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heliads · 10 months ago

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because I'm in the mood for Pain could i request a nikolai fanfic with a grisha reader. they were childhood friends, but then one day reader was captured by fjerda and after they find the cure for parem they come back to ravka and don't think they're good enough for nikolai because they were too weak to resist the drug. i hope you're having a lovely day!

'only in my dreams ' - nikolai lantsov

masterlist

There’s an old saying, one that’s been tossed around by generations of practitioners of the Small Science and otkazat’sya alike, one that you’ve heard since you were small and keep hearing as you get older. There’s no good place to be a Grisha. It’s been used as a weapon and an assurance at times, a claim that you don’t belong and a reminder that life doesn’t really get better, so you might as well enjoy who you are wherever you are.

Right now, though, it just feels all too real. When you were a child growing up in the middle of nowhere in the Ravkan countryside, no one trusted a Grisha. When you were brought to Os Alta to train in the Little Palace, the glimmering city didn’t feel like a home either, just a place where you would be brought up to fight in someone else’s wars. You could go anywhere you want, but it would never quite be enough. You find your home in people you trust, but no place will ever want a witch.

And, rotting in a Fjerdan cell, you think it’s especially true now. You pity the Grisha who were born in Fjerda, and wonder how they would have managed to grow up in a country whose own army was dedicated to the cause of hunting them down. It wasn’t all that great to grow up empowered in Ravka, either, but at least there was somewhere for you to go once you were discovered, and that was the Little Palace. In Fjerda, the only place that newly discovered Grisha go is the grave.

That, or the cells, and right now you’re wishing that you were six feet under instead of here right now. Other than wanting them dead, the Fjerdan government seems fascinated by just how Grisha work. They’ve managed to get their hands on jurda parem, and you’re a part of their latest batch of test subjects.

You last received the drug a few days ago, and already the debilitating ache of withdrawal is starting to press against your bones, tearing against your sinews and skin until all you can think of is when you last had it and where you could get some more. The Fjerdan scientists are single-minded in their approach to treating Grisha with parem; exact doses are carefully measured out and only delivered in the precise windows of time that they desire. Once medicated, the captive Grisha will have their hands unchained for slim opportunities to practice their gift, most likely to build or destroy or torture other captives as directed by the Fjerdan guards.

Eventually, the parem will wear off, and then you’ll be back to where you are right now: curled into a corner of your freezing cell, desperate for warmth or parem or anything more than this heavy, never-ending horror.

You used to be more than this, you know. You used to be a proper Grisha, one who could never imagine themselves as you are now, exhausted and starving and addicted to a drug no one even knew existed until just a short time ago. You had been brought to Os Alta when you were quite young, so for the most part, the Little Palace was the only life you had ever really known.

And what a life it had been; your mind drained by the constant tests of parem, you slip into a dreamy half-sleep, letting the memories cloud your consciousness so you don’t have to think about whatever horrors await you.

Os Alta had been beautiful. Ravka has been a struggling country for quite some time, and will likely go on eking out its days one by one for quite some time, but the royal family spared no expense on its capital city. Even the Little Palace, the smaller and humbler variant of the Grand Palace, was intricate and masterful, a testament to the artistic prowess of the Ravkan people when its creators went long enough without hunger pangs to focus on their craft.

You can almost imagine you’re there if you close your eyes. The sensations come back to you as if in a dream: the rustle of your kefta as you walk, the smooth edges of the cobblestones where they’d been worn down by hundreds of feet, the sharp voices of your tutors, the thrill in your veins as you used your powers. You can still remember when it had been a joyous thing to use your powers uncorrupted by parem. Now, every tug to the making at the heart of the world feels like a betrayal of your own people, a sick and terrible thing that should not be practiced by any living thing.

You turn your mind away from that harsh reality, opting instead to remember the good days, the golden memories when the worst thing you could imagine was doing badly in one of Botkin’s training sessions. Since you’d been at the Little Palace since you were small, you had plenty of friends across the branches of the Small Science, plus one extra boy whose eyes used to shine like sunlight off of the True Sea. He wasn’t a Grisha though. He was–

He was a prince.

Nikolai Lantsov wasn’t supposed to visit the Little Palace. Truth be told, he wasn’t supposed to leave the Grand Palace at all except when instructed by the king and queen or one of his tutors. However, the young prince didn’t seem to care for rules, and rare was the day when he wasn’t sneaking off to pass days by his own volition. More often than not, his errant path brought Nikolai to you.

The two of you had been friends for years. Never mind the fact that a friendship between a Grisha and a prince would be strictly forbidden, no one ever caught on and the two of you were quite obliged to keep it that way. Nikolai was brilliant in mind and spirit. When you think about the happiest you’d ever been, the days you wished could stretch on forever, it’s the time you spent with Nikolai that was the best of all. Sometimes, you snuck him an extra kefta and the two of you would explore the Little Palace, or you’d run around the countryside surrounding Os Alta. You’d swap stories and little trinkets or gifts, and you’d smile like everything was alright, because when you were with Nikolai, it was.

Then he got older, and you did too. Nikolai stopped being able to visit you as often. You grew through the ranks of the Grisha, and were sent on missions with increasing frequency. Sometimes, you’d be away from Os Alta for months at a time, and only come back to find out that Nikolai had just left on a similar errand. Your paths started diverging, and even though every time you saw him, it was like the days hadn’t passed at all, both of you had growing up to do, and unfortunately, that didn’t involve each other.

You still held out hope that maybe he would become king and find a way to loop you back into his busy days. Just recently, he had returned from his years at school (and, as the rumor has it, at sea), and you had hoped that maybe you’d be able to spend more time together. All you had was one more mission, then you’d be back in Ravka for many months. Surely you could use that time.

The Fates didn’t seem keen on that happy of an ending for you, however. Your mission went awry. Fjerdans intercepted your group. You distracted the enemy soldiers long enough for the rest of your party to get away, but you were captured and brought back to Fjerda. You had assumed you’d be killed, but instead, you were sent to their experimental division and given your first dose of parem.

So the angels fall. Now, the idea that you could be remotely close to a prince’s best friend is laughable. If you could see him now, you have no doubt that he would still be the same golden, glorious boy he had always been, now imbued with the confidence of years wearing the crown. By contrast, you are huddled in a cell, your powers harshly amplified by the corrupting influence of jurda parem.

No, Nikolai Lantsov certainly wouldn’t want you now. The only way you can have him still is in your dreams, those beautiful fragments of imagination in which both of you are still young and blameless. He hasn’t fled Os Alta for a false name and a life at sea. You haven’t been captured and forced to undergo cruel tests. Both of you are happy and whole, and nothing bad has ever happened to either of you. What a dream indeed.

A dream, but dreams are all you have. The dream of being back with Nikolai is a good one. So, too, is the dream that someone will come to take you out of this place. You’ve had this one many times before, and it slips over you like sleep. It would happen quickly, the break-out. The Fjerdan guards would shout in surprise, then be quickly silenced. You’d hear the rattle of fast footsteps, and the door to your cell would fly open. All doors would be open, and all Grisha would live. You’d run far away, to a place that would finally want you again. All would be well.

You’re comfortable with it, not bothering to open your eyes lest you lose track of the dream. Only– maybe the parem is still lingering in your system, because you swear the faux sounds of fighters are louder than they usually are in the dreams. It’s not real, but the shouts do seem real, don’t they?

It’s not real. After all, parem has a way of messing with your mind. Many times during your captivity, you’ve thought you’d seen someone from home only to realize differently during the cloudiness of withdrawal. This is the same as that.

However, when the door to your cell clangs open, you feel the reverberations through your skin and bones, something that never happens when the Fjerdans come to get you. Your eyelids fly open and you scramble back against the wall, watching with terrified eyes as soldiers hurry to you. One’s in Ravkan fatigues, but the other is a Healer in a red kefta.

“You’re not real,” you grit out, teeth pressed together.

She shakes her head sympathetically. “I am, my friend. We’ve broken you out at last. Here, I have the cure.”

She holds out a syringe pre-loaded with some sort of substance. You snap back when you see it, too familiar with Fjerdan tricks of trying to inject you with different medicines. “Don’t you dare get that near me. I know what you do.”

The Healer jerks her chin towards you. “Hold her,” she says to the soldier.

You scream, a high, drawn-out sound, and do your best to fight, but your captivity has left you frail, and he’s able to subdue you after minor effort. The Healer pushes the needle into your veins, and you wait for something terrible to happen, another grievous experiment to begin in your body, but the strangest thing happens: you feel better.

You stare up at the Healer. Your mind feels clearer than it has in days, and, impossibly, you can feel your strength returning. “What is that?”

“A cure to jurda parem,” the Healer tells you. “Sincerest apologies that it’s taken this long to get to you.”

You’re guided out into the corridor, where you join the former occupants of the surrounding cells. All of you regard your rescuers and each other with the same incredulity and faint excitement. Is this really it? Are you finally out?

The ride back to Ravka should be long, but it feels as if it’s over in the blink of an eye. Several times, the rescue party stops at safe houses along the way, giving all of you opportunities to wash up, get new, warm clothes, and eat and drink to fix the gnaw of hunger that clings to all of you. By the time the gates of Os Alta swing wide to admit you, you’re almost feeling normal again.

Almost.

The torment of your time in the Fjerdan cells will stick with you forever, and the awful memories of what it had been like to be under the influence of jurda parem. However, the Healer’s cure worked well. When you try to use your abilities, they work the same as they had before the awful drug was first administered to you. By all accounts, you’re back to normal, even if your mind doesn’t entirely feel that way.

The driver calls to your group that you’ll be arriving outside the Little Palace shortly. “King Nikolai will be there to greet you,” he announces over his shoulder.

Excited whispers surround this, and you can’t help but listen in intently. “Nikolai Lantsov will be there?” One girl giggles by your side.

Another smiles in encouragement. “They say he’s been observing each coach that brings back rescued Grisha from Fjerda. It’s like he’s looking for someone. Maybe an old friend?”

You feel your stomach chill, the warm delight of rescue starting to cool off again. You have no doubt that you’re the one Nikolai is looking for; he had told you many times that you were his favorite Grisha by far, even when he was briefly engaged to the Sun Summoner for purely political reasons, but you find yourself hoping he doesn’t find you when you get out of your coach.

It’s not that you don’t want to see him, you do– the idea of being with Nikolai again had sustained you through your time in the Fjerdan cells better even than food or drink, but the fact remains that you are no longer as you were in your memories. You are no longer someone that a king would care to see. More so than just your weakened frame, your disorganized mind– you were captured on a mission, and you succumbed to jurda parem. In the back of your mind, a cruel voice whispers, pathetic. Nikolai will be spending his time with the finest diplomats, the noblest princes and princesses. He will not want a Grisha who could not hold out against a drug.

You gather your borrowed cloak about you, pulling the hood down over your face. It’s a size or two too large for you, by virtue of it belonging to someone else, and right now you’re glad for the extra fabric to disguise you. Nikolai is looking for a ghost, and probably out of necessity. He’ll likely be relieved that he won’t have to handle you like a difficult situation.

The coach pulls to a stop. Many rescued Grisha are crammed inside, so you blend into the crowd as you all pour out. Other Grisha from the Fjerdan prison are there already. It’s easy to slip amongst their ranks, keeping your head down. Nikolai is there in front of you as promised. His head is tilted up slightly, his gaze sweeping row after row of visitors. Maybe he isn’t even looking for you at all.

Then, his eyes catch yours briefly. Immediately, you look away, and start backing through the crowds again, trying to lose his gaze. When you feel it’s safe to look again, you breathe out quiet relief when you notice that he’s still scanning the crowd where you had been. Lost him. It’s a victory, but it’s an awful pain nonetheless.

Once everyone has arrived, Nikolai says a few kind words about how he’s glad everyone has returned home and how apologetic he is about the time it took to get you all back. No one seems to hold it against him, though, and how could you? He rescued you in the end, and managed to get you the cure to jurda parem to boot. It’s a fine success if you’ve ever seen one.

Nikolai releases you to the Little Palace to rest. Grisha stream past Nikolai, but he doesn’t stop to talk to any of them, looking again for someone. For you, maybe. You pull the hood down low again. If you move quickly, maybe he’ll miss you. You give him a wide berth, keeping your eyes low. You’ve almost made it to the edge of the courtyard when you feel a hand rest on your arm, carefully pulling you to a stop.

You don’t look up, not at first. You don’t have to look to know who it is. You’ve known Nikolai for years. You would know how he walks, the precise pattern of his boots against the cobblestones. You would know how the breath hitches in his throat when you’re reunited after too long a separation. You would know how his hand feels on you. You’ve dreamed of it a thousand times, but this isn’t a dream anymore, this is real.

“Excuse me, moi tsar,” you whisper. Maybe he doesn’t know it’s you yet. Maybe you can still escape with your dignity intact.

Any hope you had of avoiding recognition vanishes in an instant when Nikolai murmurs, “Y/N,” in such a desperate voice that you feel you could hardly move if you tried.

You stand still. A strong wind could blow you over, maybe. You watch the ground as Nikolai’s boots cross the ground to stand in front of you. His other hand rises to brush your hood back from your face. A gasp is ripped from his lungs as he takes in the sight of you.

“I look that bad, then, do I?” You can’t help but laugh quietly. It’s a bitter sound. You used to sound happier when you laughed with him, you think. A lot has changed.

Nikolai’s hand leaves your hood, drifting to your face. He raises your chin with a soft finger until you’re looking him in the eyes again. “Not to me,” he says, voice hardly louder than a whisper. “I’ve always thought you were beautiful.”

A quiet scoff escapes you. “I have been a prisoner of Fjerda for months, moi tsar. I doubt that was conducive to beauty.”

“You’d be surprised,” he tells you. Then, a bit more insistent, “You don’t need to refer to me with a title, Y/N. You didn’t when we were little.”

“I didn’t know better,” you say. It’s not quite true, and he knows it.

“Don’t say that,” Nikolai pleads. “We were friends, excellent friends. Now we’re older and you’re avoiding me. Why?”

You look away again. “Don’t ask me that,” you say with a laugh. You meant it to be a joke, but it comes out as a plea.

“I will,” he insists. “I have always been stubborn, you know that about me. Stubborn enough to search every single Fjerdan prison my spies could find when you went missing. Stubborn enough to stand here and wait in the cold until I could find you. And certainly stubborn enough to wait here with you until you tell me why I’m no longer good enough for you.”

This, at last, is enough to make your eyes fly to him. “That’s not true,” you insist hotly. “Quite the opposite, in fact. You’re a king and I’m a Grisha. And a Grisha that couldn’t even withstand jurda parem, to be specific. Saints, you win wars and I lost the first one that ever came to me. If there is anyone that has ever been insufficient, it would be me.”

The hand on your arm slips down to your fingers, and Nikolai squeezes once, twice. A heartbeat. A prayer. “You have never been insufficient to me,” he tells you. You make some sound of disagreement and he repeats it, insistent as ever. “No, you listen. You aren’t. Jurda parem is notorious for the pain it causes. You think you lost the war? The fact that you’re still alive in front of me tells me that you won it. Every day since you went missing, I woke up and went to bed terrified that you were dead and I would never know. I need you, sweetheart, and I need you to stop punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your fault.”

You stay quiet for a while, letting the words turn over in your mind, then, impulsively, you ask, “Sweetheart?”

He grins, easy as always. “It fits you. Don’t argue with me, I’ve had plenty of arguments prepared to convince you otherwise.”

You laugh, and this time, it’s real. “I wouldn’t dare, then. I just would have thought that you’d have plenty of princesses who would have won that nickname for real by now.”

Unable to stop yourself, you cast a glance towards his left hand. No ring. When you look back up at Nikolai, he’s beaming. “No queen for me, I’m afraid. I was waiting for mine to return from captivity.”

You roll your eyes. “Still haven’t given up on that, have you? I seem to remember you trying and failing to convince me to marry you since we were six.”

Nikolai grins, slipping your arm inside his so he can guide you back to the Little Palace. “I will never give up. Not until you say yes.”

You laugh again, shaking your head in mock disbelief. It’s been a while since you saw him. It’s been a while since he asked. If he were to do it again, you think you might have a different answer than when you were both so small.

Nikolai turns to look at you, his eyes shining. He’s always had a gift for knowing what’s on your mind, and judging by the light in his smile, you think he’s predicted your thoughts yet again. He’s got some time before he attempts another proposal. This time, though, he’ll have a better outcome than before.

grishaverse tag list: @rogueanschel, @deadreaderssociety, @cameronsails, @mxltifxnd0m, @story-scribbler, @retvenkos, @mayfieldss, @eclliipsed, @gods-fools-heroes, @bl606dy, @auggie2000, @baju69, @crazyhearttragedy, @aoi-targaryen, @budugu

all tags list: @wordsarelife

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is-today-tomorrow-in-nz · 6 months ago

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Fun Facts about the Grishaverse - Antis version

Did you know that the Darkling's true form is a smoke-worm? Yes, whenever the situations are not in favour of the Darkling. He sends out his almost invisible smoke-worms which then crawls into people's ears and reach their brains. The Darkling then plants his thoughts into the person and operate them like puppets.

Did you know you can play a variation of 'Six degrees of Kevin Bacon' with the Darkling too? Don't believe me? Pick any random Ravkan problem. Let me show you an example - 'The coffers are running dry in Ravka'. Easy - Tatiana loved the Darkling's fashion sense so much that she kept making gown after gown to capture his magic. She wanted to out-dazzle the Darkling. So she kept throwing parties to show off her newly crafted gowns but she always came second to the him. Fed up with failure, she kept trying till the coffers ran dry. She wanted to outdo the Darkling atleast once! See, got it in first degree itself.

Did you know the Darkling was secretly responsible for Vasily's horse addiction? - When Vasily was a child, he saw the Darkling pet a random horse once and Vasily was never the same again.

Did you know the Darkling can teleport? - Yes, it is a very lesser known fact, hidden between the lines of the Trilogy. In Shadow and Bone we can see the Darkling not being in the Little Palace but he was still able to manipulate Alina, Zoya, Genya and every woman in Ravka. It was all through his teleportation ability. Mind-blown right!

Did you know the illegal dog fighting ring in Ketterdam was linked to the Darkling? - The Darkling had kept his involvement hidden but Nina was able to unearth the truth by his slight oversight- a dog in the fighting ring was named 'Shadow'. There! you saw the connection right? So subtle that you almost missed it.

Did you how the animosity between the Darkling and Nikolai first started? - When Nikolai was a boy, the Darkling was working near the Fjerdan borders. But one night, Nikolai had a nightmare and dreamt of a shadowy presence under his bed, making him wake up in sweat and tears. That day he decided that the Darkling was not a friend of his and they split ways. They never met again till the day of the Spinning Wheel attack. (I have always wondered how their relationship would have turned out if Nikolai had not had that dream. *long, pondering sigh*)

Did you know that the Darkling was directly responsible for Pyotr/Aleksander III's incompetence? The Darkling sent one of his smoke-worms to make the head chef undercook the King's chicken. This caused Pyotr to have a salmonella infection which rotted his brain and turned him to be so incompetent ruler. It was one of the Darkling's earlier attempts at the throne.

Did you know that the Darkling was a time-traveler who loved wars? Yes! This is once again a lesser known fact. Ravka, Fjerda and Shu-Han were once peace-loving countries whose rulers were besties. They loved Grisha like crazy. They gave Grisha high positions in their courts and revered them. However, in the original timeline, this did not help the Darkling to become the most powerful man. He wanted to play the saviour so badly that he went back in time, destroyed the friendships, created the Grisha-otkazat'sya rift just so that he could become the most feared man in history! This was such a shocking discovery and I found in my 278th read. LB is such a genius!

These are some of the interesting facts I discovered. Share me yours!!!

#sarcasm incase people missed it #inspired by the recent growing trend of outrageous antis post #pro darkling #pro aleksander morozova #grishaverse trilogy #incorrect grishaverse #grisha critical #shadow and bone #seige and storm #ruin and rising #demon in the wood #the darkling #nikolai lantsov #zoya nazyalensky #anti zoya #called it smoke-worm as a homage to season 2 writers who fought nichevoya with squallers #satire post

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theweeklydiscourse · 9 months ago

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Nerfing the Villain: An analysis of the Darkling’s attack on Novokribirsk

I reject the attack on Novokribirsk as a culmination of the Darkling’s supposed master plan and his evil aspirations. So I wanted to talk about why I don’t feel compelled by this moment, despite the fact that it is brought up several times as a point of contention in discussions about the Darkling’s evil deeds.

When you read this chapter of Shadow and Bone or watch it happen in the show, it is communicated to the viewer/reader that the attack on Novokribirsk served as a demonstration of strength. In the show, we see a soldier directing Zoya to steer the ship to a position of visibility, explaining that they will need an audience. This, coupled with the attendance of foreign diplomats, reinforces the idea that the attack is meant to be seen and functions less as a military maneuver and more like a political strategy. Similarly, the book implies this purpose through Alina’s observations of the ship’s passengers

But this plan is flawed on two fronts. Firstly, the fact that the Darkling has been established as an adept strategist and general who has led the Second army for generations and thus, has a great deal of experience and expertise. Secondly, this maneuver is an act of senseless violence that has no pretext and is counterproductive to the Darkling’s goals.

And just like that…the Darkling got lobotomized by the narrative

Aleksander Morozova has been characterized as an intelligent and cunning individual from the moment he first appeared in the text. Alina's narrations frequently ponder over his inner workings and demonstrates a perception that he is both highly strategic and calculated when it comes to his planning. This perception is strengthened by the added fact that Aleksander is roughly four centuries old, having spent his long life involved in the military and politics as a Grisha general. With this in mind, the reader can gather that he is a skilled and competent leader with countless years of experience and so we assume that what he does will follow a logical path (even if it proves to be ruthless).

So how do we make sense of the attack on Novokribirsk? To examine this moment in full, we must start with how the text explains the purpose of it.

"This must be why the Darkling had delayed our trip into the Fold. He’d needed time to assemble the proper audience, witnesses who would attest to his newfound power. But just how far did he intend to go?" (Shadow & Bone, pg. 207)

Here, we see Alina's assessment of his plan. In summary, Aleksander has invited Fjerdan ambassadors, a delegation from Shu Han, Kerch tradesmen, as well as a representatives of the Crown to demonstrate the might of the Fold. He intends to use Novokribirsk as a site for his demonstration and unleash the fold upon the city to make his point to his audience. The ultimate goal of this act is explained as a threat to the nations bordering Ravka, as well as the current leadership of Ravka itself. The Fold becomes a weapon of mass destruction and lends Aleksander leverage over the nation on his terms.

“I think you understand me now. There are no Ravkans, no Fjerdans, no Kerch, no Shu Han. There are no more borders, and there will be no more wars. From now on, there is only the land inside the Fold and outside of it, and there will be peace.” (Shadow & Bone, pg. 213)

However, when you take a closer look, it becomes apparent that Aleksander should be smarter than this. He should be the kind of leader that would have the foresight to see that this plan would massively backfire if he ever did something so senseless. It would be like if the USA dropped a nuclear bomb on Los Angeles or New York to intimidate other countries into submitting to them, completely counterintuitive and lacking awareness of how the public would react. Decimating a city in your own country as a demonstration of might, especially without any pretext or warning, is not an intelligent strategy under any circumstances. Yet, Aleksander makes his speech confidently, as if what he did was a sound strategy.

For one, Novokribirsk is a densely populated trading port and has a population that is mainly composed of Ravkan civilians who are not at war with Ravka. If his goal was to showcase the Fold's overwhelming strength, why not unleash it on a Fjerdan or Shu town/city? You know, the countries that Ravka is actively at war with?

“They’re your own people!” I cried desperately. (Shadow & Bone, pg. 210)

Aleksander committing horrible acts of violence is fine, but only if it aligns with his previous strategies and end goal. Senselessly slaughtering civilians en masse is not a strategy that fits in with that idea, and it is obviously counterintuitive to what he wants to achieve. Also, Aleksander is already feared or despised by a large portion of the population and does not have the majority of Ravka on his side, so how could this possibly help him? Getting onto the throne is one thing, but staying on it is a completely different game. Brute strength can only hold out for so long, and it doesn't help him to commit a random act of violence in this context.

"They ran, and I saw their fear, heard their screams as the black fabric of the Fold crashed over the drydocks and the village like a breaking wave. Darkness enveloped them, and the volcra set upon their new prey. A woman carrying a little boy stumbled, trying to outrun the grasping dark, but it swallowed her, too." (Shadow & Bone, pg. 212)

It’s difficult to believe that a person with as much experience as the Darkling would not be be able to foresee that this act of violence would elicit a visceral negative response from the majority of Ravkans. We could imagine that the nature of this plan was to instill fear into the hearts of the masses, but no ruler can govern on fear alone and it’s pretty important to have people on your side if you want to stay in power. As such, killing civilians with no clear justifications, motives, or pretence becomes an effective strategy at getting everyone to hate your guts.

The incoherence of this moment is the reason why I reject it as a legitimate culmination of his character motivations and arc throughout the book. It feels distinctly disconnected from the goals he was purported to have, so when other characters like Nikolai and Zoya lay into them for it, I don’t feel remotely compelled by their words because it didn’t fit in at all with his character.

#shadow and bone #the darkling #grishaverse #grishaverse meta #Novokribirsk #alina starkov #close reading #lb critical #s&b critical #s&b salt #aleksander morovoza #anti leigh bardugo #character assassination #s&b fandom

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dhampiravidi · 1 year ago

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make me your villain, Miss Holt...

All Jayn knew was that one moment, she was being fired for pretending to be a man (they didn’t exactly let women work at shipyards), and the next, she had a new job. Well, she knew that her father had used his connections to help her. (She’d hate to see the look on her mother’s face when she came home unemployed and failed.) A noble like him, Ravkan instead of Fjerdan, wanted help cataloging his things before he moved. She’d managed the supplies and salaries at the docks, so he considered her qualified. It was better than the other "help" her father had given her, which was an arranged match with a Matthias Helvar. There was no way Jayn was giving up her life to live in a freezing cold country amongst misogynists. She'd find reasons to put the wedding date off until she had enough footing to properly decline.

So she took a ferry from Kerch, a sandskiff through the mysterious Shadow Fold, and a train into Ravka’s mountains. The people in the eastern part of the world were easily the most superstitious. Those on the train had prayed to their Sankts before the journey had begun, and the Suli people who had agreed to take her to Count Morozova's door had unsuccessfully offered her a number of protective charms before they left.

Jayn told herself that there was nothing to worry about. She'd learned how to fight at the shipyards, with her fists or with whatever was on hand (no pun intended). But even in Novyi Zem, they told cautionary tales about the zowa Ilya, a man who dabbled in forbidden mystical arts to create something out of nothing. He had died a tragic death, and one of his descendants had used the same magic to create the Shadow Fold. It was said that enemies of Ravka were targeted by monsters who lurked within. In reality, Fjerda had only dared approach Ravka from the Fold once during the war decades ago, and it had only resulted in deadly failure.

She approached the doors of the Count's ornate, yet intimidating castle, and knocked on them with a shivering hand. Her luggage sat next to her, almost like an obedient puppy waiting to accompany her inside.

@starlsssankt

#shadow fold isn’t deadly here just scary...or is it?#he’s a typical vamp but his line always learns to ctrl shadow & merzost #up to you if Aleks goes by Kirigan to hide his age. nobody knows Ilya's surname.#morozova means “frost” & he lives in the mountains...hehe #yeah so Genya/Zoya/Nina are the vamp women #Alina Westenra is the victim who Nik & Mal recruit Crows to save #Aleks & Jayn are kindred spirits somehow sooo she helps him #she's down w/taking down an abusive monarchy in Britain *cough* no parallels there #anyway make vamp!Aleks as creepy & charming as you want bc Dracula's creepy in the novel #you decide how & when he bites people. nom nom.#anyway I'm excited for this!#starlsssankt #jlw: thread

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fiddleabout · 2 years ago

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(previously on grishava and the druskelle who fell in love with her)

“Ava.”

Beatrice’s voice sounds behind her, calm amongst the storm of Lilith and Camila and the Solday Sol all fighting to hold off the volcra and the nichevo’ya, calm like the darkling isn’t moments away from killing them all, calm like she has been since the day they found out that she always the firebird, always the third amplifier, always made to die at Ava’s hand, and Ava’s eyes close without her permission.

“No.” She doesn’t turn, doesn’t open her eyes. “I’m not--”

“You have to.” Beatrice is in front of her suddenly, hands on her shoulders, then the side of her neck, her cheeks. Thumbs stroke over her cheekbones and Ava’s breath tangles in her chest, hands curling around Beatrice’s wrists. “It’s the only way to stop him.”

“No.” Ava shakes her head, fingers latching too tight around Beatrice’s wrists, and wrenches her eyes open. “I won’t--”

“You have to,” Beatrice says softly. Without her druskelle uniform she could almost be anyone, a Ravkan girl without a destiny who Ava could build a home and a life with, someone with a quiet future and a long life ahead of her instead of a sacrificial end. Someone who isn’t the firebird, someone who Ava doesn’t have to sacrifice to save the rest of the world. “You know you have to end this.”

Someone screams, a Soldat Sol or one of the darkling’s oprichniki-- there’s no telling who-- but Ava barely hears it because one of Beatrice’s hands has dropped from her face and produced a blade. There’s a wolf’s head carved into the hilt, the only piece of Fjerda Beatrice had been unwilling to part with, a token to her old life that she’d fashioned to accompany the grisha steel blade that the fabrikators had made for her in her role as Ava’s protector, her partner, the one who stood at her back time and again throughout this war.

Beatrice pries one of Ava’s hands away from her own wrist, never looking away. There’s a wistful set to her mouth, a stubborn glint in her eyes, as she wraps first one, then the other, of Ava’s hands around the hilt and turns the blade towards her own chest. Her hands, familiar and calloused and steady, cover Ava’s and lock them in place.

“No,” Ava says again, and again, cracking and desperate, her hands shaking. Beatrice is steady, like always, holding the blade in place where it’s tilted up, perfectly positioned to slide between her ribs and up behind her sternum, straight into her own heart. “Beatrice--”

“Jer molle pe oonet,” Beatrice says, Fjerdan rolling off her tongue, and Ava’s entire body rebels.

“Don’t you dare,” she grinds out, seething, fury overwriting the gaping horror at the fact that Beatrice is right and Ava’s always known it, that without the third amplifier she can’t stop the darkling, can’t tear down the fold, can’t deliver Ravka from the unsea and the volcra and the crippling darkness it’s been mired in for centuries. Ava knows that it’s Beatrice or the rest of the world, but even knowing it can’t make her push the dagger forward. “We’ll find another--”

“Jer molle pe oonet,” Beatrice says again, the druskelle oath a promise and an apology, a goodbye Ava isn’t ready to accept yet. A thumb strokes along the tension in Ava’s hands, an uncharacteristic tremble making itself known. “I have been made to protect you, Sankta Ava.”

Her eyes shine and Ava’s fingers itch to touch, to thumb away the tears starting to leak out over a constellation of freckles Ava has long since memorized, but Beatrice’s grip is too strong. Light burns in Ava’s hands, under her skin, the power in her bones reacting to the ache in her chest, as if the same power that got them to this point can save her from having to sacrifice Beatrice.

She smiles, small and stubborn and sad, and Ava’s chest cracks open at the sight of it. “I wish we’d had more time,” Beatrice says softly. “But I’m happy to have known you, Ava Silva.”

“Beatrice,” Ava says, wavering and breaking. If Beatrice had called her saint again, had offered herself to a title instead of a person, Ava might have found a way to stop it, to throw the blade away, to throw it all away, but Beatrice says her name like a benediction offered, a promise she wants to fulfill, and it shatters in Ava’s chest and freezes her in place. Her eyes burn from the desert sands whipping around them, Lilith’s power shielding them from the fight.

Beatrice nods once and then tightens her hold on Ava’s hands. She breathes in, visible, audible, holding the breath in her lungs, and closes her eyes, tilts her head towards the glow of Ava’s power as it surrounds them. Ava gathers light desperately in her chest,in the hands locked around the hilt of the dagger and in Beatrice’s hold, as if this time she can burn bright enough on her own to tear down the fold.

“You can always find me in the dark,” Beatrice says, a promise she can’t possibly keep, eyes glinting in the warmth of Ava’s light. A broken pathetic noise cracks in Ava’s throat, and Beatrice nods once and then yanks, driving the dagger into her own chest.

Beatrice coughs, once, blood in her teeth, and collapses. Ava falls with her, drowning in a shrieking screaming noise that surely can’t possibly be coming from her own mouth. Blood spills out of Beatrice’s chest, warm and terrible, and Ava barely manages to crumple in time with Beatrice’s dying body, to get one bloody hand behind her head and cradle it on the way down, as if Beatrice isn’t dead before she hits the ground.

Heat wells in Ava’s veins, in her bones, pouring into her palms and aching to escape, a cataclysm of pain and loss and fury ready to erupt, because Beatrice is dead and Ava’s the one who killed her.

Her scream as she crouches over Beatrice’s body distracts Lilith, and the whirlwind around them falters for just a moment, just long enough for a nichevo’ya to dive shrieking towards them; Ava barely notices the way it evaporates with a screech when it gets close. The light builds and builds and builds, a crescendo with no endpoint in sight, heating until the pain of it under her skin nearly overwhelms the pain at the fact that Beatrice is dead, and then explodes out of her.

#ahh snippets and the joy of skipping all the connecting pieces #will i go back and write them? it's a mystery we shall see #grishava #warrior nun #ava silva #sister beatrice #avatrice #writing tag

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depressedbagpipe · 9 months ago

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A Heartrender's Fire: ch. III

Tolya Yul-Bataar x Lantsov!ofc

Words: 5199 Warnings: canon-typical violence and language, volcra, poor descriptions of grisha powers, grisha powers following the show's logic and not the one in the books, me making up names and titles. also justice for kovu cause the guy straight up disappeared mid-episode. also i don't speak ravkan (russian?) so let's pretend i know what I'm doing A/N: this took way too long because i essentially had a surgery performed on me last month and I'm *still* recovering. anyways, this is way too fun to write so don't worry, i am continuing this story. we're getting some backstories here, too, which i think is pretty neat.

Series Masterlist Previous chapter <> Next chapter

III: Like calls to like

The day woke up cloudy, but the spirits at the Volkvolny were as bright as the Sun Summoner’s light. Sturmhond had been preparing the ship for the trip to the Fold all morning, giving concise directions to the crew. Only a small group would be coming with him and his clients up in the air, and his sister quickly pointed out that she wasn’t staying behind, no matter how much her brother wanted to keep her safe on the ship while he returned to their homeland.

“Anything happens on the Fold, you’ll need me,” she had argued, once again before Tamar and Tolya’s unimpressed faces.

“I have a Sun Summoner now. I think I’ll be fine.”

Ouch, Irina didn’t let the reaction show in her face. Tolya did feel her heart beat just a tad faster, though. Not that he was actively seeking her heartbeat out. He would often find himself listening unconsciously and could distinguish it from miles away. Not even metaphorically.

“It’s my country too, Nikolai. Anything happens on the Fold, you’ll need me,” she repeated.

Sturmhond looked at his sister. Few times she ever addressed him with his name, right in the open, and he realized that no matter how much he wanted to keep his little sister away from danger, she would always find her way to it, face first, full charge.

“Fine,” he sighed. “You’re buying kvas later, though.”

“Deal.”

He still scowled when he took her in, smiling her victorious smile as she high-fived the twins, the three of them chattering amongst themselves as the ship took them closer to the black void that had haunted and fascinated the second prince for so long. Irina was fully aware of the danger, and despite her best efforts, a chill went through her spine at the thought of her first passage through the darkness, afraid, and alone.

I have a Sun Summoner now. Sturmhond could lie to himself all he wanted, but his sister knew he was just as scared as her. Only now they had a living Saint with them, able to wield the power of two amplifiers and the hope of an entire nation.

The Volkvolny sailed through the waves seemingly faster than ever. Irina almost wished the ship would stop and trap them on the sea forever, anything but returning to the one place she had been miserable at. No matter how many dirty taverns, war camps, and smelly docks she stepped on, the image of the Grand Palace was enough to fix a permanent frown on her otherwise peaceful manner.

But she was a big girl now. Whatever was waiting for her on the other side should fear her, too. She was powerful, not as much as Alina, or as intelligent as Nikolai, but she still had royal blood in her veins, which coincidentally pumped enough fire to bring down the whole palace with just a flick of her hand. She felt the warmth on her cheeks at the thought, and with a small smile, she looked up, finding Tolya’s gaze.

The giant was looking at her with an all-knowing grin, which she quickly replicated. He noticed her fingers had been absentmindedly tracing her own amplifier, barely taking it out of her clothes. He had noticed that little quirk of hers after she got it, almost a month into joining them on the crew. A failed smuggling operation on the Fjerdan border ended with Sturmhond almost decapitated by a wolf, and Irina melting the snow around them as she protected him from the pack that was sure to attack. Tolya had known Irina’s heart marched to a different beat than her brother’s, but it was only after seeing the flames around her body that he fully knew what was different about her. He had eyed her closely after that, always finding something new about her to stare at, from the way her eyes seemed to come alive in the sun and radiate warmth in the night. Or how she was grounding herself as her fingers danced down the wolf’s fang as if she too needed a reminder of the fire she carried in her soul. There were many things about Irina Lantsov that could be admired, according to Tolya. Not that he would ever tell her.

Simultaneously, Alina was also stroking her wrists, feeling the amplifiers without looking up. Irina glanced at her, noticing the way her face lit up when Mal approached her again. For a second she longed for it, that love out in the open, despite the dire situation the young couple was in. Their conversation was soon cut short by her brother, perched nearby, waiting for his big entrance as he always did. His voice was loud, demanding, and powerful–everything he had been raised to be.

“Who says you’ll be on your own?” He raised his leg on a box and casually leaned up front. “I want a front-row seat to the light show, thank you very much. Plus, the King’s on the other side of the Fold, ergo, so is my payment.”

“We could definitely use your arsenal,” Mal reckoned.

“Maybe some kind of fortified carriage?” Alina thought.

“Carriage? Land travel is so boring. And that’ll take days!” Sturmhond walked away from them, giving Irina the silent indication she needed to brace herself for takeoff. “Come along! Prepare to decouple!”

Tolya and Tamar quickly jumped to the section, their faces glistening with anticipation.

“Kovu.” Sturmhond nodded at the Squaller behind Alina and Mal. He pulled the lever that engaged the sails. “Secondary mast released!” Kovu shifted the position of the sails so they stood horizontal to the ship, all of it under the astonished eyes of the Sun Summoner. “Engage secondary sail!”

And with another push upwards, the Hummingbird flew out of reach as the rest of the Volkvolny stayed on the water. Alina stumbled over to the wooden bench Irina had fallen asleep just a day prior and looked around in disbelief and fear as the air grew colder and purer the higher they flew in the sky. Tamar chuckled at the girl, enjoying the sight of the Sun Summoner scrambling to stay sitting. Even Irina grinned, feeling somewhat superior for a slight second.

Even the Sun Summoner feels fear.

She couldn’t help but comment. “It’s like watching a newborn discover the world.”

Tolya laughed, who had casually stood beside her, looking at the sea below them and enjoying the sight of the horizon. Irina felt a warmth in her cheeks that she was sure wasn’t because of the chill that settled around the Hummingbird. Instead of looking in Tolya’s direction, she faced her brother, who was also staring at Alina with amusement, only his eyes were kinder and curious, a sight Irina knew too well was only reserved for very few women out there.

Yet Mal was the only one who got her to open her eyes and walk with her to the edge. Mal was the only one she trusted to catch her if she fell. Irina wondered what that would feel like, should the moment come. Who would come to her rescue, not for who she was, but because they cared about her.

Kovu kept working the sails as they rapidly approached Ravkan soil, the sea blending with the land. Irina’s heart drummed in anticipation, looking back as they left the sea behind.

“How are you holding up?” Tolya suddenly spoke. He seemed nearer, their arms barely touching.

“Meh.”

He shook his head, his eyes shifting from the sky to the ground below them. “Why haven’t you told them about you being Grisha?” He lowered his voice. Irina looked around, sighing in relief once she saw her brother keeping his guests entertained. “It’s bound to happen, anyway.”

“And give away the big reveal? No way.” Irina scoffed, looking back at him for a second.

“Don’t be like your brother.” Tolya’s seriousness would’ve caught her off-guard, but she was used to his sudden tone changes.

“I’m not like my brother. In fact, I’m better.”

“Something Sturmhond would say.”

“Something Ainthe would say, too,”

“See?”

“Shut up,” she giggled. He smiled too, missing the sound of her laugh. After the prior day’s events, he wouldn’t admit he would miss her laugh if she was gone. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m so used to hiding amongst Ravkans… I can’t tell how they’ll react.”

“They’re good people.”

“How can you tell?”

“I happen to have a way with hearts.”

“You don’t say.”

“Captain! The Fold’s in sight!” Tamar called, effectively interrupting the banter between the two Grisha.

“Next stop, destiny.”

“For Saint’s sake, Sturmhond,” Irina groaned.

“What? I’m trying to add dramatic effect here.”

“We don’t need it.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Children.”

–·–

The Hummingbird entered the pit of darkness in complete silence. Thunder rumbled as the flying vessel tore through the barrier, and Irina took one last big gulp of fresh air before her body was completely surrounded by obscurity. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the black, and she released a silent breath, moving her head around as soon as she heard the first creature’s wail in the distance. Kovu kept the flying skiff afloat, his arms tiring but without complaint. Alina stood at the front, arms ready, while Irina gripped the ropes, looking wildly around.

The crew seemed to gather behind Alina, with narrowed eyes, trying to find some hope to hold on to.

“I hate this place,” Mal commented in a low voice.

They all knew they had to be very silent if they wanted to make it out alive.

“Eh, it’s just a bit of pitch black and bloodthirsty monsters,” Sturmhond joked. He ignored the unimpressed faces of his clients and faced his family. “What’s not to love?”

He gladly received in his open palm his firearm which Tamar had thrown at him, never losing his mischievous smirk.

“Seems like a good day to kill some Volcra,” Tamar growled, getting her own weapons ready as well.

Tolya sighed. “I’d much rather a hot bath and a book of sonnets.”

Tamar stared at him in disbelief. Tolya was looking at the darkness with a longing look, picturing himself in the warm water, and Irina had to glance another way just to stop those thoughts from wandering elsewhere. She rolled the sleeves of her red coat up, her hands tense and ready to summon. Should Alina fail, she would become the first line of infantry. Irina stood next to Kovu, guarding the Squaller at the back while the rest of the team remained at the front.

“All good?” she asked the man, noticing the faint line of sweat on his forehead.

“Could be better,” he replied.

Irina sighed. “It won’t take much longer, don’t worry.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

The girl couldn’t say anything else, for she too felt the tension rising with every passing second. She knew it hadn’t been that much time since they entered, but any time spent inside the Fold felt like an eternity.

Alina stood up near the edge, and the light show quickly began. With heavy breathing, the Sun Summoner created a light barrier that first extended around the Hummingbird, and then expanded into the black void. Irina stared around in amazement, a hole opening itself in front of them where the ancient mountains of Tsibeya stood at the horizon, welcoming them home once more. Light and heat overwhelmed Irina as beams of light danced on Alina’s arms.

The barrier only got bigger from then on, and just as they were about to exit on the other side of the hole Alina had opened, things spiraled down. Alina’s light flickered, her arms flailing wild as she tried to call on her power once again, but nothing responded.

“Alina!” Mal kept calling her, but whatever made her stop had also thrown her off on the deck, the protective barrier of light gone with her.

The Volcra didn’t take long. Their growling was near, angry and ferocious, as the last beams of light extinguished around them. The Fold swallowed them whole again, and Sturmhond didn’t waste any time.

“Kovu!” he yelled at the Squaller as he took some steps back. “Get us out!” he stood before his sister, guns ready.

Kovu quickly rearranged the sails, making the ship fly faster at his mercy. Irina’s relief was short-lived, for one of the haunting monsters was now perched right beside them, ready to launch itself at its first victim.

Sturmhond quickly fired his revolver at it, making it stand back. The twins stood at the rear of the ship, the five of them standing in a circle as they protected each other’s backs. With Alina still on the floor and Mal perched over her, they weren’t the primary victims of the giant creatures.

Another one tore the main overhead sail open and landed on the deck right in front of the twins, who quickly got to work to end the monster’s life. The skiff was tilting dangerously, having lost its main support to stay afloat, but Kovu was doing everything in his power to get them out of the Fold on the other side while keeping the Hummingbird in the air. Irina didn’t need to be a genius to know they would not last long.

Sturmhond helped Tolya with a shot to where the Volcra’s heart supposedly was, and the giant quickly cut its head off. Irina assessed the damage, noticing the big hole in the fabric right above her head. She saw Alina finally stand up, still looking out of it, and because Mal only had eyes for her, neither of them saw the monster that was coming at a rapid speed to them.

Alina barely had time to look up before Irina stood protectively over them, firing a big and scathing flare up towards it, almost bursting it into flames as it fell through the void, fire following the Volcra as it sunk deeper into the Fold.

Irina smiled at the sight, her fingers itching for more, standing tall and proud at her own display of power under the stunned faces of Alina and Mal.

“You’re Grisha?”

“No time to explain, Sol Koroleva,” Irina said.

The Hummingbird hit the exit of the Fold with a strong thud, nothing in comparison with their previous smooth entrance. The ship kept descending, gaining speed as it did so. One of the engines didn’t survive the attack, and the smoke was quickly turning into a well-spread fire at the front of the skiff. Irina was almost sent back flying, and would have crashed into the ship’s barrier if it hadn’t been for Tolya’s extended arm, catching her and bringing her closer to him, pinning her to the same rope he was holding on to for dear life as gravity pulled the crew down.

“Kovu, begin descent!” Sturmhond called, balancing on two feet, even though there wasn’t much Kovu could do. “Brace yourselves for landing!”

They were hurtling straight to the ground, and the Squaller could only do so much to prevent them from crashing completely. Everybody was trying to grasp at anything that could keep them up, bracing for the incoming impact. Irina felt helpless once again, but she didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself, because, with another jolt, the Hummingbird finally crashed, sending everybody down on the ground, impacting with the walls as the ship swept along the flat land and continued forward. Tolya kept a hand on the rope and another slithered around Irina’s waist, keeping her in front of her as the ship continued in motion through the meadow. Irina could only count the seconds until the movement stopped, closing her eyes in a silent prayer.

Fortunately for her, it wasn’t long before it did.

Everybody was grunting and breathing heavily. Irina felt the burn on her hand from groping the rope for dear life, but Tolya didn’t take his arm off her.

“Is everyone okay?” Sturmhond asked loudly, quickly getting up.

Irina felt Tolya’s arm tensing slightly before finally releasing her, going to check on his sister who was still panting but seemed otherwise fine.

“You good?” Sturmhond asked Irina, placing a hand on her back as he checked for any injuries on the younger girl.

She nodded. “Yeah. You?”

He nodded too. That was all confirmation they needed before they both jumped over the deck onto solid ground, assessing the damage.

“Another one gone.”

Irina frowned. “This one worked. It was the Volcra.”

“It’s always the Volcra.”

But none of them could even breathe in relief before a bugle blew nearby. A regiment of the First Army had so lovingly decided to welcome them back to their land, with raised firearms ready to shoot at them, and its Colonel walking up front in a menacing stance.

The twins didn’t even shudder at the sight.

“Well, looks like we’re about to enjoy a traditional Ravkan welcome,” Tolya joked.

Irina smiled, feeling the air charging with her brother’s boastful ego, about to make his big entrance. Maybe she was a bit like her brother. Not that she would ever admit that.

“You’ve crossed illegally onto Ravkan soil. Identify yourselves,” the Colonel called.

Sturmhond jumped down, standing in front of his crew with a straight back. He took off his bag, giving it to Tolya. “I’ll handle this.”

Irina stood back, repressing a smile.

“What are you doing?” Alina whispered at him but shut up at the look Irina sent her. She hid back slightly behind Mal, mainly because she was still the country’s number one fugitive.

“Identify yourselves at once or be shot.”

“Have I really changed so much, Raevsky?” Sturmhond, very slowly, started undoing his blue captain coat, leaving behind his fake persona and embracing his birthright before the Colonel’s own eyes. “I know it’s been a number of years, but people swear I remain boyishly handsome.”

He was wearing his First Army uniform underneath, and just as the green attire caught the Colonel’s eyes, he smiled.

“It can’t be.”

Tolya was being used as a coat hanger by that point, with Nikolai Lantsov standing proud and tall, with a devilish grin as he walked closer to the regiment.

“Yes, it is.”

“Moi tsarevich,” Raevsky mumbled before kneeling, the rest of the troop doing the same. “My prince. We’d all but given up hope.”

Nikolai chuckled as he shook the Colonel’s hand. Raevsky didn’t waste any time and turned around, facing his regiment and presenting the prince with a boisterous speech.

“I present Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the 22nd Regiment, Soldier of the King’s Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and Second Son to his Most Royal Majesty, King Pyotr the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne,” the Colonel called.

Irina mouthed the titles as Raevsky went on, and even the twins shared impressed looks at the many names their fearless captain bore.

“You’ve got to be joking,” Mal whispered, both him and Alina frowning.

“Saints.”

Nikolai continued. “And in your own words, as I recall, ‘the greenest and most useless grunt you ever had the misfortune of commanding.’”

“Now, that sounds like you,” Irina spoke out loud, only noticing her mistake when the Colonel’s eyes glanced at her, also opening wide as he kneeled once more.

“Moi tsarevicha.”

The regiment, once again, copied their Colonel, kneeling as she walked closer to her brother, already regretting the attention she was receiving, but knowing the longer she stood without saying a word about her identity, the harder it would get later.

“I, once again, present Irina Lantsov, Grand Duchess of Mydrov, and First Daughter to his Most Royal Majesty, King Pyotr the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne.”

Nikolai chuckled when he noticed his sister's discomfort. “Thought you could get away with it?”

She groaned before motioning the Colonel to stand up. He took a step forward and bent down to kiss her hand, while Irina forced a smile onto her face.

“At your service, Your Highness.”

“We wanted to return sooner, but not without her,” Nikolai looked back at Alina.

Irina grimaced, knowing what was coming.

“May I present my esteemed traveling companion, former cartographer and sometimes Saint, Alina Starkov!” he extended a hand towards her, yet looked back at Raevsky.

His sister shook her head, seeing how Alina was taking fast steps towards her brother. Despite her protectiveness over him, she knew he had it coming.

“Sol Koroleva. We heard you were dead,” Colonel Raevsky spoke with fear evident in his face, but his words died as soon as Alina yelled.

“You lying bastard!”

The punch to Nikolai’s face was met with utmost silence. The sound of betrayal was too loud to say anything else in return.

–·–

“That was fun,” Tamar said as they rode toward the Spinning Wheel.

“It was terrible,” Irina groaned, closing her eyes momentarily.

“You looked so cute there, like all stiff and stuff, and all the soldiers in awe like ‘Saints, the princess’,” Tamar kept going.

“I didn’t know where to look anymore! Everything was so awkward.”

Tolya joined. “Were they curtsying the right way?”

Irina groaned. Tamar laughed.

The twins loved teasing the princess about her royal status every time they were on Ravkan soil. And while Irina pretended she couldn’t stand their banter, she knew she wouldn’t last a day without it.

“How long do you think she’ll be mad at him for?” Tolya wondered.

The three of them looked back at where the Sun Summoner ignored the prince, looking at everything except the blond next to him. The three of them rode at the front, followed a few feet away by Nikolai and Alina, the rear of the party finished by a brooding Mal and a silent Kovu. Alina was still ignoring Nikolai, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t seem to get on her good side.

“No one can stay mad at Nikolai for long, but she seems stubborn enough to try,” Irina commented.

“You know what he’s planning, don’t you?” Tamar said as she looked ahead again, fixing her posture on her horse as she looked around, searching for anything dangerous that could find them on their route.

The princess nodded. “Yup.”

“And she’s not gonna like it.”

“Nope.”

Tamar groaned. “Did he tell you?”

Irina shrugged. “It wasn’t necessary. I always know what he’s thinking. I mean, when you grow up with him, it’s easy to read his mind. Heartrender or not,” she winked at her friend.

“It reminds me of this poem by a Kerch author, about the bond between brothers–” Tolya started, but his sister interrupted him.

“Is he dead?”

Tolya stopped. “Yes?”

Tamar shrugged. “Then I don’t care. I only vibe with the living.”

“In which case, last time on Novyi Zem there was this street artist who…”

The three of them continued with their playful chatter as their party rode on, leaving behind Raevsky’s regiment and the Fold. The Spinning Wheel was already in sight, and Irina felt a shiver set permanently in her bones as she gazed at the fortified mountain. She had spent years sneaking up there with her brother, perfecting her techniques, helping him build the place from the ground just to create something that would somehow resemble her ways. It had been her personal sanctuary once, and it was now full of Grisha displaced by General Kirigan’s torment and greed. Irina wasn’t truly the patriot that her older brother was, she too felt the tug in her heart at the thought of all the families that had suffered at the mercy of a pointless war, and the generations of both Grisha and Otkazat’sya that had been divided by the envy of the few. Her own life had been a constant lie because of it. And she was about to face it all over again, no matter how much she had convinced herself that she wouldn’t ever have to.

Those thoughts lasted long enough to reach the Spinning Wheel. Irina was still frowning as she got off her horse but forced a relaxed grin as soon as her brother appeared next to her.

“Welcome to the Spinning Wheel. My inventions workshop. It’s become something of a refuge for Grisha,” Nikolai spoke, introducing the place to Alina. He made sure to wink at his sister at the last bit of information, which the Sun Summoner clearly caught.

“Is that why you care so much? Because of her?” Alina asked the prince.

He simply shrugged, suddenly not caring about boosting his ego further. He looked at his sister, who was looking at him with a knowing smile.

“She’s my family above all. And as I already told you, you do what you have to do to protect the people you love.”

Irina shook her head, yet warmth spread across her chest. Nikolai finding out about her being able to summon fire had been an accident, much in the same way she found out. They were both playing outside the Grand Palace borders, sneaking around their older brother, their nanny, and the two guards who followed the small party into the outer world, as the princess liked to call it. The storm found them sitting on top of a tree, and suddenly, Vasily and the rest of their chaperones were running towards the palace again, leaving the two lesser children to fend for themselves. Nikolai was gripping Irina’s hand tightly as they made their way down and followed the path they had taken out of the woods when lightning struck a nearby tree and cut it in half. The trunk was about to crush them when the girl raised her hands in a terrified scream, and the next thing she knew, a huge chunk of ash was dissolving into thin air. Nikolai, wide-eyed and drenched, only took his sister’s hand once again and ran with her back to the palace. Without saying a word they sneaked past the guards at the entrance and escorted her to her quarters, helping her dry off. He sat her near her chimney, and with a silent nod, they both agreed no one ever would know about it. When she woke up the next day, Baghra was sitting by the window in her room, looking at the poor unfortunate royal soul with a sad expression on her pale, aging face.

–·–

“We’ve received accounts of First Army units found massacred, here, here, and here,” Nikolai pointed at the map. The improvised war room stood on one of the balconies overlooking the main entrance, and his most trusted advisors –namely, his sister, Alina, and Mal–, looked down as his fingers traced the old ink on the yellowing parchment.

“Too far from the border to be Shu incursions,” Mal commented.

“Or Fjerdan.” Alina kept her hands close to her, her hands almost itching to touch the intricate patterns on the paper, suddenly missing her simple life as a cartographer, before the entire world fell down on her shoulders.

“There’s good evidence that these units were holding Grisha captive. Some reports say soldiers were mutilated. Some… cut in half.”

Alina sighed. “It’s Kirigan, isn’t it.” But she didn’t even have to ask to know the answer.

“We haven’t been able to find his base camp–”

Mal shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way he survived the Fold.”

“He survived it before,” Alina cut him off. “Besides, he’s the only one who can do the Cut. Baghra, yes, but this is him.”

Irina shuddered at the mention of her old teacher. The only Grisha who knew about her back at Os Alta. The only one who never treated her as a porcelain vase, but instead built her up to become strong and fierce in her abilities. With a frown, the princess realized she had missed the old hag. She could only pray the General had spared her.

“If he’s alive, it’s only a matter of time before word reaches him about your attempt in the Fold,” Nikolai voiced it carefully, but his statement stung Alina.

“‘Attempt,’” she repeated.

“No disrespect meant.”

“No, you’re right. That’s what it was. An attempt,” she still sounded defeated. “You three saw my light. It was… strong and angry and dangerously off-kilter. I can try to master what I have, but I’m afraid it won’t be enough.”

“We need to find the third amplifier,” Mal finished for her.

“The firebird,” Irina spoke, surprise laced in her tongue.

Nikolai stepped away from the table, turning around as if to follow his train of thought, his head orchestrating their next steps as they continued the meeting.

“The more we search for it, we are at the mercy of your protection in this country.”

Alina searched Irina’s eyes, desperate to get her point across. And Irina already knew what her brother was about to say.

“Well, until then, a proposal.” Nikolai turned around. Irina closed her eyes. “We can try to stop this country from falling apart and tell the Fjerdans to shove their bounty up their ass in the process.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Alina asked.

“I bring you under the wing of the Royal Family, our name becomes a shelter to you, and a banner under which we can enact change.”

Mal frowned. “Your name?”

Nikolai nodded. Irina shook her head.

“Wait,” Alina caught on. “This is a ‘proposal’ proposal. You’re suggesting marriage.”

Mal looked ready to throw himself off the balcony at that point, whereas Alina seemed she was going to be sick any second from then on.

“Alina, I’m not proposing a love match. Just a political alliance of Grisha and Otkazat’sya.”

“Well, that’s just what royal marriages are, aren’t they? Strategy,” Mal was looking everywhere but the future royal couple.

“Precisely. Maybe we never get to marriage. An engagement signals a strong commitment to cooperation and it will allow us to enact meaningful change for Grisha and Ravka,” Nikolai explained.

“Don’t you have a Grisha sister, too?”

“Leave my sister out of this, Mal.”

Irina stepped forward. “Mal, I know Nikolai’s plan sounds crazy but it’s our safest bet. Nobody knows about me being a Summoner and the court will not take likely to the revelation. There’s never been a Grisha on the Ravkan throne and I certainly will never be the first one.”

“I’ve seen what you both mean to each other. I understand if you decline, but I hope you weigh the options and consider the benefits,” Nikolai nodded his head in silent farewell, and both royal siblings left the couple to talk it out.

On the way down, Nikolai grabbed her arm. “How long have you known?”

She frowned. “About the proposal? Since you saw her face on the posters.”

It was his turn to frown. “Not even I thought about that then. It was after she got on the ship.”

Irina smiled mischievously at her brother. “Guess I’m smarter than you now.”

He pinched her side, making her giggle.

“You should rest before tonight. Gotta be patient enough not to punch Vasily in the face.”

“How did you know I was thinking about doing that?”

Nikolai smirked. “Guess I’m still smarter than you’ll ever be.”

“You little piece of shit.”

Next chapter

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she-posts-nerdy-stuff · 8 months ago

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Hi!! this is a kinda random question, but I was just thinking about it. So we know that the Druskelle (and presumably most of Fjerda) are bigoted, racist, etc.. Does that stem from their culture and like the wars and stuff or is that part of their religion? I guess hypothetically could Matthias/Maya/your other Fjerdan ocs have corrected their prejudices and still believed in Djel or do the two beliefs contradict? Just wondering what your take is :)

Hi, thanks for the ask!

I absolutely adore religion in the Grishaverse and a while ago I wrote quite a long analysis on Matthias and Inej's relationship with their respective religions, mostly focusing on Djel since I feel I know more about Fjerdan religion than Ravkan having read the soc duology a lot more times than the other books, and I talked quite a bit about some of these things so I'll link that here in case anyone is interested and below I'll put a couple of quotes from that more specifically pertaining to what you've said here. Essentially, I believe that the Drüskelle order is a cult and represents a warped version of Fjerdan religion and that Matthias' journey of self-discovery and of learning to find the version of Djel that he believes in and that aligns with who he wants to be is one of the most beautifully written character arcs I have ever read.

Some quotes from my previous analysis:

"Theoretically, the Drüskelle are raised (forced) to believe the same basic principles of the religion that most of the religious people in the country are [...] However, what’s taken completely further is that the Drüskelle are told that the only way to be truly respected by their god is to take decisive action against Grisha people for their power, because it’s “demonic” and a warping of Djel’s gifts. Now first of all, none of the religious teachings we learn about as the reader even remotely suggest this, which suggest that it’s a baseless prejudice for which religion has been used as an excuse for so long that it’s become culturally ingrained and believed."

"Matthias even shows particular pride that he was personally told the secret of the second glass bridge by Jarl Brum himself"

"And this is the thing, ok, because by claiming that Djel will show the boys the path and then telling them himself (!!!!!!!!) Brum is claiming far more power than a servant of Djel and or Fjerda. No, now he turns himself into a messenger of Djel, a prophet if you will, just to reaaaalllly double down on that religious trauma he’s giving these kids. He is putting himself into the Messiah-like position; he’s saying that Djel sent him to them to tell them that they must kidnap and kill people to earn his love."

"in his own practice Matthias would appear to see Djel as a benevolent god"

"presented himself as a Messiah-like figure and effectively forced these young boys to believe that betraying him is akin to betraying Djel"

Okay I'm restraining myself from adding more to that list because I'm just sitting here reading through the original analysis going "ooo add that" "and that" "that too" and I'll just end up copy and pasting the whole thing if I carry on like this, so if you'd like to read more I should've linked it at the top :)

I'm gonna talk a bit about Djel and relationship with religion in terms of my Fjerdan OCs here, if anyone is interested but hasn't read the fic you don't have to have done to follow the religion info but it's worth knowing that it's set almost entirely in Ketterdam and takes place nearly 10 years after Crooked Kingdom :)

For my Fjerdan OCs religion is very much on my mind whenever I'm writing them, and I find it a very interesting thing to consider. So, I have three Fjerdan OCs in Daughter of the Rain and Snow: Maya, a Tidemaker and our titular character, Celina, a deceased (pre-events of the fic) otkazat'sya whose body was burned and who therefore cannot reach Djel, and Fiona, a Heartrender who lost her relationship with religion a long time ago and has no interest in taking it up again. I'm going to start with Fiona because I haven't really explored her relationship with Djel very much since she has had less scenes than the others thus far, but I tend to have quite fleshed out backstories for my side characters even if they don't make it into the story lol

Fiona is 22 during the events of the fic and has been working with Inej and the crew of the Wraith for almost four years. She made her way to Ketterdam at 17 after her family discovered she was Grisha and threw her out. In a desperate attempt to flee Fjerda - and notably not knowing any Kerch language - she signed an indenture contract with a Kerch merchant who offered her safe passage to the country. She did not know what she was signing, and her contract was written in Kerch, but she just wanted to get out of Fjerda as quickly as possible and this seemed like her only option. She was freed and ended up working with Inej when she was 18. Fiona had battled with her relationship with Djel for a long time after discovering she was Grisha and keeping it secret, but when her parents learnt the truth and started abusing her and eventually turned her out with nowhere to go and no protection to be found she adopted atheism completely, akin to the way Kaz and Wylan found their atheism. -

“Saints speed,” she said to Inej, who echoed the words she knew were said for her benefit alone.

Fiona had given up on Djel, the god she was raised with, and had no interest in taking up another. (Chapter 8) (I feel so weird quoting my own writing)

Religion is very much at the forefront of everything I write considering Maya and Celina, particularly since Celina only appears as a character in Maya's POV chapters (she exists more as a concept to Kaz, Inej, and Aimee, who connect her to things she represents to each of them but whom they never knew as a real person). Maya battling her relationship with Djel is very much in the forefront of the story and one of my favourite chapters is when she goes back to the tree she cut down in anger and prays for it; the chapter is essentially a long monologue of Maya talking to Djel and voicing every side of her argument out loud. I won't list everything here but I'll add this quote from the chapter:

“I’ve tried it every way,” she whispered, failing to fight the sobs that were growing in her throat, “I ignored it, I tried not to use it, I used it for others, I used it for myself, I used it for You. And I have somehow failed You every time. Maybe I deserve to burn now, but they say you are born Grisha. Did You really look at me and always know I would deserve to burn? From the very moment I was born? Perhaps this is all I am in Your grand tapestry of destiny; a game for You to play, a doll that You can take apart and stitch together at wrong angles. I am a broken toy that can be discarded and burnt whilst the world moves on as though I were never here. I made the wrong choices, but I thought they were the only ones left. You could have let me stay at home. You could have let her live - let both of them live. And I never would have done anything like this. I’m so sorry…” her voice broke and she felt the tears flooding over her cheeks as she collapsed over the ruined tree trunk and cried into its empty flesh, “I’m so sorry,” (Chapter 66 on tumblr, chapter 67 on AO3)

And the chapter ultimately ends with Maya asking Djel to teach her how to deserve forgiveness from Inej and the other characters for everything she'd done, or to at least teach her how to forgive Him.

I think one of the most important aspects of religion in terms of this and in terms of Maya and Celina's relationship with each other is that even though Celina knows Maya is a Tidemaker neither of them ever talk about it and Maya reached a point where she was actively afraid to bring it up because she didn't know how Celina felt about Grisha and she didn't want to jeopardise not only what is the only relationship she has with anyone right now but arguably what is the first relationship she's ever had that wouldn't be considered abusive (her relationship with her father is kinda up in the air, I know, but considering that he sold her I don't think it's a spoiler to say I hate that man's guts even though y'all have a little bit more to learn about him yet) since realistically Celina was the only person she had a real conversation with for three years and the only other people she spoke to in that time would be clients, Yennefer, and occasionally other girls at the Tulip Mill. Maya even saw Yennefer's death more as vengeance for Celina than she did for herself, saying that Yen's death was for Celina and Kaz's death would be for her before she finds out that Kaz was partially responsible for Celina's death in the worldview that she holds - and as Kaz considers himself no less responsible for her death than Rollins was for Jordie's. I don't know if I'm explaining it quite right but the fear that Maya developed surrounding other people's perspective on Grisha power preventing her from being able to share her feelings with Celina I found a really heart-wrenching detail to write and I was definitely hoping to present the idea that even if religiously the ideas don't contradict - considering that we see Celina adapt her belief in Djel to say that anything that she does at the Tulip Mill will be forgiven because she has no choice over it - culturally speaking it's still such a complex and difficult thing to move past that Maya isn't even sure she can ever express it to the only person she trusts, and I also hoped to touch on this idea with the flashbacks to the Ravkan boy at the Grisha workshop with Maya who didn't trust her because she was Fjerdan even though she was Grisha and had literally fled Drüskelle and her home country

Anyway I hope this made sense, it's starting to feel very rambly and random, and I hope that it was interesting to read. Thanks so much for teh ask and for your interest in the fic! <33

#maya olsen oc #six of crows #grishaverse #crooked kingdom #leigh bardugo #six of crows fic #six of crows duology #kanej fic #asks #grishaverse religion #djel #fjerda #druskelle #my ocs #matthias helvar #fantasy religion #dk's grishaverse asks answered

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aleksanderscult · 10 months ago

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If the Darkling didn't care about others, he could have had such an amazing life that I feel baffled everytime anyone says he was purely selfish. He wasn't very good at being selfish then I suppose.

Thank you for touching on this matter, anon.🥹 BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK!

So. Whoever says (or believes) the Darkling was selfish is either unaware of the meaning of the word or hasn't read the books at all.

The definition of selfishness is:

So in other words if someone is selfish they don't give a fuck about others. They only think about themselves and their own pleasure.

And yet Aleksander Morozova:

1) Stood up in defense to a Grisha and her little sister, an otkazat'sya, against three bullies at the age of thirteen. And by doing so he jeopardized his own position (and his mother's) in the camp.

2) He meddled with merzost in order to stop the Ravkan wars and the slaughter of Grisha. In S&B we thought he did it for his own power-hungry ambitions but RoW taught us otherwise.

3) He built the Little Palace. He refused the gold King Yevgeni offered him (if he was "selfish" he would have taken it and vanish. And it was a gift that he probably never had in his life) and only asked for a home for his people. Somewhere to belong and rest.

4) Never flaunted his status when around his soldiers (ate the same amount of meal all others did and slept on the dirt with them).

4) Used his nichevo'ya to limit the losses of his army. And that took its toll for his own well-being.

5) When he became King, he forged a very tentative alliance with the Fjerdans to allow him to pass supplies for his army. He could say "Starve. There's no way I'm making an alliance with the enemy" but he did. To offer food both for the Second Army AND the First.

6) He literally came back from the dead and continued where he left. Trying to find a way to save his country from going down the drain. He could go somewhere sunny, put sun lotion and relax on a beach but nope.

7) He thought about summoning his nichevo'ya again to protect his cult even though they annoyed him greatly.

So.

For anyone who says that he was a selfish asshole. Come here. I just want to talk 🔫😄

#the darkling #I'm kinda sure I forgot other examples too. If I have please write them down 'cause I don't remember right now #apparently he was so selfish that he wasted 400 years of his life for other people 😨😞#pro darkling #aleksander morozova #pro aleksander morozova #anon asks #grishaverse #shadow and bone #grishaverse trilogy #rule of wolves #demon in the wood

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stromuprisahat · 5 months ago

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Ravkan trivia

Siege and Storm- Chapter 15

Royal hunts

The formal Ravkan hunt forbade the use of firearms, but I noticed that several of the servants had rifles on their backs, just in case the animals proved to be too much for their noble masters.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 16

Royal Chapel

The chapel was the only remaining building of a monastery that had once stood atop Os Alta, and it was said to be where the first Kings of Ravka had been crowned. Compared to the other structures on the palace grounds, it was a humble building, with whitewashed walls and a single bright blue dome. It was empty and looked like it could use a good cleaning. The pews were covered in dust, and there were pigeons roosting in the eaves. ... We didn’t waste much time in the vestry. The few books on its shelves were a disappointment, just a bunch of old hymnals with crumbling, yellowed pages. The only thing of real interest in the chapel was the massive triptych behind the altar. A riot of color, its three huge panels showed thirteen saints with benevolent faces. I recognized some of them from the Istorii Sankt’ya: Lizabeta with her bloody roses, Petyr with his still-burning arrows. And there was Sankt Ilya with his collar and fetters and broken chains. “No animals,” Mal observed. “From what I’ve seen, he’s never pictured with the amplifiers, just with the chains. Except in the Istorii Sankt’ya.” I just didn’t know why. Most of the triptych was in fairly good condition, but Ilya’s panel had sustained bad water damage. The Saints’ faces were barely visible under the mold, and the damp smell of mildew was nearly overpowering.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 17

Ravkan-Fjerdan wars

“We took back most of this territory in the last campaign,” he said, pointing to Ravka’s northern border with Fjerda. “It’s dense forest, almost impossible to cross when the rivers aren’t frozen, and all the access roads have been blockaded.”

Os Alta

The city had an ancient system of warning bells to alert the palace when an enemy was in sight.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 18

upper town of Os Alta

The Gritski mansion was in the canal district, considered the least fashionable part of the upper town because of its proximity to the bridge and the rabble across it. It was a lavish little building, bordered by a war memorial on one side and the gardens of the Convent of Sankta Lizabeta on the other.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 19

the festival of Belyanoch in Saint Petersburg Os Alta

The days grew longer. The sun stayed close beneath the horizon, and the festival of Belyanoch began in Os Alta. Even at midnight, the skies were never truly dark, and despite the fear of war and the looming threat of the Fold, the city celebrated the endless hours of twilight. In the upper town, the evenings were crowded with operas, masques, and lavish ballets. Over the bridge, raucous horse races and outdoor dances shook the streets of the lower town. An endless stream of pleasure boats bobbed through the canal, and beneath the glimmering dusk, the slow-moving water circled the capital like a jeweled bangle, alight with lanterns hung from a thousand prows. The heat had relented slightly.

Os Alta from above

I gathered my courage and looked down. The rolling grounds of the Grand Palace stretched out below us, crosscut by white gravel paths. I saw the roof of the Grisha greenhouse, the perfect circle of the double eagle fountain, the golden glint of the palace gates. Then we were soaring over the mansions and long, straight boulevards of the upper town. The streets were full of people celebrating Belyanoch. I saw jugglers and stiltwalkers on Gersky Prospect, dancers twirling on a lit stage in one of the parks. Music floated up from the boats on the canal.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 21

Os Alta's lower town

I crossed the canal, the little boats bobbing in the water below. From somewhere beneath the bridge, I heard the wheeze of an accordion. I floated past the guard gate and into the narrow streets and clutter of the market town. It seemed even more crowded than it had before. People hung off stoops and overflowed from porches. Some played cards on makeshift tables made of boxes. Others slept propped up against each other. A couple swayed slowly on a tavern porch to music only they could hear. When I came to the city walls ...

the tent city of Sun Saint's fanatics by dawn

The tent city had grown. There were hundreds of people camped outside the walls, maybe thousands. The pilgrims weren’t hard to find—I was surprised to see how their numbers had increased. They crowded near a large white tent, all facing east, awaiting the early sunrise. The sound began as a swell of rustling whispers that fluttered on the air like the wings of birds and grew to a low hum as the sun peered over the horizon and lit the sky pale blue. Only then did I begin to make out the words. Sankta. Sankta Alina. Sankta. Sankta Alina. The pilgrims watched the growing dawn, and I watched them, unable to look away from their hope, their expectation. Their faces were exultant, and as the first rays of sun broke over them, some began to weep. The hum rose and multiplied, cresting and falling, building to a wail that raised the hair on my arms. It was a creek overflowing its banks, a hive of bees shaken from a tree. Sankta. Sankta Alina. Daughter of Ravka.

#Grishaverse #Grand Palace #Os Alta #grishanalyticritical #writing reference #S&S Chapter 15 #S&S Chapter 16 #S&S Chapter 17 #S&S Chapter 18 #S&S Chapter 19 #S&S Chapter 21 #V #Siege and Storm #Grisha trilogy #books #quotes #Leigh Bardugo

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lookwhatyoumademedohaha · 1 year ago

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And that kids is, how I met your mother

Hi everyone! I'm so happy you liked my work 'And that kids is how I met your mother'. Since you all liked the background story of her family so much, I decided to introduce you all to Y/N's chaotic family, the Order of the Dark Knights! Consider it a gift from me! The next part of my fic will be coming soon but until then please enjoy and let me know your thoughts and comments on this because I worked hard on this.

The Order of the Dark Knights

"Family isn't always blood. Family is who you carry with you forever. It's the people who knew you and accepted you and believed in you before anyone else did or when no one else would. And no matter what happens, you'll always love them. Nothing can ever change that.

Y/Father's Name

"If I know what love is, it is because of you."

Position.

Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights, a feared gang in Ketterdam.

Former heir of a prestigious Ravkan noble aristocratic family

Former Seargent Major in the Ravkan Army.

Dangerous Criminal and mastermind who has no limitations.

Politician in the Merchant Council

Businessman of his legitimate criminal organization empire.

Alias and Nicknames

The Grim Reaper

The Destroyer of Worlds

The Bringer of Destruction

The Devil

Mr. Y/Father's Last Name

Soldier Boy (Affectionately named by Sebastian Dante)

Tragic Crime Lord (Mockingly used by his friends)

Onion

Pineapple (Because being called these annoys him)

Daddy

Talents and Skills

Highly intelligent, professional, and pragmatic.

Business management

Military training

Strategic and tactful.

Calm and cold, prefers not to be emotional.

Leadership

Manipulation

Deduction

Cunning and resourceful.

Combat and marksmanship proficiency.

Prefers not to hurt innocent civilians

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Blackmail

Kidnapping and abduction

Freeing indentured and enslaved people.

Bribery

Assault and battery

Name a crime and he and his team has done it.

Humiliating Pekka Rollins by always being one step ahead of him.

Threatening the Darkling and fighting against him to protect Maya Sharma's location.

Blackmailing and intimidating the Darkling to stay away from Maya and his crew.

Carrying out an assassination of a high-ranking councilor and the King's best friend.

Carrying out an assassination of the Queen of Shu and her husband.

Carrying out an assassination of one of the former Grimjer King in the Fjerdan Royal Family.

Carrying out an assassination of a filthy, dirty mercher who had twisted views on Grisha and women.

Stealing the Crown of the King from the Great Palace along with many valuable paintings, documents, and jewelry that was named the Grand Heist without being noticed or taking a single shot but did blow up the ridiculous lawn and the dome of the palace just for fun.

Carrying out a heist to rescue the daughter of the prominent Minister of Trade in Novyi Zemeni by gatecrashing her wedding and helping her escape from marrying an eighty-five-year-old man.

Carrying out an assassination on the Minister of Foreign Policy in Novyi Zem who had radical and dangerous ideas of diplomacy bordering on war.

Stealing valuable paintings and sculptures and selling them to the highest bidder.

Shooting a drunk man who abused his wife and his children daily.

Stealing valuable treasures from all over the world.

When Pekka Rollins threatened him, your father responded by pouring pigs blood all over Pekka Rollins who was at a public event.

For being an incredibly annoying asshole who many want to punch.

For outsmarting many crime families and criminals that got close to killing him.

Loves

Doing crime and looking good doing it.

Riding horses and taking care of them.

Smoking

Drinking

Scheming the downfall of his enemies.

Spending time with his friends and family.

Playing pranks with his son on his best friends and listening to him, talking to him, and teasing him about girls.

Holding his daughter in his arms, having tea parties and braiding her hair, and doing anything to see her smile and laugh happily.

Playing cards and laughing with his found family.

Watching his son and daughter grow up and being there for both of them.

Treasures

His found family

His daughter and son

His criminal empire and his kruge.

His pocket watch

His cigarette lighter.

His gun.

His son's flowers.

His daughter's art and essays.

Songs

Legend by the Score - Here we go, here we go. It's my turn to make history. Here we go, here we go. When I'm gone they'll remember me.

Wanted Man by Royal Deluxe - I'm a wanted man. I got blood on my hands. Do you understand? I'm a wanted man.

Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Seeds - You'll see him in your nightmares, you'll see him in your dreams. He'll appear out of nowhere but he ain't what he seems.

Family Line by Conan Gray - Oh, all that I did to try to undo it, All of my pain and all your excuses. I was a kid but I wasn't clueless. Someone who loves you wouldn't do this. All of my past, I tried to erase it. But now I see, would I even change it? Might share a face and share a last name, but we are not the same

Achilles Come Down by Gangs of Youth - Today, of all days, see how the most dangerous thing is to love. How you will heal and you'll rise above. Crowned by an overture bold and beyond. Ah, it's more courageous to overcome

Light by Sleeping at Last - I'll give you everything I have, I'll teach you everything I know. I promise I'll do better. I will always hold you close but I will learn to let you go. I promise I'll do better. I will soften every edge, I'll hold the world to its best. And I'll do better. With every heartbeat I have left I will defend your every breath. And I'll do better

Famous Quote

"When I sleep, I have a dream. And in my dream, someone wants my crown."

Sebastian Dante

"If it's time to go, remember the best. Remember what you are leaving. My friends have always been the best of me."

Position.

Second in Command of the Order of the Dark Knights.

A former soldier in the Ravkan Army.

A dangerous sharpshooter who never misses a shot.

Godfather to Y/N, the daughter of the Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Prankmaster General.

Best friend of Y/FN, the Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Alias and Nicknames

The Ketterdam Bandit

Killer King

Charming Rogue

Seb

Baz

Bastian

Idiot

Moron

Fucker

Mischief maker

Prankster.

Talents and Skills

Highly intelligent

Military training

Strategic.

Manipulation

Combat and marksmanship proficiency.

Observant and stealthy

Gifted with the ability to assemble contraptions from spare parts.

Good at being the distraction.

Master of playing the idiot while pulling off clever ruses and telling half-truths and proving to be an effective liar.

Ruthless and resilient

Flirtatious and charming.

Adventurous, emotional, and unpredictable.

Gives good hugs.

Eccentric, tender, and playful with a childlike nature that talked to children as equals, acknowledged their issues, and has compassion and love for them, helping them out if they are upset and scared.

Hopeful, optimistic, brave, and trustworthy.

Self-sacrificing and loyal until the very end.

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

His endless charm

Kidnapping and abduction

Freeing indentured and enslaved people.

Assault and battery

Shooting people in style.

Memorable Moments

Flirting with literally everyone to get out of trouble. He brags that he almost seduced your father to his friends but nobody believes him until one day, Sebastian winks charmingly and dramatically at your father, and your father grins and winks back. Everyone loses their shit and chaos ensue.

Disobeying your father's orders by taking you to Ketterdam on the first days you were found. You were being pushed in a stroller by Sebastian, Yuri, and David when a bunch of men who had a vendetta against them chased them down. Yuri stayed back to distract the men but some of the men got past him and chased Sebastian and David who split up. Some men chased David who had the stroller in his hands which fell down a couple of stairs revealing just a blanket and pillows. You were relatively safe with Sebastian who was being chased by a couple of other men who shot at him. He grew very angry at the idiots shooting at you and using violence in front of the baby and kept you aside safely, and shot them all, killing them.

Playing spectacular pranks on the rival gangs, especially on Pekka Rollins.

Pekka Rollins would come back home to find his home flooded with soapy bubbles. Sebastian would glue a donkey onto the roof of Pekka's club. He'd glue the furniture onto the ceiling. Portraits that had been in the same spots for a long time were suddenly replaced by different portraits. Every wall of the Dime Lions' place would be painted hot pink. Replacing Pekka's shampoo with bright yellow and turquoise dye. As the pranks increased, Pekka was paranoid that one of his ancestors was displeased with him, and the Dime Lions grew scared that it was the spirits of those they killed taking revenge.

Being mistaken as your father's husband many times all around the world and is very proud of it. He pretends to be married to your father to get whatever he wants and puts it on your father's tab.

Being the only one who can get your father to eat a decent meal and sleep for a proper amount of hours.

Screaming in happiness and bursting into tears when your father asked him to be your godfather.

Being a very loving godfather who cried in joy when you took your first step, said your first word, and wailed when you went to school.

Loves

Scheming and playing pranks on friends and enemies alike.

Drinking, dancing, and gambling

Styling his hair and looking at himself in the mirror.

Babysitting his goddaughter and his nephew.

Spending time with his friends and family.

Teasing his friends, especially your father.

Kissing his husband and boasting about how awesome his husband is.

Treasures

His best friend and brother, Y/FN.

His husband and his best friends.

His goddaughter and his nephew.

His precious revolvers.

His cool coat. (Your father thinks it looks silly but Sebastian thinks he looks very handsome in it.)

A bottle of whisky. ("Y/FN, stop reminding me of the reason I drink every night)

Your ideas for pranks and everything about you.

Songs

You're My Best Friend by Queen - Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had. I've been with you such a long time. You're my sunshine. And I want you to know that my feelings are true. I really love you.

Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy by Queen - I'd like for you and I to go romancing. Say the word, your wish is my command.

Monsters in the Dark by Mykey - And a single step is all it takes. Over oceans, all emotions, I feel trapped under the weight. Can’t keep my head above water long enough to say that I love and miss you dearly more and more after each day.

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush - And if I only could I'd make a deal with God and I'd get Him to swap our places. Be runnin' up that road, Be runnin' up that hill, Be runnin' up that building

Long Live by Taylor Swift - Long live the walls we crashed through, how the kingdom lights shined just for me and you. I was screaming, "Long live all the magic we made". And bring on all the pretenders, I'm not afraid. Long live all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you. I was screaming, "Long live the look on your face" and bring on all the pretenders. One day we will be remembered

O' Children by Nick Cave and the Seeds - Pass me that lovely little gun, my dear, my darling one. The cleaners are coming, one by one. You don't even want to let them start.

Famous Quote

I'll be a story in your head. But that's okay. We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one. Because it was, you know? It was the best.

Minjun Park

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves. It is not my nature."

Position.

Legal and Business Advisor of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Closest confidante regarding the schemes and heists.

Respected Alumni and Scholar of the University of Ketterdam.

Uncle to you and your brother.

Happily married to his wife, Ari.

Head negotiator in charge of negotiating with rival gangs and other business parties.

Talented swordsman and sharpshooter.

Alias and Nicknames

The Wordsmith.

The Checkmate

Silvertongue

Trickster

Moonpie (Nickname affectionately given by his best friends)

Minnie (Sebastian nearly died when he said this nickname)

Know - It - All

Smartass

Baby boy

Mom (Minjun has simply resigned himself to being called the mom of the group)

Talents and Skills

Highly intelligent, logical, creative and strategic.

Combat and marksmanship proficiency.

Observant.

Knowledgeable in many areas of expertise.

Well-read and well-dressed.

Good communication skills in speaking, writing, and understanding Shu, Suli, Ravkan, Kerch, Kaelish, and Fjerdan.

Patient and persuasive.

Adaptable and assertive.

Ruthless and resourceful.

Conflict resolution and value proposition.

Decision-making and problem-solving.

Ruthless and resourceful.

Trustworthy and kind.

Curious

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Blackmail

Kidnapping and abduction

Assault and battery

Memorable Moments

Powerful negotiation skills that have the element of surprise.

Saving his friends from trouble by taking advantage of the loopholes in the law.

Defeating opponents with well-chosen words, philosophy, and reverse psychology.

Slamming a man's head on the table until blood was all he could see just for insulting his wife.

Calling a city-wide 'missing persons' search with speeches, pamphlets, notices, posters, and appeals whenever his friends' favorite things go missing such as when David's favorite pillow went missing.

Discussing the likelihood of Vasily becoming a good king within earshot of the Queen of Ravka and Prince Vasily.

Teaching you and your brother rude Latin phrases under the pretense that it's Shu.

When he heard that the King of Ravka was giving a speech to allies gathered together in Ravka for a conference, he found a way to get his hands on his speech that was written in highbrow Shu and edit it into a potentially offending and hilarious speech that everyone laughed out loudly until they cried when performed.

Punishing people for simply 'being in his way', 'breathing too loudly', 'existing', 'blinking four times in ten seconds', ' walking in front of them', and 'thinking that you were more fabulous than me'.

Telling his friends off for swearing in front of the children and once threatened to wash their mouths with soap and water.

Forces Sebastian to eat his vegetables if he wants dessert.

Carries Natalia to bed and tucks her in after a particularly tiring and exhausting mission.

Insists on changing his friends' bandages.

Always complaining about the mess in their place in Ketterdam. (Yuri, do you know what a wardrobe is?)

Fusses over Holly constantly.

Wiping the dirt off David's face with a handkerchief with a motherly sigh.

Comforts Ari and Maya when they find a hole in their clothes and sewing it right back up for them.

Nags your father to go to sleep and once drugged his coffee to get him to sleep.

Accompanies Adira to pray with her and gets her to eat when she is tired.

Gets very excited about his friends' accomplishments and boasts about it to anyone and everyone.

Loves

Reading books in the quiet of the library or his bedroom.

Spending time with his wife, talking with her, and listening to her play music.

Shopping for impeccable and well-tailored suits with Y/FN.

Taking his nephew and niece to gamble and playing cards with them. (Every time he goes with them, he wins a lot of money)

Cleaning the whole house, getting it spotless for the children.

Listening to his friends come up with the silliest ideas and spending time with them.

Putting up with his friends' shenanigans, pranks, and silly ideas because they were worse than children.

Encouraging your brother's and your love for learning by acknowledging and indulging their curiosity to experiment and explore new things.

Being fiercely sassy with your mother whenever she suggests that girls should be seen and not heard and boys shouldn't be so soft and sweet.

Treasures

His wonderful and intelligent wife, Ari.

His books.

His best friends.

Your brother and you.

His precious and stylish clothes.

His wine.

His money.

Your and your brother's accomplishments

Songs

Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender - I was far too scared to hit him but I would hit him in a heartbeat now. That's the thing with anger. It begs to stick around. So it can fleece you of your beauty, and leave you spent with nowt to offer. Makes you hurt the ones who love you

Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift - But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time. Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time. I got a list of names, and yours is in red, underlined I check it once, then I check it twice, oh!

Teeth by 5 Seconds of Summer - Fight so dirty, but you love so sweet. Talk so pretty, but your heart got teeth. Late night devil, put your hands on me. And never, never, never ever let go

Brother by Kodaline - We've taken different paths and traveled different roads. I know we'll always end up on the same one when we're old. And when you're in the trenches and you're under fire I will cover you.

Forest Fire by Brighton - I'm gonna carry your bones, I'm gonna carry them all, I'm gonna carry you home. And oh, I'm gonna bury these bones. I'm gonna write it in stone that you were my home, my home. How was I to know that you're my home? But now, I'm lost, so lost.

Soldier, Poet, King by Oh Hellos - There will come a poet whose weapon is His word. He will slay you with His tongue

Famous Quote

But no matter how far we venture into the unknown, the worse monsters are those that we bring with us.

Yuri Ivanov

"They are the weak ones. Because they'll never know love or friendship. They'll never know the beauty and happiness your friendship has brought to my life. And I feel sorry for them. "

Position.

Demolitions Expert and the Genius Inventor in the Order of the Dark Knights.

Happily married to his husband, Sebastian Dante.

Second favorite uncle of yours and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Angel of Death

Avalanche

Crossfire

Ivanov

Mad Hatter (Because his selection in hats is madly ridiculous)

Commander of Chaos

Bombass (Because his butt is da bomb according to his husband)

Sunshine

Sweetheart

Freckles

Bambi (Because he tripped down three flights of staircases and still walked fine)

Talents and Skills

Clever and imaginative.

Empathetic and kind

Can invent something out of anything random and different.

Passionate and outspoken.

Daring and brave.

Proficiency in combat and demolitions.

Resourceful.

Honest.

Has a vast range of knowledge regarding demolitions.

Talented in speaking Ravkan, Kerch, and Suli.

Flirtatious and charming.

Trustworthy and loyal.

Responsible.

Famous for

Mass murder

Vandalism and destruction of property.

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Assault and battery

Memorable Moments

Blowing up everything spectacularly.

Building a shrine to Maya's hair.

Starting a new religion based on Sankta Adira with ceremonial robes, pamphlets, speeches, candles, notices, and a merchandise stall.

Bringing pornographic magazines to the library and the University of Ketterdam bookshops as an example of 'fine erotic literature,

Forging passionate ardent love letters to Pekka Rollins with the help of his friends pretending that it's from his ardent secret admirers in Ketterdam.

Forging letters from Pekka Rollins' mother expressing disgust for his dirty teeth and stupid beard.

Sending a get well soon card to Pekka Rollins every week. Pekka wasn't ill, Yuri just thought he could be a better person.

Sending toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and a razor with a stink bomb and a glitter bomb in the care package sent to Pekka Rollins on his birthday, Valentine's Day, and Christmas Day.

Wearing a mourning veil for seven months when Pekka Rollin's beard was mysteriously shaved off.

Inventing a set of fireworks that formed into a dangerous crow that chased Pekka Rollins around Ketterdam leaving him and his Dime Lions with burns.

Decorating Ketterdam with banners and pictures of Sebastian on his birthday, his half birthday, his quarter birthday, the anniversary of his first crime, the anniversary of their marriage, and basically whenever he wants the world to know just how much he loves his husband.

Being undercover at Pekka's house with Ari when Pekka's wife went into labor. (Oh my water broke! Don't worry, we'll just get you a new one. Oh Saints, you mean your body water... that's much worse!)

Basically, after a lot of screaming, hyperventilating, and blood, Yuri and Ari managed to deliver Alby Rollins and get the fuck out of there. (I can't believe I witnessed and delivered that demon Rollin's child. Am I the godfather now?)

Loves

Long walks out in the country

Swimming and climbing trees.

Feeding ducks at the pond and having lazy and long picnics.

Playing fun games with you and your brother.

Going out shopping for his hats that get madder and madder each and every time.

Inventing new gadgets and building bombs.

Explaining his new inventions to you and your brother and teaching you two how to build bombs and grenades in a safe environment. (This resulted in one blowing up the chimney in one of the rooms. It was obvious that it didn't sit well with your father.)

Laughing and planning pranks with his husband Sebastian.

Challenging his best friends to drinking games and arm wrestling and losing.

Babysitting you and your brother with Uncle Sebastian.

Treasures

His wonderful and loving husband, Sebastian.

His books and chemistry set.

His best friends.

Your brother and you.

His hats.

His work.

The smiles and laughs of you and your brother.

Songs

Scrawny by Wallows - I say the wrong shit at the right times. If I'm offending them, I don't mind. Maybe they all should listen to me. It isn't all about what you see. Question though, how do I look to you? Am I so thin that you can see through?

Play with Fire by Sam Tinnesz ft Yacht Money - I love the smell of gasoline. I light the match to taste the heat. I've always liked to play with fire. Play with fire. I've always liked to play with fire

Born For This by The Score - We are the warriors, who learned to love the pain. We come from different places but have the same name. 'Cause we were born for this. We are the broken ones, who chose to spark a flame. Watch as our fire rages, our hearts are never tame. 'Cause we were, 'cause we were, 'cause we were, 'cause we were born for this. We were born for this.

Thunder by Imagine Dragons - Just a young gun with a quick fuse.I was uptight, wanna let loose. I was dreaming of bigger things and wanna leave my own life behind. Not a "Yes, sir", not a follower. Fit the box, fit the mold, have a seat in the foyer, take a number. I was lightning before the thunder

You Are Enough by Sleeping at Last - You're enough, you're enough, you're enough, you are enough. These little words, somehow they're changing us. You're enough, you're enough, you are enough. So we let our shadows fall away like dust

Young Hearts by Strange Talk - Remember all the memories and every little fantasy. Careless about destiny, destiny. We don't have the time to sleep. There's every possibility. We have got a history, history. We're young hearts. Look at us go! All we really need is a stereo. We're young hearts. Look at us go! There's no stopping us we will carry on

Someone to You by Banners - And if the sun starts setting, the sky goes cold. Then if the clouds get heavy and start to fall. I really need somebody to call my own. I wanna be somebody to someone. Someone to you

Famous Quote

Love me or hate me, both are in my favor. If you love me, I will always be in your heart. If you hate me, I will always be in your mind.

David Lebedev

"Home is not where you are from, but where you are wanted."

Position.

Weapons master in the Order of the Dark Knights

Secret Weapon of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Head of recruitment and training in the Order of the Dark Knights.

Former Stadwatch Captain

Loving and devoted uncle to you and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Bloodhound

Wicked Prince

The Inhumane

The Dark Wizard

The Mad Freak

Genesis

Uncle Davy

Davy Boy

Wonder Boy

Dancing King

Angel

Sire

Prat

Talents and Skills

Strong and courageous

Loyal and stubborn

Kind and understanding

Combat, strategy, and marksmanship proficiency.

Gifted in speaking, writing, and understanding Shu, Kerch, Ravkan, Suli, and Fjerdan.

A shapeshifter

Super speed

Super strength

Good sense of direction

Can understand animals

Protective of the people he cares

Good intuition

Gentle and calm

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Assault and battery

Confusing, distracting, and taking down the enemies with his super speed, super strength, and shape-shifting.

Memorable Moments

Transforming himself into people's worst fears.

Transforming himself into people and things that people love to cheer them up.

Knocking out a giant muscled man unconscious with one punch.

Doing chores and finishing fights with super speed.

Having a soft spot for animals and adopting any animal he saw.

Adopting cats, dogs, cows, birds, horses, a monkey, and your father had to put his foot down when David was ready to adopt an elephant. It simply could not be allowed.

Taking animal form and talking to animals to find out information and secrets.

Starting a Ketterdam Animal Shelter and founding the Ketterdam Animal Welfare and Protection Association.

Has an entire pocket dedicated to chocolate and protects it with his life.

If everyone in Ketterdam hears, "WHO THE FUCK ATE MY CHOCOLATE?", it is common practice to hide and run for their lives. Good luck, you bastards.

Transforming to be a cat to sneak into Pekka's office and listen to his conversations and made a mess of his office.

Transforming into a dog to relieve himself on Pekka's shoes and bite Pekka very hard.

Transforming himself into a horse to throw Pekka Rollins off his back and trample him.

Transforming into Pekka Rollins when Rollins was out of the country and giving ridiculous orders and orders that were advantageous to your father.

The Dime Lions are horrified to find their leader flirting with the leader of the Order of the Dark Knights and many of them faint at the sight of Pekka Rollins kissing Maya's hand, bowing before Adira, complimenting Natalia and Ari, high-fiving Holly and snogging Sebastian and Yuri and sweet talking Minjun. Pekka Rollins comes back to Kerch to find the Dime Lions considerably horrified and concerned that he has made a fool of himself in front of every criminal gang and citizen in Ketterdam.

Transforming into normal and ordinary citizens or members of gangs when he needed to hide from being chased. (Have you seen that inhumane brat, David? I've never heard of this David but he sounds amazing.)

Gets everyone to practice drills for fighting. Doesn't matter if it's a day off. (GET UP YOU LAZY SCUM! TIME FOR PRACTICES! David, it's literally 4 on Christmas morning, how the fuck did you get inside our house? DOESN'T MATTER, YOUR ENEMY NEVER TAKES A BREAK AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU!)

Made a fake map and spread rumors claiming that the trail in it led to the lost treasure of the Fjerdan Royal Family which fell into the hands of Pekka Rollins who followed it relentlessly but it actually led to a shady pub in Shu Han.

Challenging other gangs to settle their conflicts with each other only by interpretive dance-offs and remembered for their amazing dance moves.

Loves

Playing pranks on his friends by shapeshifting into different forms and tricking them.

Running races with you and your brother.

Eating sweet treats and good food with you.

Listening to gossip and sharing his own gossip with his friends and spending time with them.

Competing with the rest of your uncles and aunts to win your and your brother's favor by spoiling both of you with the best of presents.

Scolding anyone who dares to use a weapon or filthy language within the vicinity of children.

Going shopping with you for dresses and art supplies.

Dancing with everyone to the music and dedicating many dances to you as he twirls you around, smiling at your beaming face.

Playing childish games with you and your brother.

Helping you and your brother prank the rest of your aunts and uncles.

Treasures

The dances he has with you and the rest of his friends.

The art you draw and paint for him especially a portrait of him.

His best friends.

Animals.

Your brother and you.

His position in the Order of the Dark Knights

Songs

We Will Rock You by Queen - Buddy, you're a young man, hard man, shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday. You got blood on your face, you big disgrace, waving your banner all over the place. We will, we will rock you, sing it! We will, we will rock you

Could Have Been Me by The Struts - I wanna taste love and pain, Wanna feel pride and shame. I don't wanna take my time, don't wanna waste one line. I wanna live better days, never look back and say it could have been me. It could have been me, yeah

Angel with a Shotgun by The Cab - Well baby, you are all that I adore. If love is what you need, a soldier I will be.

Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine - Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father. Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers. Leave all your love and your longing behind. You can't carry it with you if you want to survive.

Yellow by Coldplay - Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones turn into something beautiful. And you know, you know I love you so. You know I love you so.

Home by Dotan - The sound of the wind is whispering in your head. Can you feel it coming back? Through the warmth, through the cold, keep running till we're there. We're coming home now, we're coming home now

Famous Quote

I am looking out for you. I am protecting you. It is my duty.

Maya Sharma

"Girls like us are born in a storm. We have lightning in our souls, thunder in our hearts, and chaos in our bodies."

Position.

The most powerful and dangerous Grisha in the Order of the Dark Knights

Advisor regarding Grisha powers and politics in the Order of the Dark Knights.

Former prisoner in the Ravkan palace.

A dangerous Grisha targeted and wanted by many.

Darkling's lover who faked her death once she understood his plans to weaponize her but was caught by him in the end and trapped in Ravka to stop her.

Beautiful and kind aunt to you and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Enchantress

The Monstrous Magician

Dangerous Duchess

Wicked Witch

Abominable Angel

The Sorceress without a Home

Bitch

Epitome of Evil

Maya Darling

Sharma

Mayflower

Amethyst

Violet (Because of her entrancing purple eyes)

Mai

MiMi

May

Princess

Queen Maya

Mazie

Girl Boss

Witch (Affectionately used by her friends)

Marigold

Talents and Skills

The immortal and ancient creature who has lived for centuries.

Indomitable

Loyal and courageous

Intelligent and cunning

Combat, strategy, and marksmanship proficiency.

A dangerous Grisha who possesses the powers of a squaller, a heartrender, a healer, an inferni, a fabrikator, and a tidemaker.

Gifted in speaking, writing, and understanding Kerch, Ravkan, Suli, Shu, Kaelish, and Fjerdan.

Powerful and ambitious

Willing to do what is necessary.

Rational and analytical

Confident

Caring

Ruthless

Protective of those she cares about and those who are misunderstood and innocent.

Hides her emotions from the rest of the world

Displays outstanding leadership qualities

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Blackmail

Assault and battery

Smuggling and freeing Grisha from the grip of the Darkling.

Planning and engaging in secret missions to ensure the safety of Grisha in Ketterdam, freeing them from being transported to Fjerda and rescuing them from the grip of Shu Han.

Her enormous and dangerous powers frighten the enemies.

Memorable Moments

Painting murals of the Order of the Dark Knights in front of the Dime Lions' territory.

Telling new recruits to the Order of the Dark Knights that the only way to be allowed and accepted as a true member is to perform the ritual involving pouring blood over themselves and then performing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet from the rooftops of the Church of Barter in a white dressing gown.

Creating a map that showed her closest friends where everyone's exact positions were at that moment in time and identified individuals by name even those who are strangers but locked it by a password.

Playing strip poker, strip chess, strip marbles, and strip roulette.

Founding Secret Santa in Ketterdam for queer kids and people so that they get gifts on Christmas, even if it's not from their blood family, and celebrating a big Christmas party with lots of food and mistletoe to spoil her queer kids.

Trying to sneak mistletoe above Sebastian's and Yuri's heads when they were pining for each other to try and force them together to realize their feelings for each other. (Maya, it's nearly March. Enough with the bloody mistletoe. You're either part of the mission or part of the problem, Y/FN. Now shut up and help me hang this, you're taller.)

Waking up in the middle of the night and making and eating snacks. (Why are you making chocolate waffles in the middle of the night? Because I've lost control of my life, David.)

Used her power to keep your father safe from the Darkling.

Made the Darkling cry with her sass while your father stood behind her proudly.

Bursting into Minjun and Ari's room during emergencies (Are we - stop screaming, it's me - have you seen my eyeliner?)

Organizing sleepovers for all her friends because all of them had bad nightmares and when one of them woke up shaking and crying, the rest of them would be there for them comforting and helping through the nightmares.

Used her powers to make other people happy. She'd used her ability as a heartrender to calm down Sebastian's anxiety attacks and the blood pressure the stress would cause your father. She'd use her powers as the healer to heal scars, wounds, and bruises caused in fights that they'd get into. When it was hot and warm, she'd bring sweet and cooling breezes that would bring relief to them all. She'd make it rain and storm so Adira could run into the rain and dance in it. She'd help Yuri with his inventions with her abilities as a fabrikator and an inferni. She liked dousing her friends with water as a tidemaker, laughing at their shocked and infuriated expressions when they were all wet.

In the same way, she'd use her powers to hurt those who were a threat to her freedom. She burned down Pekka's best casinos to the ground. Ari and Maya bonded together by torturing their enemies with their abilities as the heartrender, giving them the most slow and painful cruel torture until they surrendered.

Loves

Cherishing her freedom away from the Darkling.

Telling stories about Grisha and myths of the world to you and your brother.

Braiding your hair and styling it in different ways.

Nurturing the plants in the garden with your brother.

Participating in silly games and funny pranks of your uncles and aunts that make her smile and laugh.

Dancing and singing.

Loves dressing up and enchanting people with her beauty in to telling them whatever she needs to know.

Loves taking you shopping for pretty dresses.

Likes gossiping with Adira, Holly, Ari, and Natalia over tea.

Talking with your father who is her closest confidante who keeps her safe.

Teaching you how to do your makeup and letting you and your brother practice your makeup skills on her.

Teaching you about how powerful and deceiving beauty is.

Talking about politics with her friends over coffee and brandy.

Performing funny tricks with her powers to entertain you and your brother.

Letting you stay past your bedtime and letting you have as many sweets as you want.

Older than your father and the rest of her friends so loves flexing it annoying your father the most. (Respect your elders asshole. As the fairest, prettiest, best and oldest member of the Order of the Dark Knights, you should listen to me. Age before beauty, Sebastian, no wait I've got that too. How I am the oldest of all of you and I look so young and beautiful? One of life's greatest mysteries)

Treasures

Her power

Her life and freedom.

Her ability to do something good and help innocent people.

The trust your father places in her.

The time she spends with her best friends, your brother, and you.

Her collection of beautiful dresses and pretty shoes. .

Her position in the Order of the Dark Knights

Songs

Run Boy Run by Woodkid - Tomorrow is another day. And you won't have to hide away. You'll be a man, boy! But for now, it's time to run, it's time to run!

Boss Bitch by Doja Cat - All of my bad pics been all my best ones. I wear the hat and I wear the pants. I am advanced so I get advance. And I do my dance and cancel the plans. Said, boo, don't be mad 'cause you had a chance, drop.

Monsters by Ruelle - You've got no place to hide. And I'm feeling like a villain, got a hunger inside. One look in my eyes and you're running 'cause I'm coming. Gonna eat you alive.

Champagne Problems by Taylor Swift - How evergreen, our group of friends. Don't think we'll say that word again. And soon they'll have the nerve to deck the halls that we once walked through.

Matilda by Harry Styles - You can let it go. You can throw a party full of everyone you know. And not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love. You don't have to be sorry for leaving and growing up.

I Lived by One Republic - Hope when you take that jump, you don't fear the fall. Hope when the water rises you built a wall. Hope when the crowd screams out its screaming your name. Hope if everybody runs you choose to stay

Famous Quote

"In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone who matters to you. Tired of watching everything turn into dust. That's why I need the mayflies. You see the mayflies know more than I do. They know how beautiful and precious life is because it is fleeting. "

Natalia Alexandrov

"Promise me, you'll always remember you are braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Position.

The dangerous spy in the Order of the Dark Knights.

Close advisor and secretary to the Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Godmother to Y/N, the daughter of the Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights

Lovely and kind aunt to you and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Phantom

Shadow

Spymaster

The Invisible Illusionist

Mystique

The Mysterious Murderess

The Cursed Bride

Nat

Natty

Lia

Talia

Lovely

Darling

Sweetness

Shortstack

Shortcake

Shortie

Talents and Skills

Clever and intelligent

Silent and stealthy

Calm under pressure

Understanding of collecting information and secrets.

Deceptive and manipulative

Attentive and observant

Combat, strategy, and marksmanship proficiency

Gifted in creating lethal poisons, potions and antidotes.

Gifted in speaking, writing and understanding Kerch, Ravkan, Suli, Kaelish, and Fjerdan.

Soft-spoken

strong

Loyal

Kind

Patient

Dedicated

Dangerous and ruthless when attacked and provoked.

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Blackmail

Assault and battery

Married ten husbands who died under mysterious circumstances shortly after their marriage leaving her their fortune and inheritance.

Memorable Moments

Being the one that everyone goes to at night, crawling into Natalia's bed when they have crazy, bad, horrid nightmares because she has this comforting and kind presence that soothes their mind and Natalia doesn't mind at all.

Giving Holly piggyback rides.

Sketching out accurate maps of Ketterdam for her best friends.

Giving one of the best ideas for Sebastian's pranks for April Fools Day, is to do absolutely nothing but pretend like he has done something. By midday, everyone in Ketterdam is paranoid and already on edge. Sebastian shares a subtle grin with Natalia who hides her own clever and pleased smirk.

She loves knitting scarves, sweaters, and socks for her friends for Christmas, Valentine's day, birthdays, anniversaries, and just any time to make them feel special and wanted. But one day after a particularly hurtful and tiring mission, she received a beautifully wrapped package that she opened to find a sweater that looked like it was knitted with great effort by someone for the first time. The sweater was lavender with her initials on the back with a note attached to the back 'To Natalia, thank you for making us all feel special. Y/FN.". She's not ashamed to say that she cried in gratitude and happiness and her respect for your father increased after that.

Giving Minjun a self-annotated Shu poetry book that he had been talking about. Minjun denies that he almost cried when he saw it.

Lets Adira, Ari, and Holly paint her nails.

Calming lost children and helping them out.

Holding the door for someone who was carrying something heavy or had busy hands.

Being the one to start the annual Order of the Knights food fight festival. Natalia jumped onto the tables and yelled for a food fight in the bar. For once, there are no different criminal gangs, there are just people who are having fun. Minjun, Ari, Yuri, and Maya get way into it fighting methodically and strategically. Holly, Adira. Sebastian and David are surprisingly good at finding just who to hit and keeping things going. The Dime Lions getting into an all-out war with the Order of the Dark Knights. Grisha powers are being used to get the advantage in this game but no one cares because everyone is having fun as they dump food and drinks on each other with their hands. The entire room freezing up when Pekka Rollins gets hit by a steak and kidney pie to his face. The entirety of both gangs declaring a food war and breaking into chaos when they realize that it was your father who threw the pie at Pekka.

People would constantly throw things at her just to watch the way she'd almost subconsciously snatch it out of the air. Holly would throw a knife at Natalia but without looking up, she'd pull it out of the air like it was nothing. Everyone found it very endearing and was super fascinated with this talent.

Commentating on their fights with gangs peppering it with gossip for entertainment. Sebastian and Holly would be welcomed as guest commentators. (Yes, that's a perfect punch from David to Svelten who is very much distracted by the fact that he got cheated on by his girlfriend, sorry about that mate. No, Mary, I will not ask out Maya for you. Lancaster has just been shot in the tits by Sebastian - OW that has got to hurt. Oh and another perfect shot to the head by Sebastian, proving once again all you need is style and good looks, am I right? If he can bloody take that down those men, then Sebastian you can pay me the fifteen kruge you owe me. PEKKA JUST HIT YURI IN HIS JAW! THAT IS HIS BEST FEATURE, PEKKA, IF IT IS BROKEN, I WILL POISON YOUR BREAKFAST! Yes, Y/FN, this is highly important information - oh look, you've made me miss an opportunity to punch this bastard. Oh look at Adira go, dodging that knife that John threw which nobody saw because of the cascade of dandruff that fell from his hair and covered the entirety of Ketterdam. Don't fucking shoot me, you bastard, hair care is important, you are blinding all of the innocent citizens of Ketterdam... it bloody looks like it just snowed. Excellent beating from Y/FN knocking Pekka to the floor while maintaining a handsome bone structure and gorgeous hair, how does he do it? Oh, and Pekka tries to get up but Minjun literally whacks him with his beautiful umbrella and Ari takes him down beautifully. I normally don't condone violence but as you can imagine, desperate times call for desperate measures. Oh do stop moaning Pekka, you're not dying - can someone please shut him up - thank you, Ari.)

On the anniversaries of her husbands' deaths, her friends would shove everyone out of the way saying 'Move over peasants, let the Cursed Bride through!' while Natalia was carried on the shoulders of David and Minjun and Ari played epic music on the violin.

Loves

Embroidery and sewing dresses for her goddaughter.

Knitting scarves, sweaters, and socks for her friends and you and your brother.

Brewing a good cup of tea.

Choosing the perfect fabric for a dress and designing clothes.

Reading stories to you and your brother.

Playing and running through the house with you and your brother.

Taking long walks with her friends and you and your brother.

Laughing and spending time with her closest friends who are her family.

Making scrapbooks and family albums.

Treasures

Her position in the Order of the Dark Knights

Her knives.

Her arts and crafts.

Her fashion designs

The time she spends with her best friends, your brother, and you.

Her sewing kit.

Songs

I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift - I never trust a narcissist but they love me. So I play 'em like a violin and I make it look oh so easy. 'Cause for every lie I tell them they tell me three. This is how the world works. Now all he thinks about is me.

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong - I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more than I'll ever know. And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Yes, I think to myself...What a wonderful world

Blood//Water by Grandson - We'll never get free. Lamb to the slaughter. What you gon' do when there's blood in the water? The price of your greed is your son and your daughter. What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?

My Way by Frank Sinatra - My friend I'll make it clear. I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full. I traveled each and every highway. And more, much more I did it, I did it my way.

Home by Edith Whiskers - We laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night. Nothing new is sweeter than with you. And in the streets, we run afree, like it's only you and me. Geez, you're something to see.

The Power of Love by Gabrielle Aplin - The Power of Love, a force from above. Cleaning my soul, flame on burn desire, love with tongues of fire, purge the soul. Make love your goal

Famous Quote

Are you trying to scare me? Oh, because I'm already bloody terrified of dying. And I'll endure a lot of pain before I give up the information that's keeping me alive. How long have you got?

Holly Yeltsov

I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence, and as justice loves to sit and watch everything go wrong.

Position.

The most ruthless and efficient assassin in the Order of the Dark Knights

Sold by Fjerdan parents to slavers and bought by Pekka Rollins who trained her to be a ruthless child assassin.

Former assassin of Pekka Rollins who was sent to kill your father but betrayed Rollins.

The chaotic and awesome aunt to the children of the Leader of the Order of the Dark Knights.

The Vodka Aunt of the Babysitters Club.

Head chef and food expert.

Alias and Nicknames

Black Bird

Crimson Raven

Lilith

Dark Dagger

Persephone

Nemesis

The Serpent

Holly bear

Hollyberry

Holly Snakes

Holly Saints!

Holly Hell

Goldie

Blondie

Chaotic Support Bestie

Talents and Skills

Master Martial Artist

Knife Mastery

Marksmanship and combat proficiency

Master Spy

Extremely Skilled Assassin

Improvised weaponry

Gifted in speaking, writing, and understanding Kerch, Ravkan, Suli, Kaelish, and Fjerdan.

Intelligent and strategic

Ruthless efficiency

Flexibility

Excellent at escaping traps.

Good at disguising and blending into the crowd.

Deceptive and observant

Cynical with a bent moral compass

Strong sense of right and wrong

Dangerous and powerful

Loyal and strong

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Blackmail

Assault and battery

Having different kinds of weapons on her at all times.

Fought a gang of men with a frying pan.

Killed slavers with a flower pot.

Took down a couple of men who dared to bother her when she was eating waffles and having hot chocolate.

Rescued enslaved women and children in slaver ships that docked to Ketterdam.

Punching Pekka Rollins in the crotch, nearly castrating him with the promise of ending his bloodline echoing through the whole of Ketterdam as she called him some very colorful curses.

Memorable Moments

Planning an annual extravagant proposal to your father in the middle of Ketterdam as a prank asking him out on a date and Sebastian pops up out of nowhere acting betrayed while your father is trying not to laugh while the two idiots proceed to fake fight. (HOW DARE YOU, HOLLY! YOU KNEW HOW I FELT ABOUT HIM AND YET YOU ASKED HIM OUT!)

Holly and Sebastian getting very dirty stares for being disrespectful because they were singing 'Stayin Alive' as the coffin was lowered but then continued to sing on a whole rendition of songs that were disrespectful to the dead such as 'Every Breath You Take', 'I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight', Another One Bites the Dust, Livin La Vida Loca until they were kicked out by your father himself from the funeral.

Telling everyone in Ketterdam that the Order of the Knights have a Sacrificial Blood Ritual every full moon night.

Making blanket forts to comfort herself when she has a bad time.

Waking her up early in the morning is dangerous and possible reactions include homicidal rage.

Cannot go for more than three hours without eating something so she always has snacks on her. She's basically a walking snack shop.

If anyone tries to take her food away or bother her while she is eating, the consequences usually involve getting beaten up or your head drowning inside the canals.

Has a very dirty sense of humor.

Her pretty puppy eyes are a lethal and dangerous weapon that her best friends have learned to be careful of.

Leaving Sebastian, Yuri, Maya and her alone for more than ten minutes will result in disastrous chaotic shenanigans that brings despair to your father.

Challenging her to drinking competitions is a death wish.

She has a bright, stupid grin that makes girls and boys in Ketterdam think of pushing her against a wall and snogging the living daylights out of her.

Rolling up her sleeves when it's really hot and warm and whenever she is ready to fight.

Unbuttoning the first button of her shirt whenever she feels suffocated and frustrated.

Running her hand through her hair messing it up.

Has a crush on Adira for most of their time together at the Order of the Dark Knights but started developing serious feelings for her.

Had a hard time coping with the trauma of being sold by her parents and being a child assassin. There would be days where she would be joyless and empty and everyone in Ketterdam felt absolutely terrified and worried because no matter how much they feared her, they hoped she would be alright and happy again.

Was wary of holding you at first but you always wanted to be held by her.

Loved it when you were always fascinated by her hair as a baby and pulled and twisted on it.

Slept with a yellow stuffed dog gifted to her by Adira.

Took your father's side in arguments because it annoyed Sebastian so much.

Always bought her friends a round of drinks to celebrate.

Defended Minjun from the teasing of other members who thought he was too serious and solemn.

Loves all her best friends but especially Sebastian and Yuri who make her laugh until she can't breathe.

Going full-out extravagant for the holidays because she loves any kind of excuse to celebrate anything small or big. When she first joins the gang, it becomes clear to her friends, she hadn't ever had a chance to be a kid and celebrate holidays so they all go along with her crazy and amazing plans of organizing trips, parties, decorations, food, gifts, and alcohol.

She is the one who rambles on about insignificant topics like shoes and storms, favorite colors, and worst clothes but this usually happens when she has something on her mind.

Totally knowing your father's middle name but instead choosing to annoy your father by breaking into full ridiculous name. (Of course, he successfully carried out the heist. He's Y/FN Aurelius Y/FLN. Y/FN Cordelia Y/FLN, I am shocked at your behavior. Of course, he shot Pekka Rollins, he's fucking Y/FN Genevieve Y/LN)

Loves

Eating different kinds of delicious cuisines and sweets.

Cooking delicious and tasty food for her best friends.

Winning drinking competitions with anyone who dares challenge her.

Winning arm wrestling competitions.

Dancing and making up songs all the time even during inappropriate moments such as funerals and missions.

Buying random things that catch her attention like candles, books, vests, statues, mugs, weapons, kitchen equipment, and alcohol.

Teaching you how to fight, handle weapons, be flexible, scale and jump off buildings, pick locks, and improvise in situations where you are surprised because she believed you couldn't be sheltered from the reality of the world forever.

Betting on her friends.

Being the first of her friends to agree with Sebastian's and Yuri's chaotic ideas and jump into helping them with their pranks.

Passing notes to her friends during meetings held by your father (Holly - OI, Minnie, fuck, marry, and kill from the rest of us? Minjun - Marry Ari, Fuck This and Kill you all. David - Aww. Ari - Leave him alone, it's his time of the month. Minjun - I will EAT YOU! Ari - YES PLEASE DADDY! Maya - OH MY EYES! Adira - For saint's sake, Ari! Sebastian - Get a room, you two! Yuri - And you lot say, Seb and I are bad. Your father - I'm surrounded by maniacs.)

Loves game night but is banned from playing truth and dare because she has no regard for her personal safety.

Treasures

Food

Her weapons

The time she spends with her best friends, your brother, and you.

Her collection of random things she buys.

Her little mementos and souvenirs of each place to remember moments.

Songs

American Pie by Don Mclean - We started singing bye-bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. And singing, "This'll be the day that I die". This will be the day that I die

Trouble by Valerie Broussard - We wear red so they don't see us bleed. Hundred-dollar bills under our sleeve. We intend not to sleep 'til we're dead. Drink our problems right out of our heads

What's Up Danger by Black Caviar and Blackaway - I like it when trouble brews, I won't dare change. I like it when there's turbulence on my airplanes. I like it when I sense things I can't see yet. Swimmin' with sharks when they ain't feed yet. 'Cause I like high chances that I might lose. I like it all on the edge just like you, ayy. I like tall buildings so I can leap off of 'em. I go hard wit' it no matter how dark it is.

Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man - Ooh woo, I'm a rebel just for kicks, now. I been feeling it since 1966, now. Might've had your fill, but you feel it still. Ooh woo, I'm a rebel just for kicks, now. Let me kick it like it's 1986, now. Might be over now, but I feel it still.

Handclap by Fitz and Tantrums - Somebody save your soul 'cause you've been sinning in this city. I know too many troubles, all these lovers got you losing control. You're like a drug to me, a luxury, my sugar and gold I want the good life, every good night you're a hard one to hold.

Best Friend by Saweetie - And she so bad that I just can't take that bitch nowhere. She off her fifth shot, said, "Mmm-mmm, don't go there". Bitch, break her back, she protect and attack. Get that strap like them buckle, foot on neck, give no air. Whole world wanna be us

Famous Quote

Hope is dangerous. Hope is the survivor that has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, and the grit of cobblestones in her hair, and spits out a tooth as she rises for another go.

Ari Kang

"These people are my family and if you hurt them in any way, I will kill you."

Position.

Powerful heartrender in the Order of the Dark Knights

Former Alumni of the Medical Faculty at the University of Ketterdam.

Professor of Medicine at the University of Ketterdam.

First Female Director General of the Ketterdam General Hospital

Daughter of the Shu Ambassador based in Kerch.

Brewer of healing potions and medicine for the Order of the Dark Knights

Skilled interrogator and torturer in the Order of the Dark Knights

Happily married to Minjun Park.

Loving and sweet aunt to you and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Manhunter

Queen of Hearts

Karma

Stilleto

Crimson Witch

Firecracker

That's my wife!

Fashionista

Fashion Queen

Talents and Skills

Marksmanship and combat proficiency

Extremely Skilled Heartrender

Extracting information from targets with unique torture techniques through her powers.

Gifted in speaking, writing, and understanding Shu, Kerch, Ravkan, and Suli.

Intelligent and clever

Ruthless and cruel

Deceptive and observant

Dangerous and powerful

Loyal and strong

Courageous and fearless

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Blackmail

Assault and battery

Fighting off Rollin's gang of men and taking them down singlehandedly and sending one of them with an eye gouged out with her stiletto stabbed to his chest.

Keeping Grisha in Kerch safe from being indentured and freeing indentured Grisha and helping them escape.

Working on missions that helped many Grisha escape Shu Han's experimentation on them.

Memorable Moments.

Since she is the daughter of the Shu Ambassador in Kerch, she has established a network of spies in Shu and established good relations with criminal families and gangs in Shu Han on behalf of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Skilled at performing surgeries and post-mortems for missions on behalf of the Order of the Dark Knights.

Knowledgeable in many areas of medicine such as forensic pathology, toxicology, and gynecology.

Famous for her research on forensic pathology and toxicology.

Was enemies with Minjun at the University of Ketterdam before settling a truce and becoming friends and eventually lovers.

Is nonchalant, outgoing and popular but secretly loves spending hours studying and poring over books and her smart responses are intelligent and insightful.

Grew up in an intellectually nurturing household where her parents always answered her questions and joined many curriculars in the University of Ketterdam

Developed feelings for Minjun who was from a different world tumbling head over heels for him when she sees his intense concentration, his talent for law, his hard work, his determination, and his perseverance and sees how much he loves learning as much as she does and finally realizes that he is the one for him.

Uses her influence as the ambassador's daughter and the Director General of the Ketterdam Hospital to get information for the Order of the Dark Knights.

Loves children and wanted them very badly. After two years of trying, she finally got pregnant with a child. But one day, Pekka Rollins' goons broke into the hospital where she was shot. She was saved but the child inside her died. The injuries led to complications where she could not have children again. Minjun and her grieved for the loss of their child and the loss of the life they could have had but together they got through it. There's not a day that goes by they don't miss their unborn baby.

Blamed your father for what happened to her for a long time but understood him. She couldn't stay mad at him. He was her dear friend and she couldn't lose someone who was very near and dear to her. She saw that your father did everything he could to help her through this loss.

Because she cannot have children, she treasures every moment spent with you and your brother. To her, you are the children she cannot have, and helps your father out when he doubts himself as a good father.

Spends her leisure time in orphanages taking care of little babies and children, playing with them, and reading to them. It's her way of coping.

Lets Holly win at chess.

She likes to steal her husband's clothes.

Wanted to learn to play the trumpet to annoy the Dime Lions but Adira pointed out that technically Ari didn't have to learn the trumpet to annoy the Dime Lions. Fair to say, the Dime Lions were pissed off and deafened.

When pissed off, she curses excessively in Shu.

Annoys people by correcting their grammar by reusing it properly in the next sentence.

An early riser who likes the crisp wind and the morning mist and the sunrise.

Polite and sweet, the perfect shining girl in public events such as balls and galas which makes her friends snigger in amusement because she is a sassy little psychopathic shit who takes pleasure in torturing people.

Accompanies her husband in the library researching cures for various illnesses and inventing incredibly painful torture techniques.

Was amused when each of her best friends got in the way of Minjun trying to propose to her. (Minjun literally chased away Maya who was grinning like a lunatic and threw a book at your father)

Teaming up with your father to prank Minjun because both of them know him the best. (Listen, Y/FN, if you want to see Minjun scream in terror, just wait until it's dark and dress up like a ghost of a dead Victorian girl. Nice, Ari... here's his perfume except it's replaced with a powerful repellent that stinks like hell) They exchange secret smirks and high-fives when their pranks work and blame it on Sebastian.

Hugs everyone after the missions.

She rocks minimal makeup and sophisticated fashion looks.

She smiles to herself every time she thinks of her family. As she thinks of the crazy heists and adventures they've shared. The secrets between them, the jokes, the laughter, the pain. The laughter, love and light that fills their memories.

Loves

Her husband, Minjun, and spending time with him.

Drinking

Using her powers to see them tremble and crumble before her.

Composing music and playing the piano, violin, and other musical instruments.

Debating and talking about topics that interest her.

Teaching your brother and you how to play the piano and listening to both of you play your respective musical instruments.

Gifting extravagant and beautiful dolls and dresses for you and play with them.

Reading books and writing and creating new recipes and methods for medicines and tonics to heal and torture.

Creating wild imaginary stories for you and your brother.

Spending time with her best friends over good food and lots of drinks.

Treasures

Her husband.

Her high heels.

Her wedding ring.

Her weapons

Her writings and discoveries of torture and medicines that she herself invented.

The time she spends with her best friends, your brother, and you.

The little gifts her husband buys for her.

Songs

No Body No Crime by Taylor Swift - They think she did it but they just can't prove it. She thinks I did it but she just can't prove it. No, no body, no crime, I wasn't letting up until the day he...No, no body, no crime, I wasn't letting up until the day he...No, no body, no crime, I wasn't letting up until the day he died.

Sweet but Psycho by Ava Max - She'll make you curse, but she a blessin'. She'll rip your shirt within a second. You'll be coming back, back for seconds. With your plate, you just can't help it.

One Woman Army by Porcelain Black - I hit you with that Kung-Fu, Jackie Chan. Boom, boom, boom, pow, I'm superfast. High heels, big deal, I'll kick your ass. They gunnin', they runnin' and that makes me mad.

Material Girl by Madonna - They can beg and they can plead. But they can't see the light (that's right). 'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mister Right.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper - Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest o' the world. I wanna be the one to walk in the sun. Oh girls, they wanna have fun

Hurts Like Hell by Fleurie - I don't want them to know the secrets. I don't want them to know the way I loved you. I don't think they'd understand it, no. I don't think they would accept me, no.

Famous Quotes

"If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together."

Adira Khan

"Better a broken heart than no heart at all."

Position.

A dangerous and talented thief in the Order of the Dark Knights

Saint in the Order of the Dark Knights

Loving and warm aunt to you and your brother.

Alias and Nicknames

Huntress

Temptress

The Nightingale

The Phoenix

The Saint of the Barrel

Ball of sunshine

Forever, sweet, precious baby

Dove

Muffin

Daisy

Sankta Adira

Our guardian angel

Talents and Skills

Marksmanship and combat proficiency

Knife Mastery

Gifted in speaking, writing, and understanding Kerch, Ravkan, and Suli.

Intelligent and clever

Silent and stealthy.

Charming and sweet.

Loyal and courageous.

Powerful and perceptive

Kind and empathetic.

Famous for

Mass murder

Organized crime

Torture

Robbery

Kidnapping and abduction

Blackmail

Assault and battery

Stealing Pekka Rollin's wedding cake and the wedding rings on his wedding day causing his bride to go into a full stress mode and slap him in front of the guests.

Keeping girls and women safe from being prey at night and day when she doesn't have missions.

Being kind to children and finding orphans and abused children safe places to live in.

Worked on secret missions to recruit and free girls indentured in brothels giving them a safe place and a purpose infuriating Rollins who had business with those places.

Freeing and helping those who are indentured and fighting the slavers who disgusted her.

Sneaking into Pekka Rollin's office to steal valuable documents that he had kept in an unbreakable safe and moving the furniture into different places to annoy him.

Speaking to the spirits of the dead, telling fortunes and prophecies that nearly almost come true and an intuition that is sharp and right.

Stealing from the most unbreakable vaults and safes of rich men and con men, learning their secrets and lies that became valuable to your father.

Memorable Moments

Sneaking into Pekka Rollin's place at night and shaving off his beard. The next day, Pekka Rollins was the laughingstock of Ketterdam and no one could keep a straight face and take him seriously without that beard.

Plays with Holly's hair when she is stressed.

She is the only one who can stop Sebastian, Holly, Yuri, David and Natalia from doing something stupid but most of the time she chooses not to but chooses to join them.

The only one who has told your father to shut up and gotten away with it.

Being mistaken as your father's wife by everyone in Ketterdam. This broke Sebastian's heart because apparently, he was under the impression that he was your father's husband. Chaos ensured and a battle for your father's hand and heart began but ended with the agreement that they were both too good for him.

Loves beautiful dresses and is the only one who can pull off bright and beautiful colors like sunset orange, pink, and blue to perfection.

Likes cooking Suli food for her friends because it keeps her grounded and reminds her of home.

Talking to her friends after they've had a particularly bad day and knowing just the right thing to say.

She does her best to find her children and your father does his best to help her.

Sneaking live spiders into the clothes of the Dime Lions

Was challenged to a duel by one of the new recruits in the Order of the Dark Knights. Spoiler alert, the new recruit got his fingers broken, his ribs broken and his leg broken. After that, when introducing Adira, that was the first story that came out and it made Adira smile whenever she was in a bad mood.

Can sense when someone is following her and deals with them in the deadliest way possible.

Introduced new awards so she could present Natalia with a trophy for being 'an awesome, amazing, wonderful, beautiful person'.

Sneaking in and placing glue on Rollin's seat and his hat. The next day, Pekka's hat was glued to his head and he was stuck to his seat for the remainder of the next two months.

Snuck in a special powder that Natalia had created into Pekka Rollin's alcohol that made Pekka fart every five minutes. It took five months to find a cure.

Loves

Her position in the Order of the Knights

Praying to the saints to help her to find peace and the family she lost.

The thrill of stealing something and breaking into something unbreakable.

Stargazing and studying the constellations in the night sky.

Picking flowers and making flower pressings out of them.

Taking part in the chaotic games and pranks that her best friends gather together to pull.

Drinking tea and writing letters to her lost children and family.

Dancing in the rain.

Spending time with her best friends chatting and laughing.

Talking to your father about the little things on her mind that make her anxious and listening to his own set of worries and reassuring him.

Taking care of you and your brother with such love and warmth as if you were her own children.

Treasures

All the moments she spends with her best friends, you and your brother.

Her knives.

The little bead bangle her children gave her as a present.

Songs

Better Than I in Joseph The King of Dreams -I try to do what's best. And faith has made it easy to see the best thing I can do is put my trust in you.

Speechless by Naomi Scott - Let the storm in, I cannot be broken. No, I won't live unspoken. 'Cause I know that I won't go speechless.

Somewhere Only We Know by Keane - And if you have a minute, why don't we talk about it somewhere only we know? This could be the end of everything. So, why don't we go somewhere only we know?

I Was Here By Beyonce - I wanna say I lived each day until I died. I know that I had something in somebody's life. The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave that I made a difference and this world will see I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here. I did, I've done, everything that I wanted. And it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here.

Dynasty by MIIA - And all I gave you is gone. Tumble like it was stone. Thought we built a dynasty that heaven couldn't shake. Thought we built a dynasty, like nothing ever made. Thought we built a dynasty forever couldn't break up.

Bigger than the Whole Sky by Taylor Swift - Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. You were bigger than the whole sky. You were more than just a short time. And I've got a lot to pine about. I've got a lot to live without. I'm never gonna meet what could've been, would've been what should've been you.

Famous Quote

"Sacrifice... that's what we do for the people we love."

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