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melnchly​     [   . . .   ]      zoya nazyalensky.

         “entirely horrible.” but the drawl of her voice is not accusing, it’s amused. and there’s a smile very nearly peering out from where she’d tried to shut it away. “perhaps i should call down a bit of lightning. roast you from the inside out.” but she does nothing of the sort, of course. loath as she is to admit it, she enjoys his company too much for true roasting. instead, she leans back in her chair and tips her head back, then to the side, stretches her legs beneath the table. the lines and figures on the pages spread in front of her would surely be enough to make david’s brain ache, and he had not jumped at the chance to take the task from her. she must have been grimacing her way through the pages, to look up and find nikolai looking at her as though her pain was entertaining. “or perhaps i’ll simply let you look over the budget for housing, feeding, and clothing both the second and first army. that sounds far more satisfying.” 

                  he enjoyed keeping her company in the tasks that he could,      whenever both their calendars allowed it.      and today his workload was the lighter one,      watching over the stack of papers on the desk.      there surely was a lot of numbers that needed attention.      not really what he wanted to do today,     but he would offer his help,      had she not suggested frying him from the inside.       “     ever so ruthless,    zoya.      ”        there’s a smirk on his lips as he speaks,     leaning back on his chair before he grabs one of the stacks.      first army.      it only felt fair that he would help her out.       “     i prefer this much more compared to the wife searching.      this pleases my soul,     makes me wither less.      and this is  boring  work,      you must imagine how dull i find the other talk.      ”         dull,      unrealistic.      he could not take a wife when the monster took control over their body some nights,     allowing him to fly off to saints only knew where.       well saints,    and zoya.         “      are you saying you need more money  ?     ”        another thing that was unrealistic.     all of ravka needed more money,      but they never had any to spare.

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     i just feel like that one tiktok vid that called nik a feminist who likes to pay for stuff

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ok but modern nik having a small ✨ man bun ✨

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Nikolai Lantsov in Rule of Wolves (Leigh Bardugo)

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gender: “pretty boy”

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* (  𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐎𝐍 /  𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒.

These may have been edited for clarity or length or to better apply for roleplaying.

do it. be bold.

we must continue our ruse until i’ve found my match.

me, unavailable; you, desirable.

i trusted you more than anyone in this world, and you took advantage.

you do not know me, but i know you.

you have no idea what it is to have one’s entire life reduced to a single moment.

is this not lovely? all of us together again.

an expert in the art of the swoon.

i wish to be entertained.

it would be better if you refrain from thinking about me at all.

lovely indeed. we should tempt scandal more often.

the social season is upon us.

your love is an unrequited fantasy.

i cannot stop thinking of you.

i am anything but interested in you.

it is more than just your honor at stake.

i write in my diary which is not the same as writing in my novel.

a pairing like that would be most enchanting indeed.

the season’s diamond, even more precious and rare a stone than previously thought?

stare into my eyes.

is it awful that i’m enjoying it?

if you desire the sun and the moon, all you have to do is go out and shoot at the sky.

we could pretend to form an attachment.

if there is a scandal, i shall uncover it.

must our only options be to squawk and settle or to never leave the nest?

all is fair in love and war.

there is nothing you cannot do.

my honor is not for sale.

if this is to work, we must appear madly in love.

i’m aware of your reputation.

do not tell me that is another scandal sheet.

you’ve always amused me.

we find ourselves seated next to each other. i’d think you’d be happy about that.

marriage has it joys, but it also brings with it its special trials.

it’d be better if you refrain from thinking about me at all.

you do not know me, and never shall.

you do not humiliate the one you love. 

i’m aware of your reputation and i am anything but interested in you.

what if i want to fly?

the ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars.

every presumptuous mother in town will leave me alone and every suitor will be looking at you.

you do not trick the one you love.

if you desire the sun and the moon, all you have to do is go out and shoot at the sky.

let it be known that if there is a scandal, i shall uncover it.

you think that just because i’m a woman, i’m incapable of making my own choices?

love, conquers all.

you can choose to love me as much as i love you.

i am tired of pretending.

from the mornings you ease, to the evenings you quiet, to the dreams you inhabit my thoughts of you never end.

i cannot continue acting as if i do not love you. because i do.

i love all of you.

i cannot be your fool again.

the brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn.

we chose to love each other every single day.

pride, it will cost you everything and leave you with nothing.

i am looking out for myself.

you don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her.

you must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend.

i am ensuring my own future. because i know in my heart i know that there is no one else who ever will.

you do not lie to the one you love.

to meet a beautiful woman is one thing, but to meet your best friend in the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart.

circumstances change, ladies. sometimes over night.

her heart is no matter, as long as her hand remains free.

you cannot assure me of everything.

i will always protect you.

i believe i should like to stay.

i believe you should like to go.

what others should ever want such damaged goods now?

you have no idea what it is to be a woman.

you are perfection itself.

what? you don’t love me for my subtlety.

would you rather die than marry me?

i am yours, i have always been yours.

it is you i cannot sacrifice.

i burn for you.

it pains me you should think every compliment a mockery.

i ask you, can the ends ever justify such wretched means?

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                  he observes her for a bit.       staying quiet as he figures out the best way to get her to speak.       opening up would be expecting too much.       but he could try to make her comfortable.       if they hadn’t been in such a hurry,      this would’ve been so much easier.        it doesn’t stop him from letting hazel eyes watch as  @ladynesta​  takes a seat nearby.

                  the king moves closer,       a smile on his face,        leaning against the nearest wall.          “      i heard your sister likes gardening,      ”         this could go both ways.      family was a touchy subject to many,       himself included.         “      the palace has many opportunities for her to upkeep her hobbies if she’d like.      please extend my offer.     ”

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                hiding david was almost like harboring a fugitive.      a secret to be well kept,      except for when his wife went seeking him.      her eye always watching his expression,       looking for any flaws in his cracks      -      as he proceeds to lie about the fabrikator’s whereabouts. 

                 “      as much as i’d  love  to help you out,     @soulvalor​,       ”         a pause,     head tilts to the side before he offers her a smile.         “      i do not know where he is,      but i’m certain he will appear before sundown,      as per usual.       ”

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               the wind is cold is ravka.      the wind hits hard like a whip against his face,       walking the palace grounds to find her.      hoping to spot her.       hoping today was a good day.       part of him wishes she’d get her powers back,     even if just a little.       so he could avoid the pained look on her face every day.       a glance of the sun behind the skies brings an upwards curve to his lips.       it was a beautiful day.        strolling the palace grounds,      greeting everyone he met by name.       something he had practiced for years.       every face had a name,     a story.       something worth remembering       -       and being king certainly didn’t make him too good to remember that.

                he reaches the lake when he spots the white,    silvery hair.      at least she was outside today.       they both were,      it was a beautiful day indeed.       words run over in his mind as he steps up next to her.       but he doesn’t start speaking,    no.      the king inhales a deep breath,       exhaling before he turns to watch her again.        “     once i went swimming in that lake,      it was a terrible idea and i was scolded for days.      apparently it upsets the fish.       did you ever consider going for a swim,    @svetitsya​​    ?      ”

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      to get this blog up and kicking,      like  /  comment  on this post to receive a starter.      lengths  &  inspirations may vary for these.       <3

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svetitsya​     . . .     alina starkova.

           tears  fill  her  eyes  as  she  nods  quickly ,   hand  squeezing  his  as  a  breath  of  relief  escapes  her  lips .     he’s  back .     seeing  him  fall  down  the  skies  had  been  horrifying ,   so  thankful  zoya  managed  to  cushion  his  fall  and  the  damage  was  fixable .     still ,   his  voice  doesn’t  sound  his ,   even  if  the  monster-like  appearance  the  darkling  had  cursed  him  with  is  gone .     thumb  brushes  across  scarred  fingers  and  for  once  she  allows  herself  to  cry ,   even  if  he  can  see  it ,    free  hand  moving  so  her  sleeve  can  wipe  tear  stroked  cheeks .     “     i  thought  i  had  lost  you .     ”

              he thought he had been gone too.      the constant battle with the demon that had taken root in his body.      a battle of his body.      who would win  ?      would ravka be left without king  ?      would he be left to never return again,     to always lurk in the shadows.       head tilts as he watches her.      he’s been following her,      he remembers seeing her through different eyes.      even in war she looked holy.       in war she was a saint.      the one they had all been praying for.         “      you never lost me.      ”          he moves a scarred hand to her jaw.      the sight makes him shiver at first.      so inhumane.       so broken and unkind.       hands made for the kill,      to maim and bruise.      not to love,     not for kindness.        but he’d change that.

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svetitsya​     . . .     alina starkova.

            she  has  heard ,   but  she  had  thought  nikolai  had  grown  accustomed  to  people’s  whispers ,   to  the  way  they’d  bad  mouth  him  at  any  given  opportunity .     there  would  always  be  those  who  dislike  them ,   it’s  only  a  matter  of  not  letting  them  cut  so  deep .     but  she’s  still  learning  to  live  with  that ,   all  the  expectations  that  she  will  unavoidably  let  down .     “     i’ve  heard  ravka  has  a  new  king  and  that  he  brought  peace  when  no  one  before  him  could .     ”     the  words  are  sincere ,   even  if  she  had  known  what  he  meant .     anyone  would  say  she  has  made  more  difficult  choices ,   but  her  heart  is  hammering  against  her  chest .     and  she  thinks  of  all  the  times  she  thought  she  had  lost  him ,   the  despair  and  sadness  that  had  filled  her .     and  there  it  is ,   the  smallest  hint  of  a  grin  that  comes  so  easily  with  him .     “     i  don’t  know  about  you ,   but  sunless  saint  and  demon  king  sounds  like  the  most  catastrophically  amazing  duo .     ”

               maybe he couldn’t fix what was broken.      maybe he couldn’t give her back what she had lost in the war,       and maybe that had never been his purpose.      maybe he wasn’t supposed to fix her,       but instead love her for what she was now.       for what they both were.     they were both broken,      but ravka was broken.       war had taken so much with it’s greedy hands and bloody claws.      a sunless saint and her demon king.        perhaps that was what ravka needed.         head tilts as he watches her,      he notices the grin.        a smile appears on his lips.        maybe they weren’t all that broken,         maybe it wasn’t all beyond repair.         “      ravka does have a new king.      ”         he replies smoothly,      his mind spins onto his father,     but he quickly swats it away.      he had it coming,      he got what he deserved,      perhaps not even punishment enough.      but he wouldn’t hurt ravka anymore.        “     ravka’s king is hopelessly in love though.      i’m afraid his eyes and mind has fallen to the greatest saint that has ever lived.      the one who banished the fold.       the bravest woman the king has ever met,      and he has met many eligible women on his travels.     ”

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svetitsya​     . . .      alina starkova.

             she  needs  to  heal ,   to  breathe  away  from  everything  that  has  happened  and  find  a  way  of  living  with  the  loss  of  everything  that  is  now  gone .     she  wants  to  believe  his  words ,   listens  carefully  and  tries  to  make  her  stubborn  heart  trust .     fingers  hold  onto  his  shirt  as  she  wonders  what  has  she  done  to  deserve  this ,   to  deserve  him .     he  should  have  better ,   she’s  not  meant  to  be  a  queen .     she  barely  knows  how  to  take  care  of  herself ,   much  less  a  whole  kingdom .     and  he  has  said  it  himself ,   his  marriage  would  be  first  and  foremost ,   political .     feelings  would  come  second .     she  waits  a  couple  beats  before  dark  eyes  look  up  to  find  his     “     and  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  a  broken  sun  summoner  by  your  side ?     i’m  no  longer  a  powerful  alliance ,   nik .     ”

                he couldn’t heal her wounds.      he could barely contain the shadows of his own,     eyes glance down to his gloved hands.      he had to mend ravka’s wounds.      ravka was like a child in need of constant care and attention,      a land he would not let turn to ruins.       moving his hand to cup her chin between two fingers,     looking into her mocha eyes.        “     what am i going to do with ravka’s new demon king  ?      have you heard what they call me  ?      ”       yet he doesn’t answer her answer,      perhaps because no good answer is to be found.      he didn’t have a plan,      the clever fox was running low on energy.       waiting for his brilliant brain to spark an idea.       but it was empty.      nothing was calling for him in the dark.       maybe the demon had eaten that part of him too.        “     i don’t need you to be a powerful alliance,   alya.      i just need you to be.      i’ll let it be up to you if that is going to be with me or the tracker     -     or maybe by yourself.      ”         he was hoping she wouldn’t pick the last option.      he could stomach his own loneliness,     but the thought of her being on her own was aching in his bones.

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svetitsya​     . . .      alina starkova.

               how  can  she ?     how  can  she  leave  everything  behind  so  easily ?     there’s  still  work  to  be  done ,   she’s  sure  of  it .     they  must  join  forces  and  rebuild  what  was  ruined ,   but  this  time  make  it  right .     more  than  ever  she  understands  that  now ,   and  she  is  sure  nikolai  is  more  than  capable  of  doing  so .     he  can’t  count  much  on  her ,   not  anymore .     what  use  will  he  have  for  a  sun  summoner  who  can’t  summon  anymore ?     the  loss  makes  her  arms  wrap  around  him  a  bit  tighter .     “     you  won’t  want  me  anymore .     ”     it’s  a  low  whisper ,   she’s  unsure  of  her  words ,   unsure  if  she  should  tell  him .     but  what’s  the  use  on  lying ?     there’s  a  small  sob  caught  on  her  throat .     who  will  want  her ?     now  that  her  powers  are  gone ,   now  that  she’s  just  an  ordinary  girl ,   who  will  want  her ?

               her words feel like a low blow to his gut.       it twists inside of him,      feels heavy inside his chest.      why would that change anything for him   ?       “     alya,     ”         voice is quiet as he whispers back.       arms wrap tightly around her.        pulling her into his tight embrace.        “     i will always want you.     this doesn’t change anything.      i’m asking what you want.      that is what is on the table right now,      my offer still stands the same.      ”         his hand runs through her dark hair,     fingers twirling the tips of it.        “     my feelings haven’t changed.      the offer still stands.      when you’re ready for me,     i will be here.      i just need to know if you want me to wait for you.      ”

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svetitsya​     . . .     alina starkova.

              she  drinks  in  his  words  in  with  a  small  nod .     they  have  won ,   but  at  what  cost ?     deep  down  she  knows  she  would  do  it  all  over  again  if  it  meant  that  it’d  be  over ,   but  she  feels  like  she’s  only  a  shell  of  herself .     she  gets  flashes  of  everyone  they’ve  lost  along  the  way  and  can’t  help  but  still  feel  like  she  has  failed  them .     and  now  the  light  no  longer  calls  for  her .     it’s  an  emptiness  she  isn’t  sure  how  she’ll  fill .     but  a  part  of  her  knows  well  that ,   just  like  the  light ,   also  the  shadows  called ,   the  darkness  laced  power  she  felt  cursing  through  her  veins .     maybe  it’s  for  the  better  she  can  no  longer  bend  the  boundaries  of  what  is  possible .     maybe ,   like  this ,   there’s  still  salvation  and  forgiveness  for  every  time  she  wronged .     tired  eyes  look  up  at  him ,   entire  body  so  exhausted  she  leans  against  him  for  a  moment .     “     what  now ?     ”

               we did it,      we won.        those had been the words he had spoken,      in relief,       in hope that maybe she’d find some relief too.        but they had lost so many,       his people and hers.       their group of allies was smaller than ever.        a protective arm wraps around the sun saint next to him.       body bends down to kiss the top of her head,       nose brush her hair.       they both needed a shower.          “     now we take time to heal,     ”           he whispers,       hand brushing on her arm softly.        “     now you find out what you want with your life,    alina.      if you want to come back with me,      or if you want to be someone else.     live another life.      be free.      ”

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     1 )      our muses reunite after sender thought receiver was dead.       /      lydia,    @lingeringscars​.

               blood was running down his face,      some of it was his,      most of it wasn’t.       he had dug his way through the dead,       his people.       his people had died,      died at his enemy’s hands.       but it didn’t matter,      he wanted to see her.       he had to see if lydia was okay.       he walks,     legs are heavy as they drag his body towards her.       a man on a mission.

               once he reaches the palace steps,     he dismisses the people around him.       making his way to the little palace to find her.        his eyes light up when he sees the fierce red hair.        “     lydia     . . .      lydia   !      ”         at his his voice is a whisper until it picks up force as he gets closer.