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#jesper getting to wear a ridiculous suit is everything I needed
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ABSOLUTELY NO THOUGHTS JUST JESPER IN A RIDICULOUS SUIT LOOKING AT HIS BF
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ragingstillness · 1 year
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Shadow and Bone spoilers - random thoughts from my notes (e2)
I love that this stolen painting of the fold is now our indicator that they're in the crow club.
Why doesn't Kaz tell anyone anything?
Blowing up the crow club is a scorched earth drama queen move and I approve.
"The barrel doesn't belong to kings it belongs to bastards" - ICONIC SHOWSTOPPING WE LOVE LOVE LOVE TO SEE IT
Quoted directly from my notes here: "Give me Ben you fuckers"
Why is Alina trying to seduce the Darkling in the tether?
"You're already dead" oof the foreshadowing
So cute Genya is looking for David and the Darkling is promising he'll find him. It's yet more evidence of how much he cares for all Grisha. He's rescuing them. Now that I think of it, how did Genya end up in a cage anyway? Was she back at the Darkling's encampment in Kribirsk and not on the skiff?
More Genya/David I love this song.
"Fear in a smaller glass is instinct" I am finally actually engaged in the crows' storyline
Nina's love for waffles continues.
Ballsy of the writers to tell us that Helnik had sex off-screen and refuse to show it to us.
Quoted directly from my notes here: "why does Hellgate look like a pair of boobs"
If the Shark Tooth in the side of Tamar's head isn't considered unusual why did everyone act like the bonding of the stag collar was some horrific thing. Not related to this scene just a thought I had, do you need a Durast for every implantation of an amplifier?
Why aren't they showing us Alina dreaming of the sea whip and the firebird? Seems odd after showing her dreaming of the stag and a simple dream flashback wouldn't take much of the runtime.
"You think the three are connected" is it somehow not common knowledge that Ilya created all three? Duh they're connected.
It's sweet that the Darkling knows the names and stories of everyone he ever rescued, really shows he cared.
Genuinely quite surprised that even Inej doesn't know the history with Pekka because in season one she seemed to.
"You're not just sunshine sunshine" lol
I'm kind of in love with Fruzsi but why have we literally never seen her before and why is she filling the role of Ivan or Fedyor? Also, finally we get to see a tidemaker, we've seen almost every other iteration.
The map that Alina had seemed to show the seawhip being in the sea but suddenly it's on an island?
Killing the seawhip was ridiculously easy. Also, the stag wasn't inherently violent, even when its territory was invaded, why was the seawhip violent?
Is it just me or is Nina chubbier this season? Maybe it's just the multiple layers and cloaks and bustle. I can't help but think that they took into consideration the criticism that Nina wasn't "truly" plus-size and this is how they dealt with it.
Inej's leather pants are everything.
I've been told that in the books Jesper is deeply and unrequitedly in love with Kaz but ngl I'm glad they didn't lean in on it and just had Wylan make one suspicious comment.
"My wraith" death, death for Pekka Rollins for a thousand years.
This Morgens character came out of nowhere and the show's acting like we're supposed to know him. And why is he wearing the Daredevil suit and dressing like one of the twelve from Junni Taisen?
Jesper remembering Wylan while lying on top of him is peak disaster bisexual behavior and I approve.
When are they ever going to run out of animal metaphors for Inej and the Crows? It's just constant all season.
Jesper stopping while being strangled to give Wylan a thumbs up is yet more peak disaster bisexual behavior.
I can't help but notice that Aleksander is spending a ton of time in these first episodes perilously close to the fireplace. Is he experiencing some sort of eternal chill/wasting sickness thing like Baghra does?
TW: SELF HARM MENTION
Ok what was he going to do with that hot poker? Burn the hole in his hand a little deeper? Like there's just nothing given as a reason besides the plot insisting that we need to learn about the tether. (I can't help but think of this from a self-harm angle)
Jessie's got some dance moves. It gives me Benedict Cumberbatch learning to Pop-Lock for Dr. Strange vibes.
"My Alina" - cute in fic where they're in a relationship, creepy in all other contexts including this one.
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triptuckers · 3 years
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Two Homes (part 2/7) - Nikolai Lantsov
Request: nope Pairing:  Nikolai Lantsov x reader  Summary:  after receiving an invitation to a ball in os alta, you have no intention of attending. however your father has other plans Warnings: none Word count:  1.6K A/N: part two of the mini nikolai series! enjoy reading :) PREVIOUS PART | NEXT PART TAG LIST (two homes and/or all grishaverse fics): @godsofwriting @im-constantly-fangirling @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15 @dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha add yourself to my tag lists here 
You wake up to the sound of your father pounding on the door. You don’t even have to get up to check if you’re right, the servants would never knock so loudly. Especially not this early in the morning. Did you forget something? An important date? Was today a birthday or anniversary?
While you’re still wondering if you’ve missed something, your father barges through the door, completely ignoring your privacy. He’s beaming at you, and you can’t remember the last time you’ve seen him this pleased about anything.
He doesn’t even wait for you to acknowledge him. Instead, he pulls out an envelope similar to the one you received yesterday night. You look at the double eagle seal on the back of it, and force yourself not to roll your eyes.
‘We’re going to Os Alta!’ announces your father. ‘You have been personally invited by King Nikolai to attend a ball!’
‘I’m not going.’ you say as you lay back down. ‘I got a letter yesterday, and I already made your choice.’
‘Nonsense!’ he says. ‘This is too good an opportunity to miss. Now get up, we leave within the hour.’
Just as you open your mind to protest, three servants enter your room, carrying an elaborate new dress. Before you can say anything else, your father has left the room and the servants start to dress you and do your hair. 
Barely half an hour after you were rudely woken up by your father, you are out the door and on your way to Ravka.
You’re silent as you follow your father on his way to the docks. You had tried to convince the servants to let you wear a pair of pants instead of your heavy dress, but they told you your father wanted you to look your best when you left for Ravka. 
So now you’re trying not to trip on your dress as you miserably follow your father. Maybe you could jump off the ship and swim back to Ketterdam. But you fear your heavy dress might sink you to the bottom of the sea before you could make it back. 
As you get closer to the docks, you see two other merchant’s daughters who had received an invitation as well, and are happily chatting away. They seem very happy about it, which only causes you to get more annoyed. To top it all off, they don’t even spare you a glance as they walk past you.
When you get to the docks, you see a small crows has assembled to see you off. News travelled fast in Ketterdam, especially the news of three merchant daughters who were invited by the king of Ravka. You wished the docks were empty. All this attention was not something you wanted. 
You look at the crowd as you board the ship. Among them, you spot a few of the crows. They wink at you and all have smug looks on their faces. Apparently, they thought you changed your mind.
But you shrug and lightly shake your head after pointing at your father, indicating you didn’t have a choice. You wave at them as the ship sails away. Unlike the others who are looking out at sea, you keep looking at Ketterdam until it disappears from the horizon. You barely left, and you couldn’t wait to go back already.
The trip to Ravka takes a couple of days, and when you finally get off the ship, you travel for another few days by carriage before you finally make it to Os Alta. The others are looking out the window of the carriage, pointing at everything they see. 
You couldn’t even bring yourself to get excited or curious. Os Alta looked like any city in your eyes. All you wanted to do, was to go home to Ketterdam. The last thing you needed was to attend a ball. It all seemed so ridiculous. A waste of time and money.
But when you’re dreading something, time seems to go faster, instead of slowing down. The day of the ball creeps closer and way too soon, servants enter the room you’re staying in to help you get dressed.
All day long, you had been thinking of ways you could get out of the ball. You had tried leaving the Palace grounds, but if you wanted to do so, you’d need to be accompanied by a handful of armed guards. You could fight, but not fight off five tall guards with arms. 
Climbing over the fence was not an option either. They were too tall, and you couldn’t find a spot where no one could see you.
Even if you did find a way to sneak out of the grounds, you’d still have to deal with your father. Even though you were far away from Ketterdam, he still followed you around like a shadow. Probably because you had made it very clear you didn’t even want to be there. 
You even tried to pretend to be sick. But your father had called for a healer, who told you that you were in perfect health. You tried to pretend you fell down the stairs and couldn’t possibly dance all night long. But again, your father had called for a healer who confirmed your good health.
So, you had no choice but to attend the ball. No matter how much you dreaded it, there would be no escaping it. 
When you’ve finished dressing, you feel like you might fall over because of the weight of the jewels. Apparently they thought it would be best to look like a shiny insect. Or maybe they just thought the weight of the jewels would prevent you from running away. 
Your hair is put up with more jewels, and they had yet again refused to let you wear pants. Instead, you wear a simple but elegant silk gown. They wanted you to wear heels as well, but you had told them if they wouldn’t let you wear pants, the least they could do is have you pick your own shoes. You were pretty sure if you had to walk on heels all night long, your feet would be numb by the end of the night.
Your father had put on his best suit and is beaming with pride as you make your way to the ball room. He introduces you to anyone he walks into, keeping a firm grip on your hand on his arm, so you couldn’t slip away. Your cheeks already hurt from smiling so much. 
You were told at the beginning of the ball, everyone would be introduced to the king, and the ball would start. Everyone else was excited to meet him, but you couldn’t care less. Your father had done his best at controlling you his entire life. And now, if he had it his way again, he’d marry you off to some royal you had never met.
Sure, you heard the stories. According to them, Nikolai was a war hero, charming, handsome. The boy king loved by his people. You didn’t care for stories. You wanted to go home, back to Ketterdam. Have a drink with the Crows, laugh at their jokes, play cards. 
No matter how much you loathe the palace, your jaw still drops when you enter the massive ball room. It’s elaborately decorated and you have to admit, it’s gorgeous. You didn’t see a lot of this in Ketterdam. Still, you’d rather be in the Crow Club where the floor always seems to be sticky. And you keep looking around you, still trying to find a way out.
You’re waiting for everyone else to arrive and soon, the people around you start to move as everyone starts to introduce themselves to the king. And that’s when you see it. A door to a balcony, slightly open. You take a look at the people around you. 
All of their eyes seem fixed on the king, your father as well. He’s got a weird sort of smile on his face as he looks at the king in the distance. It’s like he totally forgot you were there. It’s now or never. You hang back a little and slip between the people, making for the balcony door.
You open it and quietly slip onto the balcony. The cool air outside feels more welcoming than anything else you’ve encountered on your trip to the palace. It’s not a big balcony, and you’re still visible from inside the ball room.
But the ground is not that far, you notice as you look over the edge of the balcony. You’ve once jumped from a windowsill about the same height as the balcony, when you were on a job with Jesper. You take another look over your shoulder. Your father hadn’t even noticed your absence. 
You take a deep breath and swing your legs over the balcony. Another deep breath, and you take the leap.
You had been right, it wasn’t that far. Still, you land rather clumsily. You’re not used to wearing silk dresses, and curse softly as you try to get up without tripping on it. Once you’re standing, you look up at the balcony, then ahead. In the distance, you see the palace gardens. They look beautiful in the dim light of the setting sun.
Smiling to yourself, you start walking towards them. 
Meanwhile up in the ballroom, your father had reached the king. He’s hopelessly looking around him. All eyes are on him.
‘I swear she was right here, she must have slipped away. She was right here, I’m telling you!’ he says.
Most of the guests are sending him disapproving looks, but king Nikolai is the only one who looks amused.
A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit
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southslates · 3 years
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this must be my masterpiece / ao3 / 2040 words / one-shot / post-canon / kanej / rated T / super fluffy first kiss
Kaz felt ridiculous. A large part of him wanted to throw all his plans in the fire and simply go to Fifth Harbor and await Inej there. But the smaller part of him, the one that loved her more than so many other things in the world, wanted to be what she deserved.
He stood in front of his mirror and took in a deep breath, adjusted his tie. It was purple—it made him look like a magician’s stereotype, but it was her favorite color, so he could deal with it. The hat she’d gotten him from Novyi Zem two years prior sat snug on his head, and he ran his hand through his hair underneath it. He normally wasn’t terribly comfortable with his hair, but Inej had cut it the last time she’d been here, six months ago. It was neater than it’d ever been if a bit long at the edges.
She needed to give him another haircut. Kaz looked down. When he faced the mirror again he was grinning. He sighed and placated his lips into his normal frown and grabbed his cane and the list he’d spent the night scribbling on. Inej wouldn’t dock for another few hours and he didn’t trust any of the Dregs to carry out this task for him, so he’d have to find what he needed himself.
He struggled down the steps in his crispest suit, stopping in Per Haskell’s office to quickly meet with Anika. She was his swiftest lieutenant and sharp as well—she absolutely knew that his absence tonight was due to Inej’s return, but at least she had the good sense to not comment on it. After Kaz finished gruffly reminding her of the schedule for the Crow Club he swept out the door and into the crisp Kerch afternoon.
His first stop was the Financial District—he frequented there often enough to see the Exchange, but it also had a bustling marketplace. Even the cruelest of the merchers had to eat. A quick stop at a winery and then at a grocers had him find what he needed, and he quickly went back to the Slat and snuck around the back to his rooms to drop them off. Then he made the trek to the Geldin District to see the florist.
He’d put in an order for two shipments of flowers three days prior. One was a cart of Ravkan geraniums and the other was Shu irises—Inej had written that she’d grown fond of them two months ago, and he’d noted the fact. The bright red and white flowers were awaiting him at the door, and he dropped his payment out using credit. The florist didn’t want her customers to see him lurking about her shop, he thought grimly, even though he’d likely paid her daily salary in the exorbitant and exotic blossoms. He couldn’t find it in himself to care too much; they both had accomplished what they wanted.
His last stop was to buy new sheets and sweets; he grabbed those and went back to the Slat once again. His leg throbbed as he scaled the wall up to his room, but he couldn’t go through the main building again, not while everyone there thought he was away.
He slid into his room and caught his breath, then moved to open the door he’d had Jesper and Wylan carve into the roof. It was a way to get to the Slat’s roof—the three of them had spent a month leveling the shingles on the top of building and laying concrete over a part of it. The view from the Slat wasn’t terrific, but it was home—it oversaw the constantly busy streets of West Stave, and Fifth Harbor gleamed in the back.
The Slat was where Kaz had taken Inej home all those nights ago, after he'd bought out her indenture. It was where he had given her a knife and taught her how to shoot a gun and heard her cry over her first kill. The Slat was where Kaz had spent days watching her feed his crows and laugh in the window, where they’d slept next to each other for the first time, where they’d become partners.
Kaz knew Inej hated the Crow Club for what it meant. But the Slat had always just belonged to the Dregs—it was where she’d become the Wraith, and it was where she kept coming back. Back to him. He knew he couldn’t live here forever. He’d already bought and started to run three other casinos in the area and an actual apartment called his name. But he’d made so many memories here. And—
He wanted to make more. Dusk was on the horizon. Kaz rested for a moment before he tugged up everything he’d bought and started to arrange it on the rooftop. He set out the sheet and then champagne he’d dropped in an ice-bucket in his room, and then Inej’s favorite Kerch sweets and the cold cheeses and sausages he’d picked up from the grocers.
He'd picked up candles, too, from his room, and set them out but didn’t light them; it wouldn’t do to set his entire building on fire. He laid out the flowers, alternating them across the sheet and the rest of the room in a pattern. It was a little bit too strict, but Kaz liked it when things were in order.
Kaz set out a matchbox and then slid back down into his room. He took his hat with him and held tight to his cane as he slid down to the ground floor once again. His leg was killing him, but he wanted the night to be perfect. Inej would be here soon. He needed to get to Fifth Harbor.
He did, his gloves almost suffocating around his wrists. He didn’t like being in them around her much, anymore, but it was still nighttime, and he still enjoyed his reputation as Dirtyhands. It had been six years since he’d marked this same pattern to the Ferolind and ended up running back to her and carrying her onto the ship. It was the first time he’d almost felt her. He’d carried her. He’d called her an investment, too. He still caught flack for that.
He tilted his head down so that nobody could see the small movement of his lips at that thought. Then he winced at the tightening of his leg and bit his lip and pulled himself to the docks.
Kaz had been slowed down a little by his leg—he hadn’t quite accounted for the toll his earlier travels would have taken on it. But he was standing there when The Wraith pulled into the harbor, wearing his best suit, and best hat, hiding a quirk of his lips. There wasn’t quite a way for him to explain the euphoria he felt when Inej came back to Ketterdam—a part of him felt whole, as though the world had been broken but fit back together perfectly. He would have hated to admit that dependence years ago, but now he embraced it, unabashedly. He missed her, and he enjoyed having her back with him.
Life was too short to pretend the opposite. Life was too short—
Kaz Brekker gathered his courage and stood with a stone face as Specht tethered the boat. It was a moment later that Inej leapt to the deck and then off of it.
They made eye contact from feet apart, and Kaz’s world stopped. He knew what he had to do, and he wanted to do it so, so terribly. He’d planned and thought his way through this night every night for the past six months.
He’d take her back to the Slat, as he always did, before she headed to Jesper and Wylan’s in the morning. They’d stay up all night and drink and talk. Inej would tell him of her adventures and he’d listen, enraptured, as she detailed out the worlds she’d gone to with him. She’d ask him to talk about the club, and he’d ignore her.
The first year they’d held hands during that conversation. Then they’d progressed to holding each other close—first with armor, then without it.
As Kaz saw Inej across from him—saw her tired and bright eyes, the curl of her hair, the smile in her eyes—he lost his mind. He wanted to step forward but his knee buckled a little, and Inej—his Wraith, always observant Inej—gestured for Specht to go below decks as she stared at him with that sparkle in her gaze.
Specht snorted as he went, and Kaz couldn’t find it in himself to care. Inej ran towards him and he dropped his cane as she came close to him, drew her up into his arms. She pressed close to him, her arms locking around his middle and her face into his shirt. They weren’t touching through clothing, but they were close enough.
After a moment Inej hitched herself up, and Kaz leaned against the docks’ railings as her legs closed in around his waist. He kept her wrapped around him, her face pressed into his collar. Her hair brushed his chin, and he held in a shiver. They stayed that way for a moment until she breathed into him, fogging up the air.
“Hello, Kaz.”
Kaz lowered his face into her hair, pressed his lips to the crown of her head. He wanted to be close to her. “Hello, Captain Ghafa.”
“I missed you,” Inej laughed into him, and Kaz pulled her face away from him and then to him again, until their foreheads were pressed together. With her lifted up a bit, they could see eye to eye. He couldn’t help himself. He was smiling like an absolute idiot. Curse you and all your saints, he thought.
“I missed you too,” he whispered, breathing a puff of air into her face. She laughed at that, and he smiled louder, and that was the end of it.
Kaz had planned out his first kiss with Inej to the moment. He’d take her back to the Slat and they’d sit on the roof and eat sweets and pop a bottle of champagne, and they’d be surrounded by flowers and candles—like his father used to do for his mother. He’d have Wylan set off fireworks at three in the morning, between the shadow and the soul, and then he’d kiss her. Eight years after he’d met her, he’d kiss her.
He'd never wanted something so terribly. He’d never fucked up his plans so royally. There, on Fifth Harbor, the place where they’d left on the defining voyage of their lives, the place where he’d carried her bleeding and then lost her, foreheads together, he pressed his lips to hers for the first time.
It was a dark night, and Kaz was grateful that nobody could quite see them, because he lost his mind after that. Inej pressed back after a moment, just their closed-mouths touching, and jumped off of him, touching her lips and smiling at him. There’s the laugh, Kaz grinned, and he felt as though he was a boy again. He hadn’t felt the waters. He felt as though he was Kaz Rietveld, as though his world and innocence hadn’t been stolen from him.
“I—” he started, then didn’t know what to say. Inej kept her arms around him.
“You really missed me, didn’t you?” she teased. Kaz almost turned red.
“I—I had a plan,” he breathed out. “I was going to—it was going to be different. I had wine and your favorite chocolates and irises—”
“White irises,” Inej laughed, and he scrunched his brow together and leaned down and pressed their foreheads together again.
“Yes,” he said crossly, “white irises.”
Inej looked up into his gaze, searchingly, as though she’d found salvation in a demon. And then she reached up to lay a hand on his face and stood on her tip-toes and kissed him again, lips to lips. “I think I love you, Kaz Brekker.”
He reached down and held her hand. “I know I do.”
It wasn’t what he’d thought, but it was just right.
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x-fern-weh-x · 3 years
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my favorite grishaverse quotes - part three: nikolai duology
"Zoya of the lost city. Zoya of the garden. Zoya bleeding in the snow. You are strong enough to survive the fall." (King of Scars)
"This is what love does. In the stories, love healed your wounds, fixed what was broken, allowed you to go on. But love wasn’t a spell, some kind of benediction to be whispered, a balm or a cure-all. It was a single, fragile thread, which grew stronger through connection, through shared hardship and trust." (Rule of Wolves)
"Most of us can hide our greatest hurts and longings. It’s how we survive each day. We pretend the pain isn’t there, that we are made of scars instead of wounds." (King of Scars)
"'Get a message to the Crow Club,' she said. 'Tell Kaz Brekker the queen of Ravka has a job for him.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"Do that thing you do where you use too many words to say something simple and confuse the issue." (King of Scars)
"'I’m not supposed to let you in,' Jesper said. Brekker seemed unperturbed. 'Why not?' 'Because every time I do, you ask me to break the law.' A voice from behind Jesper said, 'The problem isn’t that he asks, it’s that you always say yes.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"'Say something spiteful.' "'Why?' she asked faintly. "'Because I’m fairly certain I'm hallucinating and in my dreams you're much nicer.'" (King of Scars)
"Because I am greedy for the sight of you. Because the prospect of facing this war, this loss, without you fills me with fear. Because I find I don’t want to fight for a future if I can’t find a way to make a future with you." (Rule of Wolves)
"It's not exciting if nothing can go wrong." (King of Scars)
"I would choose you, Zoya. As my general, as my friend, as my bride. I would give you a sapphire the size of an acorn. And all I would ask in return is that you wear this damnable ribbon in your hair on our wedding day." (Rule of Wolves)
"Everyone mourns the first blossom. Who will grieve the rest who fall?" (King of Scars)
"'I have to bathe. I smell like a forest fire.' 'You smell like wildflowers. You always do. What can I say to make you stay?' His words trailed off into a drowsy mumble as he fell back asleep. 'Tell me it’s more than war and worry that makes you speak those words. Tell me what they would mean if you weren’t a king and I weren’t a soldier.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"Remember who you are. Nikolai knew. He was a king who had only begun to make mistakes. He was a solider for whom the war would never be over. He was a bastard left alone in the woods. And he was not afraid to die this day." (King of Scars)
"Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost." (Rule of Wolves)
"They would build a new world together. But first they had to burn the old one down." (King of Scars)
"The world might crumble, but Nikolai Lantsov would be holding up the ceiling with one hand and plucking a speck of dirt from his lapel with the other when it all went to ruin." (Rule of Wolves)
"'Yuri Veneden, if you upset my wife again, I will kill you where you stand.' The monk swallowed. 'Yes, moi soverenyi.' 'Oh, David,' Genya said, taking his hand. 'You've never theatened to murder anyone for me before.'" (King of Scars)
"Go home and tell them what you've seen, Nikolai thought as the demon soared through the night. Make them believe you. Tell them the demon king rules Ravka now and vengeance is coming." (Rule of Wolves)
"She wished she had Inej’s gift for spywork or Kaz’s gift for scheming, but she only seemed to have Jesper’s gift for bad decisions." (King of Scars)
"Let the hounds give chase. I do not fear death, because I command it." (Rule of Wolves)
"'Will you be taking up juggling as well?' 'Don't be ridiculous,' Nikolai replied. 'I already know how to juggle. Literally and figuratively.'" (King of Scars)
"'This is a bad idea,' moped Adrik. 'I have a surplus of bad ideas,' said Nikolai. 'I have to spend them somewhere.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"He would not find another excuse to get her talking again. He would not tell her he was afraid to be left alone with the thing he might become, and he would not ask her to leave the lamp burning, a child's bit of magic to ward off the dark. But he was relieved when she did it anyway.” (King of Scars)
"The Darkling's gray eyes studied Mal with more interest than he'd ever shown before. 'I understand we're blood related.' Mal shrugged. 'We all have relatives we don't like.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"Zoya's company was like strong drink. Bracing--and best to abstain if you couldn't handle the kick.” (King of Scars)
"'Don't get ahead of yourself,' Zoya said. 'Nikolai hasn't asked.' 'Can you blame him?' Genya said. 'He hasn't had much luck with proposals.' Alina snorted. 'Maybe he should have offered me a dynasty and not a piddly little emerald.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"'Hand me that brandy,' said Zoya. 'I can’t tolerate this degree of stupidity on a clear head.'" (King of Scars)
"'Is it the shadow inside you that makes you brave?' 'I should hope not. I was making bad decisions long before that thing showed up.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"'That squash is as wide as I am tall,' Nikolai said beneath his breath as he smiled and waved. 'And twice as handsome.' 'Half as handsome,' he protested. 'Ah,' said Zoya, 'but the squash doesn't talk.'" (King of Scars)
"I'll tell you a thousand stories, my love. We'll write the new endings, one by one." (Rule of Wolves)
"After all this time, she still had not found an end to her grief. It was a dark well, an echoing place into which she’d once cast a stone, sure that it would strike bottom and she would stop hurting. Instead, it just kept falling. She forgot about the stone, forgot about the well, sometimes for days or even weeks at a time. Then she would think Liliyana’s name, or her eye would pause on the little boat painted on her bedroom wall, its two-starred flag frozen in the wind. She’d sit down to write a letter and realize she had no one to write to, and the quiet that surrounded her became the silence of the well, of the stone still falling." (King of Scars)
"I would make you my queen because I want you. I want you all the time." (Rule of Wolves)
"'Eat, Your Highness.' 'Everything tastes like doom,' he whispered. 'Then add salt.'" (King of Scars)
"Ravka made me a soldier. Ketterdam made me a spy. Hanne can help me become something else entirely." (King of Scars)
"'You do realize you just referred to yourself as the queen. That means you agreed.' 'I am going to kill you.' 'So long as you kiss me again before you do.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"'I'm fairly sure you're trying to frighten me,' said Nikolai, reaching out a finger to touch the tip of the thorn. 'I'm not sure why, but may I suggest a spider wearing a suit?' 'Why a suit?' asked Zoya, frowning. 'Why not just a spider?' 'Where did he get the suit? How did he fasten the buttons? Why does he feel the need to dress for the occasion?'" (King of Scars)
"'Your heart is in your eyes, Your Highness,' murmured Tamar, wiping the sweat from her brow. Tolya poled his twin in the arm with a sparring sword. 'Tamar knows because that's the way she looks at her wife' 'I am free to look at my wife any way I please.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"In Nikolai's experience, honesty was much like herbal tea - something well-meaning people recommended when they were out of better options." (King of Scars)
"We would go on, you and I. If I couldn't be queen, you would find a way to win this battle and save this country. You would make a sheltering place for my people. You would march an bleed and crack terrible jokes until you had done all you said you would. I suppose that's why I love you." (Rule of Wolves)
"'I think fatigue suits you, Zoya. The pallor. The shadows beneath your eyes. You look like a heroine in a novel.' 'I look like a woman about to step on your foot.' 'Now, now. You're managing remarkably well. And the smiling hasn't killed you yet.' 'Yet.'" (King of Scars)
"'Why does it matter?' asked Nikolai. 'Because unlike Kaz, I have a conscience.' 'I have a conscience,' said Kaz. 'It just knows when to keep its mouth shut.' Jesper snorted. 'If you have a conscience, it’s gagged and tied to a chair somewhere.'" (Rule of Wolves)
"So you know the best way to find Grisha who don't want to be found? Look for miracles and listen to bedtime stories." (King of Scars)
"'Of course it won’t last,' said Zoya. 'What does?' 'True love?' suggested Tamar. 'Great art?' said Tolya. 'A proper grudge,' replied Zoya" (Rule of Wolves)
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milo-my-beloved · 3 years
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chapter six of stupid things!
Read on AO3 // Playlist // Buy me a coffee?
Wylan and Jesper took a cab home, leaving Kaz and Inej to find their own way home and a very disgruntled Matthias to deal with them. They giggled the entire way back to Jesper’s apartment, imagining increasingly ridiculous and complex methods that Nina’s boyfriend might come up with to get the two to go home.
Wylan insists on paying for the taxi, since Jesper had declared that he should stay the night. They tumble through the door, laughing at the possibility of Matthias locking their friends in an aquarium overnight, and collapse onto the couch, Wylan’s head cradled on Jesper’s chest.
“We should get up,” Jesper says, not moving. “Put pajamas on, or something.”
Wylan just snuggles closer to his chest. “Will you put a movie on?”
Jes smiles down at the sleepy man cuddled up to him and runs his hands through his curls. “Sure thing, sunshine. But I’m picking.”
By the time the opening credits of Star Wars have finished, Wylan is quietly snoring against Jesper’s chest. By the time the Death Star explodes, Jesper has followed suit, both of them pressed against each other, only visible thanks to the full moon outside the window.
{o0o}
One of the things Jesper loves the most about Wylan is the mystery that surrounds him. The only person he’s met that is more skilled at dodging questions is Kaz, and that’s half of his personality. Wylan is nowhere near as good at lying, but Jesper doesn’t push it when he clearly doesn’t want to answer a question. With anyone else he might have, but he really doesn’t want to lose the man who he’s grown so attached to.
Maybe Drunk Jesper has made one good decision. But that’s about it.
One of the few things that Jesper has managed to figure out about his boyfriend is that he’s secretly rich, and embarrassed about it. He always wears quality clothes - soft, cashmere jumpers and dress shirts and fancy shoes - and he insists on paying for a lot of things they do together, but he always blushes whenever Jesper teases him for it.
Actually, Wylan blushes quite a lot. It’s one of Jesper’s favourite things about him.
When they wake up on Saturday morning to the sunlight streaming through the window, they’re still packed tightly together. Jesper’s arm is stiff from being curled protectively around Wylan, who has apparently spent the night drooling on Jesper’s shirt.
If it was anyone else, it would be disgusting, but Jesper finds it strangely endearing.
“Morning, sunshine,” he greets, smiling to himself as Wylan yawns and stretches. “How did you sleep?”
He mumbles an unintelligible response against Jesper’s chest before turning and burying his face back into the crook of his arm. Jesper laughs quietly, but he brings his hand up to cup Wylan’s head and gently strokes his hair.
“For all that drool you’ve managed to get on my chest, you’d better plan an excellent date,” Jesper teases, but Wylan doesn’t respond, already fast asleep again.
{o0o}
Wylan has never been a fan of surprises. Everything in his life has always been planned; from his wardrobe to his meals to what he is supposed to be in life. That’s why he messages the group chat on Wednesday with his plans, rather than leaving it as a surprise like everyone else seems so fond of doing.
Wylan: I know what we’re doing on Friday :D
Inej: and you’re gonna tell us???
Wylan: yes :DDD
Kaz: unheard of
Wylan: I got us tickets to the new exhibit at Ketterdam Museum!!!
Jesper: wat
Inej: awesome! what’s it on?
Wylan: fossils, I think :)
Jesper: there better be a gift shop
He smiles to himself, looking down at his phone as he checks the museum website. Huh. There is a gift shop.
{o0o}
Kaz and Inej mention something vague about going to dinner before meeting them at the museum, so Wylan and Jesper make their own way. Wylan calls them a taxi, smiling to himself as Jesper complains about their friends the entire way there.
“All I’m saying is that it’s rude!” he exclaims, flapping his arms about for emphasis. “It’s called a ‘double date’ for a reason, there’s supposed to be two couples there.”
Wylan hums noncommittally.
“If they were just getting a different ride there then I guess I could understand that, but to go out for dinner first? That’s, like, a whole activity that they’re doing without us!”
“You’re here,” the driver interrupts as they pull up to the front of the museum building.
“Thank you,” Wylan says, handing over the money. “And Jes, how about we go out for dinner afterwards? Just us, I mean.”
Jesper pouts as he climbs out the car. “I already ate.”
“I’m sure you can find room,” Wylan replies, rolling his eyes fondly. “Look, there’s Kaz and Inej.”
Sure enough, their two friends are waiting on the steps outside the museum, huddled together with Kaz’s cane propped up beside them. Inej spots them as they start to approach and stands up, waving frantically to catch their attention while Kaz shakes his head at her antics.
Wylan tugs the corner of Jesper’s sleeve, waving back with his other hand. “Come on!”
Jesper rolls his eyes. “Can we just pretend we don’t know them and go get food now?”
“I thought you ate already?”
“Oh, piss off.”
Wylan grins widely when they finally reach them, brandishing the four tickets in front of him like magician asking ‘is this your card?’ Jesper snatches one out of his hand before anyone gets the chance, Kaz and Inej taking theirs in a much more dignified fashion.
For all their excited chatter as they head towards the entrance, Jesper has to admit, a trip to a museum has never been on his list of dream dates. Or vaguely acceptable dates. Or a day out with his friends. At best, he decides, he might have gone on a school field trip, but mostly only to get out of doing much work for a day.
The foyer of the building is impressive, even by his standards, but he still doesn’t feel nearly as excited as Inej or Wylan. (It’s hard to tell what Kaz is feeling at any given moment, but Jesper is fairly sure he has never seen him excited.) It’s only after they hand their tickets over to a kind attendant and round the corner that Jesper stops in his tracks and stares ahead, his mouth wide open.
“Is that… a dinosaur?” he asks, completely rooted to the spot.
No one bothers dignifying his question with a response, all of them too busy staring at the huge creature standing before them. Of course, it is just bones, but there is still something incredible about being so close to an animal that has been dead for millions of years.
Of all of them, Wylan seems to be the least affected.
“It’s the first T-rex to be displayed in Ketterdam for over a hundred years!” he exclaims in a hushed tone, smiling at the awed expressions on his friends’ faces. “I think his name is Titus.”
“Woah,” Inej says, stepping towards it. “It’s huge!”
“Twelve feet tall,” Wylan responds with a smile.
“How come you know so much already?” Kaz asks, his eyes wandering around the rest of the room.
“I booked the tickets, remember. I looked at the website.”
“Kaz!” Inej exclaims, grabbing his gloved hand and pointing across the room with her other hand. “Look, they have an interactive section.”
Even as the other two disappear around a corner, Wylan and Jesper stay rooted to the spot. It takes a few minutes for Jesper to get over his original shock of being face-to-face with a twelve-foot tall dinosaur, but when he does, he practically starts vibrating on the spot.
“Wy, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me we were gonna see actual dinosaurs! This is so freaking cool,” he exclaims, slowly walking around Titus to get a better look at his side.
“I did!” Wylan protests, smiling at the look of awe on Jesper’s face. “I told you the exhibit is on fossils.”
“I thought we were gonna go see a load of musty rocks with weird shapes in them, not a T-rex!”
Wylan just laughs, squeezing Jesper’s hand. “I didn’t know you were such a fan of dinosaurs.”
“Come on, man,” Jesper protests. “Jurassic Park is one of my favourite movies of all time.”
“Hopefully, these ones don’t come to life,” Wylan quips, and Jesper giggles, dragging him around the rest of the exhibit.
{o0o}
After Jesper has read every single piece of information there is to read (in a range of funny voices) to Wylan, and every corner of the museum has been explored, they decide it’s time to call it quits.
“Shall I call a cab?” Kaz asks as they head towards the museum entrance.
“Not for us,” Wylan replies, squeezing Jesper’s hand. “We’re gonna stay out in town for a while longer.”
“Alright,” he says, fishing his phone out of his pocket and stepping away as he calls the taxi company.
Inej smiles at them, bringing them both into a tight hug. “Thanks for organising this, Wylan! I had fun.”
He blushes. “It was my pleasure. I’ll say goodbye to you now, though - I just need the toilet before we go.”
“See you next week,” she replies, squeezing them both tightly before pulling away.
“Bye,” he says, before turning to Jesper. “Go and wait with them - I’ll only be five minutes.”
“Alright,” Jesper replies, kissing the top of his head. “You better not leave me for too long, though. It’s rude to keep your hot date waiting.”
“Is it, now?” Wylan laughs, turning away and hurrying down the corridor. He heads in the right direction until they are out of sight, before doubling back the way he came and darting into the gift shop instead.
It only takes a minute or two of browsing before he grabs what he’s looking for. He takes it to the counter, smiling, rummaging through his jacket for his wallet.
“Is this all, sir?” the lady behind the till asks.
“Yes, thank you. It’s a present for my boyfriend,” he replies, blushing slightly.
She smiles warmly, her eyes crinkling. “That’s so sweet! Here, if it’s a gift, I’ll wrap it up for you.”
Wylan watches as she deftly wraps it in orange wrapping paper, humming to herself as she works. “Thank you.”
He hands over the right amount of kruge as she passes him the wrapped gift, which he slides into his inside pocket.
“I hope he likes it, sweetie.”
“Me too,” he replies, thanking her again as he rushes out the door to meet back up with Jesper.
{o0o}
They end up going to a fish and chip shop and finding a bench in a nearby park to sit on while they eat.
“Wy, these have to be the best chips I’ve ever eaten,” Jesper declares, still chewing.
“I can tell,” Wylan remarks, raising an eyebrow at the (bordering lewd) noises Jesper makes while eating. “Oh, by the way, I got you something.”
Jesper’s head snaps up. “Dessert?”
“No,” Wylan laughs, fishing the small parcel out of his pocket. “I got you a present.”
Jesper swallows the food in his mouth and wipes his greasy hands on his jeans before carefully taking the parcel from Wylan. He unwraps it gently, laughing when he realises what it is.
“So there was a gift shop after all. When did you get this?”
“When I said I needed the loo,” Wylan admits, wringing his hands in his lap.
Jesper turns the fridge magnet over in his hands, running his fingers over the writing. ‘I survived a T-rex encounter!’
“Thank you,” he says, suddenly finding it a little hard to speak. “That’s really nice of you.”
Wylan shrugs. “It was like, five kruge. You don’t have to thank me.”
Jesper laughs, blinking away the wetness in his eyes as he leans over to whisper something in Wylan’s ear. “I have to tell you a secret though.”
Wylan frowns. “What?”
Jesper smiles down at him. “I don’t have a fridge,” he admits, giggling.
“Wha- how do you not have a fridge?”
He shrugs. “Jesper skills. Now shut up and kiss me.”
Wylan is more than happy to oblige.
tag list (ask to be added or removed!) :D
@hrtbreakprincess / @tooindecisivetopickaurl / @kazcoded / @saltyfortunes / @just2bubbly
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the--wrench · 4 years
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@frimaerke​
Miles was never really one to care for big expensive shopping trips, but it was something that must be done time to time. Being alone and all was easier on his anxiety, because he didn’t feel like anyone was around to judge him. But, at the same time, he really was terrible at this dressing all proper thing ... so he never knew what suits or other nice outfits to stick with. Half the time for his public appearances, he was just wearing the same old green suit, but he hears a lot of people think it’s starting to lose it’s sheen, that it looks ratty .. fair enough, he’s had that for several years now, it’s only natural that it would  start to show it’s age after so much use. But, that meant he had to go pick out a NEW suit for the  upcoming gala he had to attend! 
Oh, but he was so bad with figuring out what he looked good in. Part of him, deep down, really wants to NOT give a shit whatsoever about what he wears .. but public image is everything in this business, and he knows it. He can’t just pick out a random suit and call it a day, as much as he’d like to. And all these suits he tries on -- none of them look good on him. None. Maybe it’s just his own self hatred skewing his opinion, but he can’t seem to find a single suit he looks good in. All of them seem to hang off his bony, thin frame too loosely, none of them flattering. No, they all make him look like a little kid playing dress up, and it’s getting really disheartening to see himself barely look like an adult when he’s twenty one fucking years old. People talk, they’ll spread rumors; rumors about his weight, that he’s starving himself or something when he really isn’t,  and they’ll give him pitying glances when he needs no such thing --  it’s humiliating, and frustrating, and it makes him feel awful. He’s fighting back the urge to cry something awful, because he’s gone through the entire men’s suit collection and nothing fucking fits ... Sure, you could argue that he always get them tailored later, but he BARELY has time to get them tailored! He’d been putting this off for a long time, he can’t keep stalling!
But then a little luck comes his way, when he least expected it.
Miraculously -- he doesn’t know how -- he manages to find two suits in his size. They’re not his first choices, but they look good enough that he could wear them to the Gala; one’s a smooth brown and cream colored suit, and the other is textured burgundy, with floral patterns all over it. They’re really close to his size, so at least he doesn’t feel like a ridiculous little kid anymore ... but he can’t decide what looks better. Again, he doesn’t really feel that ANYTHING looks good on him, but he’s gotta decide! ... No, he’s gonna get help to decide. There really wasn’t many other people in the store that he could ask a second opinion for, aside from a few men here and there, but there’s one who catches his eye; one who towers over the rest of the racks, looking up at the display suits on the wall. Glancing to the back of their head, his gaze falls right back down to the suits in his arms, and he wanders over, gaze looking somewhat troubled. After a second of pepping himself up for it, he reaches up and tugs at the MUCH taller man’s shirt.
“E-excuse me, sir...” His voice was quiet and shy, brow furrowed as he kept a hard stare at his jacket. “U-Um, I need a second opinion. Could you help me decide which one of these looks better? I um, I know y-you’re a stranger and all, but I -- I could really use your help.”
.. It wasn’t until the man was turning around that he lifted his gaze up, already whipping out the plead to get what he wanted -- what? people always helped him when he gave them that look -- but instead a delayed surprise spilled across his features. 
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“Jesper? Oh m-my goodness, hello! It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” A sheepish laugh, and then he looks back up at him with that warm Miles smile. It’s not the forced, fake one he’d had last time they’d met. It’s not awkward, and Miles isn’t uncomfortable like he so clearly was last time. No, this time .. he’s relieved, and he’s really happy to see the blonde despite everything that’s happened.
“... W-wait.” His smile dropped to that of confusion, head tilting as he had to crane his neck up to meet Jesper’s gaze. Damn tall people. “W-what are you doing here? A-are you looking for suit for the gala too..?”
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Six of Crows Secret Santa (pretty sure that was planned so it could be written as SOCSS)
Merry Christmas from down under. I am aware that Christmas may not be until tomorrow in quite a few different countries but I wanted to give my gift now before I’m off my computer for the next couple of days.
This is a short drabble for @dragon-peridot. Happy whatever holiday you celebrate.
*set 3 yrs after CK*
Wylan let Jesper twirl him around the room to music know one else could hear. The only sound was that of the rain pouring down on the manors roof above them.
The dance was a ridiculous attempt at a waltz, made that way by the fact that they were doing it with in their socks on a freshly polished ballroom floor, meaning they were slipping and sliding with every step and giggling like fools.
Marya was in the corner, painting away with a smile as she watched her son and partner whirl around the room like children.
The ballroom was decked out in holiday finery for the upcoming celebration of Ghezen. Red lights had been hung scalloped from the roof and golden tinsel was swaying from the banisters leading into the hall. Tomorrow the hall would be filled with business men and dregs alike, all of whom were either supporters or colleagues of the two dancing men (who most certainly wouldn’t be wearing socks tomorrow.) It was either gonna be a train wreck or or something a little better.
In Wylan’s opinion, so long as the house wasn’t burnt down, the party would be a success.
*****
Jesper hugged Inej hard enough to lift her feet off the ground when she arrived at the manor in all of her captain’s party finery — a simple plum suit and patent leather boots with no visible knives to be seen — along with a couple of crew members. They hadn’t seen her nearly as much as they had all wanted to over the last year.
“Kaz’s jaw will hit the marble when he sees you looking so fancy,” Inej rolled her eyes and hit Jesper’s arm.
“And your face might do the same if you don’t shut up about it, idiot.” Jesper looks hurt and turns to greet the next wave of guests coming through the door.
“Jesper wasn’t wrong, you know, wraith,” Inej turns to Kaz leaned against a pillar. “you are looking… nice tonight,” he walks to her and lays a soft kiss on her cheek.
Inej didn’t miss the absence of gloves when he took her hand and lead her into the ballroom. But she was surprised when Kaz chuckled beside her. She turned to face him.
“What?” Kaz threw a smirk her way before nodding at the people milling around the dance floor.
“So many pigeons,” Inej elbowed him gently.
“We are here on invite from our friends to celebrate a holiday. Do not turn this gala into Hringkalla or you will have a very mad and influential pirate captain on your heels, are we clear, Kaz?” The golden light made Kaz’s pale skin glow slightly as he turned to face her.
“I was waiting for you to say that. And speaking of holidays, this is one for Ghezen, whom I know for a fact you don’t worship, so, while I do enjoy your company, I have to ask why you’re here?”
“Always the charmer Kaz. And if you must know, I have a meeting with a business man in a back alley after this is done, I just need to set up that meeting. I figured I could kill two birds with one stone and see my friends at the same time,” Kaz’s shark-like smile flashed briefly across his face along with pride and amusement. He squeezed Inej’s hand.
“Ah, wraith, very efficient. Highly impressing. I wish you luck. But before that, would you like a dance? I would hate to miss out on one with a, in your words, mad and influential pirate.”
Inej laughed but still let him gently pull her towards the floor and bring her closer.
“Are you flirting with me, Kaz Brekker?” He laughs openly at that.
“No, I just act like this on a regular basis. Yes, wraith, of course I’m flirting. Or trying to, at least,” Inej smiled and continued to dance.
*****
“Wylan, darling, I think I’m hallucinating,” Wylan turned to him as an investor walked away to join the party.
“And why is that, Jes?”
“Kaz is laughing,” Wylan coughed violently before following Jesper’s pointed finger to where Kaz Brekker was indeed laughing at something Inej had said.
“That’s just… odd.”
“I was going to say unnatural but sure, odd works too,” Wylan nudges his boyfriend, his usual sweet smile tugging at his lips as he loops an arm around Jesper.
“It’s good to see them so happy. it’s a rare thing. Let them have it, Jes,” Jesper lets out an exaggerated sigh but nods his head anyway. He wouldn’t want to irritate the businessman with the barrel at his back after all.
“We should dance, Ghezen knows we don’t do it often enough at these things,” Jesper was already approaching the dance floor before he’d finished speaking, Wylan following and letting himself be swept into Jesper’s arms.
They began to lightly sway, calm and content. The night was warm, their friends were here, and they were safe. Jesper had to say it was his favourite feeling. He placed a kiss in Wylan’s curls and just stayed there.
“I’m surprised no-one’s had their pockets picked yet,” Jesper murmured, still swaying.
“I think they chose to leave their big money at home when they heard which gang members were on the guest list.”
“Probably a smart choice,” Jesper spun Wylan under his arm before pulling him back. “Although I have a feeling that that will not keep mister Javen over there safe from the Wraith, who has an impressive glare every time she sees him. If I didn’t get a kick out of everything Inej does, I would be worried for the guy.” Wylan gave him an amused smile, squeezing his hand.
“If he’s going to beaten up, I don’t want to know. I refuse to be held accountable for an attack by Inej. She probably has a good reason anyway.”
“Wylan?” The shorter boy looks up just to be kissed by Jesper. The world stops while they’re together. Jesper pulls away.
“Happy holidays.”
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