive aggressive response because he cannot just say what he is thinking and feeling.

———

It was once he made it back to the slat that night that he confessed how he felt to her.

He was not intending to, instead he wanted to ignore her and the feelings he felt that night.

He wanted to pretend none of it happened, and that if it had, it did not impact him at all.

Y/n was sitting at his desk, seemingly expecting Kaz’s normal silent treatment that a crow would get for messing up a heist or task.

However, the moment Kaz walks in, he slams his hands on the table and begins to verbally scold her behavior.

"What the hell were you thinking?!” He asks, refusing to look at her.

“Me?! You’re the one who interrupted!” She snaps.

“Because you deviated from the plan” Kaz says, trying to balance his voice and tone.

“The plan was stupid” y/n scoffs.

“Excuse me?” Kaz questions, his eyes moving closer to her but not quite looking at her.

“I said, the plan was stupid. You really expected me to not want to make him pay?! He hurt Inej! Yet your stupid damn plan was for me to do nothing?!” Y/n shouts, standing up to be more level with him.

“Yes and you deviated from it” Kaz says, his voice balanced now .

“I already admitted that! But you did too!” She remarks.

“Because you did first!” Kaz says, his tone raising with his anger again.

“You’re the one who is mad anyone deviated but it’s fine when you do it? Why?!” She yells, glaring at him.

“Because you could've been killed! " he snaps, his eyes looking her over Before landing on her arm.

“I wasn’t” she sighs.

“But you could have!” Kaz says, no longer trying to control his tone or voice.

“Why do you care Kaz?!” She asks, shaking her head.

“Because” He growls, “you are important”.

Y/n watches him for a moment, trying to figure out his meaning.

“How so?” She asks, unable to read him.

Kaz’s eyes flicker to her briefly, showing her the pain and fear behind his anger.

Looking back down at the desk he says, “it’s simple. You serve a role”.

Y/n scoffs in shock and offense, “don’t lie Kaz. You said earlier, I can’t do what Inej can do! I clearly don’t serve a role here “.

Kaz huffs, pressing himself off the table until he’s no longer leaning in it, “y/n… You underestimate your importance”.

“Inej can handle whatever the crows need on a mission if I’m gone or something happens to me” y/n says, causing Kaz to glare at her.

“I don’t care about the mission” he says, his lips forming a tight straight line.

“Saints Kaz, you and I both know that’s not true” She laughs sarcastically, “the most important thing to you is the mission, especially if it means more Kruge”.

Kaz runs his gloves hand down his face as he stares at her and shakes his head, “Y/n. Don’t be naive. You underestimate your importance…; to me”.

Y/n forces out a gust of air as she stares at Kaz in shock.

Is he actually saying he cares about someone, about her?

“You…” she begins, shaking her head as if it’ll clear her mind, “you said Inej is better. I can’t be the important one if she’s better”.

“I didn’t say she was better” Kaz rolls his eyes.

“You said I can’t-“ she defends.

“I know what I said” Kaz scoffs, “I said, you cannot do what Inej can”.

Y/n nods, raising an eyebrow at him to signal him to explain.

“I did not say you weren’t capable of doing what she can. You are more than capable. But you cannot because I won’t have you doing that. You did that tonight, and-“ he sighs, waving his hand at her arm.

“You didn’t mean that she was more skilled?” Y/n questions quietly.

Kaz frowns, a reaction he only lets her see in private on rare occasions.

Sure he scowls around others, but he doesn’t frown in response to anyone or anything as it displays his emotions; something he only will do around her every now and then.

“No” he says, his heart racing as she smiles at his confession, “you can handle the same situations. But I confess I’m not comfortable with it”.

“Because you care about me?” She whispers, stepping closer to him.

He closes his eyes and nods once, y/n noticing his reluctance to show his feelings.

“I know you think it’s a weakness to care about someone Kaz” y/n sighs, stepping close to him without touching him at all.

“But that’s what being friends means” y/n adds, turning her head towards him.

“That’s not it” Kaz sighs, looking at her.

“What do you mean?” She asks, Kaz hearing her sympathy in her tone and concern in her eyes; concern for him.

“You underestimate your importance to me yet again” He whispers, his eyes scanning every detail of her face.

Y/n smiles and despite neither of them having lit the room, he can see her blush.

Kaz hates the fact that he feels the way he does as it puts them both in danger, but her reaction pushes those fears away for the moment.

Kaz shakingly reaches out and cautiously touches her cloth wrap with his gloved hand.

“I’m okay Kaz” she laughs softly, removing the wrap Inej placed over the area the bullet grazed her.

Nina’s healing caused most of it to be fixed already, leaving only a small raised red line from inflammation.

She knew Inej was aware she didn’t need the bandage but that it told help her feel better about y/n’s injury so she let her.

However, now it was time to reassure Kaz by showing him she was okay.

Kaz silently looked over her arm, his gloved fingers hovering over it as he steadied his breath.

“Don’t do it again” Kaz says gruffly, lowering his hand and stepping back.

“First of all, where is the please?” Y/n smirks, crossing her arms over her chest.

Kaz laughs one genuine laugh, making her smile at him.

“Please, my dear y/n, don’t do it again” he says gently, surprising y/n by the lack of sarcasm in his voice.

“Do what Kaz?” She asks, her soft eyes resting on his.

“Underestimate your importance to me” He responds, abruptly moving to the sink to wash up from the fight.

Y/n grins to herself, “okay Kaz”.

Kaz glances back at her, his normally intense eyes now calm.

His feelings for her might terrify him.

And he may not have officially, fully, or conventionally confessed his feelings to her.

But he knows she at least now has some semblance of understanding as to why he won’t let her take on the riskier tasks. Meaning he knows she’ll be less likely to be reckless, which makes him calm a little.

That plus the surge of warmth in his chest at her non verbal reciprocation to his confession is all he needs to realize that whatever the risks, she’s worth it to him.

-----

That was a bit long haha but I hope you enjoyed it!

[crazerk]

Hello there!

I was really hooked on your demo! Didn't even knew I have a thing for a harem! Never even watched anything - just heard about Hurrem thanks to my grandma watching the Magnificent Century lol.

Anyway!

I was wanted to throw my 5 cents about possible meeting MC with Shah. Personally I play a captive route, so my MC is a wild spirited and defiant girl who loves animals and can throw a few punches. She hate being there in harem and it's automatically means she hate the Shah thinking he's some kind of evil pervert who wants many women for himself lol. So I think her first interaction with him could be very hostile even if it could be a death sentence for her - my girl will prefer to die as herself then live trying to change for a man who's not worthy (again she hates him).

It'll be funny if she'll somehow meet him without realizing who he is - maybe in the gardens or in the palace kitchen (I've seen a post where you said that shah has a sweet tooth and can wander in kitchen in the darkness of night). So maybe she'll complain to him about how she'll hate it here and don't want to be here to please some entitled rich bastard, or maybe she'll think he's assassin that was sent by other women and she'll try to attack him and then when she's realised he's not an assassin she'll ask for a sweets to from him not realizing who he is. Or she could accidentally save him from the wild and scared horse at the stable and it'll be something like "You scared this poor creature! Poor little baby, come here! This stupid man scared/hurt you?". Well, you get what I mean, right (sorry, English isn't my first language so it could be just bunch of words thrown together -_-.) I mean I'd like for him to "know" real her because she'll behave differently towards simple people (not the ones who's in power and whom she'll blame for her imprisonment in harem).

And in case if there won't be something like this in game, can you say how ROs would react on this hypothetical situation?

Anyway, I'm rambling too much lol. Thanks for your work - it has a REALLY good potential! So good luck and best wishes ❤️

Thank you so much I’m glad you’re enjoying the story!

So I’ve already written the part where MC and Kaz meet, and based on your description, all I can say is you won’t be disappointed 👀

[parkersbliss]

hey could i request a kaz fic with prompts: 001, 007 and 041? pleasee let it end in fluff i can’t bare angst after your last fic lol <3

yes ofc ofc, kaz fluff for you

Dead Man | K. Brekker

prompts: 001: “Why do you care?” 007: “Give me one good reason.” 041: “I cant stand the sight of you in someone else’s arms!”

Masterlist | Taglist | Prompt List

—

Kaz wasn’t a jealous person. That’s what he tells himself, but he believes it’s far from true. Then again, he didn’t have to believe it to be true. He seems to lie to himself a lot. He’s also noticed he seems to lie a lot more when you’re involved.

His favorite lie would have to be, I’m not in love with (Y/N). He definitely was.

But Kaz Brekker was too prideful to ever admit that. Being in love gave you a weakness, and Kaz was not weak. Far from it, actually. He was the most feared man in Ketterdam. There was a reason he was successful, and that was simply because he didn’t have a weakness.

Well, a weakness that people knew about.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jesper asked, casting a sideways glance at you.

Kaz rolls his eyes, slamming his hands down on the table. “Unless you have a better one, I suggest you shut up.”

Jesper opens his mouth to object, but he shakes his head and shuts up.

Good, he knows better.

“Looking good is a Jesper talent, isn’t it?”

Jesper straightens his back and his jacket, brushing his thumb against his lip. “Why yes, it is.”

“Then I don’t see the problem. You just have to do it with (Y/N).”

You nod, bumping shoulders with the Zemeni boy. “Yeah, we could be a great power couple.”

Jesper laughs nervously, looking at Kaz and seeing the slightest hint of murder in his eyes. There was nothing wrong with the plan except the part where Jesper has to play your boyfriend when Kaz has the biggest crush on you known to man. Jesper knew better than to get in his way. He would really prefer to keep his life than get his head chopped off with a single look.

“You both know your target?” Kaz asked.

You and Jesper nod.

“Good. Get in, get the info and get out. No gambling and no drinking.” He points an accusing finger at Jesper. “I don’t think I have to explain that to you, (Y/N). Any objections?”

Jesper shakily raises his hand. “Yes, so why can’t you go as (Y/N)’s boyfriend?”

Inej looks to Jesper with raised eyebrows. “Are you serious right now?”

“I just think that they would make a more convincing couple!”

“Jesper,” Kaz said lowly, and he knows he’s in for it. “When I say you’re posing as (Y/N)’s boyfriend, you are posing as her boyfriend. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” Jesper squeaks.

Kaz pulls back, slapping his cane on the ground and leaning his hands on it. When Jesper doesn’t move, he rolls his eyes, “Well, get to it!”

“Right!” Jesper said, scrambling to get out of the room.

“He seems awfully nervous,” You said.

“I’ll go check on him,” Inej said, passing by you with a smile.

That leaves you and Kaz.

“You were a bit harsh on him, don’t you think?” You asked.

Kaz shrugs. “Not really. It’s Jesper.”

“I think you scared the poor boy half to death.”

Kaz raises a single brow at you. “I don’t see an issue. He still has half to go.”

You let out a soft chuckle, and Kaz swears his heart stops for just a moment. He could listen to it forever.

“Is there a reason you’re so adamant about him being my fake boyfriend?”

“He’s the best choice.”

“Right.”

“You beg to differ?”

You shake your head, “Not at all.”

Kaz knows you did, but he doesn’t say anything. “You should get ready.”

You nod, “Yeah, I should. I’ll see you after, boss.”

…

“Wow,” Jesper said, offering his arm to you. “You look dazzling.”

“I learn from the best,” You wink, looping your arm through his.

Kaz’s lips are pursed into a straight line, and Jesper will be grateful when he’s out of his sight and range.

“Inej and I will be across the street. You know what to do if it goes south.”

“Sure do, Boss,” Jesper replied, eager to leave.

Kaz nods, stepping back, and you both enter the club. He leads you towards the bar and takes a seat. You stand next to him, scanning the crowd for the target.

“Put your arm around my waist,” You hiss to Jesper when you spot him.

“I don’t know about that,” Jesper laughed nervously.

“Jesper.”

“Okay!”

He slips an arm around your waist, nervously looking around to ensure Kaz can’t see. When he’s sure he’s safe, he relaxes a bit more. Everything goes smooth as you wait for your target to come over. You didn’t want to lure him in case that made you both more suspicious. It takes longer than both of you want, but eventually, he makes it to the only open seat in the bar; the one next to you.

He orders a few shots and Jesper makes the first move. “Rough night?”

He groans. “You have no idea.”

“Try me.”

“I’m Archer,” The target said, but of course, you already knew that. He was working for a Mercher, who rumor had it - recently imported something worth millions. Kaz wanted to know what it was and if it was worth it.

“Roman,” Jesper grinned, sticking out a hand.

“And what about this pretty lady?”

You gave him your fake name with a smile as you shuffle closer to Jesper.

“Boss is treating me like shit,” Archer groans, taking a shot. Jesper offers to pay for more. The tipsier he got, the more he would spill. “We got this new import the other week, been on high security since. Doubled my hours, didn’t double my pay.”

“New import? What could be so valuable?”

Archer shrugs. “I have no idea. Not allowed to tell, anyway. Sorry bud.”

“That’s a damn shame.”

Archer leans in, alcohol evident in his breath and you almost choke. “Between you and me, I think it’s some new weapon from Novyi Zem.”

There it was.

Jesper raises his brows. “Do you know what kind?”

“Some kind of gun, or guns.”

Jesper leans back. “Huh. I assume he keeps them in the back.”

Archer shakes his head. “No, he’s too cautious with this. He keeps in the vault in the basement.”

“A vault? Must be worth a lot.”

“Top security clearance. He has it scan his eyes, then his fingerprint and a password to get in.”

“My god,” Jesper laughed. “That’s a lot.”

Archer takes another shot. “You’re telling me.”

You don’t say much, playing the part of dumb arm candy. Your eyes wander the club when you spot a familiar face. He’s walking towards you.

You take a deep breath, turning your head to Jesper. You lean in to whisper, “We got someone coming towards us. He knows us. We need to hide.”

“How?”

“Kiss me.”

“You are out of your mind,” Jesper hisses. God, if Kaz found out, he would be dead in seconds.

“It’s that or death. I promise I don’t bite.”

“Are you two okay?” Archer asked.

Jesper coughs, pushing you off. “Yes, the misses it just eager to get home.”

Archer nods. “I see. I should get going too.”

Jesper lets him. You already got enough information.

“Jesper,” You whisper, tugging on his coat.

He was a dead man either way.

He grabs your face, kissing you with his eyes closed. It doesn’t mean anything to either of you. It’s just the difference between life and death for now. He can see the person leave out of the corner of his eyes. He’s about to pull back when a cane slams the bar floor. Jesper jumps back.

He is so dead.

Kaz's eyes blaze with something much more than rage, and Jesper doesn’t doubt it’s for him.

“Kaz,” you breathe out.

“We’re done here.”

Jesper stands up from the bar, letting go of you. “Yes, we are.”

He practically runs out of there, leaving you with a very pissed-off Kaz.

“Are you okay?” You asked.

He ignores you and walks away.

“Kaz?” You shout, catching up with him.

“What?” He snaps, never looking at you as you walk back to the slat. Jesper was gone, probably hiding somewhere. Inej was covering for him, but Kaz pays no mind.

“We got the information. Why are you so mad?”

Kaz throws open the door to his office, standing behind his desk and finally looking up. “You want to know why I’m so mad?”

“Yes!”

“Because you kissed Jesper!”

“What?” You asked. You couldn’t understand why he was so mad about that. He was the one who assigned him as your partner. “Why do you care?”

It’s not meant to come off rude, you just didn’t understand.

Kaz purses his lips and looks the other way. He can’t bring himself to say why; he won’t admit his weakness.

“Give me one good reason,” You beg. “I’m not mad at you, Kaz. I just don’t underst-”

“I can’t stand the sight of you in someone else’s arms!”

That’s not what you expected. However, it makes your stomach do flips. You swallow the butterflies.

“Then why did you partner Jesper and me together?” You asked softly.

Kaz sighs, “I thought I could prove to myself that I wasn’t in love with you by seeing you with him.”

You snort. “And how did that work out?”

“It didn’t.”

“So what are you gonna do about it?”

Kaz can hear the mischief in your voice. He’s expecting rejection, but you sound happy.

“I think I’m going to admit that I’m in love with you,” he said, turning back around to face you.

“Well, that’s good,” You grin, grabbing his coat and pulling him the slightest bit closer. He doesn’t pull away. “Cause I’m in love with you too.”

[dregs-of-the-barrel]

What is each crows favorite dessert food and favorite meal (that’s not a dessert, obv)? Sorry if this is a weird question lol but thanks in advance

hello!!!!! This is a super cute question i love it. I will start with

nina bc the dessert question is very easily answered:

WAFFLES

aside from that i think she loves any kind of creamy dessert (maybe bc ice cream and whipped cream go with waffles so well lol)

I see her liking refined food. Fancy food. Like those very fancy food arrangements, interesting flavour combinations, beautiful plates that you get at fancy restaurants. However, i also see her as someone who can appreciate good streetfood, especially on a damp day in ketterdam. Some fried potatoes from a street vendor, sat behind his little coal barrel oven on the pavement near the bridge opposite from her rooms is a particular favourite of hers.

I think matthias would be into hearty, simple food. Big stew fan. Lots of fish, too. Maybe like a fish stew, with barley and winter roots. Well salted with dark rye bread on the side. He pretends to be disdainful of desserts, but does appreciate honey cakes. Or honey on bread. Or plain honey.

Jesper, much like nina, would enjoy fine dining, i believe. He also has a particular talent for identifying poor quality, such as bread baked by bakers who thought they could stretch their flour with chalk. Granted, his powers help, but he also swears he just has that fine a palate.

I think he loves zemeni spices and bemoans the tragically plain kerch fare. However, he will gladly join nina for fried potatoes. He will also procure the apricot jam filled doughnuts a ravkan street vendor sells in different places around the city. his favourite meal, though, is definitely steak.

Kaz would go without eating, if he could, because he simply can‘t spare the time. Pure focus on sustenance. Eats so fast he hardly has time to taste what it is that he‘s eating. Once got food poisoning that way because he realised too late that the fish he was eating might have been slightly off. More careful now.

Loves dark chocolate. Especially the kind with chili.

Inej is vegetarian, I think. She loves to eat meals from her childhood, though she is unfortunately not much of a cook, herself. There is a small suli restaurant tucked away in a side alley off the market square. She goes there for the food at first, then the friendship.

In terms of dessert, Inej loves fruit. Especially the kind that just won‘t grow in kerch, because the weather is never hot enough. The cook she befriends gives her dried dates and mango, whenever she can find them at the market - the fresh kind is in short supply. When she eats the dried fruit she can almost feel the sun that once ripened it warm her face. On sea again, she smiles at the thought of arriving at warm shores and feeling mango juice stick to her fingers as she gets her hands on fresh fruit.

Wylan is a staunch defender of kerch food and will not hear any abuse of it. Mussels with fried potatoes is his favourite dish and he will finish every meal with kerch pralines. He keeps them in his pockets for when his brain needs some extra fuel, but there have been unfortunate incidents of them melting onto some important chemistry supplies in his pockets. Inej helped him by offering to sew an extra pocket just for pralines into his coat (her bein an expert on maximizing storage options in her clothing, as all her daggers will attest to). There haven‘t been any similar incidents since.

[kazscrows]

Six of Crows Reread 🪶

Chapter 29: Matthias

Kaz knows he doesn’t even have to threaten Matthias in anyway. He’ll help them just for Nina’s sake at this point

The boys in this series really do have it bad for their love interest don’t they

Simps 💕

“Water everywhere,” said Wylan. “Do the fountains symbolise Djel?”

“The wellspring,” mused Kaz, “where all sins are washed clean.”

“Or where they drown you and make you confess,” Wylan said.

Jesper snorted. “Wylan, your thoughts have taken a very dark turn. I fear the Dregs may be a bad influence.”

Or Wylan is just like this

I like that Matthias points out that the climbing is extremely easy for both Kaz and Jesper, but not Wylan

Poor kid has no upper body strength yet

They rig him up a sling to slide across

But now his thoughts were muddied with these thugs and thieves, with Inej’s courage and Jesper’s daring, and with Nina, always Nina. He couldn’t deny the relief he’d felt when she’d emerged from the incinerator shaft, dishevelled and gasping, frightened but alive. When he and Wylan had pulled her out of the flue, he’d had to force himself to let her go.

Helnik ❤️

And lol Kaz is noticeable absent from his praising thoughts

While on the way to the magic tree:

“All this to be a witchhunter?” Kaz said behind him. “The Dregs need a better initiation.”

“This is only one part of Hringkälla.”

“Yes, I know, then a tree tells you the secret handshake.”

“I feel sorry for you, Brekker. There is nothing sacred in your life.”

There was a long pause, and then Kaz said, “You’re wrong.”

He’s thinking about Inej I bet

Or maybe avenging Jordie

I do think that Kaz very much so wants to believe in something

Also.. what is the Dregs initiation? Is it usually just getting the tattoo?

“Were you always good at locks?”

“No.”

“How did you learn?”

“The way you learn about anything. Take it apart.”

“And the magic tricks?”

Kaz snorted. “So you don’t think I’m a demon any more?”

“I know you’re a demon, but your tricks are human.”

“Some people see a magic trick and say, ‘Impossible!’ They clap their hands, turn over their money, and forget about it ten minutes later. Other people ask how it worked. They go home, get into bed, toss and turn, wondering how it was done. It takes them a good night’s sleep to forget all about it. And then there are the ones who stay awake, running through the trick again and again, looking for that skip in perception, the crack in the illusion that will explain how their eyes got duped; they’re the kind who won’t rest until they’ve mastered that little bit of mystery for themselves. I’m that kind.”

“You love trickery.”

“I love puzzles. Trickery is just my native tongue.”

This paragraph is really quite a deep dive into Kaz’s mind

He’s such a complex character

He sees just about everything in life as a lie he just hasn’t figured out yet

This is also getting me excited to see Freddy and Callahan do the Kaz and Matthias dynamic. They have said they’re looking forward to it themselves

Fingers crossed for season 3 or even better: a Crows spin-off!!

The reality of the situation struck Matthias suddenly. Kaz hadn’t picked up the rifle. Matthias had a gun in his hands, and Kaz Brekker was unarmed. They were standing over the bodies of two unconscious drüskelle, men who were supposed to be Matthias’ brothers. I can shoot him, Matthias thought. Doom Nina and the rest of them with a single act. Again, Matthias had the strange sense of his life viewed the wrong way up. He was dressed in prison clothes, an intruder in the place he’d once called home. Who am I now?

And you know what? He doesn’t shoot him

I really really like this scene

Matthias lowered his weapon.

A faint smile touched Kaz’s lips. “I wasn’t sure what you’d do if it came down to this.”

“Neither was I,” Matthias admitted. Kaz lifted a brow, and the truth struck Matthias with the force of a blow. “It was a test. You chose not to pick up the rifle.”

“I needed to be sure you were really with us. All of us.”

“How did you know I wouldn’t shoot?”

“Because, Matthias, you stink of decency.”

“You’re mad.”

“Do you know the secret to gambling, Helvar?” Kaz brought his good foot down on the butt of the fallen soldier’s rifle. The gun flipped up. Kaz had it in his hands and pointed at Matthias in the space of a breath. He’d never been in any danger at all. “Cheat.”…

Kaz is just. So. Cool—

He’s such a little turd

I love him

“One day you’ll run out of tricks, demjin.”

“You’d better hope it’s not today.”

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