#not that i don't love kanej but omg

[the-way-astray]

hate it when people want a short story collection or a spin-off of a certain series and then want it to be all about the main couple of the original.

(ranting in the tags)

[barrel-crow-n]

Six of Crows: All the crows pair off and I ship these ships so hard my hair might fall out, screaming, crying, I love them so much.

Shadow and Bone: Big Polycule. That's it. It's just a big fucking polycule

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Intro post! + links to everything :)

Hi, I'm DK and this blog is mostly full of me talking about the Six of Crows and the rest of the Grishaverse! (and I'm also on AO3 as she_posts_nerdy_stuff)

It's occurred to me recently that I never did an intro post and also I'm just generally feeling that things over here are super disorganised so I've gone through all of my posts since 2022 (this was not a quick task you guys omg) and done my best to organise everything into tags so that you can access them all from here! All the links to the tags, or sometimes individual posts, are below the cut, and the categories are AO3, Grishaverse analysis, Grishaverse edits, Grishasverse knitting projects, and Grishaverse incorrect quotes.

Please note: this is a lot of stuff to wade through and I am sure to have missed the odd thing, but hopefully this is pretty mch everything! If you're looking for something that I've said should be here and can't find it, let me know and I'll do my best to track it down :)

Thank you all so much, love to you all <3

AO3 LINKS (I'm starting with the easier links, I don't have to make tags for these ones)

Original works

As I'm writing this I have four fics up on AO3, two of which are works in progress, and I'll update this post whenever that changes (ie when I finish them or when I start a new one)

UPDATE: Five fics now! Links are below <3

Daughter of the Rain and Snow

225k words, 146 chapters, Kanej focused with Wesper featured and Helnik kinda mentioned, post-canon, no archive warnings, completed

Summary:

Around ten years after the events of Crooked Kingdom, 25-year-old Captain Inej Ghafa frees Maya Olsen from a pleasure house in Ketterdam. Maya is looking for revenge against the man who put her in her position, a man who she knows nothing about except his name: Kaz Brekker.

Don't Go Blindly Into The Dark

100k + words, 60+ chapters, Wesper focused with Kanej featured and Helnik mentioned, pre-canon, canon divergence, no archive warnings, work in progress

Summary:

To hide that he can't read, Jan Van Eck has been forcing his son to pretend he's blind since he was eight years old. Wylan is now attending Ketterdam University, and meeting Jesper Fahey may very well be about to change his life. But is he safe to tell Jesper the truth? And what will Jesper say if he does?

Jesper is struggling to weigh up his life in the Barrel and his life at the University of Ketterdam, and there's a good chance that his growing debt is about to make the decision for him. He hasn't attended class consecutively for months, but maybe that will change when his newest project includes partnering up with Wylan Van Eck. But can he really leave the Barrel behind him? And how long can he keep up the pretence of who he thinks Wylan wants him to be?

Meanwhile there is a darkness growing in Ketterdam, and it seems a killer may be stalking the streets of West Stave. An unknown evil is closing its jaws over the city, and it’s starting to feel like nowhere is safe.

Our Gods Have Abandoned Us

19k + words, 11 chapters, Helnik and Kanej with Wesper kinda featured, so much angst, post-canon, canon-divergence (Van Eck wins AU), major character death, work in progress

This one properly started with this post

Summary:

"Of course they do, Jes," Kaz flexed his fingers in his gloves, "That's what losing a war means. And when that war comes, Kerch can't afford for Shu Han to win it. They'll back Fjerda against Ravka now so that when Shu Han turn against them Fjerda will back them in return. Ravka's navy will fall to Kerch's, most of Ravka's territory will go to Fjerda and if it has any money left then I expect plenty of it will be given to Kerch as part of the deal. The Shu will move against Fjerda to take back the territories they were trying to win from Ravka, and Fjerda will pay them little mind until they declare war on Kerch. Novyi Zem will back Shu Han, because they still think their trade ambassador was killed by the Kerch in what was actually Shu Han's last attempt to start a war over here, Fjerda will back Kerch, refugees will flee to the Wandering Isle and their economy won't be able to withstand it, and meanwhile I will remain exactly where I am and get drunk toasting to the end of the world. You're all welcome to join me,"

OR -

A Van Eck wins AU, mostly exploring how the Crows would respond to the situation but I have some semblance of a larger plot forming I just need to piece it together

If I'm Good Will You Come Back?

2k words, 1 chapter, sad and angst, gen but Helnik mentioned, canon compliant, major character death, completed

Summary:

Five times Matthias Helvar spoke to his baby sister through Djel, and one time that she answered

I’ve put major character death as a tag but it’s nothing beyond canon, it’s just depicted in this fic from a slightly different perspective 👍

Portrait of a Dead Girl

7 chapters so far, gen but also F/M, Alina and the Darkling are in a relationship in this but it isn't shipping them and the Darkling is the villain, canon divergence, alternate universe, rape/non-con, underage, major character death, work in progress

Summary:

Alina Starkov was given to Duke Aleksander Morozova of Os Alta in marriage when she was fifteen years old. Within a year, she was dead. The official cause of Alina's death was marked as putrid fever, but many at the time believed, and many in the future will go on to believe, that she was poisoned by her husband.

-

This fic is completely inspired by The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrel, which is a work of historical fiction based on the real lives of Duchess Lucrezia d'Este (née de' Medici) and Duke Alfonso ii d'Este of Ferrara. You don't need any prior knowledge of The Marriage Portrait or history to read and enjoy this fic, but know that my writing is very much going to mimic that of O'Farrel in format and although I'm hoping to write the story in my personal usual writing style I will definitely be borrowing a lot of my descriptors, symbols, and so on and so forth from O'Farrel - there will be some of mine too though :)

Recommendations

Posts where I'm recommending fics can be found here

GRISHAVERSE ANALYSIS LINKS

Okay this is gonna be where this starts getting complicated to organise but here we go, and hopefully now that I have this as a place to keep it organised I'll be able to routinely come back here and update it so we can keep it all together :)

Assorted analysis - Grishaverse

Grishaverse asks

-> subcategory of asks: 'DK finally gets it together and answers her asks because it's about damn time (working title)'

Chapter-by-chapter SOC analysis

(NOTE: I've really been meaning to bring this series back I just haven't had time, are people still interested??)

Specific posts (I've put these ones here because they're generally the ones people ask to be tagged in or that I reference in other posts)

Kanej bathroom scene analysis

Kaz and Wylan's potential to become each other

Rare Spices Billboard

Inej vs the Wraith

Kaz's views on hierarchy

Religion in the Grishaverse (this one is mostly Djel and a little bit of the Saints; I did also write a lot in a reblog of a really good post on Ghezenism by @skepticalcatfrog as well so if you're interested in either part of that you can find it here, I would highly recommend reading their post it's really interesting)

Shadow and Bone TV show analysis

GRISHAVERSE EDIT LINKS

I'm not really sure how to organise this one but all of them are tagged here

If people would like me to I could come back and try to arrange them by character or ship or something?

GRISHAVERSE KNITTING LINKS

Most of the time when I post about this stuff I give updates on all of them, but if you happen to want to filter them (or if I need to come back looking for something specific) then here are the projects:

Kefta cardigan

Six of Crows blanket

Toy crows of the Crows

GRISHAVERSE INCORRECT QUOTES

I organised these by their sources because there were too many for me to choose another way to sort them tbh

Text posts I made based on things my friends and I have actually said. In real life. - the series

Source: friends

Source: the completely made up adventures of Dick Turpin

Source: community

Source: Parks and Rec

Source: the good place

Source: modern family

Source: our flag means death

Source: ghostbusters

Source: renegade nell

Source: the office

Source: young sheldon

Source: the cornetto trilogy

Source: big bang theory

Source: what we do in the shadows

[jkriordanverse]

⋆｡The Crows Highschool! AU:°✩

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊

Note: I had to divide it into 3 parts because it was too long lmao so this one's for Kanej. These are mainly highschool AUs. I'm also sorry for the spacing bc otherwise i can't see what i'm writing PS: English is not my first language so please don't get mad or annoyed if I wrote anything wrong (EG: incorrect grammar/spelling). Anyways hope you enjoy it :D

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊

Kaz:

Kaz would have a prosthetic leg but he insists on taking a cane because oml this guy will be the drama queen.

I mean like every rumor started with this guy one way or another

He'd have beef with this one guidance councillor with a weird name called Pekking Rolling? Wait no Pekka Rollins.

Solely bc Pekka filed a report that kicked Jordie out of school and is that one teacher/guidance councillor that's super biased and tells kids they should give up on their dreams

Watches Dance moms, also a huge history nerd and lovesssssssssssss murder podcast.

I think he's not very close to his family as a child so he's a bit touch starved but also touch adversed at the same time

Especially after Jordie got kicked out

He'd love to open up to Inej but doesn't know how to

Is secretly a science and history nerd and when Inej found out she gifted him a stamp and Hamilton tickets that they went to watch together

He's super into photography and loves taking polaroids w Inej and his friends when they're out together

secretly an excellent singer and loves singing in the car with Inej

Inej:

that one kid who doesn't talk much but has dirt on everyone

Like she hears everything. and I mean EVERYTHING

that one kid to randomly dissapear and you're like where'd she go? how'd you move so fast?

Loves sparkly glitter pens as a kid and still secretly loves them (she also has markers that smell like yogurt)

sings her heart out in the car and lovesss road tripsssss (I think she'd be Mirren in we were liars tbh)

She is sugar, curiosity and rain (if yk yk)

Inej i think either does ice skating/ gymnastics / or aerial silk dancer and she's really good like she's won competitions.

collects pens.

Loves the radio, taylor swift and phoebe bridgers. You can't change my mind that Inej loves acoustics

Her favourite color is purple and she's lovely, like the cinnamon roll of the whole grade

like you cannot find a single student who hates her

was in a situation where she was s/a'ed as a kid and still flinches from touch sometimes

Overall she's healed most of it and she's still slowly healing as she helps Kaz heal too (omg *sobs*)

Loves Sweet Tooth (like the show)

I feel like in school she'd be the runner and Kaz would be on the bleachers cheering her on (or her timer guy)

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊

[ramblings-of-lola]

omg lola congrats on the 200!!! could i have a latte with kanej?

Thank you!!

I love Kanej, they are one of my favorite fictional couples. They're so special to me mainly because they so clearly love each other and the reader can tell without them physically touching. I also love how they respect each other and have these deeply emotional moments throughout the series. And they wouldn't hesitate to kill for each other. They also don't let their relationship get in the way of their goals. They have such sweet bits of banter and teasing between them too.

[jackwolfes]

I've booked tickets to see Kit's new show and it got me thinking. What are your thoughts on Jesper and magic? We know Kaz has his wee slight of hand schtick but I feel like Jesper would get stuck into something like that, and I think gun twirling would help with card tricks and the like. Now I'm just wondering what a Jesper magician au would be like 😂

two key things on this:

whatever the fuck is going on in the bullet catch scene in good omens season 2 is kazper

1000% jesper and kaz run a con involving stage magicianry except jesper isn't the magician, he's the sexy assistant in a stupid little lowcut one-piece body suit and a bowtie on bare skin. like i love him, i think he's fantastic, i think he'd be such a dick on stage but if he's going to be in a magic show jesper fahey is the sexy assistant doing flourishes and being a cunt

also when jack did next to normal so many folks were like "omg wesper theatre kid au" which i didnt get then and i still don't rate that highly now because if any SOC ship is a theatre kid couple it is (pretty much canonically) kanej.

[manikas-whims]

What are five of your favourite Grishaverse quotes? Send this ask to 5 of your favourite grishaverse blogs!

OMG been a while since i got a fun ask like this. Thanks for sending this lovely anon whom i hope is also a moot 🥺

This was extremely hard simply because I have too many Kanej quotes that i hold close to my heart 😂

But here's 5 I really love with little descriptions of why:

1

I’m going to get my money, Kaz vowed. And I’m going to get my girl.

– Kaz about Inej

I just love this for the simplicity and depth of it. Kaz didn't address Inej as “my wraith”, which he does a lot. No in this moment, he addresses to her as “my girl” because thats the love of his life and he's going to crush all his enemies and save her. We all sleep on this alot 😭

2

She couldn’t just watch him die, she wouldn’t. [...] Her knives were in her hands. She’d kill them all. She’d pile the bodies to the rafters for the stadwatch to find.

– Inej watching Kaz Vs the Dregs fight

Kaz is all “touch her and I'll kill you” but Inej is also “touch him and I'll kill you”. We don't appreciate or acknowledge how deeply and madly Inej is in love with Kaz. She'd kill for him and to protect him.

3

“The life you live, the hate you feel—it’s poison. I can drink it no longer.”

– Matthias to Jarl Brum

An underrated quote. People don't talk much about Matthias's character but this right here is a beautiful one. This shows the exact moment he entirely let go of all the Druskelle ideals he was raised with and all the wrongs he was taught throughout his life. He decided to throw away his hate altogether and start anew. A new and brighter future with Nina 🥺

4

“You’re stupid about a lot of things, Wylan, but you are not stupid.”

– Jesper to Wylan

I love this one simply because after all his life of hearing from Van Eck that he wasn't enough, Jesper is the one who tells him, affirms that Wylan is a fucking genuis and so much more than his shitty father could ever fathom. And when Jesper says it, he kinda snaps at Wylan. He's mad at Wylan for belittling himself and Jesper will have none of that. I just love it!

5

Her silks were feathers, and she was free.

– Inej after choking Heleen and running away with her diamond choker

Contrary to the popular and weird belief in the fandom that Inej would hate wearing silks or putting on makeup, she doesn't. And this statement right here speaks it all. Inej has just beaten Heleen, her monster, the monster of her worst nightmares and she's running free. In this moment, she believes her silks to be feathers. She realises that donning the persona of the Wraith or keeping 20 knives isn't what she needs to best her fears. She manages to do it in a dress made of fake silks alright. And she has made piece with them.

(tbh, i don't think Inej ever said she hated make up. She just said she doesn't like the menagerie's silks because they are fake silks and not the authentic Suli ones)

Anyways, thanks again for this lovely ask ♡

[sanguineerose]

hellllloooooo so you may be aware of my existence now cos i just went through your blog liking most of the posts (sorry for spaming ur notifications btw) but there was this one that said that you will answer any top 5 questions, so here i am

top 5 ice cream flavours

top 5 book series

top 5 queer tv shows

top 5 canon couples

top 5 fictional friendships

top 5 cartoons

top 5 songs

and, the one that interests me the most based on what i've seen on ur blog:

top 5 marauders ships

also have a wonderful day

omg hi hello thank you so much for the questions and i'm really happy you enjoy my silly little blog <3 currently i'm suffering trying to write so you gave me the best excuse to procrastinate a little longer.

top 5 ice cream flavors:

vanilla (i either hate it or love it. if it's a good one i love it)

pistachio

lemon

matcha

cookie dough

top 5 book series (i mostly read standalones so there aren't much on my list):

villains by v.e. schwab (actually obsessed with it)

the broken empire by mark lawrence

six of crows by leigh bardugo

criminal intentions by cole mccade

shades of magic by v.e. schwab

top 5 queer tv shows (i actually can't pick 5 because i haven't watched many tv shows lately :(():

young royals

interview with the vampire

heartstopper

top 5 canon couples (i can't pick three, i guess i just don't read/watch that much romance lol):

andreil from the foxhole court

kanej from six of crows

marshall and benedikt from these violent delights

top 5 fictional friendships (again, this is hard. i read too many sad books):

james and sirius!!!!!!!! going crazy about it actually

sam and frodo from lotr (though in my mind they're in love... but let's stick to canon for once)

robin and steve from stranger things

georgia and pip from loveless

literally any friendships from heartstopper

top 5 cartoons (i'm mostly picking from childhood favs because if i include anything animated, you'll never shut me up):

w.i.t.ch.

courage the cowardly dog

spiderman (the animated series from 94 i think)

adventure time

bob's burgers

top 5 songs (i'm way too into music to pick only 5, so i'm choosing 5 from my on repeat playlist:

w.d.y.w.f.m. by the neighbourhood

every you every me by placebo

hanging out with all the wrong people by billy talent

break stuff by limp bizkit

strangers by kenya grace

top 5 marauders era ships (there are so many great ships in this fandom omg i have so many actually):

rosekiller

wolfstar

pandalily

jily

bartylus

[grishaverse-chaos]

inej for the character game!!

tysm for the ask!!

why I like them: she's so fucking iconic omg, she has so much strength and resilience and integrity

why I don't: actually I think anybody who doesn't like inej should be executed. HOWEVER I flip back and forth trying to decide whether or not I like her characterisation in the show, particularly in s2, and overall I think it's Not Great

favourite episode/scene: that one deleted scene with her and jesper!! it's actually a crime that it wasn't in the show holy shit

favourite season/movie: I hugely prefer her book characterisation tbh, especially in crooked kingdom

favourite line: “what about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? we learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. we learn to wring magic from the ordinary. that was how you survived when you weren't chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. when the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway” is legitimately the best grishaverse quote EVER and I think it really sums up the entire series

favourite outfit: ooooh I love her outfit at the very end of s2, in the scene where we see her as a pirate!

otp: honestly I can't say anything other than kanej, they're really cute and such a good ship in the books as well

brotp: NINEJ I love them sm

headcanon: she and kaz are both total workaholics so they always have to gently nudge each other into taking breaks. idk I think it's cute

unpopular opinion: I'm not sure I really have any?

a wish: look she deserves a happy ending okay, she deserves to do whatever the hell she wants and not be beholden to anybody but still know that she has a home and a person to come back to!!!

an oh-god-please-don't-ever-happen: what if... she's away at sea... and then she comes back to ketterdam and can't find kaz... bc he pissed off the wrong person and now he's dead... and she has to live with the guilt of not being there bc she should have been there and she could have saved him and now he's gone. anyways. would be fun just for the angst of it all tbh

5 words to describe them: resilient, caring, driven, principled, conscientious

my nickname for them: idk I just call her inej? it's not really a name that's easy to shorten lmao

give me a character and I will answer...

[bookishbunnies]

Alright, last episode

Oh no, Wylan don't go into the fold, you are actual sunshine

I am forever in love with everything that comes out of Jespers mouth 'mal is a bird??'

Just realised that jesper is wearing purple, aka the colour of Materialnik

Omg, Wylan, you absolutely beautiful man! You cam hurt them!

Omg Jesper, you should probably put a label on it 😅 but yes that is your man, and he's a fucking amazing gorgeous badass 😍

Alina, he's already dead, don't let the Darkling take his power.

Darkling really fucked up there. If he hadn't hurt Mal already, Alina probably wouldn't have been able to kill him

Gods Inej is just- holy fuck- gods that's beautiful

Without me you have no balance? Bitch you spent centuries without balance, I think she can manage for a while

Well, it's not a knife, but close enough I guess

Oh Alina, that is so not the right choice. Don't become him, or his grandfather

Oh yeah, Nina knows. She knows it wasn't her that brought him back

Omg. Jesper. The book, the name of the book. Omg. It's okay, you'll count properly eventually 😂

Mal, are you trying to break up with the girl who just brought you back from the dead?? Really?? I fucning hope you're not

Oh Matthias, no. Don't fucking trust him Matthias.

Oh no. Don't you fucking dare do this to me. David better be fine. It's not his time. Not yet. No, I will not believe it till we see a body. I don't care, no body no death

No

No

No

No

It wasn't time. It was the one person I felt safe being certain wouldn't die. The one person.

I might be reading into things, but the bee on Zoya certainly is interesting....

Oh, okay, that's interesting. Replacing Sturmhond with Mal? Interesting choice

Wow Kaz. Wow. Cmon man.

Omg. Yes. Yes Kaz.

That is how we state our feelings. Holy shit.

Wow we really getting this entire scene right now. The iconic Kanej scene.

Wait no, wtf. They really said fuck King of Scars huh. I am so sorry for Zoyalai fans. So me, but also all of us.

Okay I'm so confused. They gave us infected Nikolai. Which sets up Kimg of Scars. But fucked up by letting him marry Alina?? Where tf are they going with this, coz its supposed to be to Zoya.

Wait no, they're not getting married? They're just talking about the coronation. Thank fuck, there's hope.

I could fix him. Yes, yes you could Zoya. You absolutely should.

Ohbfuck no, they're still doing the triumvirate. But without David.

They really left us with ending scenes of everyone except Wesper huh. Wtf. Just that snippet with Kaz and Nina with them??

Oh. Oh. Is he? Is he talking about the Ice Court heist? But they need Inej. And they better make up for the lack of 'not just girls'

Oh he is. Jurda parem. It's happening. Yes.

Oh wow. That's one messy coronation

Okay, they've set it up fairly well for a Six of Crows ice court heist season. Well, almost

But they've absolutely destroyed any possibility of getting King of Scars, and also Crooked Kingdom.

I feel like we've traded David for Wesper and I am extremely conflicted about that

[justanotherfanaccount]

it is time

shadow and bone s2e8 reaction...the season finale

"wait...mal is a bird?" I love you jesper

kaz giving nikolai his cane 😭😭 #besties

OMG DEAD "yes! my man! ...oh I mean we haven't actually put a label on it.."

noooo!! this mal death scene is actually heartbreaking!!

"make them redraw all the maps" 😭😭

I'm sobbing omg I can't do this

THE FLASHBACKKKSSS DONT SO THIS TO MEEEE

inej and Zoya my badass queens 😭😭 (sorry for the crying I haven't recovered from the mal death)

THE DARKLING YELLING TO LEAVE HER ALONE 😭😭

THE DARKLING ACTUALLY DID LOVE HER STOP STOP STOP STOP

alina noooo 😭

this is so painful...

in the books I felt like he had to die...and alina was doing the right thing but now I just feel so heartbroken 😭😭

"make sure there is nothing left of me" "blue skies" 😭😭😭 "MY LITTLE SAINT"

ITS TOO MUUUUCCCHH

alina no...

this is going to cost her...I'm just not sure what yet

NOT KAZ KNOWING THE POEM TOLYA WAS SAYING

kaz's face when jesper hugged inej cuz he knows he can't 😭😭

THE CUT OF ON THE FIVE OF CROWS PLEASE!

no matthias...no Matthias don't do it

David nooooo don't be dead! don't be dead!!

not a ring with a ruby 😭😭 omg I can't take this

what does that bee mean..? I might be looking into it too deep...

MAL AS A PRIVATEER I LOVE IT

"choice...not destiny" 🥺

kanej scene omg omg omg

HES BEEN LOOKING FOR HER FAMILYYYY

"what do you want then?" his facials were so perfect 😭😭

THE SCENE ITS THE SCENE OMG ITS STRAIGHT FROM THE BOOKS I CANT TAKE IT

this scene already broke me when I read the books I can't do this they're such good actors the lines are perfect omg omg I cant

YEEESSSS MAL AS STURMHOLD

inej in the ship!?!?! hold up

WHAT ABOUT SIX OF CROWS HOLD UP

NO NOT A TOLYA AND INEJ THING!!! THIS BETTER NOT BECOME A LOVE TRIANGLE

what is going to happen in these next 20 minutes??? I'm so scared

oh god...NOT THE WOLVES

damn!! yes! he's controlling the wolves!

oh god...he just got pardoned but now he won't be

I HATE PEKKA ROLLINS I NEED HIM DEAD

kaz buying out indentures 🥺🥺 my baby

I. do. not. trust. the. apparat.

fuck this guy I love nikolai

oh noooo I knew it was coming but I still wasn't prepared

HE SAID THE LINE

yes Zoya get your man

IS KAZ TALKING ABOUT THE ICE COURT!?!?! AUGGHHHHGHFH

omg yes he is omg omg omg omg

girl don't do it girl

DID ALINA JUST USE THE DARKLINGS POWERS!?!?! OH MY GODDD!!!!

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Hi,

Do you ever think on the first conversation Inej and Kaz had in Heleen's office? It feels like theres a lot there and I wondered if you have any thoughts on it. I come back a lot to when Inej asks Kaz if he convinced Per Haskell to buy out her indenture because "you like Suli girls" and Kaz answers "i don't know enough Suli girls to say"

that's a very interesting sort of snarky answer to me because he refutes the idea that he's the type to fetishize the Suli culture to the point of being "into" Suli women just because they are Suli. But also he doesn't just shut down the idea of him being into anyone. Which ... This is post Imogen debacle, he's resigned himself to not being "into" anyone at this point for several years. He doesn't care how people see him for it either. He could have been ruder or more just more direct about this, but he wasn't. And its like that with many of his early actions towards Inej. He's nicer than you'd think he'd be and its interesting becuase i don't get a sense that Kaz fell for Inej "at first sight", i think his love for her was gradual and snuck up on him (heh) so really everything he did at first and especially not demanding she gets a dregs tatto must have been from some basic sense of compassion, although he'd shank me for saying so.

Also, i always wondered how Kaz explained to Haskell why Inej didnt get a tattoo, then i re-read the books recently i realized omg i bet he totally probably just didn't?! Inej wasn't the type talk about it, she wears concealing clothes and is not very seen/social within the gang so my theory is that lazy ass Haskell didnt ask and assumed she got a tatto and kaz just let the assumption happen. Do you think that's believable?

Hi, thanks so much for your question - and so sorry it’s taken me an eternity to reply!

When I tell you that I think about this meeting once a week… well I’m hoping that you think “woah so cool she knows so much and thinks so in depth about these characters literary analysis is awesome” and not “Jesus Christ she’s insane”. But genuinely, the Kanej meeting is something I think about a lot and I think holds an awful lot of meaning.

The “you like Suli girls” “I don’t know enough Suli girls to say” to me is such a wonderful moment because, as you quite rightly said, it immediately refutes Kaz’s endorsement of the hyper-sexualisation of Suli culture that we see so prevalently in Kerch / Ketterdam (I’ve gone into this at length before but in a whistle stop tour think about the way the Menagerie customers talk about Inej and place so much emphasis on her skin colour, her bedroom at the Menagerie being a “farcical” version of a Suli caravan, the way “the Menagerie always stocked a Suli girl”, the Rare Spices billboard, etc). And this is so important for so many reasons, but in particular because the second Heleen exits the room and she’s alone with Kaz, Inej immediately tenses at the assumption that he is going to rape or assault her- “braced herself for what would come next, fingers twisting in her silks”. And what happens instead? He asks her for her name. Her name, that has been ignored and erased for an entire year as yet another roll of dehumanisation piled against her. Even though the pair discuss and make a clear understanding of the fact that this isn’t some kind of rescue mission and Inej’s world isn’t going to suddenly fix itself, this moment makes an instant connection for Inej between Kaz Brekker and safety. Because somehow, despite everything that’s happening, this moment in Tante Heleen’s office is the safest Inej has felt for an entire year. It’s also interesting that you mentioned he doesn’t shut down the idea of not being interested in anyone and I definitely agree with that, personally I don’t believe that Kaz is asexual although I know some people headcanon him that way it’s just not something that works for me and my perception of his character, and that’s because of situations like his attraction to Imogen and several situations he’s in with Inej. His exact words when considering being with Imogen are “he knew the things he was supposed to want. He did want those things”, which to me very clearly shows that he does experience sexual attraction and sexual desire, and the limiting factor is his ptsd and touch aversion rather than his sexuality/orientation. I agree that Kaz and Inej didn’t experience a love at first sight kind of moment, but I do think that this meeting really solidified their relationship to a level of immediate understanding between them, in essence an acknowledgment of them being “twin soldiers, marching on, pretending they were fine”. They are both able to see the other, clock that they understand to some extent, and respect each other.

Kaz is quite abrasive in this scene, but what always gets me is how confrontational Inej is able to be - “And what happens when you take their money, and you become a rich man?”. (The quote is something to that effect, sorry I don’t have my book with me right now). I think that a big aspect of her being able to summon the confidence to put herself against him so immediately is that she genuinely feels this level of safety with him, because this far he represents the opposite of everything that had tormented her. Or at the very least the polar end of a spectrum that she has been tormented by another part of. And controversially to the image of everything Inej has experienced in the Barrel so far, Kaz is amused by and enjoys her standing up to him, in fact he almost seems endeared by it saying “Then you can steal all my secrets too”.

And ohh the tattoo, or lack thereof, makes me so happy! It doesn’t require much reading between the lines to understand the relevance of Kaz not forcing Inej to take the Dregs tattoo on, she even says herself that he refused to be the one who marked her again, but I love the idea that he didn’t actually tell anyone she’s not got it!! I hadn’t considered this before but it makes perfect sense with everything we know about Inej’s relationship with the Dregs - Nina doesn’t know she lacks the tattoo, and Inej comments on the fact that the others can’t see her scars from having the Menagerie feather removed but that “they all knew it was there”, suggesting she keeps her forearms covered most of the time, and the emotional disconnect she feels from the rest of the Dregs is always discussed at an intellectual level and in the way she spends most of her time with Kaz or alone rather than with them rather than any dislike/distrust/etc of her because she didn’t take on the tattoo. I absolutely love this theory because it takes away any feeling of guilt around lacking the tattoo and also makes it a far more personal thing to be shared only between Kaz and herself.

Thank you so much, I’m so sorry it took me so long to reply, but I hope this made sense and that you enjoyed reading it! <3

[mayhemwrites]

heyyyy would you be open to maybe doing like a kanej first kiss after like a lot of healing and stuff?? idk im just in such a mood for kanej fluff rn :)) btw i love your main blog and i think ive read some of your writing and ita really good so thank you ❤️

omg, thank you so much!! that's really sweet of you omg

hope this is cute and fluffy enough 💕💕💕

kanej first kiss: “not like this”

The first time it happens is in a bathroom. Kaz changing Inej's bandage, his breaths short and sharp. Both terrified. It's only a moment of connection, of touch, before Kaz pulls away from her. She can't say she isn't disappointed. She also can't say she's surprised.

And then she leaves. Goes away from Ketterdam, which is all she's wanted for five years. Away from him, which is something she never thought she'd regret as much as she does.

She loves what she's doing now. Loves knowing that she's making a difference, stopping people from getting hurt.

She's just always conscious that without Kaz, it feels as if there's an ever-present hole in her heart.

So she comes back to visit, exactly one year, ten months, and seventeen days after she left. (Not that she's been counting.)

He's waiting at the dock for her, like he always is whenever she lets herself daydream about her return.

How had he known? Well, he's Kaz. He knows everything. She pushes away the thought that he came to the dock regularly, hoping for her to come back. That's not possible. This is Kaz. Resolutely unsentimental. (Even if he had told her that he loved her, right before she left.)

There's a wound on his face, dried blood on his jaw. Without thinking, she puts a hand to his face, fingertips brushing his chin as she inspects it.

This time, he doesn't pull away. Doesn't flinch at her touch. The wound isn't half as bad as it looks. So her worries were unfounded - he'll be fine.

Inej breathes a sigh of relief. Kaz will be fine. He always is. And she always worries that one day his luck will run out.

She goes to drop her hand, but before she can, she feels his gloved fingers on her wrist.

"Don't," he says.

"No?"

"I... I can manage this, now. I've been... working on my issues, let's say."

So she keeps her hand where it is.

Then - what is he doing? He takes off one glove, then the other.

He puts his own hand on her face, and even though he tries to hide it, she can see his smile. A small smile, one that doesn't come out very often. She's only ever seen it once or twice.

He looks so proud of himself, and her heart swells. There's a flutter of something in her stomach. For once, it isn't pure dread. Something else. Pure joy.

"Is this okay?" he asks.

She looks up at him, and hopes he can tell just how much she loves him from the look in her eyes. "Yes. Yes, this is more than okay."

He takes a shaky breath. "Actually, there's... something else that I think I'm ready to try. If you want to."

"What?"

"A kiss. This may sound unusually sentimental, but as I've been working through... everything, over the last two years, I've been finding more and more that I desperately want to kiss you."

Her heart stops, then starts again, thudding against her ribcage.

He desperately wants to kiss her.

He desperately wants to kiss her.

"Yes. Please," she says, her voice slightly breathless.

And he closes the gap between them, his lips on hers.

It's nothing like she's ever felt before. Inej has been kissed before, but not like this. Not as if she's everything somebody could ever want - and not just because of her body, or her talents, but because it's her.

Kaz loves her. She's conscious of everywhere they're touching - her hand on his face, and his on hers. His hand on the small of her back, holding her steady. She reaches up to run her free hand through his hair, and smiles with satisfaction at the shocked-yet-pleased look on his face.

She pulls away for a brief moment, to whisper: "I missed you. Every second of every day, I missed you."

"I didn't think you would," he admits. "I missed you too, though."

"Did you really?"

"Why do you think I was at the dock?"

Her eyes widen in surprise. "You- did you know I was on my way back?"

"No," he says, shaking his head almost sheepishly. "I hoped you would, though. Every day, I hoped. Selfishly, yes - I heard about everything you've done, and you do much more good out there than you ever did here. But I missed you."

It's as if her brain has short-circuited.

He missed her.

He hoped she would return.

He missed her.

There are no words for everything she feels. How she didn't think she would get to have this, not since she was a little girl. She'd thought she would have to be alone and independent forever.

But now she has Kaz to lean on, and that's exactly what she does.

She leans into him, relaxing. She lets him hold her, knowing he won't let go of her. His arms wrap around her waist, and she knows she never wants to leave him again.

After a minute, she looks up at him. "I want to kiss you again," she tells him softly. "May I?"

He nods, and when she looks into his eyes and kisses him, she knows he's hers forever.

[its-all-ineffable]

Fandom Focus #32

IT movies/Reddie - I mean...they have taken back over my life. Richie x Eddie are my babies and I am writing a Reddie fix-it fic right now. I forgot how much I loved them, and all the Losers Club too, and I just have them on the brain!

Jurassic Park/World - I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden, I started re-watching all the Jurassic Park/World movies, mainly Jurassic Park and The Lost World, and have now watched them both several times over the last 3 weeks. I have also finally read the first Jurassic Park book and I loved it!! (Ian Malcolm is my favourite character in every universe apparently). Also started The Lost World book. Honestly, this is my favourite movie franchise.

Shadow & Bone (The Crows mainly) - They're still on my brain, yes they are! I need to finish the Six of Crows book soon; it was so good. I just love the found family aspect, and each couple (though Matthias still needs to grow on my more, both TV and Book versions). Having a balst with all the amazing fics though, especially for Kanej and Wesper.

Good Omens - I had to rewatch it after Hillywood's AMAZING parody which you should all go watch right now! Anyway, I have now re-watched the show that made me make a Tumblr account another 3 times, and I am SO EXCITED FOR SEASON 2 OMG! It comes out 4 days after my birthday, on the last day of my holiday and I am so excited to see it!!!!!

Also still loving Interview With The Vampire 2022 (more fics coming I promise, don't worry!) and Heartstopper (so excited for season 2)!

[sleepless-crows]

Get to Know Me

i have 2 sideblogs that have nothing that isn't here @afraid-to-jinx-it @thepretentiouspoet

if you haven't watched the new black panther movie, please block the tags 'black panther wakanda forever spoilers', 'wakanda forever spoilers', 'bpwf spoilers', 'black panther 2 spoilers', and 'black panther spoilers'. i'll use all these tags so you can do only one! but these are the ones i've noticed many people use

actual post under the cut

favorite books: six of crows, crooked kingdom, king of scars, rule of wolves, the ballad of never after (currently)

favorite authors: marissa meyer and leigh bardugo

what do i post: fandom stuff (so mainly grishaverse), lots of taylor swift stuff, funny reblogs, and rants

my MAIN fandoms:

taylor swift (like very prominent in my blog)

grishaverse (also very very prominent)

riordanverse (i post/reblog at least once a day, or not)

the lunar chronicles (i post sometimes and i love basically any marissa meyer and I HAVE YET TO READ CURSED)

keeper of the lost cities (i still haven't finished stellarlune please tag your spoilers <3)

once upon a broken heart (i reblog but never post but i love ouabh and tbona so much i swear)

i have read other books but these are just the ones that i really, really love and hold a very special place in my heart and what i made a tumblr account for)

HI THERE

you are welcome on my blog unless you aren't

what do you put on these things

my favorite characters ever are Inej Ghafa, Kaz Brekker, Zoya Nazyalensky, and Nikolai Lantsov in no particular order (i do have in other fandoms but in my life currently, it's them)

i should tell you what i post/reblog about but i myself can't even count them. but if i had to give a generalization, 85% of the things i post are either about six of crows or taylor swift. but i post a lot more so, should i write that down??

okay so. taylor swift. six of crows. rants. percy jackson. the lunar chronicles (i never post but i reblog, i don't know why). keeper of the lost cities (i liveblog reading stellarlune and its been *counts on fingers* a few weeks since i actually made progress help). short short essay rants. mbti. once upon a broken heart (only reblog because i don't think a lot of my followers have read it lol). trying to get haiku bot's attention. humor or stupid posts (its subjective, you tell me). omg wednesday now too.

please send me asks. i am bored. everything is still and unmoving. literally say or ask anything. just ask. please.

i also have a knack of making six of crows x taylor swift songs lyric analyses because so if you like that great

Renegade and Kanej

All Too Well and Kaz Brekker

Hoax and Kanej

also a ton of other ones that are just a lot. dwoht with kanej and zoyalai. ciwyw with zoyalai.

and some that aren't analyses but treacherous is kanej. new romantics is the crows. mirrorball is nikolai lantsov.

(and a lot more in my drafts and probably some i forgot)

(you can find them better in @afraid-to-jinx-it than in this account if you want to search my blog for them)

i tag queues with "tryna block queue out cause i'll never impress you"

[sabrinaacarpenters]

hello omg i love your kanej sets esp this one : https://www.tumblr.com/nina-zcnik/712058085076844544/kaz-brekker-inej-ghafa-shadow-and-bone-208-no?source=share

if you don't mind, could you let me know your sharpening settings? like your sets are just so crisp and beautiful 😭😭

hi, thank you so much!!

for this set i used my usual sharpening settings, which is one smart sharpen layer with 500% amount with 0.3px radius then another with 30% amount and 10px radius