#van eck tried to kill him only MONTHS before the ice court

[olskuvallanpoe]

the first time I read the “he told them everything” scene before the reveal, I was SO prepared to defend wylan with every bit of my soul. bc a sixteen year old boy getting the shit beaten out of him on the orders of his father, who had tried to kill him over and over again just bc of his disability—the disability that brings him so much shame still? yeah, even if he had told his father everything for real, I would have stood by him. anyone who wouldn’t have truly does not understand just how much trauma wylan faced within such a short period of time.

[anonniemousefics]

My Dearest Inej | Chapter Four

Chapter Masterlist

Originally posted on AO3

Rating: Teen And Up

Synopsis: A series of letters kept among the personal belongings of Captain Inej Ghafa.

Chapter Four: The Hot Air Balloon Ride

My dearest Inej,  

These new treats you’ve sent us from Shu Han are interesting. Wylan and I have been trying to figure out how to open them. Jesper thought he had it figured out (I tried to warn him) and ended up eating wax. Don’t tell me. I’m going to work this out.

Speaking of the wax-eater, Jesper’s birthday is fast approaching, and, given the amount of painfully obvious hints that Wylan has been dropping, I can tell I’m expected to purchase gift. I could use your advice. This is the one thing about being disgustingly rich that I had not taken into account before the Van Eck affair: buying gifts for rich people is impossible. And why should I even? Jesper can buy himself whatever he wants whenever he wants it. That was literally the entire point of the Ice Court and the Van Eck affair. Why am I buying him a birthday gift again? I should be exempt.

This is truly amazing. I am still penning this letter, and I can already tell you’re glaring at me as you read this. Remarkable. How are you doing that? I have to know. I would also like to be able to project my rage and disgust through time and space.

I’ve been hesitant to ask when you’ll be returning to Ketterdam next. I imagine there’s some sort of deficit now, after you spent the extra travel helping after the fire. But I’m bracing myself now. Go on, I can take it. What’s it to be? Five months? Six months? As long as the answer isn’t never, I’ll be at Fifth Harbor whenever you want me.  

Yours,

K. Brekker

P.S. – You’re sure you didn’t accidentally send us just a fancy box of wax, right?

P.P.S. – Never mind. Got it. Toffees are better.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My surprising, delightful Inej,

You probably couldn’t tell, since I don’t possess your otherworldly command of projecting human emotion through dimensions of time and space, but I was actually smiling when I read your letter. I had no idea you were planning on stopping back for Jesper’s birthday. This is great news. That’s, what, three weeks from now? You spoil us.  

I have to be honest, though, I really hate your idea. An experience as a birthday gift? This sounds like work. This sounds like the exact opposite of why we all nearly died trying to get rich. Inej, love. Please. Don’t do this to me.  

Ugh, you’re doing it again. The inter-dimensional glaring. If this is what having a conscience feels like, I’d like to have it surgically removed as soon as possible. So, make a note: that’s the experience I want for my birthday.

Very well. An experience for Jesper. I’ll talk to Wylan for some ideas.  

I just had this sinking feeling in my gut – I don’t actually know when your birthday is. And that is something I should probably know. Don’t kill me. Just let me know in enough time to craft a proper experience. Since apparently this is what we do now.  

Could I just let Jesper shoot me? That would be experience he’d like. And then I don’t have to do anything.

Despite my trepidation, I remain,

Faithfully yours,

Kaz  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Inej, I have to make this quick. Jesper’s getting nosy. These are the ideas Wylan and I have. Pick one so we don’t have to.  

Tickets to the Komedie Brute

Canal cruise with kvas tasting

Hot air balloon ride

Private dining experience in The Lid

Hiring a magician for an exclusive show

Shooting Kaz in a non-vital extremity so he can go home

The last one can be done in combination with any of the aforementioned. Just circle one (or two) and send back posthaste.

Yours,

Kaz

(Hot air balloon ride has been circled and the final suggestion aggressively crossed out multiple times.)

(The letter has been resent with a final note in Kaz’s handwriting)

This is literally my least favorite option, Inej.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(in an unaddressed envelope marked only “Inej – Please use discretion when reading”)

Inej,

I’m just going to hand you this letter tomorrow when you arrive, because I know I can’t say this, especially since I’m not sure we’ll have a chance to be alone before this evening. Gods, Inej, I am spiraling out about this. Just read this and help me think straight.

It’s this hot air balloon ride. I am genuinely not trying to be an ass right now. Let me just paint a picture for you:

What Wylan has described to me after he made the reservation is quite the close-knit, possibly romantic scenario. There’s wine and chocolate-dipped fruit and starlight, and I can tell he’s thrilled about all of it. Jesper will be, too. You picked a great option for him. But this ride is for all four of us. They’re going to be as they are – comfortable, close, enjoying each other as they do. And you and I. Well. We’re you and I. I can’t do this yet. I want to but I can’t, especially not in a tiny basket in the sky. Inej, I am freaking out. I do not want to vomit in a wicker basket hundreds of feet over unsuspecting tourists. Or worse, faint and fall out of said tiny basket to my inevitable death. Although, in the latter scenario, at least I won't have to concern myself with how the rest of the Dregs will react to my very public disgrace. While all of this would definitely make for an experience, I don’t think it’s what Wylan has in mind. This is exactly why I don’t do celebrations.

You’re going to be disappointed. I can already picture your face. I am sorry. I am so, so sorry. I am sorry I keep saying sorry when what you want to know is that this will have no echo. I can’t promise that yet. I suppose the word I’m looking for is regret. I am full of regret. I am so full of regret and disgust with myself that I might explode. Remember this is not you. This is not a reflection of how much I want you. How do I do this? How do I not turn this birthday into an absolute shitshow?

He really can’t just shoot me in the leg? It’s just a leg. It’s not like it was a fully-functioning leg to start with.

Help.

(addition in Inej’s handwriting)

Just wear your gloves. Do whatever you need to do. If you’d rather, I’ll stand on the complete opposite end of the basket and make faces at you all night. I’m honestly happy you’ve told me all this first, even if you did have to write it. This is far more preferable than you not saying anything at all and making yourself uncomfortable and angry all night. Now we can make a plan, and no one has to faint. This does not have to be a shitshow.  

Here is the plan: no one touches your skin tonight. I’ll cut anyone who even tries. Take all the personal space you require.

But no one’s going to shoot you, no matter how much you beg for it. Might as well let that one go.

Does this help?

(addition in Kaz’s handwriting)

You are an actual Saint, did you know that?    

Don’t stand on the opposite end of the basket, though, if you don’t mind. If you don’t find the gloves particularly offensive, I’d like to keep you nearby and at least attempt to be a little normal.  

Thank you for this, Inej. I owe you one.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To the one, the only, the indispensible Inej –

I don’t even know where to begin thanking you for a truly spectacular birthday. I expected nothing at all, and I have been completely blown away. Wylan said the hot air balloon ride was your idea – or rather, one of his ideas but you gave your stamp of approval. Easily the best moment of the night. You know me well. And your magic trick? We need to know the secret. You know what I’m talking about. How the hell did you convince Kaz to come along? He didn’t even seem particularly miserable, from what I could tell. I’ll confess to being a little preoccupied. Wylan really outdid himself. Hopefully, you both really did enjoy yourselves and you weren’t just lying for my sake.  

Thank you for coming. Thank you for caring. Thank you for planning. Just a thousand thank yous for being Inej and being around with all of your Inej-ness for my birthday. It was the cherry on top of a perfect night.  

I’m going to get you back. Prepare yourself for the best birthday of your life.

All my love,

Jesper  

P.S. – And thank you for the toffees. I’m not sure how you knew the exact moment we were all finally starting to crave them again. I don’t know whether to be impressed or afraid of how well you predict us. But I’m not going to think about it because there are toffees here again and all is well with the world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inej.

If I live to be a hundred, I won’t forget this night. I want to always remember the way you look in starlight. I’m going to bed remembering the look of your elated smile in the glow of the balloon. The way that laugh of yours echoed over the city. Forget inter-dimensional glaring. I want to know how you are able to take these seemingly mundane moments and turn them into cherished, joyous occasions. That’s not a trick. That’s actual magic that you do. I don’t know if I’ll ever be bored of it.

And in case you’re worried, I’m not writing intoxicated this time. I didn’t even taste the wine. If I’m drunk on anything, it’s remembering how it felt to hold you close while we floated over Ketterdam. The way you smiled up at me when I did. The way you held me back, and I felt miles away from the water in a way I’ve never felt before.

An experience as a gift. I get it now. No amount of kruge could have bought that moment. You are the devastation, Inej. You devastate my expectations in the best possible way.

Now focus on your task at hand. However long this next journey of yours takes, know that I am contented as I wait. I feel now as if I’m richer than I’ve ever been.

With all of my heart and without a shred of armor,

I’m yours,

Kaz

(found written on the back, translated from Suli)

Sankta Elizabeta.

Help me with this man and his dueling personalities.

When asked what he thought of the balloon ride that night, his single response in its entirety, and I quote:

“It was nice.”

What do I do with this?

[dregstrash]

Earning the Present(s) [3/4]

Who says presents have to be given on Christmas? (me, the very late, very sorry fic writer)-- another long one folks

Part 1 || Part 2

Summary: Five years after the events of the Ice Court, the six outcasts were in the prime of their lives. They had everything they had fought and bled for: money, power, promise, home. But this holiday season, a surprisingly altruistic event has them all under the same roof, and they all may have been a little older and a little wiser, but they were still those teenagers who had done the impossible and had almost died countless of times. And when the idea of a holiday gift exchange comes up the true test of their friendship and their growth is thrown into the rink.

-----------------------

WYLAN

Wylan wasn’t sure how he could have possibly ended up here. Whether or not it was by Ghezen’s Hand or from Inej’s saints, but he was positive that it had to be some sort of cosmic intervention that had led him sitting in front of his fireplace, holding his husband’s hand, and surrounded by thieves and an ex-convict.

“That was quite the celebration, Wylan.” Inej said from her place by the window. “I think Kerch might do some good having an orphanage like that in its streets.”

“Thank you, Inej.” Wylan smiled at her. “Getting it past the Council was tough enough, but I’m just happy to give some of those kids a home.”

Jesper snorted beside him, “Yeah, now there actually might be space at The Slat.”

“How did you get those fat birds to donate to your cause anyhow?” Nina brought up. She was tucked firmly under Matthias’s arm and looked positively comfortable.

Wylan felt a slight blush at the measures he had taken to ensure the Council’s support of such an extravagant building to house the countless of orphans roaming the streets, and he tried his best not to look at Kaz as he said, “Let’s just say the right leverage was applied.”

“Oh saints,” Nina rolled her eyes then turned a lazy finger towards Kaz, “You need to stop corrupting his sweet mind.”

Kaz’s lips twitched, “Van Eck doesn’t need me to corrupt his brain. That’s why he keeps Fahey around.”

“Hey,” Jesper protested, “That’s Mr. Van Eck to you, Brekker.”

Wylan grinned and settled to drink his tea as the argument continued on. He wasn’t particularly proud of asking Ketterdam’s most notorious villain to help to threaten the Kerch Council to make this orphanage happen, but he didn’t regret it either. He would have paid for the construction of the building himself, but the land that he was eyeing for the site was owned by the city. When Wylan had brought up his request, one of his father’s oldest friends (who had held a grudge against Wylan ever since his father received his life sentence in jail) suggested that the land would be best used for other means. 

And before he knew it, Wylan’s plans of the orphanage were starting to fall apart before they had even begun. It wasn’t just the orphanage that had been upsetting him. It was how easily the Council had looked over his request and how the idea of building an estate for the very act of charity was less worthy. Echoes of his father’s voice had resounded in his head, and this startlingly new conviction settled in his chest and one thing led to another and he had found himself sitting awkwardly in front of Kaz Brekker at The Slat stumbling through the situation.

“I’m willing to pay you half of the exported sugar I have coming in this month, if you can help get this off the ground.”

Kaz hadn’t moved throughout the entire exchange. He could have been a statue as Wylan talked and his dark eyes stayed steadily on him. Even when he had finished talking he remained still.

“Does Jesper know you’re here?”

“He does, and he highly discouraged me from coming. Something about getting into bed with a demon.” Wylan had explained.

“At least being married to you finally wised him up,” Kaz murmured before he looked past Wylan and got a familiar, distant expression on his face. “That sugar shipment, it’s coming from Zemini, isn’t it?” He had finally said.

Wylan didn’t bother asking how he knew that, “Yes.”

“The ship it’s on has one of the largest cargo holds in your fleet.” He said again. Wylan nodded. “Hmm...I’ll help if I can take that ship off of your hands for the rest of the year.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Wylan asked raising his eyebrow.

“I have certain business ventures across the sea, that require speed and space.”

“Right.”

“And just so we’re clear, Wylan. You’re asking me to convince certain members of the merchant council to approve your plans for this orphanage? Through any means necessary?”

“Yes.” Wylan cleared his throat, “It’s a good plan and this city could deal with at least some kindness. Even if it comes through the Bastard of the Barrel himself.”

Kaz’s sharp smile caught Wylan off guard.

 “Then the deals the deal, merchling.” He held out his gloved hand and Wylan shook it firmly. “Wait a couple weeks and suggest the plan again. You’ll probably be able to start construction soon after that.”

And true to his word, Wylan went back to the council and no sooner had he finished did they approve the plans and even called it Ghezen’s work that an orphanage should be built to educate those who had nothing. Jesper had scoffed at the reasoning, but was just as excited as his husband when Wylan drew up blue prints, started to hire crew members, and then ultimately its grand opening.

Jesper had been by Wylan’s side through it all. He helped with some of the ground work, supervised when Wylan was away taking care of his mother, and calmed him when the ever-present self-doubt started to creep back in his mind. After the Ice Court job, it had seemed almost like a dream for someone like Jesper to stick around to Wylan, but there he was. Then his tall, Zemeni, thrill-addict boyfriend had really thrown him for an absolute loop when they had gone out to dinner on their backyard and he had gone down on one knee. It was all impossible, but then Wylan said yes and the impossible became possible. And with this orphanage now open, even that had become possible.

For that reason, he supposed it wasn’t that impossible to have all of the people that had survived the most dangerous heist ever to be conceived by anyone to be sitting around the fire ready to open presents.

“Okay,” Nina announced finally, “Me first. So as tradition dictates. Whoever picked first has to give the present first. If I remember correctly, Matthias picked a name. Okay, my dear Fjerdan, who’d you have?”

“Uh,” Matthias said hesitantly. He pulled out a long, rectangular box from behind him and kept his eyes on the present. “I-uh-I didn’t know what else to get you, um, Inej.” The girl in question raised her eyebrows in surprise and stood up from the window, “But, I hope you find it suitable.”

Inej walked over and opened the box slowly. Wylan watched as Inej smiled gratefully as she pulled out a beautiful double-edged knife with a white marble handle.

“It’s of Fjerdan make,” Matthias explained his face flushing, “The inscription is from-uh- Fjerdan saint and uh-”

“Thank you,” Inej interrupted and further surprised the bulky man with a hug.

Matthias smiled in relief and returned the gesture.

“Splendid, Jesper you’re next.” Nina said.

“Ah, finally,” Jesper grinned widely as he separated his hand from Wylan’s. He dug around in his pants pocket and produced two small boxes. Wylan recognized the smile that was lighting up his face and he felt his insides swirl at whatever his husband had decided to gift their friend.

“Now, dearest Nina, since you only deserve the best. I hope these will suffice.” He tossed both boxes at her and she caught them deftly, “Though, I think one of those might actually be for Helvar.”

Curious, Nina opened the first box and positively giggled as she held up a scrap of black lace lined with a blood red border. If Matthias’s face was red before, it was practically boiling now. Even Wylan felt a slight blush creep around his neck.

“Ah, Jes, you shouldn’t have.” She held out the undergarments out for everyone to see and slyly glanced at her Fjerdan, “Think of all the things we could do with this, sweet.”

Matthias looked away fast and everyone laughed at his reaction.

Still giggling Nina unwrapped Jesper’s second present and the smile that settled on her face was far more genuine and real than Wylan had ever seen on her. “Jesper Llewelyn, how did you get this?”

Nina held up a thin chain up from the box and revealed a beautiful sun charm. It glinted against the fire light warmly, and had a clear jewel in the middle. 

Jesper shrugged, “I was in Little Ravka in the other day, and I happened to befriend a very talented Fabrikator. He insists it’s the purest form of gold out there.”

“Thank you,” Nina said.

“You’re welcome,” Jesper smiled back.

Wylan couldn’t help but reach back for his hand. It was so rare to see him this comfortable with anyone else or with any other group of people. He was never comfortable with any of the men that Wylan did business with and all of Jesper’s other friends lived far too close to the gambling halls. So to see him so happy made Wylan’s heart flutter in his chest.

The night went on and with each unwrapping came a surprised shock of actually receiving a perfect gift. Inej gave Jesper finely crafted holsters for his guns. Nina gave Wylan a Grisha made flute, that Jesper insisted he played for everyone. He obliged and marveled at the artistry of the instrument and the clear and pure notes that emanated from it. Then came for Kaz to give his gift and Wylan couldn’t deny the sudden shift of mood as they all waited for Kaz to come back from wherever he went to fetch his gift.

“Alright, Helvar,” Kaz reentered the room with a hefty box under his arm, “This was hell to try to get, but try not to kill it.”

He all but shoved the box at Matthias’s lap and went back to his seat by the fire. The other boy looked curiously at the plain box curiously.

Matthias’s furrowed brow quickly rose up as whatever in the box made a loud bark. Nina peered in and her mouth dropped in an almost comical O shape.

“How-what-I-” Matthias stammered as he lifted a gray and white pup out of the container.

Wylan gaped at the small creature that was now sniffing at Matthias curiously and even dared to nibble at the giant’s thumb. It let out a small whimper before Nina instinctively stroked it behind its ears. 

“He is adorable! Look at him!” She squealed.

Kaz shrugged, “I did a favor for a Fjerdan a while back, and I had a pack delivered to me for security reasons. As it happens, I had a litter of these runts running around and I kept a couple before getting rid of the rest.”

“By ‘getting rid’ do you mean a quick trip down the canal?” Jesper said hesitantly.

“Ugh,” Nina shivered, not taking her eyes off the dog, “Please don’t answer that, Brekker, I don’t want to hear the truth or the potential lie.”

Kaz’s lip twitched, but he stayed silent.

Matthias’s bewildered blue gaze met Kaz for a moment before he stammered out a quick, “Thank you, demji.”

A bemused expression settled in Kaz’s eyes before he saluted him in acknowledgement. 

The puppy was yawning and Wylan could have laughed at the sight of such a small thing nestled in Matthias’s large hand. And if Wylan was completely honest with himself, he could have laughed at the fact that Kaz had even thought of being so considerate. That he went out of his way to think of something Matthias would actually want-- that his gift was so small, fluffy, and....wholesome. 

“What are you going to name him?” Wylan asked finally.

Matthais looked down at the animal and nuzzled his face with its snout, “I’m going to name him Trassel....after a good friend of mine.”

Nina peered into the blue and black eyes of the puppy, and cooed to it, “Hi, Trassel. Welcome to the family.”

The dog barked cheerfully at that and settled to rubbing his face against Matthias’s hand.

After a few moments all eyes turned towards Wylan who had yet to give his present.

“Ah, right,” He said, suddenly feeling nervous. He got up from his seat and went behind the curtain to retrieve the long rectangular box. His stomach fluttered with anxiety as he made his way back to the circle of his friends. It wasn’t so much the giving of the present, but knowing what the recipient might do with the gift gave him a slight pause. But as he neared Kaz, he shrugged away the discomfort. 

“Here you go, Kaz, hopefully it’ll serve as a good backup.” 

Kaz took the box hesitantly, and ripped open the box. Wylan held his breath as he delicately lifted a cane. The handle was shaped like a crow about to take flight, and its dark-wood finely engraved with jagged lines, and its tip tapered into a fine point. 

“It’s-” Wylan started to explain in the midst of Kaz’s silence, “It’s Grisha made so it shouldn’t break when there’s a substantial amount of force applied. And- if you twist the handle-”

Before Wylan finished the thought, Kaz twisted the handle and the pointed end of the cane opened up and the neutral expression Kaz had kept on his face disappeared. He smiled as he examined the turned cane and the new opening of the cane.

“You made me a gun.” There was a slight hint of a laugh in his voice. 

“Wylan, my dear,” Jesper said looking amused and concerned all at once, “Did you just give the most deadly man in the barrel a weapon that is not only as strong as his current cane, but also a gun?”

He shrugged and tried to fight the smugness working its way in his chest at Kaz’s reaction to his gift. He had his own reservations when he had come up with the plans as soon as he knew who he had gotten for this secret gift exchange. Wylan had debated about it for a full day before he had drawn up the plans and then set up a meeting with Ketterdam’s few Fabrikators. There were always going to be monsters in Ketterdam, those with longer and sharper teeth, and he supposed it wouldn’t hurt having one of those monsters as an ally and providing him with one more tooth.

“Well, Wylan,” Kaz’s grin was the widest he’s ever seen on him, “I will say, you never cease to surprise me.”

He twisted the handle restoring the cane to its proper form. 

At this Wylan did smile at Kaz. That was the closest thing to a compliment he’s given him in recent years and even if he had stopped working with the Dregs, there was still a small part of Wylan that couldn’t forget about his past. That feeling of doing a job well done or even earning a place in Kaz’s crew. 

And as the night continued on, with people playing with their presents in anyway they could, whether that be taking turns holding Trassel or making Wylan play or Nina offering to teach them some Ravkan games, Wylan couldn’t help but marvel at the warmth and radiating from the people around him. And when he noticed that Kaz had managed to slip away quietly, he decided that they needed this-- all of them. 

The crew who broke into the Ice Court, brought down a member of the Merchant Council, conned multiple countries, and fabricated their own plague, needed a chance to feel like the world wasn’t always escaping the past or fighting for their future. That for once they could sit around a fire with warm drinks in their bellies and live in the present.

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Tags:  @krugerevengeinej @orangesnakesanddogs @i-hate-usernames45 @qrow-ismyspiritanimal @fangirl-ladybug @wraithpirate  @the-jennster @lagabygaby @rynli @noirmagic1 @shiyash @readmeaway @razz-dazzle-taz @queenofthebarrel @irepostthingsilike @irepostthingsilike @i-just-want-to-have-a-fun-time @smittenthing @highladyofthefoodcourt @emilily101 @sourbishop @nerd-in-a-galaxy-far-away @alexbeatthebass @writtenwordheart @icefire0722 @ladyofvroses @bbenwyatt @zxyjxy @burnin-through-the-sky @thewoofster @daniellepal @goodie-giving-gecko-gets-gatos @bree-the-sloth @universallyghostjudgecalzone @thecrownedcupcake17 @kayleed77 @kanejandkruge

[songzichens]

actually nobody asked but here i am, ready to talk abt my science kids for whom i would lay down my life, aka the wylan/kuwei parallels that are never discussed but should be 

i mean first of all, the most obvious similarities: the two youngest of the group, the ones that are most on the outside by virtue of arriving last with no pre-existing connection to any of the other dregs (aside from having done odd jobs for them, in wylan’s case), them spending the majority of ck not only looking identical but also given the role of ‘scientist’ by default because they’re the two with the most knowledge

i mentioned this in the tags of my other post but kuwei is to ck what wylan is to soc.  they’re both kept around to serve a purpose, neither get pov chapters so we learn about them exclusively through interactions w other characters, neither features quite as prominently as the others do (although wylan does more towards the end because like.  wesper build-up) but are nonetheless a crucial part of the storyline 

both of them have complex relationships w their fathers, this came to a Tipping Point for both of them around the same time (they were only like 15/16 someone protect them??).  kuwei had a father who loved him and wanted to keep him safe but inadvertently put him in danger; wylan had to escape because the danger was his father.  this leads to both of them ending up on their own in a strange place which they’re ultimately taken out of by the dregs

this is presumably also around the same place in the timeline for them both since by the start of soc wylan’s been in the barrel a few months and yul-bayur was killed (presumed captured) several months before, at least to the best of my knowledge

they’re the only two out of the dregs who don’t have an immediate (or any) connection with friends or family that they actually want to return to outside of the dregs.  wylan is reunited with his mother in ck but spends all of soc believing she’s dead, and doesn’t seem to have anyone else he wants to reunite with, certainly nobody he mentions.  kuwei is set on going to ravka, but not because there’s anyone waiting for him, just because it’s safe and he’ll be able to work on a parem antidote with other grisha.  he never talks about friends or family and given his description of shu han (“we live a frightened life ... it was never home”) it’s not a stretch to imagine he doesn’t really have anyone to talk about

following on from the last couple of points: they’ve both inherited issues from their fathers that neither of them asked for but have to live with.  wylan, the van eck heir who’s talented at so many things except the one thing his father wanted him to be able to do, made to feel like a failure because he couldn’t read, unable to live up to the Ideal Heir van eck wanted, and then almost killed because, through literally zero (0) fault of his own, he couldn’t do it.  and then kuwei, son of the chief chemist who invented parem, held prisoner and made to recreate something he didn’t even come up with, that he couldn’t fully remember the formula for (while trying to stall progress because he knew the damage that would come if he succeeded), he’s still being held up to his father’s legacy but in a very sinister way.  

(kuwei does say he thinks he can do it, but there’s still a vast difference between the experience of a 15 yr old inferni who helped in the lab versus a scientist/fabrikator with decades of experience, you can’t just ask the former to do the work of the latter and expect the same result)

and neither of them fully escape from it - when people do business with wylan, they know they’re doing business with van eck’s son, he’s carrying on from his father even if he’s leaving the corrupt business side behind.  and what’s the whole reason kuwei wants to go to ravka in the first place?  to develop an antidote to parem, a problem he didn’t cause that he’s not even fully qualified to try and cure but he’s going to anyway

they’re both coming from situations made more dangerous for them because of who they are, something they try to hide - wylan’s being raised to follow in van eck’s footsteps but he can’t read, something he keeps secret for as long as possible because as far as van eck’s concerned, that makes wylan useless.  he literally tries to have wylan killed because of it.  not for any other reason than that he can’t read, something that’s neither wylan’s fault nor does it make him any less good at basically everything else.  meanwhile kuwei’s being kept in the ice court, where they torture and murder grisha, trying to recreate something that’s going to do even more harm, but he’s grisha too, something he obviously has to keep hidden from the fjerdans (remember what happens to grisha who don’t use their powers?  how hard do you think that was to keep secret in the ice court of all places??  not to mention he had to do the same thing in shu han.)

if i think of more points i’ll add them later, but tl;dr please stop and consider the similarities here for a second because i did and haven’t stopped crying since

[daughter-of-lethe]

I remember reading this and feeling my heart breaking while my mind went from "I wanna hug Wylan and telling him everything will be alright" to "have faith in Kaz. Trust Brekker. Have faith in Kaz. Trust Kaz Brekker " to actually keep my heart from shattering.

I've repeated this for 50 times in my head, I think? Maybe more.

the first time I read the “he told them everything” scene before the reveal, I was SO prepared to defend wylan with every bit of my soul. bc a sixteen year old boy getting the shit beaten out of him on the orders of his father, who had tried to kill him over and over again just bc of his disability—the disability that brings him so much shame still? yeah, even if he had told his father everything for real, I would have stood by him. anyone who wouldn’t have truly does not understand just how much trauma wylan faced within such a short period of time.