#jesper has his money on yes

[shaykappa]

Favourite/Funniest Line's from Crooked Kingdom

"Let's go." "Me?" "No the idiot behind you."

"How is-" "Nina is fine. Jesper is fine. Everyone is fine except for me because I am stuck with a gang of hand-wringing nursemaids."

"Now why can't people be this easily trained?" Kaz murmured as he crouched to oblige the dog with a belly rub.

"Did you know I am next in line for the Fjerdan throne? They call me Princess Ilse of Engelsberg." "There is no princess of Engelsberg. It's a fishing town."

"Has anyone noticed this whole city is looking for us, mad at us, or wants to kill us?" "So?" "Well, usually it's just half the city."

"Big, blond and blind. The Fjerdan way."

"If I live I'll buy you waffles." "You don't have enough money to buy her waffles."

"Do you know what Van Eck's problem is?" "No honor?" "Rotten parenting skills?" "Receding hairline?"

"Isn't that how things are done around here? We all tell Kaz we are fine and the do something stupid?" "Are we that predictable?" "Yes."

"It seems everyone is forming alliances." "They're called friendships Kaz."

"You are very welcome Nina Zenik. You may repay me in the costumary way." "Waffles?" "Lots of them."

"I need to do this. I've never been to my mother's grave. I am not leaving Kerch without saying goodbye." "Trust me, you care more than she does."

"You are stupid about a lot of things Wylan, but you are not stupid. And if I ever hear you call yourself a moron again, I am going to tell Matthias you tried to kiss Nina. With tongue." "He' ll never believe it." "Then I 'll tell Nina you tried to kiss Matthias. With tongue."

"Come on, let's do steal all my dad's money. "Isn't it your money?" "Okay, let's go steal it back."

"I think you 'd flirt with a date palm if it would pay you any attention." "If I flirted with a plant, you can bet it would stand up and take notice."

"Yes, yes, Nina Zenik is hungry. Now, will someone feed me before I am forced to cook one of you?" "Don't be ridiculous. You don't know how to cook."

"On a dare I ate a literal through full of waffles and nearly went back for seconds."

"Pick up the pace." "If I spill a single drop of this it will burn straight through the floor onto my father's dinner guests." "Take your time."

"I am Dunyasha, the White Blade, trained by the Sages of Ahmrat Jen, the greatest assassin of this age." "Doesn't ring a bell."

"Fate brought me here." "And does fate pay your wages?"

"My parents thought I would drown because I crawled into the sea as a baby, laughing." "Perhaps they were worried you would talk yourself to death."

"Kaz. You may not be glad we are alive, but we are glad you are alive."

"You are better than waffles, Matthias Helvar." "Let's not say things we don't mean, my love."

"Are you mad?" "I'd probably be happier if I was."

"You have to be the craziest bastard I ever met." "I'll take that as a compliment."

"My leg! My leg!" "I recommend a cane."

"What is wrong with him?" "Same thing that's always wrong with him. He's Kaz Brekker."

Jesper followed Wylan down the hall. "Hey." Wylan kept going.

"Jes, I 've thought about this-" "Thought of me? Late at night? What was I wearing?"

Wylan ran his tongue over his lips and spat in his father's face.

He was pale, with tufty orange brows and a hunched posture that gave him the look of a giant shrimp.

He felt bad for the guy. Not bad enough to wake him up and untie him, but still.

"I 've been shot!" He had not been shot.

"How about I push you in the canal and we see if you know how to swim?"

"Tell you what. When the day comes, mark it on your calendars. I can think of a lot of people who 'll want to throw a party.

"Wait. Is my tie straight?"

#six of crows #crooked kingdom #soc #kaz brekker #kaz x inej #kaz rietveld #inej ghafa #wraith #jesper fahey #jesper x wylan #kaz dirtyhands brekker #nina zenik #nina x matthias #matthias helvar #wylan van eck #wylan van sunshine #wylan hendriks #funny

[bookishdream]

Blackmail

Kaz Brekker x fem!Reader Summary: Reader gets kidnapped by the Crows Word Count: 3k CW: swearing, abusive parent, blood

She used to live her best life; a daughter of a council’s member, an heir to the ground so big she couldn’t even begin to comprehend its vastness. However, when she finally came to the age where she was to come into own money and ground, she was kidnapped. By one of the gangs violating the streets of Ketterdam, nonetheless. 

“Who, the fuck, do you think you are?” she pulled on the ropes binding her wrists. The room was so dark that she wasn’t able to see a person standing by the wall opposite of her. When she’d been dragged through the part of the city she hadn’t ever visited, she’d been hearing two voices behind her, one female and one male, bickering back and forth about trivial matters. Yet, when the bag had been removed, she took notice of another girl, sitting on a window sill, her legs loosely dangling over the edge, her face didn’t convey any feelings, only cold indifference.  She also noticed two men, one looked as if he was Fjerdan with his blonde hair and strong face features, whereas the other had brown skin and a little smirk was pulling at his lips. He looked like he was having the time of his life. She counted four of her captors, but she quickly realized who had taken her. She sighed and when she felt her wrist start bleeding, she stopped trying to get free. 

“Well, well, aren’t you a little feisty?” the pale-skinned girl teased, her brown hair fell loosely on her back, and she was leaning against the brick wall of the warehouse. “I told you she wouldn’t be willing to cooperate.”

“Tell me one person who would be, if they were tied up and kept against their will,” y/n spat, sweat coating her forehead. She was trying to come up with a plan that would let her run, but not when all of their attention was on her. 

The girl rolled her eyes, “But for Kaz’s being late, you need to be patient, yes sweetheart? You will hear a reason soon,” 

“It’s ridiculous,” 

“Tell me about it,” the brown-skinned boy remarked, when he came closer to her, and the light from the street fell onto him, y/n noticed his belt with two revolvers, they shone. She swallowed a big lump of saliva, her anxiety spiking. “It’s never fun, when we kidnap someone,”

“So you’re telling me it’s not the first time?” 

“Love, we’re professionals, of course it’s not our first time,” the boy smirked into her direction, making her frown. What did they want from her?

Suddenly, she heard a rather loud clicking of something. The warehouse must’ve been empty, since the echo of the sound matched the loudness of her own heart beating in her chest. She cursed when she realized what Kaz the girl meant. Her father would warn her about the nightmare of Ketterdam, a boy who had deceived her father more than once, and the boy who was a top priority to her father. Since Brekker had robbed him for the first time, messing with his books, her father wanted nothing more than to catch him. He’d never accomplished that. Obviously. 

“You have her? Good,” his hoarse voice matched his looks. He had a sharp jawline and his brown eyes were set on the chair she was sitting on. “I hope you’ve heard of me, it will be easier to make an introduction. I’m sure your father has told you plenty of me.”

Y/n rolled her eyes, lifting her head so as to look at Kaz, who had taken a step closer to her. “Careful, because your hat might not have more room for that ego of yours,” she heard a surprised gasp of someone from behind Brekker. 

“She came for his hat,” the boy who had talked to her earlier whispered.

“I heard that, Jesper,” the other girl, who was sitting at the windowsill answered. 

Kaz didn’t look like her words made any impression on him, he simply leaned on his cane further, looking y/n into her eyes. She held his stare. 

“What do you want, Brekker?” she asked, her voice still. 

“We need a Squaller for our job,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Then go and find yourself one, I don’t see how this concerns me,” she still tried to keep her face as impassive as she could. 

“Oh, I think you know exactly how this concerns you,” Brekker smirked. “You and your mother are clever, I need to give this to you, but nothing goes past my Wraith. Your little travels to the countryside, your mom’s forged papers. I know everything,” he emphasized the last word, his unsaid threat making her shiver.

“And what would you possibly need from an untrained Squaller?” she asked, “Hypothetically speaking, of course.” 

“You are a descendant from a powerful line of Grisha, y/n. With a little more training, you could control clouds and weather, am I right?”

She kept silent, weighing Kaz’s words. She was fucked, no matter what path would she choose. Working with him and his gang came with a strong possibility of her father finding out and his wrath. However, not working for him and letting him go the stadwatch with the intel he had would put into jeopardy not only her, but her mother as well. 

“I don’t know if I could control the weather,” she finally whispered, giving up. She could hear breaths of relief from the others. “I haven’t really tried doing more than controlling and bending the wind.” 

“Well,” Kaz smirked, his cane clicking as he was walking toward the exit. “You’d better be a fast learner,” his final words echoed in her mind. 

Few days later, she still couldn’t get rid of Kaz’s words. The littlest sound startled her and she’d lost her appetite. She was in the library, when one of the servants came to her with a little note. The boy left the piece of paper on the table she was sitting at, and left.. She took the note, the paper was cream-white and the scribble looked as if it had been written in a hurry. The location that had been written told her nothing. She wasn’t familiar with other districts in Ketterdam. She sighed and got up to take a map. She had an hour to find the place and get there. 

After finally finding out that the location of the meeting was outside the city, she cursed at Kaz for leaving her such a short time to arrive there. She quickly changed for her outdoor clothes and left. 

When y/n eventually showed up, she saw that everyone was already there and she noticed a new face. He looked very young, his head full of red curls and a face full of freckles. He smiled kindly at her. 

“You’re late,” Brekker commented.

“And you’re unbearable, yet I don’t go around stating the obvious,” she remarked, her hair being lifted by the wind. “Of course I’m late, I live on the other side of Ketterdam,” 

Kaz wanted to answer her, but when he opened his mouth, the white-skinned girl interrupted him and clasped her hands. 

“I think we should begin,” she came closer to y/n, her hand outstretched, “My name is Nina, the one with the guns is Jesper, the one with the best arms is Matthias,” Nina winked at him, making the Fjerdan’s cheeks tint pink. “The redhead is Wylan and Inej is probably somewhere on the roof.” At the girl's last words y/n turned around and tilted her head up in order to see the Wraith somewhere. 

“Are you a Grisha?” y/n asked, letting Nina lead the way towards the area that was more vacant. They were on the field, only buildings that were in the close vicinity were factories or empty warehouses. 

“I am a Heartrender,” Nina replied, motioning for y/n to stay in her place. Then Nina took a few steps back and stretched out her arms. “Show me what you’ve got.” 

The weather was mostly sunny, with some clouds floating on the sky. It wasn’t very windy, but it was enough for y/n to work with. First she bent the wind into a small whirlwind at Nina’s feet. Then she made it a bit bigger, but still safe. She could feel her face getting some color on it. Her mom had said that she had been looking like a ghost for the past few days. At last, y/n gathered more of the air and she made a show of disheveling Nina’s hair, blowing wind under Jesper’s coat and, her personal favorite, she flew off Kaz’s hat. She heard Jesper and Nina’s silent laugh, however Kaz was looking at her with an indifferent expression. 

“How long until she can control the storm?” he questioned, his moves smooth as he used his cane to lift the fallen hat. He put it back on his head and shifted his way back onto the stick. 

“A week, tops, she has a huge potential,” Nina answered, her eyes glimmering with excitement. 

Y/n rolled her eyes, she could feel the troubles she was going to be in, were their little scheme be found out. 

It took much more than Nina assessed. Only after two and a half weeks was y/n ready to call a small lighting. It wasn’t big, hell, it couldn’t even hurt anyone, but it was something. And she was proud of it. Nina happened to be a good teacher, partially because she herself had been studying in the Little Palace once. 

“Good job, y/n!” She exclaimed, the wind created by the Squaller carrying her voice. “Now call for something bigger,” 

“Nina, you know I can’t,” she breathed, her heart beating so fast and loud that she couldn’t differentiate if the last thud was her heart of the strike of lightning she did. 

“One last time, you have so much undiscovered power! Imagine what you could do once you finally grasp it!.” 

Y/n breathed a pant, her forehead and the nape of her neck was covered in sweat. She could feel her eyes burning from it, even though she had been using the wind to cool her down. She called for the clouds above her head once more time, gathering the electricity sizzling in them. She pressed her palms together and focused on the tree standing mere meters from the pair. Then, y/n let out a small gasp and shot out her palm into this direction. Neither of Grisha expected what would happen next. Y/n didn’t think her powers could be so grand. The alone tree that was standing in the distance was now on fire and both of the girl’s eyes widened in shock. 

“Shit,” Y/n mumbled, she rushed to somehow pull out the air and put out the fire. It cost her even more energy than creating the lighting. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished and only dark strokes of smoke were coming into the air. 

“That was amazing!” Nina giggled, her face brightening in the smile. “Let’s go eat something.”

Y/n let Nina lead the way to the Crow Club, where hopefully they would serve her some food. She was starving. She had never used her powers so much that she felt famished. When the two girls finally arrived at the Club, y/n noticed how much commotion there was. People were everywhere, occupying the poker tables, playing black jack or sitting at the bar. She couldn’t glimpse much more, because Nina was pulling her to the staircase. Upon arriving on the first floor, where there was a room big enough to accommodate seven people she saw a couch and, with a long sigh, sat on it. 

“Any progress?” Kaz asked, while making his way into the room and then towards the desk that was facing the couch and two armchairs. Y/n looked at him and rolled her eyes, refusing to answer his question before putting food into her mouth. She first smelt then saw waffles, her head shot in the direction of the door that was being opened and closed by Nina and Jesper on her hills. Y/n smiled when the Heartrender handed her the plate with hot food and started eating it like she had never seen food in her life. 

“Someone would think that your father is starving you,” Brekker remarked, his voice hollow. 

“Someday, I will put this cane straight into your-’” she was interrupted by Jesper putting a waffle into her open mouth, shutting her up. She rolled her eyes again, but didn’t say anything more. She was focused on eating her lunch, zoning out when Nina informed Kaz what her teachings brought. 

After the afternoon and a part of the evening spent with the Crows, y/n got up and made her way home. She could glimpse Inej a few times, while walking down Ketterdam’s streets. She knew that the Suli was just making sure that y/n wouldn’t spill the secret, but it made her feel better that she had company, nonetheless. 

When she eventually came home, she was met with silence. Lamps were lit up, however she couldn’t hear any talking. She silently creeped over to the living room and she saw her father sitting in the armchair, looking into the fire. 

“My dearest daughter,” the man started, placing his cold gaze upon her. Y/n knew he somehow had learnt what she had been doing for the past weeks. She swallowed, but kept her face straight. “Do you want to explain why people saw you with those brutes?” He got up and made his way towards her. 

His breath reeked of alcohol, but he still came close enough to grab her chin and tilt it so she could see straight into his eyes. She tried to explain herself, but her father lifted his fist and punched her. She was blinded by pain, she could feel hot blood coming from her nose to her mouth. She couldn’t brace herself for another hit, this time his fist connected with her stomach. Y/n doubled over, breathing hard. Her father used this as an advantage and struck another hit to her face and the girl fell to her knees. 

“Get up, you pathetic girl,” he crouched and his face was at the same level as hers. She spat at him, saliva mixed with blood. Her father made a disgusting noise and wiped his face off with the sleeve of his shirt. He roughly took her arm and lifted her up. He swung once again, but his blow never met y/n. She used her desperation and power and hauled her father straight into the window that was behind him. There was a lot of shattered glass and she could glimpse a bit of blood on the pieces that stayed in the window. Y/n didn’t think longer, she made her way towards the door, stumbling. 

She didn’t know if Inej was still somewhere on the rooftops, but still y/n ran into the direction of the Crow Club. Her feet heavy and her face swollen, but she kept running until she saw the familiar building. She barged into the club, running for the staircase and making her way to the top of the stairs. To Kaz’s room. 

She opened the door, noticing the dimmed lights and Kaz sitting at his desk. He lifted his gaze and the only thing that indicated his surprise was his frown. 

“Rough night?” he asked, getting up from his desk. He walked closer to her, looking her up and down. “Please, do say that the other guy looks worse.”

She breathed a small laugh but only shook her head. “I didn’t know where else to go,”

Kaz sighed, going to the small, adjoined room, y/n suspected it was a small bathroom. A moment later, Brekker emerged with a small kit in his gloved hands, he handed her the kit and motioned for y/n to the room he had just left. 

“Go clean yourself, I’ll tell Inej to fetch you some clean clothes,” 

“Thank you,” it was the first time she let herself be that vulnerable in front of someone. She wanted to laugh at the irony of the situation. 

Y/n went into the bathroom, her limbs heavy and her head hurting. She took a look at herself and she spooked herself. Her whole left cheek was swollen, her eye nearly shut, her lip cracked and blood was marking its way down her chin and neck. She swallowed and started cleaning herself. When she mostly got rid of the blood, she lifted her shirt and saw a big, purple bruise on her ribcage. She had a hard time breathing. She felt the room swirling around her, but she strove to pull herself together. With as deep breath as she could take she left the bathroom. 

Kaz was sitting at his desk again. He lifted his head when she stepped into the room and observed her when she took the fresh set of clothes from his bed. She walked towards the door. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” his hoarse voice came from behind her. She turned around and saw him frowning even more than before. 

“I don’t know, maybe Nina has some room on her floor,” she remarked, hugging the clothes to her chest and turning her face back to the door. 

“Stay,” Kaz whispered, his voice barely audible. Y/n stopped in her tracks, her spine straightened. Did she hear correctly? “You can take the bed,”

“Kaz, you don’t have to,” she started, but was promptly interrupted by Brekker’s voice.

“Shut up and lay down, you stubborn girl,” he came back to whatever work he had, y/n heart grew and she smiled for the first time in hours. 

“Who would’ve thought there’s a heart underneath all of those layers,” she teased, laying down on his bed. 

“Such a pity your father didn’t knock your teeth out,” Kaz said, but the small smirk on his face hinted that he wasn’t serious. 

“Asshole,” 

#kaz brekker my beloved #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x reader #six of crows one shot #six of crows #crooked kingdom #grishaverse #nina zenik

[lilisouless]

Zoya: the theater group that was supposed to come for the anniversary of the end of the Ravka war cancelled, i promised a play!

Nikolai: don't worry, i got this

---

Zoya: remind me never blindly trust an "i got this"

Nikolai: why? they are making a good job on the effects, and they will do anything for money

Alina: shhh! my big moment is comming!

Jesper with a long white wig: But my beloved Mole-

Wylan whispering: Mal-

Jesper: There has to be another way!

Wylan shirtless and with a six pack painted on his belly with a marker: There is no other way, Alina. Its your fate and dying for you its mine, as said by the cool and not at all awful tattoo of mine

Mal: I wasn't shirtless when i died

Alina: in my mind you were

Jesper: i can't do it!

Wylan: you must!

Jesper: okay! (fakes stabbing Wylan who fakes a collapse) oh Mal, Rakva will honor your braveness, and i will always remember how much i love your abs...and personality and all that shit

Alina snifs: its like they were just there

---

Zoya: so..why did she choose that role?

Nikolai: she said it she wanted a loud range of emotions

Nina with a big fake black kefta: Join me, Alina Starkov! join me to the shadow side , HAHAHAHA!

Zoya: at least practicing her evil laugther actually paid up

Jesper: Never! you just will just steal my power!

Nina stomping her foot; but why won't you give it to me?! why-won't you give it to me!

Mal: and...now "the darkling" is crying like a baby...at least they got that right

Nina: You need me! you need the shadow!

Jesper: no...this is..BONE! (fakes stabs Nina)

Nina: noooo! i am dyiiing....nooo, why didn't i bring a blade proof kefta, nooo

Nina fake coughing: Alina...please...do something for me...

Jesper fake crying while an onion slips from his fake kefta: yes?

Nina: "cough" tell...Zoya...to give that little grisha, Nina Zenik (the cutest one) all the waffles she wants (fakes a collapse)

Jesper: now its my time to die too, Tamar. Tolya, bring me my boytoy

Mal: excuse me? "man toy" please

Kuwei enter the scenario while dragging Wylan around

Tolya: is he supposed to be me or you?

Tamar: he has an undercut, so probably me-

Kuwei: Sankta Alina, we can cure you! I can cure you with my axe!

Kuwei turning around,showing a sidetail on the other side of his face: this makes me want to do some poetry

Tamar: oh, he is both of us, like the detail that the arm playing me is more muscular

Tolya: its literally not-

Jesper: no...i´ll die, my job here is done

Kuwei as Tolya : but my saint! you can't leave us!

Kuwei turning around as Tamar: Ravka is still a mess

Jesper: And thats your problem now, so long suckers! (fakes to die over Wylan´s body as Kuwei cries)

---

Inej with a fake blue kefta: i hope all of you know how lucky you are to be on my pressence

Zoya: this whole play is awful, all our portrayals are so one note and exagerated, we are not like that on real life. My eyes are too good for this sight

Inej : A triple funeral, a country with no money (flips her hair) my eyes are too good for this sight

Zoya: everyone shut up

Matthias with a cardboard crown: Oh yes, and i am the king now, i was hidden to treat my injuries completely unrelated to demonic possesion and (looks up at cue cards) improbable...i am a pearl...something , something...charming

Nikolai: who let him play me?

Kaz with a cheap red wig and a patch before the big curtain falls : and i...was ruination

Zoya: always the need to have the last word

Genya clapping: as "she" should

#shitpost #grishaverse shitpost #to clear possible confussion the crows are all in the play #everyone else is in the audience looking #shadow and bone shitpost #netflix shadow and bone #six of crows #leigh bardugo #crooked kingdom #grishaverse #sab shitpost #zoya nazyalensky #nikolai lantsov #kaz brekker #jesper fahey #wylan van eck #nina zenik #inej ghafa

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Kaz and Wylan’s potential to become each other

Wow, you guys were a lot more excited about this than I was expecting! I made a post briefly mentioning this idea and it got way more attention that I was expecting, so as promised here is my explanation and I’ve tagged people who asked for it at the end :)

*WARNING: CONSTANT SPOILERS AHEAD*

Ok so the driving forcing of this comparison is rooted in the similarities of their characters and their backstories. Both of them lost a close family member, were abused by men with power over them, and experienced a form of ‘rebirth’ by nearly drowning in the Ketterdam canals. They also both experience disability; Kaz using a cane for a broken leg that didn’t heal correctly, and Wylan having severe dyslexia that prevented him from learning to read. A key difference that separates them, and arguably is a representation of the difference in the way their experiences have shaped their personalities as well, is that Kaz’s disability is a direct result of his chasing after vengeance, whereas Wylan’s disability was used as an excuse for his father to abuse him for what we as the reader see to be a minimum of eight years. (I’m assuming this because he is 16 in the book and was 8 when his mother ‘died’, which is the point that he describes he father to have “given up on him”)

I’m gonna quickly hop to parallels between Kaz and Pekka Rollins, bare with me I promise it’s relevant, which are quickly established as a key part of the novels. When Inej compares them, Kaz’s reply is “I don’t sell girls, I don’t con helpless kids out of their money” to which she gently responds “look at the floor of the Crow Club, Kaz”. Aside from this being the heartbreaking line that it is, it also does a very good job of highlighting their similarities and a similarity that they share with Jan Van Eck. When they meet the merch at the end of the first book they meet on an island called Vellgeluk, which is described as being popular with smugglers and slavers like those who kidnapped Inej. The other Crows are surprised Van Eck knows about Vellgeluk, but Kaz simply says “maybe he isn’t the upstanding merch he appears to be”. Great subtle foreshadowing for his double cross, and great establishment of the link between these three characters. In fact, Van Eck and Kaz echo each other more than you might think. Just as Kaz states “Greed bows to me, it is my servant and my lever”, Van Eck says “Yes, Chaos will come. And I will be it’s master”. In their first meeting, Van Eck accuses Kaz of murder and gambling with people’s lives, and in return Kaz points out that 1 in 5 of Van Eck’s ships will never return because they will sink or “fall prey to pirates”, so they are both doing the same thing, and that they both have the same motivations for this bloodshed: “profit”.

Now consider how often Wylan echoes Kaz, and therefore whether he echoes his father as well. They both have exceptional memories, Kaz’s being photographic/eidetic and Wylan being able to put words to music in his head to remember pages worth of infomation - this is even emphasised by Kaz being able to count cards when he gambles, saying “he could keep track of the game for up to three decks” and Jesper asking Wylan if he’d be able to apply “that trick to counting cards” to which he replies “probably. But I won’t”. They also both have impressive intellects, which could have placed them far higher up in the world than they’ve found themselves if it weren’t for cruel circumstances - Van Eck even comments on this, saying it angers him that Kaz has so much potential but does nothing with it. Then there’s their tendency to avoid being vulnerable. I think we too often overlook the fact that no-one knows Jan Van Eck hired two men to kill his son, not even Jesper, and that not even Inej knows what happened to Kaz on the Reaper’s Barge. Jesper believes that Wylan left his house as a result of his father’s abuse but that it was still his choice, and Inej has no information beyond “Pekka Rollins killed my brother” and the explanation of the con when Kaz faces off with Rollins in Crooked Kingdom. I genuinely believe that the biggest thing separating them is where they place blame for their situations. Kaz blames Pekka Rollins. Wylan actually blames himself.

Arguably, although he catalysed the events, if Rollins hadn’t conned Kaz and Jordie they still would have suffered in an almost identical way: they would both contract the Queen’s Lady Plague, they wouldn’t have enough money for both medicine and boarding, and Jordie would die. In that scenario Kaz would have still been left penniless and alone with nowhere to go, but he wouldn’t have had anyone to blame. In fact, he may have died as well because it’s really his drive for vengeance that makes him strive for survival. When he’s on the Reaper’s Barge he wonders if it’s worth trying to survive because there’s nothing waiting for him in the city, but then he realises that the chance of revenge is waiting for him, and that thought drives him to stay alive every day that follows. Without Rollins, Kaz probably would have blamed himself for Jordie’s death, and I’m backing that up with the singular moment when he’s first attacked by parem-high tide makers and has a brief “boy’s fear” that they are ghosts. He thinks, for a split second, that a ghost has come to kill him and what does he say? He says “Jordie had come for vengeance at last”. This is chapter three. We have no idea who Jordie is. With the limited information we had at the time and what we’d just seen happen to Big Bolliger, I assumed it was someone in Kaz’s gang that he had backstabbed and who has died because of what he did. But no. This single line leads me to wholeheartedly believe that Kaz blames Rollins, who realistically was only a small part of his suffering, quite so vividly to emotionally avoid blaming himself.

Wylan blames himself until around chapters 14 to 16 of Crooked Kingdom. His experiences with mental, emotional, and physical abuse have actively convinced him that his so-called ‘inadequacies’ caused a change in his father’s behaviour. But Wylan not being able to read didn’t magically turn Van Eck from a lucky family man into someone willing to try “specialists, tonics, beatings, [and] hypnotism” against his child. The fact is that Van Eck, like many abusers, is masterfully manipulative in everything he does. Wylan describes seeing his parents’ marriage as a happy one, but he also says “the argued all the time, sometimes about me. But I remember them laughing a lot too”. He’s quick to defend their relationship as if it isn’t supposed to be marred by argument and he lays blame on himself by suggesting that he was the root of their unhappiness. He also says that around Alys, Jan Van Eck becomes who he once was around Marya; a kinder, gentler man. I don’t think we’re meant to assume that he’s acting any differently with Alys in private right now, but I do think we’re meant to assume that he would have done down the line if he hadn’t been arrested (and presumably she filed for divorce). In chapter 14 of Crooked Kingdom, Wylan learns that his mother is still alive but that his father had her committed and declared insane so he could use it as grounds for divorce and marry Alys instead. And you know what happens? Wylan blames himself. He says, verbatim, to Jesper: “You don’t understand. It’s my fault”. He explains that Van Eck did this so he could have a “real heir”; because Marya produced a “faulty” child he needed a new woman to give him the child he wanted. That’s a messed up thing to think on so many levels, but Wylan doesn’t blame Van Eck because he is still being conditioned by his abuse. He and Kaz experienced different kinds of abuse, and Kaz wasn’t conditioned to blame anyone but his abuser, so that’s what he does. When Wylan does begin to blame Van Eck, he is immediately taken in by this same idea of revenge. Kaz says “you were angry. I needed you righteous” when explaining why he sent Wylan to St Hilde blind in chapter 16. Wylan was angry with his father before, but he wasn’t actively seeking vengeance. Now that he has a cause, someone other than himself to fight for? He tells Kaz “well, now you have me”.

Both of them have this potential to be fuelled by revenge or self-hatred, and although they go about it in different ways and lean towards different sides of the scale they are both balancing between those two extremes for the entire duology. Their past experiences have, and their future experiences could, tip them further either way but right now they are almost playing with the line.

Thank you so much if you’ve bothered to read this far, sorry for the long post but you did ask for an essay, so there you go. Tagging the people who asked - @kazooyay @mikasimaginairyworld @sunseeking-cyptid @moonlit-aura @alexplutoplanet @gandalfsmallnaturals @livsarthaven @goodomenstrack23 @origami-butterfly @flower-biatch @bookworm010307 @thesunniest @wherela @space-ace-thoughts @sixofbabycrows @antisocial-burrito

Sorry if I missed anyone!!!

#grishaverse #leigh bardugo #six of crows #crooked kingdom #kaz brekker #wylan van eck #kanej #wesper #kanej supremacy #wesper my beloved #inej ghafa #jesper fahey #nina zenik #matthias helvar #jan van eck #marya van eck #marya hendriks #wylan hendricks #jesper and wylan #six of crows wylan #kazzle dazzle #kaz rietveld #jordie rietveld #kaz and jordie #pekka rollins

[mikkomacko]

i’m loving the him and i series so much!! and i keep thinking about her first finding out about the devils and what the reaction would be (obviously happy in the end ik) would love maybe a blurb of that or just your thoughts on it :)

“When are you going to tell me what you actually do?”

He’s caught off guard by the question, you can tell by the way he looks up from the sink, his eyes like a deer in headlights when they meet yours through the bathroom mirror.

“What do you mean?” He mumbles around his toothbrush, foam dripping down his fingers.

You shrug, leaning against the doorway. “I know you own The Rock, but there’s no way a bar owner lives like this.” You motion to the elegant bathroom, the mirror with different lighting settings, the claw foot bathtub, the double shower. No one in Jersey just lives like this.

He spits into the sink, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s uh, it’s a popular bar.”

The excuse is lame. You know it, he knows it. Maybe you should be concerned, cautious about him. But you spent a couple months with him now and he’s given you no reason to ever be worried or anxious. Not when you’re with him and not toward him.

“Just…” you hesitate, watching him rinse off his toothbrush and place it in the holder. He won’t meet your eyes, instead busying himself with cleaning up the marble counter. “You don’t do anything illegal right? Like you’re not a drug dealer?”

That makes him stop, immediately turning to look at you with those doe eyes of his. Your heart jumps into your throat, mouth going dry.

“You sell drugs?!”

“No, no, no!” Nico rushes out, waving his hands. “I don’t sell drugs. I don’t take drugs. Do you take drugs?”

Scoffing, you shake your head. “No I don’t do drugs! Do you think I’d be put-off by a potential drug dealer if I did drugs?”

Nico shrugs, raking his hands through his hair. You watch the movement of his arm, the way his chest shifts against the tight wife-beater he’s wearing. A hint of the chain he always has on pokes through, the outline reminding you of the ones you see on all his friends.

“My friends said you’re in a gang,” you tell him.

“What do you think?”

You stand up straight, tilting your head to the side as you examine him. “They’re wrong,” you say matter-of-fact. “A gang leader doesn’t just own a business. They like push drugs on Coney Island and hang out with teenagers.

“You guys are like…like a family.”

Nico bites at his lip, smiling a bit at that. “Do you trust me?”

“Yeah.”

He nods towards his bedroom, and you move to sit on the edge of his bed. Nico follows, sighing heavily as he sinks to kneel in front of you.

“We are a family,” he tells you, taking your hands in his. “Me and Timo and the boys. We’re a family, just in a different way.”

Confused, you shake your head. “I don’t get it.”

Nervous, he licks his lips and lets out a breathy laugh. “We’re a family like in a God Father way, a”

“A mafia?!” You cut-off. “Like Italian mafia?”

“No, no, it’s like the mob. Different than the mafia and not Italian at all. Most of us are Swiss, Jesper you know is Swedish. And locals. American, Canadian, yeah.”

You’re quiet for a moment, head spinning with thoughts. It makes sense, the bar and the money and his apartment. The coded talk between him and his friends, the way they call him boss-

“Wait, you’re the boss?” You ask, “You’re in charge of them all.”

Sheepishly he nods, like he’s worried you’re gonna tell him they impolite or act up. But he’s proud, you can tell by the glimmer in his dark eyes. It’s like that cocky twinkle he usually has but softer, more personal.

“Should I be scared of you?” You whisper, afraid he’ll say yes, that he’ll give you a reason to run.

“Never,” Nico assures instantly. “You never have to be scared of me or the boys. You’re, you mean too much to me. If anything, Jersey should be scared of you.”

“What, why?”

He clears his throat, looking down at your hands as he squeezes them. “Because if anyone so much as said your name in the wrong way, they’ll be dealing with us.”

It sends shivers down your spine, warms your chest. He sounds so certain, so confident in the abilities of himself and the boys. Flattered, you lightly giggle and pry a hand out of his to stroke through his hair.

You find the gold chain on his neck, rest your palm over his chest. “Devils?” You ask, “is that why you all wear the horns?”

Proud and impressed, he nods. “Smart girl,” he murmurs sweetly. “Technically the Devils, but the others call us the Devs.”

“There’s more of you?”

He nods, placing his hand over yours. “Yeah a few. Biggest concerns are our closest guys in New York.”

You’re confused again, not really understanding how this works with different gangs - mob’s around. It makes your head hurt, a sharp pain right behind your left eye.

“I - I think I need to think about this Nico,” you murmur “not tonight. It’s too much tonight. I just needed to know that you’re not a drug dealer.”

He kisses your knuckles, rising to his feet as he nods. “Yeah yeah, whatever you want to know I’ll tell you.”

“Ok.”

“You still staying the night or should I drive you home?”

Scoffing, you shove at him and then flop back into the plush mattress. “Obviously I’m staying. Nothing beats this bed.”

Standing over you, he chuckles. You press your foot into his hip and he wraps those thick fingers around your ankle.

“You’re welcome to leave though.” You tease.

Releasing you, he jumps onto the bed next to you. Snuggling into his pillow, he smiles contently. “I don’t think so little miss, this bed is all mine.”

You crawl up to the pillows, laying on your side to face him. “Well that half is,” You quip back, smiling innocently “boss.”

#him and i #him and i blurb #nico hischier #mob boss nico hischier #mob boss nico blurb #nico hischer x reader #requested

[i-who-has-never-had-a-name]

I always think about how everyone who knows Kaz brekker, including the crows, negatively think of him as a coldhearted murderer who would do anything for money. Whenever a chapter is written in the perspective from someone who is not Kaz and Kaz gets on their nerves or seems disturbing or so they seem quick to think of him as his reputation: a murdered, a killer. And now I may be stupid for thinking this, but how many people has he actually killed, self-defense excluded? The cell member in the ice court and big bolliger comes to mind, but really other than that...

If we do want to talk about murderers we can talk about Matthias who belonged to one of the worst type of people there is disguised as warriors for a noble cause. Or Nina who was trained to be a ruthless soldier and was excited to participate in war as soon as possible, which includes killing people, even if it's for a "noble" cause. Inej has killed people too, but that's apparently okay because she feels guilty. Jesper has obviously killed. Wylan produces extremely dangerous bombs. Yet no one seems to think of themselves as murderers, but bc they are scared of Kaz (yes all of them to some extent) they think about everything people have said about him or how he talks about himself (bastard of the barrel, cruel, killer etc.)

I love all the characters and am quite fond of them, but it's important to acknowledge that all of them are also flawed. One of their flaws being their moral superiority in relation to Kaz. Even Inej tells us at the start that a lot of his reputation stems from rumors, yet she is afraid of him sometimes bc she doesn't know what rumors are true and which not (which really makes me question why she fell in love with Kaz, if it was bc he freed her and he's hot, after all she is a teenage girl, or some others reasons but that's anothwr discussion). Maybe I'm biased bc my favorite character is Kaz, but this really irks me. Time and time again he has proven that he wouldn't kill innocent civilians or children and what not. That what he and others say about himself isn't 100% a real reflection of who he is. Other than his provocative words (that he uses as a self-defense and really bc he's afraid of showing emotion, but also he just has a dry humor and a snarky personality) he isn't morally a lot worse than the other crows. The things I do find morally about him conflicting though are of course the things he has to do as a gang boss, like profiting off of gambling casinos and what not, but really he isn't responsible for the brutal capitalist system in Ketterdam and one might say that the want to become rich isn't a sin ("what a luxury to not want a luxury").

I like him for his morally grey compass and because he is a complex character but I don't think he receives as much compassion and care from the others as I think he should, but I digress. A lot of people are surprised that technically they won't stay friends, but I'm not. I have so much to say because this is such a complicated debate but I don't want to dig myself a deeper grave than already and maybe I have gotten some facts wrong. I'd love to hear more opinions.

#kaz brekker #I'm only half way through crooked kingdom and have watched the show so maybe he will become worse idk #six of crows

[sky-neverending]

Wylan looked over at Jesper, bottom lip jutted out as he pleaded with him. “Please, Jes? Just for ten minutes, and then we can get back together.”

Jesper raised an eyebrow. “Let me get this straight. You want me to pretend to break up with you so you can belt Taylor Swift in the shower?”

“Yes,” responded Wylan. Jesper sighed.

“Fine. Just let me get into character. If i’m doing this, I'm going all the way.” He took a deep breath, channeling some buried rage from deep inside his chest, and then he turned towards Wylan. “I can’t believe you! We’re over!” he shouted, and Wylan smiled before turning his grin into a frown.

“What do you mean?” he asked, breath shaky. “Are you really breaking up with me?”

Jesper took a deep breath. “Yes. Now go. I don’t want to see you anymore.” He turned away, listening as Wylan stormed off toward the bathroom.

Satisfied with his work, Jesper walked downstairs, humming to himself. He settled onto the couch and waited one, two, three seconds before the water above him turned on and the speaker started blasting. Wylans melodic voice drifted down, the lyrics filling the room.

“Jesper! What the hell did you do to Wylan?” A voice yelled from the hall, and he turned as Nina stormed into the room. “I swear to the Saints if you broke his heart-”

“Nina! Relax.” Jesper said, kicking his feet up on the table in front of him. “He asked me to break up with him so he could sing the song.”

Nina stood there for a moment, thinking. “Huh. Smart.” she said finally, falling down next to him. “We should do that, Matthias.”

From the hall, Matthias huffed. “I do not get why you cannot just sing it without all the dramatics.” he said as he walked in. “What is the point of breaking up?”

“Oh, Matty.” Jesper patted the empty spot next to him, the one not taken by Nina. “It has to be authentic. You can’t just simply sing it. It has to feel real.”

“I do not understand you people.” Matthias grumbled, sitting on the couch. “Do we just wait until he’s done?”

Nodding, Jesper smiled. “Man. I can’t wait until he’s my boyfriend again. His voice is so pretty.”

A thin figure dressed in all black slid through the window opposite the couch. “Why is Wylan singing All Too Well?” Inej asked, lowering her hood. “Did Jesper fake break up with him?”

“He’s wasting water.” said another voice, this time from one of the many doors that led out of the room. “Tell him to get a more efficient place to wallow.”

“You don’t even pay for this place, Kaz.” Jesper rolled his eyes. “He does. And he is free to spend his asshole fathers money for anything he likes.” He turned back toward Inej. “And yes. That is exactly what happened. It’s so cute, don’t you think?”

Matthias laughed. “I think you are both crazy.” he remarked, and Nina chucked a pillow at him.

“Let them live out their teen angst, Matthias!”

Suddenly, the shower stopped, and the final notes of the song came to a close. Everyone fell silent.

“What happens now?” Inej asked.

Jesper shrugged. “We get back together I guess.” he responded, turning his eyes to the stairs.

It took about a minute for Wylan to come trudging down them, hair wet and dressed in an oversized shirt and sweatpants. “Jes?” he called quietly, peeking his head into the room.

“Hello, Wylan.” Jesper responded, trying and failing to act serious. He could barely contain the smile on his face.

Wylan blushed a deep crimson. “Jesper Fahey. I’d like to get back together, please.” he stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

Jesper grinned so wide his cheeks hurt, rushing toward Wylan as quick as his feet could carry him. He picked him up in a large hug, holding his cold and wet body close. “Of course, Merchling. I love you.”

Wylan smiled into his chest. “I love you too, Jesper. I never want to be apart from you again. Not even for ten minutes.”

From behind them, Kaz spoke. “Idiots,” he muttered. But Jesper could tell he was smiling too.

#this is so dumb #six of crows #shadow and bone netflix #jesper fahey #wylan van eck #wesper #helnik #matthias helvar #nina zenik #the crows #six of crows fanfic #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #my sillies #my goofy ass babies #wylan is a swiftie #taylor swift

[unrequitedloveletter]

I want a love like the movies- give me a trope/character dynamic from this list, a song (or a specific lyric from a song that you want me to base it off of, or even a poem, anything that is seen as art is acceptable here) and a time of day. I’ll use that to write a fic with a minimum of 1k words. 

kaz brekker with 29 (from the list) anddddd almost by hozier?? idk first song to pop into my head haha

Love- K.B x gn! reader

okay, this is the last of your requests and it's coming out on my official two year fic-iversary! I posted my first ever fic on maliciousbrekker two years ago to the day, and it's been a wonderfully wild ride in things ever since! No regrets with anything I've done here, honestly!

As for requests generally speaking, the goal is to have at least one more coming out over the weekend! My two year anniversary requests are taking precedent right now because I've been demotivated and haven't posted many of them, but after the two year anniversary requests are done, I'll go through my inbox and decide what I want to write vs what I don't and then I'll proceed and hopefully my requests will be open again by the date in my bio!

The prompt you chose was: reader/writer

Fic type- this is fluff!

Warnings-Kaz is probably a little ooc

"You and your books," Kaz observed as he came into your place. You lived in a flat not too far from the Barrel, one that was simultaneously within walking distance of the Crow Club and the Slat as well as Wylan and Jespers place.

You'd bought it to own it with a portion of your money from the ice court, spruced it up to your liking and saved a room to turn into a library. Bookshelves lined the walls, covered in every book you owned and organized to your preference.

You'd bought a desk for Kaz to use, and within it were countless heist plans, countless letters to Nina, Matthias, and Inej, and even a couple of the journals that Kaz had bought two years before but had only begun using in the weeks after the Ice Court job had been completed.

"I have my books and you have your heists, love," you said, shrugging as Kaz sat at the opposite end of the velvety couch you'd kept in the sitting room. "Everyone has their vices."

"How is it?" Kaz asked. You jabbed at each other for your hobbies occasionally, poked fun and delighted in the sounds of scoffs that eventually turned into barely amused laughter, but in the end, you cared about the other persons hobbies, too.

No matter how much you may have poked fun at Kaz and his love for unlined leatherback journals, for the expensive ink he purchased from a Fabrikator near the heart of the city, you always bought him the ink when you noticed he was running low before he did.

You bought him new leather journals when you saw one that he might've liked in a windowsil and bought him ones engraved as a gift on his birthday or during the holidays.

And, in turn, Kaz did the same. He bought you books from the authors you loved whenever he'd heard that a new one was releasing, took your most beloved books to a book binder when the covers were wearing out and the spines needed re-gluing.

He asked how you liked the books you were reading when he noticed you were reading a different one, bought you the books that your eyes lingered on whenever you'd see something in a bookshop window.

"It's good," you said. "How're the heist plans coming?"

"Decently enough," he responded. "A hundred thousand kruge per person on a seven person crew, if you're in?"

You grinned as you closed your book, looking at the cover for a moment.

"How convenient it is that you ask me to join you on a heist when the book I'm reading involves one."

"Is that your way of saying yes?"

You shot him a look, and he nodded. "Yeah. It's your way of saying yes."

You watched him stand, heading for your office, a pen, and one of his journals.

"Love you!" You called after him. You heard Kaz's amused laughter in response and smiled to yourself.

He didn't need to say it back for you to know he loved you in turn. If anything, he'd likely be the one to turn down the lamps and blow out the low-burning candles when he was done planning the heist he'd asked you in on.

He'd be the one to find you with a book in your lap, having told yourself "just one more chapter" even as your eyes were drooping and sleep was on its way

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #six of crows #shadow and bone #shadow and bone netflix

[wylanslcve]

The piano scene in S2E3 is somehow talked about SO MUCH but also not enough, and I know that doesn't make sense but hear me out. Wylan has been in the Barrel for how long with nothing from his life before, only the decency he stubbornly clings to (hence why he initially refused to make bombs for Kaz, but his desperation got the better of him) and, if we use the information from the books, his flute. And we know the significance of music in Wylan's identity: he used it to hide his disability by setting whatever was read aloud to him to a melody in his head; the music room was the only place in his father's house he was ever happy in; and, in Crooked Kingdom, he recalls sitting at the piano bench with his mother, and it's one of the few memories he has of her because she "died" when he was young, so of course his memory of her is going to be a bit foggy.

Music wasn't something he got so good at to win his father's approval the way science and maths were - music was always his. It's what makes him Wylan and not Jan Van Eck's son, and being in the Barrel has tried to separate him from that part of his identity. Yes, he plays his flute in S2E1, but he plays it out of desperation. How long has it been since he's played music because of how connected he is to it, not because he needs money? It's something he yearns to do, and so when he and Jesper break into Pekka's country estate, Wylan doesn't take his eyes off the piano when he notices it - not even while Jesper is talking to him. He yearns to feel the press of the piano keys beneath his fingers, for the comfort playing music always gave him, and I think this is beautifully signified in that frame where presses the broken piano key: he so desperately wants that comfort and security, but can't have it.

Even though it looks like he sits at the piano to encourage Alby to keep playing, it's more so because he couldn't pass up the opportunity to do what he's yearned to do for so long. It's only 30ish seconds, but he loses himself in the music he plays, in that security he's sought since he first arrived in the Barrel. He's reliving sitting at the piano bench with his mother, and a show headcanon I have is that this little piece of music was something Marya taught him or wrote for him or something he wrote for her. Either way, it's made him lose himself in those happy childhood memories of him playing the piano with her.

Then that momentary peace and comfort is snatched away from him as he snaps back to reality. He's not at his father's house playing piano with his mother: he's in the Barrel, wrapped up in the company of literal criminals, and his mother's been dead since he was eight (well, we know she isn't dead, but he doesn't). His guard goes back up, and he goes back to being Wylan Hendriks, the demolitions expert keeping a privileged past and childhood traumas close to his chest, the boy who was desperate enough to start playing criminal with a band of thugs and thieves.

(gif by me, scene credits go to @/autumnspacks on ig)

#i'll shut up now #i just needed to get this out there #i'm unwell #also jack absolutely nailed it #like the change in his expression??? #and the fact that he WROTE THE MUSIC WYLAN PLAYED??? #he loves wylan more than we do #wylan my beloved #six of crows #crooked kingdom #grishaverse #shadow and bone #shadow and bone season two #shadow and bone season three #six of crows spin off #soc spinoff #sab cast #wylan van eck #wylan hendriks #jack wolfe #leigh bardugo #meta #wylan meta #sab meta

[ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes]

The Phoenix and the Crow

part eight

pairing: (hinted) kaz brekker x fem!reader

genre: netural... maybe a tiny bit of angst?

el's thoughts: supriseee part eight!! i still can't believe i've written this much so far haha i love this part cause of y/n and zoya! i hope y'all like it too! please remember to leave comments and reblog :)

masterlist

A knocking on the thick wooden door of her room startled Y/N as she was splashing her face with water from the wash basin. “Yes?”

“Downstairs now. Your country needs saving.” Kaz’s voice was muffled through the door. Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed in curiosity, “I’ll be down shortly.” She finished getting ready and tied her hair up before leaving her room and walking downstairs. The moment she spotted Kaz and Nina sitting at a table with two others whose back was facing her, she froze. She’d recognize the back of that head anywhere.

“Zoya Nazalensky. Well, I’ll be damned.” The inferni could feel the dramatic eye roll she received in return as she walked to the table. “Old friend, how are you?”

“Y/N L/N. Thought you’d be six feet under by now.” Her tone held a biting sting to it, but the inferni knew her too well to take it seriously.

“Always a pleasure, Nazalensky.” She pursed her lips in faux disdain before breaking into a smile. 

Nina looked between the two etherealki with a wide smile, “Oh it’s like we’re in the Little Palace all over again. Isn’t this nice?” 

Kaz’s glare didn’t lighten up as he glanced at all three grisha women with the sharpest side eye Y/N had ever seen. She moved to stand behind the Heartrender and placed her hands on her shoulders. “So what’s this I hear about my country needing saving?” She shot a quick teasing glance to Kaz before directing her attention back to the topics at hand.

Zoya cleared her throat, “We need you lot to get us the Neshyenyer.”

Nina scoffed, “The Neshyenyer? Sankta Neyar’s blade?”

“So, you haven’t completely forgotten what you were taught at the Little Palace.” The Squaler leaned back in her chair with her arms folded in front of her. “Just your loyalty to Ravka.”

“Ravka? Or Kirigan?” Both older grisha stiffened at the name. “It didn’t take him destroying a city for me to question my loyalty.” 

Y/N pulled back at the sharp words that fell from Nina’s lips. She knew she should’ve run far before Alina came to the Little Palace, and she was ashamed to say how long it took for her to finally think over her loyalties. 

Jesper cleared his throat, “So, now that we all know that you two have history, what’s the payment for this job?”

The Shu man finally spoke, “Name your price. It matters that much.”

“Who are you?” The inferni questioned.

“Toyla Yul-Bataar. Member of Prince Nikolai’s personal guard.”

Nina opened the letter handwritten by the prince of Ravka himself. Everyone looked over her shoulder to read it. 

“Is that the Lantsov family crest?” Wylan asked.

“You know it is because it’s hideous.”

Y/N snorted but collected herself quickly.

“Prince Nikolai requests your services to retrieve and deliver the Neshyener to Alina Starkov in East Ravka.” Toyla said.

Nina looked up, “She’s returned?”

“As has the Darkling. With an indestructible army of shadow monsters.” Zoya stared directly at Y/N as she spoke. 

“I don’t like the sound of that.” Jesper took another sip of his drink.

Y/N shook her head in denial, “That can’t be. We saw him in the Fold. Zoya you were there, he-”

“We didn’t see his body. He’s back, Y/N and he’s stronger now. Or so he seems to be with these new puppets of his. That’s why Alina needs the blade to kill them. It’s the only thing that might work.”

Toyla spoke, “Retrieve the blade and the Prince will pay whatever you ask.”

“I like the sound of that.” Jesper downed the rest of his glass.

Zoya turned from the zemini to Kaz, “I assume the same goes for you?” He nodded, “I’d welcome the chance to help your prince spend his country’s money.”

“I don’t need kruge. I need to get someone out of Hellgate. The Lantsovs, they must be able to pull strings with the Kerch government.” Nina vocalized her thoughts.

“For a certain Fjerdan?” Zoya’s tone held a smugness to it. She smiled, “He must be quite the slab of fur.”

Toyla stepped in, “The offer is the offer. Prince Nikolai is a man of his word.”

“But we need to go now.” Zoya’s voice turned assertive. 

“It’s settled,” Kaz folded his arms, “We’re in.”

“And your Wraith?” The squaller asked, “I was expecting to see her.”

“She’s gone.”

“No, she’s not. Not yet. She’s-”

“Not an option.” Dirtyhands threw the sharpshooter a glare, ending the discussion then and there.

~

“The Neshyenyer at Ahmrat Jen is definitely a fake.” Kaz limped towards the group standing around the bar. Zoya rolled her eyes, “Which we told you. Perhaps now you tell us something we didn’t know?”

“According to my contacts, it’s been stolen by a thief known as The Disciple. He had a penchant for stealing Saint-related relics while on jobs.”

Y/N hummed, “A thief and a collector.”

“And retired.” Kaz made eye contact with her briefly. “But he has since put a few pieces of his collection on the black market.”

Toyla nodded, “So, to get to him, we go to his fence.”

“Ohval Saran. She has a tea shop in Bhez Ju. To speak to her, we’re going to have to order yellow chrysanthemum tea, off menu.”

Nina turned to the shu and repeated the type of tea in his mother tongue. “It pairs well with sesame rice cakes.” He told her. Nina smiled, “Let’s discuss.” She walked to him, “Tell me more.”

Kaz shoved passports into Wylan and Y/N’s hands before walking to Jesper and Inej.

Zoya placed a hand on Y/N’s arm, “You look ill, L/N. Don’t tell me you’ve been holding back on your practicing now.”

The latter sighed, “If only you’d’ve known what we’ve been up to. I haven’t had the chance to use my power lately. I didn’t think it was that noticeable.”

“It wouldn’t be to just anyone, but I’ve seen you at your strongest. No one else here could say the same now could they?”

The inferni smiled, “I’ve missed you.”

“It hasn’t even been a few weeks since you saw me last.” Zoya rolled her eyes fondly, “You’re just dramatic.”

“Only for you, my love.” Y/N threw a wink at her as she got up to go pack her things.

~

Shu Han was a colorful city, always bright and full of light. It was a stark difference from Ketterdam and Y/N was loving it. Walking the streets she could smell all the different street foods and incense floating through the air.

Toyla walked to an altar that had candles and burning sticks of incense. Inej, Zoya, and Y/N followed shortly, all wishing to pay their respects to their lost loved ones. Toyla said his prayers in shu and the girls just knelt before the altar.

“When the fold moved, your aunt…” Nina sat down beside the squaller. Zoya avoided her gaze and that was all Nina needed as an answer. “Zoya, I’m so sorry.”

The suli shook her head, “Who here hasn’t lost someone?”

Both Y/N and Zoya leaned forward to grab the burning sticks and held them to the flame, saying their prayers.

Kaz, Wylan, and Jesper stood at a distance watching the others perform their religious rituals in patience. That only lasted so long before Kaz walked to the four girls still kneeling. “You two, we have a teatime to make.” Nina and Inej quickly stood, following Kaz down the street.

Y/N’s eyes strayed to follow the all-black silhouette before it got lost in the crowd. 

“So, Brekker?” Zoya stood and dusted her skirt off, waiting for Y/N to rise as well. The inferni looked at her sharply, “I don’t know what you're talking about. I hardly know the man.” 

“You don’t have to know him to fancy him.” Zoya nudged the y/h/c-haired girl as they walked from stand to stand looking at all the foods and sweets. 

“I’ve been with these people for hardly a few weeks now, Zoya.”

“But he’s caught your eye, yes?” 

The lack of response caused the suli to snicker. “Well, once this war is over you’ll have plenty of time to get to know him.”

Y/N shook her head, “Who said I’d be going back to the Barrel? You brought it up yourself, loyalties. Ravka is my home. She’s my country, and I’ll serve her till my dying breath.”

“You’ve done beyond enough for Ravka and you know it. No one would blame you even now if you decided not to fight or come back home. You need to go and make a life for yourself. You above anyone deserves that.” Zoya rested her hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“I’m not the only one who deserves peace. I would blame myself for not helping my country. I don’t do anything to meet the expectations of others, you above all people should know that by now.” Y/N turned her head and saw Toyla waving them over to where he was seated. She smiled and nodded before turning back to Zoya. “I’ll think it over though. Making a life for myself, that is.”

The two grisha walked to the table Toyla sat at. “What are we watching?” Y/N followed his line of sight to see Jesper and Wylan talking at a firework stand. He chuckled, “Jesper attempt to get his man back.” Zoya rolled her eyes while Y/N hummed. 

“Toyla?” Wylan walked over calling for him, “Toyla could I get your help?”

The inferni stood on her tiptoes and looked over to Jesper mouthing ‘What happened?’ To which he just shrugged, his shoulders dropping in defeat.

The group got up to keep walking around, all looking at different stands and carts that piqued their interest. Someone shoved into her back, she turned around to tell them off but noticed the familiar black silhouette continue his way down the street, stumbling into people with every step. 

Y/N quickly followed after him, threw herself into his back to stop him in his path, and wrapped her arms under his, around his chest, pulling him into her. He thrashed in her arms as she moved him to a more secluded section of the crowded street. She released him quickly and backed away, giving him space. 

Kaz was breathless as he curled into the wall behind him. Y/N watched him carefully making sure he was alright and noticed his lack of gloves. He turned his head enough to look at her for a split second before he flinched farther away from her causing her to back up slightly and nod to herself. “I’ll be back.”

He barely heard her voice over the panic and buzzing in his mind. Flashbacks of his brother and the bloated, rubbery skin of the corpses plagued him as he tried his hardest to get control of his breathing again. His bare hands clutched the metal head of the cane, holding it tightly against his side as he slid further down the wall. His shoulders ached while the wall dug into his muscles painfully. His lungs burned from the uneven rapidness of his breath. He tried calming it by breathing in through his nose, keeping his mouth shut but that only caused his body to falter and panic more. He closed his eyes and twisted the cane between his hands feeling the metal and wood beneath his fingertips. 

He didn’t notice Y/N’s return till he finally opened his eyes and noticed that she placed his leather gloves beside him, making sure to keep her distance from him. Not sparing her a glance he picked up the gloves and held onto them for dear life, feeling as if he could finally take a proper breath. “Did Inej-”

“She followed Ohval Saran.” Y/N kept her voice low in order not to startle him again.

“And Nina?” His eyes started to clear and he was beginning to gather his senses.

“She’s fine. She’s with the others.”

He nodded and took a deep breath before looking over at the girl beside him. She looked paler than when he first met her, her fingers thinner. Overall she looked weaker. She’s a grisha. He couldn’t recall a time when she used her power since the bomb in the accounting office. He took a mental note to assign her some role so she could use and practice her power again. Despite her physically looking weaker, her eyes never let go of the same kindness that they held from when they first met. Her y/e/c-eyes sparkled with concern and care, but they didn’t smother him, making him want to push her away. No, instead he was drawn to it, and that terrified him. Never before had he felt so comfortable and relaxed in the presence of someone he didn’t know. Never before had he felt the need to constantly look over and make sure that person was alright or just simply to admire them from a distance. 

Kaz couldn’t exactly place a name to what he was feeling, but he had become a master at controlling his emotions and he will learn to rein this one in one way or another. 

~

“Ohval’s not just a fence. She’s The Disciple.” Kaz sat at the table in the center of the room with Wylan and Zoya. Nina lounged, fanning herself, on the couch with Y/N while Toyla stood next to them and Inej sat on a stool behind Zoya. Jesper closed the doors to the room for privacy.

“What… What tipped you off?” Wylan asked.

“Her tea cup. When she set it down, she did so without a sound.”

“And her heartbeat never fluctuated once. It held at one beat a second like a clock.” Nina sat up straight causing Y/N to lean closer and fix her skirt.

“So, she can control her heart rate and her emotions.” Toyla held out his bag of walnuts to the two grisha on the couch, each taking one. 

“Those are useful skills for a thief,” Wylan noted.

“Now’s the part where you tell us where the blade is.” Jesper spoke cooly as he leaned on the wall closer to Inej. 

“Ohval has it. Her signal to the waitress to spill tea on me told me as much.” He clutched his cane a bit tighter. “It’s as if I know you.” The zemmini smirked. Kaz ignored him and continued, “And if she’s not going to sell it to us, we’ll just have to take it. After Nina and I ordered the tea, I had Inej follow the tea shop employee who was sent to notify Ohval.”

“She lives just outside the city. When she stopped at the tea shop, she placed an order at the apothecary that she’ll be picking up tonight. I watched her home for a while and no one came or went except her.” Inej said while twirling her butterfly knife between her fingers.

“So, while she’s out of the house, Nina will tail her to make sure she stays out of the house. The rest of us will go in and grab the blade.” 

Once Kaz finished speaking Zoya scoffed, “You don’t seriously expect me to break into this woman’s house.”

“Uh, why do you think we’re here?” Jesper asked jeeringly. 

The squaller turned around in her seat to face him, “I’m a soldier, not a thief. Why else would I need you, criminals?” 

Y/N chuckled, “There’s much less of a difference there than you think.”

Zoya rolled her eyes and said, “I’ll go with Nina.” Making the heartrender choke on her snack and quickly clear her throat. “Are you sure you don’t need me?” She asked Kaz. “I mean, Zoya can tail Ohval.”

“Nina and Zoya will wait for Ohval at the apothecary. Follow her. If she starts heading home, buy us some time. Distract her.”

~*~

taglist:@rachelcarroll1819 @xcharlottemikaelsonx @khaleesihavilliard @simrah1012 @foulkryptonitepeanut @astridyoo15 @queenofshinigamis @peakyispunk @jahayla-parker @maliciousbrekker @brekkershadowsinger@winstonthecow22 @lee-says-things@bunneex@writingmysanity@sleepynightchild @madnessinwrighting @romanticvampire if there is a cross through your url.. i couldn't tag you, sorry!

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x you #kaz brekker x y/n #six of crows #six of crows x reader #six of crows imagines #shdow and bone #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone imagines #ellora.writes #fic: the phoenix and the crow

[valentinedaughtler]

Tainted Opal (Part 7)

Kaz Brekker x fem!reader

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

T/Ws: violence, romantic feelings, blood, mild spice scenes sometimes, fem!reader and she/her pronouns, sexual abuse/trauma (not explicit)

Synopsis: You dive into your past regarding Kaz when you had just escaped your Pirate Crew. You remember him- in fact you bested him. Also some guy tries to kill you….

REQUESTS: OPEN✅

__________________________________________

Had You Met Him Before - 9

Jesper and I wandered through the snowy world that engulfed us. My face was dusted with a bright pink hue from the chilling breeze nipping at my nose. I turned to Jesper, waiting for him to elaborate on his statement from earlier.

Despite what people say, Kaz Brekker always has a reason.

"I'm not sure he likes you the way you seem to like him," Jesper says with a teasing smirk, "but I think he will come to value you as a person. Maybe you're the mysterious girl he has Inej find information on."

My eyes widened, resembling glossy marbles, as I thought about what Jesper just said.

"Okay- wait, what?" I stopped trudging through the snow and turned toward Jesper. "I mean...," I began, "I knew he had Inej find out things about people, but not because he liked a girl...? He can't even tolerate human beings as a whole.. how-," I knew I was exaderating as I blurted out all my inner thoughts to the Crow, but I couldn't help but feel my heart pounding faster.

Jesper laughed a bit, he seemed to be enjoying my reaction. His eyes softened and he sighed, putting up his hands defensively.

"I dunno anything for sure, but Inej had told me there is a girl that Kaz has her keep tabs on over the years," he shrugged and we continued our chilly walk. I let out a huff of cold breath, it looked like a white mist as if froze in such a low air temperature. I dug my hands into the pockets of Kaz's thick jacket and blushed.

"Why do you think I'm the girl in question?" I inquired while  observing the ornate stitching of the jacket. Kaz Brekker really was a boy of sharp, tailored edges and even harsher angles. He carried himself well, and with pride. He morphed his weaknesses into strengths. The boy was a crafty crow who survived for future of sleeping on a limitless pile of Kruge, dreams filled with revenge. He seemed inhuman, his vulnerabilities buried six feet under, where he wanted Pekka Rollins to be.

"Well, I'm not sure, but from what Inej told me, you fit her description. Also, no one gets the upper hand on Kaz," he shot me a look. "He knew you were following him into that alley the night you hired him." I looked a bit disappointed, but Jesper continued. "You did a good job, you fluidly blended with crowds and made your movements natural, but Kaz has eyes everywhere." He raised his arms dramatically and spun in a circle as we walked. "He also knew who you were before you introduced yourself-"

"He knows everyone in Ketterdam, everyone with a possible motive or could be a threat, at least," I responded, attempting to process this situation with logic. Jesper nodded, but he laughed at my comment.

"Yes, but he seemed to know you better than that. He alerted Inej and I after you proposed the job in the alley that you were important." I looked at the charismatic boy with confusion as he spoke.

"No offense, but... so? I'm paying you, Kaz Brekker is probably in love with money, of course he saw me as important." I smiled awkwardly, feeling nervous as feelings twisted around my stomach like frantic butterflies.

"Boss said you were an asset, if all goes well, he'd want you to be a Crow," Jesper explained, smiling at me with care sparkling in his eyes. "He wouldn't even think to something like that unless he knew you, unless he trusted you in a way."

The sharpshooter stopped walking entirely and thought for a moment, his eyebrows creasing in concentration. I focused on the broken tree branches covered in thick layers of ice. The shimmer was similar to a white opal. I want my opal ring back, that's the only reason I'm here... I don't think I'll associate with the Crows ever again after that-

Jesper's voice broke my train of thought as he seemed to come to an epiphany. "Did you know Kaz before this, personally I mean. Did you ever talk with him before this heist?" He asked with a hand on his hip. I crinkled my face, thinking hard about it for a moment. Had I met Kaz before this? I closed my eyes and rewinded my past in Ketterdam; starting two years prior to now. I had met a few people who helped me when I first came. Those who let me steal or have temporary shelter. I helped people too, those who were in trouble or I needed to repay. I did that less now. Though, now I was less naive.

"I don't remember," I said in response, I felt tears pool on my eyes as I relived my past in my mind for a brief moment, but I sighed and looked up at Jesper. "Maybe."

He nodded, not pressing for more information. We collected more firewood before returning back to house. As we made out trek back, I noticed red splatters that hued the snow. There were only ghosts of footprints, as the constant snow seemed to cover them. They weren't too fresh. I turned to Jesper, silently gesturing to to the blood that trailed into the woods. Someone might be here. He handed me the firewood, which I set by my feet. I watched him unsheathe his dual pistols, kissing them for good luck.

We stepped slowly, preventing the loud crunch of snow condensing. The footprints we followed, along with a trail of blood, which eventually seemed more fresh. They led to the silhouette of a man laying in the snow. We looked around for a person, who may have heard us and gotten up and hid. Maybe they need help.... Or maybe they need to hurt. My eyes followed the trail of blood to a tree infront of Jesper and I. It led behind the tree and back around to us- Saints damn it all...-

A large, gloved hand grasped my face, covering my mouth, muffling screams I made. A sharp blade was put up against my throat, the smallest drip of blood running down my neck. Another hand wrapped around my wrists, restraining my movement. I saw Jesper cock his guns and point them at the figure threatening to kill me, but his eyes fell on the knife. I attempted to frantically figure out who was holding me as I stayed still, any moment of my body would cause the blade to slip deeper into my skin. I had to wait to move. The hands were too large to be Kaz's gloved fingers, and he most likely wouldn't have touched me in the first place.

"Ya' better lower your guns, kid," a heard voice with a deep accent snarl in Fjerdan. My mother used to teach me different languages back on the boat, it helped when we needed to make deals with other pirates. Jesper looked confused, not understanding what the man was asking.

"He says to lower your guns," I translated to the frustrated boy. Jesper obliged after a moment, but kept them in his hands.

"Drop them!" The man barked in Fjerdan. I didn't need to translate that for Jesper, he seemed to get the message. He let the guns fall into the thick snow as the blade broke a few more layers of the skin on my neck.

Jesper didn't know Fjerdan, he couldn't attempt to reason with the man articulately, but I could.

"What do you want?" I asked in Fjerdan, it sounded a bit awkward since I hadn't spoken it in what felt like forever. I tried not to let my voice quiver from the pressure of the knife on my throat.

"Are you witches?" The man asked me. He may be a witch Hunter; a Drüskelle. Despite my ability to help his pain, the blood the dripped from under his gloves hands into the snow, I doubt he would allow me to help him with my powers.

"No, I would have used my hands to kill you by now, if I was. He wouldn't be using guns if he was." I responded, giving Jesper a hard stare, alerting him to not move. The man stayed quiet for a moment before taking the blade off of my throat with a swift motion, causing him to slice my neck. I stifled a shriek, knowing I could heal myself soon. The gloved hands threw me at the snow close to Jesper. I stared up at him, he was tall and muscular, a scowl painted on his face, which had a thick beard. His eyes were filled with hatred, and his burley figure covered in thick layers of fur clothing. He had large gashes in his legs, hands and right shoulder, dried blood matting the fur on his coat.

"Do you have bandages?" He asked with a sharp tone, but there was a bit of desperation in the root of his voice. I did infact keep bandages on me at all times, in case my healing skills were not enough to fix large wounds, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea to help with man. I looked up at Jesper, who nudged me slightly with his foot.

I nodded at the bleeding man, slowly pulling out bandages and gauze from my corset and breast pockets. "Drop the knife," I said in gruff Fjerdan, glaring at the man with an unmatched confidence. He hesitated, but in a moment of need, the man threw the sharp, now blood-covered blade into the snow. I threw him the the supplies, allowing it to land by his feet. The man picked them up and begin to run away.  Did he forget that Jesper had guns by his feet?

Bang!

I guess he did. I watched as the man fall to the ground in a graceless position. His blood began to dye the surrounding snow red. I couldn't help but feel empathy to the Grisha killer, he was still human. I stood up, standing by Jesper, who blew the smoke away from his gun's barrel. With a nifty flick of the wrist, the pistols were re-sheathed into his pockets.

Without saying a word to Jesper, I walked up to the man's lifeless body and retrieved my medical supplies.

"I didn't know you spoke Fjerdan," Jesper called from behind me. He didn't sound surprised, maybe just a bit amused. I patted down the fresh corpse for any more useful materials, finding a compass, a few more blades, and a deck of cards. I pocketed them in Kaz's coat before walking back up to Jesper, who was holding the firewood we placed down earlier.

As we began to walk back in the direction of the cabin, I finally responded to Jesper,

"I know many languages," my voice was gravelly, as I had not yet healed my neck. Reminding myself, I moved my fingers near one another in a fluid motion, the skin on my neck seemed to melt back together. It took a few minutes if concentration.

"You were a model student or somethin'?" Jesper said with a chuckle. I nodded, I guess I was a good student if I was the only one being taught.

We finally came back to cabin, looking chilled and exhausted. I made my way to the couch and flopped onto it. My eyes felt heavy and my joints stiff from the cold, Kaz probably felt much worse. Inej told me one time that the cold affected his bones, especially his bad leg I doubt she was supposed to tell me what though, but people trusted me easily. Even the coldest of strangers confided with me at times. Never underestimate the power of charisma; of manufactured charm.

"Where were you both?" I heard Kaz's voice ask with anger. I didn't respond, but I got up to wash the dried blood off my neck.

Jesper began reciting the full story, making me sound much cooler than I believe I was, but it made me smile. The crew watched as the animated sharpshooter retold the events with high energy. I retrieved the deck of cards out of my pocket and threw them at Kaz, who caught them without any acknowledgment of my presence.

"Let's play cards, Crows," I proposed, flashing a smile. I felt exhausted, but I attempted to lighten the mood. I turned my attention to Matthias as Kaz shuffled the cards with finesse. His gloved hands doing tricks with the aces, eyes focused.

Matthias looked stiff, it was a Fjerdan man who died today, after all. He seemed disconnected from that part of himself, but that was still his history none the less. I flashed him a sympathetic look, which he accepted with a silent nod.

I guess we never really disconnect from what we used to be, no ematter how hard we try. I look at the group before me, pretty sure we all have tried.

"Let's play strip poker-"

"Jesper, no, just normal poker-" Wylan interjected with a nervous laugh.

___________________

Word Count: 2178

___________________

How do you think Kaz and y/n knew eachother?

-Valentine

#fanfic #inej ghafa #jesper fahey #kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x y/n #kaz brekker x you #nina zenik #shadow and bone #six of crows #soc #fem reader #fem!reader #matthias helvar #grishaverse #fjerda #pirates #wylan van eck #seductress #murder

[foolishpensandidioticink]

Wesper Headcannons

Jesper

Jesper stares at Wylan a lot, especially when he realizes it makes Wylan all flustered.

"Stop it." "Stop what, love?" "Staring at me." "Why? Am I making you nervous? Is my pretty boy getting all nervous?" "JESPER"

Jesper calls Wylan his sugar daddy and Wylan can never tell if it's a kink or a joke.

Before Jesper asks Wylan for cash when he wants something stupid, he kisses him silly to up the odds of him saying yes.

"Jesper." "Wylan?" "Are you trying to make out with me because you want money." "My love, how could you accuse me of such a thing??" "I saw you staring at those sparkly green trousers earlier." "......but Wylan they'd look so good on me"

He treats Wylan like a teddy bear when they cuddle. He wraps his entire long self around him and is half on top of him at all times.

Jesper hates it when Wylan gets upset with him. "My bitch is mad at me. I hope I die"

Praises Wylan a lot because he knows Wylan needs to hear it, he also loves how blushy Wylan gets.

Wylan

Wylan loves to mock Jesper's outfits. He literally ALWAYS has something mean to say about a fit (He actually loves the fact that Jesper is brave enough to dress so boldly). Roasts an outfit and immediately kisses Jesper very very hard.

"Are you serious?" "Not usually, but why do you ask?" "Why are you wearing red and green together?? You look like a Christmas tree🙄.....come here."

Listens to Jesper's rants about his hyperfixations with genuine interest and respect.

Wylan leaves explosives lying around all the time and Jesper has his guns out all the time. Kaz has to yell at both of them like a mother telling her teenagers to clean their goddamn rooms.

"So help me, if the two of you can't stop creating fire hazards wherever you go I WILL revoke your firepower privileges." "You wouldn't dare!" "MONSTER"

Wylan calls Jesper Llewellyn whenever he's mad at him.

*Inej and Jesper standing outside Wylan's locked door* "How mad do you think he is?" *Wylan from underneath his covers* "Go away, Llewellyn." "Oh shit I'm so screwed"

Wylan lets Jesper watch him manufacture explosives, although Jesper entices him from his work more often than not.

Does a lot of little things for Jesper, like making him coffee exactly the way he likes it, running baths for him, waiting up for him whenever he's out late commiting crimes shenanigans, ironing his outrageous outfits. It makes Jesper melt.

"Hey did you polish my guns?" "Yea I figured you'd like it" "Wylan, will you marry me"

I love these guys very very much

#wesper #wyaln van eck #wylan hendriks #jesper fahey #kaz brekker is a mom #jesper llewellyn fahey #six of crows #soc #crooked kingdom #ck #grishaverse #wylan x jesper

[19burstraat]

So I read in your newest fic’s (which IS INCREDIBLE btw you never miss 🩷) notes that you originally conceptualized the fic as being in the vein of “it’s a wonderful life” and I’m wondering…….how do you think that would have gone? Just curious 💕

Ty!! I note that I haven't seen it for quite a few years so it would have been a fairly basic comparison bc I forget the specifics of the context in IAWL, but yes... The spirit of Jordie (or possibly just Kaz's brain pulling a Really Complex Hallucination, I think the idea was it's like a fucking weird dream after he either nearly drowns or gets beaten up) pulls up, and says Hey Kaz Want To Know What Would've Happened If You HAD Died and Kaz is like. 'Um not really actually' but it's too late. I do have a bunch of notes app scraps of it, that I repurposed slightly for the current fic, so I'll paste em under the cut for your perusal. Ultimately I found this way of doing things a bit unsubtle but it was very interesting!

"Is this some guilt complex shit?" said Kaz.

"If you want it to be."

"No, I don't." Kaz wriggled out of the way and got to his feet. "I'm just going to—"

***

The sheet was wrenched away.

Kaz had seen plenty of death in the Barrel and on the Barge, and he had known who was going to be under the sheet. It didn't matter. He had to crouch abruptly in the corner before his legs gave way. He clamped his hands over his mouth and tried not to look anywhere in particular— not at Jordie, dead beside him, or Jesper, dead on the morgue table with a set of terrible wounds. He could hear snatches of conversation:

"...ran up debts... gangs... sent debtors after him..."

****

"Well, Miss Zenik— I run a little thing called the Hellshow," said Rollins. "Heard of it?"

Nina shook her head.

"Don't," Kaz said, even though it made no difference.

***

With a horrified start, Kaz realised it was Wylan; leaning on the wall in neatly re-hemmed Barrel flash and hastily cut hair.

"I want my cut now," he said.

"You'll get a cheque in a few days."

"In cash; now."

"You think I'm running a charity?" said Wylan. "You think all this information and all those chemicals come free? If you want to run this job without me, that's fine. But I won't bail you out of the Stadhall Jail when the Stadwatch grunts catch you with a fucking circular saw at the vault."

Per Haskell exchanged glances with Red Felix and Beetle. Eventually, there was some fumbling, and a wodge of kruge was produced. Wylan took it and counted it.

***

Kaz watched him go.

"He won't get out," he said.

"He might," said Jordie.

"He won't," said Kaz. "He can't. He's in too deep, now. He should've folded and left months ago, but he was too conscientious about the money and too anxious about being scammed."

***

"I get it, alright?" Kaz said wretchedly. "I get it. I understand."

"Do you?"

"I know I have to live for everyone else to make it, too." Kaz spat. "I know. What do you want me to say?"

"Fate has plans for us all, Kaz."

"Killing her and taking her platitudes? That's fucking rich." Kaz turned and paced the cobbles furiously. "Fuck! Fine! So— what? Go on! Tell me! Give me the moral!"

***

It's interesting bc I kinda like the idea (I miss Kaz when he's not there I get very upset when he's not around. Like a baby at a party screaming when everyone holding them isn't the Specific Person They Want) but also I think I'd never have finished this lmao. Also I'd have had to decide if it was a real supernatural kinda thing or if it was just Kaz's brain on a mad one. And like I say, I kinda prefer the ominous absences... To deploy Kaz's favourite tactic, planting an idea but leaving a lack of specifics or certainty, creates a lot more unsease.

#ask answered #my fics

[omgkatherine01]

Creatures of the Night: Chapter 6 - DeKappel

Series Masterlist

Chapter 5, Chapter 7

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x female reader

Please comment, like and share ❤

The next day, at the evening, Jesper and you were playing at the card table where he was teaching you to play with the other men.

"I don't think Kaz would be happy to see you here," you told him when you leaned closer to his ear.

Jesper smirked at you, "You gonna tell on me?"

"Maybe," you said, smirking at him back, "What is it for me if I won't?"

"What would you want?" he asked in a flirting voice, making you chuckle and shake your head. You've grown used to his flirting looks and words, and unlike with the rest of the men, you didn't punch him or gave him dirty looks.

"There's the pretty girl!" You looked over to see a fat older man walked over, laughing and drinking, looking at you with a smile, "My lucky charm!"

You gave a small smile and turned back to the table as he walked closer. He looked at the dealer, "Hey, you take Zemeni coin, yes?"

He threw the pouch to the dealer which he caught and started to open it. Jesper raised an eyebrow, "Let me see that."

The dealer immediately handed a coin to him. Jesper looked at you, "Watch and learn," he muttered before quickly looking at the man as he narrowed his eyes, "The Lucky Nine casino up the block has had trouble with counterfeit coin lately. Heavy, but brittle."

"Oh, come on, now," the man said, "I've been here for hours. My money is good, no?"

"Zemeni coin can take a bullet," Jesper said, "But the knockoff..." He flipped the coin in the air and shot it. As it landed on the table, you all saw the hole in the middle of it. "Busted," he said, swinging his gun back into its holster with a self-satisfied grin.

"What does that prove?" the man asked angrily. You raised an eyebrow and watched as two men walked closer and grabbed him, dragging him away.

You smiled a little, amused as Jesper nudged your arm before quickly reaching forward on the table for the money, until a cane smacked down right in front of his hand.

Everyone were silent at Kaz's appearance. Kaz stared down at Jesper, giving him a warning look, "No loud noises at the table, Jesper. You'll scare off the pigeons."

Jesper nodded slowly, clearing his throat, "Wouldn't want that, boss."

"Shouldn't you be on the door?"

"Yeah, right away, boss."

Kaz shook his head slowly as he gave him one last look before his eyes darted to you. He moved his cane away from the table and he started to walk away.

You stood and followed him, amused while everyone went back to their business. "Early for action, innit, Kaz?" you glanced over your shoulder to see a man she met a few times, Rotty, walked up to them. "Hello there, y/n, looking beautiful as ever."

You smiled softly at him, "Thank you."

"What do you want, Rotty?" Kaz asked.

"Someone stole a DeKappel from a merch's private residence last night," Rotty said and you frowned.

Kaz glanced at you and then away as you walked to the stair case, "Is that so?"

"It's a painting," Rotty said, "A landscape of Ravka. The Fold. Oil on parchment."

You stopped and turned to the two men, tilting your head. "Really?" you asked as you glanced at Kaz with suspicion.

Kaz rolled his eyes, turning to Rotty, "I know who DeKappel is."

"Well, he don't do nudes, so I never heard of him," Rotty said, and made a face

"Get to it, Rotty," Kaz said.

Rotty reached into his coat pocket and swiped up a piece of paper and unfolded its crumpled edges, showing it to you and Kaz. You raised an eyebrow as you recognized it.

There was a rolling field of lime green grass, hints of white at the tips where the sun hit the blades and bounced from dew-drops. A gravel path tore through and trailed up a hill where a tall birch tree stood. The sun was slipping and the sky had a golden hue to it.

That was the same as the painting on your wall.

You looked at Kaz and raised an eyebrow, fighting an amused smile as you noticed he kept staring at the picture instead glancing at you, and you knew he could feel your gaze at him.

"Worth something like 10,000 kruge," Rotty said. "The thief had to get past four roving guards, high fences, padlocked doors, and a security system designed by one of them Grisha witches."

"Fabrikator," Kaz said, noticing your tensed shoulders.

"Whatever," Rotty said, "The point is, either it was a group effort or a ghost."

Kaz's eyes moved to him and he raised an eyebrow, "Why does this concern me?"

"I've got a buyer lined up," Rotty said, "Legit money. So, uh if you hear a whisper..." He clicked his tongue and winked at you.

You frowned, blinking. Did he really just winked at me? you thought.

Kaz took one step toward him, and asked quietly, "Who can hear a whisper here?" He raised an eyebrow before leaning back. He turned around, and walked past you, "Let's go."

You gave Rotty a small smile before turning and following Kaz to the stair case. You walked up the stairs and went into the door to the second floor living room.

"You know, it's funny, that painting Rotty was talking about..." you started, smiling with amusement as Kaz stiffed and turned to you with a look. "That looks a lot like the one you gave me last night."

"I didn't give you anything," he denied.

You nodded, "Oh, so it must have been Jesper," you said as you stared at his face. "Or maybe Inej."

He clenched his jaw, "Must be," he muttered as he turned and walked to the office.

You followed him inside and noticed the darker walls around the room. "You seem to be getting better at it." Your eyes moved to Kaz as he sat down behind his desk. "Controlling the shadows."

You smiled softly, "I guess so," you muttered as Kaz moved to next door where his room was. You moved into the room and were surprised when he started to take off his coat.

You blinked as you didn't knew what to do as he started to take off his gloves. Should I leave or stay? you thought, Does he want me to stay or was he expecting me to leave already?

You felt the chilling cold from outside and looked to the side to see that the window was opened. You glanced to the walls at the darkness and smiled softly.

Inej was back.

"Hello, Inej," Kaz spoke without turning.

Inej stepped out from the shadows and greeted you with a soft smile as she removed her cloth from her mouth. "What information do you have for me tonight?" Kaz asked.

Inej looked at him, "A lead on a job. A big one. Enough money to change lives."

Kaz shook his head lightly, "It doesn't take much to change someone's life in the Barrel."

"A million kruge?"

Kaz paused for a moment, "What's the name?"

"Dreesen," Inej answered. "A wealthy merchant."

Kaz nodded slightly, "Dreesen. I've heard of him. He could afford it. The question is, what's worth a million kruge to him?"

"He's looking for a crew willing to cross the Fold into East Ravka and bring back something," Inej said.

Kaz turned to her, "The Fold? Well, of course, certain death pays a million. He didn't say what he wants nicked?"

"No," Inej answered. "But he's taking meetings tonight, starting at midnight."

"Tell me you followed him," Kaz said.

You had to scoff on that, and smirked softly when you caught their attention, "Of course she did, she's Inej."

Inej smirked at the compliment and nodded lightly before she looked at Kaz, "He brought someone in from a ship. Took a way back to his house in the Garden District to avoid attention. I would have followed him inside, but Dreesen's hired some private security. I would have had to use my knives to get closer."

Kaz nodded as he thought, "Private security... Anyone we know?"

"A Zemeni man," Inej said, "I think his name is Tendo. You know him?"

"Yeah," he answered, "He gambles at one of Pekka's clubs. So I won't have leverage on him. But Pekka will." He grabbed his cane and walked past you and Inej to the office.

You both turned to him when he walked around his desk. "Kaz, I got this lead from one of the girls at the Menagerie," Inej said and you frowned.

"What's that?" you couldn't help but ask.

"It's where--" Inej started but Kaz cut her off, "Nothing."

"That doesn't seem like nothing," you said as you noticed how they exchanged a look.

"It's a place you need to stay clear from," Inej finally said, "Trust me." She looked back at Kaz, "The girls there, they tell me things in case you'd buy them out, like you did with me."

Oh, you thought sadly, Now, you know what it mean. It's a whore house...

"I didn't buy you, I'm paying off your indenture," Kaz said.

"You know what I mean," Inej said, "This one girl, Kesh, she has skill. She's like me."

"I only invest in the one of a kind," he said, "She isn't like you. No one is."

Inej looked frustrated and you placed a hand gently on her arm, to keep her calm. Luckily it did. She took a deep breath before speaking again, "So? What's our move now?"

"You're the one of us who believes in a higher power," Kaz said, "If we're going to survive a round trip through the Fold, we'll need a miracle or two."

Inej rolled her eyes as she turned away and you frowned, hearing his mocking tone in his voice. Kaz looked at her, "Get Jesper, the four of us will be heading out soon."

"The four of us?" you repeated.

"You're coming with us."

-

Taglist:

@lyria-skyfall, @myheartfollower, @cleverzonkwombatsludge, @mjlock, @clairewinchester14, @losteroops, @venomsvl, @yvxcy, @wickedlovely121, @supergaybish101, @woowwwee, @zeeader, @twlegit

#shadow and bone #netflix series #the crows #the crows x reader #kaz brekker icons #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz x you #kaz x reader #kaz brekker x you #kaz x y/n #jesper fahey imagine #inej ghafa #the darkling imagine #mal oretsev imagine #alina starvok #mal x alina #the darkling x alina

[lilisouless]

I´ve been thinking about AUs where the crows are the sun summoner

Promise, this post is NOT too long.

Jesper & Wylan are too complicated because of the many outcomes, for spoilery reasons. Wylan´s upbring would be bastly diferent , which may reflect on his personality while Jesper having sun summoner powers would change a LOT.

Nina would probably be not so diferent from canon, since she would be loyal but wouldn't stand for hurting innocent people. The relationship with the Darkling would probably be diferent, since (given that she would be like eleven) there wouldn't be romantic interactions and there would be more time to brainwash her into doing what he wants and insolate her from Genya, Zoya or any possible friend (before you tell me "Zoya didn't liked being reemplaced by Alina" yes, but there is a diference between a girl around your age and a younger child, Zoya is not THAT petty)

Inej would either be a fugitive until she dies, or would end up killing the Darkling. Let me explain: Tante Heleen couldn't capture sun summoner Inej, she made a sun beam blind the men that were trying to grab her. So, people star to find out there is a sun sumoner and it was a Suli girl. Then the Darkling prioritizes his search into the sun summoner and stars going after Suli girls around that age. He either never finds Inej and if he does it, well; she would not apreciate being taken away from her family and even less being imprissioned or having her power being used by this guy, also would not like how he targeted those girls. So they would have nothing but hate for each other.

Matthias has two outcomes, Jarl Brum just kills little Matthias. Or, Matthias managed to hide his powers until later AND when Jarl Brum finds out, he makes him take Jurda Parem. He survives and turns him into a soldier against the other grisha.

Now KAZ as the sun summoner is actually a comedy. The darkling would never catch him, Kaz now has the power to make better ilusions for his heist and make himself invisible. If he ever chooses to help with destroying the fold, he would only do it for a huge ton of money.

#i will only save the world if you pay me #six of crows #six of crows shitpost #i actually didn't elaborate on the jesper and wylan one because i really don't know the exact possible outcome #netflix shadow and bone #leigh bardugo #jesper fahey #wylan van eck #kaz brekker #nina zenik #inej ghafa #matthias helvar #six of crows au #grishaverse au #crooked kingdom #so just picture kaz being all like #or the 500 year old guy having a beef with a teen girl

[amchara]

Best Laid Plans (Nikolai Lantsov/Kaz Brekker)

Happy birthday, Nikki! (@whenshesayshush) It's not the Rivusa story that's still on my backlist but I thought you might appreciate some Bastards Squared™️ as an alternative. ;)

----

Pairing: Kaz Brekker/Nikolai Lantsov

Wordcount: 1,055 words

Summary: Nikolai wants Kaz's expertise for a job. Kaz, being Kaz, is suspicious of his motives.

Notes: Set post-S2. Rating is for general audiences. Nothing scandalous but hopefully it's a fun and flirty slowburn. ;) Not beta-ed, and written quite quickly- so if you see any typos or issues, I'll hopefully spot them in subsequent rereads and fix them. 😅

--------

Kaz was used to dealing with hard men. He was used to dealing with desperate men. He was used to dealing with dangerous and conniving women. This… was not that. And yet, something about the message disconcerted him. 

“To my dearest compatriot and underworld mastermind, Kaz Brekker,” he read. He scoffed and set down the message on the table in front of him. Intending to deal with it later, in private. Unfortunately, it caught someone else’s eye. 

“Who’s flirting with you now?” Jesper asked, as he peered up from his research into Durast training. They sat together at a shadowy corner table, in the newly-established Crow Club. Waiting for a shipment to come in that afternoon, as they slowly gathered supplies for the indomitable Ice Court heist they were building towards. 

“The King of Ravka,” Kaz replied. “And he’s not flirting. He’s asking us to do him a favour.” 

Jesper’s face held mild interest as he picked up and scanned the document. “Correction. He’s asking you to do him a favour,” he said. He raised his eyebrows. “And paying not an insignificant amount for it.” His face scrunched up roguishly, and Kaz suddenly knew what he was about to say. 

“There’s plenty for us to do here,” he said roughly. “We’re busy.”  

Jesper’s elaborate shrug implied otherwise . “All I’m saying is… we won’t be ready to head to Fjerda for another two months. And- I never knew you to turn down such a handsome sum for a job.”

Kaz gave him a hard stare. “The money for the Ravka job has put paid to any delusions of my getting out of bed for anything less than ten million kruge.”  

Jesper watched him, a smile playing about his lips. “So… it would be a favour for Nikolai.”   

“If I decide to go,” Kaz said, and the finality in his tone helped convince Jesper to drop the conversation. And he didn’t say anything further, not even when Kaz informed him and Wylan and Nina that he’d be away for two weeks, taking care of some business in Ravka. 

* 

The ship Nikolai sent was opulent and far above his station, but then again- Kaz thought, wasn’t that how the intractable distance set in for the aristocracy? Having no idea of how common folk travelled. No matter that Nikolai had travelled for years incognito as Sturmhond. Kaz was suspicious nonetheless. 

* 

“You made it!”

Kaz was thrown off guard by the familiarity of Nikolai’s greeting as he disembarked, attempting to not blink owlishly in the harsher Ravkan sun. 

“Yes, well.” Kaz cleared his throat. “Your message was quite persuasive.” 

“Excellent, I shall have to inform my courtiers that despite appearances otherwise, I can occasionally be both charming and persuasive.” The grin flashing across Nikolai’s face was blinding, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle, relaxing the royal guise and replacing it with a carefree look that accentuated his good looks. 

For a moment, Kaz was worried the King was about to lurch forward and hug him, and he braced himself with his stick for that eventuality, leaning in and debating how best to sidestep it without causing an international incident. Luckily for both of them, Nikolai reined in the impulse. 

* 

They were eating a meal in a large, side room of the Grand Palace. Zoya, one of Nikolai’s closest advisors, had joined for the first few courses but had begged off as they approached the sixth one. They had spoken on niceties throughout the evening but Kaz was growing tired of the diplomacy. He dropped formalities to expedite the process.

“Nikolai.” 

“Brekker.” Nikolai's gaze on him was steady.

“What is the purpose of this visit? I assume it’s not to ply me with Ravkan deserts until I explode.” 

Nikolai leaned forward, and winked. “That might be part of it.” 

Kaz just looked at him. 

Nikolai sighed and unbuttoned his military jacket, pulling out some papers, handing them across the table. “I think we have some issues within the Royal Treasury. I thought a businessman of your… acuity, might help identify where the trail leads.”

Kaz looked over the papers. “You’re being robbed. And none too subtly,” he pointed out within only a few minutes of studying them. 

Nikolai’s lips thinned, and he tapped the table. “Tell me the details,” he said impatiently. 

“I’ll need to see more documents,” Kaz told him. 

They sat together until early hours of the morning, their heads almost touching, as Kaz traced the embezzling scheme that had sunk in, like deep rotted wood, into the Treasury.

As Nikolai set out the last royal order to arrest the Baron who was at the heart of the scheme, Kaz rose from the table. His leg felt stiff from the long hours of sitting, and his head murky from unwinding the plot, and the few cups of wine he’d finally agreed to, after Nikolai had plied it on him unceasingly.

“I’ll get some sleep in my room, and then look to book the next ship out,” he said. 

Nikolai’s gaze swung sharply to him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean-” Kaz gestured at the detritus on the table. “I’ve completed your job. There’s no need for me to stick around so I’ll head back to Ketterdam tomorrow.” 

Nikolai looked alarmed. “Oh. I’ll pay you, of course. But- you can’t leave, not yet.” 

“What’s the reason for me to stay?”’ Kaz asked gruffly. 

“I…” For once, Nikolai faltered. “I had some plans- to show you.” He shook his head. “Nevermind.”

There was a moment of silence as Kaz shook his head, trying to make sense of the undercurrents swirling between them. 

“No, nevermind,” Nikolai repeated. “Of course, you’re a busy man and you’re needed back in your home city. I should have realised…” 

There was a defeated look on his face and suddenly Kaz had his own revelation. 

He sighed. “I hate it when Jesper is right.” 

“About what?” Nikolai questioned. 

“All of this…” Kaz gestured around. “The message, the ship, the easy job where you’re vastly overpaying me. You’re… plotting some kind of relationship development. You’re- flirting with me.” The words were awkward in his mouth. 

There was a wary tone to Nikolai’s voice as he replied. “And is Kaz Brekker open to that line of approach?”

Kaz considered. “Well,” he said carefully. “I’m here, aren’t I?

And Nikolai’s resulting smile was more blinding than the Sun Summoner’s light. 

#shadow and bone s2 #shadow and bone #nikolai lantsov #kaz brekker #kazolai #kaz x nikolai #my fanfic #fluff #flirting