#tolya and tamar

[martinakl13]

While Tolya and Tamar fight, Kaz takes a break to get a nice tan.

[doodlesnoff]

"Tolya lounging enjoying snacks and poetry" commission for @gvartistsforpalestine

[moonminho]

𝕾𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖜 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕭𝖔𝖓𝖊 ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ 2 ʀᴇᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ #189 ↳𝟸.𝟶𝟽: 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠

[rubysunnday]

If some Fjerdan deckhand's gonna question a woman's right to carry weapons.

[infin1ty-garden]

GUARDIAN ANGEL

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ ✦ summary: hearing rumors of the fountain of youth and finally finding a heading, nikolai decides to follow the rumors ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ ✦ pairing: nikolai lanstov x gn! siren! reader ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ ✦ warnings: drowing, darkling, a bit of spice ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ ✦ word count: 2k ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ ✦ author note: inspired by this and sorry for not posting in a while I was on vacation

masterlist.

"Are we sure that compass even works?" Asked Tamar swaying from side to side due to the heavy rain and storm they were passing through. "It points to what the holder wants most. I think the instructions are pretty clear," Nikolai's attention only being on the compass. It's arrow spinning from one direction to another.

"You are going to crash the ship," yelled Mal as he fell down sliding to the other end of the ship. "Don't worry we're almost there," and then he let go of the wheel entirely. Tolya grabbed it but as if they'd entered another dimension. The storm was nowhere in site and not that far away, an island.

"See, I was right," as he said that the ship hit something causing him to fall overboard. He tried to swim up but the waves kept crashing in on him. He could hear people yelling for him and orders being thrown around. They turned incoherent as he sunk deeper.

He felt two hands taking hold of his arms as he was lifted out of the water in seconds. Once he managed to open his eyes, he was miles from the ship. He wanted to turn and see his saviour. "Don't strain your body too much, just relax your safe," he heard the most angelic voice say.

In a blink of an eye his feet met the sand. He coughed up what felt like half the ocean. When he turned to thank his saviour they were nowhere to be seen. Had he imagined it? Then he saw it, his ship being attacked by sire

But he could not help his crew. If he even attempted to swim to them, he would be instantly attacked. His gun was wet, so it was useless, and what could he do with a sword. All he could do was watch and hope they make it.

Most of the crew was alright. No deaths but they had to dry dock the ship, as going in the row boats would have been a death wish. Now, they had to find the chalices. "Captain," Tamar handed him a spyglass. Looking through it he saw Second Army flags. The Darkling was here or his grisha were.

"How did they get here before us?" Alina asked bewildered. "It doesn't matter we just need to get the chalices before them," he really should have better timing. "Hand over the map," the Darkling appeared, along with his forces. "There's no map," Nikolai replied, confidence radiating off of him in waves.

Then one by one his grisha disappeared until he was the only one left standing. "You and what army," Kirigan looks behind himself. Worry coating his face but then he smirked. "I don't need an army," as he raised his hands the sand beneath his feet disappeared. He dropped down into the newly formed puddle like it was a slide.

"Well, that happened," all anyone could do was nod along to Mal's statement. As they continued on following the compass, it seemed to lead them in circles. "I think your magic compass stopped working," Alina gave him a sympathetic look. "We have more company. Tamar reported seeing Fjerdan and Shu ships," great just what they needed.

"We still need the two chalices. Let me give that map a try," Mal took the map from Nikolai. The map was written in a language no one could understand. It wasn't in Fjerdan, Kerch, Ravkan, Shu, Zemeni, Suli, or even Old Ravkan. But now that they were actually on the island, they could at least recognise the landmarks drawn. Mal's tracking skill would finally come in handy.

After spending hours walking, they've decided to make camp and rest for a bit. They couldn't let the Fjerdans or the Shu be the first to discover the secret to the fountain. As Nikolai was starting to close his eyes, he heard a splash of water near him. He looked to where he assumed the sound came from and was met with the most beautiful pair of eyes.

Was this the person that saved him? He couldn't be sure. He slowly moved towards the person, worried that any sudden movement might scare them away. "I am not some kind of rabid animal," that voice, his guardian angel. "Your friends are on the west side," you could mean the Fjerdans or the Shu.

"They're not our friends," you sent him a sceptical look. He suddenly remembered why they were on this island in the first place. "You wouldn't know where someone could leave two chalices around here, would you?" At this point Nikolai was fully laying down in the mud that surrounded the pot of water.

His face inches away from it. "Hypothetically, I would know where something like that could be hidden." He smiled and then asked. "Hypothetically, could you show me?" You disappeared, only to emerge a few seconds later. Slowly moving closer to him as he had done only minutes ago.

What you did next was a surprise but not an unwelcome one. You kissed him. It was slow at first, as if giving him the chance to pull away if he so wishes. Instead he placed his palm on the back of your head. Pulling you as close as he can and uped the ferocity of the kiss. You placed your fingers at the bottom of his chin.

Putting slight pressure on it, due to this he opened his mouth. You quickly slipped your tongue in. He felt something foreign enter his system. You quickly pulled away and submerged yourself, only the top part of your face could be seen. Watched him swallow whatever you had just given him. I really hope I don't die from this.

You made a motion with your hand for him to enter the water. Waited for him, as he took off his jacket and shoes. His feet were searching for the bottom of the pond or whatever it was. He felt a hand grab his foot and pull him into the water. "You're taking too long," he realised he could breathe underwater. You gently grabbed his waist and he placed his arm around your neck.

He finally saw your tail. You were a siren. He was so gonna die but why had you saved him and why were you helping him now. He had too many questions. None of which he could ask. As soon as he had entered the water he was out of it. In Front of him was a ship, but none of the text in any language he knew. It did match the art on the map.

"Thank you," you nodded with a smile on your face. He walked closer to the ship. It was suspended in mid air. Wedged in between two huge pieces of stone. How could he get up there?

He finally entered the ship with your help and a lot of trial and error. Each step on the deck was taken with extreme consideration as one wrong move could send the ship falling. Even if the ship seemed to have been here for years with the plants that have taken over the deck. Nikolai didn't want to take any chances.

As he descended down to the lower levels of the ship, he was greeted with copious amount of dust and rot....and gold? But he had little care for it. Maybe after they find the fountain of youth, he could bring some of that gold back to Ravka. One room in the ship was clearly meant for dining. The table comfortably fit nine people.

The seats were filled with skeletons. The stench of the rotten food and empty glasses of wine could signify that these people were poisoned. The ship without a crew was probably left to roam the sea and had met its journey's end. Crashing into the rocks. Or maybe all of them have been stabbed, who knows.

The chalices were nowhere to be found. He went searching different rooms until he reached the captain's quarters. In the middle of the room the captain was sitting a skeleton like the rest of the crew but on the bed next to him a chest. Nikolai made his way to the bed as he did the ship swinged and then the voices came.

He wasn't alone anymore but he recognised one of them as Zoya. He needed to work faster. He got to the chest but it was locked. Nikolai could hear the voices getting closer. The key was laying on the chain around the captain's neck. Unlocking the chest and...nothing, just some documents. Where could the chalises be? He looked in the drawers, desk and finally under the bed.

There was another chest, this one without a lock in it, the chalices inside. Then the door burst open. "Hand them over," before he could think or even form a plan the ship was falling. When he awoke he was tied up, next to him, Zoya. The flags were the first thing he'd recognised, Shu. The second one, that they were tied to a tree. "Finally, the sleeping beauty's awake," one of the guards said.

Whatever they'd done to Zoya, she'd seen better days. Cuts were littering her face and bruises were starting to form. "The others," he'd simply asked. "Probably dead." The guards had left their posts to fetch their superior. In the corner of his eye, Nikolai could see something being thrown next to his feet. A knife, he quickly picked it up and placed it near his hands. Cutting himself and Zoya lose.

"We need to plan our next steps carefully since we don't have our weapons," just as he said that his and what he assumes is Zoya's sword were thrown out of the water. If she had found the ordeal weird, she didn't mention it, just grabbed her sword. "This way, I saw them place the rest of the weapons there."

They managed to escape the camp unseen. "I will let you go but the next time we meet, you won't be given the same courtesy," with that she disappeared in the forest.

The chalices weren't with the weapons. The Shu must have taken them. Then out of nowhere Tamar, Alina, Mal and Tolya come charging past Nikolai. Tamar carrying one chalice while Mal carries the other. "Sturmhond," Alina says just realising he was even there. "Run," yells Tamar as she grabs him.

Then he sees it, the Darkling and his volcra. His feet do the rest as he joins the group running. Hoping to lose him in the woods. "What happened?"

"What happened? Where were you? You left and didn't even tell anyone," Alina retorts.

"I got a lead to where the chalices might be."

"But WE found the chalices."

"And WE are going to lose them if you two don't shut it," Toyla interrupted, silencing them both as they hid. Once they saw the Darkling walk pass. They slowly walk in the other direction. "Where did you find them?"

"Near the entrance to some caves but that was nowhere close to where it had been marked on the map," Mal said in disbelief.

"Let me guess there was a river or some pond close by," Nikolai asked. Mal nodded. "But how could you know, it wasn't marked on the map." Nikolai shrugged. You must have taken them and brought them to his crew. "Now, we just need to find the entrance to the fountain," water splashed nearby. "Give me one moment," he said to the rest of them as he took the map and walked towards the water.

Tamar and Alina followed him. He kneeled down. "Yes," he asked, looking at the water. You slowly lifted your head and swam to where he was kneeling. He held up the map. Mal and Toyla joined the rest. Alina lifted her palms up as Toyla readied his weapon. "You are here and the entrance is here," now they could see the scales coating your arms, along with the tail.

All of them were thinking the same. You're a siren and you're helping them.

Thanks for reading! If you want a part 2 leave a like or comment

[thetimetraveler24]

Shadow and bone was canceled and I don’t know how to cope with that. Might rob a top security prison or something. It’s the only way I’ll get to see anything close to the ice court heist now.

[steponmeinejghafa]

Dance With Me

Summary: Nina forces you to come to a ball with her, and soon finds out why you didn’t want to be there in the first place.

Nina Zenik x fem!Kostyk!Reader

Warnings: Stressful social setting

Note: In this, pretend Nina never went to Fjerda in KoS. This is a little before those events, but definitely after Nikolai renounced his title as Sturmhond. And you’re a Durast, just so you know. And slightly neurodivergent. Very slightly.

———

You were quietly minding your own business at the Little Palace, helping some younger Fabrikators with their abilities. Your teacher had assigned them to you earlier that week, knowing you could help them as much as possible, with your never-ending patience and calming demeanour.

All of a sudden, Nina burst into the room, frightening you and one of the other children, who accidentally threw the metal ball he was practising with at you with his power.

“Saints alive-“ you wheezed, holding your side where the object had collided with you. “Um- why don’t you go there in the corner and practise hand movements, hm?”

“Sorry, Y/n…” the boy said sheepishly. You smiled and patted his head before he ran off to join his friends on the other side of the room.

“Nina,” you breathed out, looking at her practically vibrating with excitement. “What was so important that you had to burst in so…loudly?”

She was clutching a letter in her hands and squealed, “Nikolai’s planned a ball for absolutely no reason!”

“Lovely for you,” you smiled and kissed her forehead. “Forgive my asking, but…what does that have to do with me?”

“He’s invited you, me, Tamar, Nadia, Zoya, and the others, so you have got to come with me!” She giggled.

Your heart dropped to your knees at the very thought of going to a ball, where people danced expertly, knew how to woo a lady, and definitely didn’t step on their partner’s toes while waltzing.

“Um…my love, may we discuss this a little later?” You asked, looking around the room, any where but at her.

“Of course,” she smiled. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, yes,” you smiled. “It’s all good, just…I need to think it over.”

“Lovely!” She clapped her hands joyfully and pressed a gentle kiss to your lips, which was punctuated by a dragged out ‘ew’ from the children.

Nina laughed and nodded, mouthing, ‘I should go,’ before squeezing your hand and going out.

Later that evening, you were, again, minding your own business after having returned to the royal palace, when she burst in yet again, making you almost upset your ink bottle over the paper you were writing on.

“My-my dear, if you could just knock before entering it would be far better-“ you laughed nervously, pushing your chair back as she planted herself on your lap. Your arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, and you leaned up, kissing her cheek before smiling.

“Did you think it over?” She asked, leaning into your touch as you rested your cheek against the back of her shoulder.

You sighed, “I did, and I don’t- I don’t think I want to go…”

“Why not?” She asked, and you could practically hear her pout. “It’s a lovely evening to go for! There’s dancing, there’s music, there’s food…”

“Um…I think we can get that at any posh place in the city,” you admitted. “I just…I don’t want to go.”

“But darling, please,” she whined, turning so that her lower back rested against the edge of your table. Her arms looped around your neck as her soft green eyes met your e/c ones. “I really want to go with you! It’s been ages since we last went to an event together!”

You sighed and gave in, “Alright, but I will not dance.”

She gasped, “But why?!”

“I draw the line at dancing, my dear,” you said. “Please let it be enough that I agree to go.”

She decided not to press the matter further, and smiled brightly, her eyes grinning and her entire face lighting up. “I love you,” she said, before leaning down to kiss your lips gently.

“And I, you,” you said softly, smiling against her lips.

—Time Skip—

The day of the ball came faster than expected, and you were a nervous wreck as you and the others got ready for the festivities.

“What’s got you all jittery, Y/n?” Zoya asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re trembling like a leaf in a storm.”

“Zoya, have you met Y/n?” Nadia laughed. “She’s like her brother, she hates social gatherings like these.”

“So she’s a little baby,” Tamar joked, poking you in the side playfully.

“Don’t be mean, now,” Genya chided them all as she tailored her hair a little redder. “Y/n just finds them mildly uncomfortable. As does David.”

“No, no, I agree with them,” you nodded, pulling on the jacket which went with your suit. “I hate social gatherings.”

“Nina, how is it that you fell in love with her?” Zoya laughed, braiding her hair so she could twist it into a bun. “She’s the exact opposite of you.”

“What can I say? I’ve got a thing for the quiet ones,” Nina giggled, coming over and kissing your cheek. “Lace me up, would you darling?”

You were already fidgety, and thankfully, lacing up your girlfriend’s dress helped quite a bit. “I was bullied into attending,” you admitted, earning a laugh from all of them. Confusion shadowed over your face as you frowned a little, “Why is that funny?”

“It just is, N/n,” Tamar ruffled your hair, earning a disgruntled noise from you as you gently pushed her hand away.

“I will…um…check on the boys,” you nodded, “Yes, I’ll go check on them.”

You hurried out of the room before anyone could stop you, counting your steps as you went to Nikolai’s massive dressing room, knowing it was precisely 203 steps away from Zoya’s, where you had been a moment ago.

You entered after knocking, and sat down on a small chair right beside a mirror.

“We’re the girls teasing you again?” Nikolai chuckled as he put his white shirt on. “Or were you just coming to visit?”

“I don’t know what they were doing, actually,” you frowned. “But I do know I don’t want to go to the ball.”

“Then don’t go,” Tolya said as if it was he most obvious thing in the world as he combed his hair back. Ball or not, he was still dressing as sharply as a soldier.

“You see, as a fact, Nina does not really enjoy missing any social gathering,” you said. “And I, on the other hand, would rather die than go to one.”

Nikolai began to wear his tie and laughed, “Am I really such a nuisance for organising these gatherings that you would rather die than attend them?”

“No, I-“ you paused, analysing his statement. “Was that a joke?”

“Yes, Y/n, yes it was,” he grinned, also ruffling your hair.

“Why does everyone keep doing that?” You mumbled, fixing your hair again.

“I agree with my sister,” came your brother’s similarly quiet voice. “I cannot say I enjoy being at such big events.”

“I’d rather be building something,” you nodded, to which David made a noise of agreement.

“Well, I can’t say you can just disagree with what Nina and Genya have said,” Tolya shrugged. “I have seen the two of them. They almost exist only for gatherings.”

“Y/n, you’ve worn something far too drab, did the others say nothing about it?” Nikolai said, looking at you.

You looked at your plain black suit, neatly pressed and creaseless. “What’s wrong with this? It’s my best suit!”

“For a funeral, maybe,” Interjected Tolya.

“Now you both are bullying me,” you frowned.

Nikolai went to his closet and pulled out a suit which looked far richer than yours, which had a white shirt, white pants, and a coat which had gold buttons all the way down the front. A thick gold border went down the length of it, and to finish it with a slightly feminine look, a delicate, spidery pattern of lace was embroidered onto the cuffs.

“Go on and try it,” Nikolai suggested, giving you the hanger on which it was kept and pushing you towards the changing screen.

You went in and tried it on, it fitting perfectly. The thick, almost kefta-like material of the coat felt nice under your fidgety fingertips, and the soft silk fabric of the shirt was welcoming on your skin. You’d never felt more confident than you did then, standing in a King’s attire.

“Let’s see how it looks, my friend!” Called out Tolya. You emerged from behind the screen, feeling your confidence give a little way for some amount of shyness at the attention.

“Damn,” Nikolai said. “I’d say Nina is going to be very happy.”

“She does say she loves me in blue,” you admitted, your hands already fidgeting with the hem of the coat, feeling the slightly prickly gold border against your fingertips.

“If you like the suit, you can keep it,” Nikolai grinned. “You look absolutely stunning in it. I have to say, you pull it off better than I do.”

You caught your brother’s eye, and he hummed in acknowledgment, nodding his head slightly. You both, even as children, had almost always communicated like this. With subtle hand gestures, eye movements, and nods.

After a little while of chatting, Nikolai exhaled sharply as he dusted off his coat sleeves. “Right, I will be on my way down to welcome the guests.”

“Hooray…” you said, with little enthusiasm. “That was sarcasm, by the way.”

“Well done,” Tolya patted you on the back. “It’s practically impossible to tell.”

You frowned, “Actually, I was being rather obvious about it…”

The giant laughed and led you out, putting an arm around your shoulder. “Never change, Y/n.”

“Um, I’ll go find Nina,” you nodded and walked off.

When your girlfriend saw you in the suit, her jaw dropped. As did everyone else’s in the room.

“I love how you look in blue,” grinned Nina as she ran her hands down your shoulders to your waist.

You smiled slightly and whispered a thank you, blushing a bright red.

“Guys, it’s nearly eight o clock, the guests should be arriving now,” admitted Nadia as she looked at the clock on the wall. She looked at both you and Nina, adding, “Now stop making moon eyes at each other and get your backsides downstairs.”

You nodded as Nina took you by the hand, leading you downstairs, while the others followed suit.

“I’m nervous,” you said.

“Don’t be,” giggled Nina. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

“I hope that wasn’t a joke…” you mumbled.

The ballroom filled up pretty fast, with the soft music of the band floating through the crowd. Men danced with their ladies in graceful two-steps, otherwise they whirled around in a fast-paced foxtrot. You stood at the end of the dance floor, watching closely while Nina and Nadia danced together, laughing hysterically.

There were too many people, though. Your skin crawled at the sudden thickness of the air, and you couldn’t really process the whole situation entirely. Sounds mashed together, the scent of perfume was choking, and the hum of people talking was getting annoying.

You were immediately broken out of your little freak-out when Nina caught your hand.

“Why is my gorgeous girlfriend standing here, alone, not dancing?” She asked, leaning up to kiss your lips.

“I…” you shook your head and whispered, “I’m just tired.”

“Hm…” she hummed in thought, trying to figure out what was wrong. “Do you mind telling me why you don’t want to dance with me?”

You felt your cheeks burn with embarrassment as you quietly replied, “I don’t know how to dance…”

Her eyes lit up as she held your face in her hands, and a smile tugged at her lips as she chuckled, “Was that all? You could’ve asked me to teach you!”

“I didn’t know how to ask…” you replied sheepishly.

She pulled you onto the dance floor where fewer people were swaying together, and she said, “Put your hand on my waist and hold the other,”

You did just so, and she smiled before guiding you towards doing a box step. You marvelled at how lovely a teacher she was, focusing solely on her voice.

“One, two, three, four, five, six,” you muttered under your breath. Nina laughed and squeezed your hand with hers, trying not to wince when you stepped on her toes with your hard leather shoes.

As the evening ended, you both collapsed into bed, tired for different reasons after having changed int more comfortable attire.

“You stepped more on my feet than you did the floor,” she chuckled.

“I will have you know that I was on beat,” you said. “You had it coming.”

“Well…you weren’t bad,” she nodded. “I must admit.”

You pulled her atop you and hugged her close, whispering, “Thank you for teaching me,”

“No problem, my love,” Nina replied, kissing your cheek. “It’s been a long night…” she sighed, sinking further into your touch.

“We should get some sleep,” you replied, tracing shapes on her back with your fingertips.

So there you both lay together, seeing comfort in each others embrace as the night went by, with its dark blue sky speckled with stars, and the wind blowing silently through the trees in the garden below.

———

I hope you enjoyed this one! Feel free to request!

[notelcol]

Second vote is here! ❤️

Saving the character vote for the last one to try and make a chaotic story😆

So far we have shadow and bone as our winner fandom🫶(can’t lie I was a little surprised but I should have known the grishaverse is thirsty)

Thank you for voting! Keep an eye out for the next vote. Let’s see how interesting we can make this😝🌹

[thegothicchangeling]

Nikolai: So which one of you is the older sibling?

Tolya: We're twins; it doesn't matter

Tamar: It's me.

[paranormarine]

“The twins regale him into a tour of the merchants, food stalls, and performances of the port town, and by the time they make it back to the ship, he is unable to walk under his own power.”

I made this for the @grishaversebigbang based on the wonderful fic “Kindling” by @llantsovvs (seriously go read it right now it’s amazing!)

There’s also some more amazing art made by @doodlesnoff which you can find here!

And an entire comic made by @mfrov95, the first page of which you can find here!

[doodlesnoff]

"you two wouldn't be looking to join a crew, by any chance?" for @grishaversebigbang which pairs fanfiction with fan doodlers

etherealki: @llantsovvs story "Kindling," an adventure prequel for this trio

materialki: me, @doodlesnoff, view on instagram here . check out @mfrov95 for more art from this fic!

[wh0refornikolailantsov]

Prompt: (KoS era) Reader is a widow from the war and has a kid they’re bringing up alone now and is feeling kinda overwhelmed but Tolya steps in as a friend to be a parental figure and take some of the weight and just?? Soft co-parents who definitely don’t have crushes on each other??? I don’t have a song, sorry

Ohhhh yes.

In Wars Wake - Tolya Yul Bataar

Content Warnings: Mentions Of War, Grief, Bereavement. Minor Injury, Mentions Of Wound, Blood. Not Beta/Proof Read.

The grass grows long and thin out by the Wandering Isle, it is a contrast to the wisps and depths of cut grasses you grew up with in Ravka. But that's the point. You like that it doesn't remind you of home, that it is different than where you lived a life that feels like it isn't yours, that it was so long ago no trace of the person you are could be found in the same body that was belonged to you.

There is a tugging on your sleeve and you look down and a younger version of your own eyes glimmer back up at you. "Yes?" you ask gently.

"He's here," the s is a little prolonged as age is yet to wear off the childish draw of words, but it's sweet, "can't you hear him?"

You shake your head and look up to see the stone path pathed into the long grass, guiding someone right to your door. Tolya smiles up at you, and you feel the sun beating down on your shoulders, the warmth of the rays that only seem to shine this bright when he is around.

Tolya catches your child who is all too eager to jump up at him, eager to play. And Tolya, the saint he is, is always so eager to return the enthusiasm.

You're not sure where you would be without him, having lost your husband to the war was hard, it is hard for any widow, but having a child to raise alongside that grief, even as the war ended nothing seemed to be easier. Not without Tolya. Tolya has been invaluable.

"You came," you smile at Tolya.

"Have I ever not?" he asks. You hold your arms tight around yourself, watching the two of them.

"You two, keep each other distracted, I am going to make us some food," you tell them.

"Let me help," Tolya tries, but the small hands clinging to his arm hold him gently back.

"You always do more than enough," you assure him, "I will bring the food out."

You knew everything was going to be hard, your life hadn't been much less than difficult for as long as you remember, you married your husband and you lost him in a relatively short span of time. You were alone, and lost and overwhelmed, and you thought trying to keep yourself afloat might just be exactly what drowned you. But there was Tolya. Tolya who you'd known was true to his word, but never could have imagined was this true, this... saving.

Tolya promised you when you told him you needed to leave, and that you felt so alone, that the distance would never stop him from making sure neither of you felt absent. Neither of you felt forgotten. He promised not to let you drown. Tolya loves your child like his own, and you know that, you see it. And he is here every moment he can spare, and moments you're sure he likely cannot spare, but he does anyway.

You weren't sure you had room for everything in your life before, and you were sure you'd never make room for anything else, but with Tolya, it doesn't feel like he takes up room, instead he makes room.

You're watching the two of them through a window, not paying the attention you should be, and you slip, you manage to keep your curse quite as you clutch your bleeding hand. "Saints," you reach for something to wrap yourself up with and you notice Tolya in the doorway.

"You're bleeding," he says, trying to figure out if you're more hurt than you're letting on.

"You're fast," you tell him. You look out the window.

"Looking for ladybugs," Tolya reassures you. "I can hear both your heartbeats from anywhere on this property. Please, let me help."

You sit down and let him help you with your hand. You try not to watch him, and in doing so you stare out the window. The smiling and the sound of giggles are clear even at this distance. There's a few excited yells of "I think I found one... no... just a fly." You laugh to yourself and you turn back to see Tolya's lips gently curled up at the edges.

"I... It doesn’t hurt at all. You’re incredible," you say, staring down at your hand in his. He smiles. You realise how childlike you must sound, you don't doubt he has been dealing with cuts and scraps since before he was your child's age. You've just never seen him use his capabilities before, and although you've known what he is capable of in theory, in practice it feels just like magic. You could have done with magic like that when- you cut off that trail of thought quickly.

"It's not much," he tells you. If he could, he would take every pain away, the big ones, the small ones, the aches and pains, the wounds that lay beneath, he would take it all away, never let pain touch either of you ever again, if only he could.

"Do not try that, not with me," you tell him, giving his hand a small squeeze, something you shouldn't be able to do right now. "You know you make such a difference here, it feels different when you're away."

"I feel like I make the most difference here," Tolya says, looking back towards the door. "It feels like I am always being pulled back here, every time I go away."

"We miss you," you told yourself over and over that you wouldn't say that, not like this, not with such a soft tone that gives away just how much you feel his absence. You told yourself time and time again you would not say that because it is not fair on Tolya, that he already does so much, he is already stretching himself thin being here, that you feel you already get so much of him, that it's unfair to make him feel like there should be more to give. But there was no better thing to say, no truer thing.

"I miss you both," he tells you, and with the gentlest of touches runs his thumb over your knuckles before letting himself breathe in deeply. "Now come on, let me help you."

"You never stop," you tell him. He smiles.

"I do not consider helping you a burden," he states. You feel a pair of watchful eyes on you in the doorway, you'd been focused on not saying a million little things that were threatening to pass your lips that you hadn't heard the pitter patter of feet running up to the door.

"Food?" comes an almost tired voice.

"Yeah, food," you nod getting up again. You let Tolya help this time, humming gently as he stands beside you.

"I should bring my sister around," Tolya says, throwing you a glance even though the words aren't aimed at you.

"Tamar," comes an eager giggle.

"It's been a while," you say, laying the plates.

"She asks about you," Tolya says, "she wants to know where I am spending all my time."

"She could visit you know," you remind him, "I think we would be far to selfish in keeping you all to ourselves." That comment earns a pout, and the pout earns a chuckle from Tolya.

"I like that you two keep me to yourselves, I would stay here forever if I could."

'If you wanted me to.' It's silent, it's unspoken, it's five words that are far too simple for all the meaning they carry, all the complexities tied up in barely any words at all. The complexities poets could fill books with stand between the three of you, and unpacking it might take a lifetime. But you would spend your life doing it if you could, if it was wished of you, if he wanted.

'I never want anything less.' You know 'we' would be just as true a statement, but in the silence, in the space where the words can lay unheard and un-whispered you can be more honest than you need to be. So you are, in the silence, just a little too honest about how much you want him to stay, and in return, in the silence, in the places where the words are never heard, he is a little too honest as well, about how he never wants to leave.

[mythss]

"Getting lost can happen, even when you know where you are" ✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

MASTERLIST

Sankta : ̗̀➛Alina Starkov x OC

" There is so much you can't understand Alina " " Then let me, let me know you, let me know your deepest truths " Does past define someone, or perhaps what they were born as? Everyone looked at Alina Starkov as if she was the answer to all their questions. But Alina felt that Kyra Kozlov was the answer to all her problems. Kyra was a mystery, a powerful Grisha, and somehow she started to be the sun summoner's home too. " People do things for a reason Kyra " " I did what I had to do. Maybe I did it for survival. Maybe not, and I did it for revenge

[solmalyen]

[thegothicchangeling]

Listen, I'm sick of seeing how light some fan artists are drawing Tolya and Tamar. They are literally described as bronze skin.

Yeah, they're asian coded, but light skin is not an ethnic asian trait. It's just a beauty standard, and that beauty standard doesn't exist in Shu Han.

These are WARRIORS. They're in the sun all the time so why are you drawing them like this?

You need to stop light washing the twins and draw them at least this dark:

This is pretty good. This one is even better:

And, hey, why not go darker?

Now this is just gorgeous!

So why is it that I see so much of this:

Please just stop light washing them. Please.

[delusionalgirlwritingfanfic]

Our favorite privateer prince short skits with a x reader looks innocent could kill you.

The crew had yet to set sail, leaving port getting underway they lingered in casual conversation. 

“ Eyeballs aren’t in there very well. Hit your head, they'll pop right out. I could stick my fingers in there, it’s my go to line of defense.” 

“ Did she make that up?” 

Toyla shook his head, arms crossed leaning against the railing. 

A horrified look haunted the man's features. “ This is a thing?” He pointed in unfathomable to the new knowledge. “ I thought there was muscle or something that kept them in.”

“ Oh, ya, eye balls, really just rest in there, happens all the time with concussions." Toyla backed up. Tamar smirked proudly, trying her hardest not to laugh. She turned away in the opposite direction to see the captain's reaction, who had snuck up right at the beginning of the profound topic at interest. 

y/n glanced behind her to see Strumhond. “ Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

-

This time around, Sturmhond had been requested for a private audience; it was shady business, and the captain brought along his most trusted crew.

The small group individually took their weapons out, and they were all patted down. The bouncer got to the end of the four, y/n held up a finger, the worker paused, waiting as he watched, she dug around, pulling out various sizes of weapons.

Sturmhond was grinning from ear to ear. She reached digging deep in a hidden pocket with the last knife. Toyla stood with his wrist crossed by his side, both twins stoic staring down the security.

As the years go by

There current position addressing a rather rude pirate who thought he held rights over every territory in the sea, a big mouth that wasn’t popular at all. Least to say he felt threatened. The man had started the fight without room for negotiation. 

She stood next to him at his shoulder, letting him deal with the situation without so much as a peep. The twins were annoyed at the entire ordeal ready to end the pirates monologue,that flew past the group's head as he spewed nonsense. It was when the second put her own two scents in with derogatory comments and her pretentious attitude was when she’d had enough.

Her eyes flickered to Sturmhond and back. The twins watched the side eye now sharing their own concerned intuitive conversation. Needless to say the small action did not go unnoticed. When their captain fillinly was able to get a word in he opened his mouth to speak and y/n launched across the threshold.  

Wide eyed, Sturmhond snatched her out of the air, holding the woman around the waist out of reach. “ Hey, hey, hey, come on now.” 

She squirmed and wiggled, pushing against him. The woman stopped moving completely, giving him a death stare. 

He set her back down and she held her hands up in defense. “ Fine, I’m good.” Right before going to walk away she whipped around.

 “ Nope.”  Sturmhond once more caught her swiftly not getting past a second attempt carrying the woman away in one arm. she pouted in defeat.